Don't do what I did!

It is because everyone thinks they are an expert that shop owners do not want your advice. In the parking lot do as you please but when you are on their property you have no right to interfere in their business.
 
I can't speak for everyone, but do y'all not stop and think that perhaps we ladies get really sick and tired of anywhere we go having strange men come up and speak to us for whatever reason? What about the looks we constantly have to endure from the opposite sex just because we happen to maybe fall into the "attractive" category? ( not me, I have buck teeth and warts on my nose)
Maybe we start carrying because of situations we have been put in because of over zealous, perhaps well-intended, who knows, strangers.
Would this even be a thread had the person at the LGS been a guy? Probably not, regardless of anything anyone says to the contrary.
I'm not trying to sound like a total witch here but when you deal with something for so long on such a continuous basis, it really hits a nerve to see this topic being batted around almost with no regard to how the lady may feel.
More concern is being shown for the sales clerk.
 
It does not matter the sex of the buyer, or what they look like. If they are first time shooters and the store clerk not smart enough to point them in the right direction, by all means someone should. And any salesperson who takes offense from someone making a good suggestion such as going to a NRA shooting instructor for training is not a person I'll be doing business with.
 
I was in my favorite local gun shop this morning killing some time. There was a very attractive woman at the counter handling a compact .380 pistol. Needless to say, I mossy on over that way to see what was going on, mostly to hear the line of bull the salesman was probably giving her. This lady wasn’t thinking about buying, she had already bought it and was picking it up after the 3 day wait. It was obvious she knew little to nothing about a pistol. The salesman asked her how familiar she was with handguns. She just looked up at him and frowned. She finally said that she has never shot a gun in her life. I looked at her, then the salesman and shrugged my shoulders and walked away. Now that I think about it, what I did was wrong. I should have tried to explain to her that training was an absolute necessity. I should have tried to direct her towards a NRA shooting instructor, or even offered my assistance being that I’m a retired NRA Pistol Coach.

The salesman did give her a 3 minute crash course on where the safety is, how to load it, keep her finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, don’t point a gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy, etc.

Moral of my story is, if any one of us happens across a similar situation as I did today, do not do what I did. Offer to help the person out. If nothing more, tell them to visit the NRA web site and search for available training in their area.

Don’t do what I did! Lesson learned.
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would you have offered your advice if the woman had a face like a frying pan? my guess is no
 
why don't you carry around a couple cards to your local range? Next time you see something like that, all you have to do is offer the card and say "This is an awesome local shooting range and they'll teach you everything you need to know to use that gun." That's a lot less intrusive in my opinion.
 
originally posted by Microgunner

None of your business what transpires between two law abiding people completely unconnected to you. Why is their business your business, they're not children in need of your supervision.
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These comments are what concerns me...

The salesman asked her how familiar she was with handguns. She just looked up at him and frowned. She finally said that she has never shot a gun in her life.


The salesman did give her a 3 minute crash course on where the safety is, how to load it, keep her finger off the trigger until ready to shoot, don’t point a gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy, etc.
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The salesman sells a firearm to someone who has never fired a gun in her life, and then proceeds to send her out the door with three minutes worth of gun safety without any other suggestions of training or help? And you think it would be rude to suggest after that three minute training session, she may need more? Get real. This woman obviously went to the store by herself and bought a gun suggested by the seller. Whether it was the correct gun for her, one that no one else wanted or the one with the highest profit margin, we'll never know. The OP or no one else butted in or distracted from the sale or any suggestions by the seller. The seller gave her a quick "here ya go" and then sent her on her way...........how is it inappropriate to approach her now and tell her where and how she can find the help that she obviously needs? The seller is done with her....he's counting his monies and smilin'. If there's anything rude going on, it's tellin' folks to leave her be with no experience, no knowledge and a loaded firearm.
 
Who's to say she didn't walk in there 3 days earlier and ask to purchase a specific firearm on the recommendation of someone other than the sales person? Perhaps a boyfriend, father, brother, etc (or even her own research) and worse case scenario they plan on teaching her how to use it. (Best case they direct her to a qualified professional).
All the facts are not presented in this situation. Everything is still based on one attractive female picking up a handgun who said she had never shot one.
1. We don't know the details of the sale
And
2. We don't know her intentions after leaving the store

I can go into Wal Mart and buy cake and ice cream, but no one should automatically assume I'm having a party based on just a couple of facts.
 
No reason anyone cannot offer constructive advice. If she doesn't want the advice she can just say so. Repeat after me, "Thank you for the offer but I have all the assistance I need." very hard I know. And so polite. Or if you cannot be polite, a simple, "No thank you."

What the hell is wrong with people? No sign that says, "no offering assistance" or "no talking to customers already engaged with a salesman". If the store has issue with polite conversation between customers they should put up a sign.

I am glad I am not as arrogant as it seems some women are when any guy offers to talk with them. Nice stereotyping for sure. Again, if it's not against any posted rules then you cannot be upset. If you are, I suggest not working in retail and just going into seclusion. Funny part is that all the people who condemn the advice are on a public forum dedicated to mostly unsolicited advice on guns.
 
I have found that unasked for advice is usually not received well. I can understand the OPs intentions of helping a new shooter, however, better to keep your mouth shut.
 
Red hit it right on the head in her post on the last page and a few others share my attitude reguarding such things. Wish i could say i was raised to not offer help, constructive conversation, open doors, change tires among other things more and more it seems people want nothing to do with it anymore. So now i leave them all to their devices including ladies at the gun shop.
 
I've heard the absolute WORST, most misguided and just plain wrong information and advise come from a gun shop "dealer". It's sad to say, but the gun shop closest to me gives out so much garbage daily, they ought to have a Refuse Site Permit:rolleyes: Every female that walks in there is treated like a helpless little girl that cant handle anything bigger than a .25 auto. Heck, they have a case filled with .22 LRs, 380s .32s and 25APCs with a sign that proudly says "CCWs for the Ladies" :confused::rolleyes::mad: They even did my own wife like that while I was with her:eek:

Her response of course was that she wasn't looking for a powder puff gun and wanted something double stack, compact, simple and at least capable of handling 9x19 +p regularly. But more power was just fine with her if they had something that fit her hand well. God I love her:)

While I've never "butted in" I've had more than a few people (complete strangers) turn to me and ask "what do you think?" while I've been looking at guns next to them. Most gun shop employees know little to nothing about firearms other than what they'er boss told them to say or have read in the brochures. Just like the guy with the REALLY bad tie at the GMC dealer doesn't know anything about the pulling power of a 6.6L duramax. He just knows he needs to sell you something...right now, like 15 minuets ago.

A lot of gun shops any more seem to be the same. If I can get a "gun" out the door with cash in my hand.... that's the #1 GOAL. While it is NOT, in ANY way a gun dealer responsibility what happens after the buyer leaves their premises.....I'm not saying you should "but in" and shoot down the guys sale, But it still turns my stomach to see an unknowing, inexperienced person buying a firearm on a whim at the uneducated coaxing of a guy that sees them a a big dollar sign, saying anything and everything to get them to hand over cash or plastic.
 
I dont think it would hurt if you pointed her in the right direction on getting some help of the basics. We all have to learn some where some of us got it from our dad's and some from a class. It doesnt matter where we got it from, just that we know it. If she didnt want any help she could just say ok thanks or no thanks. No harm done...

We sure dont need someone that has never shot a gun before hurting or killing themselves or someone else by mistake. And then all the people that would love to see our gun rights taken away more ammo to take our rights....

When I started to play golf I never new that you dont walk on someones Line on the green (where there ball will be rolling to go in the hole). But until I went out with my friend that played very well and a lot told me this I was walking all over the place not knowing the etiquette of golf cause the books dont tell you these thing.

Point is if I was never told I would still be walking all over everyones lines and not thinking anything of it.
 
I'm honestly mixed here, part of me says that I'm obligated to do something and give advice, the other part of me agrees that it's none of my business to stick my nose into other peoples affairs.

Needless to say, unless that person expresses an interest in my opinion, then I'll do my right best to keep my trap shut. Though in my head you can be certain I'm thinking about saying something quite loudly.
 
Personally I would've offered some casual advice AFTER the lady left the counter.

If the lady refuses your advice, then no harm done; its on her to take responsibility and you have done your part.

IMO there's nothing wrong with giving advice esp to someone who is totally new to a particular activity, whether its shooting, driving, golf, riding a motorcycle, etc.

On a side note, some of the worst advice I've heard about guns are from gun store employees...
 
Walking away was the right thing to do.
Your input may have made her more aprehensive having info coming at her from two different sources at once.
From a sales person's point of view, unsolicited bystander input is never welcomed during a transaction.
You never know what some goober may say and you'll have to spend two hours trying to undo the damage. Even if what you're saying is valid you should butt out.
She is a grown woman capable of seeking out the training she needs as she sees fit.
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Sorry, I have to disagree with this too, but only because it’s a firearm.
Unlike diamond rings, electronics, cars, tires or whatever, a gun is unforgiving and can kill its new owner or someone else in a millisecond.

If the salesman doesn’t give a inexperienced new firearm owner an earnest and attentive run-down of the bare minimum "Do's & Don’t's" someone else should if the owner is receptive.
If the salesman is unwilling to do it, no one should be too concerned with his feelings on the matter.

At the very least someone should lean in and implore her to read the manual, especially the parts about safe handling.
 
buck460XVR said:
The salesman sells a firearm to someone who has never fired a gun in her life, and then proceeds to send her out the door with three minutes worth of gun safety without any other suggestions of training or help? And you think it would be rude to suggest after that three minute training session, she may need more? Get real. This woman obviously went to the store by herself and bought a gun suggested by the seller. Whether it was the correct gun for her, one that no one else wanted or the one with the highest profit margin, we'll never know. The OP or no one else butted in or distracted from the sale or any suggestions by the seller. The seller gave her a quick "here ya go" and then sent her on her way...........how is it inappropriate to approach her now and tell her where and how she can find the help that she obviously needs? The seller is done with her....he's counting his monies and smilin'. If there's anything rude going on, it's tellin' folks to leave her be with no experience, no knowledge and a loaded firearm.
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What a heavy burden you bear, thinking you must educate the world, whether they welcome it or not.
I can guarentee you one thing for sure, I'll get a lot further along in life by minding my own business than deciding other adults need my unsolicited advice.
I'd just tell you to shove off, no matter how much you thought I needed your advice.
 
Microgunner to Buck460 said:
What a heavy burden you bear, thinking you must educate the world, whether they welcome it or not.
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You dont know its not welcomed until you ask.
If the buyer appears apprehensive or timid about buying and says they've never owned a gun there is little question they'd welcome some help if its delivered correctly/kindly/patiently.

Microgunner said:
I'd just tell you to shove off..
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Someone with that mentality is a waste of time, in every possible way.
They're free to go make a statistic of themselves as far as I'm concerned.
 
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Dashunde said:
If the buyer appears apprehensive or timid about buying and says they've never owned a gun there is little question they'd welcome some help if its delivered correctly/kindly/patiently.
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It's a completely unwarranted intrusion in my opinion.
I'm sure if she was able to seek out a seller, negotiate a deal and complete a transaction she'll be able to seek out instruction on use of the pistol, without some unknown person chiming in. Some folks don't take kindly to busy bodies.
If she turns around and asks the OP, well, thats a different story altogether, but she didn't. Take a hint.

Dashunde said:
Someone with that mentality is a waste of time, in every possible way.
They're free to go make a statistic of themselves as far as I'm concerned.
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Someone who's got their nose in other folks business without being asked needs to shove off, always.
 
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