Do you agree with me on this?

[Oceanbob]

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.

This^^^

They used to be fun and yes, had great deals back in the Pomona Days....

I used to take a two wheeler for ammo. You could buy MAC 90 AKs for $159.99 on sale.

Because of shortages, panic buying and pending political trouble, these gun show vendors rip you off.

By the time you get to the show you're already down $20 bucks...

[71MUSTY]

It's all relative. Milk costs more at AM/PM then it does at Ralphs.

Is AM/PM ripping you off or are they charging more to recoup the extra coats they have spent to give you convenience.

In this economy everyone of us is struggling to survive. The days when I could give my clients "DEALS" are long gone.

But who is really taking advantage of us? The LGS/ guy at the gun show (both struggling to survive) or the politicians?

[RandyD]

I used to attend the gun show in Pomona, and looked forward to each show. At first it was primarily private individuals doing the selling, then as popularity increased, the professional vendor became the primary sellers. With the professional vendor prices increased. Then private face to face sale was also outlawed. I noticed the show organizers were renting more space to people who sold non-firearm related crap. The cost of admission, plus parking became too high. I don't know of anywhere else where a seller charges you admission and parking to buy their wares. I now use the internet, where I can search for what I want, and my search covers the entire country, and my search only takes a minute.

[ElDub1950]

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.

Yep! Anyone tried mattress shopping lately? LOL

[223556]

I agree.
But CA in general for some reason demands more of a premium price on alot of things. Maybe its due to the CA roster and at least in my area (Bay Area) things are always expensive compared to out of state.

[tbc]

Gun shows are just...for shows. I go there for entertainment purposes only.

[bsg]

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.

i'm sure that most or all of us that attended the old Pomona shows would agree with you. that was a gun show.

[Dano3467]

Yes, this sport has a more than a few gougers, in all aspects of shooting industry.

Someone mention the Mag guy at the crossroads gun show, all I can say isthe dude a total gouger, do not buy unless hard up for his product, or your pockets are just to deep.

Up here we have few gun stores that will PPT, & only one that will do consignment, or SSE (now gone) or SAE (still available), CS is very good though.

So unless your willing to travel twice for something you want (firearm) your hosed.

I can't wait for this crappy waiting period to be done & over, I will travel for a firearm I can get in one trip, this go's double for PPT.

[kcheung2]

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.

Yep! Anyone tried mattress shopping lately? LOL

Indeed! Or my other hobby, plastic model kits, for a kit that I used to buy for $20, I see them now in a range of $25-$55 depending on the shop. A buddy of mine is into Italian bikes, it's the same thing there with prices all over the place for the same item. I'm sure someone into classic cars would have even more outrageous comparisons. It's not just this industry.

[71MUSTY]

Also remember that the rates vendors are paying for a spot at the shows have gone thru the roof too. Somewhere along the line Crossroads and the Convention Centers decided to turn Gun shows into high profit events for themselves.

Personally I don't go to gun shows to shop. I like to people watch, see what's hot this year, and feel up that C&R I'd never see or own otherwise.

I usually attend Ontario, and schedule my Cadillac for service at the dealership next door, that day. Drop my car at the dealer and walk across the street to the show.

[nimroder]

I used to attend the gun show in Pomona, and looked forward to each show. At first it was primarily private individuals doing the selling, then as popularity increased, the professional vendor became the primary sellers. With the professional vendor prices increased. Then private face to face sale was also outlawed. I noticed the show organizers were renting more space to people who sold non-firearm related crap. The cost of admission, plus parking became too high. I don't know of anywhere else where a seller charges you admission and parking to buy their wares. I now use the internet, where I can search for what I want, and my search covers the entire country, and my search only takes a minute.

^^^This^^^

I LOVED the Pomona Gun Shows. Lots of cool toys to buy at reasonable prices and the beer was cold. Those were the days! I've gone to a few of the Crossroads shows since and well, lets just say my gun show days are over.

[Hoshnasi]

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!

Supply and demand.

Two hobbies, amateur Radio and RC cars and planes. Some aspects of each hobby require similar devices (batteries, etc.), the RC hobby is 1/3 to 2/3 the price for exactly the same thing than what is branded Amateur Radio.

Is purely a reaction of demand and convenience.

[CandG]

Eh, it's capitalism. You're paying for the convenience of not having to shop around. As mentioned by others, that's how it is in every industry. Take airlines for example: is a first class ticket to London really worth $12,000 to me? Of course not. But the legroom and reclining seats are worth $12,000 to someone, so what's wrong with selling seats for that price if people are happy to pay it? Same goes for gun shows. You COULD see something you like at the gunshow, go home and buy it on GunBroker and save 25%, or you could buy it right then and there and chalk up the 25% as the cost of getting what you want today.

I buy 90% of my ammo online. But when I buy the other 10% at a LGS, I'm VERY happy that I can buy it there even when it costs 2x as much, because I needed it that day. I'll happily pay ripoff $5/rd prices on the last day of hunting season if I'm out of ammo, and I'll even thank the retailer for it.

[I Swan]

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.

This applies to most hobby type businesses. Some of the worst customer service and most socially awkward people I have ever encountered work in or own gun shops. I know what I'm willing to pay and what is a good price on most items I buy at gun shows but you can bet your bottom dollar I also check prices online on my phone if need be.

[NATEWA]

For my first handgun purchase, I did some research and found a good price at a shop in my area. Went to a LGS and showed him the ad. He agreed to match the price.

Checking gunbot and slickguns is the way to go. With $35 transfers, if it's legal in this state, purchasing the gun online and having it shipped can save you some cash. Or, you can use it as a way to bargain at your LGS.

Like any product, a little research and searching will prevent you from getting ripped off. Unfortunately, with the roster, supply and demand will jack up the prices.