Working in Gun Stores, Fun or Folly?

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gym

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I would think that working in a gun store, part time, might be an interesting job. As a retired guy, only 60, but due to a bad spine, I can't work a full time. I have been an active trader for the last 8 years. I thought that it might be an interesting job, if you didn't rely on it as your only source of income. I made that mistake with a Gym once and got stuck with a 40,000 sq ft. nightmare. But strictlly for the social and hobby aspect of being around something you enjoy, without having to buy the cow for the milk concept it might be kind of fun. Anyone here doing or done that, and what were your experiences good or bad?
 
Try it out, why not? You can quit after a day with little little or no loss.

Regarding the gym, talk about the problems there. That's interesting.
 
If I thought it would work I would hang outside the local gunshops with a sign saying "Will work for ammo".
 
While certainly not a "Gun Store" I work the gun counter at Academy part time while I go to school and I enjoy it. You meet a lot of interesting people to say the least, but you also learn a lot. I've found the most rewarding part of working the gun counter is selling people firearms for home defense. I've sold a firearm to a lady who had an abusive ex-husband who was stalking her and also to a lady who had her door kicked in while she was home alone. Both of those experiences made me feel like I was doing something that might help these people down the road and it felt good knowing that.

If you enjoy being around firearms and talking firearms I don't see how you could go wrong with working in a gun store. Since firearms are a hobby of mine and I enjoy learning about them, my job doesn't actually seem like a job, but more of a social event :) . I've learned more things than I can count and would say my overall experience has been good.
 
Agree with rc and Brad. I would not want to turn my hobby and sport into a job. None of the gun dealers or clerks I know are recreational shooters.
 
I'm in the same boat. Just retired, so I'm not wanting to work just yet, but I'm spending much more time at the gym to get myself back into shape. Sooner or later, though, I'd like to either teach CPL classes or work part-time at a gun shop/range. I've talked to a few and they seem receptive. Since it's not really a job you retire from, unless you own the shop, there is a high turnover rate making them almost constantly looking for good people. I think it would be fun for a while. I've found, though, that no matter what you do for a living, or to supplement your income, it becomes a job.
 
Jake in the 5 years from the time we built it from an old "Franks Nursery" it was just one problem after another. The main thing is the cost of Operation, between rent, payroll, leases on equiptment, almost a million dollars worth, and '5 grand for electric', now it would be double, it was a 50 thousand dollar per month nut. On top of that you are open 18 hours per day, and that requires 2-3 shifts, a day care center, plus, collections, took about 30% of your time. I never got a chance to work out. It was like the standing joke, "he's going to try it again, lets see if he gets thru 3 sets before he gets paged". I actually had reciprocal agreements with other owners, so we could go someware else to train. You have to be able to "fill in" any day or time that you do have off. And the days that you are off, you are out trying to hustle business with corporate clients. That's why they make you put up a surity bond for 50 grand in FL. There are many con men, that set up a trailer, start taking money at a deep discount, and after as long as they can stretch it, dissapear with your money. I did meet a lot of professional and movie star types, but I was usually too busy to spend any time with them, and they want a free membership, not just for themselves, but for their entorage. But enough about Gyms, are Gun shoppes the same?
 
None of the gun dealers or clerks I know are recreational shooters

That is odd. ALL of the gun dealers and clerks I know are recreational shooters, the ones at GAT Guns and Megasports, at least the ones behind the gun counters, are totally into guns. At Megasports most of them wear a gun they personally own while at work.
 
I retired from working on the railroad last year, and was lucky enough to get a part-time job at my local gun store about 2 months after I retired. It's the biggest store in the area...about 600 guns in stock, with all the ammo and accessories you could want. No hunting clothes, no fishing or archery stuff. Just guns, ammo, and accessories.
I work 6 hours a day, three days a week, and I LOVE IT. The guys I work with are all shooters (IPSC, SASS, NSSA, etc), and are very knowledgable when it comes to guns. I've been a shooter and gun collector since I was 12, and have learned a great deal about modern guns in the year I have been here, particularly things like Glocks, H&Ks, SIGs, etc. I'm the only one in the store who has an extensive knowledge of antique guns, so the learning goes both ways.
If you're a "gunny", I'd say give it a try. I've learned a whole lot, and have had a lot of fun. I've also had the opportunity to buy some really neat stuff that walked in the door that I was able to get before it made it's way to the showcase. And....with a discount!
The money isn't enough to take a trip to Europe every year, but I'm really glad I took the job.
 
At 66, I just finished NRA firearms instructor training, personal protection instructor training, and training as a range safety officer. I intend to serve as a volunteer in those capacities both for my club and as a community service.

I have no objection to making a buck or few, but that is not my primary motivation.
 
It takes a good deal of patience. There are customers who know what they're looking for and are gracious. There are folks who know what they're looking for, but will demand that you discount the gun because you put a fingerprint on it. There are folks that have no clue what they're doing, but are all ears. And then there are perhaps the worst, the clueless ones who don't know they're clueless. If you can tolerate this last group, you'll do fine.

It can be fun job. It's definitely educational- even though I only worked at Dick's, not a "real" shop, I still learned a LOT over those years. I also was regularly amazed at just how stupid some people could be.

The good comes with the bad, like basically everything in life.
 
Life behind a gunstore counter - here's a silly example.

If someone comes in and asks for .357 bullets (as they do), are you going to give him the projectiles or the ammo? Either way, you're eventually going to be wrong (in the customer's eyes) and you'll be considered either 1. a smart-ass or 2. ignorant ;)

If you can deal with that, go for it :D
 
You know, thinking more about this... it might be like a Disney freak living in Anaheim. Could get expensive and/or old after awhile. ;)


-T.
 
We have a couple gun shops around here both have a couple semi retired guys, it is fun to BS with as they aren't in a hurry. One of the guys is really helpfull the other just tells you should do everything his way. We just take it for what it is.
 
I have, it was the best time of my life.

Meeting newbies and giving them as much unbias opinion on guns, law and personal responsibilities. Regulars coming in and start bsing.

And the best part, handling all types of guns.

I didn't care much about the pay, but it was more like being at a candy store...taking advantage of pro-deals and discounts.
 
I'm 57. I work full time in a high-powered agency in downtown Boston with people of a political point of view I'm sure you can imagine.

I live way outside of town in a semi-normal area. A year ago a gun shop I had been hanging out at for years asked me if I could work part time on weekends.

It pays nothing, but I do get a discount.

It is the best therapy I could possibly imagine. I would work for free if I had to.
Dealing with semi-normal people in an insane state, being able to talk guns, show guns and sell guns...it just doesn't get any better than that. I just wish I could make a living at it
 
A friend of mine used to work at a local gun store he didnt make much money but got dibs on any trade ins, plus what little he did earn he turned into guns and accessories. He was mainly doing it to have something to do
 
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