Timonium Fairgrounds October 3 & 4

[SKIP]

My last gun show was in Howard Co Fairgrounds in 1997. I have said it many times if I leave empty handed I should get my entrance fee returned. Never purchased a firearm maybe some reloading supplies that I could have gotten at Mountainside.

 

[cantstop]

I'm accustomed to going to computer shows and collector car parts shows....most every vendor has show specials, will dicker on price...

And let's not even get into ammo prices...

I've had more than one seller walk away from me when I've asked if his prices are negotiable. It is the "here it is and here is the price" attitude that is killing MD gun shows. Some vendors are still living in 2013.

 

[kalister1]

A Gunshow is like any other business: Supply what the customer wants or fade away. If the Gunshow fades away because nobody comes, is it really a lose?

 

[lee2]

I've had more than one seller walk away from me when I've asked if his prices are negotiable. It is the "here it is and here is the price" attitude that is killing MD gun shows. Some vendors are still living in 2013.

How many times have you walked into Walmart and negotiated a price?

 

[protegeV]

How many times have you walked into Walmart a car dealership and negotiated a price?

 

[bama47]

How many times have you walked into Walmart and negotiated a price?

Plenty! Many times I asked and gotten 10% off.

 

[LoneRanger]

How many times have you walked into Walmart and negotiated a price?

Same number of times I have tried to negotiate price at a brick and mortar gun shop, none.

However if I was at a trade show where Walmart were participating I would.

I've been to any number of trade shows over the years, either as a customer or exhibitor, be it computer, golf, travel, home & garden, home improvement or car hobbyist, etc.

I always expect deals at these shows. From my experience, the purpose of the shows is to introduce folks to businesses and earn them as first time/repeat customers. To accomplish that task you sometimes have to take a hit and offer some loss leaders.

Gun dealers seem to have loss sight of that when participating in shows. They are only interested in "how much can I make today" versus how much can "I make in the future".

And please don't cry me a river about tight margins....just sell one of your guns to a dealer and watch how much it is marked up at the next show......

 

[lee2]

somehow we feel cheated if a seller doesn't cut a deal.
you bitch about your time gas and entrance fee at a show. lets flip it around. what about the sellers time, gas, hotel costs and his table fees?
go to a gun shop who doesnt do shows and ask them why they dont do it.

 

[protegeV]

somehow we feel cheated if a seller doesn't cut a deal.
you bitch about your time gas and entrance fee at a show. lets flip it around. what about the sellers time, gas, hotel costs and his table fees?
go to a gun shop who doesnt do shows and ask them why they dont do it.

Im not hard and fast on either side of this argument, BUT why should anyone feel sorry for someone's expenses who decided to be a vendor? They didn't have to come to the show, same as the customers didnt have to come.

 

[Neot]

I've honestly stopped going to MD shows in general anymore. The straw that broke the camel's back for me was the Annapolis show. I don't have the time to waste on a show that doesn't have anything competitive to what I could find at a LGS. I never go out there looking for the deal of a century or to match Bud's but they can at least be somewhat close. If they are close my money will always go to a LGS or a vendor instead of an internet warehouse. There's always a handful of vendors who aren't trying to rape the wallet but they are definitely in the minority it seems. Like someone said earlier, I don't have an MSRP for every gun, but if the ones I know are crazy high and out of whack, then I am going elsewhere.

I grew up going to the Valley Forge Gun Show (now the Oaks show) and have always enjoyed those. The numbers seem to be closer to being fair and I usually go with family members who still live back in PA, so it's more fun too.

 

[LoneRanger]

somehow we feel cheated if a seller doesn't cut a deal.
you bitch about your time gas and entrance fee at a show. lets flip it around. what about the sellers time, gas, hotel costs and his table fees?
go to a gun shop who doesnt do shows and ask them why they dont do it.

Sellers expenses are a cost of doing business.....his are tax deductible....the consumer's expenses usually are not.....

lets flip it around.....why do sellers get so snotty when you try to do a little horse trading.....

 

[lee2]

better yet, order your guns online. pay the shipping costs and transfer fees.

dont go to md shows. go to VA or Pa shows and bitch about them when you get back.

 

[LoneRanger]

b
dont go to md shows.

What a novel idea..........

 

[PapiBarcelona]

Even before 2013 gun law stuff there weren't really much for ammo and mag vendors. You can go to an Oaks show in Phoenixville and there will be 30-40 vendors selling nothing but ammo and or mags. Two simple things and its all I look for, and probably a lot of other people.

Can't help about the way less than standard capacity for regular sized guns in MD now, guess that's a big one for most of those guys. Can't imagine why the promoter can't attract a few ammo vendors

 

[Lou45]

I've had more than one seller walk away from me when I've asked if his prices are negotiable. It is the "here it is and here is the price" attitude that is killing MD gun shows. Some vendors are still living in 2013.

I can tell you that Shooters Discount will rarely negotiate any prices b'cuz the price we have on the item(s) are at a minimum markup in most cases.

How many times have you walked into Walmart and negotiated a price?

Same number of times I have tried to negotiate price at a brick and mortar gun shop, none.

However if I was at a trade show where Walmart were participating I would

Moot point, Wallymart doesn't do shows.

somehow we feel cheated if a seller doesn't cut a deal.
you bitch about your time gas and entrance fee at a show. lets flip it around. what about the sellers time, gas, hotel costs and his table fees?
go to a gun shop who doesnt do shows and ask them why they dont do it.

Sellers expenses are a cost of doing business.....his are tax deductible....the consumer's expenses usually are not.....

So LoneRanger, what you're trying to say here is that a licensed firearms dealer isn't supposed to make a profit on any purchase you make from that dealer, not to mention a reasonable profit to help pay for the operational expenses of the business and a meager payroll to the owner(s), like we're supposed to work and run a business for free as a volunteer.

 

[LoneRanger]

So LoneRanger, what you're trying to say here is that a licensed firearms dealer isn't supposed to make a profit on any purchase you make from that dealer, not to mention a reasonable profit to help pay for the operational expenses of the business and a meager payroll to the owner(s), like we're supposed to work and run a business for free as a volunteer.

Never have I said you are not entitled to make a profit...that is why we are all in business. Both myself and my son have made multiple purchases from you. We like doing business with you.

What I have said is the gun dealers have lost sight of the purpose of a trade show. The purpose of the trade show is to introduce folks to your business and expand your customer base. To be successful at trade shows, it can't be business as usual just in a different location. You have to be more flexible. Maybe you sell some things at cost or maybe you eat the credit card fees, which I believe most vendors rape customers on anyway......I seriously doubt any of them are paying 3%.....

It is foolish for consumers to pay the promoter's price of admission when there is really no benefit other than something to do on a rainy afternoon.

 

[protegeV]

 

[FFBWMD]

Never have I said you are not entitled to make a profit...that is why we are all in business. Both myself and my son have made multiple purchases from you. We like doing business with you.

What I have said is the gun dealers have lost sight of the purpose of a trade show. The purpose of the trade show is to introduce folks to your business and expand your customer base. To be successful at trade shows, it can't be business as usual just in a different location. You have to be more flexible. Maybe you sell some things at cost or maybe you eat the credit card fees, which I believe most vendors rape customers on anyway......I seriously doubt any of them are paying 3%.....

It is foolish for consumers to pay the promoter's price of admission when there is really no benefit other than something to do on a rainy afternoon.

If you don't think I am being charged 3% from the credit card company I wil be happy to show you statements!!! I guess you have never found something at a gun show for a price you thought was reasonable? I for one NEVER increase my prices at a show, my prices are the same at my shop as the shows. In fact I will usually work with a buyer at shows to make a sale, sometimes it might only be $10, sometimes more if I can and not lose money. I don't buy inventory to sell it at cost!!!!!!

 

[protegeV]

If you don't think I am being charged 3% from the credit card company I wil be happy to show you statements!!! I guess you have never found something at a gun show for a price you thought was reasonable? I for one NEVER increase my prices at a show, my prices are the same at my shop as the shows. In fact I will usually work with a buyer at shows to make a sale, sometimes it might only be $10, sometimes more if I can and not lose money. I don't buy inventory to sell it at cost!!!!!!

I can vouch for that

 

[Mr H]

On accessories, I can generally work a minor deal, if I simply ask if they'd accept $xx (and it often works better if purchasing multiple items).

But, in no circumstance would I expect it.