Gun Shop Etiquette

".... haggle over prices?" I don't think haggling is good form but nicely
asking "What do you actually have to have ($) to let the gun go?" is
a reasonable question that implies you would like a lower price. They
will tell you, because you have stepped up to actually buy the gun.
If they throw the ball back in my court that we don't lower price-- I
generally thank them and think about it-- plenty of fish in
the sea. They've made their choice (fine) and now I make mine. I've
yet to pay the full price for a preowned gun. It's about delayed gradification.

.02 David :)
 
Cash talks. Period. Know what your item has sold for, look them in the eye and ask what's the best cash price they can do. If it's in line....buy it. If it needs adjusting, make an offer. If he's a jerk.....walk away and give your money to someone else. There are many more sellers than there are buyers. I've been doing this for 40 years and I buy almost everything off of the internet now. It's just not worth the gas and $8 admission to go to a gun show these days.
 
My advice, in order:

Know what you are interested in before you walk into the store. In the information age there is no excuse for not doing research in advance. This can include shooting friends guns and renting guns.

Know what you are willing to pay. Make this part of your research. You must know what you are interested in first obviously.

Ask before doing anything with a gun in a store besides looking at it. That way, whatever quirky handling rules the shop has won't trip you up.

Do not buy a gun that you were not interested in before you walked in the door of the shop. If you think you are becoming interested in a gun you were unaware of or not interested in previously, stop, leave the store and do more research.

Do not pay more than you were prepared to pay after your research. If you find you can't get your gun for the right price you'll need to do more research. Someone is wrong, either you or the store. Find out who. Then adjust. Either shop somewhere else or adjust what you are willing to pay.

Good luck.
 
Besides asking them if it is alright to dry fire the weapon (important in a purchasing decision, but believe it or not some places still say no, even with a centerfire), I would just say wherever you point it, just point it up towards the ceiling at a 45ish degree angle. Thats what I do anyway, they always seem to think its just fine.
 
Ale, it is fine to haggle; just remember that you are not in a Turkish bazaar. A salesman reduced the price of a rifle from $449 to $429 for me simply because I told him that I would buy it right there and then if he worked with me.

In general, be safe and respectful and you will be fine. Do your homework and understand that the salesman may not know as much about a particular firearm as you do.
 
Definitely ask before dry firing. I can think of one store that has signs that say "You dry fire it, you bought it." This is the same store where I was browsing and saw a rifle that caught my eye, picked it up, looked it over, then looked at the price tag.... $7,400. I gently sat it right back on the shelf:eek:! But with that kind of merchandise sitting around I can understand their concern.
 
Everyone might not be able to but I always try to buy SOMETHING, even if it's just a box of 22 ammo. Im probably going to look at a couple guns while I'm there but I don't buy a gun every time I'm there so I feel like compensating them for their time some how. Even if it's something small they know I'm a paying customer and they treat me good. I bought my first gun from them because they didnt turn up their noses when I said I was new, and now I spend a good chunk of my income there.
 
Buy something: oil, silicone gun rag, patches, etc.--even if you don't need it. If you aren't an NRA member, ask if they have applications. Don't lean on the counters, bring in food, or smoke. Go to the restroom before you get there to avoid asking to use theirs.

Don't mention the internet and especially don't quote from it.
 
At the LGS in the town where I live, I have heard the owner tell hagaling customers "This is our price, take it or leave it!" At first, I thought it rude,....
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And I believe you are correct in that thought. If the price is questioned respectfully ("is that the lowest you can go" vs "you gotta be &@^* kidding me") I see no reason the answer should not be more in line with "sorry, that's the best I can do".

Around here (Dutchess County New York) I'm in Gun Store no mans land. There's one that has great inventory and prices. No parking to speak of, the store is tiny and jammed with merchandise and people. Counter is outnumbered 5-6 to one by customers. Another place has ok prices but no inventory to speak of. Also has a small store and little parking but is ok for then because they are never that busy. Another shop is larger has ok inventory but prices high and they tend to be rude to non-regular customers. (this place tried to sell my father a Spingfield Mil-Spec for $180 more than the then current going rate online. When asked about doing a transfer, even though they advertised online everything from $40, $50 and 10% of list they quoted my father $100 transfer fee on a $800 list firearm. I can only figure they were trying to take advantage of an old man, I advise everyone away from the place.)
 
The shop I deal with has 10% in their new gun prices. they want to make money buying and selling used, as well as ammo and accessories. Not a terrible mark-up there either, they can read the internet too. So, haggling would be bad form.
 
WHAT I DID.
I had my brother-laws collection to dispose of. So I called
ahead and kinda made an appointment,at least they expected me.
I arrived and went in empty handed. One of clerks went outside with me,we went thru and made sure all the weapons were clear and he help me carry them into the shop.
They didnt charge me anything for the appraisal and then help me carry them back to the truck.
I would never dry fire a weapon in a shop without asking first. ITS just good common sense.
ROGER
 
Well,I can say this,I can put one gun store off my list because their employees walk around like Jesus bestowed upon them the divine right of gun selling.

Treat people like you would want to be treated and if they don't do the same in return-shop elsewhere.
 
Quoted above, "You dry fire it, you bought it." Does make sense. Many guns are not made to be dry fired without a snap-cap. Dry firing say, a S & W 66 which is one of my favorite revolvers,can break the firing pin nose, and it can result with the piece flying out of the bore somewhat like a BB. Yes, Virginia, you can be hurt by an unloaded gun.
 
I worked part time in a gun store for 10 years way back in the 80s. Owners rules were; always hand the gun to the customer in a safe condition, slide back or cylinder open. No dry firing, hard to sell a pistol that has a ring around the cylinder. When taking agun back from the customer always safety check the gun, slide back, open cylinder, then put the gun away. It's true that some gs employees are rude, but the way I see it, they're just jerk offs and would be rude if they were selling happy meals. Go somewhere else, life's too short to deal with morons!
 
Here's my latest experience..local G.S., I've been buying..(and selling/trading)
with them since 1972. When the old man ran it, you could do some fair haggling..and he would have extended law-away's..kind of handy for a young kid without too much denerio!
I had a couple of rifles I was thinking of selling.. to a good friend. Yet I had absolutly no idea what they were going for. Walked in without guns and spoke with son (new owner/manager) of my plans..made it very clear..I was seeking value..to sell to friend..asked him if it was ok for me to bring them in for his aprasial. He said "sure. bring e'm in!".
Well, at end of discussion he told me what they should go for..then he made a very low-ball offer on both. I thanked him and repeated what I made clear earlier..I was only seeking information..he became loud..said here I was trying to get best deal from him & selling to someone else! I replied I thought I had made myself clean before bringing the guns in..I said I was sorry for any misunderstandings..and turned and walked out..all the while he is ranting at my back from behind the counter. I haven't been back & not sure I ever will.
As it turned out, friend decided he didn't need either, I sold the one for much more the gun shop guy offered for both!
What do you guys think?
 
Sometimes it just boils down to the individuals running the establishment. Some are good people, who understand that a positive retail experience creates repeat customers. Some are jerks in general.

I miss a gun shop in El Paso called Collector's Guns. Real nice guys, they have worked on my AR twice for free and have helped me out with the purchase of a bolt-action rifle and a shotgun. Customer service was beyond good, the staff were knowledgeable in a variety of areas but were not arrogant about it. I paid $50 more for a Mossberg 500 than I would at the PX because I appreciated the extra mile they went.

I'd like to think that I met them halfway, so to speak. Being polite and understanding safe weapon handling procedures is half the battle.
 
Every gun store is different. And every owner is different. I've run into extremely friendly and helpful ones, to outright obnoxious jerks. And everything in between. My expectations aren't all that high, but I do insist on a certain amount of courtesy and respect.

A company I worked for once had a motivational speaker talk to us about customer service once. I remember the lady told us that she hates the old saying "The customer is always right". Because it's not true. The customer isn't always right. She offered a variation of that saying. "The customer is always the customer". Some store owners don't seem to understand that.

I can fully sympathize with the guy who's already got his guns marked at rock bottom, and someone tries to haggle him down. But there are many different ways of saying no. The first time I hear "That's our price, take it or leave it", I'm out the door. It comes across so much better if you say something like "Sorry, I'd really like to help you out, but I just can't go any lower on that one."

I was in Cabelas once looking at a gun. I asked the clerk if I could dry fire it. He said yes. So I did 3 or 4 times. I like to get a feel for the trigger and the action of the gun I'm going to spend hundreds of dollars for. But apparently I did it too many times to suit him. If he'd said something like "Sir, if I could, can I ask you to please not dry fire the gun any more". Cool. No problem. It's their gun. But what I got was a very snippy "OK, you can knock off pulling the trigger any time you're ready". I handed him the gun back, and walked away. Never been back.

As to not pointing a gun at other's, that's not just common courtesy in a gun store. It's common courtesy anywhere. Not to mention good safety practice. Never point a gun at anything or anyone you aren't willing to shoot.
 
I was in Cabelas once looking at a gun.
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My Cabelas gun counter is a simply gross experience in which I refuse to engage. Take a number? No thanks.

I do enjoy getting ammo and some accessories at Cabela's and looking at the animal mounts is always a good time.

Their guns are really marked up from what I've seen as well.

Academy Sports, LGS (handles transfers) and the gun show are where I buy.

Academy has mostly know little clerks that are nice enough and it's usually not busy and prices are good.

LGS has some decent employees and one grump (which I find entertaining) and handles the transfers for a fair price.

Gun show has 2 big dealers with great selections and really good prices and are staffed by nice enough guys that are overly busy, but try to be attentive and polite.

Regarding keeping your hands out of your pockets, I've seen signs in a store stating exactly that. This was a Class III shop that was wound a little tight, but I understand to an extent.

I think the moral of the story is, it isn't as much fun to be a mechanic as it is to work on your car on the weekend. Same with which side of the gun counter you're on.

I'm happy to have the options I do in terms of shops/stores/gun show buying and exercise all of them.
 
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