So the guy at the gun store thinks I'm an idiot...

[mpdan]

I'll entertain the idea that he's right, but I have evidence indicating otherwise.

I asked for "a box of 2-1/2 inch 410 000" and he smirked and looked at me like I had no clue what I was talking about. "Those would be full to the very tip!" ..Ok?

Well, I described a 2-1/2 inch 410 shell with 3 projectiles:

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotdetail.aspx?symbol=XB41000&use=4&gauge=410

He proceeded to tell me that he would stick to 000 and 00 in his 12 gauge.
I ended up with a box of 410 #6.

What was wrong with my question? :uhoh:

[Gordon]

You asked a moron who is ignorant of his line of employment. LOTS of those around still in these hard times!:confused:

[JohnBT]

You never know what'll happen at a gun shop. I went in a local shop and some guy I didn't recognize asked me what I needed. I said I was picking up some Winchester match .38 Special wadcutters. The guy looked at me like I was nuts and said they didn't stock the full line of Winchester ammo. Yes, that's why I'd ordered a case. It was there.

The guy was the owner, not one of the regulars on the counter. :neener:

John

[earlthegoat2]

Ask for a job there, Ill bet you wont get it. I think gun stores like employing idiots.

[Hungry Seagull]

I feel Blessed with a shop that overruneth full of wise and wisdom of knowledge then. They just dont carry ALL the goodies and have to special order from time to time.

Oh well, there is always the internet and credit card.

[blkbrd666]

I bought a gun off Gunbroker a few weeks ago and called a local gunshop just to verify that the receiving FFL needed a copy of the selling individual's drivers license and NOTHING else. The guy at the gunshop proceeded to tell me that the guy I bought from couldn't ship the pistol to the gunshop...it was against the law and he would have to ship it directly to me. Realized right then I had better have him ship it to another shop. Trust me, it's not necessary these days to know your job to GET a job...you just need to be capable of converting O2 to CO2.

[22lr]

I was in my store the other day when a kid came in and asked for a auto sear for his Glock 17. Guy said sure but only if you want a roommate that calls you bubba, I had to leave I was laughing so hard (tried to not let me see it). Ive asked for 3 inch barrel 357 and got the blank stare. Proceeded to say they wernt all that common and that he'd be glad to order one but Id probably be happy with a 2 or 4 inch. I ended up with a 4inch S&W 10 and love it.

All that aside he has no clue since the Judge is makeing .410 buckshot very popular. Hes just missing out on some good sales, o well.

[mpdan]

Just for the record, it was Wal-Mart. :banghead:

I am firmly against shopping there and generally I refuse to set foot in that store. However, it's the cheapest place I've found to buy ammunition. I picked a 100 pack of WWB 9mm for 19.99. The local Gander Mountain sells it for $28.

[748]

Wish I had my own gun store. Because I have seen and heard just about every thing NOT to do.

At a local gun store that I use like a toilet now (go only when I have to) they were telling me how good a deal and that I was lucky they were selling their 5.7x28mm ammo @ $25 a box because every one was sold out because people buying it up because it was going to be banned soon.
Only problem was bass pro shop had several cases and were selling it at $21/box and Midwayusa was selling it for 19 unless you bought a case.

[Hungry Seagull]

Try Cabelas. See what they charge.

I cannot stand to go into the walmart ammo area. All I see is game shot that only enrages BG into further mad-mad.

Regarding Money Mountain.. uh.. yes Money Mountain.... ah never mind.

[mpdan]

Money Mountain. Ha! They do have high prices.
Thank the Lord I do not have to buy my firearms from wal-mart or GM. My dealer is local and only meets by appointment; shopping with him is a very nice experience. One on one, no pressure and very competitive with everywhere else I've seen.

Great guy too. I'd send my mother to him to buy a gun and not think twice about it.

[Bubba613]

Nothing compared to life on the other side.
I had a guy today tell another customer that 7.62 Nato and .223 were the same thing.
Uh, no.

[chuckusaret]

I ordered a handgun from a local dealer that was placed on back order. Several weeks later I used their gun range and on the way out I stopped to look at the guns. The clerk asked if he could help, so I asked a question about the same type gun as I had ordered and he proceeded in telling what a POS the gun was and recommended I buy a Kimber. I thanked him for his help a went straight to the owner and requested he cancel my $750 gun order and explained to him what his clerk had said about the gun I was buying. I did cxl the order. Needless to say the clerk was no longer employed. I bought a XD(M)45 for a lot less.

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I have always had good (Sometimes SLOW, due to the crowd these days) help at Vances in Columbus. They must only hire knowledeable guys or train them.

[Grizfire]

Just for the record, it was Wal-Mart.

yeah, and when you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

[gp911]

Buckeye Gun Guy:

Their Buckeye Outdoors location is usually pretty good as well. I've yet to encounter an idiot there, unlike some other gun shops... Overall the BO guys are friendly and helpful, you just might have to wait awhile when they're busy.

gp911

[rockhound758]

Yeah, I've bought stuff at Vance's as well...good prices on ammo, etc. I called to see if they had any Lock-N-Load shell plates (in particular the new #45 for the .45 auto) and was told flat out that such a thing did not exist. Well, it does, but I suppose they can't keep too much on top of all the new stuff. But I'd agree; they're not too bad if you don't mind the wait. Hard to beat Ranger .40 155 gr JHP for 12.99 a box!

[frontgate1]

One thing I've learned from this thread is
everyone who owns a shop or works where guns are sold are idiots and
all of you are experts.

[MCgunner]

Just for the record, it was Wal-Mart.

Dang, the guy spoke English? You got lucky. :rolleyes:

[PT1911]

try having someone tell you that a
9X18 is the same thing as a 9mm... or that a 45-70 is too small a bullet to hunt white-tale with...

[mpdan]

Everybody knows 45-70 is way to weak for hunting deer. :rolleyes: :)

[Big Daddy Grim]

had one guy tell me last week you better sell your S&W 29 price is falling be worthless soon everybody wants autos here better sell it to us now your looseing money quick.

[PT1911]

yeah.. I dont know about ya'lls neck of the woods, but the deer in alabama have kevlar hides....

[bonedust]

since when was Wal-Mart a gun store?

[Hungry Seagull]

Since before christmas.

The ammuntion behind the counter went first. Followed by the shelving around the counter. Quietly... sort of like the tide going out.

Even me dipped into a wal-mart hoping against hope that they actually had .45 ACP on hand. The people at my store look at me like Im ready to go to Africa and hunt Rhino or something with that large of a caliber.

Sprout the words 3 inch, slug, shotgun and they become cataconic.

No it's easier to get the ammo online.

[cratti]

MCGunner said:

Dang, the guy spoke English? You got lucky.

Well, gee. Here I thought my English was fairly good.

[mnrivrat]

Ask for a job there, Ill bet you wont get it. I think gun stores like employing idiots.

Your hired !! :evil:

Come on guys, you can't expect every employee at the gun store to be an authority on everything.

Most of you know the stuff your interested in very well. Try stepping outside your interest and you likely won't fair any better than some of the clerks who are there taking the low paying jobs ,trying to sell you a gun that you don't want to pay more than a buck over dealer cost for.

Yes - if they don't know they should either shut up or admitt they don't know and find someone in the shop that does. Then again - how many of you are confident you know it all ?

( OK - I am involved with a gun shop ) :D

[Hush]

Wal-Mart is/was good for plinker ammo (when you can find it). Winchester white box specials. While I like to keep my local store in business, sometimes its hard to compete with wally-world's prices. But just dont expect anything exotic. I still go to my guy for my Gold Dots, and SXT's.

[cratti]

huh. We order in Gold Got and Federal Hydra-Shok at my store.

[Kind of Blued]

since when was Wal-Mart a gun store?

Bingo.

I don't expect the guy at the ammo counter in Wal-Mart to know what a LSWCHP is.

Here's a tip: If your Wal-Mart doesn't have the ammo cabinets that you can just walk up to, ask them if you can come behind the counter and look for what you want. The completely clueless ones are all for it, as they tend to be lazy as well, not a coincidence I'd guess.

[sohcgt2]

You guys are harsh, I have over 50 Gun sellers within a half hour of my house. Some I like and some I don't, some I've never been in. The one thing they all have in common is that if I am dissatisfied with their service, I'll go somewhere else. Quitcherbitchin and look for someone you like doing business with.

[earlthegoat2]

One thing I've learned from this thread is everyone who owns a shop or works where guns are sold are idiots and all of you are experts.

Ask for a job there, Ill bet you wont get it. I think gun stores like employing idiots.

These are kind of sore subjects for me because I always happen to run into the wrong stores with too many of the wrong employees. Then Ill tell my friend who is only too knowledgeable about guns to and unemployed to try to get a job at these places (because they are hiring) and another moron gets hired instead. The store has a bad reputation and they keep it. They do nothing to improve themselves at all. And it is always going to be that way at WalMart they have bigger money coming in everywhere else to care about ammo sales which the profit margin is next to nil.

[oneounceload]

I have over 50 Gun sellers within a half hour of my house

WOW!...must be nice

They all in the suburbs? IIRC, Atlanta has strict gun control

Here, we're lucky to have two gun stores and a few pawn shops.

[SilverShooter]

In my neck of the woods we have two types of gun shops and pawn stores that sell guns. Ones with incredibly knowledgeable and helpful folks, and the other with the clueless who cant even get jobs at McDonalds.

This was proven when I saw a gun store employee try to help a foreigner (a legal alien I hope) fill out the paperwork. It appeared that both had challenges reading and writing, and that neither knew the laws of gun ownership. I found myself hoping that the ATF and the State police would screen both out. Sad....


:o

[PT1911]

I do my buying in a gun shop, not a gun store... ha... I have been fortunate enough to be located within 10 minutes of the best gunsmith I could ever hope to know, and he owns the shop. anything I need to know, he knows or can find out. The bigger retailers generally employ some young guy who thinks the job is cool and knows nothing about what he is doing.

[KenWP]

We have gun stores here where you have to point very clearly as to what you want as saying you want to look at the lever action Marlin over there would get you a double barrel shotgun handed to you.

[ccsniper]

went to a local acedemy, asked for 9mm parabellum. the guy looks at me funny says "we dont keep exotic ammo on the shelves". so i bought a box of nine mill luger which he didnt think would work in my "exotic gun"

[tunnug]

Almost as bad as when I walked in at a second location (newer) of an older gunshop, I asked for .22 hornet, the kid (about 19) behind the counter says to me with a sneering grin "no one sells that anymore", I guess he did'nt know the main store stocks it on the shelves, I just looked at him for a second, turned around and left, guess he was trying to impress the little cutie he had been talking to.

[goon]

No one who works at a gun store is an expert on everything but they should at least know a little bit about as many guns as possible.
I'm not familiar with every type of rifle or every cartridge on the market but I'm at least knowledgeable enough that when I worked at a gun store I could sort my way through the various forms of Remington 700's or seek out a box of .375 H&H out in the warehouse. I knew a lot about handguns and military style firearms, hand a little experience with muzzleloading rifles and handguns, and knew my way around a reloading bench.
Point being, if you're getting a brake job it isn't unreasonable to expect the guy doing the job to know how to replace your brake pads.
Why should a gun store be any different?

[earlthegoat2]

One thing is they also have to have a more open mind about things and keep their opinions to thereselves unless they are asked for.

For example I dont like the 40 cal cartridge. I do however appreciate its ability to stop fights, fill a void between the 9mm and 45ACP, and its exemplary LE record. Point being you should be able to understand if not like what you are selling and be able to give unbiased and open minded advice as it pertains to a customers opinions.

Also they have their own agenda at stores as well. Selling stuff isnt always about being able to stock and sell the popular stuff. For instance lets say a store gets a deal on 10 Spartan semi autos. They might not be the most popular gun but if the salesman can talk enough people into buying them it means a heftier profit for the store. They have to do that without lying to the customer as well (ideally)

[toivo]

Money Mountain. Ha! They do have high prices.

Oh, yes, yes, they do. Not to bash too hard, because I have found a few decent deals there in the past, but I recently saw a CZ 83 in the case, tagged at $599! :what: People, this is a pistol with a MSRP of $450! What's up?

[oneounceload]

Also they have their own agenda at stores as well. Selling stuff isnt always about being able to stock and sell the popular stuff. For instance lets say a store gets a deal on 10 Spartan semi autos. They might not be the most popular gun but if the salesman can talk enough people into buying them it means a heftier profit for the store. They have to do that without lying to the customer as well (ideally)

You also get the situation where the shop, in order to get good deals on the popular stuff, had to also buy some of the maker's slow movers as part of a package - and they will try to steer anyone towards them to get rid of them

[748]

The "good" local gun store here plays on fear. Every time I go there their selling point is because it will be banned.
Hate to say it but here bass pro shop seems to be the way to go. The gun store might know a little more but bass pro shop hasn't played the fear card, at least never in front of me.

[PT1911]

once again I am fortunate enough to get my guns at a place that really does have an honest owner. it is amazing to see the prices on their shelves, drive down the road, and see prices 10 to 15 percent higher. especially now that ak's and ar's are getting rediculous.. the actual wholesale has gone up around 5 percent, when he has them, the equivalent gun at different and larger stores is at least 300 dollars over priced.

[mbt2001]

gun store people are routinely idiotic in their speech and thought process.

[Southern Rebel]

+1 to the idea that Wally World never has represented itself as a gunshop. While I disagree with a lot of what they stand for, I can't fault the people that man the ammunition counter for their lack of Knowledge - as long as they are helpful to the best of their ability.

I actually appreciate the fact that the WW stores stock ammunition at a decent (in comparison) price. I do get aggravated if a gun store employee is short on knowledge and long on opinions - those establishments should be reasonably knowledge if they are gonna say they are a gun store. If they can't walk the walk and talk the talk, they need to let their sign refer to them as "General Merchandise Store".

[Fat Boy]

This is an interesting thread....our local GM has on more than one occasion had guns wrong on the LABEL...like that label I saw the other day, identifying the attached revolver as a "Ruger"something or other...problem was it had this neat little rearing Colt on the sideplate:what: And the staff in that store is a mix of knowledgeable folks and guys that are totally clueless. Thankfully, I have shopped there a few times, and have a pretty good idea of who to approach with my questions.

[pmeisel]

You know, when my son worked at West Marine, they had self-study classes to help the clerks learn about boating. Maybe the gun retailers ought to consider something similar....

Most of the people I have dealt with are ok, but I have seen a few dandys.......

[Zoogster]

Picking on others to feel better about yourself?

Some gunshop employees are worse than others.
However I do not go to a car dealership and expect the employees to know everything about every type of car including those they are not selling.
That would be silly, and that is at a place that only sells cars.

I certainly wouldn't go to a general purpose store that just happens to sell some cars and expect them to know everything about every car including those they do not have in the store.

Going to Walmart, a general purpose store, and expecting someone to know about things they do not even have in stock makes little sense.
Picking on them for it makes even less sense.

In fact I think it is more responsible for an employee to simply not know than to tell you something untrue that could be dangerous because they are trying to be a know it all.

[wep45]

the untethered bozos are everywhere..........gun shops, food stores, gas stations............the most abundant product that the USA produces...........and the inventory increases daily:eek:

[Bubba613]

My gunsmith was working at another shop many years ago. A guy came in and asked him what the thread pitch was on a certain antique black powder gun. He didnt know.
The guy told him, "you sure don't know much about guns, do you?"

[DocBoCook]

748: You talking about A&P?

[cliffy]

In 1958, I did just this courtesy thing, while increasingly rare today. Too many idiots are merely CLERKS. "Find what you want? I'll ring it up!" mentality pervades many retail stores today. Finding a knowledgeable salesperson is rare within most businesses today. If I wasn't retired, I'd love selling sporting goods again. I'd actually asked what the customer wanted to use "whatever" for! I'd recommend something suitable for his or her goals. Back then, people actually listened to me and gained by my experience. I cared back then and even now. cliffy

[gp911]

I don't think all gun shop employees are idiots, as I noted there doesn't seem to be a single one at my local location. Like most customer service jobs there are idiots on both sides. For every employee that tells people the Mosins shoot 7.62 Russian and in a pinch can also shoot .308 and .30-06, there's a customer that has NO money, never buys so much as a set of earplugs, and wants to argue that no gun is worth more than $100.

I sympathize with the decent gun shop employees after working in a speed shop and dealing with similar types of customers...

[Dave McCracken]

I've worked in a couple gun shops. One was staffed by bigots. Wasn't there long.

And then there was a brief stint at the aptly named Dick's. I was hired supposedly for my expertise, then jumped on when I used it.

The dept head had sold a nice guy a compound bow with all the bells and whistles,including about 7 sight pins. The guy brought the thing back complaining he couldn't hit jack. He was a novice bow hunter. I retuned the bow, pulled all the pins but one off and got him on at 20 yards. Told him to keep his shots inside that.The guy was happy, but the boss raked me for spending so much time on it instead of stocking shelves.

I also fielded some really dumb questions and dealt with myths.. The one about shotguns never missing "cuz of all them pellets" was about average dumb.

The one about what the best saw to use to saw a Mossberg down at both ends to improve concealment from a thuggy dude nigh got me arrested.

I could tell some stories.....

[Dirtpile]

Since before christmas.

The ammuntion behind the counter went first. Followed by the shelving around the counter. Quietly... sort of like the tide going out.

Even me dipped into a wal-mart hoping against hope that they actually had .45 ACP on hand. The people at my store look at me like Im ready to go to Africa and hunt Rhino or something with that large of a caliber.

Sprout the words 3 inch, slug, shotgun and they become cataconic.

No it's easier to get the ammo online.

No doubt you've also noticed the disappearance of the gun racks also.

I also wonder if wally world is even ordering ammo anymore.

[Hungry Seagull]

Now... that you mention it.... I think wally got out or cut down severely on the gun business. I need to open my eyes and look-see if there are guns in racks.

Ask me again saturday and I will tell you what I find.

[cratti]

Would y'all believe that the Wal-Mart stores that still sell guns... will STILL sell guns? And ammo prices haven't "jumped" there, contrary to a great many customers' beliefs. There's a reason we don't have anything on the shelves.
We can't get it.
Let me reiterate.

The. Warehouses. Are. Empty.

In their panic, buyers have depleted supplies. As such, we can't get much in stock at a time. And when we do, someone goes and cleans out our shelves. There's no limit on ammo purchases here. Some people are just stupid and paranoid.
Others are greedy, reselling the ammo at gun shows and their own shops at a significantly higher price (Example: $8.97 Remington UMC .223 FMJ being resold at about $15 a box)
And some are just afraid they won't be able to go get ammo whenever they want it (as they rightly should be able to) and as such they buy all they can.
Regarding guns, every slack-jawed yokel thinks "I need a Mini-14 and I'm gonna get me some of those banana clips and make it an AR, and I'll be able to take on anyone." Or even more commonly, "I need a black shotgun/rifle."
Or: "This rifle comes with a scope. I'll put a bipod on it. It's now a sniper rifle. I'm a sniper now."

Seems like I'm making broad generalizations here but that's how it goes.

Regarding some of the guns we carry, they just sell too quickly. The aforementioned, Mini-14, for example, is so highly-sought after that we seldom keep one in stock for more than three hours. The Mossberg Maverick, being a dirt-cheap (and black!) shotgun, is about as popular.

[CoRoMo]

So the guy at the gun store thinks I'm an idiot...

That's because you are standing on this side of his counter.

[highorder]

This is an interesting thread....our local GM has on more than one occasion had guns wrong on the LABEL...like that label I saw the other day, identifying the attached revolver as a "Ruger" something or other...problem was it had this neat little rearing Colt on the sideplate

The people that print the tags are the counter girls doing admin work before sale sets... The gun counter guys (formerly me) get handed the stack to place on merchandise. It you get a noobie in your dept, he will likely hang the tags while the wiser guys handle customers...

Thats how tags get made wrong and make it to the shelf.

[earlthegoat2]

I love how I cant even get a job at these places.

[highorder]

Do you want a job for $7.00 /hr?

I would do it as a retired person for fun, (and many do) but I need to earn thru this decade to enjoy the next...

[Fburgtx]

Three words.... I. Don't. Know.

I just wish I could get some gun store employees to say(admit) that just once. You can't expect someone to know everything. It's pretty difficult to know everything. On the other hand, honesty is pretty easy......

[chuckusaret]

I bought ammo (9MM and 40 cal WWB) at two different Wal Marts yesterday and today for $26 bucks and change per hundred rounds. Shelves were full. My local store allows most ammo buyers to go behind the counter and point out the ammo they want. No mistakes that way.

[Mr. Bojangles]

I am fortunate enough to have an excellent "mom and pop" gun store close to where I live. Their prices are good and they are friendly and respond kindly to my very ameteur questions. They are not experts on everything related to firearms, but to their credit they aren't afraid to say "I don't know." Those three words are seldom heard in a gun shop. Despite objections from my bank account, I keep going back.

[AllAmerican]

Ive got one walmart in my area where the 2 folks who generally work the ammo counter know guns and have guns and carry guns.

I have no problem doing business with them.

Sorry, most of the guys round here who are gun dealers either dont sell ammo (pawnshops) or they charge way more than walmart.

I do have one local guy who has decent prices on ammo but his guns are a little high.

He knows what he is doing too. Ive bought a few guns at WalMart and I buy ammo there. I buy from other sources too.