Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Perd Hapley on March 15, 2019, 02:33:25 PM
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About 15 years ago, the local VFW charged $5/head for their gun show. Several years ago, the St. Charles Convention Center started hosting a much larger show about 2 or 3 times a year, and they charged $8. The VFW raised their rates, as well. Now the big show is charging $12.
How are the rates where you live?
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$8. Volunteer with your local gun group see if it gets you in free, then run around with your exhibitor ID to see if you get discounts.
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My club runs 2 shows a year, usually 140-180 tables with 40 or so dealers. We charge $5 a day or $8 for a 2 day pass.
The promotional shows are $8-10 a day.
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It's been awhile since I've been to one, but the last time I went to the Nation's Gun Show in DC I think it was $12.
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$8. Volunteer with your local gun group see if it gets you in free, then run around with your exhibitor ID to see if you get discounts.
You mean like a state gun rights org, or do you mean the Midwest Arms Collectors (the people who run the show)?
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I usually see $8 to $10. Parking is the big cost at some around Houston.
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A bunch of us used to go to gun shows monthly when we were in law school. It was $5 to get in, drop a couple of bucks on a hot dog and coke, and it was good cheap entertainment for a few hours. I just looked it up. It's now $10 to get in, and now they are charging $5 for parking as well.
Best thing used to be cheap ammo. You could get 50 rounds of Blazer in .38 for $5. A brick of .22 was $10-15. For $25-30 bucks, you'd get enough ammo for a few hours on the range.
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About 15 years ago, the local VFW charged $5/head for their gun show. Several years ago, the St. Charles Convention Center started hosting a much larger show about 2 or 3 times a year, and they charged $8. The VFW raised their rates, as well. Now the big show is charging $12.
How are the rates where you live?
The only one I go to has been $5.
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Wanenmacher's mega-show (Tulsa, OK) charges $10 at the door. Parking was free when I went, but that was 15 years ago. No idea if that's still the case. Even if you paid a few bucks to park it's worth it. Advertised at 4200 tables. If someone there doesn't have what you're looking for, no one will. Friggin incredible show.
We have two different local shows. The smaller one (fairgrounds) is $5, the larger (Civic Center) is $8. Free parking for both. Even with that, both verge on being overpriced given the dearth of actual firearms-related vendors. On the flip side there is a great selection of fudge, candy, beef jerky, and essential oils.
Brad
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Kane County Gun show is still $5 and free parking.
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BobandRocco shows here in WI are $6, A few others locally are $5
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You mean like a state gun rights org, or do you mean the Midwest Arms Collectors (the people who run the show)?
Local rights group or NRA. I used to take off with my VCDL exhibitor badge and clean out Georgia Arms of ammo for a 10% discount.
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It's been awhile since I've been to one, but the last time I went to the Nation's Gun Show in DC I think it was $12.
It was that or $15 when I went to that one last month.
Wanenmacher's mega-show (Tulsa, OK) charges $10 at the door. Parking was free when I went, but that was 15 years ago. No idea if that's still the case. Even if you paid a few bucks to park it's worth it. Advertised at 4200 tables. If someone there doesn't have what you're looking for, no one will. Friggin incredible show.
We have two different local shows. The smaller one (fairgrounds) is $5, the larger (Civic Center) is $8. Free parking for both. Even with that, both verge on being overpriced given the dearth of actual firearms-related vendors. On the flip side there is a great selection of fudge, candy, beef jerky, and essential oils.
Brad
Haven't ever been to that one and I was really wanting to go to it next month, but I think I might not be able to. I will be going to the Knob Creek instead though. [ar15]
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Conrad and Dowdell shows around here are 6 bones. The smartphone killed off getting any deals but it's still fun to visit the guns.
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$7.00, but they e-mail a coupon for $2.00 so if you fill out a little form, you're on their list which is forwarded to the C. I. A., the trilateral commitee, the Bilderbergers, the United Nations, and the Greys.
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"It was that or $15 when I went to that one last month."
Yikes!
That's to the point where I may not go back. Gone are the days when you could get a really good deal on a gun over the shops in the area. About the only thing I'd go back for now is reloading supplies and maybe if I'm looking for a specific older handgun.
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Kane County Gun show is still $5 and free parking.
And to add onto Chris's post. If can wait until the last hour (around 1-2pm) burgers and hot dogs are 1/2 off. Drinks are still full price.
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My local one is $11 to get in and $12 for parking.
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Been a few years since I went to one. Internet, my LGS, and Palmetto State Armory have my needs covered without having to pay $5 parking and $10 to get in.
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My local one is $11 to get in and $12 for parking.
"That's a dumb planet."
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"That's a dumb planet."
The .local one is at the fairgrounds, and the venue handles and sets price for parking.
The same show over in Lakeland is $5 for parking. But the fairgrounds are 8 miles from my house, so super convenient.
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My local one is $11 to get in and $12 for parking.
I haven't been to a show in a good ten years, but that parking thing is why I stopped going. I was paying around the above for the show and parking back then in CA. I was mostly just buying ammo at the time, and twenty extra bucks just to get in kinda killed any discounts. Looks like the ones near me in Idaho are $5 & $8, with free parking listed at one of them.
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Do they have anything besides beef jerky and fake Nazi memorabilia? :laugh:
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When I had gone to the last one I mentioned, and first one I'd been to in over 3 years, I got a pretty good deal on a bayonet.
http://www.akfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=369807
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My local one is $11 to get in and $12 for parking.
Parking in downtown San Antonio is cheaper than that.
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Do they have anything besides beef jerky and fake Nazi memorabilia? :laugh:
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ft9DNQYm.jpg&hash=0673ca7fa980230b43ce8badb2f99d7748890520)
You just gotta keep your eyes peeled.
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You just gotta keep your eyes peeled.
Yep, you're looking for the proverbial diamond in a dog's butt...
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Yep, you're looking for the proverbial diamond in a dog's butt...
Why would I wish to examine a canine's rectum for a cubic octahedral form of carbon?
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/db/af/c8/dbafc85eb5e3892f8c0ede399be0d764.jpg)
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:laugh: Live long and prosper. [tinfoil]
:rofl:
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Yep, you're looking for the proverbial diamond in a dog's butt...
Meh.
I find a decent deal probably every third gunshow I go to, and am entertained at all of them.
I found that Colt and the Smith I got in my thread at the last one.
Time before that I found a local guy that makes really nice custom grips. I got 2 different 1911 sets and one for my P238.
two trips before that were busts.
Before that I found a NIB 229 Legion at $200 of MSRP about 6 months after release. Snatched that one.
You have to have realistic expectations, but at there are deals. I think a lot of the internet grumbling is folks remembering what gunshow prices were like in 1992, and being upset. If anything, I think show pricing is pretty consistently decent these days because anyone can pull out a smart phone and hit Armslist, Gunbroker, and Buds to see what market value is while standing there at the table.
I actually got my Arisaka that way. I told the guy that I liked his rifle, but he was about $150 high based on the 4 auctions I showed him. Grumpy dude said "If you don't like my price buy one of those!". Isaid OK and hit "Buy it Now" on GB standing in front of his table. Dude's face was priceless. =D
But the point is, with a little research, and a little patience I routinely find good deals on guns and gun parts. No Memorabilia, and only enough Jerky to munch on while I wander around.
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The last 5 or 10 years, the cost of parking in Downtown Houston went up. It is easier to just pay $12 and park in the underground parking across the street from the downtown convention center where the gun show is occasionally. I haven't been to that one in a while. There is one out in Pasadena,TX that has free parking which I go to from time to time. The Houston Gun Collector's Association show used to be huge 20 years ago ( a few times a year), but it has steadily dropped off to where it is almost one of the smaller shows now. It is in the same complex as the NRG football stadium now and parking is $12 also.
I have heard about a few small town shows here and there that are usually at Knight of Columbus halls or Veterans Halls. They are usually tiny, but can be interesting.
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The only time I tried to sell something at a gun show, I was either willing to sell it very cheap or I was disappointed.
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I actually got my Arisaka that way. I told the guy that I liked his rifle, but he was about $150 high based on the 4 auctions I showed him. Grumpy dude said "If you don't like my price buy one of those!". Isaid OK and hit "Buy it Now" on GB standing in front of his table. Dude's face was priceless. =D
:laugh: