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.

[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.

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.

[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.

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