Hardtarget
Member
And your response could have been..." in all those years you should have learned the difference between 3" and 4" barrels." Than you walk away...and never buy a gun there.
Mark.
Mark.
Another Gun Store Moron
- Thread starter kd7nqb
- Start date
- Status
At my local SW I've managed to identify one of the intelligent guys at the gun counter and always deal with him. He is very knowledgeable about the guns they have for sale and reloading. If I have a question, more often than not he knows the answer. Having said that, I've run into at least one of the "bad" ones at every gun store I've ever been to.
MudCamper
Member
There are only 2 gun stores in the county where I live. This is probably because CA makes it hellishly difficult to open one. But one result is that these places, or the employees and owners rather, are elitest a-holes. Both stores are very hick, which I am not, so they treat me like ^%$#. I hate going to them, but I have no choice when I buy a firearm. Everything else from accessories to ammo I order online, but the DROS process forces me to give the a-holes my business.
ec-10
Member
Just for the record, I have found a great gunshop that I do all of my business with now. He is eighty miles from my home and worth the drive. When he doesn't know something he actually says "I don't know". He doesn't stand there and lie to you. Beyond that he is pretty knowlegable about all types of firearms.
As for the topic of this thread, you should have asked the clerk for a ruler.
My favorite experience with a gun counter clerk was at Bass Pro about six months ago. He wasn't actually a clerk but a factory rep from one of the scope manufacturers. You know, like those Canon reps that hang out in the printer aisle at Best Buy. He was there trying to explain why his scopes were so much better than all the others in the case. I had gone in there to buy the cheapest scope I could find for a plinking rifle I had at the time.
Rep:Can I help you?
Me:Yeah, can I have a look at that BSA scope there on the bottom of the case?
Rep:Oh you don't want that.
Me:
Rep:Our scopes have double o-ring lasercut blah blah blah.
Me: (I strung him along for a good twenty minutes) How much?
Rep:We are running a special today, just $399.
Me:Yeah, can I have a look at that BSA scope on the bottom of the case?
Rep: (His face turned three different colors and I could swear he was going to punch me).
As for the topic of this thread, you should have asked the clerk for a ruler.
My favorite experience with a gun counter clerk was at Bass Pro about six months ago. He wasn't actually a clerk but a factory rep from one of the scope manufacturers. You know, like those Canon reps that hang out in the printer aisle at Best Buy. He was there trying to explain why his scopes were so much better than all the others in the case. I had gone in there to buy the cheapest scope I could find for a plinking rifle I had at the time.
Rep:Can I help you?
Me:Yeah, can I have a look at that BSA scope there on the bottom of the case?
Rep:Oh you don't want that.
Me:
Rep:Our scopes have double o-ring lasercut blah blah blah.
Me: (I strung him along for a good twenty minutes) How much?
Rep:We are running a special today, just $399.
Me:Yeah, can I have a look at that BSA scope on the bottom of the case?
Rep: (His face turned three different colors and I could swear he was going to punch me).
MrTwigg
Member
Mind over matter.
If you don't mind being treated like crap, then it don't matter.
I was in Dick's Sporting Goods trying to buy a rifled slug barrel for my new Mossgerg 535 12ga last year.
Dang sales idiot pretended to call "the warehouse" for five full minutes and then told me "They don't make them anymore."
Well they had just come out with this shotgun a couple of months before so I knew this was BS. (Get thier name ! - I did.)
Went home, got online with Mossberg and ordered my barrel. Sent a print out of the order with a letter (Nicely worded, but strong.) to Dick's corporate HQ and let them know I would not be coming back, and began posting negative commentary on local forums.
Found the same idiot working at Burger King six weeks later.
kd7nqbIs said:
If you don't mind being treated like crap, then it don't matter.
I was in Dick's Sporting Goods trying to buy a rifled slug barrel for my new Mossgerg 535 12ga last year.
Dang sales idiot pretended to call "the warehouse" for five full minutes and then told me "They don't make them anymore."
Well they had just come out with this shotgun a couple of months before so I knew this was BS. (Get thier name ! - I did.)
Went home, got online with Mossberg and ordered my barrel. Sent a print out of the order with a letter (Nicely worded, but strong.) to Dick's corporate HQ and let them know I would not be coming back, and began posting negative commentary on local forums.
Found the same idiot working at Burger King six weeks later.
Last edited:
rhubarb
Member
Thank you, sm.
Tijeras_Slim
Member
I gave up on SW when I saw a clerk do the Hollywood wrist-flip to close the cylinder on a S&W 625.
My buying philosophy is simple: I'd rather give $100 to a friend than $10 to a stranger, or $1 to an enemy.
My buying philosophy is simple: I'd rather give $100 to a friend than $10 to a stranger, or $1 to an enemy.
texas bulldog
Member
to the OP and everyone else with specific examples of poor service...
i highly suggest that you find a way to inform the manager when you receive service that is truly unacceptable. not just "not great", but really, really bad.
i manage employees in a retail setting for a living and have for many years. no, not guns. but the differences between various types of retail at the management level are not that great. you deal with essentially the same issues.
i can tell you that the manager [if he/she is any good] knows that a particular employee is not strong. what can be difficult is when you don't get to work directly with that employee often and you therefore do not have specific examples to cite of their poor performance. by informing the manager [in person, on the phone, over email], you give him/her the information they need to start moving that employee down the path of progressive discipline. this path ends with termination.
i guess all i'm saying is that it's far less likely to change if you won't say anything about it. 'cause i can gaurantee you that the employee's coworker-friends are not likely to rat him out.
i highly suggest that you find a way to inform the manager when you receive service that is truly unacceptable. not just "not great", but really, really bad.
i manage employees in a retail setting for a living and have for many years. no, not guns. but the differences between various types of retail at the management level are not that great. you deal with essentially the same issues.
i can tell you that the manager [if he/she is any good] knows that a particular employee is not strong. what can be difficult is when you don't get to work directly with that employee often and you therefore do not have specific examples to cite of their poor performance. by informing the manager [in person, on the phone, over email], you give him/her the information they need to start moving that employee down the path of progressive discipline. this path ends with termination.
i guess all i'm saying is that it's far less likely to change if you won't say anything about it. 'cause i can gaurantee you that the employee's coworker-friends are not likely to rat him out.
Treated IN A Patronizing Manner
My story is i bought Remington Model 700 Stainless Steel flutted-heavy-barrel from a gun a gun dealer at a local gun show for $600.This was a steal because the rifle was worth a whole lot more than that.It was used,but still brand new,never fired.Plus it had a custom Precision HS stock on it along with a Leupold Scope Base attached to it.
The owner-seller was nice to sell me the rifle minus the tax because i paid cash for it.
Anyway...i figured i would buy a pistol from him in the near future.I looked at a Steyr 40,Walther p99 .40,S&W M&P .40.He began to get a little irratated because i couldn't,and wouldn't,make-up-my-mind on which pistol i would buy.
Then,after extensive research,i found-out that the Steyr and the Walther had their share of problems.The S&W is too new for solid reviews.
He began by saying " Damn Bob ! You're all over the place ! ".
So i said " I'm going to stick with a .45 pistol."
So looked at the Ruger P345,Springfield XD,Taurus PT1911,and the Sig P220st .
He would obviously get pissed-off and frustrated during the three weeks that would call him and ask him questions about the pistols,especially the C.P.O. Sig P220 st .
He said his distributor had none of the Sigs and Taurus's in stock,and wouldn't be getting any in.
Then he would say ,"why can't you make-up-my-mind ? You've gone from a Steyr to Sig ! ," I said ," Well,it's a matter of what's available,plus i really don't trust the .40 cal as much as the .45 cal.." He said " Well it's up to you,after all, you're the customer ! ".
All this happened within three to four weeks.But his tone was diffently patronizing and you could tell he was becoming impatient and basically fed-up with me.
It wasn't my fault that you can't get Taurus PT1911's and Sig P220 st's at the moment because of the high demands.
I went back to a gun store nearer to my home and paid $745 for C.P.O. Sig P200 st that looks brand-new.
If the original guy would have talked and treated me more " maturely " i probably would have bought a second gun from him.
There's alot of stores out there to choose from.
So do your business with people who will respect you,take time with you, and have patience with you.
--------------------------------
" Get your filthy paws off me you dirty damn Ape !"
" From my cold,dead,fingers ! "
-Charlston Heston
My story is i bought Remington Model 700 Stainless Steel flutted-heavy-barrel from a gun a gun dealer at a local gun show for $600.This was a steal because the rifle was worth a whole lot more than that.It was used,but still brand new,never fired.Plus it had a custom Precision HS stock on it along with a Leupold Scope Base attached to it.
The owner-seller was nice to sell me the rifle minus the tax because i paid cash for it.
Anyway...i figured i would buy a pistol from him in the near future.I looked at a Steyr 40,Walther p99 .40,S&W M&P .40.He began to get a little irratated because i couldn't,and wouldn't,make-up-my-mind on which pistol i would buy.
Then,after extensive research,i found-out that the Steyr and the Walther had their share of problems.The S&W is too new for solid reviews.
He began by saying " Damn Bob ! You're all over the place ! ".
So i said " I'm going to stick with a .45 pistol."
So looked at the Ruger P345,Springfield XD,Taurus PT1911,and the Sig P220st .
He would obviously get pissed-off and frustrated during the three weeks that would call him and ask him questions about the pistols,especially the C.P.O. Sig P220 st .
He said his distributor had none of the Sigs and Taurus's in stock,and wouldn't be getting any in.
Then he would say ,"why can't you make-up-my-mind ? You've gone from a Steyr to Sig ! ," I said ," Well,it's a matter of what's available,plus i really don't trust the .40 cal as much as the .45 cal.." He said " Well it's up to you,after all, you're the customer ! ".
All this happened within three to four weeks.But his tone was diffently patronizing and you could tell he was becoming impatient and basically fed-up with me.
It wasn't my fault that you can't get Taurus PT1911's and Sig P220 st's at the moment because of the high demands.
I went back to a gun store nearer to my home and paid $745 for C.P.O. Sig P200 st that looks brand-new.
If the original guy would have talked and treated me more " maturely " i probably would have bought a second gun from him.
There's alot of stores out there to choose from.
So do your business with people who will respect you,take time with you, and have patience with you.
--------------------------------
" Get your filthy paws off me you dirty damn Ape !"
" From my cold,dead,fingers ! "
-Charlston Heston
gunsmith
member
Sportsman Warehouse
here in Reno are full of nice people, I have seen some good prices too, but have not bought anything.
here in Reno are full of nice people, I have seen some good prices too, but have not bought anything.
I'm also pretty young and get the brush-off treatment sometimes. I can see why someone can get jaded doing the job for a while after selling guns myself for a while. You get to deal with some real idiots. That's still no excuse for his behavior. Being a young guy behind the counter can be frustrating as well when customers who are knowledgeable assume you're not. I used to be amused by the looks on their faces after they realized that I did in fact know which end the bullet came out of.
Despite being a bit young, and when I don't cut my hair or shave I've got a bit of the Manson Family vibe to me... I've usually had good experiences at gun shows and retail shops.
There's the occasional schmuck who doesn't want to get a rifle off the rack or check in the back for one without a chip in the stock, but I just write that off to retail wages.
There's the occasional schmuck who doesn't want to get a rifle off the rack or check in the back for one without a chip in the stock, but I just write that off to retail wages.
MinnMooney
Member
Sportsman's Warehouse
I was just at Sprtsmn's Whse in Anoka, Minn. to get a "stuck casing remover" (yeah, I did a stupid) and the sales guy not only found the RCBS stuck casing remover for me but offered to remove the casing from my die if I had it with me.... which I did... so he did. He not only removed the stuck casing but didn't even charge me for the labor and said I didn't even have to purchase the tool! I bought it anyway 'cause - ya just never know.
P.S. You're age might have something to do with it but I'm 59 and I run into "know-it-all" jerks at all of the same stores as *Nematocyst-870* does. The sales people that act like that should be confronted while in the presence of their supervisor. A supervisor should have no tolerence for a counter sales person talking down to a customer.
I was just at Sprtsmn's Whse in Anoka, Minn. to get a "stuck casing remover" (yeah, I did a stupid) and the sales guy not only found the RCBS stuck casing remover for me but offered to remove the casing from my die if I had it with me.... which I did... so he did. He not only removed the stuck casing but didn't even charge me for the labor and said I didn't even have to purchase the tool! I bought it anyway 'cause - ya just never know.
P.S. You're age might have something to do with it but I'm 59 and I run into "know-it-all" jerks at all of the same stores as *Nematocyst-870* does. The sales people that act like that should be confronted while in the presence of their supervisor. A supervisor should have no tolerence for a counter sales person talking down to a customer.
kungfuhippie
Member
this falls under the designation of "Walmart Moment" when the customers, workers, or physical store makes you want to push your cart into the fish tanks.
My local store doesn't treat you bad once you've bought a gun. They deal with alot of lookie-lous (sp) so they don't like having to show 10 guns to some kid off the street who won't be able to get all the required junk to buy a handgun in Cali anyway. I've bought 8 rifles from them, so they know that I'm not a dumb kid and that I'm not just looking, wanting to paw several hundred dollars of stuff for fun.
My local store doesn't treat you bad once you've bought a gun. They deal with alot of lookie-lous (sp) so they don't like having to show 10 guns to some kid off the street who won't be able to get all the required junk to buy a handgun in Cali anyway. I've bought 8 rifles from them, so they know that I'm not a dumb kid and that I'm not just looking, wanting to paw several hundred dollars of stuff for fun.
gunsmith
member
A 20 something
black girl got real hostile at a big 5 in south san francisco
a few years back when I offered some unsolicited advice....
I goofed by assuming I knew more then her......though I probably did.
black girl got real hostile at a big 5 in south san francisco
a few years back when I offered some unsolicited advice....
I goofed by assuming I knew more then her......though I probably did.
Had the same kind of touble at Carter Country's I-10 store in Houston. Tried two or three clerks over a short period and got very frustrated (smart talk, bad info, too lazy to look, etc.) Was in their Pasadena store one day and talked to a young man that was very helpful and knew what he was doing. Ended up buying a S&W 908 and have been very happy with it. Sometimes it's frustrating and you just have to look till you find someone.
A local gun store here in the Dayton area (Olde English outfitters, to be precise) has always treated me, as a younger shooter, with utmost respect. One of the gentlemen there actually knows be by name and called to tell me that I'd left a purchase at the store. I enjoy shopping there. Their prices are good and they are always helpful and fairly knowledgeable. They're always willing to talk about something you want to know.
One guy even spent 15 minutes explaining black powder to my sister with a gun he knew she wasn't going to be buying.
I try to give them as much business as possible.
One guy even spent 15 minutes explaining black powder to my sister with a gun he knew she wasn't going to be buying.
I try to give them as much business as possible.
I said to the owner of the shop I go to,
me: Hey you got one of the new XD .45 compacts.
Clerk/owner: No, it is not a compact.
me: Yeah it takes a compact mag and the standard mag with the little sleeve to make it the same as a service model.
Clerk/owner: No that is a xd 45 service. They dont make a compact 45.
me: They dont make a .45
clerk/owner: yeah, this is a .45
He pulls it out and says see...
me: oh, well whats that one?
clerk/owner: it's a .45 too.
me: why does it look bigger?
clerk/owner: (puzzled look) No they are the same, look..
pulls it out to compare...
clerk/owner: (realizes size differnce between 45 service and 45 compact) "Ohhhh" I see... Cool
me: yup pretty cool...
So he learned something that day. I was glad to help.
It does seem that the gun shops guys are the least informed about their products.
me: Hey you got one of the new XD .45 compacts.
Clerk/owner: No, it is not a compact.
me: Yeah it takes a compact mag and the standard mag with the little sleeve to make it the same as a service model.
Clerk/owner: No that is a xd 45 service. They dont make a compact 45.
me: They dont make a .45
clerk/owner: yeah, this is a .45
He pulls it out and says see...
me: oh, well whats that one?
clerk/owner: it's a .45 too.
me: why does it look bigger?
clerk/owner: (puzzled look) No they are the same, look..
pulls it out to compare...
clerk/owner: (realizes size differnce between 45 service and 45 compact) "Ohhhh" I see... Cool
me: yup pretty cool...
So he learned something that day. I was glad to help.
It does seem that the gun shops guys are the least informed about their products.
FilJos
Member
I have found one such store near my home and have since bought every firearm I own at that establishment. As a matter of fact I went there On Friday and bought a new handgun and ordered a rifle. For those of you in the Twin Cities, MN area I can't stress this enough: Support The Frontiersman. I love it, you should love it too. Just a few old guys who know guns, sitting behind the counter and doing business.
On the other hand, I stopped first at Bill's to check availability for my rifle and couldn't get any of the employees to help me. Every single on of them was crowded around two goobers trying to convince everyone that they were "Independant Spec-Ops operators working for Blackwater Tactical."
It seems like every time I have the misfortune of wandering in to Bill's I always regret it. Thier ads proclaim what knowledgeable staff they have, but I actually once listened to an employee tell a customer how he could pull the bullets from M2 rounds and load them into .50ae brass for his desert eagle so that he could shoot through an engine block. And every time I go there with high hopes, I seem to encounter some form of that same wisdom/macho posturing. Stack it up with thier sky-high prices and it's obvious that the only thing keeping them in business is the MPPA and the yuppies buying Kimbers or Glocks and the homies buying hi-points, all at 125% of msrp.Fulcrum of Evil
Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2007
- Messages
- 129
> It does seem that the gun shops guys are the least informed about their products.
That's just because you know guns. I know computers and most computer shops are hopeless. So far the best place for knowledgeable sales guys has been guitar shops - musicians are used to being poor, I guess, or else they just want to play every guiter in the place.
That's just because you know guns. I know computers and most computer shops are hopeless. So far the best place for knowledgeable sales guys has been guitar shops - musicians are used to being poor, I guess, or else they just want to play every guiter in the place.
PistolNewbie
Member
"If you really want to get frustrated, try shopping for a rifle in Dick's sporting goods stores. Even if you can find a clerk, which is doubtful, he wont know anything. I totally avoid those stores now."
_________________________________________________________________
Recently I went into our new Dick's Sporting Goods (Bautiful Store) to buy a pair of running shoes. One of the worse shopping experiences I have ever had! I knew a lot more than the clerk who come out to wait on me while he was eating food!! I told my wife as we were leaving: "God help the guy who is shopping for a gun!" (Yes I bought the shoes but only because they were EXACTLY what I wanted . )
_________________________________________________________________
Recently I went into our new Dick's Sporting Goods (Bautiful Store) to buy a pair of running shoes. One of the worse shopping experiences I have ever had! I knew a lot more than the clerk who come out to wait on me while he was eating food!!
I told my wife as we were leaving: "God help the guy who is shopping for a gun!" (Yes I bought the shoes but only because they were EXACTLY what I wanted . )Try being a psychologist and having people explaint their theories of behavior to you!
Anyway, I just posted a gun store experience in another thread. I would point out, you get the same experience in coin stores. Jerks and nice folks alternate.
Anyway, I just posted a gun store experience in another thread. I would point out, you get the same experience in coin stores. Jerks and nice folks alternate.
Troutman
member
I believe in Sy Syms Philosophy, “An educated consumer is our best customer”.
I guess I'm lucky. About 30 miles from me is a small time gun shop that seems to have everything that I need at fairly reasonable prices. The owner is a retired school teacher who is an avid shooter. He runs the place with the help of his wife. He and his wife are both extremely knowledgable on any type of firearm.
The rifles there are not locked up in cases and you are free to handle them. The handguns are behind glass, but all you have to do is ask and they are more than happy to let you handle them as much as you want. He has on more than one occasion supplied a holster so I could feel how a handgun carried and is never PO'd if you don't buy something. He just says "That's OK, I hope you find something you like next time you're in". I've purchased quite a bit from him because of this.
The only downside is that if there is a local IDPA match, he'll be closed for the day.
The rifles there are not locked up in cases and you are free to handle them. The handguns are behind glass, but all you have to do is ask and they are more than happy to let you handle them as much as you want. He has on more than one occasion supplied a holster so I could feel how a handgun carried and is never PO'd if you don't buy something. He just says "That's OK, I hope you find something you like next time you're in". I've purchased quite a bit from him because of this.
The only downside is that if there is a local IDPA match, he'll be closed for the day.
qajaq59
Member
Sometimes you hit a winner
There's a small reloading store in Melbourne FL that is top shelf. I needed some 30 cal gas checks a while back. When he found he didn't have any in the store he got me a box of them out of his personal reloading stuff so I wouldn't have to wait for an order to come in. Now that's a guy that will have a successful business. And he certainly will get a lot of it from me!!!!
Now if we could only have him train every clerk in America we'd have it made.
There's a small reloading store in Melbourne FL that is top shelf. I needed some 30 cal gas checks a while back. When he found he didn't have any in the store he got me a box of them out of his personal reloading stuff so I wouldn't have to wait for an order to come in. Now that's a guy that will have a successful business. And he certainly will get a lot of it from me!!!!
Now if we could only have him train every clerk in America we'd have it made.
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