Bad experience at a gun shop

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chaim

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Venting time...

To start this I need to state that I am an Orthodox Jew. I usually wear my yarmulke on my head.

A week or two ago I went into a local gun shop. I had been driving with my sunroof open so I had a baseball cap on instead of my yarmulke (the baseball cap shields my eyes from sunglare). I go in the shop and am treated well. I get in a prolonged and interesting conversation with the clerks and owner. I mention some guns I want to sell, they confirm that they buy outright and don't just sell on consignement, I mention the guns, no they aren't interested in the Bersa but please bring in the S&W 586 and Ruger KP345. In fact, they were quite enthusiastic about them.

So, today I go back with my guns. My sunroof is only cracked open (I want to keep most of the AC in the car) so I am not wearing my baseball cap. I walk in the store with my yarmulke and talk to the clerk about selling guns and he very rudely and abruptly (almost yelling) tells me "talk to him" gesturing towards the owner. I talk to the owner who is very cold with me and asks to look at the guns. He takes my revolver, holding it with his finger on the trigger and points it right at me:what: barely looks at it and says "not interested, I don't want it". Then he asks what I have in the gun box and when I say Ruger KP345 he doesn't even look at it and tells me "not interested". Remember, these are the same guns they were enthusiastic about just a week ago when I was wearing a baseball cap.

The only difference was my yarmulke so it is hard not to assume the very different treatment (very friendly before, same people were incredibly rude today; dangerous gun handling today; not wanting to pay me for guns they already told me they were interested in) is due to antisemitism. Even if not antisemitism, the behavior was very insulting and annoying. Definately, I'm not going back again.

Anyway, I'm done. I just had to vent a bit.
 
Yep, some gun owners mistreated you, it must be antisemitism.
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Well, given the degree of poor treatment today, and contrasted with the previous great treatment (and from some of the same people) and the only difference is today I was identifiably Jewish, what would you suggest is the cause. Oh, and what does the fact that they are (presumably) gun owners have to do with it- I NEVER suggested that gun owners are more likely to be antisemitic.
 
Yea, prejudice's suck hard.

I shop at a local sporting goods store, guys in there are "the old fashioned type" but sometimes when they see me walk in with a tatoo, earing and a couple of buddys they treat me like ****.
They just 'assume' im another punk who doesn't have his licence and wants to talk about buying an ak47, or a sawed off shotgun...

I always love it when I force them to help me, get them to pull down a gun that I've already been thinking about for a couple months, and then plop down my PAL their eyes just light up. Suddenly, they couldn't be friendlier..

Truth is, I'm a big enthusiast on gun safety, I follow all the rules and the last thing I want, is a firearm owner getting a bad rap cause he don't give a ****. I try and set an example, show people that even though I look like a punk once in a while with a gun, I sure as hell know what i'm doing, and no one's going to get hurt if they shooting with me.
 
The only difference was my yarmulke so it is hard not to assume the very different treatment (very friendly before, same people were incredibly rude today; dangerous gun handling today; not wanting to pay me for guns they already told me they were interested in) is due to antisemitism. Even if not antisemitism, the behavior was very insulting and annoying. Definately, I'm not going back again.
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That's atrocious, chaim. No, you have every reason to rant about it and certainly never go back in that hole again. I'm sure you'll find another place that'll appreciate your business. The saddest part: it sounds like these guys were afraid of you because of your yarmulke! Seriously!
 
McCall911, you're right, they probably were afraid of the yarmulke. A lot of people are afraid of what they don't know, and there aren't a lot of Orthodox Jews walking around in Glen Burnie MD. I'm definately not bringing any business to them in the future- they are a little overpriced anyway (though they have some decent guns, and when I went in with a baseball cap I thought they had good service, so I was willing to consider buying from them in the future). For the guns I wanted to sell today, I put them on consignment with a shop/range I often buy from (also a little overpriced at least on some guns, but with great service and good prices on certain guns- Continental Arms in Timonium) and I'll probably be buying a Taurus Tracker from them in Nov or Dec.
 
The point isn't that they were gun owners at all. His point is that the only difference was his choice of headgear caused a change in behavior of the staff. This behavior is a textbook definition of antisemitism which is: Prejudice, discrimination or persecution against Jews.

Even if you were to replace the word Gun in his original post with something different, such as jewelry, it wouldn't change the circumstances at all. The staff of the retail location behaved in a way that made the OP feel uncomfortable and unwelcome in that establishment, presumably because of a recognizable religious attire. Is it illegal? probably not. Is it good business sense? Definitely not. The OP would very likely have turned around and spent at least some of the money that they gave him for the weapons on other merchandise within the store. Instead, their behavior has cost them a customer, and countless others whom I'm sure the OP will eventually tell if someone were to ask "Where is a good place to buy a _____?"

Businesses that use practices like this will work their way into closing eventually, once they have alienated one of the most important part of a business: their customer base.
 
Dude, Wait . . .

You were selling a perfectly good 586?

Now, you see, that's cause for suspicion right there.

Is it possible this 586 has some blemish?

Why don't you send it to me for an evaluation?

Heck, you seem like a nice guy; I won't even charge you my normal evaluation fee. You just pay the shipping.

Oh, and dude? Don't go back to that store.

They seem to have a hang-up on headgear.

Never a good sign.
 
You were selling a perfectly good 586?
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Yup, I love K-frames and similar sized non-S&W revolvers. They just handle and feel right, and they seem to me to be the sweet spot for .357mag. I love N-frames for bigger guns, they are just beautiful and feel right in bigger calibers (nothing like a N-frame .41mag like my M57). However, the L-frame just doesn't do it for me. They are good guns, but like the GP100, it just doesn't really work for me. Right now I need the money, but come Nov or Dec I'll be replacing it with a used S&W 66, a new Taurus 66 or 65, or a new Taurus Tracker.
 
There is no proof that it was anti-semitism.

On one visit you were treated with courtesy. On one visit you were treated with disdain (according to you), by "some of the same people".

What if 2 minutes before you walked in the second time the owner had been bitching at the employees for screwing something up or for buying a used gun and paying too much etc? The truth is, you do no know what happened in that store before you entered on either day. Sometimes people are just in a ****ty mood.

You are making sweeping judgements based on 2 apparently brief encounters.

Jumping to conclusions doesn't help.

It may very well have been that every single person in that store was anti semitic and so anti semitic that they openly showed their disdain to a customer.

Or not.
 
Chaim

they are bloody idiot jerks!
I lived in Ireland for two years, and was raised Catholic.
I conducted a little experiment, I told some folks I
was Jewish....The extent of the outright predjudice was unbelievable
 
I thought people knew better than to sell guns to gunshops, when they can get something resembling the worth of the gun by selling face to face or online.
 
For the guns I wanted to sell today, I put them on consignment with a shop/range I often buy from (also a little overpriced at least on some guns, but with great service and good prices on certain guns- Continental Arms in Timonium) and I'll probably be buying a Taurus Tracker from them in Nov or Dec.
Click to expand...

I think you're better off going the consignment route myself. Wish I could've done that more than I have. :banghead:

I know what you mean about higher prices/lower prices. My favorite dealer sells Brownings a little higher than I'd like but sells other brands, especially Sigs, at sometimes unbeatable prices. (But he's also a Browning dealer. ;) )
 
Dude, that's lame. Whether it was anti-semitism or just bad treatment of a customer you may never know, but why reward bad behavior with your business. I'm all for supporting the local business, unless they're jerks.

On the issue that brought you into their store in the first place, have you thought about listing your guns here on the buy and sell page? You could make more than some shop would pay you, and all you need is a local FFL to ship through and you're good to go. I just bought one from a guy here on THR and it was a great experience.
 
Chaim,
I don’t think you have enough proof to label them anti-Semitic, although they may be, to do so with out proof would be irresponsible.
To label them rude and moody might be more accurate at this time.

I’ve found gun shop owners to be some of the most rude and moody retailers I’ve dealt with. Some times I think I appear to be a valued customer in their eyes and the next visit I’m treated to as a threat.

I do little business with rude retailers. But if they have what I can’t get some where else, then I hold my nose and get the business over with.

You on the other hand can sell you guns anywhere so **** them.


Respectfully,

jkelly
 
In the future, come on down to Montgomery county, where they won't blink an eye. The only problem I have with this discussion is that you could replace the word "jewish" with black, redneck, hispanic and a dozen other descriptors and expect the same reaction from _some_ business. Some people just have no respect for your money and business because they are blinded by prejudice. JUst don't give them your business. Capitalism, it's a great thing.

Goog
 
Schmucks are schmucks, no matter where you go. Don't give them any of your business, and tell your friends to do the same. Sorry you had to deal with those idiots, their loss not yours.
 
People like to be identified with different groups, hobbies, religions etc and enjoy making those affiliations known to others in the hope of attracting like minded people. I'm a little amazed by people's reactions when they claim to be surprised by a negative reaction to those symbols of affiliation. I know sticking an NRA sticker on my car will evoke a negative response by some as would wearing a baseball cap sideways in some suburban parts of St. Louis. Does prejudice suck, sure but don't we (in some ways) set our selves up for it sometimes. The OP seems to have identified what set off the reaction and I'd guess had an idea that that might happen (maybe not at that that store but maybe other places). However, this is the USA and we all have the right to open expression/freedom of speech and we can all enjoy the freedom to express out affiliations but don't get all offended when non-like minded people don't share that same enthusiasm. Your recourse - don't shop there or do just the opposite and try to re-educate the narrow minded Neanderthals.
 
Regardless of the reasons behind the poor customer service I would not frequent that establishment again. I'm sure there are plenty of places that still know how to treat a customer in your area. If not, thank God we all share the internet. Follow the advice others have given and post those beauty's on here.
 
Hey,business is business no matter what's on your head. That's their loss. Maybe it's prejudice on their part,or maybe they were having a really bad day. Was there anyone else in the store that was gettting friendly service at the time?

Oh,and you'd sell that 586 in a heartbeat on here,I bet.
 
Chaim,

Don't send that 586 to Arfin. He's too young to appreciate a fine weapon such as that. :neener:

Now, me for example...I'm seasoned and am eminently more qualified to fond... er, ah, hang onto that piece.:)
 
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