Ever get mistaken for gun range/store staff?

[Moonclip]

You know you have a problem when you like guns/shooting so much that you excrete an aura that you work at a gunshop!

I recently went to Discount Gun Mart in San Diego while in the area on vacation of sorts. Decent range and decent range pricing although shop help ignored me for 5-10 mins even when walking in with a range bag. Also they told me how steel case ammo will ruin my guns but aluminum was ok even though I had only brass cased ammo.

BTW everything else was ok but they did demand to see my pistols even after they saw by my speech/ID's/gun/ammo knowledge I'm not an inexperienced shooter. However the younger more Hispanic looking fellow I had with me has a nominally "gangsta" apperance so you SD people is this a always policy here or a special one just for my friend and I

Anyways while on the firing line some shooters thought I was range staff for some reason, asking me to fix their guns and asking questions and such! I don't know why. I did try to help though if I could. Maybe because I was taking an interest in what others were shooting and maybe I seemed to be checking safety procedures to them or not to brag but my groups with a plain jane Taurus clone of the Beretta 92F and WWB were better than what most people were shooting with guns that were more expensive like a higher end Springfield and Glocks(there was a High Point present though) so people that saw my targets assumed I worked there maybe?

I suppose I should be flattered though! The "gangsta" looking friend of mine has a cousin who is constantly mistaken for a cop,go figure! I rarely get that one as I'm somewhat young and a little overweight and I note that younger cops are usually in better shape. Local gun shop clerk did assume for some reason I was one recently though as did a pawn shop a couple of times.

I do notice that when dressed well you get much better attention/attitudes in public but is there a mode of dress that screams "gun nut"? I guess fanny packs and vests and cammies sort of do but I wear none of that.

Some of you guys probably also spend so much time at your favorite gun shop/range too that people assume you are on the payroll but this was my first time ever at that range.

 

[CajunBass]

Never had it happen at a gun shop/range, but it has in fishing tackle stores. Maybe I look "fishey?"

 

[TarpleyG]

I haven't had this problem at a range either but in Home Depot, I may as well be wearing an orange apron...

Greg

 

[Fluffster]

How do you excrete an aura? It sounds messy

 

[Double Naught Spy]

More than once while wearing a 5.11 vest I have been stopped in Wal-Mart by customers thinking I worked there. Apparently the general public does not know that 5.11 vests are supposed to scream "Shoot me first! I have a gun!" as many gun folks think.

 

[oneshooter]

When I am at the local range and someone comes in with a strange weapon the ladys in the range house always send them to me. Have helped a lot of new shooters, and shot a few really neat rifles this way(Holland and Holland double rifles,twice!).

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[middy]

Maybe you look just like a RO that works there...

 

[tuna]

Not at the range - but at the Springfield Armory Museum, I was talking to my wife about the displays when I noticed that I had generated a following and they were starting to ask me questions.

 

[threeseven]

I spend so much time at the local gun shop I am mistaken for a staff member every once and a while. It doesn't help that I'm wandering around behind the counter or in the back room, or drinking coffee with the actual staff in the office

EDIT: I do work in retail however and it's probable that I just carry myself in a 'salesperson-esque' manner even out of work. Being polite and greeting other customers and entering into conversations with them about potential purchases or hot topics in the shooting world etc.

 

[goon]

Yes, I have been mistaken for staff at a gun store. I then took a part time job at said gun store. Now that I don't work there anymore I still get mistaken for an employee. I do still answer the phone when I am there and it rings though.

 

[CajunBass]

Slightly off the topic, but I just recalled the incident reading some of the other posts.

When my youngest son was in the 5th? 6th grade or so, I went with him on a class trip to Appomatox National Battlefield Park. One of the stops was at the Saylers Creek Battlefield. There was a park employee there in full Union uniform, giving a talk to the kids. He held up his carbine, and asked "Anyone know what this is?"

The entire class turned to my son and said almost in unison. "TELL HIM BARRY!" Barry sort of looked at the ground and mumbled, "That's a 52 cal, Sharps breach loading carbine."

The guide was impressed.

 

[Firethorn]

Never at the gun store. Fairly frequently at the book store, however.

 

[scout26]

Yep, Hardware stores too.....

Got my 4yo son in the shopping cart, I'm loading shot, powder, wads, primers, etc. into the cart. (Won't tell you the name of the place but it rhymes with Lander Fountain) I've always found the salespeople there to be both friendly and helpful. Regardless, I had three people come over and ask me "Where do you keep the bows and arrows ?", "What can you tell about these safes ???" "Can you help me pick out ammuntion for my gun ??"

Now two were women, so I guess they felt "comfortable" asking a guy who I guess they thought looks like he knows what he's doing. But one was a gentleman maybe five years older then me. He's the one who asked about the safes. (I was not wearing anything that even remotely said "Store Employee".)

Yes, I did help out all three people. (Should have stopped by the service desk on my way out and asked for my pay-check.)

Mrs Scout26 just when we get home and my son says "Mom, Mom.....Dad knows EVERYTHING !!!"

 

[Smokey Joe]

Mistooken? Yep.

I've been an RO, and @ my local range have been known to help out the RO's that are employed there. Also I go up to strangers and ask them about their unusual firearms. So naturally I get assigned the role of "employee." It helps to have an authoritative bark.

Scout26--It's delicious to know everything! I used to lecture my #1 son on this & that, driving the kid to distraction, although he was often too polite to object.

When he was 3, one time the Nursery School was discussing "What is green?" All the other kids said leaves, shamrocks, Kermit, etc. Then the staff asked #1 son--his answer, "Algae!" When I came to pick him up at end of day, the staff checked w/me to see if they'd spelt it correctly on the chalkboard!

As high-school-age counselor, #1 son was assisting leading a several-day hike north of Lk. Superior. After 2-3 days, some of the campers took him aside and asked him, "How do you know so much about everything??" When he got back he shared this w/me, and said it was the first time in his life he'd ever though all the explaining I did to him, came in handy. It was a glorious father & son moment! Knowledge is power, EEyeah!!

I try hard not to bore people to death with constant lectures, and spend a LOT of time waiting for everybody else to "get it," but by heck I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Legionnaire]

Yup. Back in NY I was constantly being mistaken for an employee at the local Dick's Sporting Goods. Must have been the Royal Robbins pants and the green polo or tan Cabela's safari shirt that were then my most common attire ... and the fact that I seem to have been there a lot.

 

[armedandsafe]

Discount Guns was checking everyone's guns 10-15 years ago when I was hanging around there. I enjoyed the shop and the people. One of the things I liked was that they would leave you alone to browse/drool until you looked around for help or approached the counter.

Pops

 

[Standing Wolf]

Now and then. In some places, I'm more knowledgeable than the staff, sad to say.

 

[Zach S]

I spend so much time at the local gun shop I am mistaken for a staff member every once and a while. It doesn't help that I'm wandering around behind the counter or in the back room, or drinking coffee with the actual staff in the office

I do the same, with the exception of drinking coffee

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Got my 4yo son in the shopping cart, I'm loading shot, powder, wads, primers, etc. into the cart...I had three people come over and ask me "Where do you keep the bows and arrows ?", "What can you tell about these safes ???" "Can you help me pick out ammuntion for my gun ??"

Apparently the cart, the merchandise and the KID weren't sufficient clues that you were shopping, not working?

Golly.

 

[22-rimfire]

In days past, if some one asked me a question in a store and I knew the right answer, I simply answered their question and moved on. No big thing. It really depends on my mood for the day or hour as to how I react. Sometimes, I simply say I don't work here or something like that and move on. Some stores do not like customers steering other customers toward one product over another unless it is more expensive.

 

[hso]

Yep, all the time.

 

[coonan357]

been there done that , one time they were busy and asked If I could answer the phone . the bad part was it was a regular and he reconized my voice and said " well its about time you started working there ..." I have my own chair there too . been asked to pick up the pizza on the way home from work . reently called me to see if I was ok since I wasn't there for a while (I think they had to lay someone off due to my lack of purchases )

 

[JohnKSa]

Yeah, I even have counter privileges in one store... If the owner's busy he lets me show the customers firearms.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

While returning home an interviewa couple years ago, I stopped at Big Lots. An older woman stopped me, and asked if "we sold toasters"...

I think I've been mistaken for a police officer and park security.
Been mistaken for a pastor.

6'1", so people stop me in the stores and ask "can you reach _______ for me?"

Gun shop usually isn't crowded, usually just me, or one other person...

 

[Chipperman]

"Apparently the cart, the merchandise and the KID weren't sufficient clues that you were shopping, not working?"

Nah, Kids were on sale that day.

"Now two were women, so I guess they felt "comfortable" asking a guy who I guess they thought looks like he knows what he's doing."

They probably were more comfortable b/c of your child's presence.