Austin TX gun show

[GEM]

Nagels - once went there to browse. Was looking at the used guns and some clerk followed me to every case, with arms crossed, glaring at me.

Way over priced on new guns.

I've found that some of these types stores specialize in stroking good ol' boys with tough guy gun stories (McBrides's commando clerk is good at that). Lot's of Har, Har, Har time with guys.

I once went there and saw knife on sale as discontinued. So I asked the grizzled old women if they would deal on price. I had to flee for my life as she sicked her flying monkeys on me - if you get my drift.

But this is common trend in specialty shops. I once was dissed seriously in a fancy cheese store in Oregon.

Coin stores also have the same type of clerk.

One fancy - we are the best store in San Antonio - opened up, had attitude and closed forthwith.

 

[lvalmont]

McBrides does seem to be snobby at times. The owner himself knows that he has a small monopoly on Austin gun sales (there are no other strong contenders within reasonable driving distance) and doesn't seem to mind losing a customer or two here and there.

The sales staff is always as helpful as possible, but it is usually packed and some people just get lost in the shuffle. Some days I'll go in and get asked if I need help by 3-4 different people instantly and other days it'll take 10-20 minutes for me to get someone.

The worst part is that they do paperwork/buy used guns from private individuals on the display counters, effectively occupying whatever section they happen to be on for 5-15 minutes.

Some are know-it-alls, but I have always been impressed with their knowledge. Also, anytime a clerk doesn't know an answer to my question he almost always says "Hm, I don't actually know.." and will ask all the other clerks to see if he can get a right answer, rather than being prideful and making up and answer or guessing.

Also, the gunsmiths upstairs have ALWAYS been very honest and helpful. They refer me to other gunsmiths when they know that they can't serve my needs 100%.

I guess I visit often enough that all the clerks know me and know I usually buy at least one gun a month, that may affect the way I get treated, but I have never seen them be unfair to ANYONE (saw a "homie" looking guy come in asking for a magazine for his Raven/Lorcin/Jennings and the clerk helped him sift through a box of unsorted magazines to help him find the right one).

 

[GEM]

Well, I saw a guy come in with an SKS and wanting to get parts to modify it. The commando clerk started to scream at him - YOU WILL GO TO FEDERAL PRISON.

The guy says - but I read that.

Clerk yells : Didn't you hear me - you will go to - blah, blah.

Could have said it quietly but he was showing off. The guy calls him a backside orifice and leaves. Then commando starts yelling to the whole joint that he was called a butt chute. Ha ha.

Another time, Commando was showing a good ol boy a snubby. GOB says it has limited capacity - a debate in and of itself. So Commando says: Well, if you need more than one shot, YOU AIN'T DOING YOUR JOB. HAR, HAR!

Great advice. Now, I grant you some of the older gentlemen are fine to talk to and I suppose most stores have one jerk.

With Academy's around - if you want a standard Glock or SW snubby - you can do better on price. And they have other standards reasonably.

So my advice to McBride's is to give that guy some mellowing training.