E Peoria gun show disappointment

[joybulb]

Was anyone else disappointed by how many non-gun tables there were? I don't dislike knives, but more than once I walked up to a case expecting to see guns and just saw knives. And a cubs/cards booth? Come on, if I wanted that stuff, I'd go to a truck stop. Wonder if there was a shortage of gun vendors who signed up.

[RonOglesby - Now in Texas]

Was anyone else disappointed by how many non-gun tables there were? I don't dislike knives, but more than once I walked up to a case expecting to see guns and just saw knives. And a cubs/cards booth? Come on, if I wanted that stuff, I'd go to a truck stop. Wonder if there was a shortage of gun vendors who signed up.

 

I can honestly say I have never been to a gun show in Illinois. Been to them in Texas and Indiana. But fear of deeper disappointment in my home state has led me to just ignore them in Illinois.

[C0untZer0]

I didn't want to disparage the DuPage / Wheaton gun show, but there are a lot of non-gun booths there, and I guess from the organizer's point of view a paying table is better than no table.

 

But yes, beef jerky, venison jerky - every kind of animal under the sun jerky, candied nuts, every kind of flavor popcorn, pickles, arthritis cures, crafts... WWI memorabilia, including all the Nazi stuff. I can see the interest in a Luger, but does it have to be displayed on a Swastika handkerchief ?

 

And then there is the general disinterest in politics I regularly see at the show.

 

I can't see how someone can be so excited that they're ready to plunk down $800 on an AR yet so apathetic that they don't realize there are elected officials plotting to take that AR away from them.

[Independent George]

I was sorely disappointed by the St. Charles gun show last month. Given the media coverage of gun shows, I'd hoped to exploit the 'gun show loophole' to buy a crate of Military-Style Semi-Automatic AR-15 Assault Shotguns (you know, the one with the flash suppressor and pistol grip), but all I got were puzzled looks. In fact, the shadiest thing I encountered was the guy trying to sell me a 250-round box of Remington UMC for $120.

 

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[Kaeghl]

I was sorely disappointed by the St. Charles gun show last month. Given the media coverage of gun shows, I'd hoped to exploit the 'gun show loophole' to buy a crate of Military-Style Semi-Automatic AR-15 Assault Shotguns (you know, the one with the flash suppressor and pistol grip), but all I got were puzzled looks. In fact, the shadiest thing I encountered was the guy trying to sell me a 250-round box of Remington UMC for $120.

 

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They didn't have one with the "shoulder thing that goes up"?

[spec5]

Was anyone else disappointed by how many non-gun tables there were? I don't dislike knives, but more than once I walked up to a case expecting to see guns and just saw knives. And a cubs/cards booth? Come on, if I wanted that stuff, I'd go to a truck stop. Wonder if there was a shortage of gun vendors who signed up.

I know one Gun business that didn't show up in East Peoria and instead was open both Saturday and Sunday.

[joybulb]

Was anyone else disappointed by how many non-gun tables there were? I don't dislike knives, but more than once I walked up to a case expecting to see guns and just saw knives. And a cubs/cards booth? Come on, if I wanted that stuff, I'd go to a truck stop. Wonder if there was a shortage of gun vendors who signed up.

I know one Gun business that didn't show up in East Peoria and instead was open both Saturday and Sunday.

 

Seems like a lot of the local shops don't go, which is fine. I can go to those any day. My interest lies with Home FFLs who show up or out of town shops having something I might not be able to find locally.

[panzermk2]

Went a few times had tables.

 

Waste of time and money going to gun shows in this state. All my prior experience with gun show had been in TX.

 

I have say this. I think a reason gun shows in this state are so horrid is the customer base.

 

I am sure I will piss off more folks here, but the dregs of society make up a large percentage of the lookie loos standing in front of my table telling me and any one else who walks up how stupid and over priced my ammo is since I used precision turned bullets in my custom loadings and that no one would want to buy my crappy over priced ammo. This being stated by someone with about 4 front teeth and bad BO.

 

The quality of customer has created the quality of the gun shows in IL.

 

If there was a better customer base there would be more and better dealers there end of story.

 

Why is beyond me other then in places like TX high end customers attend them also traditionally.

[Uncle Harley]

Went a few times had tables.

 

Waste of time and money going to gun shows in this state. All my prior experience with gun show had been in TX.

 

I have say this. I think a reason gun shows in this state are so horrid is the customer base.

 

I am sure I will piss off more folks here, but the dregs of society make up a large percentage of the lookie loos standing in front of my table telling me and any one else who walks up how stupid and over priced my ammo is since I used precision turned bullets in my custom loadings and that no one would want to buy my crappy over priced ammo. This being stated by someone with about 4 front teeth and bad BO.

 

The quality of customer has created the quality of the gun shows in IL.

 

If there was a better customer base there would be more and better dealers there end of story.

 

Why is beyond me other then in places like TX high end customers attend them also traditionally.

which came first the chicken or the egg? I used to attend a lot of gun shows, because you used to be able to find good deals at them, but I noticed a trend starting about 5-10 yrs ago, that prices started to go drastically up and many times I could have my local guy order the same thing for less, when people stopped buying, dealers started bailing and the craft people filled the void, the only reason I attend them now is if I'm looking for a specific used firearm that is no longer in production.

[panzermk2]

Went a few times had tables.

 

Waste of time and money going to gun shows in this state. All my prior experience with gun show had been in TX.

 

I have say this. I think a reason gun shows in this state are so horrid is the customer base.

 

I am sure I will piss off more folks here, but the dregs of society make up a large percentage of the lookie loos standing in front of my table telling me and any one else who walks up how stupid and over priced my ammo is since I used precision turned bullets in my custom loadings and that no one would want to buy my crappy over priced ammo. This being stated by someone with about 4 front teeth and bad BO.

 

The quality of customer has created the quality of the gun shows in IL.

 

If there was a better customer base there would be more and better dealers there end of story.

 

Why is beyond me other then in places like TX high end customers attend them also traditionally.

which came first the chicken or the egg? I used to attend a lot of gun shows, because you used to be able to find good deals at them, but I noticed a trend starting about 5-10 yrs ago, that prices started to go drastically up and many times I could have my local guy order the same thing for less, when people stopped buying, dealers started bailing and the craft people filled the void, the only reason I attend them now is if I'm looking for a specific used firearm that is no longer in production.

 

 

So true! When a guy has a Century Arms drunk p***** monkey creation selling for twice what I can buy it for retail, not even FFL discount, from Maxons there is an issue.

[C0untZer0]

which came first the chicken or the egg? I used to attend a lot of gun shows, because you used to be able to find good deals at them, but I noticed a trend starting about 5-10 yrs ago, that prices started to go drastically up and many times I could have my local guy order the same thing for less, when people stopped buying, dealers started bailing and the craft people filled the void, the only reason I attend them now is if I'm looking for a specific used firearm that is no longer in production.

 

Yep..

 

I was thinking of going to the Wheaton gun show to see if anyone had a Kel-Tec P-32, but I thought that even if they did, they'd be asking $800 for it so why go just to get angry, and double angry for paying the $5.00 door fee...

[Awan]

The prices were high at the Wheaton gun show, from the few price ranges I knew.

[patriot1776]

The prices were high at the Wheaton gun show, from the few price ranges I knew.

I stopped going 20 years ago because of the ridiculous prices for common items and i hear it has not changed .

[GarandFan]

which came first the chicken or the egg?

 

Think about it. Obviously, the egg came first.

 

Yes ... the "gun show" experience depends on myriad factors. Quality, quantity, diversity of vendors and their wares, and certainly the customer base and whether they are there to buy stuff or merely looking and criticizing. It's complicated.

 

Usually and on a personal basis, I gauge gun shows on whether or not I find "deals." When I find them, I feel good about the show. When I don't, I don't. Honesty ... (and I am not in Illinois anymore) ... most of the deals I find are from gun show attendees rather than vendors. But you just never know. All that said ... I've had far more good experiences at gun shows in IN, KY, and TN than I ever had in IL.

[Elderberry]

which came first the chicken or the egg?

 

Think about it. Obviously, the egg came first.

 

Yes, it did, but from what species did it come from..?? I don't think a chicken slithered out of the sea...

 

Certain politicians perhaps, but never a chicken....

 

I used to love the E. Peoria gun show when it was the Peoria gun show at Exposition Gardens. It was a great show. Now it's simply a shadow of it's former self. More evolution I guess...

[thornstein]

I was disappointed. The first booth inside the door looked like it belonged at a flea market. It is what it is. Go to the Indy 1500 show and all shows after that will be disappoint. In my small humble opinion.

[45Badger]

My name is Bill and I'm a gunshowholic ;-)

 

Been to 4 gun shows since I've been here and have bought two guns. Both great deals on quality used pieces. I've seen some great deals on guns that were not on my want list. And I've laughed my butt off at the jerk selling Ruger LCPs for $380. And no deep offense meant to the ammunition manufacturers/ re manufacturers, but why on earth would anyone pay more for your product than first quality products made by real ammunition companies?

 

Gun shows are like the movies. You pay your money to be entertained. Sometimes, that's all you get. Other times, you come home with goodies...........

[Brad O.]

Last gun show I went to was whichever one is held at the fairgrounds in Davenport a handful of years ago. I sold a Rem 700 varmit but was disappointed with most of what was there, and that was one of the better ones I've attended. Yeah, for whatever reason gun shows around here are mostly crafts, knives, junk, and more junk. Heck, as far as the craft stuff goes I generally see better stuff at the Aledo rhubarb fest.

[vezpa]

Gun shows in general are a joke post 2012. Nothing there is cheap, minus some zippered cases I've bought for my pistols.

 

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[Xwing]

I've been to many gun shows, but none in the last year or two. It seems there are no-longer any good deals at gun shows. Everything I've seen in the last few years could be bought much cheaper on the internet. If I can't find cheap ammo and accessories (at least), what's the point of going?

[aggro_jo]

...what's the point of going?

 

For the pretzel vendor. Seriously.

 

Last 3 shows I attended were to buy a pretzel and a few 50 cal boxes. I usually leave the show and head to my favorite shop as they are less busy when the show is going on (and their prices are better).

[il.bill]

Made in USA zippered pistol rugs: 3 for $10; large and small pistol primers and assorted smokeless powders, all at better than average prices when various LGS had none for sale; Makarov and Tokarev pistol ammunition (before I discovered gunbot.net and internet ammo purchasing); individual magazines for relatively uncommon mil-surp pistols; UpLULA mag loaders, revolver speedloaders, and assorted snap-caps; reloading die sets when the online retailers were out of stock in the calibers I wanted - I got good (and occasionally great) deals on all these items with no shipping charges added at the Belleville Fairgrounds in recent years from different vendors, paying cash. Sometimes I have paid my $5.00 entry fee and wished I had not wasted my time. Other times I was tickled to gladly pay the cost of admission to walk out with exactly what I was looking for.

 

While I have not been shopping for a firearm at the Belle-Clair Gun Shows, I have run across a couple of interesting used ones that I might have considered if I had some extra cash available. I do not attend every one, but the trip has occasionally been worthwhile for me when I was looking for some specific items. If I am just looking to kill some time on a Saturday, however, I can relax in the back yard with $5.00 worth of cold Stag beer instead of visiting the gun show.

[ryr8828]

Went a few times had tables.

 

Waste of time and money going to gun shows in this state. All my prior experience with gun show had been in TX.

 

I have say this. I think a reason gun shows in this state are so horrid is the customer base.

 

I am sure I will piss off more folks here, but the dregs of society make up a large percentage of the lookie loos standing in front of my table telling me and any one else who walks up how stupid and over priced my ammo is since I used precision turned bullets in my custom loadings and that no one would want to buy my crappy over priced ammo. This being stated by someone with about 4 front teeth and bad BO.

 

The quality of customer has created the quality of the gun shows in IL.

 

If there was a better customer base there would be more and better dealers there end of story.

 

Why is beyond me other then in places like TX high end customers attend them also traditionally.

 

Perhaps your charming personality draws these people to your booth.

[GarandFan]

Perhaps your charming personality draws these people to your booth.

 

[azone5]

Alligators lay eggs; birds, chickens, etc. showed up later.

[panzermk2]

Went a few times had tables.

 

Waste of time and money going to gun shows in this state. All my prior experience with gun show had been in TX.

 

I have say this. I think a reason gun shows in this state are so horrid is the customer base.

 

I am sure I will piss off more folks here, but the dregs of society make up a large percentage of the lookie loos standing in front of my table telling me and any one else who walks up how stupid and over priced my ammo is since I used precision turned bullets in my custom loadings and that no one would want to buy my crappy over priced ammo. This being stated by someone with about 4 front teeth and bad BO.

 

The quality of customer has created the quality of the gun shows in IL.

 

If there was a better customer base there would be more and better dealers there end of story.

 

Why is beyond me other then in places like TX high end customers attend them also traditionally.

 

Perhaps your charming personality draws these people to your booth.

 

 

 

Nope I hired model friends of mine to work the booth.

 

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e169/panzermk2/Elite/PC070086.jpg

[karim18]

I agree, the gun show is sometimes like a movie. I was volunteering at the AppleSeed booth last year and had the distinct pleasure of watching a 300+ pound man try on a medium sized kevlar vest.... the product idea that runs through my head whenever I get that mental image is "Tactical Sports Bra".

[C0untZer0]

I've thought about getting a Type IIA vest to keep in the closet by my bed. But it's weird, when I think if there were intruders in my house and I had to confront them, without a vest I really don't give too much thought about getting shot. But if I had a vest, the only thing I think about is getting shot in the hoo hoos. SO if I'm going to get a vest, I also have to get a bullet resistant groin protector, because if I don't, all I can think about is the getting shot down there.

 

If I don't have at vest at all - I don't think about it.

 

 

 

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[tiberius]

Sadly, the MGCA show hasn't been the same since they were forced out of Expo Gardens by the Peoria City Council.

[joybulb]

Just went today cuz I had to renew my MGCA membership, and found that the renewal booth was outside of the actual show. I woulda skipped the show except my brother in law was with me. Should just start calling it a Knife Show.