[Guest]

Is it me, or are gun shows really lacking in quality accessories? The selection on actual guns, flashlights, and knives is decent and the prices are generally ok, but I can find those in any gun shop around town. Where are all of the quality hosters? Not just the cheap nylon or made for any 5" leather holsters. I'd love to be able to try out some nice don humes, galcos, bladetechs etc to see if they actually conceal well. Real gun belts would also be a plus (at least a wilderness instructor). I can't even find decent magazines half the time. It's so hard to find factory mags unless you have a glock. I found LCP magazines at one table today and they didn't have the extension. Range bags and gun cases are cheap and rarely have closed cell foam so no need in looking for those. I don't think I've ever seen more than one or two spotting scopes. I do find AR15 parts every now and then, but I have to dig through all of the cheap Chinese TAPCO fakes. Is Mississippi just too cheap to support stocking these items?

 

[amiles87]

yeah i agree ive been dealing with the same thing

 

[Beladran]

with access to the internet there is no point any more

 

[mstrsippy]

Every time I go to a gun show I swear it's my last. Then the next one comes around and I drag my a$$ down there just 'cause I think that maybe, just maybe, this one may be better.

 

[Guest]

I do the same thing. I keep going hoping I'll actually get to try out a couple of holsters or look over a range bag instead of having to order it, find out it isn't what I wanted and send it back.

 

[smp17]

I have found that they all really suck, same vendors all the time. The one in Laurel was "decent" But I've finally decided not to waste my time on them anymore. I can find anything I "need" on the net, and most of the time at cheaper prices!

 

[9c4me]

I like to support the shows but agreed on the lack of holsters, I was looking to buy a Blackhawk holster and mag case but there were none to be found, nor were there any other decent brands to look at.

 

[Guest]

So are there no good holsters because there isn't a strong market and MS and it isn't cost effective or is there a viable market that's just being ignored? I'd be interested in hearing from the vendors.

 

[jbpmidas]

I believe the internet is the problem. As all of you have said, "Ican find it cheaper on the net." We have to begin actively supporting these folks just like our local shops. I like to save money on stuff, so I am part of the problem also. My favorite thing is to buy and sell and trade with individuals.

 

[1985 4runner]

with access to the internet there is no point any more

True, it is very disappointing to walk through a gun show & see firearm price tags at 170% of fair market value though.


There may be one sucker that's going to pay $500 for a used WASR, but it's an insult to the rest of us that know it's a $350 rifle all day long.


I only go for the entertainment value & occasionally find some oddball ammo I'm willing to purchase.

I've had it with paying $7 to shop though. I can only think it must keep the groups of wannabe thugs away.

 

[Rw]

with access to the internet there is no point any more

True, it is very disappointing to walk through a gun show & see firearm price tags at 170% of fair market value though.


There may be one sucker that's going to pay $500 for a used WASR, but it's an insult to the rest of us that know it's a $350 rifle all day long.


I only go for the entertainment value & occasionally find some oddball ammo I'm willing to purchase.

I've had it with paying $7 to shop though. I can only think it must keep the groups of wannabe thugs away.

At this show it was more like 250% of market value on some stuff, those same dealers are the ones bitching about selling nothing. I saw a shotgun identical to one i bought for $100 a few months ago, this one was just as beat but the guy was asking $350. I did find a few deals but was only able to purchase one of them though.. funds were too short.
And the $8 admission didnt keep the thugs away, there were quite a few this afternoon.

 

[360glitch]

As a vendor that's new to the gun show game, I'd love to hear exactly what you guys as walk-in customers would love to see on the table at the next event. I've already seen some things you'd like to see in the previous posts, what else?

 

[JMS39339]

I will pretty much agree with you guys about the lack of quality accessories and greatly inflated prices but for me, it's really more of a form of entertainment these days. The price is a little high but I still enjoy getting to go walk through and check out the merchandise. Occasionally, I'll pick up something that I would have never even thought I'd have liked to find out that I do.

Usually if I'm in the market for a good buy, I'll take some cash, go early and stay late looking at the things individuals are bringing through and I'll normally find something. I do totally agree though that a couple of the dealers in particular are always griping about how horrible business is for them and they know that their prices are ridiculous.

360, in answer to your question, I would just have to agree with the above posters on some nice, quality holsters. I've been looking for another pocket holster for an LCP and just really haven't been wanting to order one more thing off the internet. If there had been one at the show, I'd have bought it if it had been anywhere near a reasonable price just so I could have seen something I liked and took it home.

I think gun belts, a few custom grips (especially for 1911's and maybe some of the more common SIGs) and some night sights for some of the more common models, NICE range bags, flip-up sights for AR's and targets (those cool zombie silhouettes) would be nice to see. Maybe some of that stuff was there but I didn't see any of it and could have probably been enticed to have bought several of those items over the weekend. :2c:

 

[1985 4runner]

As a vendor that's new to the gun show game, I'd love to hear exactly what you guys as walk-in customers would love to see on the table at the next event. I've already seen some things you'd like to see in the previous posts, what else?

Well for starters I'd like to see $400 AK-47s priced at $400, not $600. Same thing with SKSs. Most are overpriced by about $100.

For example, I can go to one of three websites saved in "my Favorites" on my computer & get what I want shipped to my local FFL for a fair price, usually free shipping, with no sales tax adding only a $15 FFL fee on the receiving end. My local gun show should be able to match or beat that price.

Ammo is even easier to get. I get get it delivered in bulk to my doorstep cheaper than I can buy it at the gun show.


I mean, I really, really WANT to support the local guy at the show, but I don't have all day, (nor do I enjoy the process) to haggle them down to a fair price, plus I sincerely get the feeling that a lot of the vendors think we consumers are ignorant of current market prices.


I doubt that my little rant here will have any impact on local gun show prices. I just needed to vent.

Most likely I'll just continue to buy 95% of my firearms/ammo from the internet or FTF sales.

 

[sand_man]

I don't go to them any more for the reasons above plus if you take a gun in looking for a trade, they will only offer you half of what it's worth. I used to set up long ago and actually for good deals and made money! Used to cash talked but now adays it seems everyone is deaf!

 

[Beladran]

For example, I can go to one of three websites saved in "my Favorites" on my computer & get what I want shipped to my local FFL for a fair price, usually free shipping, with no sales tax adding only a $15 FFL fee on the receiving end. My local gun show should be able to match or beat that price.

now you gotta be fair about that.... Your website guy more than likely dont have a true store front, probably just some warehouse space that he rents for cheap $1000 a month and maybe $500 a year for server use. I bet him and his wife run the operation. In that case they can operate on a 15-20% margin. Now look at a gun shop that has a store front(place like vans) $150,000+property tax. With 6 people on staff paying each 26,000 a year + benifits and they have a million dollars worth of inventory on hand. they operate on a 30% margin. Now who out of those two can give you the better price? We/us are to blame for this, nobody wants to support the local guy anymore like they use to.

 

[msredneck]

I find gun shows really lacking in general...especially around here...

dealers buying ammo at Wal-Mart and doubling the price so He can sell it to some fool who thinks He's getting a deal cause its a "show"

Go to a real gun show where they have 1000 tables or more in some place like Dallas or Atlanta and you'd never attend one in MS again

 

[teirst]

I don't believe the internet is the problem, people do realize that internet businesses offer less everything than a retail store. lower prices less support of their product. I say the problem is that people at gun shows use prices that are intentionally high so that if they get negotiated down 30% they still get retail price. they don't realize that people don't like to barter anymore, they want a fair price from the start.


also paying to get in is annoying

 

[360glitch]

I don't believe the internet is the problem, people do realize that internet businesses offer less everything than a retail store. lower prices less support of their product. I say the problem is that people at gun shows use prices that are intentionally high so that if they get negotiated down 30% they still get retail price. they don't realize that people don't like to barter anymore, they want a fair price from the start.


also paying to get in is annoying

As a vendor that is one thing I noticed. In the pawn shop business, most all prices are fairly negotiable, and so were the guns on our tables this weekend. However I did worry that some of our sticker prices may have scared some folks away that would never think to as for a good cash price. That is something I definitely plan on working on for the next show.

 

[Guest]

I don't mind bartering, but I have a lot of hearing loss and it's really difficult with all the background noise so I usually don't bother at gun shows. I also would prefer for a realistic base price over something completely ridiculous. Abnormal high prices just seem like the vendor is trying to take advantage of less knowledgeable people.