Overpaying to Support LGS?

In general, I will moderately overpay to a good local B&M for almost anything if any of these apply:

1) I used their knowledge
2) I used their inventory
3) They support the local community or are doing something that I feel should be supported.

For example, today I overpaid $10 for a set of rail covers with an MSRP of $30. Not because they were $10 higher but because had I ordered online I would have went with a cheaper version at $20. In this case I used their inventory to better decide exactly what I wanted AND they are building a new indoor range just a few miles from my house with full support for rifles and auto-fire. 1 and 3 apply.

I kind of feel people who do 1 and 2 then shop online for the best price without having provided the service of 1 and 2 are stealing from the store. Exception here for ridiculous pricing, which I feel is the store trying to steal from customers.
 
Last edited:
How is it stealing? You have not taken anything without asking or taken anything with a price tag without paying for it. You should not have to PAY to browse around or to ask a few questions. THAT would be stealing.
 
How is it stealing? You have not taken anything without asking or taken anything with a price tag without paying for it. You should not have to PAY to browse around or to ask a few questions. THAT would be stealing.
Click to expand...
It's "stealing' because you can "browse" on the internet or at the place where you are going to spend your money rather than taking the time of the employees at the LGS who are NOT there for your convenience if you don't intend to purchase from them

They have plenty to do without having to deal with those who never intend to support them
 
It's "stealing' because you can "browse" on the internet or at the place where you are going to spend your money rather than taking the time of the employees at the LGS who are NOT there for your convenience if you don't intend to purchase from them
Click to expand...

This makes me laugh - no really, it did make me laugh! It reminds me of the story of the baker who wanted a little boy arrested for stealing the sweet smell of his baking bread, but what the cop did was make the boy take out a bunch of change and jingle it for the baker to hear as payment for taking the smell of his bread.

Here's how I see it. The LGS enticed the lookie loo to go out of his way, drive to his store and start looking at the merchandise the LGS has for sale. Good job, so far. But Lookie Loo is smart, looks around and sees that the LGS's prices are too high, even accounting for shipping and transfer costs if he were to buy the same gun from an internet dealer. Is it Lookie Loo's fault that the LGS owner doesn't know how to CLOSE THE DEAL? LGS did all that work, but dropped the ball on not being able to close the deal.

That's the problem with many local gun stores. They have only half the business skills necessary to run a business. Then never learned how to close the deal! Don't blame Looky Loo for the failings of a business man who never learned how to close the deal.

I love capitalism, but it can be very harsh to those not thoroughly skilled at their business endeavor.
 
I can almost never justify the LGS price on range ammo, its usually 25-50% more than walmart. But I will try and get other stuff. They will have a better selection on stuff like accessories and cleaning stuff.

And though I'm all about supporting the local businesses, sending a $25,000 gun to anyone but the expert the first time around seems crazy to me!
 
at the highth of the .22 lr shortage my lgs was out and could not get any and he said he wished he has some to sell with new .22,s guns. i said i,ll give you 20 bricks(10 box bricks) to tide you over if it would help. he said thanks and ask what i wanted for them and i said 20.00 a brick and to pay me when he sold them. some time after that i stopped and he said i have a rifle set back for you, a rem 722 in 308(he knows i like them) that he took in trade and he knew what very good 722 in 308 is worth, i said what is the price and he said 350.00 out the door. it was made in may-1955(barrel code K B serial number 361621 and i figure its a 600.00 rifle. and he paid me back in a few days for the .22 shells. eastbank.
 
Everyone is entitled to free browsing. If prices are too high just keep walking.

It's the person who tries stuff on, tests "fit" and "feel", and/or spends a bunch of time with staff knowing full well that they are leaving to go buy on the internet that is stealing, IMHO. They are using the B&M store investment in building, inventory, and staff to make a decision.

With a degree in economics and being a business/technology consultant I have no problem with capitalism, that statement made me laugh. What I do have an issue with is transferring the costs of demonstration and expertise to B&M stores without fair compensation.
 
What I do have an issue with is transferring the costs of demonstration and expertise to B&M stores without fair compensation.
Click to expand...

Still bad business if the store can't make the sale when someone is trying on/fondling the goods. Learn to close the deal. If you can't get a customer to buy after the customer spent time and money traveling to your store and even became interested enough to "try on" the merchandise, you are doing something wrong. Clearly, the customer is interested, so what went wrong?

1. Either you have a very common product that can be purchased anywhere and the price point is too high. Then you goofed by carrying nothing more than a common commodity and not pricing it for what it sells for on Gunbroker+shipping+transfer.

2. Or, your sales guy (whoever that may be) sucks at closing the deal; or

3. Or, You have something special to offer, but you are not making the customer feel like he's losing out on a the deal of the century. "You want this COP 357? Yeah, its hard to find in this condition, and I'm on a mission to get it sold in the next 48 hours. I'm going to let you have it for $650+tax+background - look here, you can't buy one on Gunbroker+shipping+transfer for less than that"

4. Or, customer is a deadbeat and has no money. If customer has no money - a good sales guy will ascertain this tactfully and quickly so as not to let the no-money-looky-loo not handle the merchandise....or get him all jazzed up on that used Hi-Point.

I think some LGS owners forget: They aren't running a public library; not warehousing their own personal collection in their store; not better than Gunbroker and the internet; and generally 90% of their inventory ain't all that special. ITS A BUSINESS! Might as well be selling washing machines or TV's.
 
Last edited:
There is a huge difference between leaving because you can't get a reasonable deal on the one hand, and on the other hand going to a gun store and using their inventory to pick a gun to order on the internet, with no intent whatsoever of letting the gun store make you a competitive deal. If you do the latter, or if you walk away when the LGS gets within a few bucks of the online price, then you don't have a reasonable idea of what it costs to run a business, and you aren't being fair to the LGS.
 
I usually buy guns from local stores. Of course I know I am lucky to have several very good ones that are not all that far away. I like to be able to look at a gun before I buy it. One gun store I like has a couple gun smiths on staff and they look at used trade ins before putting them on display. One reason they will give you 10 days to bring one back if you have a problem. I have never had a problem with any used gun I have gotten from them.
 
Or, You have something special to offer, but you are not making the customer feel like he's losing out on a the deal of the century. "You want this COP 357? Yeah, its hard to find in this condition, and I'm on a mission to get it sold in the next 48 hours. I'm going to let you have it for $650+tax+background - look here, you can't buy one on Gunbroker+shipping+transfer for less than that"
Click to expand...
Wait...weren't we just griping that gun store employees are too aggressive about selling a couple of pages back?
 
Is it Lookie Loo's fault that the LGS owner doesn't know how to CLOSE THE DEAL? LGS did all that work, but dropped the ball on not being able to close the deal.

That's the problem with many local gun stores. They have only half the business skills necessary to run a business. Then never learned how to close the deal! Don't blame Looky Loo for the failings of a business man who never learned how to close the deal.

I love capitalism, but it can be very harsh to those not thoroughly skilled at their business endeavor.
Click to expand...
How did they "drop the ball" when they let you handle the gun you want, and took time to answer all your silly questions?

You have to realize no small dealer buys at the same prices as the internet low-ballers

You "dropped the ball" by having unrealistic expectations, and you should be embarrassed to ask the LGS to do your transfer

Clearly, the customer is interested, so what went wrong?
Click to expand...

You already answered that one yourself when you said:

I'm cheap.
Click to expand...
 
using their inventory to pick a gun to order on the internet, with no intent whatsoever of letting the gun store make you a competitive deal. If you do the latter, or if you walk away when the LGS gets within a few bucks of the online price
Click to expand...

Well, I'd agree - that person's an idiot anyway. If the LGS offers the gun at best internet price + $30 transfer cost, then there is no reason not to buy it. Shipping and tax generally offset each other. However, I don't think that's what's really going on in the majority of cases. I've been to many LGS's, big box stores, gun shows, etc. and it is far and few between that they come right out and make me a deal that is basically equal to best internet price plus $30 transfer cost. The last one that did was Gander Mountain, and I bought it on the spot.

No, most stores expect you to pay more - a lot more - than what you can find the same thing on the internet. And, then there are a substantial handful of stores that, when they get something a little more interesting in stock, decide to put some stupid-outrageous price on it. I recall about 13 years ago going into a gun store that had a Barrett 82A1 priced at $10,000. The going price for those at that time was about $6,500 +/-. I made the mistake of asking about the price, he said $10K and I just said "really?". He said something like "yep, but this isn't for people like you...". I think he was implying it was for some rich idiot who would actually pay that price just because he wanted it.

The other big problem with most local gun stores is inventory. Its rare that they have what I'm looking for or have something that really interests me. The bigger ones have the same line of your average Glocks, Sigs, S&W's, Taurus, and Rugers, maybe a few of the more popular smaller names too. This just doesn't work for me. When I can find just about anything I want for a price on the internet, it makes it really hard for me to shot at LGS's, unless I'm just looking for that average, cheap pistol or used hunting rifle.
 
Last edited:
My LGS offers a 15% down, 6 month interest-free layaway policy, which I used several, several times. Especially helpful when you see that smith and wesson 70s era k-frame and can't quite pony up the whole amount. Only problem is they won't budge on the price one cent - BUT used guns are almost always a bargain. I got into loads of trouble with my ex-wife with "layaway", tee-hee. It didnt matter if it was a $75 shotgun or a $600 Sig. We have gone to live our seperate lives and I don't have to worry about that anymore and I'm much happier now. :D

Anyways since I became a Bud's member I can use their 180 day layaway and some other folks online have 3 month layaways.

When I started out I spent an insane amount of my gun money on overpriced guns, but I learned to be smart and wait for the right ones.

There's another LGS nearby but he won't budge much at all - super nice guy but his prices are all over the line, and he only offers a strict 30-day policy for layaways. I have not bought a gun there yet! I feel bad for always manhandling his equipment but he's a tough nut, I can't buy anything unless I've premeditated and saved before hand (I don't use credit cards).

Still, I try to buy something once in awhile, as long as its not too overpriced. Case in point I bought some 22 ammo that was only marginally overpriced, I'd say "fair" in today's market. Didnt need it, but I spent 15 minutes handling his used shotguns so, what the hay.
 
Last edited:
Again, i have to restate my original message...ITS JUST BUSINESS. If it makes you feel better spending extra $$$ on something you can get for cheaper somewhere else then you have no sense of money management. And who said we were going into the LGS and taking up an hour of their time with no intent to purchase? I go in, look to see if they have what i want at a reasonable price, and if they dont, I walk out..that didnt take up any of the staff's 'precious' time. And until they start charging a cover charge to just walk in the door or charge you to ask them questions, I will continue to 'free browse' all I want. It aint a charity or soup kitchen, its a business and the lowest bidder gets my money. I ask the question do you not shop around before you buy a new car? And do you not 99% of the time buy where gives you the best deal?
 
I go in, look to see if they have what i want at a reasonable price, and if they dont, I walk out..that didnt take up any of the staff's 'precious' time.
Click to expand...
Sure, if that's what you're doing, no harm, no foul.
And until they start charging a cover charge to just walk in the door or charge you to ask them questions, I will continue to 'free browse' all I want.
Click to expand...
If you are going in there to ask questions, that's using them as an information resource. If you have no intent to buy from the LGS, then don't bother the staff with your questions. Call up the online dealer you intend to buy from and ask them the questions you have.
I ask the question do you not shop around before you buy a new car?
Click to expand...
Shopping around isn't quite the same thing as going to a dealership where you know you won't buy, taking up their time, doing test drives on their cars , etc. and then when you've figured out what you want, buying the car from a dealer who keeps prices low by not allowing test drives, not having a large stock on hand, etc.

Price comparing is one thing. That's eminently reasonable. Using an LGS as a research resource to help you decide what you want from an online dealer is another thing entirely. If you want/need an LGS to answer questions and to provide a place where you can handle/compare guns you think you want to buy--if you want/need the services an LGS can provide that an online dealer can't or won't provide--then maybe you should be willing to pay LGS prices.

If you really don't need and really don't use LGS services then I agree with you that it doesn't make sense to pay for them.
 
I do prefer to support local stores--I spend a lot of time in them gathering information on who's doing what with new product development, hunting hot-spots, historic weapons development etc. My view is that these guys deserve a premium for added service--even if that same service is available elsewhere for less. They also serve as a visible presence for hunting and 2nd amendment rights in a local community. I think that deserves support too. many of these guys are ex-military and/or ex-cops, and I like to support them for that reason also.

That said, I'm living on a razor's edge financially, and I tend not to tolerate much attitude either. Once they show a willingness to screw you for the sake of the extra buck--or pull the old "this is the best thing there is" (because it's what they carry) then I draw the line. Most of them cannot compete with on-line or bigger box stores so that have to make the extra effort in terms of quality service. If they do--I will gladly pay extra up to a point--and that point is when they start gouging when something is demand because of a shortage. If they raise the prices solely because something is hard to find (which is, after all, classic economic theory) then I will pursue cheaper alternatives elsewhere.
 
If you are going in there to ask questions, that's using them as an information resource. If you have no intent to buy from the LGS, then don't bother the staff with your questions. Call up the online dealer you intend to buy from and ask them the questions you have.
Click to expand...

Absolutely.
 
If they raise the prices solely because something is hard to find (which is, after all, classic economic theory) then I will pursue cheaper alternatives elsewhere.
Click to expand...
If a small, local store raises it's price, it's usually because they paid more than the big internet or box store dealer who buys by the trainload.

Some seem to think every dealer pays the same wholesale price, and if they don't all charge the same retail, they are "stealing" from you

That's totally unrealistic

That said, I'm living on a razor's edge financially, and I tend not to tolerate much attitude either.
Click to expand...

"On the razor's edge financially", but you just spent over $1000 on a new Glock and accessories, and drove 70 miles to buy a $5 part?

Attitudes exist on both sides of the counter, and most dealer's aren't getting rich either
 
Last edited:
In my parts it seems that the smaller shops have not come in to the modern age. They are aware of the internet and it's affect on small shops but do not use it themselves.

I wonder if there's a huge gap in understanding that marketing via the internet does not necessarily mean a big web site with an online checkout process.

Social media in it's many forms, including simple email, can do a lot to enhance marketing to a local or even a regional audience.

My LGS these days is a shop that's an hour and half away, and only because they post their inventory online. Even though they don't sell online.

A failure to use easily available marketing tools is a self inflicted wound.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top