Gun show idea

[oldrifle]

I've never seen this done but I'm curious what you guys think of this idea. How about a swap meet table at gun shows? Basically I set up a table or two and anybody can bring an item and put it on the table(s) with a tag with a number on it. That number corresponds to a sheet I have with the price they'd like to get for the item along with the lowest price they'd take for it. At the end of the show, they get paid for their items and I get say, 10% of the sale price as a commission. If they fail to collect their unsold item(s) by a certain time, they are considered forfeited. This is to prevent hassles related to people not picking up their items and having to coordinate a later pickup.

Is this a feasible idea or not? I think I would definitely drop off my un-needed gun related items on my way into a gun show to see if I can offset the costs of my purchases.

[theneko]

I would be up for that. I have tons of mags, handguards, grips, extra parts, etc...

[Batman]

So let me get this straight...

You want to have someone manning a table with a high and low sell price (that you control), the seller gets paid at the end of the show, and you get 10% of the sale price, correct?

So, let's take fraud out of the equation where someone unscrupulous might sell an item for full pop and say it sold for the minimum (plus the 10% on top, right?). The owner won't get his money until AFTER the show so they won't be able to use any money from sales made AT the show, and if they don't pick up the item by a certain time, you get to keep it?

We already have that here. It's called the Firearm Parts & Accessories FS section (or something along those lines). Otherwise, I'll carry a sign taped to my back with what I've got, and if I see it, I'll get the money right there and then. If I decide to leave, I take my items with me, and if I decide to do it again on Sunday (2nd. day get in free), that's my option.

Not trying to shoot down the idea, but I don't see it being practical.

I can see the gun show ORGANIZERS having a table with claim tickets for the items from the sellers, and a tote board with prices and cell phone numbers. When someone wants to buy something, they can call the person up and they get to come over (since we no longer have Pomona, it's not like they'll be 5 buildings over) and discuss the item with the buyer. The buyer gets the money there and then, and the other vendors don't have to worry about someone walking around trying to do other business in front of their table that they paid for. The organizer can put a person on the table just to make sure that noone walks off with anything. JMHO...

[missiondude]

I've never seen this done but I'm curious what you guys think of this idea. How about a swap meet table at gun shows? Basically I set up a table or two and anybody can bring an item and put it on the table(s) with a tag with a number on it. That number corresponds to a sheet I have with the price they'd like to get for the item along with the lowest price they'd take for it. At the end of the show, they get paid for their items and I get say, 10% of the sale price as a commission. If they fail to collect their unsold item(s) by a certain time, they are considered forfeited. This is to prevent hassles related to people not picking up their items and having to coordinate a later pickup.

Is this a feasible idea or not? I think I would definitely drop off my un-needed gun related items on my way into a gun show to see if I can offset the costs of my purchases.

I have done that with friends stuff at shows, but there is a level of trust already built up. Not a bad idea if you have a table and extra room...

[thedrickel]

Sales tax will be due . . .

[oldrifle]

So let me get this straight...[snip]

Yeah... the part about having to deal with people not picking up their stuff makes it complicated. You're right, the owner of the item should be able to pick up their money at any time. This was a rough idea that I just didn't think through. The idea behind doing a percentage based commission is to give an incentive to the seller to sell your item for as much as possible. Of course, depending on the difference between the top and bottom price this may not work so well.

Cool that your local gun show has such a thing. I haven't seen that around here.

[IntoForever]

Nothing wrong with throwing a basic idea out, you can always adjust it to work. Sounds like a good idea once it gets more organized. I'd pay 10% to not have to carry a bunch of crap around and hope a buyer sees it vs. it being on a static table that most the people will see. If I don't pick it up, my loss, your gain. Would there be sales tax on misc. items? If I see something I like and want to trade I should be able to come back and either pick it up or get my cash.

[bsg]

i've done this for folks while selling my own items at antique flea markets. it's a pita. 10% is not enough for the pita that it is; i'd suggest you rethink that amount. it's fun in the beginning... and as time goes on it is a serious chore. you start dreading the shows you sell at when selling other peoples stuff.

also, you only have so much room to transport stuff in your truck/van; when you are filling up your vehicle with other peoples stuff... you are reducing the amount of money you can make, because you are only getting a percentage of those items on your end of the take. if i am going to spend my day off selling stuff... i'm going to make some real money. don't forget the cost of your space at the show, and other costs involved.

i became well known for selling quality; it brought "be-backs" to me on an ongoing basis; you start throwing crap in there, and you lose some of the respect for quality that you earned the hard way. i had a "if you don't like it... bring it back" guarantee for everything i sold. you can't do that with other sellers stuff. i haven't sold for several years, and still get calls from folks that want to know what i've got for sale. if you really want to move stuff, you've got to sell at a great discount when at a show. otherwise you've got everyone's stuff sitting there at the end of the show... unsold. if you don't have a say in pricing (even for other peoples stuff), you will be sitting on their stuff after the crowd has gone home.

i could go on and on here, but for me... it's too much of a problem riddled situation.

if you take this on... i wish you the best. i made lots of money at antique shows/antique flea markets, but wouldn't want to do it again.

[jonc]

i like

i would go..........

[oldrifle]

if you take this on... i wish you the best. i made lots of money at antique shows/antique flea markets, but wouldn't want to do it again.

Yeah, it's probably not something I would do but who knows. Maybe when I'm retired and don't have much to do. That's a long ways off though.

[bsg]

Yeah, it's probably not something I would do but who knows. Maybe when I'm retired and don't have much to do. That's a long ways off though.

reading my post after i entered it... it does sound negative. i did the antique shows/flea markets in addition to my full time job, and it is a tiring exercise. i also did it for several years, and i'm not a youngster. but i could make a few thousand dollars on a sunday out at the antique flea market, with about 60% of that being straight up profit. my top day was a $7000.00 net profit. the stuff i sold was all high value stuff that came from my own collection. finding all these things at prices that make it profitable to sell them is labor intensive itself.

one of the problems with trying to sell other peoples stuff... is that we all have different ideas of what our things are worth. when someone wants more than you know can be gotten for it, and you're trying to sell it for them... it's wasted weight and space for you to be lugging it around. what many people don't understand... is that if they want it sold TODAY, the price has to be low enough that someone just has to have it. and... there are some things that we have to take a loss on; some folks simply will not accept that fact. when i sold other peoples stuff, i separated it from my own things at the show i was selling at. after awhile, i simply stopped selling things for other people. the work involved, while frequently rewarding in odd sorts of ways... was a real grind. if you choose to do it... 10% cut for you is not enough. here i go again....