November 1500

[churchmouse]

I earn my living off of table sales of collectables, I have dealt with crowds directly.. 1st rule people are there to get a bargain. If they wanted something at full price they can order
it off the computer today and it will be delivered to them at their door..

Good prices will overcome poor salesmanship skills as well as a poor table display.. in fact with crazy prices, sales are enhanced by a poor table display & lack of textbook salesmanship skills.

If I was selling at that show this week, I would get some kind of gimmick to get people coming back to my table.. Say a reverse auction ..Write a price on a tag & each hour drop the price by 10 bucks..
make a big deal out of it....You will have people coming to your booth every hour.. By the end of the show. Everything will be gone.. Hell if you do it right
you will not be going in Sunday morning.

Not sure that will be as effective on the Milsurp collectors but heck.....who knows.

 

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

Is cheese guy there again? Going to pick up a few bricks of the ghost pepper again. That stuff is GNARLY

 

[indy1919a4]

Not sure that will be as effective on the Milsurp collectors but heck.....who knows.

Milsurp collectors are people to, If you should prick them, they would bleed. If they smell a bargain they will come.

 

[cbhausen]

I’m on my way with two nice ARs, a Sig P365, a G19 gen5, a Mk IV Hunter, and a Slide Fire new in package to sell. Gotta fund a business startup...

 

[Gunaria]

Is cheese guy there again? Going to pick up a few bricks of the ghost pepper again. That stuff is GNARLY

Yes the cheesy poof guy is there.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Well, I give it a "B".

Not quite A level, but hey, it gives me a chance to get out of the cow pastures and cornfields.

On the plus side, I did get to meet uncle Kirk.

Yeah, they're not gonna buy that stuff, counselor.

Need more plastic.

 

[Audie Murphy]

Got some free swag from MAC

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Well, I give it a "B".

Not quite A level, but hey, it gives me a chance to get out of the cow pastures and cornfields.

On the plus side, I did get to meet uncle Kirk.

Yeah, they're not gonna buy that stuff, counselor.

Need more plastic.

1. Pleasure to meet you.

2. They did buy that stuff. I had a very profitable day.

However, you are right, I am taking schlock down as the high end collector pieces did not move. Crap sells.

Ed explained it as people can only take out $400 at the ATM AND a gun is a gun if you never fire it. It sits in the sock drawer as some magic totem or what not.

If you want to make money, go cheap crap.

It's funny I made my nut and into the black a few hundred just in non-gun sales. No wonder so many dealers have flea market crap on their tables.

This 1500 was an excellent education in the gun culture. Glad I am doing this.

 

[churchmouse]

1. Pleasure to meet you.

2. They did buy that stuff. I had a very profitable day.

However, you are right, I am taking schlock down as the high end collector pieces did not move. Crap sells.

Ed explained it as people can only take out $400 at the ATM AND a gun is a gun if you never fire it. It sits in the sock drawer as some magic totem or what not.

If you want to make money, go cheap crap.

It's funny I made my nut and into the black a few hundred just in non-gun sales. No wonder so many dealers have flea market crap on their tables.

This 1500 was an excellent education in the gun culture. Glad I am doing this.

Wow. If I go to the gun show I usually have a budget but I have that amount in my pocket or I know the vendors I am buying from have a card reader.
Interesting.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

If you haven't seen a confederate flag after a full day it must be a slow show.

Have not seen a Confederate flag all show.

Did get BINGO but it was on Actual Federal Agent/AUSA, not Confederate flag. Go figure.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Wow. If I go to the gun show I usually have a budget but I have that amount in my pocket or I know the vendors I am buying from have a card reader.
Interesting.

This particular show, heavy market saturation in Indiana, this particular SES attending, it's down market stuff that is moving.

Guy behind me, Professor Ed (he gave me a fantastic education), is selling fidget spinners, he made a mint. I stood there with my mouth open as he did it.

I completely understand why dealers have flea market stuff on their tables.

 

[Dean C.]

Good show, found 300 rounds of 147gr HST for $25 a box of 50. Picked up two boxes of the 38 special HST too at $15 a box. Ran into the Military Arms Channel and said hi bought a couple T-Shirts. Also picked up 4 pounds of Titegroup and a Offset Trijicon RMR mount for my AR and spare RMR so it has a home now.

Very successful show, I also saw two Night Cobras and was disappointing , twice the size and weight of my 360PD and it's only in 38 not 357 mag, Colt is way behind the curve with these IMHO

 

[SNAFU-M1A]

Did anyone see Recoil Gun Works there? Looking for some of their awesome police trades.

 

[IndianaSoloMcfly]

Did anyone see Recoil Gun Works there? Looking for some of their awesome police trades.

Yup, bought a tlr-1 HL for 75 bucks on impulse. Not upset.

 

[SNAFU-M1A]

Yup, bought a tlr-1 HL for 75 bucks on impulse. Not upset.

Awesome, thanks! That's what I'm hoping they still have, the TLRs & Glock 21 Gen 4. Make a good beater gun.

 

[quangtran1]

Just traded a new Glock 19 Gen 5 + $75 for a new HK VP9. Not a bad deal.

 

[drillsgt]

I have a group of friends that are vendors. They own LGS. They deal in the higher end rifles and hand guns. They lament the millennial lack of respect for a fine piece of crafted metal. Plastic with lots of Boolitz. That is the key. Excuse me, I need to go.....

Sounds like 500 Guns? Probably not a big market among the 1500 crowd for old expensive shotguns and double rifles i'm sure.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Great show, great lessons learned and made just above my goal.

I forecasted the market very, very poorly prior to the show, but was able to adjust and respond to what people sought. (Reinforced the dangers of planned economies for me).

Completely misread the demand for "milsurps". Only sold 5 and did not sell a single Indian Enfield. Did sell one of the K31s (the degreased one) to a very interested and very bright young man. Made me feel good.

People wanted crap, entry level handguns and .22 rifles. I was able to give them this and be rewarded for it.

I sold two options on high end Colts and Smiths. Using my father's tactic of turning one gun into multiple guns I sought out FFLs who showed interest in them, so I will likely trade them as opposed to sell them.

Cannot believe how well the non-gun stuff sold. Like a pack of ravenous wolves, customers devoured 2 big freezer bags of handgun stocks. I have a grand total of 5 left. Every single FNRA knife sold. I made the nut (inlcuding gas and food) for the show and well into the black just on stocks and knives.

Stay super flexible. Learn to read the crowd and always be willing to run and buy .22 ammo for the customer.

SPECIAL THANKS: A very large thank you to INGOer Mike Grasso who came part-time Saturday even though he just flew back in Friday from Europe giving his bride a tour of Italy. Mike showed up again Sunday and brought reinforcements AND lunch. Additionally, thanks to Mike, I know have Agent Booth's shotgun. Envy me.

 

[churchmouse]

Sounds like 500 Guns? Probably not a big market among the 1500 crowd for old expensive shotguns and double rifles i'm sure.

 

[DanVoils]

Sounds like 500 Guns? Probably not a big market among the 1500 crowd for old expensive shotguns and double rifles i'm sure.

You'd be pretty surprised at how well they do. A lot of their sales are after the show at the store with people who made initial contact at the show. It only takes selling one $10,000 Drilling to put you well into the black!