[Confederate]

Reading the other thread about the madness at gun shows got me thinking. What does one do when a new handgun buyer in a show or store is being shamelessly victimized by a clerk or seller?

David E said, "Usually, I try and stay quiet, but sometimes, if I can wrangle it, I try to work myself into the conversation."

If you're in someone's store, you may just have to let the food chain work, especially if the person's life won't be put in danger by a sales pitch. But when one hears someone disseminating bad information to the point one feel compelled to intervene, there are a number of approaches: 1) flatly contradict the BS artist on the spot (considered rude by many); 2) wait until the person walks off and then approach him or her; 3) insert one's self into the conversation and dissuade the BS artist by letting him know that YOU know better; or 4) not say anything.

If you feel compelled to intervene, what do you think is the best? Or do you just keep your mouth shut? And would you feel more free to contradict someone at a show than at one's store?

Being from the South, I've spent a lot of time in gun stores where competent people hang out, but I have interfered in computer stores and in photography stores by just striking up a conversation with someone. Gun stores, however, is where one goes to buy a first handgun or a defensive piece. If someone is looking for something to carry or keep in a drawer at night, and the clerk points to a used Jennings J-22 that's marked up way more than it should, you can remain polite and add helpful information without contradicting the clerk. You can insert yourself into the conversation:

"I used to have one of those?"

"Really?"

"Yeah, they're good little guns. Mine worked reliably, but I had to clean it every third or fourth magazine or it would begin jamming. If you keep it clean it should work without a problem, but make sure you take it to the range and make sure it works before you rely on it."

You haven't contradicted the clerk, but you've added something the person should know. At that point you can add that it has a zinc frame and slide, so it's not intended for protracted shooting, and everything remains civil. Then, if the buyer says, "Well, what gun would YOU recommend if I wanted to rely on it for defense and shoot it?", you can go on to point out another gun and make the whole thing sound spontaneous.

This is far different from correcting a knowing lie, and that's a whole different number. Does anyone have any stories where you've witnessed or become involved with a BS artist? One particularly might want to get involved if the buyer is a woman, and is being sold a bill of goods.


http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/nm_gun_store_080626_mn.jpg

[GlenJ]

I don't frequent gun shops here that much since I usually buy when a "to good to pass up" deal comes along. If I see someone lying trying to rip someone off I say something especially at shows.

[Nicodemus38]

normally that can get you kicked out of the store for the day or for good. it is the stores decision to say if your allowed to be customer or not.

However most people will not listen to anyone other then the person behind the counter at a gunstore. The reasoning is that the guy behind counter is great gun genius/guru. And since your NOT behind the counter, you know jack s_)t unless your in a police uniform or got a big shiney badge on your shirt lapel.

[Thingster]

I typically step in with a, "I know it's really none of my business, but. . ."

Last time was when a shop by me had a Llama .45 for sale. A guy was looking for his first pistol and was looking at it- I knew none if any of the internals are standard 1911 parts so I had to slip in just to make sure he knew.

[Straight Shooter]

However most people will not listen to anyone other then the person behind the counter at a gunstore

I think this comment is right on the mark.

As far as being the customer. With a little research on the Internet there is no reason to walk into a gun shop and not know just about everything about the gun that you are looking for or even what gun to look for. There is no need to rely on the guy behind the counter for information.

There are a lot of people who go in to look for a good deal without a specific gun in mind but these people are experienced and know what to look for, they probably won't be relying on the clerk for information.

IMO anyone new to shooting who thinks they are going to walk into a gun shop and find a good deal blind is just asking for trouble.

[Lookn4Brass]

When I'm in a gun store or at a show, my "radar" is usually on. I've had to tone it down a bit over the years. As long as someone is not getting into danger with the info they're getting, or getting sold something that is waay too complicated to use, I usually just leave it alone, unless the buyer appears to need my "two cents" that will actually make alot of difference. Alot of folks will rarely shoot or train with the gun they buy, unfortunately. In the past several months, people are desperate to buy something good, and wanting to do it quickly. Semi-autos and ammunition both are getting tough to obtain on a daily basis where I live because of the mass run on the supplies at hand. I hope this lets up soon, 'cause it really pisses me off to not be able to get a brick of Federal or Winchester .22LR at my local stores:banghead:

[Nicodemus38]

at the same time age is a big factor as well. you can take a 20 year old marine who knows the ins and outs of an m16 and ar in his sleep, and he will never be believed over any gun store employee who is older then he is.
Its just how it is. had one experience a few years ago and the 40 yar old counter guy was selling a pound of 777 pellets to a flintlock shooter telling him it was perfect to use in his flintlock and as well as being safe for a 1 to 1 pyrodex weight switch. since i was 20 years younger, the 60 year old getting screwed just laughed when i showed him the box.

[David E]

The customer will usually listen to you if you insert yourself properly into the conversation.

I don't go to the gunstores where the clerks are BS'ing bastards trying to get the customer to buy a dog of a gun, but we do have some gun counters where the clerk is almost clueless.

At an Academy recently, the customer asked what the "number" stood for that was on two boxes of ammo, a box of 9mm that listed "115" and a box of .45 acp that listed the number "230." The clerk hesitated, so the customer offered, "does it stand for the powder charge?"

I kept quiet during all of this, waiting to see if the correct answer popped out. It didn't. The clerk agreed with the customer that the number is, indeed, the powder charge. I politely jumped in, gave the correct info that the number indicated the weight of the bullet and both parties were appreciative.

I've even been responsible for a gun being sold at more than one store.

But there have been times where I kept my mouth shut, because the information given was silly, as opposed to being downright wrong or dangerous.

[kyo]

When I was picking up my 45 the guy beside me was getting the used version of the same gun. I told him I loved the way it shot, and the way it felt and that I thought it was a great gun. He asked about the slide play, and I asked if I could see it. racked it back and noticed it was less tense than the brand new one. And I just said, "well yea you can expect it to be a little less tense, it is used but its normal." Thats about it.
I was at a gun show and I was talking to my dad about loaded chamber indicators. I didn't know that other manufacturers made them and said that Ruger was the only one. Some guy said, thats not true, and gave me an example. I wasn't mad, I learned something and even told him, I didn't know that. Did my dad care that I said the wrong info? No, he knew I wasn't trying to sell him anything. But thats why you talk to folks to learn stuff.
If it was bad enough, I would straight intervene with my personal experience of the piece or product.

[David E]

"Less tense?"

What, exactly, do you mean ?

When my guns get "tense," I take 'em out and shoot 'em !

Calms 'em right down ! :D

[kyo]

the slide was easier to pull back on the used one.

[Rockwell1]

How would you react to some stranger interjecting his opinion into your transaction without an invitation?

I think most people would tend to get defensive and not want to hear your input. I tend to mind my own business.

A freind of mine recently purchased a GLOCK, I'm not a GLOCK guy so I have no idea what model. He also purchased a Black Hawk holster to go with it. I mentioned that I'd read somewhere that there had been an issue with the holster causing ADs on GLOCKs. I told him that I didn't have all the details but he might want to research it.

Remember, this was my freind someone who had invited my opinion. As soon as I mentioned the holster his mind snapped closed and he wouldn't hear another word.

I don't get involved in "What Gun?" threads & I mind my business at gun shops & shows.

[David E]

How would you react to some stranger interjecting his opinion into your transaction without an invitation?

I think most people would tend to get defensive and not want to hear your input. I tend to mind my own business.

Again, it all depends how it is done.

From my side of it, if I can't get into the conversation "right," then I either let it go, when no harm will come from the customer buying into what the clerk is saying, or I'll butt right in if it'll keep a dangerous transaction from taking place:

Customer: "My S&W Triple Lock .44 special has a round stuck in the barrel....can I shoot it out?"

Clerk: "Absolutely!"

Yeah, I'll pipe right up on that one !!

[UKJ]

I normally interject when I hear certain words -

'A Taurus? You want to buy a Taurus? Are you frikkin' insane?!'

I'm only joking, like everyone else, I would only consider sticking my nose in if the Counter Monkey was giving out dangerous information.

The truth is, most people who go into a gun store without knowing a damn about firearms or researching what they want to buy, will probably never even shoot the thing (aside from maybe using it to kill their spouse :p).

Like with every fast moving consumer good, if you go into a sales arena without knowledge, you're left open for exploitation. Would you walk into a car dealer and say 'I need an automobile, what do you recommend?'

[JohnBT]

I did that last week just to see what the car salesman would say. He recommended the $27k model they had, not he $40k model I wanted. Can't get one either, Toyota isn't cranking them out. Pfui. It's easier to find ammo than to find a Highlander Limted with a bunch of options.

As far as local gun stores go, an owner or employee will ask my opinion 3 or 4 times for every one time I'm tempted to stick my nose in their business. I just stay out of it, other than giving the bs'er a discrete frown with raised eyebrows.

John