Back in the day, when you bought a gun ...

Retail in general has changed so much with the internet that the margins just aren't there to throw in freebies. Say the shop has a 10% margin (some are even less than that), and you buy a $500 gun. If the shop throws in a $25 box of ammo, they just cut their profit margin to 5%. Same situation when there is a gas station on every corner. The station can't afford to pump your gas and top off your fluids for the few cents a gallon they are making on the fuel. If you really want to get your blood boiling, consider the fact that the government is most likely making more off of either of those sales than the business owner selling you the product.

 

^^Agreed 100%. As much as we all love the convenience and pricing of buying online it is killing the brick and mortar stores. In 5-10 years the business will look very different.

 

Recently bought a 30 year old like new Marlin .22 at a LGS and the owner threw in a 50 round box of thunderbolts.

Another LGS would give you a free T-shirt with any gun purchase, but quit doing that soon after.

Never got anything more than "Thanks. NEXT!" from the big box stores.

 

Four years ago I bought a C93 (HK93 Clone) at Pac'n'Arms in Sanford Maine. The owner threw in 2 boxes of good quality 5.56mm. Despite the bad press that CAI receives, the rifle has performed well. Phil has a first rate operation there.

 

A local gun shop here (sadly closed now due to death of owner) was a great place to buy stuff.
I bought a lot of rifles, scopes, reloading supplies, etc from him.

Whenever I bought a new firearm, I would buy a box of ammo for testing. More often than not, he'd throw in an extra box for me.

Bought a used rifle from him once (Brno ZKK 600). He threw in a set of rings & bases.

 

More observations on the tiny margins on guns: http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2016/01/thin-margins.html

 

Hey up until about 6 years ago, two of the local shops would throw in a box if you asked politely. I think frankly they just got sick of feeling money falling through the cracks.

 

The shop I frequent will typically throw in a box or two of ammo...

Bought my Mosin 91/30 and they tossed in a pack or two of surplus 7.62x54R
Bought my RIA M1911A1 and they tossed in a box of Armscor .45 ACP
Bought my Windham AR15 and they tossed in two boxes of Armscor .223.

They don't give the BEST ammo, but they do a LOT of business with Armscor, so that's what they typically include from my understanding.

 

Yes, but at some point in the future, today will be the good ole days for someone.

 

Never really cared if a shop gave a box or two of ammunition for a new gun. It is not something that I even try to remember. Today..... if I bought a 22 mag, I certainly would like the shop to include a box of ammo. Very hard to find for the last couple years. I am not complaining, I have "enough", but would like about 500 rounds available to me beyond my current cache simply because it is so hard to find.

 

My local dealer keeps his prices very competitive, so he doesn't throw in boxes of ammo. However, he always makes sure that he has ammo available for his gun buying regulars. When popular demand calibers such as 9mm were no where to be found, he always had some for his regulars. When pistol powder was scarce, he had some. A much better deal than a cheap box of target ammo.