i think it's a numbers thing. glocks probably sell more. i mean, who hasn't heard of glock? the non gun enthusiast knows about glocks. tommy lee jones said, "don't get none of that nickle plated sissy sh*t. get a glock. they'll fire under water." oh, well i'm sold if it fires under water. and how many models does glock have? covers just about every caliber in full size, compact and subcompact. and i have to agree with JerryG, it's a good first gun. maybe not the best choice, but still. for the reputation of customer service and reliability. the "high cap" stigma. for these reasons they sell. and the gunstore wants to sell guns. and they are affordable. the range i go to has three shelves of glock rental guns, and five shelves for all other brands. there's probably a reason for that. i bought a glock, even though i don't find them aesthetically pleasing at all. because they're affordable. i wanted a 10mm, but didin't want to spend $900+ for one either. but i think mostly it boils down to brand recognition. there was a time when denim jeans were called Levis, and i'm pretty sure that lip balm is usually called chap stick.
Dealers prefer selling Glocks?
- Thread starter osallent
- Start date
Smith and Wesson; ATF...
Not to split off the posted topic but S&W put out a press release saying how they won the ATF sidearm contract with a M&P in .40S&W caliber.
The Detroit PD went with a MP40 in 2009(replaced the 3rd Gen Glock 22 .40).
It is true that a # of factors could be the reason for sidearm choices.
A retired LE officer I worked with briefly in 2004 on a security detail told me how a new city mgr switched the PD to Glock sidearms and would not allow sworn officers to carry any single action pistols due to lawsuits & civil actions.
My point is that it's wrong for any instructor, sworn LEO, public safety offical, or retail gun sales clerk to claim any brand is the "best".
Not to split off the posted topic but S&W put out a press release saying how they won the ATF sidearm contract with a M&P in .40S&W caliber.
The Detroit PD went with a MP40 in 2009(replaced the 3rd Gen Glock 22 .40).
It is true that a # of factors could be the reason for sidearm choices.
A retired LE officer I worked with briefly in 2004 on a security detail told me how a new city mgr switched the PD to Glock sidearms and would not allow sworn officers to carry any single action pistols due to lawsuits & civil actions.
My point is that it's wrong for any instructor, sworn LEO, public safety offical, or retail gun sales clerk to claim any brand is the "best".
That's wishful thinking.
It is true that "best" is a concept that only works if one narrows the scope of the discussion to a pinpoint by applying several qualifiers.
For example, "The _____ is the best pistol." is a meaningless statement. Is it the best quality? The best quality EVER, or the best quality you can buy new? The smallest and therefore the easiest to conceal? The best ergonomically in every respect? The lightest and therefore the easiest to carry? The most accurate? The one with the most acclaim? The highest capacity? The best deal? The easiest to work on? The one with the most accessories? The one with the best manufacturer support? The most versatile? The most reliable? The most durable? The most affordable?
No pistol can be all those things and so no pistol can be THE best.
People who make a blanket claim that something is the "best" can only do so based on opinion. It's not possible to support a blanket claim of "best" logically and factually because "best" is too big a concept.
Trying to separate persons from their opinions is a futile task. So whatever might be right or wrong, people are going to go right on claiming that what they like (or have, or want to have) is "best" even though it's impossible to prove it.
FreakGasolineFight
New member
It's a name that most people know. They're tacticool and very modern-looking. Tommy Lee Jones endorses them. (Come on, who hasn't seen that movie? No one wants to be the guy with the sissy pistol.) Most people figure they can't lose.
dogtown tom
New member
$40 MILLION dollars is a loss?
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/09/06/daily21.html
Gun manufacturers rarely lose contracts because their product is inferior....it has much more to do with price, parts and service. Glock is famous (or infamous) for selling to LE at nearly unbeatable prices. It doesn't take a marketing genius to know that civilians want what the cops and mil carry. Glock (and now S&W) will do agency sales at near cost or below cost just to win the contract.
I wish I could lose a contract or two....
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/09/06/daily21.html
Gun manufacturers rarely lose contracts because their product is inferior....it has much more to do with price, parts and service. Glock is famous (or infamous) for selling to LE at nearly unbeatable prices. It doesn't take a marketing genius to know that civilians want what the cops and mil carry. Glock (and now S&W) will do agency sales at near cost or below cost just to win the contract.
the glock is simple
as a glock carrier myself I would say the best selling piont for a pistol newbe is the fact that the glock is simple, reliable, and very easy to service. Any glock can be broke down for cleaning in 3 seconds. And there are only 4 parts to put back together. Furthermore you can shoot 500,000 rounds through one without having anything break. There are a lot of nicer carry weapons out there but few so simple. Plus you can bury it in sand, dig it out and fire it without cleaning. Just an amazing machine.
as a glock carrier myself I would say the best selling piont for a pistol newbe is the fact that the glock is simple, reliable, and very easy to service. Any glock can be broke down for cleaning in 3 seconds. And there are only 4 parts to put back together. Furthermore you can shoot 500,000 rounds through one without having anything break. There are a lot of nicer carry weapons out there but few so simple. Plus you can bury it in sand, dig it out and fire it without cleaning. Just an amazing machine.
I can't say I've heard such comments to new gun buyers, but my guess is this: it's a known name to anyone who watches movies, tv series and it's a reasonable starting price. Plus celeb endorsements. The 'gunny', R. Lee Ermey for some unknown reason endorses the foreign built gun maker. Glock marketing is super, have you compared their catalog to the other makers? No doubt Glock weapons are fine, but I'd steer a new shooter towards a LE trade in. It could start with Glock, or SigSauer, S&W or Beretta. Besides, if you are a new buyer and I place a Glock and a Sig on the counter and you like both, then ask the price, which one do you think will sell? Sometimes it simply comes down to price, nothing more (for a new buyer).
one of my local shops pretty much tells you that every thing other than a Glock is junk. they pretty much lost my business when he told me my W. German p226 was an ok gun but it was no Glock. 
S&W M&P's where junk because they rust too easy. never heard any complaints
He wouldn't buy anything from Springfield armory not very reliable. mine ran like a top.
i was starting to wonder if they get a better dealer cost on glocks
S&W M&P's where junk because they rust too easy. never heard any complaints
He wouldn't buy anything from Springfield armory not very reliable. mine ran like a top.
i was starting to wonder if they get a better dealer cost on glocks
Glocks are the best...
...because you can hold them sideways and shoot like in the movies.
I've bought guns at local shops here in St. Charles as well as Bass Pro and Cabela's and no one has pushed Glocks to me. That being said, Glock has done a great job of PR in the US and most people (especially 30 and under) know what a Glock is. I have had several "newbies" or "non shooters" ask if I had a Glock and if they should get one. They don't know what the difference between a single action or double is and some don't even know how a revolver differs from a semi-auto.
All of this is anecdotal but I don't see a conspiracy or anything coordinated. What is sad to see is someone walk into a gun store and pick up the biggest, highest capacity Glock they can find and they want it for home defense, concealed carry and plinking. Maybe some people can conceal a full sized Glock but most people can't unless it is inside a big purse.
Of course a good salesman will sell you what you want or what you think you want!
...because you can hold them sideways and shoot like in the movies.
I've bought guns at local shops here in St. Charles as well as Bass Pro and Cabela's and no one has pushed Glocks to me. That being said, Glock has done a great job of PR in the US and most people (especially 30 and under) know what a Glock is. I have had several "newbies" or "non shooters" ask if I had a Glock and if they should get one. They don't know what the difference between a single action or double is and some don't even know how a revolver differs from a semi-auto.
All of this is anecdotal but I don't see a conspiracy or anything coordinated. What is sad to see is someone walk into a gun store and pick up the biggest, highest capacity Glock they can find and they want it for home defense, concealed carry and plinking. Maybe some people can conceal a full sized Glock but most people can't unless it is inside a big purse.
Of course a good salesman will sell you what you want or what you think you want!Imagine you are a salesman trying to sell a first time gun buyer a gun, which is the easier sell:
1. $400 Glock
2. $800 Sig or HK
3. $1200 Kimber
4. $2000 Les Baer
Most first time gun buyers are not going to be able to see why the Sig is twice the money of the Glock. Salesmen care about making sales, selling a Glock is alot better than having someone look at a Sig and walk out.
1. $400 Glock
2. $800 Sig or HK
3. $1200 Kimber
4. $2000 Les Baer
Most first time gun buyers are not going to be able to see why the Sig is twice the money of the Glock. Salesmen care about making sales, selling a Glock is alot better than having someone look at a Sig and walk out.
gearhounds
New member
That's what I was told, so I wonder what the S&W press release is about. My buddy told me that his and 3 other field offices have already switched over, and that when the budget gets under control, the rest will follow suit.
Amin Parker
New member
Jrp2,
500k rounds is not possible with a Glock. In fact i have never seen one pass the 100k mark. The highest i have seen with a Glock is a 34 that did 87k before the slide cracked. I know the gun and shooter and saw the slide with my own eyes.
A Glock is not the only pistol that will work once buried in sand. A Glock is not superior to many pistols and not as good as many out there.
I still maintain a cz 75 to be a better pistol than a Glock 17 because of my personal experience, not what i downloaded.
The above was directed at the above poster, with respect to the op i do not wish this thread to start going pear shaped.
500k rounds is not possible with a Glock. In fact i have never seen one pass the 100k mark. The highest i have seen with a Glock is a 34 that did 87k before the slide cracked. I know the gun and shooter and saw the slide with my own eyes.
A Glock is not the only pistol that will work once buried in sand. A Glock is not superior to many pistols and not as good as many out there.
I still maintain a cz 75 to be a better pistol than a Glock 17 because of my personal experience, not what i downloaded.
The above was directed at the above poster, with respect to the op i do not wish this thread to start going pear shaped.
I own 2nd Gen model 19
The shops around here don't push Glocks or any other brand over another. I do like mine for the past 19 years - it shoots well, its reliable, easy to maintain, durable, and I consider it a tool.
I would like to own an HK or Sig too but they are priced more (like a BMW) while a Glock is like a Toyota truck (reliable, durable, nothing fancy).
The shops around here don't push Glocks or any other brand over another. I do like mine for the past 19 years - it shoots well, its reliable, easy to maintain, durable, and I consider it a tool.
I would like to own an HK or Sig too but they are priced more (like a BMW) while a Glock is like a Toyota truck (reliable, durable, nothing fancy).
Spats McGee
Administrator
I'm something of a reluctant Glock fan. I don't really want to like them, but I don't have anything bad that I can honestly say about them, either. (I didn't want to like the G19 that I borrowed, but I did, dagnabbit!) I haven't seen any gun stores around here pushing Glocks to new buyers, or pushing them instead of other guns. With that said, I can see why they would: it's an easy sale. Whether you like their guns or not, Glock's PR over the last few decades has been nothing if not effective. Everybody and their dog knows Glock's reputation for reliability and durability. Throw in a good price point and widespread LE use, and you've got a gun that will just about sell itself.
This pretty much sums it up.
As a gun dealer and Glock peddler the above pretty much says it all. When I'm asked to show someone a 9mm (for example) I usually start with the Glock. I do this because I know that if the customers hands fit the gun then everything else will be ok. I also know that a Glock is great for a newbie as well as the veteran in terms of operation and cleaning. So I really can't go wrong in my recommendation.
As for price having an influence........absolutely not. If anything we make less selling a Glock. I believe it is unethical to lead someone to a financially more lucrative firearm considering that ones life may be on the line.
My first recommendation to any newbie is a revolver.
Remember also that you guys are asking for an opinion when you ask for help. Glocks are carried and preferred by many a dealer for their own self defense. If I found it to be better for me than all others so I recommend it first.
Lets not forget that many of those asking also ask "what are you carrying".
Hope this helps.
Lets not forget that many of those asking also ask "what are you carrying".
Hope this helps.
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nefprotector
Moderator
Glock = Over Rated! What will a Glock do that my Ruger wont do? Buy a Ruger instead! Usa! Usa! Usa!
ps I dont believe the whole 500,000 round deal either. Who in their right mind is going to keep record of every round fired? I dont believe it.
ps I dont believe the whole 500,000 round deal either. Who in their right mind is going to keep record of every round fired? I dont believe it.