Do I have a right to be annoyed?

[wriggly]

The more I deal with people the more I respect my dogs.

Yeah this ^^^^ I ran a factory for 17 years, and it went under in 2009. Could not find work and ended up taking a job at Walmart in the sporting goods dept. Figured it would be fun to help like minded folks. Boy, was I ever wrong. Some gun folks are the most rude and ignorant people I have ever run into.

I quit Walmart two months ago, I am still a year away from retirement, but I should have enough to make it till then. I could not deal with the people any more. I definitely like dogs much, much better than most people.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Immediately tell the sales person "I'll buy the gun if this gentleman doesn't."

That puts your offer first in front of the third party.

This seems like the best route. You secure your spot in line and you're not trying to pull one over on the guy looking at it.
Some of the other posters are correct, there's nothing you can do about it. However, I sleep better at night when I'm not a jackass to others.

 

[Reloadron]

Yeah this ^^^^ I ran a factory for 17 years, and it went under in 2009. Could not find work and ended up taking a job at Walmart in the sporting goods dept. Figured it would be fun to help like minded folks. Boy, was I ever wrong. Some gun folks are the most rude and ignorant people I have ever run into.

I quit Walmart two months ago, I am still a year away from retirement, but I should have enough to make it till then. I could not deal with the people any more. I definitely like dogs much, much better than most people.

Retail isn't for everyone. Give me a few days in retail and I'll clearly demonstrate a reason for gun control.

Ron

 

[larryh1108]

I asked the salesman to hold it for me for a couple of hours so I could go home and get my checkbook, he said he would, when I got back he was in the process of selling the truck to someone else.

If I had a dollar for every customer who told me to hold the car and you'd be back and never returned, I could retire a rich man. People go home, get talked out of the purchase by a spouse, find a cheaper one online when they search to see if there is a better deal out there before spending the money, they change their mind realizing it was an impulse decision, etc. If you wish for a salesman to hold something for you then you should give them a deposit. I don't know what happened in this situation but if there was no deposit (even $5) then the rifle should still be for sale.

 

[CraigC]

IMHO, until the potential customer hands the gun back to the countermonkey, he has dibs. If I was looking at a firearm and somebody else bought it while I was looking at it, I would make a scene. Everybody in the store would know what just happened. That said, I might've expected something like that to happen when I lived in Florida but on average, folks working gunshops in west Tennessee, north Alabama and Mississippi are much more courteous.

 

[welldoya]

I would've told the other salesman very quickly that his customer is third in line. The other salesman and the other buyer were jerks and I love to put jerks and rude people in their place.
I would've gotten the manager or owner involved if necessary.

 

[coloradokevin]

I agree that you had "dibs" if it was in your hands. If you go to the store and pick up the last of a popular Christmas item, and continue to do your shopping before paying for that item, it is never considered appropriate for someone else to go pay for that item and then come back and take it out of your hands. That gun store sounds like it has pretty bad customer service.

If it was my gun store, which it wasn't, I'd have approached you guys at the counter and said something to the effect of: "I was just wondering if you're planning to buy that rifle, because the gentleman down there is asking to buy it right now?"

That would have solved the problem: the rifle was in your hands (well, your hands, and the hands of the old man), and that would give you the first crack at it. If you said no, the buyer who wanted it could still have it. If you said yes, you could start filling out the 4473 and pay for the gun.

Problem solved. But, many gun stores lack customer service. That's part of what's wrong with this industry that needs to be solved if we expect to be seen in a more positive light with the public.

 

[mdauben]

If I had a dollar for every customer who told me to hold the car and you'd be back and never returned, I could retire a rich man.

This is quite true and a perfectly valid reason not to "hold" an item for a customer as a general policy. However, it does not justify lying to the customer by saying that you will hold it for him, and then selling it out from under him.

 

[Hokkmike]

The dealer should have told the "old man" that somebody else was interested "did he want it?" before he allow that person to begin the paperwork. In either case you apparently were 3rd. Sorry.

 

[solman]

I had a similar situation with a used truck as well four years ago. A price was agreed upon and paperwork was in progress when a customer walked in offering the posted window price. Seems he had looked at the truck that same morning. Dealer was in a doubt about what to do, but sales manager said no to the other customer as truck is sold and paperwork pending. It was a sticky situation for a few minuets. The other buyer walked away pretty mad but he waited and....

 

[Lex Luthier]

I feel compelled to reiterate: Take the the High Road every time.

Someday, there may indeed be reason to compromise your values, morals and ethics, but being another selfish customer stereotype in a greedy situation like that is perfect reason to CALMLY announce to the owner your disappointment, show him the wad of benjis he missed out on due to the immaturity of his sales staff, and walk away. BTW, I am going to my LGS this afternoon to offer them a popular and desirable rifle, and anticipate an exercise in patience.

It seems like the barbarians are always at the gates, but we can always be the men God wants us to be.

 

[hso]

He who hesitates...

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The Old Man was a tire kicker.

Not necessarily. I've often gone in,cash in hand,
with the intent to buy but without a clear idea of WHAT I wanted. I see him weighing his options.

 

[bigfatdave]

Based strictly upon the OP info, I see a possibility that the "Old Man" was being shown a rifle that was already sold.

seems plausible to me

Based on the incomplete information available, the whole thing was poorly handled. If there wasn't a panic-buy on, it would probably have never come up.

But you surely have a "right to be annoyed" ... it just isn't partucularly relevant or important.

 

[wrangler708]

Guy walks in the store and says "you got any SKS for sale"?
Salesman says yep, one left.
Guy says how much?
Salesman says $250.
Guy says I'll take it. Slaps down $250.

Sold...

Guy says ahem...Sir, your holding my rifle.

Money talks - tirekickers can walk.