Gun shop question

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Always SMH, when I go to BassPro. Does anybody have any idea why they sort and display their ammo by the brand, instead of the caliber?
 
Yes Murl's Gun Shop in Granbury TX. I was there a few years ago and he had 500 and 1000 rds boxes of lead bullets sitting on the floor and there were prices on them. I picked up a couple to buy and he said, "You know those prices are old and I'm not going to sell them for that price". He jacked up the prices and I left them on the counter and left an never returned.
 
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Yea, there was a local gun shop and range that was owned and operated by a very nice couple. He had his interests and she had her interests and they employed a handful of equally "nice" people, each of whom had a different interest which all collectively complimented each other. One of the female employees, who was the specialist in black powder stuff, developed cancer and we all had a benefit for her. Well.... one day this very great couple decided to retire and sold the business to a "ring knocker" who knew everything about everything worth knowing. The place went downhill fast in lots of ways, less reloading inventory, a lot dirtier - downright filthy, prices went way up and all that was on the shelf was black plastic "tacti-cool" stuff. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, it became the preferred local place to commit suicide. I don't remember if it was after seeing the 3rd or 4th body laying on the floor in a pool of blood that I decided using the range wasn't worth it any longer. In some places they didn't even bother getting all of the blood stains out of the concrete floor.
Where was this at?
 
Has a local gun shop ever done anything that would make you not shop there again, after years of shopping at that establishment?
I usually give a shop a few tries to not disappoint.

The fastest way to never see me again is tell me "you don't want that. You want this."

It's about attitude and arrogance. Too many people behind the counter believe they are weapons experts and master class ninja/tactical instructors.

Some behind the counter really are super experts, but it's not hard to spot the phonies. Most gun shops cannot afford to hire a weapons expert or high end instructor to sell firearms.

Now, if I am working with a guy/gal who is humble and interested in meeting my firearm needs, that's a shop I will return to for years to come.

And, for me at least, that's for any place of business.
 
Some LGS’s make you feel like an unwanted outsider, & some act glad to see you. I am blessed to live where there are more than a handful of the smaller local gun stores, so I frequent those who treat me decently. Those who act like they don’t want my business don’t get my business.

One of those LGS’s handled several transfers for me and were personable during the process. On the last one I tried there, the rules had changed - they required the FFL seller to contact them, wouldn’t provide a copy of their FFL for me to mail along with my payment to the seller, & generally treated me as a criminal suspect. That shop is doing well, & good for them. I haven’t darkened their door since and likely never will again since I have better choices.
 
I usually give a shop a few tries to not disappoint.

The fastest way to never see me again is tell me "you don't want that. You want this."

It's about attitude and arrogance. Too many people behind the counter believe they are weapons experts and master class ninja/tactical instructors.

Some behind the counter really are super experts, but it's not hard to spot the phonies. Most gun shops cannot afford to hire a weapons expert or high end instructor to sell firearms.

Now, if I am working with a guy/gal who is humble and interested in meeting my firearm needs, that's a shop I will return to for years to come.

And, for me at least, that's for any place of business.

Yah, you remind me of my LGS I am irate with right now. I wanted to order 410 Enfield, and he proceeds to show me all the recent trade ins that he is sure i want instead. I know I didn't stutter when I told him the first time. But this has happened before.

Several years ago I was in the market for an AK 47, and after looking at several he had in stock, I settled on the folding wire stock Zastava M70 as it fit my shoulder quite well. He gave me a song and dance that the one I wanted was only for display only (yah, right) and he could sell me one with a wood stock instead. Being young and foolish, I let him talk me into it, and found out the stock didn't fit my shoulder at all. Live and learn the hard way.

(By the way, the "display only" was gone the next time I was in there.)
 
Located just outside Independence Ohio is a range and gunshop with the word stone in its name. I have had many dealings with this place due to taking some work required classes there.
1) I had just turned 21 and wanted a ccw handgun. A buddy and I drove the hour there because they have like a 30 stall range and a ton of handguns. We arrived and there was also a uniform shop of the same name but wasn't sure it was separate. When we walked in the lady basically yelled at me the range was next door. When we walked in the range/gun portion of the store you would have thought you walked into a biker bar that allowed you to carry weapons. One guy wearing wrangler jeans so tight I'm surprised he can have kids, cowboy boots, mullet and Yosemite sam mustache with his 1911 and 2 extra mags and bowie knife. Bald guy with a ton of tattoos and beard down to his waist carrying on a shoulder holster, and just a bunch of other rough looking guys. I got the mullet guy and right off the rip he was being a complete a-hole. I told him I wanted an M&P compact and he kept pushing other brands. He want to see I.D. before allowing me to see the handgun, wouldn't let my buddy see it who was a month from being 21yo, he was just being a total jerk. We shot my M&P and they weren't happy my buddy was under 21yo. The counter guy hung out in the stalls and kept going around sweeping up my brass. Said unless I was buying something he couldn't help me anymore. I really like a J frame they had on sale and they had a huge holster selection so after checking Gander Mountain I called Stonewall a few days later and asked what the model and price was of the J frame and if they had a specific holster. I got the mullet guy and he says why didn't you check the other day when you and your buddy where here? I said huh? He says why didn't you check into all that the other day when you were here? I said what do you mean and he replies that me and my buddy were in the store over the weekend and wanted to know why I didn't look into all that last time I was there. I explained I came in looking for an auto and remember the revolver. He said well you should have looked into this last time you were here.

I went there with a family member who is a cop and they clearly had a sign saying police discount. He wanted I.D and my family member went to get his badge from the car and I told the bald, bearded guy what he was doing and he says what does he want a discount or something? He was shown the badge and says that's nice, got some ID? He was handed the police ID and tosses it on the counter and says a drivers license.

FFW to the time when ammo was scarce work sent me there to qualify and I couldn't find 9mm anywhere. $22-23 box for aluminum. I could never figure out why they were so atiment on not picking up brass until I peaked into the back room. Brass sorting machine and 55gal drums marked with caliber. They resell it. Classes use the back private range and classrooms and they don't allow you to park in the main parking lot because that's for customers. Customers started overflowing and they made us all get up during a state mandated class, move our cars behind the building where there was glass, nails, dirt, etc. The bald bearded guy come out and started yelling at everyone we couldn't park back there. Last year in September I had to requalify again and was told absolutely no reloads. I didn't think I was going to be able to requalify because I cut the pad of my thumb off in august and Walmart didn't have ammo. I asked for a box of 9mm and was asked if I was with the class and when I said yes I was told $18-19 for Blazer 9mm. Everyone is always so grouchy in there. I tell everyone I deal with have a good day or have a good one and the counter guy (old guy with glasses) says yep! and walks away. All you hear wen you walk into this place is AR15 getting mag dumps and handguns getting mag dumped.

The way I was treated when I was looking for the ccw gun and when I called them they can take their store and stick it. They could try and sell me a Kimber 1911 for $100 and I STILL WOULDNT BUY IT.

There is another range that just opened that has several guys in the range with you watching you. Don't pass guns, not allowed to fix stove pipes or double feeds.

One local gun shop closed up because every time you went in there the guy wanted to tell you what you should buy and was just plain rude. I went in there for J frame grips and wasn't sure how to install them and he made me feel like an idiot. I wanted to put them back but he had them clearance way cheaper than online.

I try and use one LGS that does transfers pretty cheap and I buy something small from them when I do. The GF got a handgun off grabagun and had it sent there. They were super helpful and she wanted a small pistol safe the LGS said they could order one for her but she would be better off going to RK for one cause they are having a weekend sale. I thought that was pretty cool.

I will give props to fin feather fur. They did tick me off at the middleburge store years ago because I was getting into reloading and basically live paycheck to paycheck so every two weeks I would buy one item for reloading. Older guy with black spikey hair and glasses comes up a few times and asks if I need anything? I said no thanks and then I notice he is just standing there watching me and my 65yo uncle who liked going with me for the drive. He then comes up to me and says I see you in here a lot and says he is a retired cop and walks away. I was sooo pissed that I started getting stuff online for a little over a year and didn't visit the store. I did get very well taken care of when another store over an hour away put a Marlin 1895 on a weekend only sale for $499. Marlin was running a rebate which would put the gun at $399. I asked if Fin would price match and they said they had to call that store and see if they had it in stock. The guy comes back and says that the other store closes at 5pm and if I could get to Fin by 5pm he would do it. I explained I was leaving work at 4pm and that I doubt I could make it there by then and that's why I asked if they would price match because I cant get to the other store by 5pm. He says be here by 515 and I will do it. I showed up about 520 or so and he took care of me. Fin never price gouged during the panic, always has nice workers, etc. Price gouge, be rude and ill never set foot in the store again.
 
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I have 2 local shops I refuse to spend money in any more. One I used to buy new and used guns fairly regularly, used him for several transfers and even had his gunsmith do work on several weapons. I put a like-new Browning Mountain TI in .308 on consignment for about a month or so with him. It didn't sell, so I decided to list it on GB and went to his store to pick it up. He required I do a transfer for my own rifle as it had to be logged into and out of his bound book. Well, ok. And then he charged me his $55 transfer fee to boot. Not so ok. (It sold on GB for about $150 more than my asking price in his store.)

Then came the day I went in to retrieve a rifle his gunsmith had worked on for me. The price on the work ticket was nearly 2x his quoted price at the time I dropped it off 2 weeks prior. I asked what's up with that? His reply was "That's what we get for that work."
Sometime later, a product rep I knew who serviced that store, said the owner often bragged about how well he could size up gunsmithing customer's ability to pay and the maximum amount he could squeeze them for.

I haven't been back.
 
Yeah. The one I worked at for ten years, did the appraisals, covered for the owners on vacation, finally sold to a kid. He knows nothing. I went in to put a gun on consignment and he proceeded to lecture me on value, pricing and condition, in all three areas he was wrong. I thanked him,a packed up my gun and as i was leaving he asked if I could help him out when he was short handed. I said that if it fit in my schedule, maybe.
 
I've had bad experiences at other stores dealing with other things but ironically not at a lgs.
 
I have 2 local shops I refuse to spend money in any more. One I used to buy new and used guns fairly regularly, used him for several transfers and even had his gunsmith do work on several weapons. I put a like-new Browning Mountain TI in .308 on consignment for about a month or so with him. It didn't sell, so I decided to list it on GB and went to his store to pick it up. He required I do a transfer for my own rifle as it had to be logged into and out of his bound book. Well, ok. And then he charged me his $55 transfer fee to boot. Not so ok. (It sold on GB for about $150 more than my asking price in his store.)

Then came the day I went in to retrieve a rifle his gunsmith had worked on for me. The price on the work ticket was nearly 2x his quoted price at the time I dropped it off 2 weeks prior. I asked what's up with that? His reply was "That's what we get for that work."
Sometime later, a product rep I knew who serviced that store, said the owner often bragged about how well he could size up gunsmithing customer's ability to pay and the maximum amount he could squeeze them for.

I haven't been back.
I wouldn't have given him $55 for the transfer and told him I was calling ATF because he wouldn't relinquish your firearm.
 
Well, Have we beaten this to death yet??
I guess some people seem to forget that without beating a thread to death or making new threads we wouldn't have a forum to begin with. When you start closing threads because one person doesn't want to see it anymore this place will turn into other forums where you only see 2-3 new posts/threads a week.
 
Exactly Ohio, when the other tread closed 3 years ago, alot can happen between then and maybe better stories. Love this forum and i hope it stays this way.

But back on track, I went to a local place a few years ago. Know it all people. unless you were buying the latest and greatest, you would not get great service. Been stopping there for every now and then for about 15 years, until i saw this. Man and his son were in there (just them, me and a counter guy). The boy was about 13 or so, looking to trade in his 22lr for a hunting rifle. the clerk only offered him 25 for the 22. Said it was not worth much, its uncommon. it will need parts, ETC. The kid said ok. That riled me up, so i offered the kid $100 bucks for it, sight unseen. The guy told me to leave and that it was illegal to buy from a person, i told them i will be in the parking lot. So they came out and i bought it. found out it was a ruger 10/22 target modal.
 
I got a K38 that way. The dealer didn't care, he didn't really want it anyhow, being that it was mechanically sound but worn in finish. I gave $87.50 which made the seller happy, that was what he paid for it originally.
 
Exactly Ohio, when the other tread closed 3 years ago, alot can happen between then and maybe better stories. Love this forum and i hope it stays this way.

But back on track, I went to a local place a few years ago. Know it all people. unless you were buying the latest and greatest, you would not get great service. Been stopping there for every now and then for about 15 years, until i saw this. Man and his son were in there (just them, me and a counter guy). The boy was about 13 or so, looking to trade in his 22lr for a hunting rifle. the clerk only offered him 25 for the 22. Said it was not worth much, its uncommon. it will need parts, ETC. The kid said ok. That riled me up, so i offered the kid $100 bucks for it, sight unseen. The guy told me to leave and that it was illegal to buy from a person, i told them i will be in the parking lot. So they came out and i bought it. found out it was a ruger 10/22 target modal.
Gander Mountain hosed my buddy with an AR and also my brother with an AR. My buddies grandfather passed and left him like $30k so he goes out and gets like a $1200 AR from that store with a nice scope, bipod, etc. Money got tight about a year later and he sold Gander the AR. $400 for the AR, scope and bipod. A week later we went in there and it sat on the used rack for about $1k. They told him they don't pay for scopes and accessories and that's why he got $400. Well looks like they are charging for scopes and accessories. I knew a guy who worked at Gander and one day a man came in with a S&W 5906 type gun and was told they would give him $100 for it. Gander employee said they would sell it for $350-400.
 
Yea, there was a local gun shop and range that was owned and operated by a very nice couple. He had his interests and she had her interests and they employed a handful of equally "nice" people, each of whom had a different interest which all collectively complimented each other. One of the female employees, who was the specialist in black powder stuff, developed cancer and we all had a benefit for her. Well.... one day this very great couple decided to retire and sold the business to a "ring knocker" who knew everything about everything worth knowing. The place went downhill fast in lots of ways, less reloading inventory, a lot dirtier - downright filthy, prices went way up and all that was on the shelf was black plastic "tacti-cool" stuff. Then, if that wasn't bad enough, it became the preferred local place to commit suicide. I don't remember if it was after seeing the 3rd or 4th body laying on the floor in a pool of blood that I decided using the range wasn't worth it any longer. In some places they didn't even bother getting all of the blood stains out of the concrete floor.

You've been present for four suicides? Strange odds.
 
Shops with high prices, and / or shops not willing to transfer in guns that they stock. I'm perfectly willing to pay ten percent more out the door than I can find online, or to order online and then let the FFL collect their fee for a few minutes of work. What I won't do is pay a hundred dollars or more for the same gun to support my local shop.

The only other thing that'll kill my desire to darken a shop's door is disrespecting my wife. "Little ladying" her into a .380 that's not much fun to shoot when she's perfectly content and capable firing a range of calibers including .45 or 10mm. Honestly it bothers me more than her and she can laugh it off. Me not so much.
 
Hi...
I used to frequent a lgs that had an excellent selection of used guns, new firearms, reloading equipment and supplies along with hunting equipment, clothes and boots. Combine that with a pretty knowledgeable staff and you had a great place to shop and buy.

They moved into a new facility with a shooting range, fancy club room and cigar bar. Fast forward a couple years...almost no used firearms, no reloading equipment or supplies, essentially no hunting equipment, clothes or boots. The holster area is gone...replaced with a cigar humidor room.

All they seem to want to cater to are the AR crowd and hi capacity autoloader crowd. The range they built is extremely expensive, whether you rent by the hour or buy a membership and you can't pick up your own brass.

Although I was a regular customer for decades that bought thousands of dollars worth of guns, reloading equipment, supplies and hunting clothes and boots there, it seems what is left of the old staff has forgotten me. The new staff is all young guys that are all tattooed and experts on everything tactical.
Their new policy is you enter your name on an electronic screen and they will post your name when they decide to wait on you. Until then they won't even speak to you.

I stop in every few months to see if things have changed but they seem to be doing fine without my business.
 
Yes Murl's Gun Shop in Granbury TX. I was there a few years ago and he had 500 and 1000 rds boxes of lead bullets sitting on the floor and there were prices on them. I picked up a couple to buy and he said, "You know those prices are old and I'm not going to sell them for that price". He jacked up the prices and I left them on the counter and left an never returned.
There are laws in some places that mispriced items must be sold for the lowest marked price.
 
Sadly, yes.
Almost always a staffing issue.
Knew of a family-run joint, had several of the kids working in the place, they were pretty knowledgeable, for having grown up with the biz, but they also knew that their purpose was to keep the business open. So, no inside deals or mis-marked prices (for "friends"), and it was "I'll find out" if they didn't know something. So, it was a good place, had regulars who just hung out for the camaraderie and ambiance.

But, the kids started going off to college or getting married. The new hires were not up to the previous standards in even the slightest. So, know-it-alls, "insider" deals, even a troll who deliberately put box prices on cases (started with .22s and worked up).

Only thing sadder to see is when the owners just get to where they want to be retired, and the shop goes away.
 
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