When I got there at 8:45 (they opened at 9am) on Sunday I was maybe 10th in line. Normally, the line stretches around the block. Vendors were *****ing & moaning about how slow it was. Another attendee suggested that with Trump in the Whorehouse the urgency to buy guns is gone. I joked that maybe we should bring Obama back. He didn't laugh.
Are other gun shows seeing the same lack of attendance?
Gun sales are really down. I went to Cabelas to do some trading yesterday. My wife has started shooting IDPA with me. She has been using my S&W 64-6. I saw that they had a nice 686 that they marked down to $649. I took my Ruger P95 with 4 mags and the original box and paperwork along with the 64-6 down to Cabelas. They said that nationwide they have a huge stash of used guns that no one seemed to want to buy. They would not take either of my guns in trade. And the Ruger is like brand new. It has been just sitting in the safe for years.
Internet sales have largely cut into what gun shows used to offer. Local laws I'm my state have put a bigger wrinkle in gun show attendance, because all private party sales have to go through an FFL. So it isn't as easy to walk around, find someone with a gun you like and make a quick offer. You now have to consider FFL transfer fees into the equation of the transaction. The shes have FFLs who will do the transfers on site, but it is a bit more cumbersome than it used to be.
Internet sales have largely cut into what gun shows used to offer. Local laws I'm my state have put a bigger wrinkle in gun show attendance, because all private party sales have to go through an FFL. So it isn't as easy to walk around, find someone with a gun you like and make a quick offer. You now have to consider FFL transfer fees into the equation of the transaction. The shes have FFLs who will do the transfers on site, but it is a bit more cumbersome than it used to be.
Here in PA we have to go thru background checks too. It only became an issue once when it came back "research". The gun store said that later it came back OK. I've heard that it's usually a glitch in our PICS (NICS isn't used in PA).
Regardless, we need to do away with the whole background check system. We have a right to own guns & shouldn't have to get the govt's permission to buy them.
The gun shows around have shot themselves in the foot.
Only about half of the vendors sell guns (I don't pay entry fees to see beef jerky, Bud-K knives or eyeglass cleaning) and those that do sell guns want prices 50% higher than online. Private sellers are staying at home. As the show attendance drops, the entry fees rise. The promoters and gun sellers have the economics backwards; business goes down so they try to raise prices to cover the margin. I see the same thing in the mom and pop gun shops.
The only decent prices I find any more are in pawn shops or on the great bun groper.
The gun shows almost everywhere are slow. And especially with the AR Market. When a guy or gal can buy and Anderson Stripped Lower Receiver for $39.00 and a Lower Parts Kit for as low as $49.00, put a complete Upper for $399.00 - $499.00 it they more than likely are not going to go buy a $1000.00 complete AR at a Gun Show. I know the guys were joking about Obummer!
But as far as bringing back the socialistic liar and best gun salesman. NO WAY! I will take my Freedom over my sales. IMO we were getting very close to it taking a Revolution to keep our gun rights. But with Trump and the majority in the Senate and Congress being conservatives things are "Good For Now"! Except for a few States that are stomping all over the Second Amendment and other. Something needs to change there for sure! The only thing moving at the gun shows seems for the biggest part pistols and ammunition. Regarding our Second Amendment passing new laws that are also hurting the gun shows and dealers in those states. We have taken a stand! My Company will no longer be doing any business with Commiefornia, New York and a couple of others who are against our Second Amendment Rights! Two weeks ago, we advised those we had been doing business with in those states that we will not be returning and advised them the reason. (Since their States were stomping on the our Second Amendment and other Rights.) Most all of our contacts advised they fully understood and did not blame us. ", In California they advised of agents from some division had been going to local gun ranges and arresting people for violations of newly passed gun laws recently! They also advised as soon as they could they too are also leaving as in "GONE"! They are Law Enforcement and Government Agents by the way!
Until the Anti Gun Liberal Idiots are out of office in those states and the laws changed to support the Second Amendment and all individual's Rights, we will continue that business position for the future.
I want to go on *Record and let the politicians of those states know and let them have no doubt, "WE DO NOT NEED YOUR SICIALIST ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL BUSINESS! We cater to "Real American's" not the Anti American, Anti-Constitutional, Anti-Gun, Socialist Liberals!
There was a gun show in Orlando last weekend. Attendance seemed down, but steady while I was there. I enjoy walking around and looking. You can get as good a deal on guns at that show as you can on the net. You just have to know what the net price is. I generally look at Brownell's or Bud's. I can usually match those prices. Same thing with knives. I look at the "Knife Warehouse," Brownell's or Midway. I figure in their price and shipping and can usually beat that.
Of late there have been ammo deals also. Last week Browning 9 mm were $109/500 rounds, which is not bad.
Cabella's used gun section in both Kansas City and St. Louis are about outrageous prices for common goods. From time-to-time one will find a couple of interesting pieces, but priced out of reason. The "gun library" must just be to draw people into the store, for, again, the prices are awful.
If their "huge stash" of used guns is akin to what they offer at the store, they will be sitting on them a long time. I've tried to trade with them ..twice. Won't bother with that again.
Cabella's has buyers on the road through out the country. They offer cash, credit or Cabella's stock in exchange for firearms. I have never known them to pay over 75% book price or lower for valuable collections.
The buyers take advantage usually of estates sales. Many heirs to gun collections simply want cash now. Cabella's is about fast cash in these settlements. They in turn offer these arms at ridiculously high prices in their stores.
The Orlando Gun Show is pretty good. The gun prices will at least match any internet prices, and the background fee is only $5, where the local FFLs will charge $30 and up if you bring one in from the internet. There is a lot of ammo, holsters, good knives, reloading and other equipment. We have the jerky and eyeglass cleaning, but it is at a minimum.
The show on 7/1 and 7/2 was pretty well attended. Particularly when you figure in the holiday weekend.
I enjoy them and look forward to them. At the very least they are entertainment.
Went to the Palmetto show on Sat. I went looking for a Marlin 60 SS. Nobody had one to show or in stock. Ok, fine, so I sit down with each dealer to get their best price, patiently wait while they fumble about, trying to look one up and price it. The lowest price I get is $275. So I tell each one its way too much money, I can find them on the internet all day long for $220. I try like hell to spend my money locally but what I get is "Well, the internet doesn't have our overhead". I can't make that my problem, sorry. I bought one from a NY firm for $221, $8 shipping, $20 ffl fee. Between the "I want it all, and I want it now" business model, and everybody thinking their scat's gold-plated, I'm giving up on shows for a while. Anymore, its trolling for suckers show.
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