Gun Shop Loyalty

I can appreciate the OP's frustration, but as others have mentioned, "business is business." But I think it might be helpful to have a common understanding of something. The OP wrote:
BlueEyeVisage said:
...I have yet to get a firearm to call my own. I've developed what I thought a solid business relationship with a small gun shop's owner and sole employee. Typically we talk about gun legislation, cowboy movies and whatever else comes to mind and he's even told me to come by often to do this...
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In general, that is not how I, and I suspect most folks who have been in business, understand "a solid business relationship."

A solid business relationship comes from a long history of doing good business with each other, i. e., over a long term exchanging money for goods or services on mutually satisfactory terms to the consistent benefit of both parties. When that sort of business relationship has developed, one might see some accommodations being made.

So one FFL, back in the days I was more actively building my collection, used to give me a good deal on his fees for acting as a transfer dealer on the occasional gun I bought from an out-of-state third party. That sort of thing started after I had already done enough business with him to put his kids through school.
 
I do feel for you, I know you hate to lose out on a revolver you were really wanting, but don't let it get you down too much. it is nothing personal, it is a business thing.

I have a solid business relationship with my local gun store. I have bought multiple firearms from him. He has called me when he gets something in I might be interested in. I go back to him because of loyalty. he did not jack his ammunition prices up when others did. but part of that loyalty is because I do not ask him to hold a firearm for me at all. If I am interested, I will tell him I will go get the cash and be right back. If not, I tell him I am not interested. If I am somewhat interested, I will tell him I'll think about it. I figure if it sells before I get around to thinking about it then the sale was not meant to be.

He did not do what he did to screw you, so keep up the relationship. Once you cement the relationship by purchasing a firearm or two from him a different pattern will emerge.

David
 
"Typically we talk about gun legislation, cowboy movies and whatever else comes to mind and he's even told me to come by often to do this..."

I missed this originally.

To me that says one thing...

He doesn't see you as a customer. He sees you as someone whose company helps him pass the time.

That's not entirely bad, but it's not the foundation for a business relationship at this time.

In the future, however, your burgeoning friendship may very well help you obtain a discounted price on products, or items that are harder to find.

But you have to step up and be a customer in addition to being a crony, to reach that level.

Years ago I used to frequent a gun shop where the owner (a good gunsmith as well as a vendor) had a core group of friends who would come in every evening he was open, sit around the stove, and talk.

As far as I know, they never bought anything, they were his friends.

And God forbid you try to interrupt their stories of 'times 'twain and passed by,' or whose lumbago was acting up, or whatever.

I finally quit going there because it was evident that the owner cared more about chatting with his friends than he did about serving a customer.
 
I've bought most of my guns over a number of years from two stores. The owners of both tell customers up front that they can hold a gun provided the buyer puts 25% of the price down. They're scrupulously fair, treat everyone the same, and have never sold a gun out from under me once I made the deposit.

There have been times when I didn't have the down payment, and by the time I got it the gun was gone, but it was understood up front that it was possible that could happen. I was disappointed a couple of times, but had no hard feelings.

That's how I like to do business, with no surprises.
 
Gun shops are extraordinarily odd businesses by most of my experiences. Most are not ran like professional businesses. I have one locally that I really like and just bought some stuff at today.

I'd let the guy know you were planning on buying the gun...then you can decide if its a good shop based on his response. We can't expect gun shop owners/employees to be our best friends but they should be polite and respectful. If he's a decent guy he'll say "shoot, I wasn't sure that you planned on buying it", "oh I forgot you were interested", "ah next time put down 20% and ill hold it for you". If he's like most gun shop owners you'll get a blank stare, "snooze you lose" or some other unprofessional response.

Talk to the guy, we can't let you know how to feel. As far as it being a rare gun of any pedigree, for $180..., anytime we are looking at something collectible or rare we should both be very skeptical and only buy with authentication.
 
Two things:

There is no such model of gun as a .38 Special "Police Special."
Know what you are looking at.

If the dealer made an unsubstantiated claim that this was a revolver carried by a cop who arrested Rev King, it was at least shady salesmanship and up to a bald faced fraudulent lie. Probably wouldn't add much to the resale value anyhow, King was a professional protester who got rousted a lot.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. :) I decided I will do business for bullet's and potentially a gun in the future with him, however I am currently still looking at other places to get a feel. I assumed he would want money down so sadly I did bring cash to put down, the only reason I did not is because he said that's fine to buy it on Friday come by on Tuesday to check it out to make sure as I guaranteed a sale as long as it was safe to fire.

However, working in a medical retail environment, I totally understand that until money has exchanged hands nothing is certain so for that I don't fault him. I am just disappointed as I never made a promise like that with him and he didn't even leave it to chance that I was coming by, even though it was only 2 hours after he opened. But, I have gotten over it.

Those increased rates for the transfers is ludicrous btw, least they could of done is at least lowered it to the previous that first time or thrown in a box of ammo to fling out your new gun.

The gun was a Official Police in .38 Special, sorry not great with my terms yet. :P
 
he said that's fine to buy it on Friday come by on Tuesday to check it out
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Sounds like a simple misunderstanding to me.

He said come by on Tuesday to check it out. You didn't show up. Somebody else wants it Friday morning, so it gets sold just before you come waltzing in three days late.

If you had come in Tuesday per his understanding and said you would pick it up Friday, you would probably have the gun now.
 
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