What has happened to variety?

[Reverenddel]

I don't look for things very often, but when I do, I'm specific in mind, and intent.

I wanted a particular rifle grip sleeve that was NOT Hogue, or Pachmeyer. Nothing wrong with them, I just prefer to having varying patterns to grips.

I wanted Silver, or Golden, Bear ammo. A simple 500 round case. Nothing fancy.

I wanted a DECENT red dot that didn't look or feel like it wouldn't last an airsoft match.

Went to the gunshow, THREE gun stores, and you know what?

Nothing. Could not find ANY of the three things I wanted to buy! They all carried the same EXACT things. I had to come home, and order online. Didn't want to do that. Wanted to "Support my local gun dealers". (shakes head) I remember the 80's when it was "Black gun heaven", and you had such a variety it was sickening!

They need a SLIGHT variety if they want to be functional.

[Ironbear]

Last Nation's gun show I went to... it seemed that 70% of the place was ARs, Glocks, and M&Ps If that is what I wanted I could just go to any gunstore and shop without the crowd. I have largely given up on gun shows. Now if you could promise me a gunshow that was "used guns only", that might have a more interesting variety... but with my luck it would be used ARs and Glocks....

[1oldvakid]

I go to gun shows expecting to find nothing of interest...That is usually what I find! However the last show I went to had a vendor selling dark chocolate. Had to have some.

[MarcSpaz]

I want to go to gun shows when my friends want to go and I'm completely bored. And that's only because walking around the convention center is better than sitting on my couch.

Every once in awhile I do see some nice cosmetic jewelry and collector coins. But I would never go to a gun show expecting to find something that I wouldn't normally find in a gun store anyway. Most of the people that go there as a vendor are just gun store owners who took store inventory to the gun show.

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[SHMIV]

I like small, independent gun stores; at least, in principle. I generally try to stop in, when I see one, and buy a box of ammo, or something. I want to help support them, at least in a small way.

I, too, will frequently set off to find something to serve a specific purpose, and find that what I want just doesn't exist. And, this doesn't just happen in regard to firearms and accessories. I guess I want stuff that no one else wants.

In regard to variety, and every store being about the same... My father used to run a toy store. He would frequently tell customers that "If you can find it in Toys R Us, or Walmart, you will not find it here!" He went out of his way to find and stock items that were unavailable, anywhere else in the region.

Would a similar strategy work in a gun shop? No clue. But, it would make for an interesting store.

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[Roverhound]

Gunshows here always seem to come on my work weekends. The last one I went to had a powder vendor with about 4 tables of powders at prices that no one here come near to matching. That one was worth it for me.

[Reverenddel]

I don't mind going to see people I haven't seen in awhile, and there is a beef rancher who makes their own jerky, and "slim-jims" from scratch that I adore.

But most time, I try to find something I cannot find, because there are old fart dealers who have been carting around the same dusty ass items for centuries... At some point? Cut the loss, sell it off, and move along...

#BoughtARsin2012at1300aPieceIdjuts

[SHMIV]

Ahh, yes. Old items in yellowed plastic packaging, bearing brand names that have been defunct since the late 90's.

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[Snakester]

I haven't been to a Gun Show since '10...It had gotten to where if you have been to one you have been to all. Same old stuff at each show. I did trade a few guns and knives usually to other customers. Today there are no surprises , nothing new , we all know what to expect in each store ,,,, We have to shop on line to find new and interesting things. Variety died with Woolworths !

[Reverenddel]

Variety dies when people are fussing enough.

I've been fussing about lever action .357's for about 4-5 YEARS now... And finding quite a few others looking for them as well!

Yet? (cricket-cricket) Mossberg, Rossi, and Marlin refuse to move forward.

[Swampman]

No different than most other items. If you want variety you have to go on-line to find it. Stuff in the brick and mortar stores is the same old Chinese crapola nearly everywhere you go. E-bay and Amazon save me a lot in gas money.

[Reverenddel]

That is the truth! I was looking for a Picatinny rail for the top of a 10/22.

You'd think that a LGS would carry a FEW of these. NOPE!

AMAZON!