Gun snobbery...

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There are a few really lousy gun shops in SLC, and there are a few really good ones. To me its simple, I just don't go to the lousy ones.
If I can't find what I need at the good ones, I order it online. I don't care how desperate I am, I won't ever set foot in 1 or 2 particular shops anymore.
 
Both of my favorite local gun stores know that I enjoy a clean old Jennings/Davis/Raven?Sundance/etc SNS pistol, most any brand of pocket pistol, a clean milsurp pistol, or a .22-anything (long gun or hand gun). They treat me very well. Never once had a snide comment or rudeness....just friendly talk and good service. The one shop has even set me up twice with a parking lot face-to-face deal with another customer. Good people!
If I have any complaint....it would be; they know me so well that they always have something there I just have to buy!
Heck, I've even been treated well at both of the local Gander Mountains! Now "Dick's" is another story. :eek:
Jack
 
My favorite local shop is awesome (The Village Gun Store, Whitefield NH)....and overall I enjoy the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery ME as well for a bigger shop BUT...

During my last visit I went with two friends of mine. One is very clean cut, orderly, wears glasses (stereotype intellectual looking), is very slight and pleasant. The other is burly, tough, rough looking, crass, rude, and obnoxious.

As soon as we got to the firearm section (this place is huge) I INSTANTLY felt the "eyes" all over us. Guys from the next dept. over even came and "hung around" the firearm section. Ok....all well and good from a safety/security standpoint and I can certainly understand, but then it got downright OVERBEARING....being followed (NOT just my perception). My clean cut friend went one way....no problem, not followed, no questions asked. My other friend and I milled around the used handguns for a while and were asked NO LESS than five times "Can I help you".....even by the SAME GUY THREE TIMES!!! Each time my reply was "no thanks, I'm just looking".

I'm a pretty patient guy, so it takes alot for me to get "pushed" to that point, but I finally asked to speak to a manager. I had enough.

Oddly enough the manager admitted to me that we were "red flagged" as soon as we walked in because we were "suspicious looking", SPECIFICALLY mentioning my friend because he "looked like trouble". I was then given a $50.00 gift card for my trouble. I told the manager that, fifty bucks or not, they should be less overbearing, more "secretive" about the security there if they really wanted to strike a balance. I had intended to walk out with a brand new Kimber that day, but they lost my business on that one, at least for now........
 
WHOA! I'm going to bring some of my one-percenter pals down to the Kittery Trading Post! Fifty bucks each?!
 
I'm likely starting work part-time at a gunshop as the NRA Instructor for the shop and I can say I don't understand while any professional be it in guns, grass, or cars would be a person with an attitude problem. Oh I have seen it plenty and have caught criticism from guys I know(and have done in person) I can out-shoot one-handed, "you don't need that .45 you only got seven rounds, get a real gun like this NINE here and you'll have fifteen" types.

When you work in a shop, to me you, you represent the gun owning community and like it or not you are a PR person for how the rest of the world sees you. I'm all about being big on smiles, pleasant tone, helpfulness, and accepting differing reasonable opinions "oh sure I can understand how you like a Glock better than a 1911, and that's probably quite valid for you. It's just a lot of folks grew up with 1911s, it's a proven platform around the world, and it's real hard to wrong with one. With a Glock you get proven durability, generally higher capcity, and a gun that most anyone can operate so it can be a great choice for lots of people."

Pleasant atmospheres attract more customers, loyal and repeat customers to boot. At worst you want to talk folks out of getting .22lrs as their first and only SD or HD gun when their budget allows for more. Explain to them they'll get greater value of use and resale from a S&W Sigma then from a Hi-Point. But still be ready to accept that some folks are bent on getting what they want and that's it, 'you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.'
 
...The other is burly, tough, rough looking, crass, rude, and obnoxious.

As soon as we got to the firearm section (this place is huge) I INSTANTLY felt the "eyes" all over us...
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Sounds like reasonable and prudent profiling to me.

If your friend presents as a hoodlum, some people will understandably take it at face value. This should be no surprise and therefore shouldn't be taken with offense. ..."burly, tough, rough looking, crass, rude, and obnoxious" is a useful persona in some circumstances, I suppose, but usually not advantageous when hoping for a red carpet reception in a legitimate retail establishment... unless you really are a recognizable pop-culture icon, then that uniform may work with some folks.

Les
 
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Good points made, and around here (multiple stores) it used to be about paying retail, and now with all the demand...hmmmm.
 
I wouldn't hold much weight to just one or two experiences with rude gunstore employees. I have had the guy that would show me everything in the store with a smile and intelligent conversation. I have also had the guy who acted like I was beneath his level of expertise and would act annoyed that I asked to see anything.

Don't worry about it too much. There are both types every where you go.
 
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One shop I know of is run by a "sportsman" type who wants to stock and sell only engraved, gold-inlaid shotguns and rifles. (The kind Obama will graciously allow us to keep.)

The dealer scorns anyone who does not dress in Harris tweed and speak with a plummy accent.

Needless to say, this low class type does not patronize that store.

Jim
 
There is a store in Montgomery, AL that I hate to step foot in. His location is convenient for me and he has the cheapest prices for transfers so I do use him for that. He acts like it is an inconvenience to him for you to be in his store and it just pisses me off.:banghead:

I deal with The Gun Shoppe across town. His location is out of my way and he can be a little on the high side but I can call him up and tell him what I want and its there in a day or two (most of the time).

Nice guy with a nice store that will do anything he can to help you vs an *******. Not much of a choice there.
:D
 
I've noticed lots of dealers both at stores and gun shows who seem to have this "attitude" problem. It really pisses me off, especially when considering that I am always courteous and polite.
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I have noticed in today's society being rude and inconsiderate is becoming rather common. I think some actually aspire to achieve as such.

The simple solution is to go elsewhere ,that is what I do. Been in a few shops run by those like you mention , never been back - EVER! There are places out there that want your business and believe in the old school ideology of treating others as you would like to be treated. Those are the places that get my business.
 
I often have the same problem. Not usually at gun shops though. I've walked into many places of business the clerk would wait on the person that came in behind me and flat out ignore me. It has happened also at a few gun shops over the years but not lately. The gun shops I frequent seem to be manned or populated by like minded people who want to BS non stop.
 
I've got one gunshop that's less than 3 miles from where I work. Another is 8 miles from work. So how far did I drive to buy my last 3 handguns ? 30 miles. Because I like the way I'm treated in that shop.
 
One shop I know of is run by a "sportsman" type who wants to stock and sell only engraved, gold-inlaid shotguns and rifles. (The kind Obama will graciously allow us to keep.)

The dealer scorns anyone who does not dress in Harris tweed and speak with a plummy accent.

Needless to say, this low class type does not patronize that store.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't happen to be in Missouri would it?

I used to go in a shop that is owned and run by ex-LEO/LEO. When I would go in it was almost as if they were trying to see how long they could ignore me because I wasn't part of the "brotherhood". I usually wanted to look at the wheelguns (they didn't have many) and that brought even more scorn. I have spent about $12,000 in the last two years and, needless to say, they didn't get a dime of it. Too bad for them.
 
At every gun shop I've been to, the associates always are nasty to minorities and even some white guys who look a certain way. I thought it was just me at first, but now I'm convinced.
 
Snooty??

I trade most with one store and a little bit with another, both extremely friendly and coureous. I went in and out of the first for several years before buying anything, and they treated me like a big spender every time. Their prices are a bit higher than some others, but they treat me so well I still go thee. The other is really friendly, and I do try hard to find something there I either need or want just so I can spend a bit there also.
 
Snooty??

I trade most with one store and a little bit with another, both extremely friendly and coureous. I went in and out of the first for several years before buying anything, and they treated me like a big spender every time. Their prices are a bit higher than some others, but they treat me so well I still go thee. The other is really friendly, and I do try hard to find something there I either need or want just so I can spend a bit there also. If I had more moola I would likely spend a lot more in both stores.
 
More snooty?

Drat! I pushed the wrong button, and doublre posted! I'm still learning how to do this. Sorry about that!!
 
A little comedy to brighten up my Monday evening.

There is one shop locally that has not treated me very well in the past. The owner treats me just fine; it is the clingons that look down their glasses at you. :) Of late, they treat me much better. I even decided to buy a gun from them. Honestly speaking, I think it is just a good day/bad day kind of thing and if they get to know you alittle, things will probably change.

Of course, I have not observed your behavior at these shops either. Jimmy, I do think you are entitled to my respect at least in a passive sense until you do something to make me think otherwise.

I have found that the average customer doesn't know beans about fireams.
 
I've dealt with it...

I went into the local gun shop looking for a specific scope for a varmit rifle I was building up. When I asked the guy if they had it, he proceded to ask me why in the hell would anyone want a varmit rifle with a scope like that... it was just stupid to pay that much money for a zeiss, I didn't need 6.5-20 power scope, that 22-250 I have is overkill for what I wanted to do...

I told him a simple "no" would have done.

haven't been back there since
 
People who treat others poorly, especially in a business situation, don't deserve the support -- or the business -- of others.

It's quite simple, really: If your local gun shop treats you poorly, find another shop that does not. Better yet, tell the local shop that you believe you are being treated poorly and that if they wish to continue receiveing your support, they'd better improve their customer service and their attitude. Even if they don't, or even if they can't, you at least will give them a heads-up about the reason why you are heading for greener pastures. That way, they can't say that they weren't warned; their eventual downfall will be wholly on themselves.
 
It depends on the store. There is a place where I live that I've been going to since I was 17. They treat me well, even though they've had me come in there many times just to windowshop and bs with the old guy that runs the range. (it's two different businesses under one roof).

It doesn't hurt that I've spent around $5000 there since I was 18, and referred I don't know how many customers. I also have sold guns to folks there before (not employee) just they had questions, and I answered them, and then merchandise moved.

I've also been to a few shops where the owners were @#*holes. Granted, none got my business.

The difference?

Most of the folks who are anti-social to their potential clientele are gun folks that opened up a shop. Whereas the people who are nice are businessmen who happen to be gun people.

There is a difference.

The owner of the store I've been going to for years I know very little about his shooting habits, desires, or opinions, personally. He stocks what his customers want.

The other folks, it's pretty clear they could care less about what their customers want.
 
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