doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Benfeld Show in las Vegas

My first and last visits were at the Riviera. I can't remember what years they were. I had complementary VIP tickets, so I was there for four days. The rooms were from $30 to $50 depending on the day of the week. I only went out for dinner once each trip, relied on the dollar hot dogs at the Marilyn Monroe themed snack bar and liquid refreshment at the "Smash Bar", standing room only. OOPS, I think it was the "Crash Bar". I also remember one trip home on an understaffed Southwest flight. My friends and I were put in charge of the rear bar. When we asked the head stewardess how much to charge for the drinks, she said, "No charge, too much to explain."

eightbore, Those $1 hotdogs were the day. Now you pay $8 for a beer and $20 for a plate of nachos. I'm wrestling with the idea of doing it once more. I had a good show last year but there wasn't all that much to see.

Bill, I know I will see enough guns to keep me happy, but the food and drink, as well as hotel prices, will keep me away.

The offerings at the Beinfeld show have really gone down in recent years. Lots of empty tables and many dealers leave early. Not really worth it anymore. 7 years ago it was still a great show. Not so much anymore. Many of the old guys have passed on and the younger generation has not taken it up with enthusiasm.

I think part of the problem with the Vegas show is Las Vegas itself. If the show were moved to, say, Salt Lake City, access would be better and the public would be grateful for good service and fair prices. It's hard to enjoy any event in a setting where you're being rooked every time you turn around.

With shopping, family vacations, conventions, and maybe sports in the future, gambling is far down the list of attractions in Las Vegas. They don't have to attract people with shrimp cocktails, cheap drinks, etc. anymore. At one time I think I attended the Beinfeld show for 21 straight years. Times have changed since Shotgun News was the main source of guns for sale.

I used to go when all the major dealers would set up. MIke Weatherby, Don Criswell, Don Schrum, Mike DEcheauiuex (Spelling), Bill Moore. Many others. They always said it was a dealer show, not a public show. Sure a few big buyers would fly in, but they always said more business was dealer business than public business. Much more trading between themselves non dealers.

JOhn Boyd
Quality Arms

[quote=12boreman]The offerings at the Beinfeld show have really gone down in recent years. Lots of empty tables and many dealers leave early. Not really worth it anymore. 7 years ago it was still a great show. Not so much anymore. Many of the old guys have passed on and the younger generation has not taken it up with enthusiasm.