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steve004 said
At gun shows, the best stuff gets sold or traded during set-up. You don’t even know what you missed.
That is the primary reason I will always get a table at any show I plan on attending. Another reason is one never knows what will walk through the door during the show, I’ve made some of my best buys from walk in’s.
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
steve004 said
At gun shows, the best stuff gets sold or traded during set-up. You don’t even know what you missed.
That is the primary reason I will always get a table at any show I plan on attending. Another reason is one never knows what will walk through the door during the show, I’ve made some of my best buys from walk in’s.
Erin
Exactly Erin. Get a table if it’s only to bring in a couple lawn chairs to have a place to sit during the show. At least you get to see what comes thru the door before the public.
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steve004 said
At gun shows, the best stuff gets sold or traded during set-up. You don’t even know what you missed.
This is true, but much of it merely ends up on another table…at a higher price, of course. Only way to beat this system is buy a table yourself, or find someone who’ll give you a pass.
clarence said
This is true, but much of it merely ends up on another table…at a higher price, of course.
Seller etiquette should dictate that a “good buy” should never be offered for resale at the same show it was purchased at. (my rule)…… I am well aware all don’t play by this rule.
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
clarence said
This is true, but much of it merely ends up on another table…at a higher price, of course.Seller etiquette should dictate that a “good buy” should never be offered for resale at the same show it was purchased at. (my rule)…… I am well aware all don’t play by this rule.
Erin
I’ve seen a whole lot of sellers not play by that rule!
November 7, 2015
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steve004 said
I’ve seen a whole lot of sellers not play by that rule!
I’ll put a purchase on the table or behind it but I’m generally too excited about shooting it or just keeping it around to look at to put a price tag on it. I enjoy having a table at a show. It can be lots of work but I think it’s a great way to meet people. I nearly always have an extra chair and any time I offer a friend a chance to sit down and rest awhile I’m very sincere. Besides, I have a better chance of selling something with a visitor behind my table rather than in front of it.
I really enjoyed your thoughtful post earlier, Steve. Maybe a bit too cerebral for me. My thought process is a bit simpler; it’s a Winchester. I like it. I can afford it. This is going to be fun!
Mike
TXGunNut said
I’ll put a purchase on the table or behind it but I’m generally too excited about shooting it or just keeping it around to look at to put a price tag on it.
Though you may have a table & sell some guns, you’re not really a dealer; the ones who are buy to sell, not “keeping it around to look at.” It’s the greenbacks that excite their admiration.
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
TXGunNut said
I’ll put a purchase on the table or behind it but I’m generally too excited about shooting it or just keeping it around to look at to put a price tag on it.
Though you may have a table & sell some guns, you’re not really a dealer; the ones who are buy to sell, not “keeping it around to look at.” It’s the greenbacks that excite their admiration.
You’re right, Clarence. There’s generally not much money to be made on most of the guns that interest me. I only purchase the occasional item for resale but generally put the profits into the guns I like.
Mike
I’ve seen guns sell a few times at the same show. I see nothing wrong with this. It is what dealers do. I always show up on set up day. The thing is not all guns show up at that time or come out from under the table. You need to walk a show each day.
Be careful with that which you have not examined at auction. Case in point, a firearm offered at auction depicts a few photographs of a Winchester carbine, with what is described as having “scattered light dings and scratches” in the wood, and bluing is described as percentage remaining. A call to this auction house and a request for additional photographs reveals a huge gouge/some metal missing at the end of the muzzle. No mention of this. I said these photographs should be added to the others and the description revised. They said one can always ask for more photographs and this is encouraged, but they will not revise the current presentation of this lot.
I would be extremely disappointed if I was the winning bidder on this lot, unless it sold very cheaply. And nothing sells cheaply at this particular auction house.
TXGunNut said
I’ll put a purchase on the table or behind it but I’m generally too excited about shooting it or just keeping it around to look at to put a price tag on it. I enjoy having a table at a show. It can be lots of work but I think it’s a great way to meet people. I nearly always have an extra chair and any time I offer a friend a chance to sit down and rest awhile I’m very sincere. Besides, I have a better chance of selling something with a visitor behind my table rather than in front of it.
I really enjoyed your thoughtful post earlier, Steve. Maybe a bit too cerebral for me. My thought process is a bit simpler; it’s a Winchester. I like it. I can afford it. This is going to be fun!
Mike
Mike – I often over-think things 
November 7, 2015
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steve004 said
Mike – I often over-think things
My feeble mind works best when I over-simplify things. 
Mike
mrcvs said
Be careful with that which you have not examined at auction. Case in point, a firearm offered at auction depicts a few photographs of a Winchester carbine, with what is described as having “scattered light dings and scratches” in the wood, and bluing is described as percentage remaining. A call to this auction house and a request for additional photographs reveals a huge gouge/some metal missing at the end of the muzzle. No mention of this. I said these photographs should be added to the others and the description revised. They said one can always ask for more photographs and this is encouraged, but they will not revise the current presentation of this lot.I would be extremely disappointed if I was the winning bidder on this lot, unless it sold very cheaply. And nothing sells cheaply at this particular auction house.
To add to this I would recommend calling the auction house and arrange for someone to call you back with the gun in hand. Then ask them a lot of questions. The more specific the better. I did this some months ago with RIA. A completely original gun according to their description turned out to be a parts gun.
Chuck said
A completely original gun according to their description turned out to be a parts gun.
Of course, they added that correction to their description!
Chuck said
To add to this I would recommend calling the auction house and arrange for someone to call you back with the gun in hand. Then ask them a lot of questions. The more specific the better. I did this some months ago with RIA. A completely original gun according to their description turned out to be a parts gun.
Since you mentioned it, one guess as to what auction house I was referring to in Post #30.
No, they did not make a correction. This gun sold for about 2x what I would have paid for a correct gun. Something is fishy at RIA??
Chuck said
No, they did not make a correction. This gun sold for about 2x what I would have paid for a correct gun. Something is fishy at RIA??
It’s called “just sell the gun”. I don’t think they are any different than any others. Winning bidder beware!! Anyone who takes this as negative… no apologies!! Hopefully some of the new members will read these post and take caution when buying guns over the Internet or by phone.
Caveat emptor. I’ve placed conditional bids at RIAC over the years and never won anything. Maybe I’ve dodged a few bullets.
That said, I do enjoy searching their online catalogs, and their printed catalogs for the premier auctions are simply gorgeous. Beautiful photography and lots of interesting tidbits of “collector” information, some of which I’ve verified independently.
I learned when calling in my conditional bids that the auctioneers start at half the low estimate, so if that price (half) sounds good it may be possible to place a “safe” bid that actually wins. By “safe”, I mean hedging your bet that the item matches the written description which also matches your interpretation of that description, and that the photos tell the whole story.
One final comment about the upcoming (this weekend) RIAC auction #84. I had earmarked a pistol for conditional bidding a few weeks ago where the low estimate was $2,000. Checking again today, I found that same lot’s low estimate to be $5,000, so they do make some adjustments.
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