Dumb gun shop question,

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tygarys

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Messages
32
Location
New Mexico
but I have to ask. Why do gun shops keep long guns behind the counter, with tiny tags that can't be read? Every gun shop I've seen does this, even the bigger places like wall mart only make the price easy to see. I always end up wasting the counter staff's time going through several rifles only to find out their prices make the gun show look cheap, and they start giving me dirty looks when they realize I am not buying the latest 5k+ AR that Mall Ninja Monthly recommends.

Its just strange that handguns are always clearly marked but long guns are not. Even Sportsmans Warehouse does this somewhat. All their handguns are on the back wall behind the counter, all clearly marked, but with long guns you still have to track someone down to get any info on them.
 
...handguns are always clearly marked but long guns are not. Even Sportsmans Warehouse does this somewhat. All their handguns are on the back wall behind the counter, all clearly marked...
Click to expand...
Not the ones I've been to. The handguns are marked, yes but with a smaller tag than the long guns have. I can sometimes make out the price on their long guns' tag, if it is turned my way. But the handguns at the SW stores I've been to, have a little tag like the one you see hanging from Minnie Pearl's hat.
 
I dislike this as well, but security and space are probably the biggest reason.
My LGS has a set up in the center of the store, always has. But they are always the cheapest of rifles.
 
I don't know, but I share your frustration. It applies not just to guns on the wall either.

Often times I'll stop by a shop to peruse the handgun case and about 10% of the price tags will be face down, or lying underneath another gun. Realistically a huge determination in whether or not I buy (or even THINK about buying) a particular item is hinging on that price tag. If that Hi Power is marked $349 than I'm whipping out my debit card. If it's $999 then I'm not even going to bother.

My SOP has simply become to assume that any gun for which I cannot see the price tag is insanely overpriced and just ignore it.

For any shop owners or workers out there - for the love of bob - glance at your displays at least once in the morning and make sure the price tags are visible.
 
Its for space. We chose to do things differently for now, but we waste a lot of wall space doing it. We hang our guns horizontally in columns of 8 - 10 guns with large 5x8 cards with make, model, caliber, features, and price.

It actually saves my staff a lot of time dealing with people that are just curious of the make, model, caliber, or price and gives the customer a good idea on where to start asking questions.
 
I've been to a Gander Mtn. where the long guns were all out, accessible to the customers. The 'gun counter' was an island away from any walls. If you wanted to have a long gun taken off the cable so that you could handle it better, the staff would have to come out to where YOU were.
 
I don't think it is a space thing. I think they want you ask and then to handle the gun and see how nice it feels so they can try to hook you in to something you were just curious about in the first place. I don't think they want you to see the price or they would just put a nice, easy to read, price tag on it with the price showing on the front instead of turned around to the back so you have to ask in the first place. Pistols move farely quickly compaired to rifles.
 
Cabala's had all the used guns out in racks on the floor.

And if they weren't well used when they got them, they sure are after all the idjits get done banging them into each other for a few days!

rc
 
Cabala's had all the used guns out in racks on the floor.

And if they weren't well used when they got them, they sure are after all the idjits get done banging them into each other for a few days!
Click to expand...

Oh come on now RC, you know you favor a rifle with them "love marks" on them :)
 
my favorite lgs here has all of his long guns out....the only ones that are behind the counter are the high dollar ones.
 
My LGS has used long guns on the floor in massive racks. New stuff is behind the counter, but they've typically got three people working the gun counter. Hand guns, new and used, are kept in the display case. Rare is a day i have to wait long to fondle a new gun. Used I can fondle all I want, but to get a good feel, I have to get a sale person to unlock it from the cable. Prices on used guns are on small tags, but easy to find and read. New guns, not so much. their specials are set aside from the rest, displayed horizontally and had a larger tag displaying model, features, price, etc. but for run of the mill stuff, you gotta have excellent vision, or ask.
 
Like Mg said... I hate flipped over or covered up tags. To burn ya even more the counter person who could show the tag is usually at the other end talking up some new AR that just came in.
 
My LGS has all guns out on display, including handguns.Anyone can pickup all the handguns they want and look them over, get the feel of them.The end of Oct they did inventory counting all guns, for sale, in for repairs, on layaway there was 1200 of them, not a large shop but still a good size one.
 
Why do gun shops keep long guns behind the counter, with tiny tags that can't be read?
Click to expand...

As someone previously mentioned it most likely has to do with space issues.

This should not present a problem if you are the proactive type of person that likes to lend a helping hand.

The employes are surely busy? I mean who isn't now a days right?


Just leap behind the counter and help yourself.


They'll surely appreciate the assistance!
 
and they start giving me dirty looks when they realize I am not buying the latest 5k+ AR that Mall Ninja Monthly recommends.
Click to expand...


Sounds like you're visiting the wrong stores, because I've been into guns and shooting my entire life and have never once had this happen.
Yeah, the rifles are generally behind the counter, but I've never been treated different because I wasn't buying a $5K gun. And I've been in a LOT of gun shops.
 
I'll agree with Arkansas Paul...

My gun shop only talks up guns they have experience with, and like. They stock Dan Wessons, Kimbers, etc, yet for 1911's they'll usually recommend smaller name, and thus cheaper, brands. One of them was touting the Kel Tec PMR30, which they didn't even have in stock, just because of how he liked it. You just need to find a gun store with salespeople that actually try to gain your trust and repeat customers, rather than quick expensive sales it sounds to me.
 
Not all are that way

My LGS has many long guns out in a floor rack where you can handle them. The others are behind one counter but they encourage you to go back there and look, touch, hold, price and get to know them as much as you wish. This is the way they do both used and new long guns. Pistols are in display cases however.
 
I dont do it in my shop for exactly that reason. Customers can't look at items. And they don't really want to ask me to get something that they may not be interested in anyway.
 
To avoid folks rooming around that do not want to buy anything and only check prices to go and then buy them at the walmart and other chinese supporting companies.
 
To avoid folks rooming around that do not want to buy anything and only check prices to go and then buy them at the walmart and other chinese supporting companies.
Click to expand...
If you're stocking what Wal-Mart stocks and can't compete on some aspect of it you deserve to have customers go to WalMart/Dicks/Cabelas/etc
 
If you're stocking what Wal-Mart stocks and can't compete on some aspect of it you deserve to have customers go to WalMart/Dicks/Cabelas/etc
Click to expand...

+1 If your business model is trying to compete with the Walmart's of the world on a mom and pop budget, I can tell you now you're doomed for failure. You have to offer the people something Walmart can't, and excel in that area. If you plan on competing with wally world on things like bulk .22 ammo, 870's, Model 60's and 10/22's, without offering anything but a slightly higher price tag, its going to be hard to convince customers to spend their money with you....esp. if they cant even tell how much that 870 is to begin with!!!!!!
 
My local shop lets you pick up and handle everything they have. Dont need to ask

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using tapatalk
 
Its just strange that handguns are always clearly marked
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is pretty strange. I'm with mgmorden on this. In my experience, handgun tags are just as often face down, under the gun, or both ;).

It also makes shopping obnoxious, and especially if the shop is busy. Who knows how many cool guns I didn't buy because the tag is illegible without a telescope?

If I had a gun shop, I'd be sure to eyeball the displays every now and then.

large 5x8 cards with make, model, caliber, features, and price.
Click to expand...

Thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Great gun shop in AL
Replies
10
Views
1K
CSA 357
CSA 357
B
  • Locked
Sportsman's Warehouse "Experience"
Replies
24
Views
5K
ScottsGT
S
G
  • Locked
Gun Shops
2 3 4
Replies
81
Views
6K
BilliamB.
B
R
  • Locked
New gun shop in SC
Replies
0
Views
629
Red_SC
R
G
Gun Shop Etiquette
2 3
Replies
68
Views
4K
PapaG
P
Back
Top