Gunstore Opinion

[Sam1911]

1894--Why is BikerRN the one doing the apologizing? He's the CUSTOMER who was treated badly. He doesn't need the LGS, he can go to a myriad of different places. They are the ones who need him and others like him.

Well, to be fair, NO ONE has been treated badly. BRN just didn't get the benefit he had expected. The shop hasn't stiffed him, lied to him, insulted him, or otherwise mistreated him. He just expected them to perform a certain service (freebie, nicety, favor, bonus, gift) that they didn't extend at this time.

There may be various reasons for this ranging from "brand new policy because of X,Y,Z..." to, "Well, the boss has been losing his shirt on ordered bits and pieces that folks never come get and has asked us to stop doing that," to even "Oh, shoot, what was I thinking...no, you don't need to make a deposit on that, I was thinking about something else, my fault, I'll have it for you Monday."

Either way, it's NO big deal. He's not out any money and he can probably get the parts faster with a mouse click and a credit card anyway.

Now the question comes to mind, is this perceived slight worth abandoning a store that is convenient and otherwise a great place to do business?

To me it seems more like the case of a pal not offering you a beer when you drop by his house. Maybe he was out. Maybe he just didn't think of it. Maybe he's on the wagon. Does it really hurt your feelings enough to end the friendship?

 

[SharkHat]

Expectations are often just premeditated resentments.

If I were the owner of a retail store, and a well-known regular requested a special order piece, I would certainly do what I could to order it for them without requiring a deposit. Even if doing so would be counter to a deposit policy. I would expect my managers to have discretion in applying exceptions like this as well. Counter clerks, not so much.

As a customer, I might be surprised if a courtesy that had previously been extended to me were to suddenly not be offered, but I would not cease to do business there for such a simple reason. Asking for a deposits for special orders is a reasonable business practice.

If the store had suddenly started becoming unfriendly, such as asking me to stop wasting their time by browsing and checking out prospective purchases - "Buy something or move along" - then I would certainly expect a drastic change in patronage.

 

[Bubba613]

To be fair, I don't think requiring a loyal customer to come by to put a deposit down on a $50 item to be "nothing." It's a hassle that neither the store nor the customer should bother with.

A deposit on a $50 item is nothing. Either he wants it and gives them the deposit, or he goes elsewhere.
Something would be like taking the deposit and claiming they never got it.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This is probably some new policy, and is it really that big of a deal? He could, however, make an exception for a longtime customer, if you explain in a calm manner your displeasure.

 

[chrt396]

Sounds like your feelings were hurt. I`m sure they know your a good customer and value your business but sometime things change, as in store -polcy. Maybe it`s a cash flow problem.
Better yet, why not just ask them ...."why the need for a deposit, when in the past, none was required?" Their answer might surprise you. J s/n.

I agree!! The first thought I had was that it hurt BikerRN's feelings a bit. I can't say that I wouldn't have been offended a little myself as well. You feel good when you go in to a store and everyone knows your name and you can sit and BS about anything...and generally making you feel welcome! Kind of like the old sitcom.."Cheers". With that said..many of the gun stores don't even like carrying many accessories because they are constantly in competition with the internet. Their inventory sits and becomes obsolete..and then they have to blow it out at a loss to clear out their inventory. The deposit just insures them that the customer will definately pick up the item after it arrives.

I will digress for a moment here!

Down at a local reloading shop, the owner was complaining about a customer ordering a Hornandy case trimmer station. They sell for $315-$350 all over the internet. He had it priced at $459 and could NOT understand why the customer did not come in to pick it up. I carefully told him that he was so friggin' high..that price may have had something to do with it. He indignitly stated that he was only making a few dollars on it and that there was no reason to discount it any furthur. Anyway...unless this store owner comes to his senses..or some mullet walks in that doesn't know any better..that prep center is going to sit...a looonnngg time.

I prefer to buy at the local stores and support local businesses. However..the prices have gotten out of hand on many products and I have reverted back to the internet for price comparisons. The local stores in most cases will not back up the products they sell anyway..so don't feel obligated to buy it from them.

It sucks for the impulse buyer to order from the internet..but it sure is a lot cheaper.

 

[CZguy]

The hand shake and a person's word are about as worthless in today's business forum, as used toilet paper

Now that's what I call descriptive writing. I too am a fan of Hemingway.

 

[LeonCarr]

If you don't like the way a LGS does business, go to another one. Money is like your backside...it is yours and it is portable. If they talk down to me and treat me like garbage while I am patronizing their establishment, someone else will get the money. Period.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Sam1911]

If they talk down to me and treat me like garbage while I am patronizing their establishment, someone else will get the money. Period.

Hold on, wait. They weren't rude to him, didn't talk down to him, and certainly didn't treat him like garbage! They just didn't extend a certain favor to him that he had expected.

If they had been rude or dishonest we wouldn't even be talking about this -- he'd be a fool to go back.

 

[esquare]

I don't understand, couldn't they have just taken the deposit over the phone with a credit card?

Besides, ordering grips and things like that is what the internet is for. I would never ask a LGS to order a grip for me when I can just order it myself and have it shipped directly to me.

Just my 0.02

 

[CZguy]

BikerRN,

Sir, with all due respect. I think that have over reacted to this situation.

We can't control the things that happen to us in life, but we can control how we react to them.

 

[mdauben]

I'm thinking of never gracing thier door again. What say you?

I would have to say you are over reacting. One (admittedly annoying) event cancels out years of friendly service? If they continue down the road of providing poorer service I can see leaving them, but not for this one thing.

 

[Ryanxia]

It could also be that they can't buy on credit with that manufacturer and can't/won't pay out of pocket. I would find it irritating too but I wouldn't go to the extreme of never doing business with them again.

 

[LeonCarr]

Sam1911,

What I was getting at was if you don't like the treatment you were given go somewhere else, not that the LGS in question was rude or inconsiderate.

There is a popular gun shop in College Station, Texas (The locals know who I am talking about) who I had been doing business with since 1995 when they were selling SKSs and wooden crates of ammo out of their house. After buying about a dozen guns, including several special orders, one day out of the blue I call them to place an special order for a 600 dollar rifle, and they tell me they need a 15% deposit to order it. I ask them if I can put the deposit on a credit card over the phone, and they said no.

I have not darkened their door since, and that was 2005.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Sam1911]

one day out of the blue I call them to place an special order for a 600 dollar rifle, and they tell me they need a 15% deposit to order it. I ask them if I can put the deposit on a credit card over the phone, and they said no.

I have not darkened their door since, and that was 2005.

There was a period of time there in the early 2000s where credit cards seemed especially vulnerable to hijacking and identity theft. Might have had something to do with them not wanting to take a card over the phone, but it's hard to say.

Obviously you have to do what you have to do. I sure hope you had other places you could go to get your gun needs met. Sure would be a shame to lose your connection to a good place over something as minuscule as that.

 

[Batta]

My guess is they are having trouble with other customers and have changed their policy. Its up to you weather you do business with them again but I don't think you were a cause for the policy change.

 

[youngda9]

Feelings...what's all this talk about feelings...

 

[BSA1]

BikerRN,

Just for the tally books (and to help prove how unreasonable the LGS was) what was the item and for what model of gun?

 

[maskedman504]

I am sure they have never heard:

"Come on, you know I am good for it!"

I think you are getting a little bent up about a common business practice. I mean, if you ordered it direct from Pachmeyer, did they not charge you the entire amount upfront or did they say "you can pay us upon arrival" ?

Hell, alot of places make you pay the full amount upfront for special orders.

 

[signalzero]

It's logical that they would want a deposit on an item that they are ordering on your behalf. Since it isn't something they have stocked (why else would they order for you), they have to pay to receive the item first. I could understand your frustration on something they regularly stock, but in this case I see it as a preventative measure to ensure they're not stiffed with an order, regardless of how long you've been a customer there.

 

[788Ham]

BikerRN,

I have to side with you on this, if I've ordered as many items as you have, and those 41 mag revolvers weren't give aways either, I'm afraid I feel the same way. If loyalty doesn't mean anything, they should have told you that when the first guy you brought in showed up with you, "You're only allowed one good deal per customer."

youngda9,

"They probably don't want to take the time on the phone, get the order, order the part......." "Feelings......... whats all this talk about feelings...... " If the LSG doesn't want to take the time to take care of a customer, then they're in the wrong damned business to begin with! If they are too wrapped up in themselves, can't be bothered to take care of a customer, then they deserve to shut out the lights and lock the door prematurely! If I'd been the one to bring someone in and had them buy a firearm from the LSG, then be treated this way, you can bet your next paycheck I'd go someplace else. Have you ever been good friends, customer with someone, then made to feel like you were a first timer and we can't help you without a deposit? You sound like they do, glad I don't need anything from you!

 

[Chris-bob]

I personally would visit a few more times and let those trips be the deciding factor. See if it was a one time inconvenience, or a recurring issue.

 

[Skribs]

I remember one time working at Albertson's, where (due to penny pinching) we were required by management to do plastic unless the customer specifically asked for paper. One man came through, and because "everyone knows I like paper" he didn't bother to mention it, and then he chewed me out for giving him plastic.

OP, is it an inconvenience to have to go down? Yes. Is it something they are going out of their way to make YOU do, or is it a standard policy? I'm guessing they aren't out to get you, but they want you to follow the same standard as everyone else. If I were you, I'd just buy those things you can order yourself online, but still use the store for the big stuff.

 

[BikerRN]

I'll pick up the last gun, already paid in full, and probably never grace thier door again or recommend them.

I have seen the store change over the years, to three times the price of another FFL's transfer fee, refusing to be the receiver of Glock pistols because he's a Glock dealer and wants you to buy from him, to having an attitude of not caring if you buy or not as someone else will. There are enough people in and out the door that if you don't buy it rest assured somebody will be filling out a 4473 for that item.

One of the reasons I like to frequent local businesses is for the personalized service. If I want impersonal I can get that from the internet and probably a lot cheaper to boot. I'm not foolish enough to think that my purchase of a set of rubber stocks for the already paid for revolver will make or break them. The gun I paid for, but am waiting on, is the one I wanted the stocks for. Since they are unwilling to do that I'll just take my business elsewhere and recommend others do the same.

Even with shipping and transfer fees I can get things cheaper online. Lots of businesses talk about "support your local stores" but when push comes to shove they make it hard to do so by thier attitude and lack of personal service. I have a local Gunsmith I use that is known for his work, more than one in fact. While I may have to wait my place in line to get guns worked on, I've always appreciated the personal service and attention to detail. That is a factor that seems to be lacking in this store. By the way, these 'smiths don't ask me for a deposit, or accept one, when I drop something off to be worked on and they are famous names. In some places a man's word is still good I'm glad to see.

BikerRN

 

[Skribs]

refusing to be the receiver of Glock pistols because he's a Glock dealer and wants you to buy from him

That's like asking a girl who likes you if she'll hook you up with her friend. It's also why when I order something online that requires an FFL, I'll be using a pawn shop instead of a store.

 

[Davek1977]

As always, you are free to shop where you please. As you said, the place does enough volume that your dollars won't be missed. You are free to find another shop, and they are free to continue running their business in the manner they see fit to do so. Everyone wins. Thats the great thing about choices....we get to DECIDE where we spend our money. If you were being singled out, or otherwise somehow directly "victimized" by the shop to any measurable degree, I'd be right there with you, ranting and raving. However, you didn't get singled out or picked on. In fact, quite the opposite....you were treated just like everyone else, and THAT fact seems to be causing you the most stress. Get over it. Loyal patronage should be appreciated by businesses, but it DOESN'T mandate special treatment or becoming an exclusion to their policies and practices. Times change, and so do the ways a business operates. The economic reality of today is different than that of the last decade, and businesses do what they can to make ends meet. Sometimes, that means less consumer convenience. Sad, but thats the realities of running a business....adapt or die.