Brick & Mortar stores of all kinds are having a tough time competing with on-line. Struggling to keep the lights on is not going to make a gun store owner cheerful. You might talk to the owner directly about an incentive agreement for business you send him. Arrange something ahead of time instead of just telling a buddy to say you sent him in. Showing up with a few buddies that make a purchase might help imprint you face in the owner's memory.
Not sure what kind of service or "deals" you expect based on purchases over 1 1/2 years that generate enough income to pay for a couple hours of electricity.
He's asking for his local guy to give him a fair deal that he could have gotten for even less money at another store and they would have given him a magazine pouch and holster.
I remember looked at the XD's years ago and thought I saw all XD's came with the holster and crappy magazine pouch. The OP didn't even get either of them for $45 or $80 more.
The Redding dies over Lee dies for a beginner? No... you don't do that to a beginning reloader, especially when he was likely charging $90 for the Reddings. What do used Redding dies sell for these days? $40? Quite a loss if someone finds out reloading isn't for them.
I don't expect deals from my local guys because, like I've said, pricing in gun stores is meant for new shooters who don't shop on value, they shop on what they see in store and how it feels and what they've heard on TV, radio, etc.
"A Glock is $750? Sounds about right, everyone uses them, they're quality and dependable!"
We know better, we know used Glocks are just as good and cost half as much. We know where to go to get 33 rd Glock mags for less than $50.
Honestly, I get the feeling the FFL's may like us gun nuts personally because we speak the same language, but businessly, they hate us even though they see us about 10 times more a year then they do an average customer.
One of my FFL's, I've heard the owner say once when I went in to buy primers, referencing me when he saw me said, "Jesus, that guy gets a lot of transfers."
It's true, I've probably had him do 5 FFL transfers last year, all on used handguns that are no longer made. Besides a police trade in Glock with 3 mags and night sights, what does he expect me to do when I see guns that you can't order from a distributor? Giving him $125 bucks last year to call in do normal 4473 stuff and accept a package from UPS is unfair to him? He's not gonna have the guns in stock I wanted and if he does, he'll charge the same price as new ones.
After over a year he still has a used Hi Point in his case with $200 on the tag. Not joking.
I like him, he's been shooting longer than I've been living, and there's not much he can do to get more of my business other than saying thanks for being a customer for almost 4 years and I'm not saying I expect it from my two FFL's I frequent, but when the appreciation is shown, like if someone says, "I appreciate your business." I appreciate it to.
I'm sure I'm not alone in that.