Marlborough MA 1/27 & 28 2024Please

drgrant said:
It's not overrated when your tables have stuff that's 10-20% cheaper than everybody else's because they're not completely market tone deaf.
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I must have missed most of that 10-20% cheaper stuff. [laugh]

The truth is that I was down at their shop mere days before their appearance at the Marlboro show, so I got to see their full new & used inventory... not just what they brought to the show. Nothing really excited me there at the shop and nothing was special about what they brought to the show. If I recall correctly, the whole draw was a good price on a couple cheap plastic handguns. 10-20% cheaper than what you could find them for elsewhere? That's a stretch.

Don't get me wrong. It's always good if you can find at least something worthwhile at a show. Further, some of my very best scores ever have been at gun shows. It just doesn't happen every time... and I'm fine with that.

BTW, I think a far worse thing than the Shooting Supply eviction was the Martinello ejection and banning from the shows. The latter really hurt.
 
EJFudd said:
I must have missed most of that 10-20% cheaper stuff. [laugh]

The truth is that I was down at their shop mere days before their appearance at the Marlboro show, so I got to see their full new & used inventory... not just what they brought to the show. Nothing really excited me there at the shop and nothing was special about what they brought to the show. If I recall correctly, the whole draw was a good price on a couple cheap plastic handguns. 10-20% cheaper than what you could find them for elsewhere? That's a stretch.

Don't get me wrong. It's always good if you can find at least something worthwhile at a show. Further, some of my very best scores ever have been at gun shows. It just doesn't happen every time... and I'm fine with that.

BTW, I think a far worse thing than the Shooting Supply eviction was the Martinello ejection and banning from the shows. The latter really hurt.
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I don't know who martinello is but I know that a lot of good vendors either have ditched that stupid c*** or gotten kicked out.

The thing with Shooting Supply by the way was not just like some kind of one off thing but literally something that had been going on for years there were always dickheads that were bitter that they charged less than others so they viewed it as pissing in the well or something that went to the other stuff they sold which before they changed the rules was powder and primers they were a lot cheaper on that stuff at the show than other vendors. I remember back in the day they were only a few more bucks than Riley's...which by mass standards makes that pricing very good.
 
I didn't realize this show was today, not that if I had I would have gone.

I was having breakfast this morning and decided to pop into the local shop down the street afterwards as I was alone and am enjoying having no set plans or timelines on my Saturday. the shop was Nick's Sports Shop in Palmer, MA and it was packed. I got the second to last spot in the parking lot. Albeit they were running an LTC class in the back, but the shop was also hoppin'! They told me there as another LTC class in Ludlow at the fish and game with another 20 people in attendance. Nice to hear those numbers are on the rise, we now need to make sure those people go vote, which they seemed to be relaying to the new certificate holders from what I was told.

no need to go to the show, things were lively at the LGS!
 
drgrant said:
I don't know who Martinello is but I know that a lot of good vendors either have ditched that stupid c*** or gotten kicked out.
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Anthony Martinello from Sutton was the vendor police escorted out one of the Marlboro shows at the request of the promoter for openly selling Glocks. His reasoning was that they are on the Approved Roster so that should have been enough (and it should have been). Other vendors disagreed and so the promoter had him thrown out after a couple warnings. As you know, the "core" group of vendors carry a lot of weight with the promoter.

Eventually, the AG's office put him out of business. :mad:

In addition to the Glocks... and long before them... he sometimes had some interesting collectibles, a couple of which ended up in my collection. [thumbsup]
 
EJFudd said:
I guess it goes back to the question: "Why do people continue to attend if it's as bad as you say"? It's not like these people are all first time attendees who don't have a clue in the world why they are going? Truth is that's it's more of a social or entertainment event than it is a buying trip. Yes, sometimes you get lucky and find something you want or need (I have... many times)... but I've been to shows where I walked out empty-handed, but still had a good time and no regrets for spending a couple hours talking and walking among folks with the same interests.
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I enjoyed it back in the day when I was working the GOAL table. An opportunity to chat with people, sign them up as members and meet up with numerous NES'rs or fellow gun club members.

When I went to the shows strictly to browse, I would be looking down at the tables as I walked, thus missing folks that might walk by that I would have known. Only one time in 1998 did I attend a gun show with a mission . . . to buy an AR, and I saw nothing but "space guns" at the show that day.
 
EJFudd said:
I guess it goes back to the question: "Why do people continue to attend if it's as bad as you say"? It's not like these people are all first time attendees who don't have a clue in the world why they are going? Truth is that's it's more of a social or entertainment event than it is a buying trip.
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Let me be brutally honest. It’s because “gun guys” are kinda losers and/or will look for any excuse to escape their wives for a day.


EJFudd said:
I must have missed most of that 10-20% cheaper stuff. [laugh]

The truth is that I was down at their shop mere days before their appearance at the Marlboro show, so I got to see their full new & used inventory... not just what they brought to the show. Nothing really excited me there at the shop and nothing was special about what they brought to the show. If I recall correctly, the whole draw was a good price on a couple cheap plastic handguns. 10-20% cheaper than what you could find them for elsewhere? That's a stretch.

Don't get me wrong. It's always good if you can find at least something worthwhile at a show. Further, some of my very best scores ever have been at gun shows. It just doesn't happen every time... and I'm fine with that.

BTW, I think a far worse thing than the Shooting Supply eviction was the Martinello ejection and banning from the shows. The latter really hurt.
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This is dumb/wrong. I lived down the street from Shooting Supply, and even though they don’t typically carry stuff I’m into, they were consistently cheaper than all other brick and mortars and they were easily 10-20% cheaper than every other vendor at the Marlborough show. I tried to say hello to them and their booth was too busy to even get close to.

But what got them kicked out was they weren’t one of Carole and Homeless Jeff Spicoli’s perpetual vendors and those guys hate competition from “outsiders”. I know you’re a big gun show cheerleader, but you let’s not get crazy here.
 
Grendizer138 said:
This is dumb/wrong. I lived down the street from Shooting Supply, and even though they don’t typically carry stuff I’m into, they were consistently cheaper than all other brick and mortars and they were easily 10-20% cheaper than every other vendor at the Marlborough show. I tried to say hello to them and their booth was too busy to even get close to.
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Nothing wrong with Shooting Supply, but they are not the magic tooth fairy of crazy discount gun prices. Other vendors have posted similar attractive deals on one or two cheap new plastic guns (think: Shields, et al). They were a novelty only because they were new to Marlboro, not because they were giving away their inventory crazy cheap. If you have some examples of crazy deals that prove me wrong, please post them [thumbsup]
Grendizer138 said:
But what got them kicked out was they weren’t one of Carole and Homeless Jeff Spicoli’s perpetual vendors and those guys hate competition from “outsiders”.
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I think I said roughly the same thing using different words. didn't I? [laugh]
 
drgrant said:
Oh I wouldn't ever say that " people don't go there" but that doesn't mean that the show actually has anything you want to buy or that the people that go there actually buy anything. 🤣 I've worked shows at Marlboro and other places where the gate count was like many thousands of people yet nobody buys anything. Although I will say that when Shooting Supply wasn't banned they actually would have reasonable prices and would always draw a good crowd. Once they got banned that was the end of that.

The guys at the mill and deli ticket emporium and MFS should send her a love letter and roses, because at best all that show does is drive people into the real shops. 🤣
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[rockon]
Grendizer138 said:
Wild. I’m convinced- next year I am organizing an NES field trip to the Mill that coincides with the Marlborough show.
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I went to the Mill today to have Eddie Coyle do some engraving (great experience!). I got the last parking space. Every shop that I stuck my head into was hoping. No $12 admittance fee and no beef jerky. It appeared that everyone had showered as well.
 
Grendizer138 said:
Let me be brutally honest. It’s because “gun guys” are kinda losers and/or will look for any excuse to escape their wives for a day.



This is dumb/wrong. I lived down the street from Shooting Supply, and even though they don’t typically carry stuff I’m into, they were consistently cheaper than all other brick and mortars and they were easily 10-20% cheaper than every other vendor at the Marlborough show. I tried to say hello to them and their booth was too busy to even get close to.

But what got them kicked out was they weren’t one of Carole and Homeless Jeff Spicoli’s perpetual vendors and those guys hate competition from “outsiders”. I know you’re a big gun show cheerleader, but you let’s not get crazy here.
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jeez you actually like your wife and spending weekends together? who is the loser here?
 
No line at all at 1pm today.

Went with a buddy just because we were bored.

I only spent $ on admission

And yup. CCI Small pistol primers were $85 - 90 depending on the vendor
 
It sort of reminds me of the Big E sportsmans show. Used to go every year and over time, there was less and less to look at. I stopped going because nothing caught my eye and I decided I would go to KTP instead of the sportsmans show. It doesn't cost to park or go in so that's money for gas. I've never gone in there and walked out with nothing. It's the same with gun shows. They really haven't been good/larger for 20 years anyway. The last time I went to the Springfield show, the amount that was there could have fit into something the size of a shoe store. I guess if you want to walk around a little bit for something to do, the shows are it. I would rather use the time and spend the money for firearm items at the Mill.
 
EJFudd said:
I guess it goes back to the question: "Why do people continue to attend if it's as bad as you say"?
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Because its winter and fat people think going to a gun show is exercise and SpecOp LARP'ers need a place to LARP? :)

Ill be there today to escape my boyfriend and look at knives.
 
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Headed out shortly, its my friends birthday, so good chance to stroll the aisles, not buy anything, then head up the hill to the 99 and I'll buy him lunch... off we go!
 
off topic but the gun show part made me think about it. The guys to get your LTC pin from are at the gun shows correct? Do they take calls? I’m watching part of the game later with a buddy who can’t remember his pin. We’ve been meaning to do a private transfer for a while now. Any way he can get it on a Sunday, without going to the Marlboro booth?
 
413dan said:
off topic but the gun show part made me think about it. The guys to get your LTC pin from are at the gun shows correct? Do they take calls? I’m watching part of the game later with a buddy who can’t remember his pin. We’ve been meaning to do a private transfer for a while now. Any way he can get it on a Sunday, without going to the Marlboro booth?
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They were there yesterday
 
Remember the days when you needed to get there early on a Saturday morning to get the deals? I would stop and talk to the door person on the way out to let them know I'm coming right back in as I was making multiple trips out to the truck with cases of ammo.
 
413dan said:
off topic but the gun show part made me think about it. The guys to get your LTC pin from are at the gun shows correct? Do they take calls? I’m watching part of the game later with a buddy who can’t remember his pin. We’ve been meaning to do a private transfer for a while now. Any way he can get it on a Sunday, without going to the Marlboro booth?
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I’m pretty sure the instructions are on the portal
 
slipknot said:
I’m pretty sure the instructions are on the portal
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They are. It says their hours, they are Monday through Friday.
But it was worth a call even on a Sunday afternoon, as there was the gun show today, staff were working. That was my question.
My buddy called and got his pin from a live person in under two minutes.
 
413dan said:
off topic but the gun show part made me think about it. The guys to get your LTC pin from are at the gun shows correct? Do they take calls? I’m watching part of the game later with a buddy who can’t remember his pin. We’ve been meaning to do a private transfer for a while now. Any way he can get it on a Sunday, without going to the Marlboro booth?
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And if he's the buyer he doesn't need it
 

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