All sorts....
I was once in a discussion with another customer and two gunshop employees regarding ammo.
The other customer wanted "Hollow Point Semi-Wadcutter" ammo for .38 Special. Salesman "A", the ammo expert, said no such ammo was made by any commercial concern. Salesman "B" looked at me and asked "Arch, you ever heard of such a thing?"
Being the dummy that I am, I said yes, I had. It was made by both Winchester and Federal at one time. It was called in various locations the "Chicago" load, the "FBI" load, and some other thing, I don't remember.
Salesman "A" repeated there was no such thing and never had been. He also pointed out the FBI carried 10mm. As if they had done so since the dawn of time.
Instead of showing him the speedloader in my pocket, I turned 180 degrees, grabbed a Gun Digest off the rack, opened it to the factory ammo section and showed them all the listing for Federal ammo as described. (Winchester had ceased production, or it wasn't listed for some other reason.)
Salesman "A" then looked askance at the book, and says he'd never heard of it. His tone gave the distinct impression that his being informed was a crucial aspect of its existance.:banghead:
This conversation took place in 1999 or 2000. Salesman "A" was/is just slight younger than me. The 158 grain HPSWC load was extremely popular and well known among shooters up to the middle '80s. I find it amazing this fellow, who presented himself as a knowlegeable man in the ammunition field, had no inkling of the round.
On the other hand, he did know for a fact the store stocked no such ammunition. He did have some alternative suggestions for such a choice (defensive ammo). He is by no means an illiterate or moron. He just got his ego in the way.
To be fair to gun store clerks and owners, I have heard several (more than I care to remember) purported "customers" ask for "Riot Pump Guages" and "40 Magnums" and "Super Killer" whatevers :banghead: and "That gun like Quigley had."
I witnessed one "customer" in the process of buying a UZI carbine (1975 ish) ask if he could use the owner's machine shop to convert it to full auto. Either a real dope or an ATF undercover sting.
I remember a very dear lady who worked in the PX at MCAS El Toro in 1971. She was a very competent gun seller and sold me my first Ruger Mark I Target Model. She knew about the guns in her case, and could discourse about most things firearmical (pardon the made up word).
One day we were talking about defensive pistols. She opined the Browning Hi-Power was the best thing going. She especially liked that it was single action and had to be cocked for each shot.
There were two of us at the counter... we asked just to make sure. Her P.35 had to be
cocked for each shot and not just for the first shot.
Yes, cocked for each shot.
It took the two of us several minutes to convince her to take that pistol to a gunsmith, because it should not work like that.
So... whereas not all gunshop employees are dummies, some have "gaps". Is that fair? Like everyone else, some have bigger gaps than others. Everyone gets to have a bad day; some abuse the privilege.
And the biggest problem both ways is
ego.
Like the guy who didn't know about the HPSWC; how dare he not accept my word?