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I also go to find things I can't find at stores.
There is no vendor with AR hard parts close to me, but always several at the shows. And my tastes in guns tends toward the unusual, and you find the unusual stuff at gun shows.
And believe it or not, some vendors with retail storefronts sell their stuff cheaper at the shows. I looked at an AR offered by a well-known Fort Worth dealer. There was a really good price on it, and I asked if I could buy it at their store for that price if I came in Monday or Tuesday. I got an evasive answer. So I went by the store and that gun was $30 higher.
I suspect in some cases the vendor is blowing out some overstock or turning a buy-in deal into cash. Whatever the motivation, a good deal is a good deal.

Sometimes, I'll buy an inexpensive specialty part/item at a funshow (i.e., AR-15 sight adjustment tool), but other than that the interweb is the place to go for deals on guns and gear.

Rex B wrote:Perhaps many people view a gun show as a firearms flea market. That's probably how they started out.

They did. And until Clinton shut down the "hobby FFLs", there were many vendors that only did business at gun shows, flea markets, trade days, classifieds, etc. No storefront at all.

KBCraig wrote:

Rex B wrote:Perhaps many people view a gun show as a firearms flea market. That's probably how they started out.

They did. And until Clinton shut down the "hobby FFLs", there were many vendors that only did business at gun shows, flea markets, trade days, classifieds, etc. No storefront at all.

I sometimes wonder why our Republican President while he had a Republican congress didn't simply reverse this?

Liberty wrote:

KBCraig wrote:

Rex B wrote:Perhaps many people view a gun show as a firearms flea market. That's probably how they started out.

They did. And until Clinton shut down the "hobby FFLs", there were many vendors that only did business at gun shows, flea markets, trade days, classifieds, etc. No storefront at all.

I sometimes wonder why our Republican President while he had a Republican congress didn't simply reverse this?

Probably because gun rights are not a high priority for him.
Mexicans are, apparently.

Liberty wrote:

KBCraig wrote:

Rex B wrote:Perhaps many people view a gun show as a firearms flea market. That's probably how they started out.

They did. And until Clinton shut down the "hobby FFLs", there were many vendors that only did business at gun shows, flea markets, trade days, classifieds, etc. No storefront at all.

I sometimes wonder why our Republican President while he had a Republican congress didn't simply reverse this?

Hmmm...interesting question! Perhaps Americans should be more cynical about all current politicians (i.e., privileged elites on both sides) and less partisan.

They all bear watchin', dude. Frankly, the only politicos that I tend to "trust" are the newbs that aren't quite corrupted just yet. After a few years, we should dump all of 'em, and bring in another fresh crop of newbs. Get it, wash-rinse-repeat. Career politicians of any party only really care about one thing, getting re-elected by any means necessary.

Liberty wrote: I sometimes wonder why our Republican President while he had a Republican congress didn't simply reverse this?

Because Republicans want gun-control laws just as much as the Democrats. They just do not want to be the ones to pass it.

badkarma56 wrote:After a few years, we should dump all of 'em, and bring in another fresh crop of newbs. Get it, wash-rinse-repeat. Career politicians of any party only really care about one thing, getting re-elected by any means necessary.

I can't help but agree.

Yep I agree too.
Term limits from the President to the City councilman.

We do need to return this to the oirginal Gun show thread.
It has been unintentionall hijacked.

Honestly I don't go to gun shows anymore unless I absolutely want to buy a gun.

They are too expensive to get in, ammo is too expensive, guns are too expensive, everything is too expensive.

"That's a good question, what is the special gunshow price? I can tell you.

It's the $300 spent on tables, $150 for diesel fuel, $175 for hotels, $400 to $500 for wages and the lesser incidental expenses. That's without considering the cost of an inventory of more than 3000 holsters or the support equipment necessary to make it all work.

The gun show starts early on Friday when everything gets loaded into the trailer for a 350 mile trip and the day ends late in the evening setting up for the weekend. Saturday morning begins at the show at 7am to be sure to be ready for customers when the door opens at 9am. You can expect to be on your feet constantly until 6pm and then it's time to lock up the cabinets and cover the displays.

Sunday usually allows for a later start and we don't get to the show until 7:30 am and its the same format but the show closes at 5pm. Then its pack up, load up and drive 350 miles until we have to unload because you don't leave $250,000 of holsters sitting on the street overnight.

At each gun show we take part in, we bring about 3,000 holsters, including about 1,000 left handers; for customers to view, try and select from and you can't do that online.

Now, what's the special gun show price? My understanding is that a gun show is a place where customers can come and purchase guns and associated items all under one roof, for their enjoyment and convenience. We provide a wide selection of holsters to our customers but I am not aware of any special pricing policies to take part in a gun show.

I am often asked "what's your best price?". Well, our best price would be a lot higher so that we could go home with some serious money in our pockets. We're a business just like Academy or the local gas station. What do they say when you ask "what's your special price?""



Cry. Me. A. River.

As an owner of a business in a very competitive field (printing) I know exactly what it costs to run a business. If doing a show costs too much or is a pain in the butt to do, THEN DON'T DO IT.

But a show is a place to bring out the special deals. A show is a place to shine. It is an advertisement of your business, and a small cut won't kill you. It doesn't have to be a big cut, or really any cut. (You could mark every tag "Special Gun Show Price" or something) But customers like to feel special. We can go to Academy, or Gander MTN and be treated like numbers at anytime. But when I go to a show, I like to talk, haggle, generally have fun.

But when I get to show, I get to deal with ticked-off and cranky vendors who have traveled 350 miles and spent money on related business expenses to do their job. THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM. But dealing with such people is a pain, and makes me want to forget the whole thing. Is a "special show price" too much to ask?

HELL NO.

If you can't offer a "special show price" because your margins are too thin, then you need to look for another line of work.

I'm sorry to rant, and none of this is personal, but it sickens me to hear "mom & pop" business whine to gov't that they can't compete with the Big Boys and then whine to the customers about the same thing.

If you put customers first, always, then you will succeed. Period. Those who do ALWAYS succeed. Look at Bill Carter of Carter's Country. Or Jim McInvale of Gallery Furniture. (both in Houston, where I am) They did this, and now they ARE the Big Boys.

You can do this too. Start small.

Maybe offer a "Special Gun Show Price"...


Chris Carpenter
Image In Media
16903 Red Oak Drive, Suite 218
Houston, Texas 77090
713-443-0423
http://www.imageinmedia.com

+1 Chris, well said!


I tend to go to gun shows to buy small parts I can't easily find around town - 1911 parts, grips, oddball mags, and neat stuff I hadn't seen before. But at $7.00 admission and couple gallons of gas, I always ask myself "Can I find this online for close to the same money?". That $7.00 generally covers shipping from most anywhere.
Of course, if I'm looking to buy or sell a firearm, that changes the equation. Fortunately, I'm always looking for that next gun

Shows are fun.
Some shops are not.
Personally I don't care for Carter's Country.
Carter fought having gun shows in Houston. They cut into his business and he darn sure wasn't going to match the show prices.
His stores also remind me of a car lot. Pushy salespeople who want to sell you what they have and not what you want.
Forget about custom ordering there.

I agree that is how Carter's is now. BUT I have bought guns there in the past (FAR past) and if there was a problem, they were spot-on with helping you. None of this "Send it to the factory" business. Yes, Carter's has changed. I guess that's what happens when you become a Big Boy. But customer service WAS their thing back in the day.