No real bad experiences, but I do get "snubbed" quite often. I am only 23 and I look young on top of that, plus I have tattoos on both of my forearms and I am always sporting a black eye or broken nose(MMA/Boxing) and cauliflower ear. Needless to say I get treated as if I shouldn't own/couldn't afford in many instances. Luckily there are two fairly new local shops run by younger guys who are great to work with.
Bad LGS experiences
- Thread starter ShawnC
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ErikO
Member
I miss a store called Pepper's Sporting Goods that was on North Ave in Carol Stream, IL. They were always very helpful but got shut down due to a straw purchase. Guess they were TOO helpful...
FIVETWOSEVEN
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- Aug 28, 2009
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- 5,146
They told me I have to be 21 to SELL a handgun to them and they told me it was the law. I will admit I went for a job interview a few months ago mostly because of the discount but they have some things that aren't quite right.
Luckily my LGS is extremely friendly and will let me, even though I'm 18, see any gun in his shop including handguns. His prices are a bit high but its worth it to support his business.
merlinfire
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- Feb 2, 2010
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- 793
Sometimes you just have to have a thicker skin. A lot of gun shop folks I've found aren't really 'people persons' so they may come off a little sharp not meaning to. Now I've had some bad experiences but generally if the closest LGS isn't exorbitantly priced and its overtly hostile, I'll go there. If I got upset over every gun shop that was 10-15% over internet prices + shipping, and who wasn't overly friendly when I came in, there's hardly a gunshop around that would keep me as a customer. So I don't sweat it!
Found a LGS that did $25 transfers, and bought an old shotgun from Gun Broker and went through them. The guy was slow, but civil. Tried it again a couple of months later with a PA-63 I found that I thought was in fair shape, but looked a little rough in the pictures, and it was clear this guy thought I should be buying from him, and told me the gun was rusty.
"pretty sure that's old cosmoline on the slide"
"what about all the rust on the frame?"
"pretty sure that's the same thing"
"Well I have one, and the one I have is in much nicer condition than that, you overpaid"
Apparently he doesn't want my transfer business. The PA-63 has an aluminum frame. It cleaned up great, and I just sold it a good friend for what I paid, and he thinks I'm nuts to sell it. It is in nice condition, barely shot.
"pretty sure that's old cosmoline on the slide"
"what about all the rust on the frame?"
"pretty sure that's the same thing"
"Well I have one, and the one I have is in much nicer condition than that, you overpaid"
Apparently he doesn't want my transfer business. The PA-63 has an aluminum frame. It cleaned up great, and I just sold it a good friend for what I paid, and he thinks I'm nuts to sell it. It is in nice condition, barely shot.
I usually go to a range/FFL/gunshop. The owner lets you shoot 5 rounds through any weapon you want to purchase and if there are problems he either fixes and fires the gun himself or sends it back to where he got it from. Over the last few years he has become a friend and I have enjoyed being around his place and the people who frequent there. I was going to buy a .22 once but out of the 5 shots two did not go bang. Pistol was returned after trying it out. My favorite kinda place.
The other few LGS around here are stocked but I never find a real deal at any of them and their prices are usually a few percentage points higher.
The other few LGS around here are stocked but I never find a real deal at any of them and their prices are usually a few percentage points higher.
tyeo098
Member
I was wondering how he thought Iron Oxide showed up on an Aluminum frame
USAF_Vet
Member
I can't blame FFL's that get cranky when they do a transfer on something they can supply or even have on the shelf. The one transfer I did through an FFL was for my M-44, and he didn't have one or an immediate source for one. He was happy with his $25.
But if he had one on the rack, I'm sure he would have rather sold me his and make more than $25.
But if he had one on the rack, I'm sure he would have rather sold me his and make more than $25.
A couple of weeks ago I drove 2 1/2 hours to the biggest gun shop in KY (so the claim, probably truthfully). I was looking for a specific rifle and they had many in stock.
Getting help was difficult and the salesmen did an inferior job, imo.
I found one I was interested in and was told to approach the grossly obese man at the front.
I did. I had a specific rifle I might have wanted to trade.
He proceeded to lie about the trade and gave me the "take it or leave it" attitude.
This was after I had introduced myself as a gun shop owner and told him I had my FFl and cash in hand.
I didnt take to that attitude and left without buying anything.
I learned:
If you take the attitude that you don't care whether you sell a gun or not, you probably wont.
If you lie to customers, you probably won't sell a gun
Everyone likes to be treated in a friendly cordial manner, even if theyre being told "no".
Everyone likes to be treated like a special customer, even if it's their first time there.
Getting help was difficult and the salesmen did an inferior job, imo.
I found one I was interested in and was told to approach the grossly obese man at the front.
I did. I had a specific rifle I might have wanted to trade.
He proceeded to lie about the trade and gave me the "take it or leave it" attitude.
This was after I had introduced myself as a gun shop owner and told him I had my FFl and cash in hand.
I didnt take to that attitude and left without buying anything.
I learned:
If you take the attitude that you don't care whether you sell a gun or not, you probably wont.
If you lie to customers, you probably won't sell a gun
Everyone likes to be treated in a friendly cordial manner, even if theyre being told "no".
Everyone likes to be treated like a special customer, even if it's their first time there.
mdauben
Member
Quite understandable. I would definetly check the local store before buying on-line, and get if from the local unless the price was totally out of line. I'm willing to spend a little more to support a local shop, but I won't allow myself to be robbed.
I guess I've been pretty lucky with my local shops. The wost I can remember recently is going into the big local store on a weekend and it being so crowded with people I couldn't browse the mercendice properly.
ErikO
Member
Bubba613 said:
You've just learned the basics of running a service business without it costing you your credit rating.
I've toyed with the idea of opening a gun shop at some point but my personal knowlege level of both guns and business are keeping me from doing so.
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I've had good and bad experiences locally.
Bad: One LGS has a good range of products even if their prices are on the high side. Some of the staff are friendly and knowledgable and some of them are not. The owner, however, seems to be permanently angry at life which is strange because he is moving a lot of product at top prices. Perhaps he took a dislike to me. I lost a bottom to a magazine at his range and said obviously I can't look for it but if you find it during your brass clearup could you give me a call. He said, 'Well that gun is a piece of crap I am not surprised.' It was not crap - it was 3 months old and I bought it from his shop. It wasn't the first time he'd snapped like that for no discernible reason. I quietly resolved not to shop there any more.
Good: Another LGS has a reasonable range of products at fair prices and will even haggle a bit if you buy more than one item. The staff are largely good. The owner is a gunsmith and very softly spoken. I'm not very gentle on firearms, especially hunting ones. One time I took a rifle in because I had knocked the scope so far out of alignment I wondered about damage. He said quietly, 'What happened here'? I sheepishly said, 'Well, I was hunting at night on a ranch I didn't know very well. And I fell over into a small ditch. Erm. Backwards.". Yeah, I did feel embarrassed. He smiled and quietly said, I think I can fix this.
I have a few 'dangerous' interests. Hunting, sportsbikes (used to race), and horses. In my experience you get two types of people in these passtimes - normal, friendly folk and people who conflate the inherent dangers involved in them with machismo and some delusion of superiority.
It's tedious but you can always vote with your wallet. I always have.
Bad: One LGS has a good range of products even if their prices are on the high side. Some of the staff are friendly and knowledgable and some of them are not. The owner, however, seems to be permanently angry at life which is strange because he is moving a lot of product at top prices. Perhaps he took a dislike to me. I lost a bottom to a magazine at his range and said obviously I can't look for it but if you find it during your brass clearup could you give me a call. He said, 'Well that gun is a piece of crap I am not surprised.' It was not crap - it was 3 months old and I bought it from his shop. It wasn't the first time he'd snapped like that for no discernible reason. I quietly resolved not to shop there any more.
Good: Another LGS has a reasonable range of products at fair prices and will even haggle a bit if you buy more than one item. The staff are largely good. The owner is a gunsmith and very softly spoken. I'm not very gentle on firearms, especially hunting ones. One time I took a rifle in because I had knocked the scope so far out of alignment I wondered about damage. He said quietly, 'What happened here'? I sheepishly said, 'Well, I was hunting at night on a ranch I didn't know very well. And I fell over into a small ditch. Erm. Backwards.". Yeah, I did feel embarrassed. He smiled and quietly said, I think I can fix this.
I have a few 'dangerous' interests. Hunting, sportsbikes (used to race), and horses. In my experience you get two types of people in these passtimes - normal, friendly folk and people who conflate the inherent dangers involved in them with machismo and some delusion of superiority.
It's tedious but you can always vote with your wallet. I always have.
bubba613 sounds to me like you went to whittakers (sp) i stopped in there the one time i was in kentucky back in 06 and loved the selection but wasnt impressed with the employees and i remember an impressively fat man sitting up front acting like he thought he was god.
Most of my experiences at LGS have been favorable. The bad experiences usually involve crank old malcontents that are way behind the times and vastly underestimate how much more informed the average customer is today compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Nine times out of ten I know more about the product I am buying than the guy behind the counter does and I venture to guess most average informed gun buyers do as well. The internet has a wealth of gun info just a few clicks away and gone are the days of being held hostage by what is available at a local shop. This isn't limited to gun shops of course but all brick and mortar businesses. I don't doubt that gun stores draw large crowds of idiots, but nowadays the owners and shop personal need to assume the customer knows what he is talking about until he proves otherwise.
acmax95
Member
I have bought a few guns from Whittakers in KY. They have a great selection and good prices. I have no complaints from them. I like being able to walk around and pick up all the rifles. It is hard to look at the handguns there though, and I have never dealt with "the big guy."
I don't have any bad gun shop experiences, and as long as I stay out of the local Gander Mountain, I don't have any complaints about sporting good stores.
I don't have any bad gun shop experiences, and as long as I stay out of the local Gander Mountain, I don't have any complaints about sporting good stores.
Hocka Louis
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- Joined
- May 22, 2011
- Messages
- 313
Joe's Bait & Switch Shop
Yup. Joe's Bait & Switch Shop on Bath Ave.
Before any AWB, my brother-in-law and I went to Joe's. Offered me a lightly used AR with big camo scope. We drove back across the county the next weekend with cash. Joe started taking the scope off. I asked him why and he said the price was without the scope! My brother-in-law, a wholesale dealer Joe knew, confirmed that wasn't true. Joe maintained the lie but "gave in." But then couldn't find the gun in his log.
The next weekend, there we were and there was the gun on the shelf. He had us waiting two hours while he puttered. In the meantime a guy walked in and gave him a box full of receivers and barrels which Joe carefully took out and put away without logging. He explained he had another set of "books" for some guns, hadn't found my gun in either, and we'd have to come back a fourth time.
Startled, I reported him to the BATF (no "E" then) instead.
Yup. Joe's Bait & Switch Shop on Bath Ave.
Before any AWB, my brother-in-law and I went to Joe's. Offered me a lightly used AR with big camo scope. We drove back across the county the next weekend with cash. Joe started taking the scope off. I asked him why and he said the price was without the scope! My brother-in-law, a wholesale dealer Joe knew, confirmed that wasn't true. Joe maintained the lie but "gave in." But then couldn't find the gun in his log.
The next weekend, there we were and there was the gun on the shelf. He had us waiting two hours while he puttered. In the meantime a guy walked in and gave him a box full of receivers and barrels which Joe carefully took out and put away without logging. He explained he had another set of "books" for some guns, hadn't found my gun in either, and we'd have to come back a fourth time.
Startled, I reported him to the BATF (no "E" then) instead.
Carter
Member
I was at one gun store in Charlotte that has notoriously high prices. $800 dollar glocks, $700 century ak's...you get the idea. Well I was just looking and the fondling (I always make it clear I'm not buying). I really liked the fn2000 I held and said I'd love to buy it but just bought a rifle from my usual place. They laughed like I was an idiot for going to the store I named and went in to a little spiel about how they're the best and they have an in house gunsmith to fix any problems and how my store didn't have a gunsmith (they do). I replied, "Isn't that what the warranty is for?" They got even huffier and walked away.
The funniest thing I've heard was a salesman telling me that a particular ar-15 was chambered for 5.56 so I could shoot through UN troops helmets when they invade.
The funniest thing I've heard was a salesman telling me that a particular ar-15 was chambered for 5.56 so I could shoot through UN troops helmets when they invade.
Jesse Heywood
Member
Never had a bad experience at a LGS.
Talking about testing guns. At one pawn shop (that will remain nameless) if you asked if a gun worked the owner would hand you a round of ammo and point to a 5 gallon bucket filled with river sand.
Talking about testing guns. At one pawn shop (that will remain nameless) if you asked if a gun worked the owner would hand you a round of ammo and point to a 5 gallon bucket filled with river sand.
"Talking about testing guns. At one pawn shop (that will remain nameless) if you asked if a gun worked the owner would hand you a round of ammo and point to a 5 gallon bucket filled with river sand."
Not being funny but some of the best rifles I bought came from pawn shops...
Ever seen what they offer a seller?
Not being funny but some of the best rifles I bought came from pawn shops...
Ever seen what they offer a seller?
Shienhausser
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- Joined
- Jul 1, 2011
- Messages
- 267
"and was told to approach the grossly obese man at the front."
Now, I am not that overweight nor am I thin skinned but this is kind of offensive. It adds nothing to your story and has nothing to do with his attitude.
On another note, I CAN'T STAND LGS's that make you feel that you have to earn their help.
You'd think they'd be extremely happy to even have a customer with the way things are.
Now, I am not that overweight nor am I thin skinned but this is kind of offensive. It adds nothing to your story and has nothing to do with his attitude.
On another note, I CAN'T STAND LGS's that make you feel that you have to earn their help.
You'd think they'd be extremely happy to even have a customer with the way things are.
mortablunt
Member
I am officially swearing off of gun stores. I've had a large number of bad experiences. A lot of them have to do with either jerky staff or being fleeced. Being only 18 and looking like I am 13, I tend to get a lot of condescension, odd looks, and occasional mockery. When I was shopping for an AK, I got the "I bet you're only asking about it because you played Black Ops" tripe. I've been denied sales because I seem too young, even when carded. The worst part is having my intelligence insulted. I do not need to be given false gasps of amusement when I ask for 7.62X51 or 7.62X4R and then being told that it's a big man's cartridge. I have had good experiences too and they outnumber the bad, but I'm sick of putting up with this garbage.
Twiki357
Member
Splithoof "Does anyone remember the old, now closed B&B Sales in North Hollywood, Ca?
'Nuff said."
Sure do. If memory serves me right, they were the ones that supplied AR's to the LAPD during the North Hollywood B of A shoot out. Then B&B, Pony Express, and most others GS's all went out of business complements of LA city council's anti-gun ordinances. I've always wondered if they ever got their guns back from LAPD.
'Nuff said."
Sure do. If memory serves me right, they were the ones that supplied AR's to the LAPD during the North Hollywood B of A shoot out. Then B&B, Pony Express, and most others GS's all went out of business complements of LA city council's anti-gun ordinances. I've always wondered if they ever got their guns back from LAPD.
I like Whittaker's. I shop there a lot, and Mr. Whitaker is a big man, as is his son; I think it's genetic. But, he's a nice guy, and knowledgeable. The reason he is take it or leave it is because that's the way his business is. He sells very close to wholesale on damn near everything because he has so many guns. Just because he doesn't want your trade does not make him a jerk. Chances are, you were misinformed about the value of your trade that guy probably knows more about gun selling than I could ever learn.
That being said, I've found that their pistol guys do better service because all of them are locked up. Long guns, you pretty much look on your own, then ask questions at the counter.
I find their ammo prices to be fair, most gun prices to be good, and selection to be phenomenal. Only place I know that has a good probability of having a Winchester Model 97, a FN SCAR, a Colt Woodsman, and high end Kimbers/HKs all in stock on the same day (to name some less prevalent/rare guns)
That being said, I've found that their pistol guys do better service because all of them are locked up. Long guns, you pretty much look on your own, then ask questions at the counter.
I find their ammo prices to be fair, most gun prices to be good, and selection to be phenomenal. Only place I know that has a good probability of having a Winchester Model 97, a FN SCAR, a Colt Woodsman, and high end Kimbers/HKs all in stock on the same day (to name some less prevalent/rare guns)
Chedderbob
Member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
- Messages
- 50
I fall into the category of "too young to even be remotely knowledgeable about anything halfway related to firearms."
My city has one dedicated gun shop, the rest are pawnshops with guns in them.
I have had too many bad experiences to list here, but most recently;
I'm in a shop looking for a Hi-Point 995 for my GF (she loves em, I personally am not a fan.) After the guy hands me the hi-point behind the counter he says "If you like that thing you'll LOVE this!"
I see him reach for a Ruger PC40. I say "Ah, you guys have a PC40?"
Him: "I don't know what a PC40 is, you probably need to read up on your guns. This is a Ruger 10/22 chambered in .40 S&W"
I look at the tag to show him where it says PC4/PC40 on it.... tag says "10/22 chambered in 40S&W" $289 (the price of their 10/22's) I bought it, thanked god for them having no idea what they were doing, shot it for about 6 months, sold it on Gunbroker for $500.
My city has one dedicated gun shop, the rest are pawnshops with guns in them.
I have had too many bad experiences to list here, but most recently;
I'm in a shop looking for a Hi-Point 995 for my GF (she loves em, I personally am not a fan.) After the guy hands me the hi-point behind the counter he says "If you like that thing you'll LOVE this!"
I see him reach for a Ruger PC40. I say "Ah, you guys have a PC40?"
Him: "I don't know what a PC40 is, you probably need to read up on your guns. This is a Ruger 10/22 chambered in .40 S&W"
I look at the tag to show him where it says PC4/PC40 on it.... tag says "10/22 chambered in 40S&W" $289 (the price of their 10/22's) I bought it, thanked god for them having no idea what they were doing, shot it for about 6 months, sold it on Gunbroker for $500.
USAF_Vet
Member
What a doofus. Although it's based on the 10/22, it is not a 10/22. Good score on the PC40. Practically stole it from him.
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