Q. While your site is helpful it is confusing. Why is it when
I look up shows in Mississippi there will be shows listed in Arkansas,
Georgia, Florida, etc. with the big banners? It seems that if you let
your site to be searched by state, you would only list those in that
state. If it is illegal to buy a handgun from a neighboring state, why
would you allow them to advertise for different states and clog up the
state that you are looking for?
A. The website is supported only by advertising. The ads that
cross across state lines cross only states directly next to your state.
This started when a promoter in South Haven Mississippi wanted to
attract customers and dealers from Tenn (South Haven is on the stateline
south of Memphis) to his show. Other promoters saw the value of having
their ads on states next to them to draw customers and dealers across
the state lines.
Although it is more difficult to purchase some
guns over others across different states it is not illegal. You can
purchase a handgun in any state from a FFL dealer who can send it NOT to
you but to a FFL dealer in your state where you can then pick it up. At
the present time there ar no restrictions concerning buying ammo or
other accessories across state lines.
The web site started as a hobby venture and
took 4-5 hours of my time to maintain. It is now a full time job of 1
and 1/2 persons. I need to provide my help with paychecks. I really
don't know any other way of providing that income without selling
advertising. As long as the promoters are willing to pay for the ads
across state lines I see it as additional revenue to pay the necessary
bills to continue maintaining the site. If they find they are not
getting additional customers and dealers they will stop getting the ads.
I agree with you that the site is designed
to have people look at different pages for shows in the different
states. You would be surprised though as to how many don't look
anywhere but at their state or the home page. I got a email last week
from a guy in Washington that couldn't find the shows listed for Spokane
because there where no shows in Spokane for the next 4 weeks and he
didn't understand that he needed to look at the Washington page! A lot
of our users have to get someone else to go to the site for them to get
the information. When I was doing the shows as a vendor it amazed me
that almost 30% of the attendees claimed they didn't even HAVE a
computer in their house let alone access to the internet! Every week I
would be informed that not
only did they not have a computer it would be cold day in #$%^ before
they ever would. So, though I agree with you that it really shouldn't
be necessary or even worthwhile for the advertisements to be placed on
adjacent states, I do understand why the promoters are receiving
benefits from doing so.Q: How do I find shows just in my state?
A: On the top of every page is a big block containing the names
of each of the states. If you click onto any of those states you
will be taken to a page containing the shows for your state.
Q. How do I get a show listed on the site?
A. Send the information on your show to us and we will post it
for you. You can email it to
Gunshows@gmail.com or send it by postal service to Gunshows-USA.com.
205 S. Fifth St. Suite 18, Leavenworth, KS 66048. The information should
include the state, city and building location, # & $ of tables,
Admission price, Dealer set-up times, Show hours and most important of
all contact information where folks can get more info.. website
address, email address and phone number.
Q: How can I submit a question or suggestion and does someone
really look at it and care?
A. Send any questions to
gunshows@gmail.com. And yes I read and answer every email I receive.
I also have made several changes to the site over the years based on
questions and suggestions. Q. I have such and such product and I
am interested in selling it at your events. Can you please advise me
as to how to apply to do that? A. Gunshows-USA.com does NOT put on the
shows. Every show is different and promoted (ran and managed) by different
individual companys. These companies rent the venue for the show and then
rent out space to individual vendors so they can sell there products at the
show. Each show sets up its own rules as to what can and can not be sold
at the show. In the case of food this is many times determined by the
venue itself. In any case if you want to be a vendor contact the promoter
of the show you are interested in doing to get the info you need. |