I mean, they are friendly when I go in there, and it is nice to be able to get stuff locally, but their prices are outrageous. I can accept paying a few extra bucks for having something right there when I want it, but the local shops are priced at least 20% over prices on the net. Ammo is even worse. The cheapest 9mm they have is $10.95 for 50. I understand they are trying to make a living, but this is rediculous. I used to go there and spend a lot of money, but not anymore. I told them that if they want my business they are going to have to lower prices.
How many of you are sick of your local gun shops?
- Thread starter bdog
- Start date
All local stores are 20% over the "Net."
The NET will eliminate all businesses that sell objects within 4 years.
There will not even be any car dealers. Look for a very steep deflation during that time and HUGE unemployment.
This WILL happen. Guaranteed.
Why would a manufacturer want to bill individual store owners when they can sell directly to the public.
Service businesses will be the only ones to survive.
Oh yes, by the way, commercial real estate will tank first and then residential.
4 years......6 max
Who do you think does not know this? Why do you think they want to disarm the population? Should be VERRRRY interesting times when the only jobs are shipping items to net buyers.
The NET will eliminate all businesses that sell objects within 4 years.
There will not even be any car dealers. Look for a very steep deflation during that time and HUGE unemployment.
This WILL happen. Guaranteed.
Why would a manufacturer want to bill individual store owners when they can sell directly to the public.
Service businesses will be the only ones to survive.
Oh yes, by the way, commercial real estate will tank first and then residential.
4 years......6 max
Who do you think does not know this? Why do you think they want to disarm the population? Should be VERRRRY interesting times when the only jobs are shipping items to net buyers.
hksigwalther
New member
IMO, I think it will be a very long time for what Lavan foresees to happen if at all. I think people like to shop, see things, feel things, try things out. So, store fronts will still be here.
OTOH, I'm sure glad I work in manufacturing. You can't ship items if you don't have items to ship.
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- Ron V.
OTOH, I'm sure glad I work in manufacturing. You can't ship items if you don't have items to ship.
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- Ron V.
Their prices are not always "outrageous." They also have to add the cost of rent, insurance, and employee wages to the price of the items they sell. They're not necessarily trying to gouge you, they're usually just trying to make a living.
Recently a large outdoors/firearms "superstore" opened in my town. They sell guns cheaper then I've found them on the net. The small, friendly gunshops are getting smaller and smaller...
Soon, no more gunshops.
Recently a large outdoors/firearms "superstore" opened in my town. They sell guns cheaper then I've found them on the net. The small, friendly gunshops are getting smaller and smaller...
Soon, no more gunshops.
Gun shop I work at part-time sells 9mm ammo for 6.99-7.99 per 50. New guns are marked 15% above cost (which is not a lot of profit). Tonight, I sold a used Glock 17 with 10 rnd mag and 17 rnd mag for $400. Also sold a Colt Anaconda for $425 and new Kimber Pro CDP for $900.
Most of the money is made on clothing and other accessories. By treating the customers fairly and having a friendly attitude, we get a lot of returning and new customers. That is where the money is at.
[This message has been edited by ArmySon (edited October 09, 2000).]
Most of the money is made on clothing and other accessories. By treating the customers fairly and having a friendly attitude, we get a lot of returning and new customers. That is where the money is at.
[This message has been edited by ArmySon (edited October 09, 2000).]
I prefer to handle or even use merchandise before buying, but I do not like being treated badly. I would gladly pay 10% more to support a local business,especially family owned, if they are willing to treat me like a valued cutomer instead of the enemy. Lavan: Your probably right about some areas, but E retailers, particularly grocery retailers, are dropping like flies these days.
My local gun shop owner cannot compete with WalMart for prices, but if you buy from him and something breaks, he will do everything he can to fix it, even if he has to rob a part off of an item in stock. He is also a farmer, so I get fresh fruit when he harvests the crop. His wife gives me fresh vegetables from the garden. When they go north to fish for salmon, I can always expect to receive some salmon steaks.
I'm willing to pay extra for his merchandise.
I'm willing to pay extra for his merchandise.
I buy both locally and on the Net. Guns locally, they are more expensive, but I want to give them business. I need to handle the merchandise. A few more dollars for a purchase that is more infrequent than I wish it to be is inconsequential. Ammunition is usually via the Net. No local gun shop or major retailer can come close to the prices.
If commercial RE dies, why will residential? Will it be an after effect? I don't disagree with some brick and mortar businesses going under and causing a downturn in that market, but won't the e-business people need some place to live?
If commercial RE dies, why will residential? Will it be an after effect? I don't disagree with some brick and mortar businesses going under and causing a downturn in that market, but won't the e-business people need some place to live?
Lavan, I like your attitude but I gotta wonder if that level of market penetration is possible. Most people I know are still too affraid of Internet commerce to risk even 99 cents on eBay to buy a used Foghat CD. I think it's just a little bit far fetched to say it'll destroy our entire ecomomy within the next 4 to 6 years. -- Kernel
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Internet wipe out stores?
I dont think so.
First off - You got to wait for delivery on items form the net.
I am not smart enough to foresee days in advance what I will want when I want it.
Sometimes I am forced to GO GET IT.
The advantage that a store has - is that the item is RIGHT THERE - RIGHT NOW.
The Net will NEVER overcome.
At least - I hope not.
This is coming from a guy thats worked for Cisco Systems and now another major internetworking firm.
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Unplug and listen to Pink Floyd on vinyl!
I dont think so.
First off - You got to wait for delivery on items form the net.
I am not smart enough to foresee days in advance what I will want when I want it.
Sometimes I am forced to GO GET IT.
The advantage that a store has - is that the item is RIGHT THERE - RIGHT NOW.
The Net will NEVER overcome.
At least - I hope not.
This is coming from a guy thats worked for Cisco Systems and now another major internetworking firm.
--------------------
Unplug and listen to Pink Floyd on vinyl!
The local range I belong to sells ammo cheaper than the net. I live 15 minutes from ammoman's warehouse (the mail order house many of you rave about), but I can buy single boxes at the range for less than his case prices. Now their guns, on the other hand, are overpriced by at least $100 to $200. So, I just buy my firearms online, and the range does the paper work and NICS for a small fee. Works for me.
This isn't exactly the same as internet commerce but I've got to get it off my chest.
This month would have been my 9th anniversary working in a gun store in a small local community.
We used to have over 300 handguns on display that people could come in and handle.
K-Mart and WalMart both moved into the area several years ago and started selling firearms and ammo. Of course they buy merchandise by the rail car load and pass the savings on to the retail customer. Their ammo was always cheaper than ours and there firearms usually were also.
Their staff doesn't know a .38 Special from a .38 Super, or a .38 ACP. They have no concept of what a high quality product is.
They don't know an H&R from a Beretta.
They would have loss-leader sales to get you into the store knowing while you were there you would also purchase other goods. After 20 years in the retail firearms field, we lost our customers and our store last weekend. 9-30-00 marked the last day we were open.
When WalMart and K-Mart decide they will no longer sell firearms or ammo, where ya' gonna go?
The owner, a retired polce officer, also had a 100 yard rifle and pistol range in the country, about two miles from the store. The range was on his family's land since 1968. The local neighbors sued last fall and shut him down for good.
The store went bankrupt and he will lose the land also.
Thanks for listening. I don't feel any better, but got my say.
Neil Casper
This month would have been my 9th anniversary working in a gun store in a small local community.
We used to have over 300 handguns on display that people could come in and handle.
K-Mart and WalMart both moved into the area several years ago and started selling firearms and ammo. Of course they buy merchandise by the rail car load and pass the savings on to the retail customer. Their ammo was always cheaper than ours and there firearms usually were also.
Their staff doesn't know a .38 Special from a .38 Super, or a .38 ACP. They have no concept of what a high quality product is.
They don't know an H&R from a Beretta.
They would have loss-leader sales to get you into the store knowing while you were there you would also purchase other goods. After 20 years in the retail firearms field, we lost our customers and our store last weekend. 9-30-00 marked the last day we were open.
When WalMart and K-Mart decide they will no longer sell firearms or ammo, where ya' gonna go?
The owner, a retired polce officer, also had a 100 yard rifle and pistol range in the country, about two miles from the store. The range was on his family's land since 1968. The local neighbors sued last fall and shut him down for good.
The store went bankrupt and he will lose the land also.
Thanks for listening. I don't feel any better, but got my say.
Neil Casper
Sorry to hear that Neil, and I agree it is sad. I remember 10-15 years ago when you could go to the local gun shop and everything was reasonable. It seems like gun shops now lose business to wal mart and kmart, and try to make it back by jacking up prices for there loyal customers.
I mean I can buy 9mm ammo for less than $7 a box. I assume the gun shop gets it cheaper than that. So they are marking the ammo up around 60%. Seems a little steep to me. I would much rather do business with the gun shop then wal mart, but there comes a point when the almighty dollar takes over.
Also there pricing on guns just drives me nuts. They flat out insult me when I try to trade with them. I was going to trade an HK USP 40 stainless in mint condition with all accesories for a USED compact 40 with the black finish. My gun is in equal or better condition than the gun shop's, not to mention mine costs more new. I was expecting to pay a little because they have the overhead of running the shop, etc, but I almost fell over when they told me $200 difference. How can they expect to gain customers this way?
I mean I can buy 9mm ammo for less than $7 a box. I assume the gun shop gets it cheaper than that. So they are marking the ammo up around 60%. Seems a little steep to me. I would much rather do business with the gun shop then wal mart, but there comes a point when the almighty dollar takes over.
Also there pricing on guns just drives me nuts. They flat out insult me when I try to trade with them. I was going to trade an HK USP 40 stainless in mint condition with all accesories for a USED compact 40 with the black finish. My gun is in equal or better condition than the gun shop's, not to mention mine costs more new. I was expecting to pay a little because they have the overhead of running the shop, etc, but I almost fell over when they told me $200 difference. How can they expect to gain customers this way?
Neil, that's more than sad; its a tragedy. When I leved in Conn., I worked part-time for free for a nice ex-spec.forces capt. while I learned much of what I know about weapons in his gun store. Typical local clientele; everyone was friendly and had stories. Great time. But now is now.
Let me ask you all a question- Remember(I'm sure) when cars ran on LEADED gas and used carburetors? And we all knew a friendly local mechanic (they're technicians now) in a small garage somewhere who would ace our vehicles? Well, WHERE'D THEY GO??????
Probably the same place all these gun shops will.......Markets change. We (consumers) made them change. And so it goes.
Personally, if I like whomever I'm doing business with; and appreciate their efforts; I make sure to support them. They are open for MY business; and I'm pleased to provide it. Its a two-way street. It's the PEOPLE who make life interesting and worthwhile; materialism has no soul.
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NRA LIFE MEMBER
ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM
When I leved in Conn., I worked part-time for free for a nice ex-spec.forces capt. while I learned much of what I know about weapons in his gun store. Typical local clientele; everyone was friendly and had stories. Great time. But now is now.Let me ask you all a question- Remember(I'm sure) when cars ran on LEADED gas and used carburetors? And we all knew a friendly local mechanic (they're technicians now) in a small garage somewhere who would ace our vehicles? Well, WHERE'D THEY GO??????
Probably the same place all these gun shops will.......Markets change. We (consumers) made them change. And so it goes.
Personally, if I like whomever I'm doing business with; and appreciate their efforts; I make sure to support them. They are open for MY business; and I'm pleased to provide it. Its a two-way street. It's the PEOPLE who make life interesting and worthwhile; materialism has no soul.
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NRA LIFE MEMBER
ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM
A
AmericanFreeBird
Guest
Well, I'd buy a gun there and a small amount of ammo, but mostly I buy ammo over the Net.
The best prices on ammo, powder, primers is usually at gunshows, not on the net. The shipping on ammo will always put it higher than at a gunshow. Hazmat on powder/primers is why I *never* mailorder those. Most of these folks drive to a distributor to pick up the hazmat items.
The other option I have is my gunclub. Members get everything at dealer cost, guns, ammo, ect. The club even is a Dillon dealer. The club makes -0-, all savings go to members
That said, I still patronize a local shop when I have to have something right away and feel the extra cost is worth it when you need it now.
The other option I have is my gunclub. Members get everything at dealer cost, guns, ammo, ect. The club even is a Dillon dealer. The club makes -0-, all savings go to members
That said, I still patronize a local shop when I have to have something right away and feel the extra cost is worth it when you need it now.