If GunBroker had an actual, physical location.

gmerkt · May 31, 2021

User 1234 said:
Gun show pricing is not representative of the local non-show market.

Mostly true from my limited knowledge of things, and that's why the rascals take them to the gun show to find "fish" to sell them to who don't know any better .

gmerkt · May 31, 2021

Suddenly it dawns on me. That red table cloth in the pictures in the original post looks awfully familiar. Yep, I just looked it up, that show is a Big Top Productions show. Say no more.

Knobgoblin · May 31, 2021

^^^^^^^^^^^

Circus comes to town,
You play the lead clown

wired · May 31, 2021

I dont really see gun prices being all that high right now. 10% up maybe.

ArmedNovelist · May 31, 2021

There has not been a single gun show, which I've been to since the prior-Obama scare years, that has held venders whom weren't so obviously wielding scorching-hot crack pipes at the end of the day.

Working with private sellers, on forums like this, has been a far more economical answer than gun shows have been in a long time.

Andy54Hawken · May 31, 2021

Went to a gun show in April , also took a friend to her first modern gun show.
( We both mostly shoot muzzle loaders )

Prices ranged from :
Wow...that is a good deal...
Hmmm...'Bout what I figured....
Um....yeah , no thanks....
Also worth noting was the variety of firearms that were available for sale or trade.

While not really quite like the modern gun shows of my gun trading past...it was time well spent.
With that said....the show was not a "Big Top Production".
Andy

Rich · Jun 1, 2021

Prices at a gun show in Bremerton two or three weeks ago had Winchester 115gr. 9mm in a box of 50 going for $62.50. Unreal. I am still waiting for the Washington Arms Collectors shows to open up again with -- hopefully -- decent prices on ammo and guns.

arentol72 · Jun 3, 2021

I went to this show as well. First time checking it out since moving to this area a while back.... Prices on everything were ridiculous. I didn't know the MSRP for much, but all the guns I did know MSRP or current "Cabela's" prices for (which are usually about MSRP), were doubled or close to it. I walked out with nothing at all, not even some magazines, which were the only thing I saw close to MSRP. I had no interest in supporting this kind of gouging past my $5 entry fee.

Also, they did themselves no favors charging those prices while displaying over 200 firearms on the main table (which was most of the venue and belonged all to the main company that does these shows).... If there is a shortage severe enough to justify those prices you shouldn't have enough guns to fill your giant table.

Jcremer24 · Dec 10, 2022

Not to revive this oldish thread but was a big top promotions show? Those shows are the biggest waste of time. $15 bucks for that stuff! I thought that AK at first was an Arsenal and for $1899 I thought "Not too crazy" and then I saw it was a VSKA. WTF. That's even worse than Gunbroker. And there were no milsurps.

belshawelk · Dec 10, 2022

Why the Gun broker hate. I have bought 5 pr 6 guns in the last few years. All under or way under what even retail gun stores sell them at and less than one listed here. Same with ammo. You just need to do your homework, know what the real market value is and if you want it get.

gmerkt · Dec 10, 2022

belshawelk said:
Why the Gun broker hate

I've mostly been a seller on Gunbroker. But for ordinary, common firearms, the competitive nature of GB can work for buyers. It's the opposite for unusual, rare or especially popular guns. Buying competition drives those up. I think it's a pretty good marketplace, all things considered. Which includes the much wider market that it provides for both buyers and sellers. It sure saves a lot of time and running around if you're looking for a certain gun. In pre-internet days, you might have to wait for years to find a certain gun, going to gun show after gun show, shop after shop, searching. Print ads like Shotgun News didn't offer near as much information about advertised guns and of course no feedback forum.

When you buy on GB, it's wise to consider shipping cost, transfer fee, and sales tax. All of which add to the purchase price. Just like keeping in mind the buyer's premium at some auction venues.

gmerkt · Dec 10, 2022

Re. Big Top Promotions, it's a gun show that is put on by an FFL dealer who doesn't have a store presence of his own. He creates a retail market environment for his own purposes. Yes, tables are available for other sellers but few are rented.

Veterans discount on gate fee at BT promotions was one dollar off. It wasn't worth begging for.

dinky450 · Dec 11, 2022

belshawelk said:
Why the Gun broker hate. I have bought 5 pr 6 guns in the last few years. All under or way under what even retail gun stores sell them at and less than one listed here. Same with ammo. You just need to do your homework, know what the real market value is and if you want it get.

I've gotten some decent deals on firearms there in the last year. If I cant find it local and my ffl can't get it from his distributor I look there. I've never over paid for what I was getting as there is normally 1-100 just what I am looking for. Just have to be patient on Gunbroker as well find the no credit card fee and cheaper Shipping.