A day in a gun shop.

[Ditchtiger]

A day in a gun shop. The whole long day from opening and set up to finish.
Was covering for a friend. Nothing I had not known before as I've help out before but this time it was solo. It's great to visit and look around a store and leave when done. Being behind the counter is different. Not bad just not the same. I would do it again in an instant and most likely will. I guess all I can say is the next time your'e in a store don't say your just looking then leave, say hi and be sociable. It's a long day behind the counter.

 

[-Gadsden-]

I often feel sorry for guys who own gun shops and always try to be social. The amount of silly questions they have to field on a daily basis would drive me bonkers.

I was browsing in a local shop recently and a guy came in complaining that the .22 pistol he bought a few months ago was "rimfiring" and wouldn't work. The man behind the counter patiently explained that the firing pin was supposed to strike the rim of the case, and that the problem was probably elsewhere. The gun was bone dry too, which didn't help him any.

 

[sig228]

So, question, if someone wants to buy a gun are you authorized to act on behalf of the FFL? You indicated that you are just "helping out", implying not an owner or employee. How does that work? Just curious.

 

[Giterboosted]

Oh my god you couldn't have nailed it any better, I'm the manager at a close friends store, and QUITE frequently alone in the store most of the day. Gets mighty lonely between customers that will actually talk a while. But to be honest, I spend most of that down time on here or Netflix. That being said I couldn't agree more about just come on in and talk, not even bout guns if you don't want to but it really helps the guy behind the counter get through the day.

 

[rs7]

sig228,
As long as the 4473 or pistol purchase permit/CCW is correct, there is no problem. Check everything. Twice. And when I say "check", put a check-mark there.
Not a big issue, just let the feds know you're doing your part. Then have someone else check it. My take.
You as an employee, are a special agent of your employer. I am given to believe this is correct.

 

[blarby]

Awww, I totally woulda stopped by !

Had no idea.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Busy gunsmiths need a good counterperson. Talking is fun, but you don't get any work done and if you try doing something, you're multi-tasking. The work product may not be optimal. The counterperson should be knowledgeable, but should not come out as a know-it-all (remember, you want the customer to like him) and should be able to offer some insights and suggestions.

 

[Theohazard]

Being behind the counter is different.

Yep, you see it all if you work behind the counter for even just a few months. You'll get used to the new shooters who bring their "expert" gun friend who only knows internet gun myths; the morons who whip out their loaded carry gun and flag you with it; the guys who are convinced you don't know anything about guns because you're under 40; the mall ninjas who want to talk your ear off about stupid stuff; the naive customers who want to buy a pump shotgun, keep it unloaded, and only use the pumping sound to scare away criminals; the couple who wants to buy a gun for protection and admit they have absolutely no intention of learning how to use it; the two guys who don't realize it's obvious they're trying to commit a straw purchase; the guy who gets irate at you when he's delayed or denied by NICS and blames you for it, then proceeds to exclaim loudly how innocent he is and how the FBI screwed up; the customer who saw online that Fed Ex delivered his gun transfer 30 seconds ago and doesn't understand why it's not ready for immediate pickup; the customers who put their finger on the trigger as soon as you hand the gun to them, and proceed to casually point it at you; the folks who aren't planning to buy anything, they just come in to check out things in person so they know exactly what they're getting when they order it online; the guy who gets really rude and upset because you don't know every single detail about every gun ever made; the foreign tourists who come in taking pictures and point at the semi-auto rifles and make machine-gun noises. Man, I could go on and on for days...


But most customers are courteous and don't do stuff like casually point loaded firearms at your head with their finger on the trigger. And some customers really make the day worth it, and that's why it's a fun job overall.

 

[waltham41]

I own a small gun store, been open 3 years now. Some days are busy and fly by, other days you never see a person all day and then its thank god for the internet to keep you busy.

Most people are nice, some are kinda ...... unusual lol

 

[weimar]

I have never worked in a gun store, but have been behind the table at a number of gun shows - you hear complaints about gun show 'dealers' but it is amazing what you hear, get asked - guys who know everything as they walk by, put their large soda on your books, stand in front of your table and talk and talk (which is great on a sunday morning ) and everyone else walks by because of them - hah, hah - depends on which side of the table you're on

 

[RustyShackelford]

The other side.....

That's a 2 way street....
I'd ask that gun shop staff/mgmt:
Be well trained or current on the US gun industry & not a "smuggy buggy" over one brand or another. And please, no up-selling .
Have prices, # of magazines, NIB or used signs, etc clearly marked.
Have the shop or ranges clean, organized, etc with clear aisles. Customers should not trip or stumble over crates or unopened merch.
Staff & managers should be polite, open & honest. Not take a customer question then turn around & start talking about another topic with a co-worker.
(I've seen this happen often in gun & sporting goods shops, you & co-workers are there for 8-10 hours, I'm there 8-10minutes.)

Finally Id ask staff double check guns & orders. I should need to inspect every nook & cranny or ask for forms, warranty cards, extra magazines, fired factory cases, etc. 2-5 min of work would make you look like skilled professional not a min wage zombie.

 

[Theohazard]

Rusty, everything you posted is completely reasonable and should be expected at a good LGS, except this:

And please, no up-selling

Up-selling is the cornerstone of retail, especially in the gun business. At most guns shops, there is very little mark-up on guns. And because the guns themselves offer so little profit, the store makes a large percentage of its money by selling accessories.

When you're purchasing a gun and the salesperson tries to up-sell by asking if you need ammo, cleaning supplies, a holster, etc., then he's just doing his job. That's how the store makes money and stays in business.

 

[drastic_quench]

That's an add-on sale. An upsale is trying to talk a guy into a more expensive model.

 

[Theohazard]

That's an add-on sale. An upsale is trying to talk a guy into a more expensive model.

Fair enough, though at many of my various retail jobs the term "up-sell" was used to refer to both practices. That said, there's nothing wrong with a salesperson trying to up-sell to a higher-priced item, as long as he's doing it the right way. Sometimes the item that would better suit the customer's needs is also the more expensive one.

 

[Bruno2]

I used to have a guy that would come in every 3-4 months and strike up a conversation with " My brother in law is in law enforcement". We never understood why he said that or where it was going.

I told him my brother in law is a ******bag.

My co-worker told him once that we don't give brother in laws of law enforcement officers a discount or even law enforcement officers for that matter.

Gun shops at times have some of the most interesting clientele. When a panic hits the tin foil hatters come out of the woodwork. I am a conspiracy theorists keep in mind. Some of the stuff I have heard makes me sound perfectly rational and not paranoid what so ever.

 

[TRX]

I spent 20 years as the sole proprietor of a machine shop. A friend owns a beauty salon. Another owns an auto parts business. We can all tell you our share of customer stories.

Granted, none of those customer situations normally involve the chance of being muzzle-swept, but it doesn't take long on the other side of the counter to realize that people-in-general tend to be deeply weird.

 

[243winxb]

After the first 50 hunting stories, you dont want to hear any more. It gets old fast.

 

[Joe Demko]

As long as the person behind the counter displays common courtesy and gives me straight answers to my questions, I'm good. I don't go to gun stores to socialize, any more than I would go to a shoe store or a grocery store for that purpose.
Seems, based on attending a good many gun shows over the years, that a lot of shop owners should find somebody likable to do shows for them...shows really bring out the surly.

 

[rdhood]

the guy who gets irate at you when he's delayed or denied by NICS and blames you for it, then proceeds to exclaim loudly how innocent he is and how the FBI screwed up;

I had this happen to me once, except for the "blame the gunstore" part. It took me a year before it got straightened out. And yeah, the LGS clerk/owner looked and treated me like a criminal. Another strike against the LGS clerk/owner. Upon conclusion of that transaction, I never went back.

On the general topic, I am not sure I have ever been the only person in the LGS. If I were, I would probably talk. But often, I would rather NOT take up that person's time if there is anyone else in the store. I rarely purchase guns or ammo there, and feel its best letting them attend to those from whom the profit is higher. So if a person comes in, says "just looking" and leaves, maybe it is because he/she believes that they are doing you a favor.

 

[PapaG]

Six years was enough. Loved helping people out. Loved teaching about handloading. Loved counseling beginners.
Hated having loaded guns pointed at me (three times).
Hated hearing the B.S. stories from nearsighted old timers of how their Crack Shot Stevens would light matches every time at fifty yards or their old Pump Stevens would stack slugs on top of each other at 100. Gets hard after a while to smile and say, "Wow." Sometimes I'd smile and say, "I'd pay fifty bucks to see that."

 

[Bullet Bob]

The original poster ought to go to one of the local gunstores around here. So many regulars sitting around talking that I couldn't get the counter worker to show me a gun. Left after about seven minutes of trying to get noticed.

 

[Ditchtiger]

So, question, if someone wants to buy a gun are you authorized to act on behalf of the FFL? You indicated that you are just "helping out", implying not an owner or employee. How does that work? Just curious.

I asked that also. It was OK for me to do the NICS go-round.
And I did several times.

 

[Panzerschwein]

The original poster ought to go to one of the local gunstores around here. So many regulars sitting around talking that I couldn't get the counter worker to show me a gun. Left after about seven minutes of trying to get noticed.

Yes I have that same problem with an otherwise nice gun store back home. All the old codgers working the counter just go one and on with there buddies who are in there all the time, they didn't even try to give me service.

After about 20 minutes of waiting one of them will be like "what do you want?" or something like that with a cocky attitude.

It's very off putting, but this shop has the best selection arond and prices are good. I really like to go and check out what they have, almost always I find something I want to buy which is rare in many other shops I frequent. Just wish the staff was more friendly!

 

[Ditchtiger]

I try to keep an eye out for customers when I'm just there to visit.
I'll back off and say that I'm just killing time and that they can feel free to take care of their needs.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Awww, I totally woulda stopped by !

Had no idea.

Sorry, I thought I mentioned it to you.