Overpaying to Support LGS?

I keep pretty close track of who charges what--and am aware of the buying power's influence on prices. I usually do pay an extra premium. I'm talking about an OBVIOUS gouge--the same lb of powder which has been sitting on the shelf for a year or more with several price stickers layered on top of one another--the first being $24.00 and the latest being $45 or more--same with weapons.

The big hunk of change I dropped on the Glock and accessories was a big dive and there will be months of sacrifice as a consequence.

You're barking up the wrong tree going after me--I almost always opt to purchase my stuff from LGS over an on-line source if they have what I want in stock. Also--I am much more vulnerable to "impulse" purchases from an LGS than an on-line source--good for them; not so good for me : )
 
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Having lots of both local gun shops, and the "big three" in big box outdoor stores in my area I do look for price as well as availability. The big stores, Bass Pro, Cabela's, and Gander Mountain, don't have better prices than many of the smaller shops unless they are having a sale. What brings their price down to me is using their credit cards for gas, travel, major purchases, etc As long as the balance is paid each month!. Then getting the rewards points. Also family members pretty well know the best gift they can give me is a gift card from one of them.
Just last week I got a Charter Bulldog DAO from Gander Mountain that after sale price, gift cards, and rewards points cost me about $90 out of my pocket after taxes. My best was a Winchester 870 Express 18" 7 round shotgun for the grand total out of pocket of $0.00 I love guns!:D
I don't buy every gun from them, or that way, but I am also cautious with LGS prices. Some are very competitive, even with online places after adding the FFL transfer fee. Even though I use a "kitchen table" and gun show dealer for those that only charges $20.
Other LGS are absolutely ridiculous with their pricing. Ammo, powder, and primers are at gouging levels, and guns and accessories are never below MSRP. And they act like they are doing you a favor to sell them at that price!
 
I'm talking about an OBVIOUS gouge--the same lb of powder which has been sitting on the shelf for a year or more with several price stickers layered on top of one another--the first being $24.00 and the latest being $45 or more--same with weapons.
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You may think that's a "gouge" but the way the dealer sees it is if he replaces it when it sells, the wholesale costs have also risen.

Why should he sell you one at $24 if it's going to cost him $35 to replace?

Would you sell an ounce of Gold for what you paid if the selling prices had tripled while you had it?
 
I just last week bought a pound of IMR4064 from PSA in Mt. Pleasant, SC for less than $23, so I hardly think the 'wholesale' price has went up that much. They wouldnt sell it for that price if they werent making money at the price. I do understand increase in wholesale and especially if they bought it a long time ago then naturally the price will most likely go up. But a lot of times price increases at LGSs are to take advantage of those not smart enough, or not willing enough, to look around before they make an educated purchase.

Also, I do not go into LGSs to 'just look' with no intent to purchase there. If the price is reasonable then we can start to do business. But if they have a gun thats say $100 more than what I can get form an online vendor, then I most certainly will look at/inspect the gun at that shop to determine if it really is something I want. I cannot call the online store and say hey can you send me the gun to look at? The only way to look at it in person is at a place that has it in stock, but I'm not going to pay an extra $100 JUST because you let me look at it for 5 minutes, thats stupid.
 
But if they have a gun thats say $100 more than what I can get form an online vendor, then I most certainly will look at/inspect the gun at that shop to determine if it really is something I want. I cannot call the online store and say hey can you send me the gun to look at? The only way to look at it in person is at a place that has it in stock, but I'm not going to pay an extra $100 JUST because you let me look at it for 5 minutes, thats stupid.
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If you really don't need/want the services an LGS provides then I agree that you shouldn't pay LGS prices.

BUT, if you need/want the services that an LGS provides (e.g. the ability to look at/handle a firearm before buying) then you need to be willing to pay what an LGS is asking. Part of the reason their prices are higher is because of the services they provide (that you are using) that an online dealer can't/won't provide.
...I cannot call the online store and say hey can you send me the gun to look at? The only way to look at it in person is at a place that has it in stock...
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You're right. And that's part of why an online dealer can charge less (just like a car dealership that doesn't allow test drives and doesn't have many cars in stock could charge a lot less) and why the LGS has to charge more (just like a car dealership that allows test drives and has a lot of cars in stock to look at has to charge more to cover the expenses incurred by those services.)

You may think it's stupid to pay extra to look at a gun for 5 minutes before you buy it, but if you won't buy the gun without looking at it for 5 minutes before you buy it then obviously that's a service you need/want and therefore it's a service you should be willing to pay for.

It isn't fair to use the services an LGS provides for the people who buy from them when you know up front you aren't going to buy from them.
 
Lawton, OK does not have a proper gunstore. Lawton has numerous rip-off pawnshops with FFLs. The Ft. Sill PX does have a gunstore: Being an Army retiree i can buy there. A portion of the price goes to the troop morale and recreation fund.

The closest licensed gunstore is in Duncan, OK. That guys prices are very high and i won't buy anything from him. He offers no services that i can't provide myself.

i will soon buy a new Sig 210 because the current one has 200,000-250,000 rounds through it and it's getting worn. The new gun will come from the Ft. Sill PX or a pawnbroker in another town who charges me $40 above his cost.

i won't pay extra to keep anyone in business.
 
I'm talking about an OBVIOUS gouge--the same lb of powder which has been sitting on the shelf for a year or more with several price stickers layered on top of one another--the first being $24.00 and the latest being $45 or more--same with weapons.
You may think that's a "gouge" but the way the dealer sees it is if he replaces it when it sells, the wholesale costs have also risen.

Why should he sell you one at $24 if it's going to cost him $35 to replace?

Would you sell an ounce of Gold for what you paid if the selling prices had tripled while you had it?
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Not the way it works. A business brings in something to inventory and it involves costs of goods , stocking, labor rent etc as a percentage of the price. The inventory depreciates in value over time (which is part of the tax equation)--and the business is doing nothing more than speculating if it holds inventory and raises prices in anticipation of a higher profit margin. When this happens--I will without hesitation go to an on-line source that does not do this.

The costs of replacement will be directly tied to the product price--plus any additional costs of operations. It also might be affected by the guy down the street selling the same product for less. If the new inventory costs more--than raise the prices accordingly on the new inventory.
 
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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.
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Totally disgree with this. I am a salesperson, self-employed, and I live or die by my interactions with the public. No guaranteed check, no pension, nobody to fall back on. I make maximum effort to treat EVERYONE as best I can--you never know when they may come back and make the big purchase--it could be years from the time you make your presentation that you thought was a waste of time.
 
Totally disgree with this. I am a salesperson, self-employed, and I live or die by my interactions with the public. No guaranteed check, no pension, nobody to fall back on.
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So what type of store do you run?
 
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Totally disgree with this. I am a salesperson, self-employed, and I live or die by my interactions with the public. No guaranteed check, no pension, nobody to fall back on.
So what type of store do you run?
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One shot, one kill
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Art--which is VERY discretionary
 
How much do you want there to be a local gun shop? Those guys do not and cannot get the same dealer prices and credit terms, if they get terms at all, as the big guys. The low volume car dealer doesn't get that either.
An online dealer can charge less because he's really just a broker. No overhead other than ISP hosting fees and everything he sells comes directly from his distributor to you. No inventory to store.
 
^^This.
I don't consider a small increase in price a sacrifice when dealing with a smaller shop that gives great service.
I want to deal with a shop that knows me by name, and I see the guys around town and at the range.

I will not deal with internet brokers (think Bud's guns.) If I wake up on a Sunday morning and decide to hit the range with my Swede, the internet does me no good if I am short on ammo. But I can run downtown and see Jim to fix me up for the day. And most of the time he gives a break on the marked prices for good customers.
 
Tis entire topic is hilarious. I have to smile at the attitudes of some here. Some of you won't support your local gun store with purchases but have no problem going in there and fondling their guns, and wasting the salespeople's time with questions. Did you ever once ponder that maybe if some of you actually made purchases, or stopped wasting the salespeople's times, they could make sales to others that might boost them into a better buying power position? Look I shop around too, I go between several smaller gun shops, and I go to Gander and Cabela's too. But I don't just go to the smaller places to window shop I make purchases there.

If you want the LGS to be there spend some money there. It is really that simple.
 
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Art--which is VERY discretionary
...and which is probably different on every level from running a gun store.
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I'm sure it is--just like a grocery store..or gas station...or jewelry store. But they all have one thing in common--they are businesses that have to offer product based on more than price alone if they want to survive--otherwise everyone will continue to order on-line or from the big boxes.

Now if you feel the path to success is for a gun store to posts signs saying "unless you actually intend on buying something, don't waste our time and get out." more power to you, but I have my doubts.
 
I hardly think and LGS would tell people dont come in here to look at our inventory unless you are going to pay whatever price we feel you should pay. ANY business would rather have 50 people come into their store to look than to have no one come in at all. Because you may not buy a gun per say, but you may buy little odds and ends of something else. And I dont consider looking at something for 5 minutes a 'service'! Give me a break! Thats hilarious. So if i look at something and dont buy it I should say here's a $20 for letting me use your 'services'. You keep paying double the price for stuff, and I'll do the smart thing and buy at a reasonable price. And FYI, the gun shop I am talking about I have gave thousands to over the years and none of the guys that work there EVER have a problem with me looking at the inventory and buying somewhere else if they are not close in price. I still buy from them if its within a reasonable price difference, but they are also smart enough to know Im not going to pay 50% or more for something.
 
I over payed about $50 for my Walther PPS, but I made the conscious decision to do it because it was run by a local radio disc jockey who I'd grown up with and I kind of wanted to thank him. My next two were bought in localized stores because I prefer to give a little guys a chance. Their prices were fair. My last two I got online because I got crazy good deals on them. My wife's Sig P238 I did a transfer through a store that had it for sale for $178 more than what I paid. My Chiappa Rhino I got almost unused for $200 less than the going price. Ya just can't pass up great deals like that to take on for the local guys.
 
Totally disgree with this. I am a salesperson, self-employed, and I live or die by my interactions with the public. No guaranteed check, no pension, nobody to fall back on. I make maximum effort to treat EVERYONE as best I can--you never know when they may come back and make the big purchase--it could be years from the time you make your presentation that you thought was a waste of time.
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Sure, I understand that. But that's not what I'm talking about. You are predicating all of this on the idea that the person "may come back and make the big purchase". You're not providing those services and that time simply out of the goodness of your heart. If every person who walked through your door had an accurate sign on his/her forehead that said "Will buy here.", "Might buy here one day." or "Will never buy here." there's no way that they would all get identical treatment.
And I don't consider looking at something for 5 minutes a 'service'!
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If it is something you want/need that you can't do for yourself, then it is a service.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/service
Service: an act of helpful activity; help; aid:​

If it's a service you want/need that costs the provider time/effort/money then you should be willing to pay for the service.
...I'll do the smart thing and buy at a reasonable price.
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I'm not saying anything about buying for unreasonable prices. What I'm saying is that you need to rethink your idea of what is reasonable.

The services the LGS provides that you feel are essential (answering questions, providing guns to handle, etc.) are services that cost them money/time/effort. It's reasonable for them to charge more than a company that doesn't provide those services.
 
I don't predicate or pre-judge anything--or at least try not to--that's my whole point. I've had a person walk into my booth dressed in jeans, sunglasses and a ragged sweatshirt and start asking all kinds of what I thought were silly questions initially. They eventually bought the most expensive painting I had--they were worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This has happened more than once--but my conversion rate to sales is around 1 in a 1000. That's right--I have to treat every one of those 1000 as THE best customer who's going to buy the big one. My opinion is that if you are not willing to give everyone the best informaton that you can on your product without pre-judgement on whether they buy or not--then you will not make it in sales work (unless of course it's a product that people must have, in which case you can--as often happens with businesses like this, treat your customers with disdain).It's like hunting and seduction rolled into one. : )
 
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