Dealers with attitude

[takhtakaal]

The OP stated that this was the shop owner's wife who was so rude to him. I'm beginning to think that there must be some sort of disease that they're all subject to, because I've got issues at the local shop with ol' B----y Ball n' Chain, too.

Every time I come in there, she does her level best to make me feel completely, and I mean completely, unwelcome. She knows nothing about firearms, clutters the shop with her kids, insults me both in word and looks, and has interjected herself into dickering and hornswaggling several times over. Fortunately, I've gotten a grasp of her general schedule, and I try to avoid her and her enormous ego at all costs.

The workers there are generally nice, if not merely inoffensive, and the owner is affable enough, if not overwhelmingly friendly at times. Still, this dragon and her brood ... it's enough to send me elsewhere if she's there.

 

[mattw]

I thought it was fun when a guy at the gun shop I like (awesome prices) told me that Leupold scopes are really only good for hunting and that Bushnell scopes are way better if you want to do long distance shooting.

I go to this place for the prices and the laughs.

 

[Moonclip]

I don't want to read this whole thread though I do consider them fun but repetitive. However I have noticed many gunshop owners are social retards. many hobby businesses are like this.

The owner may know(or thinks he knows,some hobbiest customers can be extremely knowledgeable which just kills egos, having a store does not make one knowledgeable)or think he knows a lot about guns but he may know little to nothing on how to run a business or people skills.

The dream for many of owning a gunshop once it happens many times becomes a nightmare. And then the attitude and anger gets taken out on the customers.

 

[98C5]

Not as bad as Corvette owners, but a close second. Ignore them both, and make your own choices.

I own a Corvette.


So........ that means what since you never met me?

 

[CoRoMo]

There's hope!!

Maybe, just maybe, the teller was rude to her when she took your money to the bank. Oh, we can only hope!

Try this. Go back and buy something else from her, heck just give her some more of your money! That'll show her!

 

[OAKVILLE SHOOTER]

Shop owners like guns, they feel saddened when they have to part with thier beloved guns. So whereas we feel great joy in our purchase, they feel a great loss and therefore act accordingly, which is sometimes rudeness to the very person who is causing them such great pain.

Not really. Shop owners are business people. Unless you are buying from their personal collection, you are buying inventory. Same as a CD or a can of soup. It's just business to them.

 

[SsevenN]

Rofl

Still, this dragon and her brood ... it's enough to send me elsewhere if she's there.

thats pretty much exactly how I was feeling. She even handed her son my BRAND NEW pistol that I had NEVER even touched and said something like "see? the balance is all wrong"...... Nice....12 year old holding my gun while she badmouths it.....

 

[george29]

There is a gun store in the Albuquerque area where I must have bought almost my whole collection. They are professionals but what a bad attitude, treated me like I forgot to shower for a month. I found a THR member that turns out is an FFL and lives 2 blocks away. The guy taught me how to reload, taught a female friend shooting, and has done numerous transfers for me. Whose loss is it do you think that I no longer frequent that gun store anymore? I don't accept rude behavior and I say screw them that chases away customers.

 

[weisse52]

I am currently living in Central Ohio and agree that Vance's and Buckeye Outdoor have treated me with nothing but respect. Even when I come in once a week to look at the latest round of used guns. In general I have had nothing but good luck with all the gun shops here, except one.
***Deleted the name, If you cannot say something good, say nothing at all*****

 

[Jordan85]

Copying from my first post ever....

I purchased my first firearm about 8 months ago. I will turn 23 in two weeks and up until then I had not been old enough/had the funding to purchase a firearm of my own. Herein lies my dilemma: i have no close friends/relatives to help educate me on the different elements of firearms.
My mother is scared %$#less of them (her actual exact words to me when she first became aware that I had bought a gun for myself were "what the f$%k do u need a gun for?", lol) and my father doesn't really mind them, just has no interest in them. The few friends I have that 'act' interested in them are the type of guys that are more interested in buying something because it looks nice rather than basing their judgment on its actual quality/value/performance and are not interested in learning the firearms functioning on any level besides whether it will shoot a bullet out the end of the barrel.

So I know what you're thinking, right? "Why don't you go to your local gun store and talk to them?" This is seemingly the obvious solution to somebody in my shoes who is trying to educate theirself, and it would be except for their is one problem: the 'experts' at my two local gunstores (with the exception of maybe one guy) are complete condescending #$%holes that act like if you don't already know, you shouldn't be asking anyway (you know the type, good ol' boys) and they are not subtle at all in their manners. They are not helpful at all and make you feel stupid just for asking.

So you can see my dilemma: I wish to learn more about guns, reloading ammo, etc., however I have nobody to ask, and the ppl I should be able to ask to educate myself and learn how this stuff works make me feel stupid for asking them. DOES THIS SEEM STUPID TO ANYBODY BESIDES ME?? How the hell am I supposed to learn if the ppl that are supposed to teach me act like i should already know??

As a sidenote, I ended up getting out the door $70.00 less than the "best deal" the local store quoted me (courtesy of Bud'sGuns) and it felt kinda good getting the crooked looks from the d#$kheads in their that day.

 

[JohnKSa]

He says, looking at his partner," oh, yeah, they are outside, around the back, next to the dumpster." "Outside, get it, buddy"?

I hope you waved goodbye with your 4K of cash as you walked out...

 

[loop]

This is really kind of weird. You responded to the post immediately after mine, but my post contained useful information.

After I read your post I called a friend in Farmington and he assured me there are at least 20 individuals offering CCW classes in the area. I checked further and found out there are 10 or more gun shops in the Farmington/Aztec area.
But you sound like you don't have any choices.

Also called a friend who owns a police specialty store in Farmington. He assures me there are many alternatives in the area. He'd know, they are all his competitors.

I'm confused.

You really can't find an alternative to this Ross outfit?

I lived in Farmington for a long time and never heard of them. Bought a number of guns, was the first president of the IDPA (San Juan chapter) there and never had trouble with buying or transferring a gun while there. Even held an FFL while I lived there.

I got to ask - are your sure you're in Farmington, NM?

There is, after all, a Farmington, MN., and another in Mass.

I know a lot of people between Shiprock and Durango. If you need help transferring a firearm or getting CCW training I can fix it. If I can't fix it the managing editor of the Farmington Daily Times is an old friend. I can get it on the front page (Troy owes me two [bailed him twice, not once]).

Lastly, why did you not respond to my post but responded to whiners?

In short, I ain't buyin' what you've had to say. My 22-year-old son lives in Farmington. I lived in Farmington, founded a gun club there, held an FFL there, was an editor at the daily newspaper there and have many friends I met through competitive shooting still there.

You may have been treated rudely at one shop, but the next one is only a few blocks away. CCW training is widely available. I'm still certified to train there.

If you have real trouble finding CCW training I've got a phone number a guy named Bill Richardson who can probably help you out. He always returns my calls anyway.

The San Juan range is one of the finest I've ever visited and it is two miles from downtown Farmington. I'm still in communication with several members.
But you can't find a dealer that won't harass you when you go to pick up a transfer?

bfffffffffftttttt

my original post to you is:

SsevenN,

Check the San Juan Wildlife Federation for CCW instructors. I was certified to be an instructor there along with about 15 other people. It is a private range, but it is excellent and really close to town. Really nice facility.

If you're looking for a good gun shop try Big Bear Trading if it still around. One of the last stores heading out of town to the west on south side of the highway. They used to charge $15 for a transfer and had a very knowledgeable staff. Plus, their in-house prices were pretty reasonable. I bought several guns OTC there because they were such good deals.

I'm now in NW Arizona and the things I really miss about Farmington are the range and Big Bear.

ADDENDUM: Big Bear also has a full-time gunsmith on premises and I checked, it is still in operation. Coincidentally, of interest to me, they have the best selection of used roping saddles west of the Mississippi. Yeah, I ride, I rope, I shoot.

BTW, I expect to be in Farmington to visit my son within the next two weeks. If you really need help finding a good gun shop I can take care of that for you face-to-face. I guarantee you won't get screwed.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Both sides of the counter can be populated with rude and arrogant people.
Stomping off and telling everyone but them that they suck isn't very mature either. If they say something that bothers you or treat you bad, then tell them.
Give them a chance to change their behavior or at least respond to your feedback.

Being assertive won't really hurt you if your only other option is to leave and never return.

This goes double for the old men that hang out in gunshops and are always trying to get up in your Kool-Aid while you're looking for/at guns.

Grow a backbone.

 

[98C5]

Luckily, I have several good dealers around me. One at Smith Mountain Lake has a few rifles, but mostly fishing equipment. He has an FFL and is more than welcome to do transfers for me. So, I will give him more of my business. There is Town Gun in Collinsville that is also very nice to deal with. They always have great prices and the staff is awesome. I can go on and on, but the point is that if there is a employee that is in a foul mood, I will talk to another person or just leave. I'd rather drive an extra 30 miles to a gun shop that cares for its customers and they understand the word "service".

 

[mec]

There is a gun store in the Albuquerque area where I must have

One extremey famous one in ABQ is owned and staffed by some really good people. They do ( or did) however have one guy who became notorious far and wide for his assholish treatment of customers. The watchwords was "Stay away from the guy who looks like Captain Kangaroo."

 

[JaxNovice]

I feel sorry for all of you who have obnoxious dealers.

I have the pleasure of dealing with Shooters and Neil @ Gun Gallery here in Jacksonville.

 

[SsevenN]

Loop

I will check out the san juan wildlife fed. my lack of response was not a lack of interest, this post thread was more a way to blow off steam than to solve a "problem" as to my statement the it is the only place for CCW... when I first posted this thread that was what I believed was true (based off of word of mouth info from locals, uneducated locals obviously :\) you guys have very quickly and effectivly helped me solve that (I recieve 3 emails from gentlemen with CCW options in the area, along with additional info here)

And if you do not remember (from my OP) im brand new to this area.... should I be expected to have some prior info on CCW befor I ask about them? I wouldn't think so........

 

[12many]

Just people, some are nice some are jerks and there is no hope. If you buy a few from them, they just try to charge you more or sell you on everything you look at and tell you it is the best. I remember one shop I bought a gun at the owner, small time shop, said that the gun was very rare and he could not discount from retail because if he could get one he could sell at retail. So, I bought from him at full retail, but then when I asked how long it would take get it he said "just a day, my dealers always have them in stock". I realized later that they were around town and easy to get local shops at $50 to $60 less than I paid. He fooled me once because I was unaware. I have not bought from him again though because I don't trust him. I was real nice though and would be welcomed back again if I ever went in again.


Unless it is a one man shop it just depends who you get helped by. Sometimes I linger about the store until the person I like is free to help me. They know I am a buyer so the people who help me usually try to get freed up.

I agree with an earlier poster. Leaving the store in a huff or with a rude comment does not do any good. Say something polite back but let them know that it was not a very nice thing to say.

 

[Grizfire]

Shop owners like guns, they feel saddened when they have to part with thier beloved guns. So whereas we feel great joy in our purchase, they feel a great loss and therefore act accordingly, which is sometimes rudeness to the very person who is causing them such great pain.

Not really. Shop owners are business people. Unless you are buying from their personal collection, you are buying inventory. Same as a CD or a can of soup. It's just business to them.

I partially disagree, as said in a post above yours, many of these guys are hobby entrepreneurs.

 

[hksw]

Many of the gun shop owners in N.E. Ohio appear to be mentally and socially deficient cretins, the obvious by-product of excessive inbreeding!

Which shops do you speak of?

 

[au1776]

This is very common, especially in this hobby. You're dealing with people whose lives revolve around whatever the interest in (guns, golf, whatever), and they're often overly eager to advise too much or let you know that your lack of knowledge doesn't belong. It's unfortunate, because intimidation drives people away from a lot of good interests.

I've found this especially true, regarding guns, for people who are a little bit more white collar. Granted, I'm sure there are plenty of arrogant jerks who come into the shop acting superior, but it often goes the other way. I think some of these range and shop folks feel that this is one area where they've got the upper hand, and they want to make sure that is known.

 

[GEM]

The watchwords was "Stay away from the guy who looks like Captain Kangaroo."

Hey, at a well known gun shop in my area, the biggest loudmouth clerk commando looks like Captain Kangaroo also! This must be significant.

 

[LeonCarr]

What it all boils down to is this...money is like your backside, it is yours and it is portable.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[wadcutter45]

Arrogant Gun Shop

I know the shop well.

The owner of the now-defunct Ross Sporting Goods (an old name in Farmington New Mexico..owned by the late Phil Ross) bought the building of the Big Bear Trading Company which is now out of the gun business. They have just changed names to Southwest Shooting Authority.

The owner and his wife and his employee are all three arrogant as hell. There attitude is If you don't shoot a Glock that you bought from them you are stupid. I took their CCW class...16 hours of arrogant strutting and blatent glocksales. God help you if you shoot a 1911...or <snort> a revolver!!! For a great CCW class call Kevin at Tactical Solutions Inc...they will have a booth at the SJWF gun show the last weekend in February at the Civic Center. I've taken both courses and Kevin's is far less annoying.

Buy from East Main Trade Center..go see Sam and he or any of the other employees will give you good advice and treat you like a friend and with dignity.

The owner of Southwest Shooting Authority (Ross Sporting Goods) is Cope Reynolds. And it will definitelt NOT do you a bit of good to complain to him about his wife.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I notice a bit of an attitude in just about every gun shop I enter, but that is over the top. I don't mind stores that have one or two bad salesmen, as long as I can go in there and do business with someone else. If its the owner, I'm gone. That goes for any business where I am the customer.
Back when I was taking flight lessons, a flight school owner's wife(full time dispatcher with no official flight experience) did similar things to me. As soon as I could, I took my business, a few friends' business, and a couple flight instructors to fly elsewhere. I haven't flown with them in over 5 years. I later found out that others had decided to fly elsewhere, but cited maintenance issues and higher prices as their reason.