hi i sell knives and outdoor gear around the Pittsburgh area mostly at gunshows and local flea markets. i have a wide range from cheap junky knives to higher end like quartermaster, spyderco ect. one thing i have noticed is that recently not only my sales but most of the vendors sales have dropped significantly from last year. looking for thoughts and opinions . thanks
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Any knife dealers out there notice less sales from gun shows since last year?
- Thread starter Heshop
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I don't know about flea markets, but in my part of the country I know less and less people go to gunshows. I remember years ago you could get great deals at a gunshow. Recently though, seems everything is higher priced than it would be at a local vendor. Hard for me to justify spending the money to get in the gate for that. Just my thoughts.
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biggest flea market near me just shut down. gun shows still draw in lots of newbies, and collectors hoping to find something they can't on the internet, speaking about guns, but.....i stopped going to gun shows due to prices higher than the gun stores nowadays and way higher than the internet. bargains and rare finds disappeared. also too much beef jerky and junk knife dealers.
Agree. I do this myself and have found very few 'good' deals. Indeed, most are close to MSRP.
With no local shops in my area, I go to shows to window shop. There is an out-of-area dealer that attends who also has a store and a website and their prices are good (but their website's are even better). But they bring a large and varied selection and I gladly pay for the privilege of 'test driving'.
I honestly don't know how people who sell knives at gun-shows or in person make ends meet. I haven't EVER seen good deals at gun-shows or flea markets (or at brick/mortar stores). You can't beat Amazon or Ebay, which most folks these days understand. Guns are the same way, honestly. I think that's really the issue with shows. They charge people to have a table, and the seller has to recoup his outlay for lodging, gas, food, spent in just getting to the show.
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I am not a dealer but will make an observation because I try & do 6 or so gun shows a year.
The promoter of our local gun shows (Cross Roads of West Shows) talks in his radio spots about wholesale pricing at his shows.
Most of the dealers go to the shows & sell for what they sell stuff for in their retail operation. So for the most part you are out the admission, and parking before going into the show. TO PAY RETAIL ASK.
Me personally I use the shows to buy what is not available at local gun shops. I always ask is that your best price, and then & wheel and deal.
Last I look at things I am considering buying knowing what they can be purchased for on line before going to the show. I carry a piece of paper with item listed, and BEST internet pricing. If I decide I would like to give the seller at the gun show a shot at my business. I say, I would like to buy this item but, your price is high, and I state what the online price is & from whom. Than I say can you match or come close to that price? If I hear anything but YES, or I can do so. I just walk away. I do not want to hear how much their table cost, or they had to rent a motel, or some other this that do not concern me.
Non of these Gun Show Dealers are my favorite charity. Last I will say the dealer count at gun shows is dropping, and that is because table price has gone up from the promoter, and traffic from buyers has dropped. Because price are not deals.
Last gun show I went to there was a new knife dealer. They were selling Emersons, most were priced like 150-170% of suggested retail. Guess that dealer was looking for fish. How about $300.00 for a CQC-& BW.
Also the other thing I see a lot of at our local Gun Show are COUNTERFEIT MICRO TECH & BENCH MADE SWITCH BLADES, all have the same serial number. Buyer need to know the difference between real & counterfeits. Asians are even counterfeiting boxes, and instruction booklets.
Gun show are not what they were 15 or 20 years ago where there were all kind of deals, now like I said dealer move their store to the gun show for the weekend. charging the same price as their stores.
This weekend is the Biggest Gun Show of the YEAR. The Cross Roads of West Small Arms Review Show. Should be good.
The promoter of our local gun shows (Cross Roads of West Shows) talks in his radio spots about wholesale pricing at his shows.
Most of the dealers go to the shows & sell for what they sell stuff for in their retail operation. So for the most part you are out the admission, and parking before going into the show. TO PAY RETAIL ASK.
Me personally I use the shows to buy what is not available at local gun shops. I always ask is that your best price, and then & wheel and deal.
Last I look at things I am considering buying knowing what they can be purchased for on line before going to the show. I carry a piece of paper with item listed, and BEST internet pricing. If I decide I would like to give the seller at the gun show a shot at my business. I say, I would like to buy this item but, your price is high, and I state what the online price is & from whom. Than I say can you match or come close to that price? If I hear anything but YES, or I can do so. I just walk away. I do not want to hear how much their table cost, or they had to rent a motel, or some other this that do not concern me.
Non of these Gun Show Dealers are my favorite charity. Last I will say the dealer count at gun shows is dropping, and that is because table price has gone up from the promoter, and traffic from buyers has dropped. Because price are not deals.
Last gun show I went to there was a new knife dealer. They were selling Emersons, most were priced like 150-170% of suggested retail. Guess that dealer was looking for fish. How about $300.00 for a CQC-& BW.
Also the other thing I see a lot of at our local Gun Show are COUNTERFEIT MICRO TECH & BENCH MADE SWITCH BLADES, all have the same serial number. Buyer need to know the difference between real & counterfeits. Asians are even counterfeiting boxes, and instruction booklets.
Gun show are not what they were 15 or 20 years ago where there were all kind of deals, now like I said dealer move their store to the gun show for the weekend. charging the same price as their stores.
This weekend is the Biggest Gun Show of the YEAR. The Cross Roads of West Small Arms Review Show. Should be good.
I attend a couple of gun shows each year, ranging in size from school gymnasiums to large auditoriums, and usually come away with a knife or two. However, I rarely end up buying a brand new, current model knife. As others have said, the prices are full retail if not higher, as a quick online price check will confirm. It's with the used or long-discontinued stuff that I've had some decent luck, although even that is a mixed bag. For example, I've bought a NOS Cold Steel Recon Scout (Carbon V version) and various Kershaws for well below what I was finding online, but I've also bought some knives that turned out not to be the version I thought, such as having different materials or being a "mini" version of a model I was interested in. That's on me, for not knowing what I'm looking at and buying on impulse.
More often than not, the gun shows here are full of Pakistani so-called Damascus knives, a lot of TacForce/MTech folders and various novelty blades.
More often than not, the gun shows here are full of Pakistani so-called Damascus knives, a lot of TacForce/MTech folders and various novelty blades.
In my part of the country the gun show are still attended, but definitely dropping. Most people are buying bulk ammo for a discount that they may not be able to find anywhere else. Also at my local shows there are a few "seconds" dealers who don't own their own retail store but are able to access "defective" gear for a crazy marked down price. A few people are purchasing guns, but mostly from local dealers with tables at the show.
Now on to knives... The cheap knives are usually priced for more, even double, than what you could get at a Walmart or any other BBS literally within walking distance of the show. The middle of the road knives are pretty much the same price or even a couple dollars higher than what you could buy it for at any sporting goods store in town. As for the high end collectors market knives, they are priced astronomical! If it is an older no longer in production knife, it will be at least 3-4 times what you could get on-line with some digging. If it is a current production high-end knife it will be double what you could order it for today, you just might have to wait a year. Maybe they expect you to haggle, actually I am sure they do! But why bother when these people won't sell it to you for less than I could stand and order it from my phone right in front of them?
Two stories: First one was a gentleman I approached that had many(25) beautiful rifles all laid out on the table. After taking a look at one, I asked the price... mind you I probably had double in my pocket what the rifle was even worth... he said it was not for sale. In fact none of his guns were for sale. This guy bought and purchased a table just to show his crap off
Second, spotted an older Ruana that would fit into my collection quite nicely. Took a look at it, noticed it was marked probably 300% higher than the same knife on any sales forum on-line. I asked the gentleman if he had any room at all on it, all I got was a disrespectful "No" and went back to reading his book. I mean this guy has a knife marked in a way where he stands to make nearly $600 profit and him, his wife, or his dog can't even stand up!
Hey, gun show people, if you want my business ya better try a little harder. I am pretty much done going to these shows.
Now on to knives... The cheap knives are usually priced for more, even double, than what you could get at a Walmart or any other BBS literally within walking distance of the show. The middle of the road knives are pretty much the same price or even a couple dollars higher than what you could buy it for at any sporting goods store in town. As for the high end collectors market knives, they are priced astronomical! If it is an older no longer in production knife, it will be at least 3-4 times what you could get on-line with some digging. If it is a current production high-end knife it will be double what you could order it for today, you just might have to wait a year. Maybe they expect you to haggle, actually I am sure they do! But why bother when these people won't sell it to you for less than I could stand and order it from my phone right in front of them?
Two stories: First one was a gentleman I approached that had many(25) beautiful rifles all laid out on the table. After taking a look at one, I asked the price... mind you I probably had double in my pocket what the rifle was even worth... he said it was not for sale. In fact none of his guns were for sale. This guy bought and purchased a table just to show his crap off
Second, spotted an older Ruana that would fit into my collection quite nicely. Took a look at it, noticed it was marked probably 300% higher than the same knife on any sales forum on-line. I asked the gentleman if he had any room at all on it, all I got was a disrespectful "No" and went back to reading his book. I mean this guy has a knife marked in a way where he stands to make nearly $600 profit and him, his wife, or his dog can't even stand up!Hey, gun show people, if you want my business ya better try a little harder. I am pretty much done going to these shows.
Haven't been to a gun show in a while. You can ocassionaly find a good deal but they are hard to come by. Most gun show merchandise being sold is going to be grossly overpriced. The key to finding a deal is to get there early. If you show up a few hours after opening, most of the good deals or popular items on sale are long gone. You can find deals but you need some luck and good timing. For me, however, gun shows just aren't worth the bother.
Two stories: First one was a gentleman I approached that had many(25) beautiful rifles all laid out on the table. After taking a look at one, I asked the price... mind you I probably had double in my pocket what the rifle was even worth... he said it was not for sale. In fact none of his guns were for sale. This guy bought and purchased a table just to show his crap off
I always got a kick out of people selling boxes of ammo that looked like it was locked away in a basement for a few decades. They want pretty absurd prices and act like they are selling gold.
I am a knife and (rifle & pistol) shooting enthusiast and went to my first major gunshow this year. Glad I did it. Can now economize the wasted few hours as both my first and last gunshow.
Some over-priced ammunition, lots of very expensive relics from WWII (including Nazi memorabilia) and overwhelming tons of "black gun" apparati and tactical equipment.
Knives? As stated above, volumes of ultra-cheap stuff at moderate prices and "handmade" fixed blades (of unknown build and origin) poorly done and over-priced.
Shame, as I would much prefer personal interaction (rather than electronic communication and transactions) to online activities. This is our world now.
Some over-priced ammunition, lots of very expensive relics from WWII (including Nazi memorabilia) and overwhelming tons of "black gun" apparati and tactical equipment.
Knives? As stated above, volumes of ultra-cheap stuff at moderate prices and "handmade" fixed blades (of unknown build and origin) poorly done and over-priced.
Shame, as I would much prefer personal interaction (rather than electronic communication and transactions) to online activities. This is our world now.
Retailers also can get a bit testy if you question the pricing. I was browsing through some Henry lever guns I had been considering for a while. I asked to look at the .44 and the guy hands it to me. I was playing around with the action and then looked at the sticker tag and muttered "Holy..." It was pretty much 35% higher than can be ordered online. The guy saw my reaction and asked if I had any questions. I just politely pointed out you can find these items online for considerably less. He got a bit perturbed and lectured me on the importance of supporting local business. I am all for supporting business , but not on the order of 35%.
This was a situation I was in at BLADE this year. My buddy and I were looking around for Kershaw Launches because he wanted a 1 pretty badly. Problem was, he decided this at like, 2PM on Saturday when all three models had pretty much dried up at their normal $100 (at the time) price point at all the tables we had seen them at that morning. Searching around, we found one table run by a husband/wife team for some knife shop and their selection of current and discontinued knives was FANTASTIC. Then I saw why, everything was priced absurdly over the top. He picks up the Launch 1, turns it over and the pricetag reads $175. The wife is standing there expectantly so she clearly hears me say "Dude, not only no, but HELL no, there's some serious drug use going on here, that's a $100 knife." She instantly frowns and starts into some explanation about how they can't compete with "the big boys" and it is what it is. We just turn and walk away without a response.
Frankly, I find it insulting when these people at shows overcharge to that degree and I'm usually the jerkwad who'll see a ridiculous price, make some snide comment, then walk away. Plenty of other tables to look at, and if it's something I really need, I'll get it online.
I'll agree with almost everyone else.... not gonna pay to get into a mall to spend 140.00 for shoes I can buy on the internet for 65.00 and qualify for free shipping to boot. That and I'm not out the 20.00 in gas to get there, 5.00 to park, and half the day looking at stuff that's priced to sell to no one.
The world has moved on....there was a time when a gunshow was the only way to see more for sale than what your local shop carried, but back then you didn't have the internet to order from so buying something exciting was more a case of see it and grab it before anyone else did.....OCCASIONALLY you could find a deal...
THEN in the age of the internet, not only are WE the buyer researching what we want exactly and where to buy it for the least money possible.....but the sellers are researching everything they have for sale, and because of that the deals are gone....anything worth having they typically have had listed on Gunbroker already for MONTHS before it sat on that table for you to giggle at as you see he is asking 40% above NEW price for a USED item......
in short.....its a great way to window shop if you have nothing better to do and really want to " handle " something before you buy it at the place you know of that sells it for half the gunshow asking price
The world has moved on....there was a time when a gunshow was the only way to see more for sale than what your local shop carried, but back then you didn't have the internet to order from so buying something exciting was more a case of see it and grab it before anyone else did.....OCCASIONALLY you could find a deal...
THEN in the age of the internet, not only are WE the buyer researching what we want exactly and where to buy it for the least money possible.....but the sellers are researching everything they have for sale, and because of that the deals are gone....anything worth having they typically have had listed on Gunbroker already for MONTHS before it sat on that table for you to giggle at as you see he is asking 40% above NEW price for a USED item......
in short.....its a great way to window shop if you have nothing better to do and really want to " handle " something before you buy it at the place you know of that sells it for half the gunshow asking price
I am not asking gun show prices compete with a BBS... but at the same rate, If you're a so called "local", don't try to offer me some overpriced imported junkie crap I can buy at any big box store. While your at it, give service unlike the BBS. Provide good merchandise, talk to me with a smile, sell me a product, discuss your experiences with it, explain the pros and cons of your product.. etc.
I used to go to gun shows to shoot the bull... talk about guns, knives, and accs. That way when I purchased something I knew I had something of quality, reliable, and held its value. And for the love of pete, I could often trade it back in a the same gun show and try something new. Haggling on price was part of the fun... but the real fun was the friendships.
I used to go to gun shows to shoot the bull... talk about guns, knives, and accs. That way when I purchased something I knew I had something of quality, reliable, and held its value. And for the love of pete, I could often trade it back in a the same gun show and try something new. Haggling on price was part of the fun... but the real fun was the friendships.
I honestly think the turning point for my local gun show was the ammo shortage a few years back. Every person who had a stockpile of 30 year old ammo in his basement could now move it at a premium. These people were making a mint. For most of them at my local show, it was their retirement savings and working out perfectly. I wasn't even a vendor, but when I'd here people bickering about $40 for a box of .22 bullets or not even being able to find them, I was quick to give them my number as I had a crap load that my pa had purchased not 5 years earlier for $6 a box.
The market prices went up so fast, they were raising prices as fast as the could, the gun show table prices continued to go up... and now they still want an arm a leg and the demand isn't there for the crappy products they are left selling or now providing.