Gun Show Table - Worth it?

Depends on what you call "worth while".

If you're looking to actually SELL stuff and not put stuff out at the pinnacle of gun show prices for stuff everybody else has then I say so long as you make a buck while covering your table costs, have at it.

But if all you want to do is slap the same price tag as everybody else and HOPE your own particular brand of charm convinces others to give you their money over somebody else, then really all you're there for is to pay for the privilege of sitting in a chair at your table socializing with others.

Gun shows for the last three decades or so have been far more about "show" than "sell". I get the feeling most people who go to them do so for the same reasons I do: It's a cheap few hours of entertainment walking around looking at things, a place to handle "that gun" you've been thinking about buying, pick up a few cheap knick-knacks, and maybe that odd thing or two you have a hard time finding elsewhere.
 
Its two days of your time. You might/likely will meet some really cool folks...but there are the not-so-cool ones too.
Ive done about a dozen gun shows, different ones by different promoters. I liked it, but, dang, that's your whole weekend.
I never set up on Friday, many do not. But it's still all Saturday and Sunday.

As some have said - gas, table, food, TIME. Can you profit enough off those odds and ends to compensate for all of that?
 
Maybe all of you who get tables at the shows should get together under the CFF umbrella and pile all your stuff together. Order some CFF shirts and hats, donate a portion to the site. If I knew that some of the proceeds would go here I would even buy some of your worthless crap.:D

I proposed precisely this, a few years ago.


Thread 'Selling in gun shows?'
https://carolinafirearmsforum.com/index.php?threads/selling-in-gun-shows.48334/
 
I have set up and sold at several shows. Hickory and the Salisbury show, the one in the mall.

I've had no more that 8 guns, lots of miscellaneous and ammo. Sold EVERYTHING I took except 1 show, I came home with 1 gun which didn't hurt my feelings as it was one that after I got home, I was glad it didn't sell.

The Salisbury show I sold over $8k worth of stuff. One in hickory with ammo 5 guns and miscellaneous reloading stuff. Was over $6k.

So yeah. It can be worth it.
 
If someone on here were entrepreneurial, they might grab a table and sell on consignment for anyone who wanted to sell something.

Might make a few shekels.

Just a thought

EDIT: I see this was proposed a bit upstream. Worth a try, imo.
 
Last edited:
If someone on here were entrepreneurial, they might grab a table and sell on consignment for anyone who wanted to sell something.

Might make a few shekels.

Just a thought

EDIT: I see this was proposed a bit upstream. Worth a try, imo.
So commit a felony, or several
 
@Geezer , @Brangus , @Etruett and several more are carried away with my Gun Show salesmanship.....Somebody says...I better not buy that my wife might be mad....my kindest most straightforward reply is always the same...MOVE..Get Away From My Table....
Iā€™m probably the only seller that had a customer hee and haw for 30 minutes over a gun before his wife said ā€œbuy it! Youā€™ve been wanting one for a year and we have extra moneyā€. He still couldnā€™t make a decision. SHE was pissed. He has a reputation for not being able to make a decision and I have a few more stories about him, but thatā€™s the winner.
 
Tim, I vote "yes" to the swap meet idea this Saturday. Maybe a little earlier than the match?
I was referring to a match happening in November. Thereā€™s a .22 rimfire match at VOD during the day Saturday, so weā€™ll be scrambling to get organized. That said, feel free to bring some stuff!
 
went to the gun show in Asheboro this weekend and was surprised at the prices I saw -- did see a few deals being made so I guess the vendors made some money/ but I like meeting individuals- if I can talk to them on phone first /I have met some really good people but I am always very careful to meet at a public place so I would list my items on here first and see what happens
 
If you really want to ā€œsellā€ anything then a table might work, but expenses may offset any perceived gains.
Personally I would take the $XXXX total of expenses you might have to invest and spread that across what you are trying to sell in the form of a discount and sell it on the forums. If you list stuff with a good description, images and a GOOD price - it will sell. If you price it slightly under the highest price you could find a listing for you will. Struggle to actually sell anything regardless of your chosen venue.
I gave up on gun shows years ago
 
Back
Top Bottom