Gun show prices?

[DonT]

1911fan,

You forgot me..

I am just there to clean out some stuff I collected of the year but mostly to have a good time and meet others that are interested in the same thing I am.. GUNS!

DonT

[solidgun]

I don't like going to gun shows because almost all vendors do not treat me well. I look fairly young and people have mistakenly thought I was a minor in certain situations.
But I am close to 30 now (not exactly old) and own close to 100 guns. I buy often, but rarely sell unless I no longer need duplicate models.

So when it comes to price haggling, or even getting seller's attention is getting to be real difficult. So when they advertise unreasonable prices on commonly available firearms, I simply walk away. Most of the firearms I consider purchasing are available online if they are modern firearms at better prices. I do prefer to do my business in person, but the attitude problems are what bothers me the most.

I have cash, interest, knowledge to purchase.....don't rip me off on something and try to tell me why I should own something at higher prices.

I understand that people get tired sitting there for 2 days....but if you are nice to people and have fair pricing, they may hand you close to $5000 in cash and take 5 P7 series models home without any hassle. But there is no way I am paying ridiculously high prices on your used beat up police trade-in 2nd gen Glocks with standard sights....... I have bought some of my Glocks at gunshows, and the sellers were selling it closer to GSSF pricing and genuinely nice people. I bought 3 from them.

I want people at gunshows to make money. That isn't the problem. But it gets ridiculous when I see MSRP on a lot of the guns there.

[DonT]

Solidgun,

Stop by and see me when I am at the shows. I don't care how young or how old you are. If you are interested in guns I am more than willing to talk. I figure the old fellows can enlighten me the the younger ones (that are too young to buy) are the future of the sport and in a few years my remember the old balding fella at the show and stop buy for a chat. This last show I had a bunch of folks that walked up looked over some of the things I had and started asking questions. If you have done this enough you have a really good idea which folks are buyers and which are just curious. As long are folks are courtious I don't mind answering questions and treat everyone with the respect they derserve and I expect the same back again. Heck one of those younger folks that isn't old enough to buy but has lots of questions my just grow up to be our next govenor or even president. I sure would like to have them reach that position with a positive attitude toward gun owners and our hobby.

To me, and this is me, it isn't about the money. I got a full time job (for now) that puts food on the table and roof over my head. To me its about everyone walking away from a deal happy. Don't get me wrong I like to make a buck on the trade but I have lost money on things I have traded or sold and felt just as good about the deal as I did when I made a few bucks... Heck you can sell plasma to get money or deliver papers, anyone can do that and the money only lasts as long as it takes to spend it. But when two folks enter into a negotiation and everyone walks away with a smile on their face that's something to be proud about and darned if it just doesn't make you feel good. More often than not I follow up with folks that have gotten something from me, when I can, to make sure they are happy with the deal they made. Heck there are some right here on this board and a few stopped by my table at the last show. I have even been known to follow up with folks when I bought something to let them know that I am still happy with the deal I made with them.. Nothin wrong with spreading the cheer.

I guess I am showing my age a bit as I grew up in a time and surroundings when a man was only as good as his word and didn't expect any more respect than he showed others...

Sorry for the rambling, I'll step down from the soap box now.....

DonT

[Pezhead]

DonT, I should have looked for you at the last show. It's always a pleasure to meet fellow board members. My dad and I like to go to the shows together it's time that I can cherish with him as we're all getting older. Most of the time we look but occasionally buy something. Hopefully when things turn around that may change.

[DonT]

Pezhead,

I won't be at a show (with tables) for a while now but next one I am at I would like that. It is really nice you get to spend some quality time with your dad at the shows, your a good son... Unfortunately my kids didn't follow in their dad's foot steps when it comes to gunshows, but they both shoot...

I will be wandering around the show at the end of the month, probably on Saturday. Hoping to sell or trade a ruger 77/22 vbz, Walther P1 and CZ52. Not sure what I am looking fore yet but I am sure I can find something

Take care and enjoy the time you spend with your dad, it goes by to quickly....

DonT

[Pezhead]

DonT


Thank you.

[m4andxdisbliss]

I was gonna make a thread awhile back but decided to refrain. Don't want to be a whiner and have not been to too many gun shows myself.

A few weeks ago I went to the Hutch gun show, and was more than amazed at the prices. That being a bad thing. Many of the "new" guns were in rough shape, lint and dirt/dust in the barrels, etc.

To me it's like a new car, you want me to buy something new, it better look the part. I would never buy a new car with chip/cookie crumbs and dirty finger prints on the carpets.

The prices, to me at least, were way overpriced and, as someone stated before, were too high to negotiate with.

I went there with $800 in my pocket, looking for a Kimber or decent poly .45,(Glock, XD). I came home with the money...

A really good example was, I saw a few XD9 and XD40 sub-compacts. One was "new" at $595. Saw another "new" one at $675. Both of which looked as if they were stored in a dusty abandoned warehouse for 5 years, wiped off and showed as new..

Another was a "new" Kimber, different table, also looking as if the guy drug it through dirt and placed it on his table. Just a plain Carry Pro Stainless with a few scratches on it from handling, and the guy wanted $850 for it. (Was at Gander and Cabela's the day before, and they wanted $750 and $800 respectively, out the door. They were also new, not a mark on them and very clean.) The guy said he wouldn't entertain anything below $800. I told him I have $745 cash in my pocket with his name on it. The guy said nothing to me... I walked away. To me, with the grime on the gun, and knowing I could get a shiny new one at the store for cheaper, I thought my price was reasonable. He didn't. I was not rude in the least. And to me, I didn't think I was low-balling him either.

Do these guys think the average gun show visitor doesn't look at the going rate/new price of a specific gun they might be interested in purchasing? I understand the negotiating part, but that's a bit ridiculous.

I know Thunderjohn's prices would blows these guys out of the water, with NO negotiating involved...

Maybe that's why I bought from him.

Just my $.02...

[billsnogo]

I pretty much stopped going, but the bug bites and I will go again, and again be disappointed. I usually find something that gets my interest, but not what I really want. I am the type that does not like to haggle. If I see a car for sale I am interested in, but no price listed, I never inquire. I have in the past and every time they have the need to tell you why they are asking so much, when they can just put the details and description on the car with the price. At gun shows, I see guns that are listed $100 above what I can get at the big box stores, and just don't feel like haggling, not worth my breath. Yes I rather support a local seller than a big box store, but should not have to haggle to do it.

I also was disappointed at all the supposedly good jerky at the shows Have yet to see one good deal

Ammo has been so-so.

I have the itch to buy something, so even though I have yet to find a good deal on a gun I have been seeking out, I will attend the one in Brooklyn Park at the end of November anyways