Gun store clerks

Is she is not a "gun chick", she probably won't clean the gun often, hence a revolver will function longer without problems than a semi-auto. And a revolver is extremely simple to operate. My guess is that she heard Dirty Harry uses .44 Mag and was influenced, but with a good .44 SPL load, it's not bad at all. And women can hide a larger gun in their purse. So maybe she isn't so crazy after all. ;)
 
Bah. Dumb boys go and buy crap they can't handle all the time. Don't see how some dippy woman doing the same thing is any different.

There are just way to many resources out there these days (not really the woman specific stuff, but general resources for all shooters) for anyone to have the excuse of ignorance when buying a gun.

Sometimes... Well, actually most the time, you just can't save stupid from itself and trying to do so might actually drive you insane.
 
Well, you don't know her. She could have grown up shooting a .44 Magnum and now wants on of her own. I was 16 when I bought my first brand new 629 (my dad had to do the actual buying). Sure glad the clerk didn't try to talk a skinny 16 year old kid out of his choice. It's been a love affair with the .44 and a shooting / reloading / competing / hunting adventure for over 30 years since that day.
 
Two thoughts: First, the impression I got from the OP was that the husband didn't demonstrate much knowledge of firearms, either, so I'm not sure why some are saying it is his fault. Such knowledge is learned, not inherent to the Y chromosome.

Second, touched on by some other posts, is that there is a point beyond which people are responsible for their own decisions. There might even have been a part of the conversation that was not overheard in which the clerk might have warned about recoil, and was ignored by the buyer.
 
Tail gator
You hit the nail on the head .
That's the way the conversation went .
I stood there and shook my head and left .
I hope no one gets hurt if they buy any firearm .
Without proper training.
 
So exactly who should decide what the proper firearm for an individual is? Apparently there is a belief among some on this forum that the individual store should dictate what a customer can and cannot buy based on... I'm not even sure what we are discussing is based on.
 
Everyone is in the must have mode .
And not getting the proper training.
This is how people get hurt .
I have seen this first hand .
When a adult gave a young girl a large caliber Desert eagle and it clunked her right between the eyes.
 
So exactly who should decide what the proper firearm for an individual is? Apparently there is a belief among some on this forum that the individual store should dictate what a customer can and cannot buy based on... I'm not even sure what we are discussing is based on.
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I think it is based on the OPs belief that the clerk had an obligation to make sure the apparently unknowing couple understood that a snub 44 magnum is a handful. I don't see anyone recommending not selling her what she wants.
 
Safety Concerns

Apparently there is a belief among some on this forum that the individual store should dictate what a customer can and cannot buy based on.
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If that is your read, so be it. I have been involved in a number of transactions between store clerks and customers and not once have I seen any, dictates from a clerk. A lot of egos and opinions perhaps but no dictates and most customers would not put up with that. ...... :)

I'm not even sure what we are discussing is based on.
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Safety concerns but you may need to go back and read that !!!
We all have a little safety "bell", in our heads that often tells us that "perhaps" something isn't right. That is the only point that the OP is trying to make.. Not a debate or even getting into a spitting contest. ..... :rolleyes:

Be Cool and;
Be Safe !!!
 
SHE was set on buying the 44MAG.
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So we should not be selling women 44 magnums even when they are set on buying them? We should talk them out of them? How, pray tell, does one do this without some combination of sexism and paternalism?

And yes I'm concerned. We are, in a way, advocating that only certain individuals be allowed to purchase certain firearms. Allowed is the wrong word but we are advocating that some individuals be strongly dissuaded from buying certain firearms. If someone has their heart set on a particular firearm practicality should not be a requirement. I do all my hunting in MI and have an affinity for the .375 H+H Magnum (yes you can download this). Its not the most practical of choices. I would be offended if a gun shop tried to talk me out of one the next time I order one.
 
My only concern is selling a higher powered pistol or handgun to anyone would just be to caution them that the recoil can be dangerous. There enough cases of accidents with beginners and such, that I would mention that.

Otherwise, I like the 44 mag snubbies - if I didn't have so many other bills lately, I might get one - just because.
 
My only concern is selling a higher powered pistol or handgun to anyone would just be to caution them that the recoil can be dangerous. There enough cases of accidents with beginners and such, that I would mention that.
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A valid concern. Not one that is rendered moot by any of the revolvers described.
 
Sounds like a bunch of busybody old women.
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Exactly the sort of comment one would expect from a busy body old woman!:p

Lohman I don't see how a conversation regarding the pros and cons of a particular weapon with a customer is offensive. Would you be offended if the clerk asked what it is about a 375 H&H that you liked? If your answer was big gun big bullets, and he added that it's a little heavy in weight and recoil for most, would that offend?
 
Lohman I don't see how a conversation regarding the pros and cons of a particular weapon with a customer is offensive. Would you be offended if the clerk asked what it is about a 375 H&H that you liked? If your answer was big gun big bullets, and he added that it's a little heavy in weight and recoil for most, would that offend?
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I would assume someone looking at a 44 MAG (or a 375 H+H) to be aware of the fact it shoots heavy / big bullets and tends to recoil. Remember in the story as we are told the lady did not just walk in and ask for the gun like "Dirty Harry" or some such. There was at least some conversation by the clerk as to why the .44 MAG (we are told big gun / big bullets).

The opportunity for the clerk to discuss any pros and cons was as he or she put the different firearms on the counter. Once the customer has made a choice trying to talk the customer out of the choice (as it seems the OP is concerned the clerk did not do) is paternalism. I find paternalism to be at best questionable in regards to ethics.

I'm curious, as the OP states he or she has no respect for the store based on this single transaction, what exactly was expected of the store?

In direct answer to your question I am not easily offended. Would I be offended? Nope. Do I see where others could be? Yeh
 
Lohman I have seen sexism displayed by gun store folks. I have experienced condescension and perhaps paternalism. Believe me when I say have no patience with anyone treating me or anyone else disrespectfully. I don't think asking a few questions to try to make sure the customer gets something that will best satisfy their wants and needs is anything but good business. When you consider safety as another consideration, it makes just good sense to me.
 
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Lohman I have seen sexism displayed by gun store folks. I have experienced condensation and perhaps paternalism. Believe me when I say have no patience with anyone treating me or anyone else disrespectfully. I don't think asking a few questions to try to make sure the customer gets something that will best satisfy their wants and needs is anything but good business. When you consider safety as another consideration, it makes just good sense to me.
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I think we disagree on how the original conversation went (and considering I wasn't there my concept may be way off). As the gun store clerk was handing the different firearms over her or she should have explained the high and low points to the couple - especially if they gave any indication of wanting that information. However after the lady made up her mind and decided on the .44 the decision should be left to her.

If there is a concern about the recoil of the .44 it should be mentioned as the firearm is put up for consideration - not after the decision is made.

I once had a gun store talk me out of buying a min-revolver because the person doing the selling felt I should buy something else (I had asked how much to have him order me one). I bought a mini-revolver at a different gun store that I had to travel 50 miles to. I just don't see how, after presenting the different firearms and having the lady decide on the "bigger gun / bigger bullets" revolver one then decides to have a conversation about recoil without it seeming out of place.
 
Neither the Husband or the Clerk tried to change Her decision .
The husband didn't show he had any firearm experience .
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Considering store clerks all get bashed on gun forums as morons no matter what they say, because somebody will always disagree, a smart store clerk would not give his opinion unless asked for it, and even then, it's with great reluctance because they know they will have to argue with at least some of the eavesdroppers who have a different opinion and deem themselves smarter, because everybody knows that store clerks don't know anything.
 
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