Was I in the wrong?

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Ash_J_Williams

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I went into a gun shop I hadn't been in before. I had a video gig in that town, about an hour from home, and wanted to stop in and see if they had some stuff I needed. Decent place, and they had some stuff I intended to purchase. He told me to go to Gander Mountain for some other stuff. Another customer comes in and asks if derringers are legal in the state. The owner said yes, depending on the caliber. He didn't have any in stock, and he didn't offer to order any. He told the customer to buy one online if he was interested, didn't offer to do the transfer fee or direct him to any specific store or site. The customer was about to leave, and I said, "hey, if you're looking, I have a derringer I might be willing to sell." The owner immediately got upset and told me "YOU DON'T DO THAT KINDA THING IN MY STORE." I apologized politely and told him I only mentioned it because he didn't have any in stock, and it was legal in our state. He said "I DON'T CARE, NOT HERE." The other customer must have been put off by this, because he left without a word and I followed. I almost told him he wouldn't be getting my business, which was true as I had several things I intended to purchase and was still looking, but I didn't know if it was justified.

Either way, I won't be going back there because of his attitude alone, but I wondering if it was wrong of me to mention it to the other customer. I get that he's a business and he's intending to sell things and make money, but he didn't have any in stock, didn't offer to get any, and didn't show any interest in assisting the customer find one and profiting from it. So, I mentioned it. Either way, he could have been more polite and I would have spend my money there, but I instead went home without any purchases made. The shame is that he was the only place in town that had primers.
 
I get that he's a business and he's intending to sell things and make money, but he didn't have any in stock, didn't offer to get any, and didn't show any interest in assisting the customer find one and profiting from it.
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I think that's the key point right there. You weren't trying to take away any business the gun store was trying to obtain. I don't think you did anything wrong.
 
NavyLCDR said:
I think that's the key point right there. You weren't trying to take away any business the gun store was trying to obtain. I don't think you did anything wrong.
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I paid attention to the customer because he asked about derringers, which I have and have interest in, and might be willing to sell. I was careful to make sure whether or not the owner had any in stock or offered to find one for him because it'd mean, if he did, I'd have to choose whether I wanted to chase the guy outside and offer him a deal or buy what I intended to buy. Once it was clear he has no interest in selling to this man, be it a firearm or his transfer services, I made an offer as he turned for the door.

The customer noted the owner's anger and said "maybe he thought I was an ATF agent trying to catch someone committing a crime or something?" and followed it with a shrug, an expletive, and "it."
 
He didn't have any in stock, and he didn't offer to order any. He told the customer to buy one online if he was interested, ...
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Well, he couldn't have been bent about losing business then. Maybe it any deals going on in his store would incur the wrath of the BATFE? Still, that kind of "customer service" doesn't get overlooked easily ...
 
I agree with your response to his attitude and the situation. I would have done the same.

One thought - perhaps he perceived the transfer you proposed to run afoul of ATF regs/inter-state transfers or the like; hence, he was saying "I run an upstanding business here; how dare you conduct that sort of transaction here." I don't see anything illegal about your proposed transaction, but just trying to think of what could have provoked such ire.
 
I don't think you did anything wrong since the owner obviously didn't want to take any of this guys money. I do think however that many store owners do not want anyone else to make money off of their "overhead". That would be my guess.

Shawn
 
i dont think you really did anything wrong....

some store owners dont like people doing private sales on store property, liability or something like that.....

but the owner could have informed you of that without yelling and acting like a jerk.

something to the effect of "hey fellas, sorry for the inconvenience, but its policy that all private sales take place off company property, thank you" would have sufficed just fine.

....people wonder why small stores get put out of business by chain retailers.....if you cant beat their prices, offer something they cant, friendly and helpful staff.
 
ATBackPackin said:
I don't think you did anything wrong since the owner obviously didn't want to take any of this guys money. I do think however that many store owners do not want anyone else to make money off of their "overhead". That would be my guess.

Shawn
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I can understand that, but I've seen similar situations in music stores where a customer asks for something, they store doesn't have it, and another employee says, "I've got one I might sell," and the shop owner has literally said "well there ya go."

I sell online all the time, and if I don't have something someone is looking for, and have no interest in getting it for them (not worth trying to make a profit buying it and reselling), I'll point them in the right direction.
 
I have found most gun store owners come across as ass hats. With that said I probably wouldn't allow a FTF sale in my store when I'm responsible for what goes on in my store and I have the FFL at risk. You never know what kind of set up might be going down.
 
I would have waited to tell the customer outside. I think that would've been better form. That said, the owner acted like a jerk especially after you apologized.
 
I have a place like that here in FL, awesome inventory but horrible service just shuts everything down for me. I think he would have gotten an earful from me as I left the store, but I'm young, stubborn and cocky so...
 
I don't think the OP was going to sell it to the guy in the store. He just mentioned it.

If I would have been there I would have said that I may know of someone that might have what your looking for. Here is my phone number give me a call and we can see what we might do.

GRP
 
M-Cameron said:
....people wonder why small stores get put out of business by chain retailers.....if you cant beat their prices, offer something they cant, friendly and helpful staff.
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I went to every shop in town, this sadly was the nicest (and almost only one open). Two were disgusting little holes in the wall that looks like bodegas, two were only open 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, and one was in the back of another place's shop and only open a few hours a week. How the hell do these people stay in business?
 
Ash J; A lot of those little ones are just fronts so they can do the FFL thing. I know a guy who runs a GS that is open for 2 hours a week. He's got like three guns on the wall and a case with some ammo in it.
Not really sure why he does that but he's a millionaire any way so whats the point of running a gunstore if not for other hidden reasons.
 
The shop owner could have done himself a favor by simply saying, "Well, there you go. But look fellas, do your transaction outside the property, OK?" I'm quite sure you would have understood, and then bought your stuff to boot.
 
I start feeling bad buying all my guns and accessories online then I read something like this, and start remembering the run ins I've had at my local shops and I say the hell with it. I don't know what it is about gun shops, but they act like they are doing you a favor.

You did nothing wrong, even if it was against "policy" he could have handled it way better.
 
Stevie-Ray said:
The shop owner could have done himself a favor by simply saying, "Well, there you go. But look fellas, do your transaction outside the property, OK?" I'm quite sure you would have understood, and then bought your stuff to boot.
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Yup, woulda bought some primers, and was considering a Mosin. He had a big crate of them.
 
I've been overly cautious about this too and probably shouldn't be. Was in a local gun/pawn shop and a younger guy came in to sell a USP Compact .45. Gun shop owner offered $400 and younger guy thought about it a bit and said no. I was really tempted to follow the guy out of the store and offer him $500 in the parking lot for the gun. But I do a fair amount of business at the store and don't want the owner being upset with me since I sometimes get deals from him.

On the other hand, if the gun store isn't going to do the transaction, why not personally benefit from it? Seems silly to me, but some of these guys are wound a bit tight.
 
Screw him. If he wanted the business he should have offered to provide it. I am more inclined to return to a store that didn't have what I was looking for, but told me where I could get it, then one that acted as you described.
 
You did nothing wrong. I could see him getting upset if you tried to engage in a bidding war on his turf for some firearm a customer was selling or trading, but he had already concluded his business.

Gun shop owner offered $400 and younger guy thought about it a bit and said no. I was really tempted to follow the guy out of the store and offer him $500 in the parking lot for the gun. But I do a fair amount of business at the store and don't want the owner being upset with me since I sometimes get deals from him.
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I've run into this situation many times. I've refrained, because it's closer to customer poaching.
 
Ash_J_Williams said:
"YOU DON'T DO THAT KINDA THING IN MY STORE."
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I would have said...no I won't. I won't be spending any money here either.

That type of response from a manager at a retail chain store would not be tolerated by corporate. I am not sure why it should be considered acceptable at a gun store.

His store, his rules, but don't expect to keep or attract new customers acting that way. Retail is retail and customer service is customers service. This guy could have done better to help the other guy.
 
The Gun Store Owner, it's his store, he pays for the signage, lease, utilities, all overhead, and any advertisement associated with it. You would have had no opportunity to ever offer the gun to the individual had there not been a gun store paid for by the owner. The way he conducts his business is just that (his business). If you want to conduct personal business, do it outside, list it in the local paper, Craig's List etc. --Maybe you gotta be a small business owner to understand it.
 
You acted fine IMO.... ^ He paid for his car, car insurance, gas, shoes, etc. to get there....lol.

I like supporting local gun shops, but if you get treated poorly, vote with your feet & Dollar.
 
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