The Better Price

[gatlingun6]

Do gun show dealers beat the price of online dealers for AR Type weapons. I have made handgun and long gun purchases from several gun show dealers with a high degree of satisfaction. If the cost is not way out of whack I would like to support gun show dealers. So which dealers are in your opinion the best for AR purchases. Btw what caliber would you recommend, and ammo prices are not a consideration. This will be a short barrel M4 lookalike type weapon.

[OakRidgeStars]

Around here, the gun shows are always higher priced regardless of the weapon. You can always get a better deal by establishing a good relationship with a local shop.

[allingeneral]

and by "establishing a good relationship" he doesn't mean "go into your local gun shop and start praising Obama and his policies"

*grin* sorry - couldn't help it

[zephyp]

[OakRidgeStars]

You had to go there, didn't you?

[graybeard321]

can't believe DK was quite.
No sure that I totaly agree with oakridgestars about it always being higher priced at a gunshow. I always check my local shop, several internet sites before I go to the gunshows and take my Blackberry to check prices incase I see something new that I had not researched. When I purchased my glock mod 35 i noticed a $75. price diffence at different vendors at the show. It pays to shop around.

[ksanftleben]

Here's my two-cents worth. The two dealers at gun shows who seem to always have the best prices (often by far) are Dark Sun and Trader Jerry.

Dark Sun will usually have the largest booth, and they do a ton of business. A lot of folks don't like them because of their appearance, and many think they are rude. Their tattoos/piercings/hair don't really bother me, and they've never been any thing other than very professional and very courteous to me. I think that part of the reason some think them rude is because they are very busy and won't spend time chit-chatting about guns; it's best to know what you want and why you want it if you shop with them. Also, they are extremely cautious about who they sell to. From what I've seen while shopping at their booth, it seems to me that if they have even the slightest feeling that something is fishy, they will refuse to do business with a customer.

Trader Jerry's starting prices are usually higher than Dark Sun, but they'll almost always match any price (on-the floor or from a store). Seems friendlier and less rushed too.

R/Kurt

[OakRidgeStars]

I was only referring to the guns shows around this area, and how their prices compare to my local shop. Of course, the gun show vendors do have a wider selection than my local shop does.

[viiiball]

Around here, the gun shows are always higher priced regardless of the weapon. You can always get a better deal by establishing a good relationship with a local shop.

This seems to fly in the face of normal business logic. A gun store has lots of expensive overhead (rent) that the show dealers do not so I would think the show guys would be able to sell their wares at a lower profit margin. I know that when I was in the market for my 1911 there were 2 show dealers at the Richmond show that had the SA 1911 I wanted for about $100 less than the store here in my area.

[gatlingun6]

Here's my two-cents worth. The two dealers at gun shows who seem to always have the best prices (often by far) are Dark Sun and Trader Jerry.

Dark Sun will usually have the largest booth, and they do a ton of business. A lot of folks don't like them because of their appearance, and many think they are rude. Their tattoos/piercings/hair don't really bother me, and they've never been any thing other than very professional and very courteous to me. I think that part of the reason some think them rude is because they are very busy and won't spend time chit-chatting about guns; it's best to know what you want and why you want it if you shop with them. Also, they are extremely cautious about who they sell to. From what I've seen while shopping at their booth, it seems to me that if they have even the slightest feeling that something is fishy, they will refuse to do business with a customer.

Trader Jerry's starting prices are usually higher than Dark Sun, but they'll almost always match any price (on-the floor or from a store). Seems friendlier and less rushed too.

R/Kurt

Interesting that you mentioned Dark Sun. I've purchased several weapons from them, and so far I'm satisfied. I noticed they are very busy. lol maybe I'll look a little closer at their appearance next time. I guess I was too busy looking at weapons. Thanks all, I intend to have my price list as well when I go to the next show. I'm still looking to buy a GLOCK, perhaps .

Respectfully
Jim

[Vahunter]

You could always build one yourself. I heard Dark Sun had stripped lowers for $69.95 at the last Richmond gun show. At that price I might build me another.

[devilfish]

Dark Sun and Trader Jerrys are good dealers. Dark Sun seems to have a better selection of tactical type firearms while Jerrys has a butt load of everything. Also Dark Sun has sweet deals on LEO trade in glocks, they show wear but you can hurt those things. I havent met any dealer not willing to at least try to match another, it is business after all so one has to be competitive. In the firearms business usually once you find someone you trust and feel treated you good you will try to do repeat business with that dealer first. As far as being cheaper at a local shop, i find its hit or miss with usually the gun show dealers having the better price. But do your research and make notes mental or written and buy whatever you find the best deal on. Try sites like gunsamerica.com or gunsource.com for pricing info then youll know a ball park of what is a deal and what is not. I find for me i need to walk the show twice before committing because you will always find that dealer that showed up late or had something under the table that you missed. I know ive kicked myself afterwords a few times.
Also dont count out the smaller dealers. I bought my Commander from one and he was $60 cheaper than anybody else and gave me $75 more for my trade, so search every table and you wont regret it.
Good Luck.