Is buying online proving a better path than buying locally?

I've bought several of my many guns on line, each purchase went smooth, no major complaints. Most recently I bought a Dan Wesson Guardian 9mm 1911 on line. It was $500 less expensive ("all in" price) than the local gun shop.

On the other hand, I try to keep my money local and I much prefer to handle a gun before I buy it, especially if used. I'll spend a reasonable amount more to buy local than on-line, but in the case of the Dan Wesson that was just an unreasonable premium.
 
I try to go local whenever possible. In most cases the cost of buying online is only slightly cheaper than buying at my range. Giving a few extra bucks here and there to the range conveniently down the street is a small price to pay to keep them open. I did choose to go online recently, but only because the rifle I wanted was on a 2-3 month backorder at my FFL, but in stock online. Support your local businesses.
 
I like to buy locally, however most of the stuff I want is some what exotic and not carried in local stores. I end up doing a lot of transfers because of that.

I will buy locally if they have something I want despite the tax. That isn't there fault. I think its crappy to go into a store, handle there merchandise, and then go buy it online to save a few dollars.

When I lived in MD, I had a guy I really liked dealing with and if he could get what I wanted, I always bought from him.
 
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Limited local selection is the biggest factor for me as I tend to like somewhat hard to find guns. I know for sure the deals I've snatched online would've cost more locally when all is said and done. No tax online and my FFL doesn't charge to receive. :D

I do enjoy visiting the local gunshops, but it is even less likely I can resist the urge to buy when I can actually see and hold the gun in question, so I try not to do this too often.
 
I go online exclusively anymore, because I absolutely loathe most gun shop interactions.

Try being a younger looking, obviously college kid in a gun shop. It feels almost like I'm the new sheriff in Blazing Saddles. If fellow customers or clerks in local gun stores ever gave me the benefit of the doubt, they'd realize I've been shooting all my life, but no matter what I say I get the look like "Look at the Call of Duty kid".

I don't like being judged like that somewhere I might spend money, and I never get that crap online.
 
Online?

We have a local GS with a small inventory but he is a really good guy and has helped my wife and I a lot. Like others, if it werea really expensive purchase I would but online and ship it to him. Also, if you get your CHL from him you. Get use of the range for free. :cool:
 
I've bought online before and while everything went smoothly, it still was a hassle. When buying online..

1) I have to wait for it to ship
2) I have to wait for the FFL to check it in (busy shop)
3) I have to wait for the FFL to remember to call me
4) I have to drive 40 min to the FFL
5) I have to pay the FFL
6) The first time I actually touch the gun is after all the above is said and done.

When I buy from the shop, I can physically inspect the gun, take it home that day and only have to wait for the background check. Since I provide my SSN#, the process takes no more than 15 min. Another big plus of buying from the local shop is the piece of mind. If I ever have a problem with my purchase, my shop will handle everything. They will even pick up shipping if the manufacture won't provide it. Unless it's a smoking deal, I prefer to buy local.
 
Buy all my stuff from Buds online. I would buy local but when they are marking them up by 30% I can't do it. I understand they have to make money but the difference is too much.
 
What some of the other posters have said is like diamonds to the discerning customer. There is little value, to me anyway, in buying from a shop. Holding the gun and working the action and trigger are worth a little, but lots of times the impatience and ingratitude of an apathetic staff are only detracting the foreseen value of their markup. The selections of any of the shops in my immediate area are small (some, shameful) and when they do have something I'm interested in, I've already researched the price and it's significantly more over the counter. I've seen several firearms I already own marked up to considerable values in gun shops making me feel like I got a steal. I think the biggest factor in buying locally or online will be knowing what you're looking for, and how available that product actually is. I've purchased exactly what I was looking for from a shop one time at a great price I've never seen matched as well as from a friend and a guy the next town over. Most of what I want, and at the price I want, is unavailable to me locally. That is the first place I look. Then, I fire up gunbroker.
 
I saw a new blued Ruger P95 at the LGS for $389.00 plus tax!!! About 430.00 out the door. It's ok if the store wants to make a profit, they're supposed to make money. I think they make most of their money from people that just don't know they could buy online, or think it'd be too much of a hassle. Especially if the customer is only interested in buying ONE gun to keep in his home, and never really use it a lot.

I see a lot of new shooters/buyers at the stores. They're just learning the difference between semi and revolver, let alone makes and models. They're starting from the very beginning, and may pay a premium for a new gun.

Once guns become your hobby or interest, you begin to shop around and do research, read reviews, join gun forums, scan the classifieds, etc., and look out for the best deals on new or used. Online shopping then may make the most sense, pricewise, for gun enthusiasts.
 
You buy guns without ever holding one of that model or shooting one? Is that what you're saying? Okay, if it works for you and you're happy with whatever they ship to you. I like surprises too, but not that much. A question though, do you test drive cars and try on clothes before you buy them?

The guns stores I frequent have a large customer base of older and middle-aged folks who know their guns; mixed in of course with the usual new-ish shooters who only know what they read on line or at the magazine rack.

I guess what amazes me is that so many folks don't care enough about the guns they buy to hand pick them for the best trigger, fit, finish and slickness of action, etc. Maybe all Glocks and other relatively inexpensive entry-level guns are truly alike? ;)

John
 
John, there is a lot of truth in what you just said. If the gun is $300 and it's already known to have a crappy trigger, there is little to lose online. Now if I was spending $1k on a gun then it's probably safe to assume I wouldn't feel comfortable unless I was holding the gun in my hand. Also, like everyone else said, there is little reason to try and save $50 online when it's at the shop for you already. I just saved $200 on a yugo I purchased from samco. Why? Probably because I live in an oppressive city where the mark markups are outrageous. Trust me, they get lots of my money for range time and ammo.
 
I guess what amazes me is that so many folks don't care enough about the guns they buy to hand pick them for the best trigger, fit, finish and slickness of action, etc. Maybe all Glocks and other relatively inexpensive entry-level guns are truly alike?
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I would argue that with improved quality (and quality assurance) would come LESS of a need to try out several different examples in order to hand-pick "a good one". :D
 
Scott, I would agree. I have tried several Taurus 85's at the store and found each one to be very different in fit, finish, feel, trigger, and so on.

When checking out Sigs, Glocks, Kimbers, and S&W M&Ps they all seemed the same. Each 26 felt like the other 26s, each P239 felt like the others, and so on and so forth. I could have flipped a coin and done just as well chosing.
 
After re-reading johnbt's post, I realize he may have been talking about trying out several different brands/models in order to compare their fit/finish/action/etcetera. That's the only way his post would make sense to me. If I tried out several different examples of the same make and model and found significant differences, I'd have serious second thoughts about buying one (even a "hand-picked" one).
 
John, there is a lot of truth in what you just said. If the gun is $300 and it's already known to have a crappy trigger, there is little to lose online. Now if I was spending $1k on a gun then it's probably safe to assume I wouldn't feel comfortable unless I was holding the gun in my hand. Also, like everyone else said, there is little reason to try and save $50 online when it's at the shop for you already. I just saved $200 on a yugo I purchased from samco. Why? Probably because I live in an oppressive city where the mark markups are outrageous. Trust me, they get lots of my money for range time and ammo.
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There's sooooooo much info on most any gun out there, trigger pull, problems, the companies CS, the companies QC, that it's almost impossible to be surprised in a gun you buy online.

Sure I guess you could end up hating the feel of the gun, but to save a 100 or more dollars, I'll take my chances.
 
Its all about variety. I consider myself a collector and a shooter. In Dallas there is a gun show almost every weekend, some better than others, and I usually go to the show in Tulsa which is huge. If I'm looking for something made in the last twenty years I will probably find it at a fair price. If I'm looking for a 75 year old Colt pistol or 100 year old Winchester then I'm looking online and still may search for months before I find what I want. (C&R is great to have) Even some hard to find more modern arms can be a challenge. Try finding a S&W 952, even online they are scarce (I now have two just because I found them) and I wouldn't even waste my time looking locally. Buying online just gives you a choice that you wouldn't have otherwise.
 
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