gun store ignorance

WalMart and Bud's don't have to hire and pay knowledgeable employees. They don't have to show guns, explain features, sit patiently through inane political rants, or show the customer how to clean them. They just need a guy who's competent to do data entry.

What irks me is people who think they have the right to take free advantage of a brick & mortar shop's time, knowledge and services when they have every intention of buying their wares elsewhere.
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Actually Bud's does have to do that at their store.
They have turned into quite a business model for firearms retail and service to it's customers. Not only internet sales but:
Indoor range, Action shooting range, New shooter training, CCW classes, LEO sales, gun rental, Class III sales and ever present sales reps that do know a thing or two about firearms.
Not to mention the pretty women that work the counters.:)
 
What irks me is people who think they have the right to take free advantage of a brick & mortar shop's time, knowledge and services when they have every intention of buying their wares elsewhere.
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Well said.

****
I'll be right back, I am gonna run down to B&M gunshop to check out the newest gun I want to order online and save $40.00 on.

*****

I am back, the store is not there anymore. I wonder why he went out of business. Now where am I supposed to check out new guns before I purchase them?


I try to support my local B&M stores as much as possible. I realize they can not always offer me the greatest price, but I also know that if I have a problem I can go back and they handle it.

How many times do we read a thread about someone returning a gun they bought online and having to deal with the postal system? There is a thread going right now in which a guy is having problems with communications with the factory. Dealers usually have a line they can call for a quicker response.
 
Cry Me a River...

What irks me is people who think they have the right to take free advantage of a brick & mortar shop's time, knowledge and services when they have every intention of buying their wares elsewhere.
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And...such is the hallmark attitude of a business owner doomed for eventual failure. This is reality for ALL businesses, not just gun shops. It's called a free-market economy...capitalism. I don't know why so many gun shop owners think their businesses should be immune to some tire-kicking customers. Give us a break! If most gun shop owners would just drop their arrogant attitudes toward customers, and focus on quality service, they'd find that many customers are willing to pay a little more to do local business with them. I haven't darkened the doorway of my only local gun shop in 5 years because of their rude arrogant demeanor. But, I'm willing to drive an hour & buy from a shop in Prescott, where they treat me well. I can get a slightly better deal online, but I believe they actually deserve my business because they've earned it.
 
Cry Me a River...
Quote:
What irks me is people who think they have the right to take free advantage of a brick & mortar shop's time, knowledge and services when they have every intention of buying their wares elsewhere.
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I just recently went to my B&M shop to get a rifle. I didn't want to over pay for the rifle just a fair price. I had done my research on line including GB and Bud's. My local gun shop had one on the used shelf. It was marked at twice what I could get it for online. I went home and ordered it and had it shipped to the local shop. I get it next week from them they will get 50 for handling the transaction but I get to keep the difference which in this case will be about 400 dollars. I hope the local shop looks at the invoice and tries to correct their price accordingly. If not the trend will continue...
 
I hope the local shop looks at the invoice and tries to correct their price accordingly. If not the trend will continue...
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If the shop owner is a smart businessman, he will adjust accordingly. I think the US Postal Service is a great case study. They refuse to adjust to current market conditions, and think they can stay afloat forever by merely raising their prices on a regular basis. Our local post office used to have some vending machines for postal products & stamps, and they also had a weigh-it-yourself & ship-it kiosk. All of these extra modern services are now gone, and all purchases now require a human-to-human interaction with those "extra friendly" folks. When I asked them where all the time-saving customer-friendly machines had gone, they unashamedly responded...get this..."They were a threat to our jobs, so the union got them out of here." Is that classic? The Postal Service is doomed, giving way to innovative private businesses who understand the value of service and diversification.
 
That's why they call them sales clerks. It's a sales job. A salesman tries to sell stuff. Anybody believe the furniture or auto salesman is looking out for the customer's best interests?
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Exactly... caveat emptor always applies. Any retail business exists to make money. They do not exist to expense infallible free advice. It is up to the consumer to determine if the information being presented is accurate.

It is always a + when the retail outlet "looks out" for the customer but most of the time this is simply not the case.
 
KMO "...I haven't darkened the doorway of my only local gun shop in 5 years because of their rude arrogant demeanor…"
Years ago I wanted a black powder rifle. Didn't know anything about them. Read all about black powder rifles in various gun magazines and decided I wanted a Hawken rifle, but I couldn't ever find out exactly what made a rifle a 'Hawken.' I just liked the way they looked in the pictures. I walked into a gun store and they had about five black powder rifles hanging above the counter. Guy says 'How can I help you?' There was one up there that looked just like the Hawken pictures in my magazines so I said "I would like to see that Hawken." He looked up at the guns then back to me and said in a loud voice 'There's not a single Hawken up there.' Then a raised eyebrow look and a stare. Everyone in the store turned to look at the idiot.(me) I left, never bought a black powder weapon, never been in a gun store since. I buy my guns at gun shows, from individuals, or from WallyWorld. There's a big gun store about 30 miles from me that I keep thinking I'll check out, but I never find the right time. It's probably a great store with good people behind the counter. Maybe next week!
 
Why is this such a hard business to make a living in?

Competition from internet/big box stores?

Insurance?

Not enough mark up?

Seems like many of you are without a decent local gun shop, has to be for some reason(s).
 
Seems like many of you are without a decent local gun shop, has to be for some reason(s)
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Biggest reason I see for gun shops going under is poor customer service.

I will gladly pay a little extra (and know many others that do the same) at the local store, and get good service with employees I see on a regular basis, versus buying online, and maybe saving a few bucks. I like being treated as though my business means something to the store.

But, give me a arrogant sales person, who forces the opinion that what he likes is the only gun that should exist, and if you don't buy his suggestion you are an idiot.........and thats the last time I will be in that store. If a sales person wants to offer a suggestion of another weapon when I am looking at a firearm, thats fine, but don't try and force it down my throat just to make a sale worth $75 more.

I have yet to buy a gun online, but do quite a bit of research online for reviews and opinions before I head to the LGS and buy what I want. There are probably over a dozen gun stores within 20 minutes of my house, but I will only go to 3, due to shoddy service from the others. The ones that treat me decent get the business, the ones that don't, don't.
 
CrankyLove said:
There are probably over a dozen gun stores within 20 minutes of my house...
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Seriously! :eek:

I don't think there are a dozen gun stores within an hour and a half of me. Heck, the two closest are right next door to each other and they're over a half hour away. :(
 
I don't think there are a dozen gun stores within an hour and a half of me.
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A dozen within about 20 minutes........extend it out another 10-15 minutes, and you get:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&g...&ei=6IXITpmzOenfiALy9I3hDw&sqi=2&ved=0CAQQyBM
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Plus the Lehi, Utah Cabela's about 20 miles south.

Not all of the locations on the map are "real" gun stores. Quite a few pawn shops that sell a few guns, a couple sell reloading components only, and some businesses that only do classes and such, but quite a few dedicated gun/sporting goods stores in the area.......but only a couple with decent customer service, and those only on the days certain employees are working.
 
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