Do you like your gun shop so much that you almost "feel bad" buying elsewhere?

[Ian]

Nope - I rarely go to gun shops anyway. I'm not looking for new-production guns, and I've yet to find a shop with an interesting inventory of older guns. Usually it's just a pile of whatever big surplus lot came in recently - the arsenal-refinished Mosins and Turk Mausers and maybe (if they're really serious) a couple CZ-82 pistols. I want the weirder stuff. My last purchases were a 1886-93 Lebel, and 1907-15 Berthier, a Turkish Gew 88/35, and a Frommer 1910. Good luck finding those in a gun shop.

 

[JohnBT]

Almost, and they certainly are the places I look to first. The local one is Green Top and the other is 100 miles west of my home, but they were only a couple of blocks from my parents' house when they opened in 1994. Now they're off I-64 near I-81.

http://dominionoutdoors.com/index.php?page=aboutus

See the rack of long guns on the back wall; that's the top row.

 

[buck460XVR]

My favorite gun shop is my favorite gun shop because their prices are the best in a 100 mile radius and probably further than that - I rarely see a price at Buds that they don't have beat. I now know a number of the guys who work there so I find the service to be excellent. So why would I buy anywhere else?

Same here. Only guilt I sometimes feel is when I read here about the prices other folks pay for their firearms.

 

[beatledog7]

I've bought at least one gun from three different LGSs in my area. Each time it was because the gun met my need at the best price (though sometimes that price included other perks to seal the deal).

Many more of my guns came from a non-LGS source. When they can't meet the on-line price (considering of course shipping, FFL transfer, taxes, etc. that are part of the OTD price), I buy on-line. They're not mad, and I'm not sad. It's business.

 

[kurt1305]

It seems to be a one-way street. They seem hurt if I am not loyal, but they never can seem to reward that loyalty with anything but MSRP pricing. I can get that anywhere and often I can get it for much less. If they are reasonably close I'll shop local but for a couple of hundred dollars difference, no.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Yup. They are great guys and I even hang out there when I have a bit of free time.

 

[MtnSpur]

My LGS is actually a FFL that just happens to operate out of his abode. Unfortunately he doesn't get or handle many trade-in weapons and as a Colt (they no longer make the models I like) "accumulator" I'm sad when I have to use another source to feed my frenzy. So, yeah, I sometimes feel bad I can't give him more of my business. He does get all my the FFL transfer biz however
On the same topic there are a few LGS I will never set foot in again because their counter help act like they are doing you a favor.

 

[Derry 1946]

My LGS is also the indoor range were i shoot. If i'm looking to buy a firearm i'll tell them what i found and how much. They will either beat the price or tell me they can't match it.No hard feelings on either part. Business is business,I'm after the best price,they are there to make money.

This is my experience exactly. I do patronize them as much as possible, however, because they provide expertise and services the big box stores do not. For example, they will check out a gun mechanically, taking over to the lanes, fire off a few rounds, etc., without charge. And they are a full-service smith shop. They're never pushy or arrogant. And they have an interesting array of old leather, arms, and miscellany that will never be found in a megastore.

 

[C0untZer0]

My LGD was charging $699.00, plus tax ($48.93), plus $5.00 IL processing fee... for a Glock 17L

I ordered form goingquiet.com in Florida and got it for $621.49 - which includes shipping and $20 local FFL transfer, (I had to send my local FFL a fax with the Florida Gun Dealer's e-mail. I could have done a digital fax but it was easier for me to just send it from a FedEx store and it cost $1.49

I could have gotten it for $620 total.

I'm sorry but I can't pass up $131.44 in savings because I like my LGD.

 

[Dnaltrop]

As I rarely see a price any lower on the Guns themselves than my LGS (including Bud's/CTD) I'd deserve to feel guilty of wasting my cash.

If they sold my OTLC bullets, I'd buy them there, so I feel a twinge of "wish they carried XXXX" when i go to a big box store.

They have no problem with me ordering guns and having them transferred there from somewhere else, I just give them a chance to quote a lower price (factoring in shipping)` first.

 

[steveb4c]

the only time i shop elsewhere is when my LGS tells me they can't get a new gun and try the old "but we've got this nice used one right here" usually for 90+percent of NIB. i'll drive 100+mi. to get what i want, or order on line. i'm just spoiled like that.

 

[taraquian]

I do. My LGS is the cheapest place to buy almost any gun I've wanted and even though they are $50 higher on the Windham AR I want I will still probably buy from them. Not out of guilt but for the service, they will have me out the door in 30 minutes with a free box of ammo and a demo on breakdown. Get that online or at a big box and I'll try it

 

[alsaqr]

Lawton, OK does not have a gunstore. There are numerous pawnshops with FFLs whose purpose in life is ripping off soldiers. Closest gunstore is in Duncan: The guys prices are sky high and i will not buy from him. My new guns are ordered through a pawnshop owner in another town; dealer cost + handling fee.

 

[Kingofthehill]

I think the gun shops in San Antonio suck. Nagles is just disgusting and severely lacks customer service, and "Texas Guns" on bandera is just shockingly overpriced! I refuse to even step foot in there again. They treat you like an idiot and are very narrow minded and only get that 1 time kill of getting the new person in there wanting to buy a gun and that's the only gun they will sell to you because you wise up when its time to buy gun number 2.

I was a real fan of the Powder Horn but their prices have really shot up in the last year and the customer service they once had which was great has slowly disappeared by losing some of their great salesman. They also no longer have the selection they once did. I don't know why it changed but its really changed and its too bad.

There is a new one i haven't gone to yet called Alamo tactical and i'll give it a shot but i can almost bet its going to be ridiculously over priced. Im originally from California and was lucky to live next to Oak Tree Gun Shop in Newhall, Ca and they really do have a great range and pretty good selection. I wish we had a shop AND range like that here in San Anotnio. If I had the money, i would love to open a shop of that quality here in SA.

I don't really like doing it but i do shop a lot online now. The local shops are just that bad that i don't want to deal with them anymore and i really wish it wasn't like that but i just can't keep giving my money to idiots and im sick of seeing them not improve and give quality service for the prices they are charging.

 

[checkmyswag]

They seem hurt if I am not loyal, but they never can seem to reward that loyalty with anything but MSRP pricing.

How true!

I don't feel bad about buying from other places, but if you have a great one stop shop you enjoy going to whether they have the best prices or not, that's up to you and you're making an other than economic decision...which is perfectly fine.


I have a couple LGSs that I like for different reasons.

One, the owner is real nice, helpful, not pushy, decent prices on in stock items and has a friendly store dog.

The other, guys can be a bit standoffish (have seen them be rude to customers), but they have lower transfer prices and have treated me well enough.

I've been going to the local police supply place and find their prices great but the store is extremely busy. They even give a military discount which sweetens the deal.

Cabelas...great place to walk around, look at the mounts and aquariums and head home. Still shocked their gun counter is so busy.

 

[Krogen]

Had one. Great place. They had almost anything you could dream of. Good, knowledgeable people. Reasonable prices.

Then the owner retired. His kids took over. Apparently they didn't learn a thing from their Dad.

 

[Giterboosted]

Yes, I completely understand, however it's on a much deeper scale lol, we all text each other, and I actually drive two counties over just to go to this store the people are so honest and straightforward, I've even made a few sales for them

 

[Kingofthehill]

Had one. Great place. They had almost anything you could dream of. Good, knowledgeable people. Reasonable prices.

Then the owner retired. His kids took over. Apparently they didn't learn a thing from their Dad.

Thats too bad. Its a shame to see a truly great company of any kind (Especially a gun shop) be taken over by the next generation that has all these amazing ideas how to make more MONEY. Then they destroy it and have no idea what happened. Been to many shops like that and its always a damn shame to see.

JOe

 

[levsmith]

Nope. The bigger gun store here is junk, worthless employees and very high prices. The smaller store is better so far, friendly guy and decent prices, but I just haven't gotten to the point that I feel bad if I can get something cheaper somewhere else.

 

[Ignition Override]

Not at all, but it is because a privately-owned store nearby has a limited selection of milsurp rifles, but also comical price tags. None of the others have more than about two classic rifles. To me a WASR is not a milsurp, whether Century (never) or not...

It's too bad that both "The Ammo Depot", about 30 min. n.e. of Rockwall/Dallas by I-35, and "Allen's Gun Shop", just south of Ft. Campbell in Clarkesville TN, are a fair ways from the Memphis area. They both have a pretty good selection during the rare trips passing by.

"Allen's" had an exc. Spanish FR8 and "The Ammo Depot" (two years ago) had an excellent Enfield #4/Mk 2 (yes, two) listed for about $450!
They are the Only gun shops I ever look forward to, despite rare chances to visit them, and that's why even our small, dull gun shows are the only local option.

levsmith: Nobody staffed the counter at Dicks with three of us there, so I reached over it and grabbed my own box of Win. .22. What a joke.
At ChinaMart, I picked up the p.a. transmitter after a 10 min. wait and paged the store for help in the "gun dept": "Two customers need help in guns & ammo".

 

[BADUNAME37]

No!

 

[One_Jackal]

I don't mind buying guns from a big box store or ordering online. The LGS could care less if do business there and I could care less if they are there.

 

[TennJed]

I don't feel bad about buying something from someplace else, but when I do make it into my favorite local shop I feel bad about not buying something. I usually dig through the make an offer box and look for a cheap $5 holster, or maybe buy a sleeve of primers for $5.25 ($3.29 down the road), or maybe a plastic ammo box for $6 even though it is $4 at the big box store.

At this particular store they have really good people. I have been buying some of my lead form them recently, even though it is a little more expensive than ordering off the internet. I am glad they keep it in stock, so I want to give them a reason to keep it.

unfortunately with my owrk schedule I do not get to go in there a lot.

 

[AirForceShooter]

I have 3 FFL's within 5 miles of me. I don't use any of them ever.
My LGS is 45 miles away and treats me like a king.

Have I ever bought a gun on line and had it shipped to her, yes. Felt guilty as hell.

AFS

 

[mf-dif]

No, they usually have a "too cool for you" attitude. And they don't have the inventory I want anyways. I pay the ridiculous $50 transfer fee, and use the range regularly. They make enough off of me.