Do you order guns or buy what they have locally?

How do you buy guns most of the time?

  • I order what I want and transfer it via local FFL

    Votes: 52 34.0%

  • I buy whatever I can find locally

    Votes: 87 56.9%

  • I mostly buy from private sellers

    Votes: 14 9.2%
  • Total voters
    153
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Try to stay local as much as possible

All of the above, but I try to stay with my local shop. My first gun I bought used off of a guy online & had it shipped to my FFL b/c it was a good deal.

My next gun I bought at the local shop b/c I like them a lot and want to support them. Plus, they have pretty good prices on most guns (but not all). They're actually competitive with online prices when you factor in shipping & FFL costs, and they're extremely helpful, too. So, when I can afford it, I try to buy at the local shop unless I find a great deal too good to pass up elsewhere. I've been to too many crappy, overpriced gun stores to not appreciate the gem I have in my local shop.
 
i buy from private sellers mosytly my dad, but then secondly i buy from local gun shops, if they don't have exactly what i want then i get a buddy of mine to order them, i don't limit myself to what is on the shelf i don't settle when i am paying as much as they want for weapons.
 
I buy most of my guns through an FFL that sells guns as a sort of hobby. He does not really "stock" anything (takes a few things in trade), but he can order you anything you want.
Kinda inbetween.
 
You left out "All of the above"

I didn't vote. I do what it takes to get what I want. Now that Guns America shot itself in the foot, face and bass. I'll be in the forums and local stores a bit more.
 
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I have no objection to buying locally, either from shops or individuals, but I do oject to being 1) treated like I don't know what I am talking about, 2) price gouged or 3)getting some run-around about "well, my distributor doesn;t ahve this, but he's got these, which are just as good." I want what I want, and I want it at a good price and with good customer service.

There are exactly two local shops--out of nine--that I would ever buy a gun from, and that is based sheerly on customer service. I got screwed by a dealer who was my "buddy" and will never go back. I've bought 80% of my guns online, either via gunbroker or forums, and I have had fewer let-downs than my experiences with dealers.

Last thing: the guns I like are virtually impossible to find in a local store, even in a "target rich enironment" like the one surrounding a military post. I don't see a lot of exotic weapons or high-end shotguns or competition pistols on the racks, so I can't really say I'm tempted by the local guys too often.
 
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I want to support my local gun store...

But when the choice is buy 2 guns and support the local GS, or buy 3 guns online for the same money... What would you do? I guess it's not much difference if you're only going to buy one or two guns in your life anyway, and honestly I think that's who gun stores are marketing to these days. It seems they either rely on the consumer's ignorance or they just don't really expect repeat business. But I don't plan to just buy one or two. I'll admit it, I have a pathological addiction, and I will make on average 3, 4 or more new firearm purchases per year. Cash, not trades, layaway or "store credit". Cash. That means I have to watch the bottom line, and that means I have to be choosy where I shop. So the local GS has basically priced themselves out of my market, and forced me to pursue other avenues to "feed my need". Save the brick & mortar overhead, save the fact that he's got friends and relatives on the payroll not doing much, save the state sales tax, save the fact that he's got to carry physical inventory for those "impulse buy" people... It all adds up to pretty big savings. Of course you lose personalized service and instant gratification, I won't lie, there is a trade-off. Everything I buy is sight unseen, and from the day I plunk down my hard-earned cash until the day I first set eyes on a new purchase may be WEEKS. But I'm a patient, careful man, and I've never been unhappy with an online transaction. Yet.

That's not good, bad or even ugly... it's just capitalism and free market forces at work. They make their money the way they choose, and I save mine the way I choose. Fair all the way around.
 
One local shop has prices so horrendous (on a selection of bottom-of-the-barrel milsurps and beat-up "rare" guns like Marlin 336s, no less) that they haven't moved anything in six months - every gun that was there the one time, was still there the last. They're either doing a brisk business in magazines and universal nylon holsters or they're currently filing for bankruptcy.

The other local shop has crappy-to-horrendous prices on a general selection of nice new Remchesters and is run by a man who's the embodiment of "gun store commando" (up to and including having shot himself in the ass with a 1911 - twice).

You take a guess as to where I get my guns.
 
online sources-poor quality-customer service

With all the useful websites and sources like JGsales.com GunsAmerica.com etc. I'd rather find a weapon and spend the $25.00USD to get it mailed to me.

The gun shops and FFL dealers near me have huge mark-ups, sales clerks who are lacking in firearm knowledge/customer service skills and a lack of selection. Sometimes I see a good deal but it is rare where I live.

Rusty S
;)
 
How I buy is more dependent on the circumstances than the poll allows for. As a general rule I buy local, if the deal is right. Two or three instance I have ordered online since what I wanted could not be found local.
 
My preference in gun buying is this:

1. If possible I try to always buy locally thru my gun store.

2. If my local dealer cannot find what I want, and I find it online, then I pay him a fee ($20) to transfer it for me.

3. If I stumble up on a firearm at a gun shop someplace that I want I buy it there, but local purchase is always my first choice.


In the past year I bought a surplus Walther P5 online (SOG)and my local dealer accepted the transfer for me. Then I found a good price on the internet (Bud's)for the P99c/AS, and the full sized P99 and offered him the chance to come reasonably close to the online price, or just accepting the transfers for me. Both times he found the same pistols thru his sources, matched the online price, and I bought both from him. When picking up my new P99 I paid him, then gave him an extra $20 for his continual good service. I think he appreciated the extra $20 even tho it's not much money in the scheme of things.

I also send my local dealer business whenever I can, and he appreciates that too. My buddy has him looking for a new S&W SW99 now.

Because of our firearm transactions over the past 3 years my local dealer and I have become friendly, and I think we both benefit from our relationship. He gets business he might otherwise not get, I get a honest dealer who tries to get me a fair price on what I want, yet still make his profit, and we are both well served I think.

Best Wishes,


J. Pomeroy
 
I bought from local shops, gunshows, FTF, Gunsamerica (before it sucked), Gunbroker, and even Wal-mart.

If they have what I want/am looking for at the right price I buy it (If I have permission from Mrs. Scout).

I support/buy from anyone/everyone that supports RKBA/2A.
 
My local guy won't do transfers, either.

"It's highly illegal to transfer a gun into California! You'd have to find someone half-crooked to do it." :rolleyes:

Oh well, the pawn shop a couple blocks away does it for 25 bucks.
 
The one thing I have not done is order for transfer through a local FFL. I don't like to buy multihundred FRN items sight unseen.
 
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