New Guy On The Other Side of the Counter...

Status
Not open for further replies.
My best advice...get a smartphone! Or else just have google handy on the computer, if you work in one of those fancy newfangled LGS's :rolleyes:.

I was at a Gander just browsing one day and another guy was looking at Kahr's...naturally he (the customer) wanted to know why the PM-9 was a couple hundred bucks more than the CM9. The salesman was friendly and patient enough and so they took both models out and examined them together. Admittedly I did not know the difference either (this was before I ever bought my Kahr), but a quick google search yielded several websites (THR was probably one of them) and I was able to chime in and give the guys some info.

Of course the next question the customer had was "what is polygonal rifling?" which thankfully I already knew the answer to that question!

The world of firearms is immense and no one can be expected to know everything about all the guns, all the history, as well as all the latest and greatest gadgets and gizmos, but if you know a little bit about all of them, and know what you don't know, that goes a long way.
 
Since this has become pretty wide ranging, here is something that doesn't just apply to gun shops:

PAY ATTENTION TO ME. I am the customer. You don't work for Joe's Gun Shop, YOU WORK FOR ME. If I don't come in, you don't have a job. Don't ignore me while you chat with your buddy behind the counter, or play phone sex with your girlfriend, or clean your fingernails, or guzzle a soft drink, or watch TV, or keep looking over my shoulder to see if there is something more interesting going on. PAY ATTENTION TO ME. YOU WORK FOR ME.

Maybe I won't buy anything today but I might be back tomorrow if I am made to feel welcome. Maybe I am a PITA, but I have money to spend; the way YOU act will determine whether I spend it where YOU work or somewhere else where I am better treated. If I spend it elsewhere, Joe won't be able to pay you. Joe may sign your paychecks, but YOU WORK FOR ME. And don't forget it!

Rant mode off. ;)

Jim
 
Deepsouth said:
If I come in and ask for something, it's because I already know that's what I want. So sell it to me and keep negative comments and suggestions of other products to yourself. Unless you don't have what I want and can't get it, then I 'may' be open to suggestions of similar products, I also may have my heart set on a "fillin the blank"
Click to expand...

Well said. Realize a lot of gun buyers do their homework (sometimes extensively) before buying. Its annoying if you're there to buy X and keep trying to get sold Y and Z that are not even remotely like X. If you don't have X, no worries, just tell the customer if you can order it, at what price, and a rough time it might be available. On that topic, if you say you need to check and will get back to someone (phone, email, etc.), no worries, but get back to them. If you don't in a reasonable amount of time, the sale is lost.

Beyond that, the most annoying gun sales guy is the one who thinks that the fact another human being is present, its fine to go on a long-winded monologue on guns, politics, history, their favorite color (turns out its blue), and the latest nutty conspiracy theory. Friendly banter is fine, but time is money and many people are too busy to listen to that nonsense.
 
Ask a lot of good questions before you start offering advice. My biggest pet peave is an employee that assumes I don't know anything and automatically tries to sell me a Glock 19.
 
I like sales persons who know when to help me. Most of the time I go into a gunshop (or other store) just to relax a bit while browsing. When I walk into a store and have three folks ask me in six minutes if they can help me before I've even had a chance to settle in and figure out if I want something, it's annoying. I'm not helpless. What's worse is when I finally have decided what I want and need help, no one is around.

As far as features go, on a rifle, I've got it figured out what most of them do. Don't tell me what a muzzle brake will do for me if I don't ask because I already know- blow out the eardrums. I hate the damn things and would rather deal with the recoil than the sideblast. Don't tell me what a cheap optic can do for me, I'm done wasting time & money on them. When I ask questions, answer honestly, including if you don't know. Don't worry if we don't agree unless you star pushing it like an agenda.

There will be customers of all types coming in. Some will be neophytes and need guidance. Some will have an encyclopedic knowledge and will teach you. Some will think they know everything and spout off every firearm myth with authority.

Mostly, I just want a friendly place to visit and maybe kill some time while keeping my eyes peeled for what I want next
 
Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.

Is what I live by..........I stopped in a local shop for some ammo and a young guy early 20's waited on me,,,, kidding with him I asked if a certain ammo worked (the Zombie stuff),just making conversation.. He then proceeded to tell me he was a spec op guy and killed many people with it overseas in his career......he asked me if I needed anything else and I offhandedly asked him if he had any 106mm in stock,, he walked over to the pistol ammo, looked between 9mm and .40 S&W said no but he expected some in any day.the scary part is ,he was serious...........

Not knowing all the answers isn't a sign of incompetence , a man who tells you he doesn't know but will get the answer for you is the guy you want to deal with.........Be Polite,,,be Prepared and find another part time job because you will need the extra cash while working In a gunshop...Good Luck!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top