Rude Sales People

^^^ I know a whole lot about BUYING and YOU'RE RIGHT. I'm never rude to a sales person but, if they're rude to me, I'm gone... forever. CRAPPY little mom-'n-pop-shops... their days are numbered. EXCELLENT mom-'n-pop-shops will survive.
 
Dealt with one who was less than inviting once. Probably because I had had them take do two transfers on online bought guns. Came back in and purchased some of their stock and it wasn't quite a night and day difference (i get the feeling this guy isn't the most outgoing, just his personality) but he was certainly noticeably more affable. Even knocked 20 bucks off the shotgun i bought. It pays to give them a second chance, may have just caught him on an off day. We all have them occasionally.
 
Now, in defense of the gun sales people, I don't think it would be as much fun to be on their side of the counter. I've seen them get pissy with people, fortunately I've never had any run ins but I seem to ask "the right" questions and conduct myself with some air of command presence...or I'm lucky.

I'd give the store another try, maybe you ran into "that guy" at the store. I've settled on one LGS after trying out about 5. They have "that guy" there, but he's not a **** to me. Also, put yourself in that guys shoes, you don't know what he dealt with today.

I don't feel bad when Academy/Cabelas/Name your big box store, shut these types of places down. The kid at the big box store might not know anything, but he'll be polite. So make your decision, go with the knowledgeable curmudgeon or the freckle faced kid that barely knows the difference between a rifle and shotgun.

If you find great service and great prices, you've hit the jackpot. I've found a store that doesn't stock much, has 2 out of 3 nice enough guys and 1 I can deal with low transfer fees. Works for me.

Try the shop out for a few years, then you can become a regular.

Rambling off, just saying people are people, make your decisions but also have compassion and forgiveness. Awww shucks.
 
It Matters Not What Iv'e Dealt With On a Given Day...

MY demeanor MUST be amicable. Oh... and BTW... I'm a Civil Servant. I'm NEVER a POS to ANYONE who comes to me needing help. Imagine that?
 
Eh, just saying, we all have a bad day now and again, give the guy another chance.

I've seen people ran down by gun salesmen. It was gross and wrong and drawn out. That's different than someone blowing off some steam or engaging in some "shop levity".

Now, if I ran a shop, and you called me and told me of your experience, I'd invite you back, offer you a gift card or free ammo with a gun purchase. I'd try to make it right.

Revisit the shop or give them a call.

I don't know, maybe my expectations of customer service are too low or I've dealt with military types so much I've gotten used to the gruffness.
 
I had an experience with a LGS that happens to have a nationwide TV series. This was before they started production of the TV series. Sales guy was indifferent, rude, flip. Maybe they knew the series was coming and they just didn't care. Well I care. Not going back. Ever. There are a lot of local stores in my area that are just as deserving of my money.

I went into another local store, asking if they had any aftermarket handgun barrels. Completely different reason than my venture into the first store. Guy that helped me said no, they don't carry any because they are not able to compete price wise with the internet. Fair enough, makes sense to me, but I was ready to buy local even though I know that I can pay less on the internet (looking for a Wilson barrel for my Glock 22). I will go back there, and have several times since.

I have been in sales for 30 years. I have learned thru experience that the major factor that gets and keeps customers is service. I have also learned, thru experience, that the major factor that loses customers quickly is poor service. Smart comments may have a place in the tavern, but have no place in business, especially with a new prospective customer. The more proper response for the gun store "salesman" to the OP would have been "I see you're taking notes. Anything specific that I can help you out with or answer for you?" That would have given the OP the opportunity to say something like "I am going to buy something, I have x number of guns that I am interested in looking at and I am writing my impressions on each while they are fresh in my mind so I can make a good decision on this purchase".

If the LGS, or any business for that matter, wants to succeed, they need to have a customer focus. No ifs, ands or buts about it. It's not a question of me as a consumer of needing "thick skin". If someone at a grocery store, restaurant, car dealer or gas station treats me rudely, I will spend my money elsewhere.
 
Vote w your dollars for sure. I will pay retail if something is in stock at a store. But I hate when they offer to order things for me that I can get on my own online way cheaper. If they stock it...great. But why wait for it to be delivered to your store when it can be delivered to my door for less. Wish stores would carry more inventory. Also would love to see different shops specialize in different brands. Like a store that carries everything SW or Ruger makes.
 
I Do Indeed VOTE With My Dollars...

My personal dollars ain't worth much but multiply that by hundreds and it really adds up. Wake up, rude and indifferent sales folk.
 
We have 2 main local gun shops here. I shop at one of them, and only enter the other if I need some particular reloading supplies right away. They do have a pretty decent selection for reloaders. What they lack is an atmosphere where I feel welcome. I almost feel like an intrusion. I don't go there. I used too when I had a good friend who was an employee. The shop I DO go to has a very inviting atmosphere, better prices (by far), and cheaper rates for having a gun shipped from another FFL. I get a nice hello by name every time I go in. The other place gives me a stare. Guess which one is doing better in this economy as well?
 
The other place gives me a stare.
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"We don't take kindly!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHWP7tF7oho

More small businesses (gun shops included especially) would do much better with better service. They sit around and cry about the big box stores. Well, you can't compete on price, so you HAVE to compete on service.

I'm from a little town, there are still some small businesses there and they are the ones who go out of their way to build relationships and sell service.

Glad I have several decent LGS's but none of them are perfect, like people. :)
 
We have a gun shop here that acts like he is doing you a favor by waiting on you. He will almost totally ignore customers for several minutes, just dinkin' around. I have been in there twice & just walked out. I won't go back.
 
Don't worry, they'll drive themselves out of business and it won't be the fault of the Big Box Stores, China, or the Internet. Someone mentioned that we should keep the small local shops in business. Sure, good idea. However, if they suck at customer service, why would anyone help them? They deserve to be out of business.
 
i have to say after managing a local retail store that I cannot stand the we will beat any price line. so what your saying by this "we will gladly charge more unless you know better." my local gun store always charges the lowest price they can and cover cost plus put something in their pocket. on some things are they more expensive sure but knowing they are fairly priced i can stomach the occasional 20 bucks more on something. one thing people dont understand about the internet is i can put what ever prices out there i want. doesn't mean i have the item or have any intention of getting it in stock to sell but it made you go to the site.

wouldn't you check out a site selling fn 5.7 for 725 where everyone else is 975.

and when you go into a lgs and say i saw it online for xxx they know they cant do anything about it because they prob pay 900 from a distributor and are on an allotment setup.
 
I think part of the problem with guns stores is that the people who run them are "gun guys" not "businessmen". If you had a businessman running a gun store the customer service would be much better, however businessmen don't get into the gun store business because they know there's no money in it. As such you're just left with the gun guys who do it simply because they like guns. While they may like guns and know a bit about them, most haven't the slightest clue about how to effectively run a business.

It's really the same in any place that caters to some niche hobby.
 
I'm very kind and respectful to others, to include gun shop owners. I've done business with a number of them over the years and have only had one disrespect me. I never went back and I never will!
 
I purchased a TEC-9M and a Colt Mustang from a LGD and about a month after I bought my Mustang I was in his store looking at the guns under glass and he kind of yelled "do you wanna buy somethin?" I said "No, I'm just looking." And he gave me a dirty look. I thought "Jeez I bought two weapons off of this guy in 4 months and he gets angry at me for standing around in his store..."

He developed a reputation for being nasty and eventually all he had was his range business. He eventually closed up, and that's rather remarkable because this is before the Internet, and there are not that many gun stores in the area, not that many ranges.

He put himself out of business with his disposition.
 
When I make a purchase I not only expect the item I purchased, but at least a little respect for my patronage of the business.
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So do you want the best deal on a gun or do you want a relationship?
 
The best deals on guns dollarwise can be found online almost always. If I am going to buy from a "brick and mortar" store I am usually going to have to pay more. The reason I will pay more is to support local business for the benefit of both the store and myself. I don't expect anyone to kiss my butt, but I expect them to not be a snot to me. This also applies if I am only window shopping at the time. I don't walk into a car dealer and buy the first thing I see. Why should I do that at gun dealers? As for the relationship, I don't want to swap spit with the clerk, just not be hostile.
 
Sign of the times?

We used to have gunshops all over the country. Today we have some gunstores, and stores that sell guns. Plus we have the Internet, and a changing demographic for the market. There are a few of the old time shops left, but nowhere near what there used to be, and they are fewer and fewer all the time.

Part of the reason is the change in our culture. And its not just guns, its time. When I was a young man, the old boy who ran the local gunshop was nearly always there, and even though he was decades beyond retirement age, he always had time to talk to you, invite you for coffee, see what it was you wanted, and do whatever he could to help you out. He was such a great guy, it was almost embarrassing to pay him.

On the other hand, his regular clientelle wasn't 300 guys who came in to fondle and leave fingerprints on the stock, and then buy online or at a chain store because that would save them $8!

I've been in and around gunshops and stores for over 40 years, and these days, its the worst its ever been. In between clerks who are doing you a lifetime favor just looking in your direction and customers who want diamond studded gold for the price of a cup of coffee (and get offended when they don't get it), its not as much fun as it used to be.

Many places have a "captive market", and get rude because they know it. Others get rude because even though you're a good guy, and would be a good customer, the last 298 guys through the door were jerks. Its tough to maintain a good friendly attitude when guys bitch about everything you don't have, waste 20 minutes of your time looking at stuff, and then tell you that they are getting it at Walmart because its $20 cheaper there!

Certainly, you have the right to vote with your wallet, and go where you want to shop. But a little kindness goes a long way, on both sides of the counter. One thing I will tell you, just packing in and going elsewhere because you got snubbed some way doesn't fix the problem. In the long run, it may close the business, but it doesn't FIX the problem. Making sure the owners know why they lost a sale, that goes a long way to fixing the problem.

I've done this before, with other businesses, as well. Don't just leave when they are rude, make sure the people who's bottom line is affected by the loss of business know exactly WHY they are losing your business. You'd be surprised at how much change can be made when the boss finds out his counterman's bad attitude is costing him hundreds in lost business, most likely every day!

On the other side of the coin, everybody has bad days, and sometimes, even through they should try to be nice, they slip. I've done it, you probably have too. I can overlook that. But, if your job is to be nice, you really should work at it, especially on the bad days.
 
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