Gun Show Prices

[TEAMRICO]

Just feeling this out.
I enjoy going to gun shows to find stuff before I go online. I like the hunt and the ability to see and feel an item before I buy it.
The thing that drives me crazy is the OVER PRICING!
Ok, I know some vendors need to turn a profit but if I know I can get it cheaper somewhere else Im gonna go elsewhere! Why would someone knowingly put a price on something hoping to get rich rather then sell it for a reasonable price to move merchandise rather then tote it back home?
How much is enough to make some money on an item.
Im thinking about getting a little home business started selling the stuff we all love and want. Tactical Gear, etc.
I would not want to be stuck with everything I haul around if I know I can sell it, make some profit and do the whole thing over again.
Example:
If I had a certain style of pouch for instance that I got at wholesale for say $4.
I see that same pouch being sold at the GS for $15 and I know on the internet they sell for only $12 plus Tax and S/H. If I had it for $10 would you still buy it from me?
Im no Business major but I am a customer.
We know the ammo situation. Walmart $9...Gun Show $15 for same box.
Does this make sense?
Trying to get a feel for the demand.
Thanks for any input.

[nontactical]

You and I (and nearly everyone else on this forum) are simply not the target audience of gun show vendors. Gun savvy hobbyists who get “dealer” pricing from Brownells (or know someone who does), buy powder in 8lb kegs and bullets in 10k lots go to gun shows to socialize and find that VERY occasional bargain. The people that the show vendors are looking for are newbies in awe of the selection and not yet price conscious. In fact, I think a lot of people off the street go there assuming that the prices are better because it’s a gun show. That’s why you see so many 100 round bags of 9mm bullets; I wouldn’t even be willing to calibrate my reloader to put together 100 rounds of 9mm ammo!
This really becomes apparent when you consider how useless the shows are if you are serious about almost any specific shooting discipline. Try finding high-end 1911 or 2011 parts for IPSC (or even a single 2011 magazine), or any competition shotgun acessories . The gun shows are aimed at dabblers and newbies. You are, I assume from your post, neither.
For this exact reason, however, the shows serve an extremely important purpose. They allow these people exposure to our precious sport on a magnitude that all of the Bass Pro Shops and Sportsman’s Warehouses combined can’t hold a candle to. I started out trolling every show I could find (even the crappy ones at the fairgrounds with 15 vendors). I paid too much numerous times. I learned, I moved on. I think this is a pretty normal progression for someone to become the primer-hoarding lunatic that I am today. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance that we darken the doors of the Tanner now and again.
The main reason that I go any more is that the people I have always called crap vendors (jewelry, beanie babies, etc.) treat my little girl like a princess. When she buys a necklace, the vendor spends as much time with my daughter as it takes to look at every single piece of useless crap on the table, and often gives her some other little piece of costume jewelry just because she’s cute. Try as I might, she has yet to show any serious interest in the shooting sports, so this has become my de facto method of sharing the sport. While she could take or leave her single shot .22, her custom .380 Govt. or her Browning Gold 20ga (Holy Crap is she spoiled) she is growing up with a serious affinity for gun shows and gun people.

Wow... that turned into a book in a hurry. I'll shut up now.

[BlasterBob]

Both of the above posts are really good and do hit home quite well. Normally I am on the aisle side of the tables doing a little buying. Once in a while, I'm behind the table in an attempt to sell a few things, make a few bucks to at least get even with the table rent, fuel to get to the show, motel for a couple days and of course maybe a little food to give me the strength to deal with a multitude of "tire kickers". I have been guilty of buying some ammo at a local WalMart but I'll only kick the price up by a couple dollars (to help defray expenses) which I'd hope most buyers wouldn't mind too much if it is saving them a trip to WalMart.
I'm going to have a couple tables up at the brand new Tanner gun show in Pueblo just a month from now, October 9th and 10th. This is mentioned in my Post of Sept. 6th under the heading "Do I have one foot in the grave" up in the General Discussion forum. I am getting rid of ALL my 30 - 40 year accumulation of reloading equipment and supplies. If I can't sell all this stuff as one big lot before the show, I'll have everything priced cheap enough that I'll not have to haul it back home. Some stuff is half of what gun shops and other table holders are asking for their same items. Should be interesting to see how many times I'll have something that a gun shop will charge $15 for the item and I'll have the same thing for $7 or $8 bucks and someone will still make a serious attempt to chisel me down to $3 or $4. People can really be quite amusing.

[StagLefty]

I use the gun show to get together with some buddies and have lunch afterwards. I remember back in the days when deals were always there and that's just not the case anymore. There's still some deals to be had but scarce. I agree that most of us in the know do better elsewhere. [Beer]

[ghettodub]

I use the gun show to get together with some buddies and have lunch afterwards. I remember back in the days when deals were always there and that's just not the case anymore. There's still some deals to be had but scarce. I agree that most of us in the know do better elsewhere. [Beer]

Same here, it's a good chance to meet up with friends, and look at cool stuff that I can find cheaper elsewhere

[roberth]

I like to hang out at the table with my buddies, maybe sell a gun or 2. Wandering around talking to the cool people I have bought stuff from makes up a good part of my day.

People watching is entertaining.

[4gunfun]

I think it would be a real tough buisness. With online stores like cheaper than dirt, sporstmans guide and the list could go on forever. I would think long and hard before investing any money in this one Nate.

[ronaldrwl]

I have a different perspective having owned stores before. Not gun stores but the same economics. I now run my business on-line with far fewer employees. When owning a regular store the overhead is much higher and you are expected to provide more services. Personal one on one services. So, it's not surprising that internet businesses can sell things at a lower price. In my view it's stealing to go to a store or gun show and take somebodies time knowing you are going to buy elsewhere. I'm guilty of it myself but I try to buy locally as much as possible.
[BooHoo]

[jweinsteiger]

I Have had some luck at the smaller shows but its like anything else you have to put the time in to find the deals. you may get lucky but if you keep hunting something always seems to turn up.

[Great-Kazoo]

I use the gun show to get together with some buddies and have lunch afterwards. I remember back in the days when deals were always there and that's just not the case anymore. There's still some deals to be had but scarce. I agree that most of us in the know do better elsewhere. [Beer]

the gun shows went south for FTF deals once everyone who felt "reasonable" gun laws were good were passed. This took you and me out of the loop for a fast trade, sale, what ever to get cash in your pocket so you could buy that other gun you saw walking around.

as one who assist at shows. try paying rent + utilities in a store front AND getting people to work on their days off, to help you hump your shit to the show, set up, then deal with tire kickers who tell me "the guy over there"? has the same thing but Cheaper. 99.9% of the time when asked to show me who it is and i will price match + another 10% off any related accessory they really can't remember. BUT they know they saw it cheaper. Sure they did. just like the vendor selling LMT Listed items which really are not LMT!.
Of course there is magazine seller pimping after market mags with factory prices. YMMV

[HBARleatherneck]

i kind of miss the pre 86 gun shows in Denver. All of it except the nazi crap. Back then the guns were amazing, every kind of gun. Not really a family event, even though our family allways went. Lots of guys that look like JIM, except with swastikas inked all over them, and with ss and swatiska patches. Buying and selling the same gun while walking around, those were the days, before "reasonable" gun laws.

[Bearark]

The main problem I have with gun shows is all the Dumb Arts and Crafts stuff and beanie baby type merchandise. Last show I went to was the Tanner show a year or two back and I swear it was nearly all that stuff and Cheap Bud K knives and air soft.
One of these days I'm gonna get a booth at a Craft show and sell guns, see how they like it.

[theGinsue]

There's a running joke on this site that goes something like
Person A: I went to the Gun Show today
Person B: Yeah, I'm running low on Jerky too.
Person C: How many pair of gloves did you buy?

I commented on the non-gun related vendors at the Tanner show today to my son. Even he couldn't understand how they can make enough of a profit to keep showing up.

I was hoping to run into a few others from this site today but the timing must not have been right. I did get the opportunity to speak with BlasterBob which is always a pleasure. (I was even able to pick up some .45 bullets from him).

Back to the issue of over-pricing, I saw a new Beretta 92F for $589 on one table, and one aisle over I saw an identical model for $649.

[cj]

OK, a little zombie thread here, but I enjoyed the perspective, especially after visiting a show last weekend seeing, for example, a Ruger LCP (MSRP: $347, available locally for $299) sitting on a table with a $459 price tag (and a box of 50 WWB 9mm for $60). I'll admit some other guys had decent to great prices, but what are some of these guys even thinking? I love to support the small and local guy, but these huge markups are ridiculous.

[StagLefty]

I hate to see fellow gun enthusiasts paying too much but it's all about research nowadays. [Coffee]

[Ridge]

OK, a little zombie thread here, but I enjoyed the perspective, especially after visiting a show last weekend seeing, for example, a Ruger LCP (MSRP: $347, available locally for $299) sitting on a table with a $459 price tag (and a box of 50 WWB 9mm for $60). I'll admit some other guys had decent to great prices, but what are some of these guys even thinking? I love to support the small and local guy, but these huge markups are ridiculous.

Wish I still had my smartphone so that I could pull it out and google the gun and show them they are asking twice MSRP....would love to see the looks on their faces.

[R&S]

I can agree with you that a LOT of gun prices are over priced, however, those prices locally you are comparing to are usually at one of the big box stores at a once every so often sale and the folks at the gun shows usually don't have the money backing them up for the factory direct discounts. you have to remember that the vendor have to setup on Friday, pay for tables, pack up on sunday. Just as you make money to support your families the vendors need to support their families.

Now, with that said, that is why I started my business. I am in business to make money but to make money in volume and not an individual sales. I don't have the best prices always but most of the time I do. Like Bersa 380s for $259.95 and WW primer for $25.50. I try to have a show special each gun show. I will have Ruger 10-22s for less than Gander, Bass pro (at least less than their online prices as of last night). Several of this forums members have been to my tables and are please with the selection and prices.

FWIW

Regards,
Randy

[hurley842002]

I can agree with you that a LOT of gun prices are over priced, however, those prices locally you are comparing to are usually at one of the big box stores at a once every so often sale and the folks at the gun shows usually don't have the money backing them up for the factory direct discounts. you have to remember that the vendor have to setup on Friday, pay for tables, pack up on sunday. Just as you make money to support your families the vendors need to support their families.

Now, with that said, that is why I started my business. I am in business to make money but to make money in volume and not an individual sales. I don't have the best prices always but most of the time I do. Like Bersa 380s for $259.95 and WW primer for $25.50. I try to have a show special each gun show. I will have Ruger 10-22s for less than Gander, Bass pro (at least less than their online prices as of last night). Several of this forums members have been to my tables and are please with the selection and prices.

FWIW

Regards,
Randy

I can totally understand the vendors needing to support their families, and there are several legit vendors at the shows. I also appreciate you trying to make a reasonable sale. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think many of the vendors just have nothing better to do, and have been attending the gun shows for years and years, with their buds, just for something to do. They don't rely on the show to survive, but just enjoy the company of like minded folk. Most of them remind me of my uncle "everything's for sale for the right price", and once he owns something, it doubles in value.

[R&S]

I can totally understand the vendors needing to support their families, and there are several legit vendors at the shows. I also appreciate you trying to make a reasonable sale. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think many of the vendors just have nothing better to do, and have been attending the gun shows for years and years, with their buds, just for something to do. They don't rely on the show to survive, but just enjoy the company of like minded folk. Most of them remind me of my uncle "everything's for sale for the right price", and once he owns something, it doubles in value.


Actually, I can't argue with your observations, I guess it only takes a few to ruin it for the others. And I am guilty of "everything's for sale for the right price" on occassions, Like my Remington 700 Sendero 300 win mag, with a Burris Signature Series 8X-32X-44mm, custom muzzle break, glass bedded stock, trigger job, and bipod. Loving referred to as "the Beast" or "the thousand yard zombie killer" (that is my "at the right price" down fall). I bring it to the show to let folks look at it and give them ideas for things they can do for themselves.

As I become more web page literate I will be posting gunshow prices on my web page (www.rnsmanllc.com (http://www.rnsmanllc.com)) so if there is something that you want you will be able to get it at the show. But if you need primers I still have a few left for $25.50 (WW large and small pistol).

FWIW the last gunshow my prices caused other vendors to lower their prices, who knows maybe the trend will continue and gunshows will once again be a place for that special deal.


Regards,
Randy

[bluker1]

I'll give a vendors perspective who both has a store and used to go big at the gun shows. We have now trimmed down to a one table show only at the tanner. Many of you know we used to sell ton's of magpul and usual assortment of firearms. Back in our hey day of gun show last year we still would get beat up for things such as 'bulk pricing' which includes a grand 3 mags. The gunshow to me became an endless supply of people trying to beat us out of a dollar. Once the customers had their fill of magpul they stopped shopping. This year we consolidated down to one table and brought many of our one of kind and custom firearms that we have at the shop. Even offering some smoking deals at the show most people don't seem to be there to buy.

[micah360]

dude... we must have the same Uncle!


I can totally understand the vendors needing to support their families, and there are several legit vendors at the shows. I also appreciate you trying to make a reasonable sale. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think many of the vendors just have nothing better to do, and have been attending the gun shows for years and years, with their buds, just for something to do. They don't rely on the show to survive, but just enjoy the company of like minded folk. Most of them remind me of my uncle "everything's for sale for the right price", and once he owns something, it doubles in value.

[2ndAmendment]

Things are high in price right now maybe because of the bulk buying when the OBAMANATOR took over. They did great for a while but everything just hit a real slow point, I wounder if thats why people are keeping there prices up a bit to catch up with some loses....I dont blame them.