I think the problem is just plain too many promoters and too many shows. Also, no one denys that there just is not a lot of loose cash in the pockets of most of the attendees. In Indiana there are 3 or 4 shows every month within driving distance. That really spreads the cash thin. Many people just kind of go for a cheap event, looking around and meeting friends. The promoters get their money from the vendors up front, I don't know if they make any money, maybe one will chime in. The cost of setting up at a gun show is getting crazy. That has to be absorbed some how. Now add these factors up, thin crowds, thin wallets, high expenses. By the time that totals, it is a pretty hard game for a vendor to play. Vendors that cannot pay the expenses, and maybe eek out a little money for their time, cannot keep coming back. That makes higher prices which the customers will not/cannot pay and less variety. I predict that 10 years from now we'll look back at 2011 as "the good old days" when there were lots of gun shows" and brag to out kids how cheap everything was in the "good old days"
or shall I say an EXTREMELY meager gun show?
My Uncle and I went to the Bedford gun show today. WOW!! it wasn't even worth the $5 we each paid to get in!!!
There was 15 or 16 vendors there. One vendor had what I call his private collection maybe? a 1911 dated in 1913 for $10,000 a couple S&W 6in 357mag ranging from $900-1700.
One vendor was doing Arizona t-shirts and stickers only. Another was doing custom vinyl window clings only.
Shotguns galore, geez I have never seen so many shotguns!!!! one vendor had Wolf .223 for $5/20rd box Another vendor had a couple boxes of Hydro shock ammo.
One vendor had 1 parts kit for ar15, the rest of the place was filled with shot guns, over priced .22 rifles. cheapest I saw was a ak47 in a .22 for $450 even the ruger .22's I saw were running around $449
No other ammo, or reloading equipment, which is why we went, wanted to get 40sw dies, powder, primers and a 10mm mold. There were several vendors selling hand guns as well, however, I could save at least $35+ by driving an extra 2-3miles and going to Cosner's gun shop. $485 for an SR9C, $470 for a used and dirty SR40
One vendor my Uncle spoke to said he hadn't seen very many sales at all from the entire place the whole day the food stand was the only thing making money that he could see, And was really tempted to just pack up and go home.
I will definitely put this gun show on my list of gun shows NOT to go to...