Gun shopping & gender reversal

S

Stressfire

New member
So now I get what female shooters are so irritated about when gun shopping. You know, they go in and ask to see what the know they like or what they think they will like and get handed a .22 -.380 over and over again with the "this is better for you, trust me" line.

Was out comparing prices on a 1911 against one that I had already found but was priced a little high. Was a female clerk working the gun desk. Ok, cool, right?

Even after stating I was looking for a 1911 style .45, and even specifying manufacturers I was looking for, I kept getting handed every polymer POS (no offense intended to those that like 'em, I just prefer wood & steel:)) that could be found - M&P, Glock, XD, etc etc.

I think she was generally trying to be helpful, but just wasn't listening the 5+ times I said "No polymer."

Ended up going back to the store I initially found my 1911 at and went ahead and got it alot cheaper than I thought too.
 
Argh! That's really aggravating. It doesn't matter why: when the sales person isn't listening, they aren't listening.

I'd mention it to the owner, because it sounds as if a little sales training is in order.

( ... Hmmm. I wonder what the margin is on 1911 types vs polymer types? I know you can sell more accessories to a 1911 buyer! :D ;) )

pax
 
Eh, not worth the effort to complain. My protest is that I bought elsewhere and actually got a better deal:)

Heh, I even tried body language at one point to get back to the 1911 end of the counter, just started slowly ambling that way - was called back to look at a poly Sig, don't recall the model.

I know you can sell more accessories to a 1911 buyer!
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Yup, and with the $ I saved, I'm likely to have some goodies put into it:D
 
I hate to say it, but what I've seen at some gun shows, I can understand that frustration. I've seen dealers who pushed particular guns and did not listen to the female customer standing there at all, and determined to tell them what they needed.

One, a woman was handling and asking some guy what his price was on a .45 semi-1911, and he kept trying to hand her a .380 and saying "trust me, this is what you want... blah, blah, blah, blah " . I wanted to jump in and say something, but decided it wasn't my issue and to stay out of it.

You dont' even have to be a woman, I've had them do it to me. Oh NO , you want this "LIGHT WEIGHT" revolver, not that one. Look MORON.... I don't want a feather light, light weight, anything... I want X - GUN ... do you have it or can you order it and what's the costs.. ??

BUT ...... I really hate the "BUT" response, it is a killer. Because when they say "but" , you just know they are going to try their best to talk you out of what you want and sell you whatever it is that they like.

That's when I ask them...
"are you brain dead" ? ...... NO
"are you mentally challenged " ....... NO
"were you dropped on your head at birth" ... NO
"can you understand the English language " ... YES.

Then what part of this are YOU NOT understanding, I'm wanting to buy X-Gun or look at one, and I just tell them not to waste my time with all of the other junk. Some, believe it or not, I've actually told them this 5-6 times, and they still didn't get it and I just turned and walked out of their store.

IN other words, sometimes ... you have to hit them with a 2X4 to get their attention first ....... and then, it's not guaranteed that will even work.
 
In case it wasn't obvious, I'm not female:)

But to get the same thing that so many women opine about from a female salesperson, was just, well, kinda dumbfounding...
 
A lot of times what a salesperson recommends is based on neither what you're looking for, nor what they actually think is the best choice for you. It's based on what they have in stock and what allows them the best profit margin. This can/will foten happen without regard to gender.

I've seen a few different shops flat out lie (sometimes to me, sometimes to others) just to make a sale, or make a better sale than if they just gave a customer what they wanted.

For example, my girlfriend was looking for a small (semi-auto) carry gun, her criteria were very simple: no plastic frames and small/easy to carry. One local gun shop employee told her such a gun doesn't exist. If she wanted a steel or alloy frame, she would have to get something the size of a full-sized 1911 (he then showed her one as an example), or she would have to accept buying something with a plastic frame, he then suggested the Taurus 111 that he had selling for $150 above the going rate. Odds are, he would have given the same spiel to me if I were the one looking using that same criteria.
 
I have had it happen to me once and I was in uniform at the time. I was looking for a compact 45acp that wasnt polymer and wasnt single action. Pretty much limiting my choices to a cz eaa or a bersa. The salesman told me there was no such thing and insisted i needed a glock. I was so mad i went out into the parking lot and called up buds guns and orderd a bersa 45 then went back into the shop to arrange for buds to send it to them. The look on the salesmans face was priceless.
 
It's quite likely that there was some sort of promotion going on and she was getting some sort of "spiff" on the plastic pistols. (or a higher markup.) I have walked away more than once when clerks do not listen to me.
 
Reading stories like these makes me realize what good gun stores we have around here. I can't remember ever getting this type of sales person. I buy from two smaller shops and the bricks and mortar version of Bud's (called The Gun Warehouse).
 
This doesn't only happen with pistols. A great uncle of mine, and his wife, went Cadillac shopping in Worcester, MA, a few decades back. Problem was, they looked like rubes, in denim and workboots, and the salesman kept trying to steer them toward the Chevrolet sales area.

So, they left, and drove to Springfield.

Drove back to the Worcester dealer in two brand new Broughams, which the great uncle had bought with a personal check. The two rubes were owners and operators of a major dairy farm... They made sure to show their new cars (his and hers) to the manager at the Worcester dealer.

Guns, cars, doesn't matter. If the service is bad, go elsewhere. If it's really bad, let management know why you've taken your business elsewhere.
 
A lot of times what a salesperson recommends is based on neither what you're looking for, nor what they actually think is the best choice for you. It's based on what they have in stock and what allows them the best profit margin. This can/will foten happen without regard to gender.
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That's what I found strange though, I was looking (and willing) to pay around or over $500 to get what I wanted and kept getting handed $300 guns that I didn't want.

The shop I ended up getting the RIA 1911 at (the one I wanted!) I had gone to previously looking for a small pistol for summer carry. I was looking to get a Beretta Tomcat or similar, but guy at the counter talked me into a Keltec P3AT for $200 cheaper.

Worked out well, as he took the 3AT back in trade and gave me darn near what I paid for it off the RIA plus a bit more off on accessories - ammo, holster, etc:D
 
Reading through this post one other thought occurred to me (that made three in one day which is pretty good), the clerk may have been trying to show only what he/she knew.
 
Like KyJim, I have never enountered that at any of the LGS I frequent. In fact, at one, I go behind the counter and get what I want to look at, lol. I'm not the only one either. But when it comes time to haggle, the wife steps in, grabs the owner's brother, and I immediately save money, lmao! True story!

I like that kind of shopping. No pressure, just roam around and barter a bit. They also typically have the largest selection of used, hard to find, firearms too. Makes it a win win.
 
Stressfire:

There is a lot of misconceptions when it comes to a ladies gun. Most men and some of my colleagues think that a ladies gun is a small gun and caliber that most experienced shooters have a difficult time shooting. I sold guns for twenty years. It was frustrating trying to set them stright that a women needs a gun that she can handle and shoot well. Most J frames are two small for most women. However, if they are going to carry in their purse they are stuck with a J frame. I can appreciate your displeasure when the sales person kept dwelling of a her preferferences. You should have talked to the store manager. You did right by taking your business elsewhere. I would have added insult to injury by taking the sales slip and the gun to the manager of the booted store to show him that he lost a sale.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired
 
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Argh! That's really aggravating. It doesn't matter why: when the sales person isn't listening, they aren't listening.

I'd mention it to the owner, because it sounds as if a little sales training is in order.
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Maybe they HAD the training, and that was the gun of the day to push and sell....................

no different than what car salesmen do
 
I will put up with a condescending jackass for about 15 seconds. Doesn't matter if it is a gun shop, a motorcyle shop, auto parts store, whatever. I do my homework before I go in. I ask to see what I am interested in. If I find myself dealing with a dolt, I'll give him one chance to understand. Then I'm gone, to purchase it elsewhere.

I will probably be back with my new purchase in a few days, and show it to the manager or owner, explaining why they lost my business.

Note--If I don't know what I am talking about (plumbing, home electrical wiring, etc.) I will seek out "expert" advice. Haven't really experienced the degree of arrogance/jack-ass-ininity in these fields of endeavor.
 
Reminds me of one kid at a shop in my area.

Me: (Pointing with finger at item on wall) Can I look at that Lee Enfield

Kid: You mean the English Mauser

Me: (Jaw dropping) Wha? That makes no sense. That gun is a Lee Enfield. I would like to see it.

Kid: Oh, it came in as an English Mauser.

I sigh, little part of my hope for mankind dies, buy rifle and go home.
 
Margins are different.
Maybe they bought a boatload of CCW polymers and they need to drop the inventory.

Pushing an item isn't always about getting the customer what is best for them.

Also, if you can't get a sales person to let you take a look at what you want, I suggest you be a little more assertive.
 
Last time I went to a gun store, they were pushing Polymer Pistols at me "right and left"

Nothing against plastic pistols, but I was looking for a S&W Mod 39, and I told them "up front" what I wanted.

It was a Guy/Girl team trying to sell me the "latest & greatest" :rolleyes:
 
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