I like going into Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas etc but why in the world would anyone buy firearms from these places over supporting their local businesses/gun shops? I will run in to pick up ammo in a pinch and I understand that they will have deals every now and then but man, other than that I don't understand how their firearms sales stay in business. And no, I do not own a gun shop.
Big retail stores and why buy there?
- Thread starter Targa
- Start date
While I do buy most of my guns from local shops I don’t feel obligated to. I purchased a S&W 442 a few years ago from Academy Sports because they had them significantly cheaper than anyone else. At the end of the day it’s a business and the customer has just as much right as the store owner to look at the bottom line.
big vs small stores
I mostly buy my firearms/transfers at my local pawn shop, simply because they are always cheaper than anywhere around, including the big retailers (very rare to find a smaller shop with better prices). It also happens to be literally less than 5 minutes away. Im in and out quicker than the local cabelas/gander, etc. But i do frequent these other places---they simply have more inventory. I buy from wherever is cheapest, its the American way. Why spend extra money that I have worked for when I dont have to? We owe no allegiance to any store and my money spends just as well at one store as it does the next. If i personally know the owner of the store or if its family, then i could see paying a little more. But in that case, they should be helping you out on prices too. It works both ways. But at the end of the day, its that old sayin "hey, its just business".
I mostly buy my firearms/transfers at my local pawn shop, simply because they are always cheaper than anywhere around, including the big retailers (very rare to find a smaller shop with better prices). It also happens to be literally less than 5 minutes away. Im in and out quicker than the local cabelas/gander, etc. But i do frequent these other places---they simply have more inventory. I buy from wherever is cheapest, its the American way. Why spend extra money that I have worked for when I dont have to? We owe no allegiance to any store and my money spends just as well at one store as it does the next. If i personally know the owner of the store or if its family, then i could see paying a little more. But in that case, they should be helping you out on prices too. It works both ways. But at the end of the day, its that old sayin "hey, its just business".
I'm happy to buy from LGS, but for most guns I look at them as commodity items items: High reliability, significant support info online, it comes down to price, where the Big Box is more often likely to sell it at cost or loss. Small LGS generally can't do that. Further, the online guys are giving both serious competition. I wonder how the LGS will fare in the next 5-10 years. Likely a tough business.
I will buy them from wherever, small LGS, pawn shops, big stores, gun shows, private sales etc., doesn't matter to me, its where I find them. Sometimes the smaller shops simply don't have the selection a larger store does, or there is enough difference in price to make it worth buying at a big store.
I've run into some really lousy attitudes from people behind LGS counters.
Boisterous, condescending, unhelpful, uninterested... one notable jackhole is a smith they kept in back who had to come to the counter to cover the lunch rotation, he clearly detests all humanity.
But I've found a LGS in Chesterfield and one off of Gravois that I really like and I try to buy all of my firearms through them.
I usually end up buying my ammo and accessories through the big box stores because of pricing and selection.
They also seem much better at weeding out counter help that isnt interested in actually helping. They have no friend & family constraints.
So many LGS's have their unhelpful son, nephew, brother-in-law, friend or even their grouchy wife on the payroll and the owners tolerate a lot from them... and so do we.
Boisterous, condescending, unhelpful, uninterested... one notable jackhole is a smith they kept in back who had to come to the counter to cover the lunch rotation, he clearly detests all humanity.
But I've found a LGS in Chesterfield and one off of Gravois that I really like and I try to buy all of my firearms through them.
I usually end up buying my ammo and accessories through the big box stores because of pricing and selection.
They also seem much better at weeding out counter help that isnt interested in actually helping. They have no friend & family constraints.
So many LGS's have their unhelpful son, nephew, brother-in-law, friend or even their grouchy wife on the payroll and the owners tolerate a lot from them... and so do we.
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I buy most of my guns from a rather large local shop that I've dealt with for years, but I've bought an occasional one from Gander Mountain, and Wal-Mart. Back in the day I bought more than a few from Sears-Roebuck, and J.C. Penny's.
I buy where I want to. Doesn't matter to me.
I buy where I want to. Doesn't matter to me.
All valid points. I often see local businesses act if though they are entitled to our business. As far as prices go, Bass Pro, Cabelas and Gander Mtn have the highest prices on firearms that I have ever seen, it is border line insulting imo. Like I mentioned, sometimes I come across fair prices but for the most part their pricing is ridiculous, again just my .02
g.willikers
New member
For me, it isn't the size of the store that matters as much as knowledge, customer service and inventory.
Price is the least important as long as it's in the ball park.
I definitely prefer the small owner run shop, if at all possible, though.
Price is the least important as long as it's in the ball park.
I definitely prefer the small owner run shop, if at all possible, though.
Double Naught Spy
New member
I haven't had great luck with the local guns stores since one in particular went out of business about 12 years ago. To answer the above questions relevant to my situation...
I don't appreciate the curmudgeon LGS owners/staff.
Customer service at the LGS is great if you are one of the coffee drinking regulars who comes in regularly to talk sports, weather, hunting. If not, then the CS is pretty crappy.
I don't like the LGS limited selection.
I don't like paying the extra money for the same products, ESPECIALLY ammo.
Despite being the experts, the LGS often knows less than I do about a particular product.
It isn't that I am a fan of the big box stores either. They are where I go to "shop" but not necessarily buy. I can usually find better prices online once I know what I want. New guns I tend to buy at gun shows.
The way I look at it is this. Why support the LGS if they don't support me? I realize they probably can't match price on a lot of things, but they darn sure could make up the difference with customer service and the often just don't do that.
I don't know how much big-box place makes on guns, but I was in Bass Pro a few months ago and they had a big display of "Uncle Si Tea Cups" on clearance... these things were one step above a plain red solo cup and they wanted $11ea ON FREAKING CLEARANCE!!!
I love the giant fish tanks and taxidermy, but I've never actually gone up to the gun counter in any big-box place... perhaps 4-5 visits per year to them over the past 10 years, and never picked up a gun in one. I browse the reloading section and usually take a look through the fishing clearance bins, and always buy some jerky and licorice... that's it. When I'm at a Cabelas, I hit the bargain cave for off-season stuff and usually score some great deals on outdoor clothing. I was at a Cabelas south of Austin a few years ago in July and bought 15 long-sleeve Browning t-shirts on blowout at $2ea (reg $24), and paid $20 for a Carhartt down jacket (reg $199) that the washing instruction tab on the inside was ripped off. Bargain Cave rocks!
I love the giant fish tanks and taxidermy, but I've never actually gone up to the gun counter in any big-box place... perhaps 4-5 visits per year to them over the past 10 years, and never picked up a gun in one. I browse the reloading section and usually take a look through the fishing clearance bins, and always buy some jerky and licorice... that's it. When I'm at a Cabelas, I hit the bargain cave for off-season stuff and usually score some great deals on outdoor clothing. I was at a Cabelas south of Austin a few years ago in July and bought 15 long-sleeve Browning t-shirts on blowout at $2ea (reg $24), and paid $20 for a Carhartt down jacket (reg $199) that the washing instruction tab on the inside was ripped off. Bargain Cave rocks!
As far as accessories, and maybe some common ammo I may look at big box inc.
Most of the big box stores in my area don't carry reload supplies or optics that I'm interested in. As far as guns, not a whole lot of new stuff excites me, and my lgs can order anything they can get from their suppliers for 10% over their cost, so I usually do that.
My lgs is a husband/wife shop that travels the gun show circuit and there is no telling what he comes up with from week to week, as his used inventory always changes.
Yes he can get the new stuff, and has a good selection of polymer stocked guns, and ar's ranging from scars, daniel defense, colt and stags..
On new items his prices that he orders for me are within reason of the internet drop ship places if you include shipping and transfer....
So, yes he has kept me from going to big box stores and gun shows for awhile.
But, there are some things he does not trade for, or carry....
So if I'm looking for cz's or vortex optics or reloading supplies I have to go somewhere else.
But he does have primers. He started carrying them because he got tired of me asking for them.. and I have bought some of them.
Most of the big box stores in my area don't carry reload supplies or optics that I'm interested in. As far as guns, not a whole lot of new stuff excites me, and my lgs can order anything they can get from their suppliers for 10% over their cost, so I usually do that.
My lgs is a husband/wife shop that travels the gun show circuit and there is no telling what he comes up with from week to week, as his used inventory always changes.
Yes he can get the new stuff, and has a good selection of polymer stocked guns, and ar's ranging from scars, daniel defense, colt and stags..
On new items his prices that he orders for me are within reason of the internet drop ship places if you include shipping and transfer....
So, yes he has kept me from going to big box stores and gun shows for awhile.
But, there are some things he does not trade for, or carry....
So if I'm looking for cz's or vortex optics or reloading supplies I have to go somewhere else.
But he does have primers. He started carrying them because he got tired of me asking for them.. and I have bought some of them.
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There are many gun shops and big box stores in my area but only two gun shops and one pawnshop offer the best prices. I have also come to the conclusion that the small amount saved buying online is not worth it after paying for shipping and the destination FFL fee. I did that once and will not buy online again.
B&H Guns on Merritt Island, they have two separate areas, LE and General Public. Nice people, I bought an ex Sheriffs Dept Mossberg Pump for $86.00.
Stuck 1" white SECURITY on both sides of the stock, official!
Saved carrying my nice 870 in the rain! Buy a Glock there, they will put good sights on them in half an hour.
A little trivia, when I had a green card, and a Canadian Passport, over an hour for the $5.00 check, since my granting of US Citizenship (I know they will let any one in!) ten-15 minutes.
Stuck 1" white SECURITY on both sides of the stock, official!
Saved carrying my nice 870 in the rain! Buy a Glock there, they will put good sights on them in half an hour.
A little trivia, when I had a green card, and a Canadian Passport, over an hour for the $5.00 check, since my granting of US Citizenship (I know they will let any one in!) ten-15 minutes.
Here we used to have a LGS called Shooters Supply. Don retired five years ago but he would set certain guns aside for those of us that came in regular. I was in once or twice a week. I would come in the door and Don would greet me an Oh by the way I have something in back that might interest you......usually it did.
Around here we also had Chet Dyson he was one heck of a smith till he died in his ninetys.
Now that Don is gone those of us that were in his crowd have had to deal with the rest of the gunshops. One of his larger customers opened up his own LGS and I go there from time to time. I called there on the phone last week and he still recognized my voice and called me by name.
Around here we also had Chet Dyson he was one heck of a smith till he died in his ninetys.
Now that Don is gone those of us that were in his crowd have had to deal with the rest of the gunshops. One of his larger customers opened up his own LGS and I go there from time to time. I called there on the phone last week and he still recognized my voice and called me by name.
. Their prices aren't bad at all. Best air of any indoor range around here. Eagle Gun Range.North East Redneck
New member
I am lucky enough to have four LGS that I like. All within less than a 30 minute drive. I have purchased guns from all four and will continue to.
All of these shops allow browsing without pressure to buy. I have always felt comfortable and welcome in these shops.
That said, I have purchased three guns from the local 'big box' store. Why? Price and availability.
All of these shops allow browsing without pressure to buy. I have always felt comfortable and welcome in these shops.
That said, I have purchased three guns from the local 'big box' store. Why? Price and availability.