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Washington gun shows
11/28/2011 10:40:03 PM
I'm wondering if the Washington gun shows (Puget sound and surrounding area) are any better than the lame ones in north Portland. I quit attending the gun shows when parking and admission prices went way up, and I found that the shows were about half items that had nothing to do with either firearms or knives.
The overpriced items are simply vendors charging what they think the market will bear, and it is up to me to decide if I need something enough to pay more than the market price. I didn't have as much problem with vendor prices as I did with all the beanie babies, junk jewelry, old video tapes, flea market junk and so on.
Are the local gun shows any better than those I quit attending? If so, who puts on the better shows in this area, and is any membership required to attend?
The overpriced items are simply vendors charging what they think the market will bear, and it is up to me to decide if I need something enough to pay more than the market price. I didn't have as much problem with vendor prices as I did with all the beanie babies, junk jewelry, old video tapes, flea market junk and so on.
Are the local gun shows any better than those I quit attending? If so, who puts on the better shows in this area, and is any membership required to attend?
11/28/2011 11:01:13 PM
I suppose you have not read any of the WAC threads that routinely pop up?
11/29/2011 1:06:19 PM
I have seen a few, but there just doesn't seem to be much detail about the actual shows in them. I noted that there is lots of internal politics going on with the WAC, and I don't really have much interest in organizations with that much strife. Do people have to be WAC members to attend the shows, or just to buy certain things at the shows? If anyone that can pass a NICS background can buy firearms, what would be the benefit to being a WAC member?
11/29/2011 2:46:15 PM
In order to buy "firearms" at the WAC shows you must me a WAC member. other than that parking is free and there is price to get in the door. last time i was there it was like 6 or 10 bucks. as a non member you can buy knives, parts, accessories, jerky and of course those beloved and cursed beanie babbies.
11/29/2011 2:52:02 PM
Your description of the Portland gun shows fits exactly with the gun shows here in WA. I doubt you'll find much if anything to differentiate the two. WAC is the largest and most common gun show organizer here. You do not have to be a member to attend but membership is required in order to conduct a transaction involving a firearm, non firearm deals are OK. The membership also gets you free entry to the shows, about $9 or so for non-members. Hope that helps.
11/30/2011 6:45:34 AM
Centralia sucks ass too. Same dudes....same shit. I know...I'm a table holder. 
11/30/2011 8:09:40 PM
OK, thanks for the heads up. I'll continue doing business via internet, friends, or with shops that treat me well.
11/30/2011 9:42:52 PM
One plus of being a WAC member is that they are a CMP affiliate. If your interested in buying rifles through the CMP. I quit going about two years ago when I figured out that my Military retirement status filled all the CMP boxes. Sent them a copy of my retirement papers, I never have to resubmit. I do hit the Centralia show now and then, mainly cause I know some of the vendors. I might buy a box or two of ammo or little stuff at the funshow. I'd say 90+% of my purchases are online.
12/1/2011 1:53:37 AM
Originally Posted By Genin:
OK, thanks for the heads up. I'll continue doing business via internet, friends, or with shops that treat me well.
OK, thanks for the heads up. I'll continue doing business via internet, friends, or with shops that treat me well.
One benefit from WAC membership (besides it paying for free entry into the shows) is that the Newsletter has a ROCKING sales section.
I think this months is like 5 pages, and there's always neat, rare, or unique stuff for sale that's priced better than at the shows, or can probably be talked down.
