Anyone else hate doing gun & knife shows?

DC KNIVES said:
Settsecurity, thats the kind of attitude that gives makers and vendors a bad name. You should follow what Gollnick says as he was right on in his post. When I started making knives many years ago, the local gun show was my only outlet then as years progressed more knife only shows were around, till now when they are everywhere. But I still occasionly will do the local gun and knife show. The table prices are only $60 for two days and its 15 minutes from the house.I have met quite a few mid to high end collectors there and I am the only custom maker.I have done very well, selling out several times and always taking home orders. One collector purchased 20 knives over a 2 year period. I have another that has 3 orders now with more to follow and about 20 sheaths.
I have a nice table display and do pretty much like Gollnick said.If collectors are going to spend money at your table you owe them your full attention and courtesy. Sure you have tirekickers but they are potential customers and deserve your respect too.Go in with a good attitude and have fun, and remember you are selling yourself as much as your product. Dave:)
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Yup, what he said, and what Gollnick said.
 
Gollnick said:
...9) Be kind to others, especially children. You may know very well that this seven-year-old kid isn't going to buy your $2500 custom knife. But don't shoo him away dismissively. Take a minute or two (that's probably the extent of his attention span anyway) and say, "See this handle here? That ebony. It's a rare wood. See how black it is? That's not painted; it's that way naturally. Isn't that pretty engraving? See how shinney the blade is. I polished that for hours." He's still not going to buy your $2500 custom knife, but I'm standing behind him and I was impressed that you took the time to be kind to him and educate him a bit and I just might buy your $2500 knife...
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Amen to that! I am much more likely to buy a knife from someone who actually acknowledges that my son is also interested in knives and spends time talking to him. He's a very engaging and polite 12-year-old (I say as unbiasedly as possible :D).

What some knifemakers don't get (and I'm not implying anything about SettSecurity...I don't know her at all) is that it is a business. They may make the finest knives in the world, but if they are clueless about taking care of a potential customer, I'll move on. Thankfully, many more knifemakers DO get it. I've had wonderful experiences at knife shows getting to know these folks (and buying their knives!).

- Mark
 
I just had a table at my first gun and knife show and I was pleased and intend to do more. I didn't sell a lot of knives but I had more serious inquiries than I had at the last two all knife shows that I had done.

I also know that people who didn't buy the first time may buy on the second or third time once they know you are going to be there.

It definitely is a differnt crowd than at an all knife show. At Blade or the Guild show everyone there knows knives and is not shocked at the prices of handmade knives. At the gun show you will get a lot "just lookers" and few who think anything over few bucks is outrageous but you will also find some good collectors.

I had one guy look and talk for quite a while and then said "I'll be back". My wife was skeptical but I had a feeling he would. He came back and bought two handmades from me.
 
WOW!!!! Is all I can say. What a said state of affairs that I see way to often. THE SELLER IS THE VICTIM OF THE CUSTOMER? Since when? I go to the gun show near me at least 6 times a year. I buy guns and knives. I spend about $2000 per year at these shows. I do not buy at every table. I do not buy from victims, or disintertested sellers. In fact I will often pay a little more for an item from a different seller who bothers to engage me and indulge my questions and "tire kicking" if you will. A pleasant transaction is worth the money.

Sometimes the interaction is what really matters to me as a collector just like the interactions here on the forum.

Why on earth would you even attempt to sell at a show if you don't like dealing with the people?
 
The shows here are getting very bad.Last one in Knoxville I went to was one of the worst.
Just heard from a friend today,older guy that has been doing shows for years,that they drove to GA this past Saturday morning,paid 65.00 for the table and got everything set up.About 9 am people started coming in and he walked around a bit.He ran into a friend that was coming in the door and they talked,dealer that was set up close by I am guessing saw his show tag and thought he was horning in on a customer.The dealer reported him to the show owner and the owner told him he could not talk to anyone around the tables.He went back to his table packed up and left by 10:30 am.
My friend is not a dealer,just a person with a small private collection.
 
I went to a gunshow last month in Hamilton,Mt,and there was a case dealer there.Looking at some of his goods and he was the worst example of someone who was dealing with the public that I have ever seen.Never said a word.Looked as though he just came to the big city.Aske a couple questions and realized it was fruitles.Bad nannas
Randy
 
I don't go to shows anymore.Last one I had a terrible experience.Overpriced admission,overpriced crap on the tables and disgraceful vendor attitudes.There were more non-gun/knife vendors there anyway.I'm not looking for beanie babies at a gun/knife show.
 
TOMBSTONE said:
I don't go to shows anymore.Last one I had a terrible experience.Overpriced admission,overpriced crap on the tables and disgraceful vendor attitudes.There were more non-gun/knife vendors there anyway.I'm not looking for beanie babies at a gun/knife show.
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Or a grill set or a cell phone or super duper bottle of clean it good or...........
Honestly someone at the last one in knoxville had a table with some cleaning crap on it and a lady standing out in middle of the isle stopping people giving them the sales pitch.That is when I left.
 
I was kind of hesitant to post here when I first started reading this thread because I'm on the same page as some of the people towards the middle/end of the thread. If I come up to a table and have questions and want to handle one of your knives, you should do that. I'm a consumer, just like everyone else there. Plus, that's what G&F shows are for. To get the product actually IN FRONT of the people. If you don't like people asking questions and handling your product, then don't pay money for a table.

For the record, I've never had a bad experience at a table. About 95% of the time, the seller is VERY cool and answers my questions or lets me handle the equipment without hesitation. I actually walked up to a table FULL of Busse's/Swamp Rats/Scrap Yards and was mesmorized and just picked one up. It wasn't until my dad said, "Hey, that sign says don't handle the knives," that I even noticed it. The guy running the booth, who is a member on BF, was completely cool. I apologized for putting my grubby hands on his Busse and he said, "Oh it's no big deal, most people just get tunnel vision when they see these things!"
 
My only dissappointments at gun or knife shows has always been a price that's a bit much. HOWEVER, more than once I've asked to handle a knife, learned the price was about $10 more than I could get it for online but went ahead with the purchase anyway. Why? A smile, good conversation, chance to actually handle the blade, and the fact that the guy on the other side of the table actually gave a cr@p about the knives and the BUYER.
 
Going to our local gun & knife show here , it never ceases to amaze me that people don't put prices on stuff. Walk up to the table see something you like and stand there for 5 minutes while they flip thru page after page of their inventory sheet to figure out the price.

Nothing worse than walking up to a table and having to ask for a price on anything you are interested in. oh wait there is something worse , when the person behind the table starts off with " those are rare "..." hard to find " . " impossible to get "... and I was just asked about a plane jane seahorse whittle ( CASE ).
 
The main reason to go to gun/knife shows? Simple; the fact that you never know what somebody will have on their table. I have found lots of stuff at gun shows, that you wouldn't think you'd find there. Like Tony Bose stag handled fixed blades, and Bob Lum knives from years ago. You just never know what somebody has in their collection for sale, until you go look.
 
Kohai999 said:
1. Kaizen.....if I was set up at a show and ANYONE got lippy in a way that your comment which I bolded indicated.....I would put that mouthy SOB in the frikkin hospital...and happily take my punishment...and get out and do the same thing again....it is a gun show, not Wal-Mart...THOSE poor SOB's have to take crap...table holders at a gun show do not....minding your manners as a buyer ensures that you have as good a time as you can.
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The guy would get what he deserves. Everyone should respect each other at these shows. Some people, both sellers and potential buyers seem to think that the environment at the shows are an excuse to behave like teenagers. I've gone to shows where the people at the table didn't even attempt to make eye contact or acknowledge me.
 
A little customer service can go a LONG way.

I have been trying to deal with a maker in order to have a custom folder made for my father as his retirement present. I started contact in august of last year so I would have almost a year to get it done. I have the money for it & I was not looking for something extremely unusual. Oct 6th & Nov 29th are the last contacts I have had with him. No response to email, no providing info I requested (How thick a specific handle config he regularly makes is).

I had $1200 budgeted for the project. I had the money. He has not been replying. I am really disappointed, as is my father, however my money is going elsewhere. because of his delays i don't have time to start over and get the present I wanted. :(
 
It's a wonder sometimes if these people even like knives at all. I have walked away from tables before because of a lack of the seller's enthusiasm, or willing to answer/ask questions, shake hands etc.

One of the best knifemakers I've ever dealt with at a show was A.T. Barr. He shook my hand, looked me in the eye, smiled and answered any and all questions I had about his knives and knifemaking in general. Had no problems with me handling any of his knives.

Thats another thing.... I hate people who wont let you handle any of the stuff at their table. Thats why I go to gun and knife shows, because I can get up close and personal with things. Something may strike your fancy in a magazine, or on bladeforums here, but it's different when you're actually handling it. I've fallen in love with some knives in pictures....and quickly fell out of love once I held them in my hand.
 
although i am sure some of the customers have a few quircks i certainly have seen my share of exhibitors who also had a few FWIW at the austin show.

people ar people imho, good, bad and everything in between on both sides of the table.
 
I have been setting up at Gun an Knife shows since the mid 60's. and
on a whole they have been going down hill. and by this I mean the promoters
are letting flea market type vendors in. Most of the old promoters tried to keep the tables at least 90% gun or knife related. This brought in the buyers
that we looking for guns or knives not the junk that is sold nowadays
In the past I did 99% of the shows in my state. Now about 6 a year that are
run by old timers or gun clubs and collectors.
Just to make a point when I set up at a show I take 10 to 12 tables
which I cover with vintage Colt's S&W'S handguns an Winchester rifles
this takes up 80 to 85 percent of my tables space the rest is displaying
Randoll knives That I am a collector of. In the last 10 years I have been
putting the handguns and knives in display cases. As some of the people
who show up at the shows today. Haven't a qule as to the prices of my
merchandise I have had dad's hand their kid a Colt cavalry revolver to look at
this being a 15,000.00 item if the kid dropped and broke it the dad could no more pay for it. Than he could fly. this is what started the display cases
Well I could go on an on but will stop hear.
This is to show what it is like behind the tables you may invest 10 bucks to get in but I have spent 650.00 to 1000.00 to set up hear plus what it will
cost me to stay in town 3 day's
 
Before you get your panties all bunched up kohai999, and jump all over Kaizen1, reread his statement where he says he won't buy, but" wont rub it in their face" he just leaves if the price is too high.

Now say your sorry........
 
Not in the knife or gun related area, but I have worked a great many home shows over the years. The companies I was representing sold and installed home theater and multi-zone audio systems. I can tell you from experience that it is very difficult to keep a smile on your face and to refrain from making rude comments to people that make rude comments to you. After the five hundredth person has asked you if the price on that DLP projector is really that much, you feel like telling them, "No, but we just put the price that high because we like answering inane questions all day long."
 
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