Re: Sign of the times

I believe the internet changed everything. I believe most dealers are buying used for what someone has to sell because they need money. The dealers can't really compete with new guns because of the big chains. So what they have to offer is the used guns and most shopping for a gun have checked the net and know the prices. The dealers were unable to give you what you were asking because it left them little room for profit. Not everyone is a python nut like most of us. I keep telling myself to stay away from small shows but I still go because you never know if one might get lucky. I didn't see one good deal at the last Louisville show but bought a lot of small items that added up to a good find.

 

Re: Sign of the times

I believe you are right.
I've been watching out for a good deal on an S&W 642 and saw a new one at the show. A small local gunshop had it. The guy wanted $475. Well heck, I can get one at Academy for $345. I believe in supporting the little guy but not with $130 of MY money.
My Python was the only one in the place. I did see a couple of Detective Specials in not too good a shape and the aforementioned Diamondback.
Looks like the best way to get what the Python's worth is Gunbroker.

 

Unfortunately some dealers have become everything we used to hate about used car salesmen. They want to give you pennies on the dollar for your gun then price theirs as if they were going to get top collectors dollars from an auction site.
You have to be careful. I rarely make a purchase from a dealer other than the ones I know and trust.
The internet has created a false impression that everything is going for huge dollars. Look at how many don't sell for lack of making the reserve.

 

well said 'Dframe'.... the shows are what YOU make them, if they all did it on the internet, there'd be NO-ONE at ANY gun show.... gotta shop around, know the folks you are dealing with and "politely" ignore the "jerks". Be surprised how many come back down to earth when you show them "cash" /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Gotta remember, MOST folks are NOT on the internet, or even have a computer, hell look how many take goods for sale to the local shops as well as "pawn"... yikes, now THAT is scary! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

Pawn Shops have always amazed me. I guess the people that take things there just don't know any better. Or else they have every intention of going to get their merchandise back but it just doesn't work out.
Years ago I answered an ad for an 8 month old 9.9 Evinrude for $600. I went over there and the guy said he didn't know that his wife had pawned it. She said there was just a couple of days before they would lose the motor. It was going to take $300 (the shop had given them $250 a month before) to get it out of pawn. They had bought the outboard 8 months earlier for around $1150.
So, I went down to the pawn shop with the woman and told the owner we were there to get the motor. He acted pissed and even told me that the motor was frozen up. I asked to see it. I pulled it through, not frozen. He was mad because he thought he was going to get a new Evinrude for $250.
These guys try to talk down to people and use intimidation. It didn't work with me.
I paid the guy the $300, paid the lady another $300 and took the motor.
I honestly don't see how these pawnbrokers sleep at night.
I mean, I got a great deal but at least they got $300 in cash that they wouldn't have had if they let the pawnshop have it.

 

I've always found pawnshops a little creepy. Go in there once in a while to look for gun bargains(never found one)but NEVER pawned anything.

 

I've never pawned anything either. Something about 240% interest just doesn't appeal to me.
I bought a nice Remington 1100 magnum in a pawnshop several years ago for $180. It was a new shop and maybe the owner hadn't had time to become a crook yet. That's the only thing I've ever bought although I did see a really good deal on a generator a couple of months ago.

 

Best deal I ever got at pawnshop was on a Remington 870 Police Shotgun with that matt black finish that they use. Darn thing looked like it'd never been shot. I know that it was $500 new. I paid $199.

Dave

 

The Alabama Gun Collectors Association has three gun shows a year which are held at the Jefferson County Civic Center Exhibition Hall. I was told they pay $30,000 to rent the Hall for three days (Fri.Sat & Sun). An exhibitor pays $50 for an 8 foot table to display his wares. I remember when it was $7.50. There are many, many other costs to an exhibitor particularly if he is from out of state (gasoline,food,lodging just to name a few.) I think many forces are at work these days contributing to the high prices we encounter these days at gun shows.

 

Re: Sign of the times

I have been going to gun shows for the past 40 years and go to any gun show that is within 150 miles of me. I use to worry that I would not have enough money to buy the good deals I would see. Now I can't remember the last gun show that I bought a gun.

Part of the problem now is that most of the sellers are either Dealers or full time Gun traders. They make their living selling guns. They have the same guns on their tabels every time I see them at the gun show and the same prices.

Also, the show promoters have their friends set up with tables right in front of the enterance so they can buy everything cheep that walks in.

When I ask them how the Gun show is going for them they either say "No one is buying anything" or "Nobody here has any money". I doubt that.

Personaly I do not take anything to sell at Gun shows anymore. I do not like to get insulted by someone who runs my guns down or offers me a super low price. Example---I took a (1927model?).38 Super Colt 1911 commerical auto to the Gun Show--the best offer I got from a dealer was $350. Their reasoning was --Bad Caliber--no one wants commerical model--ect. Last example---I took a Model 97 12 ga (nice condition) and the VERY best offer I got from a dealer was $125 and I saw them on dealers tables for $450 to $750. I sold the weapon in the parking lot for $250.

So whats the answer?? I have no idea.

So much for my ranting. I feel better now.

Roninrlm

 

Re: Sign of the times

I don't know all the finances of gun shows but I do know that around here, used to be the gunshows were put on by groups like The Shriners. Now all the shows I see are put on by professionals. That's how they make their living, going around putting on gunshows. I'm sure that relates to increased costs for exhibitors.
If I have a gun for sale, I'll take it to the show just to mess with the dealers. "What will you give me for this Python. ?" "$300". "Hmmmm. That doesn't sound too bad, let me think on it. I'll get back to you." Then I watch him squirm as I walk away. Cheap entertainment.

 

I've been hitting the gunshows in Eastern Pa quite frequently for the past 15 years now. Just as some of the others said I go for the entertainment. The only firearm I ever bought at a show was a Ruger Min-14 with 3 original Ruger mags for 199.00 OTD...that was a steal...original Ruger mags go for 45.00-50.00 apiece. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

Re: Sign of the times

[ QUOTE ]
"What will you give me for this Python. ?" "$300". "Hmmmm. That doesn't sound too bad, let me think on it. I'll get back to you." Then I watch him squirm as I walk away. Cheap entertainment.

[/ QUOTE ]That's sick. I'll have to remember to do it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I go just to see if what parts are there. At a show in August I found a deal on a cylinder which I sold a week later and it covered parking, entry fee, and a Colt SAA barrel.

 

Re: Sign of the times

I used to go to the local gun shows for good deals on ammo and did pretty good until the last few years. Now all the ammo prices have gotten so high the ammo deals are gone too. I did manage to buy a nice nickel Cobra for $300, and found a near perfect Nickel Python for $800 but now those same guns would be another $200 to $300 higher.

 

Re: Sign of the times

I go primarily for the entertainment value these days. But it does allow you to stay in touch with the market in a real way. Looking at pictures on GunBroker, GunsAmerica, or Auction Arms is just not quite the same thing. The interesting thing is that there are few shows that I don't walk home with a new gun. Of late, it has been Smith pre-lock revolvers. I expect the market to push the prices up on them to about new gun prices and they will still sell at that price (slowly at first). There are enough people around that insist that the gun be a pre-lock gun that there is a market. We're probably a year or so away from this market though.