doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintage Gunner Cup venders ?

I wonder what percentage of us who attended The Vintage Cup at Sandanona from 1999 through 2006, are still around and attending such events.

I am. Been to every Cup since the 2nd at Addieville. Probably 1998 or so.

Wonderful!

A lot less bloviating.

The Parker, Fox and LC Smith collectors groups are all going to be at the Vintage Cup. The PGCA is holding their annual meeting.

The big 3 domestic SxS collectors are showing up at the Vintage Cup. It makes me wonder... Where are the dealers that sell to them? It seems, to me, a cheap shot to wonder why the Vintage Cup hasn't attracted the dealers they want to see. Every coin has 2 sides. My question would be why haven't the various collectors associations pressed their favorite dealers to show up?

I have watched the Parker/ LC Smith tail-gate sale parties down in the field during the Southern SxS for several years. I can only assume the shoppers and sellers would prefer to deal out of trunks rather than spend a few extra bucks to buy a table and support the event/hosts.

The Vintagers have always looked forward to Kirby Hoyt, Toby Barclay, Robin Hollow, CSMC, Jay from FieldSport, RST and Bob Nay of MacNab to attend. All of them have a fine selection of guns for us to shop.

I like Steve Barnett. Last year he came to the Vintage Cup with many tables of Purdeys. Sadly, the shoppers just weren't there for him.

We as buyers/trader-up folks, have hit a wall. Our dealers transitioned to primarily consignment guns. The TRADE, part of buy-sell-trade is dead when the dealer has to take your gun in trade for a consignment gun. It means that dealer has to tie up his capital in HIS inventory to take your gun.

I sold 2 guns and bought one last year. Most of the Carolina Vintagers who attended bought a gun or 2.

The Collectors Associations are provided their tables gratis at our annual event. The Vintagers make nothing from their attendance, unless they join us.

Basically, they ride for free on our event. As a Vintager, I am happy to have more SxS shooters attend the Vintage Cup. We are trying to rebuild the event to it's best days at Orvis Sandannoa. Bringing in Parker, Smith, Fox, Ithaca, Remington and Lefever shooters can only help grow our SxS events.

Joe in Charlotte
(having said my piece)

T'is my back yard. I'll be there.

As a small vendor that attends a few of these events a year, I can say that the cost to be a vendor at events like the Southern and the Vintage Cup is sinply way too high to make sense. At $600 or more for a basic booth, plus the cost of travel and hotel, you have to move a lot of merchandise to cover that. And most do not. The way I see it, most are lucky to sell a gun or two or maybe trade into something and not many have the sort of margins to cover the expenses.

It is turning into a chicken or the egg scenario. The buyers want the vendors, but the vendors NEED the buyers. People need to spend money or the vendors are not going to turn up. They can book losses for only so many shows in a row before they stop attending.

Other shoots are much more reasonably priced for vendors, which makes it better, but people still need to soend money.

Back in the late 70s and early 80s our company would attend various home shows in our area to hopefully make some sales. We found that few people would commit at the show, but the exposure generated sales for months after the show was over. It's a good way to get out there and meet your customers.
terc

Vintage gun sales today is an Internet enterprise. The only reason a big dealer would book a booth at these events is simply for exposure - they can't really hope to sell enough guns to cover their nut. At one of these events a buyer may buy a gun. He has had a bit of time to look it over and make his decision to buy or not to buy... but if he buys, generally, it is a "all sales final" purchase. If he sees a gun he likes on the Internet he can say "sure, I'll buy that gun - and then when he receives it he has three whole days to come to grips with his decision and choose to return it, no questions asked - or he can choose to keep it - those are usually the terms these days.

Why would a large dealer ever show up at one of these events when the prospective buyer knows how Internet sales favor him, the buyer?

With respect I disagree. Exposure is only a small element when large gun dealers do the shows. Talking with several dealers many times at shows - shoots, many are there to buy or trade into better walk in guns at good prices and especially in prime areas like Sandanona - Orvis in NY and other places in east nearby the old gun company factories or near larger metro areas where well heeled people lived in the past. On sales, many want to see - handle and even try shoot guns before they buy and don't want to go through sending certified money and shipping to their Ffl and having then to make a quick decision to do a fed. background check at some cost for the 3 day inspection out of the shop and-or return shipping and chancing damage in return shipment and then trying to get full refund from the carrier while the gun seller may or may not accept a returned damaged gun. Good targets are a plus for those that shoot a lot but IMHE the presence - absence of double gun dealers is a large factor that will make or break a double barrel gun shoot and I wonder why the organizers don't do ~ gratis tables for these larger double gun vendors for their attraction factor.

Gratis tables on large vendors? For what purpose?

I am sure that large vendors taking up a lot of square footage get a bit of a break as it is, maybe not. I don�t know.

Instead of choking out the little guy, make space more reasonably priced for all.