Do you agree with me on this?

[MattH2h]

I have noticed over the 2 1/2 years that I've been into this awesome and fun hobby, that we as consumers get taken advantage of quite a bit. I've been to a few Gun Shows now and every time I go I see what is advertised as a great sale/deal only to find out after I get home I can purchase the item for even less money either online or at my LGS. Another thing I see are some gun shops that are ridiculously overpriced. Like when you walk into a shop and you see a Glock 17 priced at $600+. Come on! We all know that Glocks suggested retail is $499-$525. I just feel like we get taken advantage of a lot in this industry. But I guess sometimes it is our fault because we end up paying that extra money. Not to mention how badly new people get screwed because they don't know. Sorry guys rant is over!

[newair]

Well i would agree with one exception. You can apply your statement to virtually anything. And even more so today with the easy access to the Internet. Any one who is selling wants to get the most they can. Anyone buying usually wants to pay the least they can. As old as mankind itself. Sony our right, you sure have to do some homework.

[AreWeFree]

Life lessons... Live, learn, and get on with it.

[MattH2h]

I know this happens all throughout life and in different industries. But of all the different industries and hobbies I have been into this seems to be the worst that I have seen so far(I am sure there are much worse, I just haven't seen it yet). Luckily I have a few LGS around me that are completely fair with everyone and do great work when I need something done. It's just that when you go to a Gun Show you would expect to see some damn good deals on things. I guess those days are over though and unfortunately I was a little to young to be around this fine hobby at that time.

[jeremiah12]

I went to my first gun show a few years ago with my son. I thought a found a good deal. He whips out his cell phone and shows me I can get it cheaper of the net and this includes shipping. I go on to the next great deal, he does it again.

After several more repeats, I gave up and went home.

Second gun show, I had my FFL 03 and was hoping to score a good deal on a C&R gun. My son was with me. The two I thought might be okay prices my son checked on the net. Nope, better deals were on the net. I left to never go to another gun show again.

There are a very few LGS that have very good prices. I found about 25 mi from me last year. They sold SSE Glocks for MSRP or less with no SSE mark up. If they did not have what you wanted, they ordered it on the spot and they had it within 3 days.

Even now, this store is doing a booming business. I have yet to walk in and find it quiet. They usually have at least 5 sales people on the floor and during peak hours can have as many as 9. I usually have to wait 20 minutes to be waited on by a salesperson. When that happens, you get personalized attention and no pressure. All of your questions are answered. Their is no rush and you can fondle the guns even if you are just looking. They know, it is hard to just fondle without finding one that just says to you buy me. I am sure I have paid off the owners new F250 in the past year since I found them.

The LGS less than a mile from my house adds a minimum of $100 to the MSRP but you can get waited on immediately, there is never a line and usually 2 bored sales people rushing to see who can get to you first. Of course, they will only sell you what they have in stock, they will try to order things for you but cannot promise anything because they do not sell enough to have wholesalers send them firearms whenever. They only get deliveries every two weeks and do not know what they will get until it arrives.

Keep looking and when you finally find a good one, support it.

[AreWeFree]

It's not a fair comparison and you're mentioning LGS and gun shows in the same rant.

Gun shows in CA are HORRIBLE unless you're looking for VERY specific items and need to see them in person, like bayonets, patches, WW2 stuff, etc....

Guns shows in AZ are incredible, with normal fair price deals and then you find the incredible gems, awesome old stuff, etc.

LGS are an entirely different matter. California is an expensive place to do business, gun stores have additional regulations, limited market, sometimes limited distribution network, and somewhat limited inventory.
How many people can you sell the same few guns to?
How many gun stores are in your area?

This is not a high margin industry, and I assume the greatest profits are from accessories, ammunition, and services.

Then there's the fact that many of our local gun stores are just plain BAD!


In short, yes, all gun stores are trying to make as much money as possible, some through volume, some through good service, and some through higher prices or misappropriated "dros/storage" fees.

Be aware, be informed, be knowledgeable, and find a good shop then give them your business, even if it's a few dollars above MSRP.

[nate76239]

In 2013 I bought some magazine rebuild kits for my DS Arms fal rifle at the gun show. They were $30 each and I couldn't find them online so I said what the heck and bought them. I got home and they didn't fit, $90 wasted what a burn. I looked up online and found out there are some Korean mags for the fal with a bad reputation and that's what I bought. Plan ahead if you are heading to a gun show research on the internet first, if the price isn't right walk away.

[Canucky]

In 2013 I bought some magazine rebuild kits for my DS Arms fal rifle at the gun show. They were $30 each and I couldn't find them online so I said what the heck and bought them. I got home and they didn't fit, $90 wasted what a burn. I looked up online and found out there are some Korean mags for the fal with a bad reputation and that's what I bought. Plan ahead if you are heading to a gun show research on the internet first, if the price isn't right walk away.

Happened to me with mags. Called around found vender, next show refunded me. Gun shows here are good for jerky.

[I Swan]

The main mag vendor at the crossroads gun shows sell ripoff mags and anything not factory on his bulk tables is total crap and won't work. You're much better off on eBay or other places online buying mags. Gun shows makes sense as entertainment or for people that collect specific items. For Joe Blow thinking he is going to score some awesome AR or Block deal it is very unlikely.

I do well at 5 out of 6 Costa Mesa shows on average and sometimes do OK at some of the smaller shows. I collect a lot of types of guns though and I have guns in 50+ different chamberings so I can usually find some sort of smoking deal on ammo for one of them or magazines or something.

[biglou]

Gun shows are a joke in California. Find a LGS you like and build up a rapport with them. You should be able to get a little better deal that way, or look for deals online.

[00Medic]

I miss the old Pamona gun shows. You could walk out with a Chinese AK and a crate of ammo for under $400. I know. I did.

[Bansh88]

Gun show rants are common throughout the US. I've seen it on several sites from many states.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I frequently attended the Pomona gun shows but I was too young to buy anything and I didn't have any money. My gramps used to take me because I liked the militaria and vehicles they set up out there.

I do remember clearly that you could buy virtually anything legally. Colt sporters, Israeli Uzis and Chinese AK/SKS's were abundant. The silver and the yellow boxed Norinco ammo was cheap and as it turns out was very good ammo.

This was a very long time ago because there were big advertisements and donations encouraged to support the Afghan "mujahadeen" who were fighting the Russians and who were considered our friends back then.

Guns shows in CA now suck and are for entertainment purposes only. Caveat Emptor.

[Merc1138]

I went to my first gun show a few years ago with my son. I thought a found a good deal. He whips out his cell phone and shows me I can get it cheaper of the net and this includes shipping. I go on to the next great deal, he does it again.

Bingo.

There are a few benefits to having a good LGS, but gun shows in CA are pretty much a waste of time. Now if walking around looking at gun stuff is your thing, you don't mind spending a few bucks to do it, and hope you might actually run across a deal, cool. There are plenty of sillier ways to waste a few bucks and a few hours. But going to a gun show just hoping to find deals? That's pointless these days.

Find a deal at a table, wander off, check it on your phone to see if the item is legit and the price is decent. If not, move on to the next table. The last time I bothered going to a gun show was about a year and a half ago and it was because I was bored. Spent half my time there looking things up on my phone, and was amazed at the sight of so few people doing the same.

Gun shows(at least in CA) are a relic of the past that while mildly entertaining sometimes, doesn't serve the same purpose they used to(back when getting something your LGS didn't have meant ordering from a catalog, waiting weeks, buying it sight unseen, etc.). They just aren't necessary today and what little use they would still have is made pointless by CA's stupid laws.

[Mitch]

Grocery stores are rarely started by guys who are into fruit, they are started and run by businessmen. The same is true of most other retailing to which we are exposed.

The firearms business is different. Almost no one gets into this business because it's a great investment, they do it because they are gun guys themselves. In many cases, they are poor or sloppy businessmen. You absolutely will run into more shabbily run businesses with poor customer service in the firearms industry than in most others.