I agree it is in very poor taste to yell at anyone customers included. I'm just saying look at it from his perspective. The mature thing to do would be to go back, explain yourself, apoligize and make amends. If he still wants to be a jerk, I wouldn't go back either. I have seen it from both sides of the counter, and perspective makes a difference. Theres no reason to hold a lifelong grudge over a simple misunderstanding.
A gun shop episode that left a bad taste in my mouth...
- Thread starter saturno_v
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oldfool
Member
well, I now know of TWO gun dealers who will not be cursed by any of my money
stchman
Member
to saturno v:
Unless he goes out of his way to apologize to you (calls you on the phone) then I would not spend one penny more at his place.
Businesses that exhibit poor customer service cease to be businesses for long. Let him go out of business like he wants to.
Not only did he lose you, but he probably lost all the other customers in teh store.
All he had to say was that he does not allow private transactions in his shop (his prerogative) and to take it off of the shop's property. End of story. No he had to think he was super big shot gun store owner. Get back at him by decreasing his revenue.
Unless he goes out of his way to apologize to you (calls you on the phone) then I would not spend one penny more at his place.
Businesses that exhibit poor customer service cease to be businesses for long. Let him go out of business like he wants to.
Not only did he lose you, but he probably lost all the other customers in teh store.
All he had to say was that he does not allow private transactions in his shop (his prerogative) and to take it off of the shop's property. End of story. No he had to think he was super big shot gun store owner. Get back at him by decreasing his revenue.
russ69
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2009
- Messages
- 320
I'm sure the gun store owner has seen this particular scenario quite a few times. I know I've seen it quite a few times. So that being the case, the gun shop owner should have already had a pre-determined way of handling this situation. I don't think yelling at or around customers is the method I would have used as the ideal solution. I'm afraid he has exposed himself as being a difficult person to do business with. Why shop where the owner chooses to berate customers, no thanks.
Thanx, Russ
Thanx, Russ
jimmyraythomason
Member
I can't see ANY circumstance that would justify this type of behaviour.
doc2rn
Member
The last time I was in a gunshop and the owner didnt want to buy the firearm he called me over and asked me to make the fella an offer as I am a die-hard Revolever man. We came to terms and I thanked the proprieter for his assistance. This "not in my store" attitude has caused me to leave more than one guy doin the 
:banghead:dance, especially after they not only lowballed the guy they tried to rape him on the offer. Guy behind the counter offered him $250 on $3000 shotgun, guess who has it now!
:banghead:dance, especially after they not only lowballed the guy they tried to rape him on the offer. Guy behind the counter offered him $250 on $3000 shotgun, guess who has it now!Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
I'm not arguing that they should stand there in front of the guy, haggle over price and exchange money under his nose.
But to get MAD that a customer asks to see the gun you just refused is utterly childish.
Bubba said it very well:
How hard is that? If a shop owner said THAT to me politely, I'd probably reply, "Great! Hang tight for a moment, I'm going to be needing some ammo and a sling shortly."
I often reward good service with more business. There aren't many kinds of retail store left that can get away with overt rudeness to their clientelle. And too often gun shops seem to really bring up the butt-end of that parade.
But to get MAD that a customer asks to see the gun you just refused is utterly childish.
Bubba said it very well:
How hard is that? If a shop owner said THAT to me politely, I'd probably reply, "Great! Hang tight for a moment, I'm going to be needing some ammo and a sling shortly."
I often reward good service with more business. There aren't many kinds of retail store left that can get away with overt rudeness to their clientelle. And too often gun shops seem to really bring up the butt-end of that parade.
stchman
Member
to HGUNHNTR:
Wars have been started over less. If someone does that kind of thing then they are just that way. I tend to separate myself from the a-holes of the world.
If a business owner does not treat me well I take my $$$$ to their competitor.
Hopefully the business owner learns a lesson as well before he loses his business.
Wars have been started over less. If someone does that kind of thing then they are just that way. I tend to separate myself from the a-holes of the world.
If a business owner does not treat me well I take my $$$$ to their competitor.
Hopefully the business owner learns a lesson as well before he loses his business.
MinnMooney
Member
I agree with this. It was a mistake but for the owner to publicly & beligerantly yell at you is so far over the top that it warrants a "never return" policy on the customer's part. If I were a customer in the store and was witness to this outburst, I'd tell the owner that he was wrong for the way he handled it and that if he didn't apologze then I'd probably be taking my business elsewhere for fear of something embarrassing happening like that to me over a mistake.
from HGUNHNTR (post #11) :
How old are you? 8? What an unthoughtout & disrespectful comment to post on THR.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Firstly, he asked to "see" it. I don't know about you guys, HGUNHTR in particular, but I've asked to see a hell of a lot of guns I had no intentions of purchasing. So for the shop owner to act the way he did, not only would I have taken my business elsewhere, I would've told him exactly why right then and there and what he could kiss on my way out. His actions were 100% inexcusable. If he were afraid a transaction was about to transpire on his premises, there are far more socially acceptable ways to relay that message than having such a stupid outburst.
SSN Vet
Member
Was this a table at a gun show or a gun shop?
What's the guy supposed to do.... set up a counter with a sign that says "private parties conduct your undocumented face to face transactions here". Or how about "queue up here to take advantage of little old ladies"
I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he explains how he facilitates undocumented face to face transactions on his premises during his next annual ATF inspection and audit.
The guy may have lost it, but I don't think you fully appreciate how much trouble he can get into for allowing his licensed store front to be turned into a gun show.
What's the guy supposed to do.... set up a counter with a sign that says "private parties conduct your undocumented face to face transactions here". Or how about "queue up here to take advantage of little old ladies"
I'd like to be a fly on the wall when he explains how he facilitates undocumented face to face transactions on his premises during his next annual ATF inspection and audit.
The guy may have lost it, but I don't think you fully appreciate how much trouble he can get into for allowing his licensed store front to be turned into a gun show.
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I agree with everyone that said the owner was in the wrong. If the owner said he wasn't going to buy it and the woman was leaving anyways, you didn't do anything wrong. And you didn't even offer her money for it, you simply asked to see it (for possibly a deal later on at another location I would assume). That's his tough luck. It's also his store and he can treat people however he wants to treat them. He might lose business because of that though.
Even if he was in the right, he really didn't have to react like that. He could have asked you both nicely to do things like that off of his property. People who flip out over something like that are probably not going to provide the best customer service down the line if you ever have a problem they need to deal with or help you with. I say avoid that place.
If you were standing up at the counter trying to outbid me on a gun in my shop, I would have kicked you out. But you weren't. There's a difference.
Even if he was in the right, he really didn't have to react like that. He could have asked you both nicely to do things like that off of his property. People who flip out over something like that are probably not going to provide the best customer service down the line if you ever have a problem they need to deal with or help you with. I say avoid that place.
If you were standing up at the counter trying to outbid me on a gun in my shop, I would have kicked you out. But you weren't. There's a difference.
stchman
Member
to SSN VET
Yes, then he tells the people in question to take it off his property. Simple.
If person A bought a gun in front of a gun shop and then commits a crime with it how exactly does the ATF track it back to the store? A friend of mine owns a gun shop and the ATF needs a paper trial to work with.
The owner never logged that firearm in his log book, and he can say to the BATFE with 100% truth that he has never owned or bought/sold that firearm.
Yes, then he tells the people in question to take it off his property. Simple.
If person A bought a gun in front of a gun shop and then commits a crime with it how exactly does the ATF track it back to the store? A friend of mine owns a gun shop and the ATF needs a paper trial to work with.
The owner never logged that firearm in his log book, and he can say to the BATFE with 100% truth that he has never owned or bought/sold that firearm.
Tim the student
Member
Saturno, I don't think you did anything wrong, or acted inappropriately. If you had tried to take the sale from him, then sure - but that isn't the case.
While he may have been frustrated with everyone else and just lashing out at you, I think his actions would cause him to lose my respect and business. Regardless of the type of store, I expect to be treated with respect, and to see other customers treated with respect. Even if you asked to buy it, I would expect him to calmly tell us that we need to leave his property to conduct the sale. At least then he could have made some money of ammo and accessories.
I think the only way I would go back is if he sincerely apologized to me - and then, I wouldn't spend much in his store at all.
While he may have been frustrated with everyone else and just lashing out at you, I think his actions would cause him to lose my respect and business. Regardless of the type of store, I expect to be treated with respect, and to see other customers treated with respect. Even if you asked to buy it, I would expect him to calmly tell us that we need to leave his property to conduct the sale. At least then he could have made some money of ammo and accessories.
I think the only way I would go back is if he sincerely apologized to me - and then, I wouldn't spend much in his store at all.
SSN Vet
Member
stchman....
Do you think the ATF needs a reason or justification to pull this mans license and trash his livelyhood?
They'll do whatever they want to do, and it will cost him $20K (not to mention the fact that his shop just got closed down) to lawyer up and begin his protest.
I'm not saying the guy was right to blow his stack and yell.... maybe his dog just died, how do I, or you , or anybody else know.
My point is that I don't think any store owner is under any kind of moral obligation to provide a convenient, heated, airconditioned, dry and secure place for people to walk in off the street and conduct their private party deals.
The OP wasn't out in the parking lot... he was in the store!
Go try to pull that one at Cabellas or Dicks or whereever..... You might not get yelled at, but you will be asked to leave.
Do you think the ATF needs a reason or justification to pull this mans license and trash his livelyhood?
They'll do whatever they want to do, and it will cost him $20K (not to mention the fact that his shop just got closed down) to lawyer up and begin his protest.
I'm not saying the guy was right to blow his stack and yell.... maybe his dog just died, how do I, or you , or anybody else know.
My point is that I don't think any store owner is under any kind of moral obligation to provide a convenient, heated, airconditioned, dry and secure place for people to walk in off the street and conduct their private party deals.
The OP wasn't out in the parking lot... he was in the store!
Go try to pull that one at Cabellas or Dicks or whereever..... You might not get yelled at, but you will be asked to leave.
Action_Can_Do
Member
- Joined
- May 28, 2005
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- 574
SSN vet
There is nothing wrong with asking someone to leave. Yelling at a customer however...?
There is nothing wrong with asking someone to leave. Yelling at a customer however...?
cleardiddion
Member
I can understand where it might be rude and all to actually make a transaction inside the store, but to merely ask to see it...well, it may be my opinion but I believe that's an ok thing to do.
I can say that I've asked to see many a thing inside my favorite store that weren't their merchandise but, as long as I don't actually buy it off the individual inside the store I can't see there being a problem.
I can say that I've asked to see many a thing inside my favorite store that weren't their merchandise but, as long as I don't actually buy it off the individual inside the store I can't see there being a problem.
stchman
Member
to SSN Vet:
How does the store owner KNOW that the OP was trying to buy the gun?
He simply asked to see it. Maybe his grandfather owned a gun just like it and he wanted to see it. Now if they started talking $$$$ then you can make an assumption.
The store owner got his point across, and in the process lost at least one customer maybe more permanently.
How does the store owner KNOW that the OP was trying to buy the gun?
He simply asked to see it. Maybe his grandfather owned a gun just like it and he wanted to see it. Now if they started talking $$$$ then you can make an assumption.
The store owner got his point across, and in the process lost at least one customer maybe more permanently.
ljnowell
Member
I cannot believe that there is anyone here that would defend this guys behavior. The owner turned down the opportunity to buy the gun. It would be different if the OP was standing at the counter and started a price war with the shop owner, but that is clearly not what has happened.
Sounds like the OP needs to find a shop where the owner is such a tightly wound individual. Also, I liked the mention of "sounds like a customer I would like to lose." Spoken like a true counter worker, not a business owner. No one wants to lose a customer that puts money in the till.
Sounds like the OP needs to find a shop where the owner is such a tightly wound individual. Also, I liked the mention of "sounds like a customer I would like to lose." Spoken like a true counter worker, not a business owner. No one wants to lose a customer that puts money in the till.
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