Hello all,
I've been shooting guns (and adding a few to my stable) for about two years now, so I'm no expert. I live in a town of about 100,000 with some box stores and a few smaller gun shops.
When I'm looking for a new gun, or for ammo or anything else gun related, I'd like to support the LGS instead of either an online entity or the big box stores. But the price differential is so great that I find myself always looking online. I want to buy a 357 lever gun. And a revolver in the same caliber. Maybe a 9mm Kel-tec carbine or a 223 or 243 bolt action. I'm not so experienced that I'm comfortable buying used, especially when the difference between new and used isn't that great.
In all honesty, why should I consider the LGS? I don't mean this to be a stupid question...What am I getting buying a Henry in the store for 25% more than the online cost (plus the extra sales tax) that I don't get from the online version? Or the same markup on a S&W revolver? Or any other gun? I was looking for a turkey load for the spring hunt coming up, and I stopped at the LGS...it was $20 for a box that was $13 at the big box store literally three blocks away? That's only $7, but it's, what, 40% more? The markup on guns isn't quite that big, but it's significant. For an expensive gun, I can buy a nice one and essentially get a cheaper one for free.
I've been shooting guns (and adding a few to my stable) for about two years now, so I'm no expert. I live in a town of about 100,000 with some box stores and a few smaller gun shops.
When I'm looking for a new gun, or for ammo or anything else gun related, I'd like to support the LGS instead of either an online entity or the big box stores. But the price differential is so great that I find myself always looking online. I want to buy a 357 lever gun. And a revolver in the same caliber. Maybe a 9mm Kel-tec carbine or a 223 or 243 bolt action. I'm not so experienced that I'm comfortable buying used, especially when the difference between new and used isn't that great.
In all honesty, why should I consider the LGS? I don't mean this to be a stupid question...What am I getting buying a Henry in the store for 25% more than the online cost (plus the extra sales tax) that I don't get from the online version? Or the same markup on a S&W revolver? Or any other gun? I was looking for a turkey load for the spring hunt coming up, and I stopped at the LGS...it was $20 for a box that was $13 at the big box store literally three blocks away? That's only $7, but it's, what, 40% more? The markup on guns isn't quite that big, but it's significant. For an expensive gun, I can buy a nice one and essentially get a cheaper one for free.