You may be right and the problems I outlined maybe more wide spread than I suggested. What I don't understand is how you seem to feel that makes it ok?
Its like saying since one out of every four adult men in America likes to molest children. Its so common there is no point being mad about it?
I think the behavior and expectations of the public is becomeing more and more debased with every passing second. The public sucks.
First of all, what you are questioning as ok is the inherent process of business. The freedom to offer for sale what someone wishes to buy. It has NOTHING in common with child molesting.
Not wanting to be ripped off is also not debased behavior.
Personally, I am talking about simple things. I use a very friendly kitchen table FFL for out of state purchases. He could double or triple his prices (which would put his prices in excess of my local shops for a transfer), and I would still go to him because he does not behave like an ***.
A case in point, I TRIED to order the guns I specifically wanted from my local dealers, and they basically said they couldn't or wouldn't get them. On top of that, they then had the nerve to try to convince me to buy something they had in stock that I DIDN'T want. We aren't even talking similar here. When I suggested that if they looked on line I could tell them where to get what to sell me. Still no dice. They simply didn't want to make the effort. No free sales advice given to me.
Another example, I want to do a transfer on a used gun. I call up a place that advertises they do transfers. Not only do they give me crap about it, but they won't even mail an inked FFL without me coming in during their limited business hours to pay their free up front. Holding a $1000 gun in hock isn't security enough to reassure them I won't walk out on a $0.34 (at the time) stamp. Once again, I consumed very little of their time in this endeavour.
MOST of my local gun dealers offer NO value in their business. They are unfriendly, keep inconveinient hours that they don't even bother showing up for, have little to no inventory, and generally have the attitude that you are screwing them over no matter how much money you give them. What value does a gun "store" that requires me to make a minimum of one phone call, and three trips to their store during 9-5 business hours and won't lend me a hand trying to buy something they haven't got?
To give you an idea of the BEST gun dealer in my area. They have a large inventory on hand, and they keep their advertised hours. That is their only good factor. They however, are always between downright hostile, and simply unfriendly when you come in. Their average gun is seriously overpriced (with a few exceptions). And by and large will tell you to screw off if a police officer comes in looking to spend any money. I do, however, give them credit for keeping a large inventory on hand. I do this by buying accessories, and at least making a pass by there to check if they have what I want at a not insane price. I also direct folks making their first purchase there who have a big case of the "gotta have it nows". I've sent close to $6000 of business through their doors, I've never taken up any of their time asking stupid questions window shopping, and I'll even chat with some of the customers when they are busy and folks are looking for free advice. For this, they treat me special. Which ammounts to not treating me like a giant pain in the ***. Basically, after being a decent customer, they think they are making a huge effort by not giving me a heaping pile of **** with that gun.
Being able to becoame a dealer is relatively easy and open to all so that you can offer more value. The kitchen table FFL I frequent could do transfers for more than his competitors do, and would STILL beat their store on 3 or 4 more points of value to me as a customer.