Gun Shows... Not What They Use To Be !!!

[mrbongo01]

I have not been to a California Gun show in some time. So I went to the one this weekend at the Victorville Fair Grounds. Paid my $8 to get in and started to browse. Here are my findings:

1) Lots of cheap Chinese crap parts for AR and AK builds

2) Things seem to be way over priced.

3) Rude as hell vendors that don't want to make a deal on any or their equipment.

For one I find it shocking that these vendors think consumers are ignorant. WE ARE NOT !!! We do our research, we know what a good price is. Case and point. I was in the market for a hand guard and muzzle brake for my AR. The cheap knock off stuff was way over priced. 85$ plus Tax for an imitation Noveske Flaming Pig muzzle break ??? Are you serious? I can get the brand name one on gun broker or eBay for around $100 without tax and maybe $5 in shipping.

I am also in the market for a Sig Saur P226. The cheapest one they had was $850 including tax. When I mentioned to one vendor that it could be purchased on Gunbroker for under $800 with no tax, he said "yeah but you have to pay shipping." So I let him know that $25 in shipping is still cheaper than paying $66 dollars in taxes. Also now that most military installations are selling firearms, you can get them cheaper on base and with no taxes.

I also noticed the vendors get all indignant when you try to haggle a little on the price. Like you are insulting their overpriced merchandise. All I can think of when they give me attitude is " I will take my business elsewhere where it is valued and appreciated." Many of these vender need to find a new line of work, because frankly, their people skills suck.

The only decent thing worth buying was ammo. There was a good selection on ammo.

So in closure, I am thinking this will be the last time I go to a gun show up here. There is just nothing worth buying, I can almost 9 out of 10 times find it cheaper elsewhere and don't have to put up with unappreciative people.

My two cents.... No offense if you are a vendor.....

[manuelcardenas77]

Lol,I feel you bro! That's pretty much why I don't even bother rather buy locally or online.

[tuolumnejim]

Yep the gun shows here in the PRK have been a disgrace since the 80's, I won't even bother with them here.

[norcal.xd]

i have never been to a gun show in any state. Im hoping to attend the Reno gun show this weekend while im in Reno. since i have never been to a gun show i dont know what to expect (other then guns,parts,and ammo) but im looking forward to my first experience. (afterwards i will be heading up to the carson city shooting range.) their was a gun show here in the bay area a couple of weeks ago but i always hear bad things about ca gun shows.

[drkphibr]

Lol,I feel you bro! That's pretty much why I don't even bother rather buy locally or online.

+1 this ^

When you add up the cost of gas to/from, the parking fee, the entrance fee (if you take a family member[s] that's 2x/3x), the crowds, the relatively high prices and unless you happen to stumble on a rare gem of a deal, it's just not worth it now. I used to justify those "expenses" as part of the experience of the overall show. Not any more.

[lpspinner]

Well compared to the pre OLL days, the shows then were basically full of Beef Jerky, Coins, Jewelry and toy vendors.

Living in other states, the shows there were full over over priced guns and inexpensive parts, rude people, jerky, jewelry and toy vendors. Most of the people selling used guns think their stuff don't stink.
No this is not Nevada.

The grass is NOT always greener on the other side.

[bruss01]

I suppose it depends on what you go in looking for.

If you want cheap prices on guns I haven't seen them there.

If you want to maybe stumble across something unusual, I've seen plenty of that there.

If you want to see and fondle some merchandise that you've only ever seen online or in catalogs, you can do that there.

Sure, you can drive around town looking to save $20-$40 on something you were looking to buy... provided you can find it. How much is your time worth? I figure my precious free time is worth between $50-$60 per hour. A 20 minute round trip plus 20 minutes to shop and check out pretty much eats up one of those hours. So if I can save more than 50-60 bucks maybe it is worth it... provided they have the merchandise by the time I get there.

Don't get me wrong, I think prices at gun shows could and should be lower. But I'm guessing the reason they are not is simple supply/demand economics. When it becomes unprofitable to occupy a table and sell the merchandise at those prices, then they will adjust. As long as enough people keep buying to make it profitable, it will continue.

I don't go to gun shows looking for bargains... I go looking for entertainment and possibly for ideas. And I have OCCASIONALLY found some good deals there. It's a question of mindset IMHO. If you dig a hole in your back yard looking for diamonds, you're apt to be disappointed. If you dig that same hole looking for rocks, but happen to find a diamond, you're going to be eccstatic. So go to a gun show because you like to "look" and you may stumble across a deal - either way you won't be leaving disappointed because you'll have plenty to look at.

[keenkeen]

I am also in the market for a Sig Saur P226. The cheapest one they had was $850 including tax. When I mentioned to one vendor that it could be purchased on Gunbroker for under $800 with no tax, he said "yeah but you have to pay shipping." So I let him know that $25 in shipping is still cheaper than paying $66 dollars in taxes. Also now that most military installations are selling firearms, you can get them cheaper on base and with no taxes.

Buying on base to save tax is a good idea...

But, if you would like to order an out of state handgun on Gunbroker and not pay sales tax I think you may be in for a suprise.

Do a little reading on the "sales tax / out of state" issue here on calguns before you spend that tax money you are "saving"...

[Merc1138]

I have not been to a California Gun show in some time. So I went to the one this weekend at the Victorville Fair Grounds. Paid my $8 to get in and started to browse. Here are my findings:

1) Lots of cheap Chinese crap parts for AR and AK builds

2) Things seem to be way over priced.

3) Rude as hell vendors that don't want to make a deal on any or their equipment.

For one I find it shocking that these vendors think consumers are ignorant. WE ARE NOT !!! We do our research, we know what a good price is. Case and point. I was in the market for a hand guard and muzzle brake for my AR. The cheap knock off stuff was way over priced. 85$ plus Tax for an imitation Noveske Flaming Pig muzzle break ??? Are you serious? I can get the brand name one on gun broker or eBay for around $100 without tax and maybe $5 in shipping.

I am also in the market for a Sig Saur P226. The cheapest one they had was $850 including tax. When I mentioned to one vendor that it could be purchased on Gunbroker for under $800 with no tax, he said "yeah but you have to pay shipping." So I let him know that $25 in shipping is still cheaper than paying $66 dollars in taxes. Also now that most military installations are selling firearms, you can get them cheaper on base and with no taxes.

I also noticed the vendors get all indignant when you try to haggle a little on the price. Like you are insulting their overpriced merchandise. All I can think of when they give me attitude is " I will take my business elsewhere where it is valued and appreciated." Many of these vender need to find a new line of work, because frankly, their people skills suck.

The only decent thing worth buying was ammo. There was a good selection on ammo.

So in closure, I am thinking this will be the last time I go to a gun show up here. There is just nothing worth buying, I can almost 9 out of 10 times find it cheaper elsewhere and don't have to put up with unappreciative people.

My two cents.... No offense if you are a vendor.....

Unless you're buying from a private seller on gunbroker, you're paying tax on that P226 whether you like it or not, plus shipping, plus your local FFL transfer fee(could be $50, could be $200).

I wouldn't assume that parts on ebay are any more legit than parts at the gun show.

There is a lot of cheap chinese crap, and the prices don't seem to be awesome. But probably the worst part about CA gun shows, is that you can't just buy a gun and leave with the thing(well, maybe if you're into C&R you can). It kinda kills the main point of a gun show.

[sfhondapilot]

Buying on base to save tax is a good idea...

But, if you would like to order an out of state handgun on Gunbroker and not pay sales tax I think you may be in for a suprise.

Do a little reading on the "sales tax / out of state" issue here on calguns before you spend that tax money you are "saving"...

+1

Tax is less of a consideration since Nov 2011.

[bill_k_lopez]

First of all I don't think they (the vendors) care - and to top it off - if people weren't there buying, they wouldn't be there selling.

So I think what you'll find is there are a lot of "consumers" that go there and purchase cheap crap.

[keenkeen]

Unless you're buying from a private seller on gunbroker, you're paying tax on that P226 whether you like it or not, plus shipping, plus your local FFL transfer fee(could be $50, could be $200).

I wouldn't assume that parts on ebay are any more legit than parts at the gun show.

There is a lot of cheap chinese crap, and the prices don't seem to be awesome. But probably the worst part about CA gun shows, is that you can't just buy a gun and leave with the thing(well, maybe if you're into C&R you can). It kinda kills the main point of a gun show.

Even private party sales from out of state are taxable per the BOE from what I understand...crazy but that seems to be their stance.

[xrMike]

Went to the one in San Jose a few years ago. That was enough for me, haven't been back since. It was pretty much a waste of time, except for the AK receiver I bought. The rest of the stuff there was mostly over-priced crap.

[SuperSet]

They should rename it the Ammo and Accessories show.

[Markus]

But I like Ammo and Accessories!

I bought my first gun at a gun show and my second. There are deals to be had but you have to look, you have to ask, and you need to jump on that good deal you found instead of coming back later to have it sold.

If you have something specific in mind that you want then usually its best to order it online. I personally enjoy looking at all the guns they have on display and find it an overall enjoyable experience.