Dresser Gun Show: Outrageous prices

View · by **gjlog** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 2:30 pm

Let me start by saying that I have only attended a half dozen gun shows over the past five years, so my recent experience might be an exception. I attended the Dresser, WI gun show yesterday and was dismayed by the poor quality of handgun manufacturers (mostly lesser quality brands) and their poor condition. What surprised me was the outrageously high prices these vendors were seeking. Used Taurus .357 for $799? Ammo was also overpriced, and not just .22lr.
I understand the story about prices being set by the market, but these were high in comparison with what you would pay at many retail outlets. My guess is that vendors count on a clientele that is new to gun buying and do not know enough to make an intelligent buy. I hear the argument that gun shows offer a significant service, allowing private parties to exchange goods. But in this one instance, buyers end up wasting their time, (me), or overpaying. That's not much of a service. I have a hard time defending gun shows if the only people benefitting are vendors.

View · by **mmcnx2** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 3:02 pm

That tends to be my general impression of all the shows. Anything I need I can buy retail, don't have to pay to get into the store and in the end the price is as good or better.

I'm sure there is a deal to be found if you go to dozens of shows but by the time you factor in the mileage and entry fee it just can't be worth it.

View · by **justinvan** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 3:47 pm

Sounds like 80% of the shows I have been to in the last 10 years. I choose to go to a select few shows with a good reputation, other than that I find the best deals at a select few shops.

View · by **Grandpa Rex** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 4:04 pm

Not unusual.

I attend shows for the used items and can find an occasional good deal. I also like the concentration of items that you can touch and feel.

Keep in mind that prices are negotiable and you can always say no thanks. Check out the auction sites for what you want and you can guage the prices from there.

Make an offer at what you can find it for elsewhere (or less) and sometimes the seller is ready to make a deal. If not, keep in mind manufacturers make thousands of any given item and you can always find it again.

I view it like any shopping, if I don's have to have it right now, I can always wait for a good opportunity.

View · by **BBeckwith** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 4:13 pm

If it makes you guys fell better over the past two weekends in Ohio I have hit two gun shows. Both charged a higher entry Fee then around MN and they had similar pricing I have seen in MN. All the tables except 1 or 2 were right on par with Goose Hill pricing.

View · by **LePetomane** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:03 pm

I have not been to a gun show in quite a while. All they seem to have are Glocks and they all look the same.

View · by **Erud** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:52 pm

Gun shows blow.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

View · by **tenmilmag** on Sun Mar 23, 2014 5:58 pm

Come over to my house. I'll show you some guns

(No entry fee)

View · by **Deputyhiro** on Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:32 pm

Was at the Faribault gun show a few months ago. Listening to a guy dealing with a vendor over a .380 Ruger he was looking to purchase. I was listening, hoping to chime in, as I own one for daily carry. It would have been the first handgun he ever bought. Then he proceeds to tell the guy that the reason he is buying it was for a side arm when him and his buddy go up to Alaska Salmon fishing this spring to protect against bears. I had to chime in now. I told him shoot the bear with the first 5 rounds, and use the last round to shoot yourself in the head because the only thing those 5 rounds would do was piss off the bear. Don't know if/ or what he ended up buying. I don't think he was a gun guy....

View · by **2in2out** on Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:36 pm

I have a blowgun to protect against bears. And throwing stars.

View · by **Squib Joe** on Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:16 am

I would say that at least 80% of gun show buyers will plan on trying to haggle down the price of any gun they come across at a gun show. The high price tags are inflated on the assumption by the dealer that they will have to cut 10-20% off of that price to get the "real" price. It's a game some people enjoy. Not me. There are exceptions to this, I've noticed that Hart Brothers and Southwest Arms (ThunderJohn) start with a fair price on their tags instead of making the customer jump through hoops to find out what they will have to pay.

View · by **Tronster** on Wed Mar 26, 2014 1:33 pm

I view gun shows as an easy way to do some gun fondling without bothering a counter person at a gun shop. Other than that, I might find deals on small items, gun belts, or ammo cans. Everything else is overpriced, which helps keep my money in my pocket.

View · by **SuperHerb** on Thu Mar 27, 2014 9:37 pm

I was at the big gun show at the State Fair grounds a week and a half ago and listened to a guy working for a big multi table gun seller tell a lady that Hi-Point guns were great because they didn't need cleaning and if she ever experienced some stickiness she could send it in to Hi-point for service and they'd clean it for free.

Then I moved on and bought a gun from Southwest Arms for a good price and very professional help.

Gun shows are fun!

View · by **Tronster** on Thu Mar 27, 2014 10:14 pm

That's half the fun, walking around and listening to find out who knows their stuff and who's full of it.
Did you know?:

Bushmasters have special barrels that stay cool to the touch even after mag dumps.
Pmags are junk. These (noname plastic mags) are more better and half the price.
Mini 14's are 1 moa rifles right outta the box.

And the next guy I hear that suggests a pink LCP as the first gun for a woman, I'm gonna slap him!