Does anyone work in a gun shop?

[Ala Dan]

Yes, I do work in a "Mom and Pop" gun shop; as a counter sales rep. Its
fun, but challenging at times; especially during the "busy season" of the
year, which here in central Alabama runs from around bow season on thru
turkey season. My employers prefer persons of good morale character, neat
and clean; HONEST, and with some experience either with firearms, hunting,
or fishing. Retail clothing sales is also helpful~!

 

[Gaffer]

Worked in the gun dept. of a large outdoor store for about 5 years. It was fun to be able to talk guns but the difference in customers is remarkable. Many are knowledgeable but more are novices and some are outright stupid. The ones who keep you tied up for their arcane questions are mind numbing. It was tough on the legs as we were not allow to sit down and with the hard floors it felt that my hips were in my arm pits. I did learn a lot about guns from all the interaction with the good customers and the smart sales reps. I bought a lot of used guns too that had been returned for perceived problems that were only excuses to return it. It was like any job, once the newness wore off the boredom set in and you longed to be elsewhere. All in all it was just OK!

 

[rmfnla]

CoRoMo wrote:



Are you talking about guns here or your experience working in the liquor store? ...cause the guys in the gun shop think I have an incurable affliction for the product they are selling.

Yeah, but that affliction isn't horrible!

 

[onevoice]

I have worked at Whittaker Guns for many years. As for if it is fun, it can be at times, but most of it is non-stop work and you don't really have time to have much fun. Working with family has some major down sides to it and I will warn anyone that is thinking about doing it, please think twice.......

 

[52grain]

Its is piss poor money and dealing with "gun people" is a pain for the most part.

Funny, I had an RSO tell me the same thing.

 

[CraigC]

I worked at one while I was still a student. Cure me of it. I liked being able to buy stuff at cost but to be honest, I'd rather pump gas for a living than deal with gunshop employees and customers. Too much ego and not enough of the real thing.

 

[philpost]

The Manager of my LGS/range has a never-ending amount of stories concerning time wasters, know-it-alls, and other fine folks who should not be around firearms. Some of which I've personally witnessed, like the sweet middle-aged lady who pulled out a loaded revolver with the hammer cocked, pointed it in his face, and asked how to unload it

 

[onevoice]

I deal with people everyday that have no ideal how to work a firearm. You pretty much have to walk them through the basics (loading, unloading, operating, cleaning, and so on) just to make yourself feel better that they might not shoot themself when they get home. I think if you have to ask how to load and operate a firearm then you need to go to a beginners handgun class and learn the basics before buying one. Why buy a product you don't know how to use. If its for protection then you better know the inside and out of that weapon, I wouldn't carry anything I don't trust 100% or know anything about.

 

[Bubba613]

For every gun clerk story I can tell you ten about customers who thought they knew what they were talking about but didn't.

Nah, that never happens.

I would never hire someone who was ex military/ex police unless they had people skills. All the gun shop horror stories usually come because of people like that.
You have to like business and you have to like selling. The gun thing is secondary. I like to say we sell people, not guns.
Retail is a profession like any other. There are skills to be acquired and practiced. Most people don't appreciate this. Those are the ones who get kicked to the curb by idiot customers. They can easily develop a bad attitude and that's their fault, not the customers'. The public is the public. When you take a retail jobthat's what you sign up for. Not everyone is a poster on THR. But your job is to sell guns and products, even though they make it hard sometimes.

 

[CraigC]

You have to like business and you have to like selling. The gun thing is secondary.

I agree! It's almost always shooters who open up gunshops but shooters don't always make the best salesmen. I'll take a personable salesman who may not know everything but is courteous and friendly without an ego bulging out of every seam over a highly knowledgeable a-hole any day of the week.