What qualities bother you most about businesses which sell firearms?

What qualities bother you most about businesses which sell firearms? (Choose up to 3.)

  • Lack of selection.

    Votes: 30 15.6%
  • High prices.

    Votes: 80 41.7%
  • Lack of technical knowledge.

    Votes: 32 16.7%
  • General ignorance/stupidity.

    Votes: 55 28.6%
  • Prejudice/bigotry.

    Votes: 20 10.4%
  • Unwillingness to deal.

    Votes: 23 12.0%
  • Overly political.

    Votes: 18 9.4%
  • Pushy salesmanship.

    Votes: 11 5.7%
  • Being made to feel unwelcome.

    Votes: 50 26.0%
  • Gossip.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Being ignored.

    Votes: 42 21.9%
  • The spewing of flat-out bad advice.

    Votes: 50 26.0%
  • Crusty gun shop curmudgeons.

    Votes: 31 16.1%
  • That special "deliverance" feeling.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
  • A "stressed-out" atmosphere.

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • Poor organization.

    Votes: 5 2.6%
  • A dirty store.

    Votes: 10 5.2%
  • I don't care for big-box stores.

    Votes: 13 6.8%
  • Extremely expensive transfer charges where applicable.

    Votes: 22 11.5%
  • An overly "tactical" feel.

    Votes: 25 13.0%

  • Total voters
    192
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I've heard some really "out there in space" political stuff in gun stores over the years that made me just want to leave and never come back. One of the not quite local places had a regular who just was so offensive that I'm surprised someone hadn't taken offense and popped him upside the head. He spouted off about blacks, jews, arabs, Mexicans, and for some reason, he really hated Puerto Ricans, even though I don't think I've ever met someone from PR around here. One funny thing though, he stammered and stuttered like he was going to stroke out when I told him that people from PR are US citizens. He's in a home now, in the "memory unit". The store is a much more pleasant place to stop into now that he's gone. There is another guy who spouts ignorant stuff all the time, but he just seems to be generally stupid and not really understanding what he's parroting. He makes me laugh, sometimes while I'm talking to him. Uncomfortable, yes, but amusing.

Most of the people who don't like these types of posts are the main culprits....As stated above nobody wants some stranger spouting useless/ignorant information. But for some reason people feel the need to hang out at these shops and pester the customers.....and yes it's pestering. Nobody wants to hear it, nobody......once again.....go home.

Those people will drive customers away faster than anything.
 
When my wife decided to buy her "very own" handgun, we stopped at Kittery Trading Post (Maine)
we looked around, she saw a handgun she wanted to look at (under glass in the display) and stood there and stood there and stood there
I came over to see how she was doing (after a good 20 minutes) and immediately a "salesman" came over to see if he could help me.
I said "This lady was here ahead of me" and he said something to the effect of " Women take too much time" or something to that effect.
No money from us since for those @ssbags!!

I have been to Kittery Trading Post many times and have have seen and occasionally experienced indifference or an attitude of superiority. Generally I just browse the firearms that are in the racks on the floor, or snag ammo or accessories. If want to see something behind the counter or in a case I always take a moment to decide how badly I want to see it. Sometimes the sales person is friendly and helpful, sometimes not.

I will say that yesterday I visited two gun stores that I only get to occasionally. Both had staff that greeted me when I walked in, and asked how they could help. Both were fine when I indicated I just wanted to browse a bit, and both were pleasant when I asked to look at some firearms. Bought some accessories at both.
 
Poll needs more than 3 selections, I would have clicked about a dozen of em'.




.

I too could have selected "all of the above" if it were an option.

One thing many folks don't consider is when they patronize gunshops. Most of us stop in at night after work or on weekends. For the most part, this is when many of the newest or those on the bottom of the totem pole, are working. Owners and those with the best work ethics generally have the best hours(9 to 5 during the week), especially in the bigger stores. Thus we are exposed to those with the least amount of experience or expertise. Look in the want-ads and you see the local hardware stores, big box sporting goods stores and Walmart are looking for folks to work nights and week-ends.........not 9-5 during the week, when most of us are working.
 
The problem with a lot of gun shops is that they are run by shooters. It's a double edged sword. Sure, it's great when it's folks that are passionate about shooting but many of them are severely lacking in customer service. All too often there is far too much arrogant machismo and ego involved, both of which turn me off quicker than anything. You see this online with folks who are self-proclaimed experts because they're an FFL dealer. I don't like feeling like an outsider walking into an exclusive club. I know there are always going too be regulars but those guys typically aren't buying anything. I'm not a perpetual tire kicker. I buy guns all the time and if I find something I want at a reasonable price, I'll buy it but don't act like you're doing me a favor. I know they deal with a lot of difficult people and many are idiots. Just don't assume we're all morons.

All that said, I've never had a problem finding a gun shop I wanted to do business with. I've got a few local outlets and one really good one. The guys are friendly and there are no egos to deal with. The pricing is reasonable and their selection is good. They have earned my long term business and as such, I don't quibble over nickels and dimes.

It's the same thing with car salesmen. Some are just trying to do whatever they have to to make their dollar right now and they won't last long. Others understand that every kind word and gesture is a long term investment.

Conversely, I'm sure dealers have a quite a few gripes and complaints about customers too. Probably many of the same.
 
Tacticool is a big turn off for me. A couple of young veterans tried that route here and lasted two years. Their web site listed everything from Aero Percision to Zavasta but their actual in store inventory was quite small. Mostly Sig & HK pistols, high end AR's, Galil's and Tavor's and tactical knives at ridiculous prices. You could order what they advertised on line and pay MSRP plus a transfer fee. The last time I went in they were advertising Yugo Tokarev's for $275. A little high but I'll take a look see. Asked to see one and the clerk try to browbeat me telling me I was putting my family's life in danger if I didn't buy a SIG. I was 63 at the time and told the guy that I've been buying, selling, shooting and collecting firearms since before he was born and know what I like and want. I left and never went back.
Have cultivated a good relationship with my local LGS the past 25 years. They know me and know what I like. No BS from either of us and they are always 10% lower than everyone else. They are in the business of selling firearms & ammo, have an indoor range, are very knowledgeable about their products, give advice when asked, don't up sell, and don't allow people to just hang around. I respect all of that.
 
Prejudice and bigotry are the main turn offs. I go in to buy a gun or ammo, not to hear some A****** spout off an "the real problem" or how he would "fix everything in five minutes."

Guns I like. People I can usually do without, especially half the morons in the local store.
 
Well, I selected the "made to feel unwelcome" choice. It seems that many of the smaller shops have the group of "regulars" and you feel like it's your first day of school in a new town. They continue shooting the breeze and ignore you, or watch you with no offer of help.
 
High prices and being ignored for me.

High prices because sometimes I feel bad for only buying guns online and only using a local gun store as the FFL transfer point, but every time I've bought a gun locally I've gotten burned so badly price wise I can't justify doing it again. I should look for "kitchen table" type FFLs, I guess.

Being ignored because it's just downright rude and horrible business sense. I don't know if it's because I look young or what, but nothing is a bigger turn off to buying something expensive like a gun than being flat out ignored, or getting brushed off as soon as possible when I finally flag someone down. I guess places like that either must have regulars spending enough money to keep the place afloat without people like me buying things, or enough people they treat poorly buy from them anyway that it doesn't matter.

I really don't get it, for all they know I might be willing to drop some serious money if they just treat me like a customer instead of something stuck to the bottom of their shoe. More than once I've walked out of places because of how they've treated me and spent my money somewhere else. One of those times I spent too much on a gun, I was ok with getting charged more because they treated me well when I was unsure of what I wanted, and let me handle a bunch of guns without pressuring me towards the most expensive options.
 
We're (the RKBA movement) is doomed. Nothing but negative responses -- clearly, the brick and mortar firearms retailers are all screwed up and just can't get anything right.

Guess I'm lucky up here in the PNW, where we actually have a few gunshops where it's fun to go hang out ...
 
We're (the RKBA movement) is doomed. Nothing but negative responses -- clearly, the brick and mortar firearms retailers are all screwed up and just can't get anything right.

Guess I'm lucky up here in the PNW, where we actually have a few gunshops where it's fun to go hang out ...
To be fair, the thread only elicited negative responses. ;)
 
Condescending salespeople bother me. I have a post up right now asking about which of four particular calibers I should choose in a particular bolt gun. I was in the gun section of a big box store recently. They were not busy so one of the clerks comes up and I tell him I am just looking becuase i don't want to waste his time when I'm not going to buy there. Well, he pushes a bit and I tell him the calibers I am looking at and then tells me that it's foolish to think of anything other than 6.5 Creedmoor. Gee, when the guy tells you he's narrowed down to four cartridges and one of them is NOT 6.5 Creedmoor - and you have rifles on display in all four of the calibers the guy says he's looking for, do you really think you're moving closer to making a sale by calling him foolish for thinking of a 270 or 308? Maybe someone comes in and says they're looking for something in a 7mm Shooting Times Westerner then you might explain the problems of getting and loading for the chambering, but calling someone a fool for not wanting a 6.5 Creed instead of a 270 just seems to be a good way to cease being what the accountants call, a "Going Concern".
 
Old Dog wrote:
Nothing but negative responses...

Went to an LGS last year. Said I wanted an AR. Said i had checked their website and knew they had S&W and Reuger but the S&W was priced $40 cheaper and so if there was no reason not to, I'd like to start with the S&W. The clerk said both were roughly equal and that the price between the rifles fluctuated based on that their distributor was demanding. They got out an S&W for me. I looked it over. Asked them to pop the take-down pin since I didn't want to be manhandling unsold merchandise. I look at the barrel and the bolt. While I'm looking down the barrel the clerk asked me is I was looking to see if the bore was chromed. I said i was not because I knew it was not. He said that they got a lot of customers looking at the S&W and Ruger expecting them to be chrome. He got more relaxed and chatty from that point on, but at no time did he ever act as if I didn't know what I was doing or speak down to me.

But - particularly when you consider the big box stores in the mix - around here this LGS is the exception rather than the rule. If they sold reloading components I'd probably all but live there, but since I buy maybe one gun a year, I'm a stranger every time I cross the threshold (yet they still don't talk down to me).
 
hemiram wrote:
I've heard some really "out there in space" political stuff in gun stores...

I've also heared some "really out there" political stuff at Christian churches I've visited. I don't think it's good in either setting. It drives away customers/visitors and makes it harder to "sell the product" whether it be religion or guns.
 
MistWolf

I'm with you; besides high prices (like retail+), and unwillingness to deal on those high prices, I really get turned off by poor customer service.
 
Guns behind the counter!!!

Guns stuffed into a half circle rack wearing tags with size 8 font

Especially used guns. Add to that the fact I usually have to all but kidnap an employee to even look at the gun, I'm to the point I won't even bother anymore.
 
One gripe I don't get is the not being approached one. I'm fine being left alone to look around and if I want help, I'll ask for it.
 
Three choices wasn't enough. When I checked "prejudice/bigotry", I meant it two ways. Race or ethnic bigotry, or the categorization of someone because of their appearance. The other way was brand prejudice. I don't know if the salesman is under pressure to push one brand over another due to profit margin. You ask about a certain firearm, they come back with "why would you want Brand X, when Brand Y is so much better", or that "Brand X is a POS and I wouldn't have one in my gun locker", when both X and Y are notably well-made with good reputations for performance. There are also the dealer "snobs", who keep trying to push you to the more expensive gun because that automatically makes it the better one.

Just give me a salesman who can show me the gun I want to look at, and be able to answer most any question about it. If I ask him which one does he think is better, then I'm prepared to take it as his opinion, but not necessarily fact. He should be able to compare two or more similar guns on their individual merits (this one is easier to take down, or this one is also available already cerakoted, etc). Then if I've decided to seriously consider a purchase, being able to bargain even a few bucks can make me feel like I had some control over the purchase price. Throwing in a box of ammo instead of a price cut would be a consideration, too.
 
For years I was a "regular" at a local store. It was almost like being "Norm" on "Cheers" when I went through the doors. I bought a lot of guns, ammo and reloading supplies there. The store got bigger, and staff changed. If I knew I could always deal with the owner when I went in, I'd still go there, but a couple of his crew have turned me off by being nosy and arrogant. Luckily, there's no shortage of gun stores here, and a lot of stuff I buy is through the interweb now.
 
It amazes me that so many think by being PC they will get some type of award. The PC crowd hates everything about the US and is rabid in their hatred for the 2nd amendment. not saying you have to spout of hate about people that is wrong but to glorify PC is beyond me better to say nothing and let it pass. plenty of room in between bigotry and PC
 
It amazes me that so many think by being PC they will get some type of award. The PC crowd hates everything about the US and is rabid in their hatred for the 2nd amendment. not saying you have to spout of hate about people that is wrong but to glorify PC is beyond me better to say nothing and let it pass. plenty of room in between bigotry and PC
Say what?
 
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