Asheville this weekend....

G

GregB

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I hope to make the show on Sunday for a bit after early service. Need some ammo and always looking for a "good deal" on the "right now" gun....
 
They permit gun shows in Asheville? :confused:
 
Jeppo said:
They permit gun shows in Asheville? :confused:
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It used to be way more fun. They moved the show to the "Ag Center" outside of town several years ago. This is where the state fair, rodeos, etc. are held.

The show USED to be in the basement of the Civic Center right in the middle of downtown Asheville. Was all sorts of fun to sling a couple ARs and walk from the parking deck to the show right next to the sportos, motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wasteoids, dweebies, dickheads...made me feel like a righteous dude.









You're only cool if you get the reference.

 
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Yeah, I boycotted it for a while, but given that Jerek's out of commission, I can justify it. However, I am aware of two or three of the vendors who were part of the "lynch mob" and I refuse to do business with them. Period. I wouldn't buy a new gun without checking with Jerek first. I'm going for the nuts, fudge, ammo, maybe a knife, odds and ends and used guns. I actually found the 870 I was looking for at this show on Mother's Day (there were 2, and I showed some self control and only bought 1). LOL.
 
GregB said:
Yeah, I boycotted it for a while, but given that Jerek's out of commission, I can justify it. However, I am aware of two or three of the vendors who were part of the "lynch mob" and I refuse to do business with them. Period. I wouldn't buy a new gun without checking with Jerek first. I'm going for the nuts, fudge, ammo, maybe a knife, odds and ends and used guns. I actually found the 870 I was looking for at this show on Mother's Day (there were 2, and I showed some self control and only bought 1). LOL.
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Names were asked for a couple times in that other thread without being answered, and now, Im asking here.
Share the info.
 
Just emailed Kent asking if Backwoods will be at the show. :p
 
I would also like to know who the complainants are.
I don't buy new guns at a show but I would like to know who these idiots are anyway.
 
draco88 said:
Names were asked for a couple times in that other thread without being answered, and now, Im asking here.
Share the info.
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bondjamesbond said:
I would also like to know who the complainants are.
I don't buy new guns at a show but I would like to know who these idiots are anyway.
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Jeppo said:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/com...itrust-laws/dealings-competitors/price-fixing

“Illegal price fixing occurs whenever two or more competitors agree to take actions that have the effect of raising, lowering or stabilizing the price of any product or service without any legitimate justification.”
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I'll clear this up a bit just for those that aren't familiar with the situation. I was diagnosed with Leukemia in March of 2018. I haven't worked a show since. I certainly don't want to jinx myself in any way, shape or form, but things are going well at this point and I've moved into what is referred to as the maintenance stage. My immune system still stays somewhat compromised but it hasn't been nearly as demanding as the previous year and a half. With that being said, I won't be able to return to shows for another few years while this phase continues simply because I don't want to risk getting sick and facing far worse circumstances. But to be clear, this all happened before I was diagnosed and had to stop working shows.

Those that know me well, know that I don't like to air dirty laundry or drop names. It's just not my style. I was always taught that if you don't have something nice to say about someone, it's better to not say anything at all. With that being said, I was approached by the promoter of the Asheville gun show and basically warned that other dealers were seriously complaining that I was there and outselling them, etc.. I asked him what he wanted me to do to make his life easier, as we had always had a good working relationship before this. Basically he said nothing, keep doing what you are doing. I figured this was a sign of things to come.

At the end of the next show, the promoter approached me and explained to me that 3 dealers in particular were complaining that I was underselling them and selling firearms under their costs. The promoter explained to me that he didn't want to lose the revenue from the tables that these 3 dealers rented and asked me not to come back. He did name the dealers by name. He wasn't a jerk about it and I wasn't a jerk to him. I explained to him that I do business a certain way and it works for me. Their business practices are no concern of mine. I also explained that while I disagreed with his decision, it was his promotion to run the way that he saw fit.

Of course I haven't been back to an Asheville show since. It's sad simply because I made a number of friends from Western, NC while we were up there and we enjoyed working the show quite a bit.

With that being said, I try to live the best way I can and would prefer not dragging anyone's names in the dirt, whether they deserve it or not. I will tell you that none of the three ever spoke to me. Not a word. They never questioned me about how to do things or how to run their business more efficiently, etc.. If any of you want to know simply because you think this is a low down tactic on their behalf and don't respect their business ethics, I'll be happy to send you the name of their companies via PM. But the last thing I need or want is for someone's cousin or brother, or sixth uncle once removed to stir up some sort of drama at this point in my life. I'm much more concerned about getting better, being a good dad and a good husband.

I will also say this. After we were asked not to come back to the Asheville show, we wanted to keep some roots extended in Western North Carolina so our customers wouldn't have to travel so far east to pick up their guns. So we tried to get into two different shows from another promoter that mainly promotes in Western, NC. At first, we were told that it wouldn't be a problem and he took our request and told us that he would see us soon. Literally a few hours before we mailed the check for the tables, I received a phone call from this promoter basically stating that some of the other dealers would pull their tables from his shows if I was allowed in. Needless to say, the dealers he was referring to were likely the same dealers from the Asheville show.

It was certainly a ridiculous situation and I disagreed quite a bit. I'm still a fairly young man and can honestly say that a few years ago, I would have possibly held a grudge. But at this point, I rather spend my time with my son, my daughter, and my wife because that is what makes me happy.... and guns of course.
 
Thanks for the update. I don't think we ever met at one of the shows, but Asheville i.e. Mike Kent, is off my list for now. I
Good on you for the time spent with family.
CF
 
Thanks for the explanation Jerek. Sounds like textbook Price Fixing according to the FTC’s own definition.

Keep gettin’ better! ;)
 
Jeppo said:
Thanks for the explanation Jerek. Sounds like textbook Price Fixing according to the FTC’s own definition.

Keep gettin’ better! ;)
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Yep it does. I ain't gonna be a jerk to anyone, but I would have thought MK would have just told the others to leave if they couldn't sell stuff in A World.
Like Jeppo said, keep on getting better. You are the bigger person and we are moving on.
 
Kent is a douche, I've seen him pull shit a few times. A few years ago a promoter who had been out of the game for some years was starting back up shows. He had his first show in Columbia SC at one of the national guard training halls. I personally watched Kent walk up to several dealers who were there and tell them they were banned from his shows, took out his checkbook and wrote them checks to refund fees they had paid for an upcoming show. When they said something back to him and said he wasn't even running a show that weekend and they could sell where they wanted to he told them that he didn't care what they thought they could do, if they didn't have any loyalty to him, he didn't have any loyalty to them. He was working his way through the building doing it till some of the vendors told the guy running the new show and he had Kent removed from the property.
He's a colossal dick, you're better off not having to deal with him anymore.

I hope your health continues to improve and when you do get back to attending the shows as a vendor you have better experiences, try the SC and NC arms collectors shows, they seem to be run well.

I hit up the Asheville show sometimes just for something to do, to meet someone off the forums, or whatever, but I avoid Kent like the plague, same with the one he runs down at the fairgrounds in Columbia.
 
I don't even go anymore.
Sure..I like to walk around and window-shop..but I found myself rarely buying anything. I'd look for supplies, accessories or ammo, only to find out the pricing wasn't good and I could do better at freakin wal mart or online. This on top of having to shell out 7 bucks or whatever for the opportunity.
I do like to check out the used stuff that Cletus would bring in from his farm. But the only 'real' deals are usually on shotguns and I already have a bunch of shotguns, so meh.
Plus..if I get clipped in the heel one more time from a damn baby-stroller I'm gonna go postal.
 
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