Weekend Job..out of town gunshows.

218Beekeep

The shop I deal with a lot,fired their drunken help.They want me to travel to the out of town shows,two of us selling guns off of about 16 tables...and a girl who handles the background check and all that.I would have to help load up,on friday afternoon,sell guns on sat. and sun.,and tear down on sunday.I get some deals from them already,this would even tighten up relations But it is work,just the same....what kinda deal should I eccept,besides the ~5 star hotel and dining~?..I will know it if you`re joking too,so thats cool too The next show will be at Palmetto(just south of Tampa),I was gunna set up a table there again....but this will be different from my usual 1 table/17 guns and a few odds and ins...it sounds like work,I already told the guy,more than once,over the last couple of years,that I`d probably tell him to "go f%(+ yourself",on the first day,if I ever worked for him..218

simonbs

Hey! How many times you gonna' post this? You can't get paid twice just because you posted twice!

badboybob

Beekeeper you are one lucky dog. GO FOR IT!

---

PC=BS

ref44

I worked a lot of Houston-area gun shows for a major dealer out of Dallas. I got $300 for the weekend and bottom-dollar prices on guns. I lived locally, so did not need the lodging and food other than lunches. By the hour, it wasn't that great; but I enjoyed the heck out of it...and miss it now that I have retired to Colorado. Gun shows here are a faint image of what they were in Houston.

218Beekeep

Of course I was only jokin` about the ~5 Star Hotel and Dining~ I heard from one guy that that whoever worked the out of town shows,had to stay in the same room with the guy and his girlfriend. .218[This message has been edited by 218Beekeep (edited 01-18-2002).]

offeror

Sounds like fun for a while. My impression is that some of the smaller exhibitors get bored at these shows when they don't get a lot of traffic, and are ready to bolt early Sunday, but with 17 tables and a whole lot of guns to sell, you should be busy enough not to worry about how to pass the time -- It helps to price your guns lower than the town you're in, I can tell you that much. The ones that look unhappy generally are asking the moon and the stars for the same stuff the guy down the row has for less.

---

"The 2nd Amendment is about defense, not hunting. Long live the gun shows, and reasonable access to FFLs. Join the NRA -- I'm a Life Member."

218Beekeep

This shop sells an average of a little over 40 guns per show,at this time of year.I have no say in what they charge for a gun,...just wondering what they should give me to help..218

shane

I think 1 new gun of your choice for every 5 shows you do sounds fair.

---

Sir Shane of the~Secret Select Society of Sauve Stylish Smoking Jackets~

218Beekeep

Then why don`t you come down here ,and I`ll lease you out to the guy..I`ll give you 1 new gun per 5 shows....and I`ll make a killin` by doin Jack Squat!Remind me to never let you do my negotiating for me!! .218

shane

The gun of my choice would break the guy unless he makes a whole lot more per show than I think he does.

---

Sir Shane of the~Secret Select Society of Sauve Stylish Smoking Jackets~

bsebast

A starting place would be $100 per day for the Friday traveling and set-up, then the two days of the show. You would get $300 for the weekend less taxes withheld. The dealer would pick up all expenses such as gasoline, motel and moderately priced meals. The dealer should also furnish the vehicle. A perk would be you get new guns at his cost. But don't expect to buy trade-in's at what he has in them. The trades are often where he makes "good" money.You should feel honored in the trust he has in you. You will be responsible for a lot of his money and inventory. Be sure to live up to that trust.Try it for a while--you may like it. If you don't, you can always quit.

competentone

.218,Do you have any of the good show promoter's web sites that you can post?I need to coordinate my next trip to Tampa ( to visit Mommy!) to coincide with a good show in the area.

218Beekeep

competentone,this is the biggest promoter around,I will be at the Palmetto show,the 26th-27th. www.suncoastgunshows.com

mudge

I'd go for the cash payment. And I mean CASH. No checks. No 1099 at the end of the year.CASH. PLUS....food, lodging and gas. On top of that. You get the gun of your choice at whatever price he paid for it. New, used doesn't matter. Whatever it shows on his receipt that he paid for it.START with that and then negotiate if you want to.Mudge the agent

---

I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!

bsebast

There will need to be lots of trust in your relationship, both ways--you will have to trust him and he will have to trust you. It will work great if you both are 100% honest guys. But if the dealer goes along with Mudge's cash payment recommendation and skips taxes, the guy will be telling you he's a cheat. If he will cheat the government, he will cheat you. Don't work for him. On the suggestion about getting a gun at whatever the dealer has in it, I doubt he can go along with that. Gun shows are not very profitable on new guns--they usually get sold at just a few bucks over cost and the dealer depends on volume. Most dealers make a "go of it" with the trades, where they can allow $200 in trade, then get $300 for that trade when it sells.There isn't that much money to be made in out of town shows because of the expenses. After table rental, auto/fuel, motel rooms, meals, and paying the help, you have to sell a lot of guns to just break even. And this doesn't address the risks of having that many dollars in inventory rolling down the road. If I sound like I know something about it, it's because I do. I've been there-done that.

Rembrandt

Beekeep, you could work this on a commission basis....just follow "Rembrandt's Marketing Guide for Success"....Wear your best Smoking Jacket with a white silk scarf tucked around your neck, don't forget the Cognac and Cigar....remember, Sex Sells! Go rent a couple of bikini clad models to stand beside you holding the merchandise....no question that your tables will attract more traffic than any other....since most guys won't be looking at the guns or prices you should be able to pass off rusty relics at a premium. Each model should be refered to as Miss August, Miss October, or the month of your choice....most buyers won't remember what they bought, but they will recall it being the best gun show they ever attended. Your commission check should be quite substantial....probably could buy a couple of nice hunting trips with the returns....just trying to "bee" helpful.....Your friend,Rembrandt

bsebast

One other thing. If you help this dealer, FOLLOW THE LAW to the letter. Every once in a while you run into a licensed dealer that buys and sells used guns "off book." That means he doesn't log them into he FFL records book. This allows him to work on cash deals and, since there are no records, he can dodge state sales and income taxes.Don't ever have an association with a dealer who does this. When the law comes down on him, and you are working for him, you will be considered an accomplice--that could mean prison time for you, or a heavy fine, or both. Just a word from someone who's been around the track a couple of times.

Otoman

Remember that your feet and legs get very tired. But you do get to see a some perty girls come by. You know tight jeans etc...Auto

AntiqueDr

As someone who HAS done the gun-show thing with 10-20 tables three weekends out of every month, let me tell you that bsebast has painted an exceptionally accurate picture.His advice is sound.

---

We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Ask us about Shepherd Scopes!Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com

idsman75

218--I do believe that so many tables for just a couple of people is too much to ask. Such hard work must be compensated fairly. I would draw up a rough contract prior to such undertakings that would compensate you for your efforts including the following benefits:1. Professional dry cleaning for the smoking jacket collection.2. Paid cigar-rolling courses and seminars to keep you up to speed on the latest advances in the art. You could sell this point in such a manner that refers to the archery shop in Sioux City which also sells fine tobaccos in addition to wonderful bows. This could be a plus for business (and also wholesale prices for the SJC).3. Membership in the Cognac snifter-of-the-month club.4. At-cost prices for all .218 Bee reloading components.