Quote Originally Posted by Heathen Dave View Post

1- While waiting outside of the venue watching vendors go back and forth buying things from each other before the show starts. I mean I understand why they do it either its something they want or I've seen them put it right on their table for sale at a higher price. Just wondering how people feel about this?
Having worked both sides of a gun show table, I feel perfectly fine with it. Vendors have expenses; anywhere from $25 for a small firehall show table to $75 for a table at a larger venue in a more metropolitan area. Multiply that by 6, 8, or 10 tables, and that's a heck of a lot of overhead to cover only by making profit. Vendor buying and selling starts the minute the second vendor shows up during setup on Thursdays or Fridays, and continues even during show hours, and doesn't stop until there's only one vendor remaining Sunday evening. At ages 10-17 I used to "watch tables" for a local gunsmith who would set up at the gun show in the Saint Eulalia Roman Catholic Church parish hall in Coudersport, PA (1960s to early 70s) while the gunsmith would circulate and buy/sell before and during show hours. It's part of the gun show "thing." Want to participate? Buy a table or two and sell your excess or unwanted stuff, and then horsetrade to your heart's content on Friday night, and Saturday and Sunday mornings until the doors open.

2- Seeing the people walking around with signs on them trying to private sell ammo/guns in the parking lot. Do any shows restrict this? Would they allow someone to rent a table for $50 to sell off their ammo instead of walking around like that?
Some show promoters don't care. Some show vendors DO care, having paid $$$ for tables, and they would like a crack at doing some of the buying, either that, or would like to see the promoter forbid lot sales, and either force people to get tables, or at minimum, take their stuff for a walk inside the venue. Personally, I think it's fair to forbid lot sales, forcing all transactions inside, but that doesn't stop some vendors from "door sharking" outside the door to the venue. THAT is a little unfair, IMO. All that said, some shows in some states (NYS) have signs prohibiting lot sales, reminding attendees that all firearm sales require a background check.

3- The lack of beef jerky, I am the only one bothered by not having someone selling beef jerky or other smoked meats?
Personally, two tables taken up by jerky (or jewelry) are two fewer tables of firearm related stuff to see. I do not consume smoked dry meats which typically contain sulfites and salt, and I do not buy gun show food items, either from vendors, or from the in-faciliity "kitchen" as a do not eat at temporary cooking facilities that run for two days and collect dust for two weeks or months. You don't find jerky at a show? Stop at a convenience store for your fix on the way to the show, or returning home. JMO.

Noah