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rdc · Oct 31, 2014

Lou45 said:
I like to get a minimum of 20% margin, but after all is said and done, realistically it's somewhere in the 12% to 15% range.

Yeah. My numbers didn't include the costs of ordering, recieving, keeping track of inventory, the actual selling etc....

I honestly don't understand how you guys do it. I'm just glad you do.

I've bought more firearms from Lou than any other dealer. In my opinion he does it right. Good product at fair prices.
I agree with him about having special " show pricing". It's opening a can of worms.

lee2 · Oct 31, 2014

rdc said:
Yeah. My numbers didn't include the costs of ordering, recieving, keeping track of inventory, the actual selling etc....

I honestly don't understand how you guys do it. I'm just glad you do.

In the interest of full disclosure I've bought more firearms from Lou than ny other dealer. In my opinion he does it right. Good product at fair prices.
I agree with him about having special " show pricing". It's opening a CNN of worms.

Lou does have good prices, he just needs to diversify. :thumbsup:

Lou45 · Oct 31, 2014

lee2 said:
Lou does have good prices, he just needs to diversify.

Actually I've been trying to work on that but things aren't going quite the way I want/need them to. I won't disclose what I'm trying to do on this forum/interwebs or otherwise, but I have been tryin'. It's been a painstaking process but I think it will come to pass sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

lee2 · Oct 31, 2014

Lou45 said:
Actually I've been trying to work on that but things aren't going quite the way I want/need them to. I won't disclose what I'm trying to do on this forum/interwebs or otherwise, but I have been tryin'. It's been a painstaking process but I think it will come to pass sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

i've known you for quite a while. if they're anything i've learned is that you are a survivor. adapt, improvise, overcome. :party29:

LoneRanger · Nov 1, 2014

Lou45 said:
If I did what you've indicated, having a LOWER PRICE on an item I have in quantity at a show, then after the show a person comes into the shop to purchase that item at the "special discounted show price" and I inform them that was a "gun show special ONLY" (and advertised as such) and the price is now the HIGHER REGULAR PRICE" and that I won't honor that "gun show SPECIAL PRICE", that person would get quite pissed and probably wouldn't do any further business with Shooters Discount, not to mention tell of his/her friends too. BTW, this is "voice of experience" speaking here.

Jon, if you have a bona-fide, practical, realistic, cost effective, and easy to implement solution(s) to this matter, I'd certainly like to know about it/them.

.....and buying that gun from the vendor that allowed you to phinger phuque that gun, and NOT from the interwebs.

There BF, I fixed and completed it for ya'.

Very carefully read and consider all the points brought forth in this thread before answering this question:

How do, or would you "make the show and the deals worthy of attendance"??? Bear in mind, us dealers, well most of us dealers don't do this for a "hobby" but for a "LIVING".

Jus' finishing what Mark didn't finish off as I don't like things incomplete. How would you like to get to the point just short of the money shot and stop???

Lou you are making this way too complicated and missing the point.

I've been working in an industry where trade shows are a way of life, a cost of doing business loss leader. Have also done computer consulting work with a company that ran trade shows so know a bit about them.

I don't believe your prices are too high nor do I begrudge you or any other dealer from making a decent profit.....that's why I am one of your customers.

But you and the other dealers have to realize that we are beyond the days of "build a gun show and they will come".

If you, the other dealers and the folks that run the shows are to continue to thrive then you are the ones that need to change your business model to entice a steady stream of customers to the shows.

You have to offer us something we cannot get anywhere but at the show....just relocating your brick & mortar store for the weekend is no longer a valid option.

rdc · Nov 1, 2014

Lou45 said:
Actually I've been trying to work on that but things aren't going quite the way I want/need them to. I won't disclose what I'm trying to do on this forum/interwebs or otherwise, but I have been tryin'. It's been a painstaking process but I think it will come to pass sooner or later, hopefully sooner.

Good to hear your trying. Wish it was working out better. I agree that some diversification might be good. Another reason I've bought as much from SD as I have is SD stocked the type of things I was looking for. The past year or so I've been buying different types of firearms that SD doesn't normally carry. If he did I'd probably check him out first.
I'm sure no matter how it shakes out SD will do it right. Good luck.

mopar92 · Nov 1, 2014

lee2 said:
i've known you for quite a while. if they're anything i've learned is that you are a survivor. adapt, improvise, overcome.

Lee2 Lou was in the Air Force. He delivered furniture and things for the people who improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Lou45 · Nov 1, 2014

lee2 said:
i've known you for quite a while. if they're anything i've learned is that you are a survivor. adapt, improvise, overcome.

I have, I do, and hopefully will continue to do so. :thumbsup:

LoneRanger said:
Lou you are making this way too complicated and missing the point.

If you, the other dealers and the folks that run the shows are to continue to thrive then you are the ones that need to change your business model to entice a steady stream of customers to the shows.

You have to offer us something we cannot get anywhere but at the show....just relocating your brick & mortar store for the weekend is no longer a valid option.

I'm not trying to make it complicated but I really see no easy solution here, hence complication. Believe me, I'm open to suggestions, practical and financially affordable suggestions that are relatively easy to implement within my limited capabilities. Bear in mind, I'm not trying to be a smartass here but trying to hear some good viable options within the spectrum of this paragraph.

rdc said:
Good to hear your trying. Wish it was working out better. I agree that some diversification might be good. Another reason I've bought as much from SD as I have is SD stocked the type of things I was looking for. The past year or so I've been buying different types of firearms that SD doesn't normally carry. If he did I'd probably check him out first.
I'm sure no matter how it shakes out SD will do it right. Good luck.

Thanks for your faith in me. It's a bit disconcerting trying to do what I have planned while things are jus' not coming together as I'd like.

LoneRanger · Nov 1, 2014

Lou45 said:
I'm not trying to make it complicated but I really see no easy solution here, hence complication. Believe me, I'm open to suggestions, practical and financially affordable suggestions that are relatively easy to implement within my limited capabilities. Bear in mind, I'm not trying to be a smartass here but trying to hear some good viable options within the spectrum of this paragraph.

You are not going to be able to do it on your own. It is going to take a joint effort among all the show's participants along with the show's promoter.

I have no knowledge of how well you all play together, if at all. I also do not know what ideas will work or not work to entice the public or what is financially feasible.

Maybe you all need to compare gun shows to other shows.

The gun shows at Howard county fairgrounds draw a relatively small crowd.

Compare that to the annual auto parts swap meet each March which draws a HUGE crowd. Vendor spots are very reasonably priced and admission is free.

Like I say I really do not know what will work but I quickly see all gun shows in the area becoming like the Parkville show....just not worth the effort for anyone...either dealer or customer....

lee2 · Nov 1, 2014

mopar92 said:
Lee2 Lou was in the Air Force. He delivered furniture and things for the people who improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Oh snap!

Alphabrew · Nov 1, 2014

Tag so I remember to print this coupon

jpo183 · Nov 1, 2014

Out of curisoity, what other marketing methods does frank use? I know he has a few bilboards, I hear a radio ad here and there and his facebook page.

Also how many vendors do you think are avg at frederick / howard

Schipperke · Nov 1, 2014

TonyB. said:
I think gun shows suck. I can buy the same stuff at any IP or on any website any day of the week for the same price and not have to pay admission or deal with crowds. But that said, I still go to every single one I can. I go to donate to the cause and show support. There are few people around here fighting for our rights. I am happy to give a few bucks to Frank and I will donate to MSI while I'm there. Before I leave I always make sure to stop and ask Lou some asinine questions in hopes of a witty response. Makes a good reason to get out of the house, especially during the winter.

When I got time and $20 or so burning a hole in my pocket, I go to the show. I agree unless you are looking to buy used, I've never run across a new gun price worth the hassle. Last gun I wanted, saw at the HoCo show, and cost the same where I could drive 10 minutes with no crowds, nor handled by a few hundred muggles. Worst mistake I ever made was buying an AR-15 at a show, got scalped big time. That is on me. I was able to buy the same damn rifle with transfer fees etc for $500 less, shipped to a FFL. Now that I know legitimate prices a bit better, these shows just don't seem to offer much, and in many cases charge more for ammo than I can get it shipped to my house. The huge problem compared to Virgina, is the dealers can't let you walk out with a bag of pistols. People will pay a bit extra for conspicuous consumption, "I got to have it now". That is not possible in Maryland, so I might as well get something shipped and transferred in many cases. The new gun shop in Rockville has very fair prices and no attitude, worth every penny to me.

Lou45 · Nov 1, 2014

jpo183 said:
Out of curisoity, what other marketing methods does frank use? I know he has a few bilboards, I hear a radio ad here and there and his facebook page.

Also how many vendors do you think are avg at frederick / howard

I've seen Frank's gun show ads on TV in the not distant past though I'm not much of a tv watcher other than the news (mostly Fox and sometimes WJZ) a few nights a week and a few programs on Discovery, Mil Channel, Science Channel, and similar type other channels. Otherwise, my exposure to the general media is very limited.

Frederick is about 300 to 400 tables and Howard is about 400 to 450 tables to the best of my recollection. My guess is the average vendor has about 5 to 6 tables.

Alphabrew · Nov 9, 2014

Look at the 100+ year old Browning A5 that Augie found at this show, or even the $4 K31 chargers that I and many others purchased. There are winners there, you just have go look around. I love gun shows, even if I don't spend a lot.

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