Female Troubles
- Thread starter Kathryn
- Start date
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Kathryn, I've never owned a gun store, but for a number of years I had gun show tables. I always figured that man or woman, the customer was somebody who might pay me money. The last thing I ever figured to do was let anything get in the way of a sale.
If a couple came to my table and SHE asked a question, I answered HER. That's not even salesmanship--it's common courtesy.
I'd rather teach a woman to shoot than to teach a man. A woman doesn't have to "un-learn" all that Hollywood BS.
A man will say something on the order of, "I don't know much about guns."--until you put a gun in his hands! Away he goes, imitating everything wrong Hollywood ever showed him, and then telling you how good he is or soon will be.
Maybe all this is why I had a lot of comeback customers, and sales, at gunshows...
, Art
If a couple came to my table and SHE asked a question, I answered HER. That's not even salesmanship--it's common courtesy.
I'd rather teach a woman to shoot than to teach a man. A woman doesn't have to "un-learn" all that Hollywood BS.
A man will say something on the order of, "I don't know much about guns."--until you put a gun in his hands! Away he goes, imitating everything wrong Hollywood ever showed him, and then telling you how good he is or soon will be.
Maybe all this is why I had a lot of comeback customers, and sales, at gunshows...
, ArtKathryn.
Some men are idiots, but most of us are not.
I have taught many women to shoot over the years and the only problem that I see is that women generally have smaller hands which may make it difficult for ome of them to shoot the largest pistols.
That said I know many women who shoot .45 automatics and shoot them quite well.
Some men are idiots, but most of us are not.
I have taught many women to shoot over the years and the only problem that I see is that women generally have smaller hands which may make it difficult for ome of them to shoot the largest pistols.
That said I know many women who shoot .45 automatics and shoot them quite well.
Unfortunately, almost any traditionally male retail or service establishment can have a condescending attitude toward women customers. I've heard from women who've had similarly poor experiences in an auto parts store, a lumber yard, a hardware store, a blueprint and drafting supply store, and a locksmith's. IMHO, the problem is not typical of gun people exactly, but rather of any men who haven't yet learned to accept women into their particular in-group. However, while I believe this to be true, I'm not sure there's much comfort in it!
Anyway, FWIW, the local gunshop in my area treats women with the same helpfulness and respect it gives to any customer. As well it should.
Conversely, I know of another gun shop that treats the women customers poorly--and the men customers just as poorly! Simply put, the clerks are jerks.
Of course, I no longer bother with this store.
[This message has been edited by jimmy (edited March 15, 2000).]
Anyway, FWIW, the local gunshop in my area treats women with the same helpfulness and respect it gives to any customer. As well it should.
Conversely, I know of another gun shop that treats the women customers poorly--and the men customers just as poorly! Simply put, the clerks are jerks.
Of course, I no longer bother with this store.[This message has been edited by jimmy (edited March 15, 2000).]