Sorry to hear the show sucked.

Ever since joining the OGCA, I tend to avoid all local shows. Occasionally, I will hit one, only to be reminded why I don't visit them any longer.

The OGCA shows are fantastic and I highly recommend membership.

we were at the nations gunshow yesterday. My wife was resting behind the VA services booth. There were some police officers there. Some ding bat lady came up to the officers and pulled a gun out of a tshirt thank you bag. Said she bought it from a table with no ID, no forms. Then she asked if that was really legal.

I saw 2 hipster dudes wandering around filming with their phone cameras yesterday. we were going up and down the isles crossways from each other. So i kept seeing the same two. If one got a bit to much scrutiny, he would put the phone in his pocket. The other 20 to 25 steps ahead would start filming.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Used to go to gun shows almost every weekend. The last time I went to one was over 10 years ago, and it was already sorry. Yeah, gun shows will eventually go the way of the dodo bird.

For us in Houston, who needs gun shows when you have Collector's?
Free parking, free admission, and last I was in there the prices weren't unreasonable. Most employees seemed knowledgeable as well.

My wife and I went to the Allentown gun show yesterday, small but respectable. Then on to the Leesport gun show, ditto. Grabbed our picnic lunch, then caught part of the Reading WWII air show from outside the perimeter. Finished our road trip with a cleansing ale or two and light refreshments. A great day, a common occurrence for us and yes, sometimes we find a bargain that comes home with us. Sometimes we do an overnight if we find a bargain Inn. In any event, another fun road trip. Six times a year we have incredibly good gun shows in Oaks, about 15 miles north west of Philadelphia. Three of then are 3 day, the others, 2 day. These are 1500 to 2000 table events and currently are packed with bargains including ammo. So gun shows are not dead yet, not by a long chalk, and certainly not in SE Pennsylvania.

The last gun show I went to was probably 15 years ago. It was filled with beef jerky and knock of military gear.

I gave up on gunshows about eight years ago. same complaints you have. Although I did go to one in Denver and it was prettu good. got a punch of pepper spray at a good price!

Complaints about gun shows being overrun with wannabe military / mall ninja types, or oddball vendors have been around forever. Probably justified, too.

I used to see much more positive reports from Rburg and what he bought or sold at gunshows on other boards, so if he's down on the current state of the gunshow, I'm inclined to pay heed.

Now saying that, my 4 kids still have fond memories of going to the gunshow with me when they were younger. Maybe because the beef jerky guy was an older man who knew if he goofed around with kids a bit and gave them samples, there'd be a pretty good chance dad would buy a couple packs from him.

I haven't been to a gun show in several years, not because they have been poorer (although that may well be the case), but simply because I have so many already that I'm not looking for anything. I used to go also to see friends who had tables or were wandering the aisles, but now that I'm 81, most of those folks are no longer around. As a social event it just doesn't work any more.

flashguy

Went to my first gun show about 5 years ago. Wasn't overly impressed, especially with the prices. Attended 2 more that same year. After the 3rd I decided if you've been to one you've been to them all. Have'nt attended one since. Just use the internet. On a similar note We used to attend many car swap meets. It's in the same situation. Quit going to those too.

quote:

Said she bought it from a table with no ID, no forms. Then she asked if that was really legal.

Sure, not everyone who has a table is a dealer. We even have a local gun traders website that buys a table and lets members come and try to sell their stuff there.

I drove past that show twice yesterday to go to a small local gun swap meet. Pretty much lugged home the same stuff I went with, but had a great time hanging out and wasting time with a bunch of like minded folks that I know and making some new ones.

Had to have been a Ron Dickson show. Last one i went to was awful as well at the Kentucky Exposition Center earlier in the year.

The best thing about the show is the KY Pork Producers Pork Chop Sandwich.

I had expected the gun show here in Tucson to be good, but frankly, its pretty bad as well

more Nazi memorabilia and junk - and what firearms there are are seriously over-priced in my opinion.

I went to my one and only last year, and it was such as disappointment that I will have to hear about a major change before I will go back

there were a few ammo vendors and I didn't pay much attention to them

They should sell deodorant and those disposable toothbrushes with the paste already on them at the front door - better yet, make it mandatory.

I don’t bother going to gunshows anymore, just not worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by P-220:
Sorry to hear the show sucked.

Ever since joining the OGCA, I tend to avoid all local shows. Occasionally, I will hit one, only to be reminded why I don't visit them any longer.

The OGCA shows are fantastic and I highly recommend membership.

These are the only gun shows I go to anymore. Lots of private party sales, and less dealers.


They changed them from once a quarter to every other month a couple years ago, so you tend to see the same stuff pretty often, but generally can find something every show, and a fantastic deal every couple of shows

.

The internet and the way people shop today is affecting how everyone does business and gun shows are part of that.

Gun shows here in Michigan are also in decline. IMO in large parts it's due to those idiots who only buy a gun when it's a panic. Then they just park them in a closet to gather dust. Seems a real waste to me to spend 1500 bucks on an AR-15 worth about 600 bucks and never shoot it.

However one thing that I've learned as I age is that the "General Public" is mainly composed of Morons. If you want evidence of this just take a look at the Democratic Party. If people were capable of thinking things thru the current Democratic Party would be history.

Good news for me is that we have an excellent family owned gun shop in the area and they are quite smart about maintaining a stock that fits their customers needs. One example of this is they ordered in a couple of S&W model 610's as soon as they were released in a new run. BTW, this is a 10mm Moon clip capable revolver that can shoot either the 40 S&W or 10mm. They also have a fine stock of Shotguns and will order just about any model shotgun or rifle you want and match the price at Cabelas or any other big box store.

IMO stores like this are just about as internet proof as is possible for a small retailer. Take a shop, tailor it to fill the needs or your customer base as fully as possible and employ people who know what they are selling and have the ability to smoothly guide a customer away from making a choice they might regret. As for shops like Buds, I don't know of any serious Shotgun shooter who would purchase a shotgun without being able to shoulder it first. Thus there are niches in the firearms market that budget retailers working over the net won't ever be able to serve.

quote:

Originally posted by pbramlett:
Had to have been a Ron Dickson show. Last one i went to was awful as well at the Kentucky Exposition Center earlier in the year.

The best thing about the show is the KY Pork Producers Pork Chop Sandwich.

^^^^^This and the Ehrler's Dairy Ice Cream. I had a double dip waffle cone of butter pecan and strawberry today. YUM!!

Use to go alot back in the 70's and early 80's to the gun shows in Michigan when I lived there. Not bad. I did go to one here in Ft. Worth about 10 yrs ago. A vendor promised me a good price on aluminum siding but I live in an all brick house.

The FL gunshows here are fairly well attended, two day events, move around from Miami, to Tampa to Orlando, one of the larger LGS now owns the gun show and promotes it well.

Some of the vendors that used to show, guys that sell guns individually with tables have left because the Orange County government has deemed it illegal to sell face to face without a 4473 on government property, since they own the venue no private sales are allowed.

My feeling is the LGS has no problem with it as that reduces his competition. For that reason the attendence is a bit down, and they raised the fee from $10 to $11, if you are on mailing list you get a buck off e-coupin...

We have mostly gun or gun related vendors, lots of optics vendors, only one Beef Jerkey but that guy is at every show, gun, motorcycle, home.

I usually will go down for one day, stroll the aisles, pick up some cleaning supplies, it's something to do for $10...

Parking is free.... for now...