Online Vs LGS

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Wildbillz

Wildbillz

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Hi All
A couple of months ago I decided I wanted a cheap 9mm Pistol, my timing wasn't great. I did some reserarch and made my mind up that what I needed was a Taurus G3C. I kept watching one of the online dealers that ran sales pretty often on but no luck. I sort of lost interest and then around Christmas time a LGS had some in stock. I didn't pay attention as I relay wasn't looking for one any longer. A month or so goes by and and the online dealer sent out notice that they had the G3C for $329.99 I was getting set to order it and did the math. With Shipping and sales tax by the online dealer and then my transfer fee at my FFL I was looking at $385.62 Not quite so cheap.

Then I remembered seeing them at the LGS. I decided to go and take a look and see if they by some strange chance still had them. They did. $279.99 with sales tax it was $303.xx out the door. So I saved $85 by not ordering on line. I paid with my CC and was able to use my points tward the purchas so at the end of the line the new pistol only cost me $178.xx

Moral of the story? Don't always assume that online is going to be cheaper. Might be worth checking the LGS if its something current made and work your points if you can.

I have only fired 100 rounds through it as of now and so far I like it a lot. Trigger takes a little getting use to.

WB
 
I use a local dealer for most of my 'in production' gun purchases, except those he can't get for one reason or another. Most of my purchases are collector level items and are not currently made at all. (1891 Mosin-Nagant with Tsarist markings, for instance. Mine was made by New England Westinghouse in 1915.) I found and bought that in another state. I had it shipped to my local dealer and paid him the transfer fee costs. In addition, every so often one of the local dealers has a collector grade item in trade from another buyer. I've bought several.

It depends, naturally.
 
For items like firearms I prefer to buy locally. That said though, the last several I have bought could not be found any other way but online. If I wanted it I had to pay the associated fees, but it beat not getting one at all.

Shop around. What you want may be available locally. Or not.
 
I will always try to do my business with a local shop. Even if the price is a bit more. 10% to keep their doors open is IMO a great deal for both of us. As long as those prices are reasonable that is. Things like reloading supplies are purchased in bulk (read max sipping weight) on line as they usually don't deal much in that stuff at all (some bullets and OF brass). The three I usually deal with know me personally and treat me more than fairly when I buy things from them.
 
I buy both ways. Prefer the local but will purchase online when items I'm looking for aren't available locally. Online isn't necessarily cheaper but the availability of items and unusual items being found due to the larger market place are the biggest is a plus
 
I always prefer to do business with the local shops, and by local shops I don't mean the big box stores. I'm fortunate to live very close to Impact Guns here in Salt Lake City, great place to do business, great prices, great guys running the place. They are also a major distributor for many brands as they have a huge online presence, so their inventory even in store is considerable. Their rifle wall has been full pretty much this whole time, and they have stuff you won't find most other places. I usually check them first when I'm in the market for something as their prices are usually as good as, if not better than whatever I'll find online, and I just prefer the convenience of buying local and having it in hand right away. That alone is worth a slight premium if there was one.

I will buy online for something specific if that's my only option however, if I just can't find it locally.
 
I can't complain at all about the pricing at my local dealers. So I don't and I buy from them whenever possible. I have a pretty good idea of what they carry so when they have something I need, they get my money. For new guns, I'll always go there first and if I buy a new gun online, it's at their suggestion. Of course used guns are a different story but I get plenty of those from them as well. I've also bought quite a few used scopes there in recent years. Stuff that otherwise would have to come from Midway.
 
I prefer to buy from my LGS. I will even have them order me guns versus buy them online and then do a transfer. But, they way things are now my LGS is actually telling people to try and order online if they can and have the gun shipped there for transferring it. Then I noticed the new sign they have up that now that says it’s $75 for all transfers. I don’t think the law changed. I think my LGS just raised the price. Not sure why but I intend to ask them.
 
Walked into my LGS/Range in December, there, waiting in the rack for me was a Weatherby Mark XXII Japan made magazine model, $500.00 +$15.00 NICS. Cheapest one I priced on line was $900.00.
 
We have a couple of LGS' who are always competitively priced with the online vendors. They're family owned businesses, owned by great, honest people. I buy from them, unless it's not something they have or can order. In addition to supporting people who deserve that support, I like being able to hold a gun before I buy it. There have been quite a few guns I thought I wanted until I held them and was able to dry fire them. If we don't support our LGS' we lose that.
 
Run of the mill guns that 99% of LGS's carry.
I dont bother even looking online..

However, I am not typically looking for those type guns.
 
The rub is no LGS has an inventory any where near what the consumer has at his finger tips on his key board. So IMO even the transfers and shipping fees are worth the added costs. Added cost that are often equivalent of the cost of time and expense of hopping from LGS to LGS.
 
I would love to do business with an LGS. The problem is here in Cincinnati the selection sucks! The store I use for my FFL has about 10 handguns a couple of 22 caliber target pistols a couple of used 9 mm and a $2,000 Colt Python!
Or I can go on GB and have thousands to choose from.
It's so bad here locally that the best selection is at a local Cabela's and they only have about 16 or 17 handguns in stock:(
 
As many have said, I always try to give my LGS the first shot at anything I'm interested in. I'm usually willing to pay up to $100 more to go through him if he can get it. The challenge, as everyone knows, is availability is low on a lot of things. So if he can't get it (or if it's a really smokin' deal that I just can't pass up), then I'll buy it online. I do the transfer through him so he at least makes that money. Given the relatively low margin in most retail, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes more profit off the transfer than the sale!
 
Many of the local shops that were around when I started are long gone. There are a couple I've found over the years and support regularly. Having a relationship with a LGS is worth paying a little more or having to wait for something. Some shops have a stash of ammo or supplies they keep for regular customers. I'll never get that support or service from an online retailer.
 
I have bought several firearms lately from my LGS because they have had the guns I wanted at the best price I can find. I always shop for a gun before I buy it. Sometimes the best price is online. Sometimes it is at the LGS. In the past I have saved several hundred dollars buying online and have had access to a much larger selection and inventory. Right now that does not seem to be the case.
 
I love using the LGS, even a State based chain like Turners Outdoorsman is preferable... if possible.

My last “off the rack” gun purchase was at Bass Pro. Nearly 5 hours split over two days consisted of paying for the gun online, then waiting to get in, waiting to get a salesman, waiting to get the guy to fill out the initial paperwork, waiting for a supervisor to approve the paperwork, then leaving. (Almost 3 hrs)
The return (after the 10-day wait) consisted of waiting to get in, waiting forever for the lone final paperwork guy to jaw-jack while walking a new owner through his new pump shotgun, then getting the paperwork approved a second time, then leaving. (Just under 2 hrs)

Turners is now about a two hour ordeal... if they’re not busy. Then you make an appointment to wait.

Never again.

The last six GB purchases that I won and were sent to my local kitchen-table FFL took less time to do than this one transaction combined.

Now if, and lately that’s a huge if, a LGS has something in their rack I’m wanting ... I’ll go in. Otherwise the LGS hassle alone makes buying online and going through my local FFL so much easier it’s worth it if there’s a bit of a premium.

Stay safe.
 
As with so much in life, there is no one way to do anything.
Now, often, the question is expediency. Can I get [thing] now or later (or at all). Price will limit that, it always does.
It's the wise person who double checks their habits.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I love using the LGS, even a State based chain like Turners Outdoorsman is preferable... if possible.

My last “off the rack” gun purchase was at Bass Pro. Nearly 5 hours split over two days consisted of paying for the gun online, then waiting to get in, waiting to get a salesman, waiting to get the guy to fill out the initial paperwork, waiting for a supervisor to approve the paperwork, then leaving. (Almost 3 hrs)
The return (after the 10-day wait) consisted of waiting to get in, waiting forever for the lone final paperwork guy to jaw-jack while walking a new owner through his new pump shotgun, then getting the paperwork approved a second time, then leaving. (Just under 2 hrs)

Turners is now about a two hour ordeal... if they’re not busy. Then you make an appointment to wait.

Never again.

The last six GB purchases that I won and were sent to my local kitchen-table FFL took less time to do than this one transaction combined.

Now if, and lately that’s a huge if, a LGS has something in their rack I’m wanting ... I’ll go in. Otherwise the LGS hassle alone makes buying online and going through my local FFL so much easier it’s worth it if there’s a bit of a premium.

Stay safe.
Click to expand...
I totally agree .to me it boils down to having to accept whatever the LGS happened to have in stock at any given point in time as opposed to going on GB and being able to bid on virtually anything that the law allows
 
As someone in this thread previously pointed out the LGS are making money off of FFL transfers. while I was at mine to pick up my Walther P22 there were two other guys picking up their transfers so they made $75 in the 25 minutes I was there.
 
Ks5shooter said:
Most online auctions and retailers are charging sales tax now,which negates most of the saving you would have seen.
Click to expand...
This is true but online I have 2,000 choices as opposed to 15 at the local gun shop. Before I bought my Walther P22 online I called every local gun shop listed on Yelp none of them had it and this is a very popular very big selling gun
 
Brubz said:
This is true but online I have 2,000 choices as opposed to 15 at the local gun shop. Before I bought my Walther P22 online I called every local gun shop listed on Yelp none of them had it and this is a very popular very big selling gun
Click to expand...

Agreed selection is a plus. My ffl is very reasonable,I just need to find the right deal and tax is negated. Patience is your friend..
 
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