I've read posts from guys that work at gun shops complaining about the stupidity of a select group of customers. The customers that act like they want to out wit the dealer or salesperson and make up facts as they go. You see them at gun shows, gun shops and all over. But you know...that stupidity goes both ways. As I get deeper and deeper into the firearm world, reading, listening and evaluating, I have learned a few things.
1. Never..never ..never take what you read on the internet as the truth unless you get supporting evidence that validates it.
2. Take what a employee says at a gun shop with agrain of salt. They make up stuff as well and there are very few that really know about everything. The problem is..if they don't know..instead of admitting that they don't know..they ususally make up something. They will not admit to not knowing for they feel it makes them look inferior...or ignorant.
3. Many men with guns mysteriously produce an overabundance of testosterone and all of a sudden turn into little Rambos.
Scenarios
A. I was in a gun store in Pinellas County..and was looking around. Two sales guys behind the counter and one customer, other than me. The customer was asking a few questions about getting a new firearm..and the salesman said.."How about this Taurus pistol?" The customer didn't seem overly mesmerized with the reputation of a Taurus and declined the suggestion. Then the biggest line of BS flowed out of the mouth of this sale person. "Well ya know..Taurus just bought out Glock!". He was implying that due to the merger, that Taurus was now as good and reliable as a Glock. I immediately jumped on my Iphone and googled that hidden fact. Nothing showed up. The customer and I both jumped on that one. We both asked where he had heard that..and after realizing that he was caught spewing a line of BS, admitted that he wasn't sure, but that he heard it from someone about three months ago.
B. I go in to a gun store...in Pinellas and again..browsing. I over hear a sales guy telling a customer that Taurus is EVERY BIT AS GOOD as a Colt or a Kimber 1911. When the customer showed concern about resale value..the sales guy stated that was no longer a concern with a Taurus. That they were actually creeping ahead of the Kimber/Colt brands.
C. I go in to get some replacement recoil springs at a Pinellas guns store. I wanted 16 pound springs for my 1911. I thought that was standard issue on most 1911's. The salesperson proceeds to tell me that the 16 pound spring is used ONLY for light target loads and that the standard spring was 18-20 pounds. I bought one 18.5 pound spring and one 16 pound spring..(against his advice), and left. I checked with every gun manufacturer of every 1911 I own..and there was only 1..Les Baer..that suggests an 18 pound spring. The rest..16 pound.
D. I LOVE Gun Scrubber!! There are two different formulas. One that is safe for plastics and woods grips and one that will damage it. It says so right on the can. They were out of the synthetic safe formula..and plenty of the unsafe stuff. So the sales guy starts out with his self imposed knowledge by stating that there is no difference and he has NEVER heard of Gun Scrubber damaging ANY gun parts. TOTALLY false!
E. At a gun show in Tampa the other day. Customer has a Kimber Gold Match 45. Brand new..shot less than 200 rounds. The salesman asks if he has seen the new E series S&W 1911. Tells him that it is hands down a superior firearm to the Kimber. All the customer would have to come up with is $250 to make the trade. THAT one I stepped in and told the guy right in front of the customer that he was full of it. This was a customer that obviously believed EVERYTHING that the salesperson told him. Customer walked away from table..UN-SCREWED! I saved a guy from doing something mindless and stupid.
F. Why is it..that 85% of the guys that work in gun stores, wearing tactical pants, boots, shirts..and don't smile..and act like a bad ass cop. Whats funny..is that most of them have never been in law enforcement or the military..and yet they act like they are part of the Seal team that caught Osama. I went in looking for a pair of boots. I didn't want the 8 inch high tactical boots..I just wanted the 5 inch ones. The sales guy states that they sell these boots primarily to police depts and military. I ask..well..do you sell to the public..he states..Well.yes! OK..do you have these in my size? He states NO. OK I say..I'll come back when you get some. This 5'5" guy sombers out from behind the counter with his full tactical attire..and guess what boots he's wearing? The same ones that I wanted. I asked..Oh..by the way....you look familiar. What branch did you serve. Oh..I wasn't in the military he says. Then i asked..What department do you work out of? (police). He says..I never worked at the police dept. Where did you work before here? A GROCERY STORE HE REPLIED!!!! I then got ballsy and asked him.."Then why are you wearing those boots?" He had absoulutely ZERO..NADA..NUTTIN' to say at that point. He clammed up and went in to the back stock room and NEVER emerged.
Jeez...I hate buttheads that lie and act like something they're not!
These are only six examples of Gun store follies that have frosted me. I could probably sit here and come up with a dozen more..but I'm getting tired of sitting here typing...so I won't.
Bottom line..the gun world is full of know it alls. Our mission as gun owners is to filter out the BS and stick with a information source that provides accurate info and if they don't know..say so. Don't make up stuff as you go...just say you don't know but you'll find out and get back with them. Better yet..time permitting.....get on the internet and research it for the customer. I'm seeing waayy too many yahoos and Goobers selling guns these days that have next to no knowledge. The problem is, that there are many new gun owners that really don't know anything about the industry that are being taken advantage of. It's really a sin.
Thanks for listening to my rant!
PS..there are select dealers and salespeople in my area as well that know guns and are honest with their customers.. and I buy tons of stuff from them...just too many that don't. I realize that the gun stores must sell their products to earn a living and to stay open...but not by lying and deceiving the public. Gun dealers are rapidly making used car..buy here.. pay here.. sale people look ultra professional! Now..if you are a good dealer or an honest salesperson..then I say "Thank You!" If you are one of the ones that BS your customers..and you know who you are..then wise up. Your customer is on to you...he just may not be saying! He may be on a public forum such as this actually putting your REAL name in print for the whole world to see and telling them just how stupid you really are!! Wouldn't that be ironic!
Minor edits for language-mgmt.
1. Never..never ..never take what you read on the internet as the truth unless you get supporting evidence that validates it.
2. Take what a employee says at a gun shop with agrain of salt. They make up stuff as well and there are very few that really know about everything. The problem is..if they don't know..instead of admitting that they don't know..they ususally make up something. They will not admit to not knowing for they feel it makes them look inferior...or ignorant.
3. Many men with guns mysteriously produce an overabundance of testosterone and all of a sudden turn into little Rambos.
Scenarios
A. I was in a gun store in Pinellas County..and was looking around. Two sales guys behind the counter and one customer, other than me. The customer was asking a few questions about getting a new firearm..and the salesman said.."How about this Taurus pistol?" The customer didn't seem overly mesmerized with the reputation of a Taurus and declined the suggestion. Then the biggest line of BS flowed out of the mouth of this sale person. "Well ya know..Taurus just bought out Glock!". He was implying that due to the merger, that Taurus was now as good and reliable as a Glock. I immediately jumped on my Iphone and googled that hidden fact. Nothing showed up. The customer and I both jumped on that one. We both asked where he had heard that..and after realizing that he was caught spewing a line of BS, admitted that he wasn't sure, but that he heard it from someone about three months ago.
B. I go in to a gun store...in Pinellas and again..browsing. I over hear a sales guy telling a customer that Taurus is EVERY BIT AS GOOD as a Colt or a Kimber 1911. When the customer showed concern about resale value..the sales guy stated that was no longer a concern with a Taurus. That they were actually creeping ahead of the Kimber/Colt brands.
C. I go in to get some replacement recoil springs at a Pinellas guns store. I wanted 16 pound springs for my 1911. I thought that was standard issue on most 1911's. The salesperson proceeds to tell me that the 16 pound spring is used ONLY for light target loads and that the standard spring was 18-20 pounds. I bought one 18.5 pound spring and one 16 pound spring..(against his advice), and left. I checked with every gun manufacturer of every 1911 I own..and there was only 1..Les Baer..that suggests an 18 pound spring. The rest..16 pound.
D. I LOVE Gun Scrubber!! There are two different formulas. One that is safe for plastics and woods grips and one that will damage it. It says so right on the can. They were out of the synthetic safe formula..and plenty of the unsafe stuff. So the sales guy starts out with his self imposed knowledge by stating that there is no difference and he has NEVER heard of Gun Scrubber damaging ANY gun parts. TOTALLY false!
E. At a gun show in Tampa the other day. Customer has a Kimber Gold Match 45. Brand new..shot less than 200 rounds. The salesman asks if he has seen the new E series S&W 1911. Tells him that it is hands down a superior firearm to the Kimber. All the customer would have to come up with is $250 to make the trade. THAT one I stepped in and told the guy right in front of the customer that he was full of it. This was a customer that obviously believed EVERYTHING that the salesperson told him. Customer walked away from table..UN-SCREWED! I saved a guy from doing something mindless and stupid.
F. Why is it..that 85% of the guys that work in gun stores, wearing tactical pants, boots, shirts..and don't smile..and act like a bad ass cop. Whats funny..is that most of them have never been in law enforcement or the military..and yet they act like they are part of the Seal team that caught Osama. I went in looking for a pair of boots. I didn't want the 8 inch high tactical boots..I just wanted the 5 inch ones. The sales guy states that they sell these boots primarily to police depts and military. I ask..well..do you sell to the public..he states..Well.yes! OK..do you have these in my size? He states NO. OK I say..I'll come back when you get some. This 5'5" guy sombers out from behind the counter with his full tactical attire..and guess what boots he's wearing? The same ones that I wanted. I asked..Oh..by the way....you look familiar. What branch did you serve. Oh..I wasn't in the military he says. Then i asked..What department do you work out of? (police). He says..I never worked at the police dept. Where did you work before here? A GROCERY STORE HE REPLIED!!!! I then got ballsy and asked him.."Then why are you wearing those boots?" He had absoulutely ZERO..NADA..NUTTIN' to say at that point. He clammed up and went in to the back stock room and NEVER emerged.
Jeez...I hate buttheads that lie and act like something they're not!
These are only six examples of Gun store follies that have frosted me. I could probably sit here and come up with a dozen more..but I'm getting tired of sitting here typing...so I won't.
Bottom line..the gun world is full of know it alls. Our mission as gun owners is to filter out the BS and stick with a information source that provides accurate info and if they don't know..say so. Don't make up stuff as you go...just say you don't know but you'll find out and get back with them. Better yet..time permitting.....get on the internet and research it for the customer. I'm seeing waayy too many yahoos and Goobers selling guns these days that have next to no knowledge. The problem is, that there are many new gun owners that really don't know anything about the industry that are being taken advantage of. It's really a sin.
Thanks for listening to my rant!
PS..there are select dealers and salespeople in my area as well that know guns and are honest with their customers.. and I buy tons of stuff from them...just too many that don't. I realize that the gun stores must sell their products to earn a living and to stay open...but not by lying and deceiving the public. Gun dealers are rapidly making used car..buy here.. pay here.. sale people look ultra professional! Now..if you are a good dealer or an honest salesperson..then I say "Thank You!" If you are one of the ones that BS your customers..and you know who you are..then wise up. Your customer is on to you...he just may not be saying! He may be on a public forum such as this actually putting your REAL name in print for the whole world to see and telling them just how stupid you really are!! Wouldn't that be ironic!
Minor edits for language-mgmt.
Last edited by a moderator:
Knowing about the flash from between the cylinder and the barrel, I mentally cringed, but just mumbled something about just wanting a small semi-auto. He persisted in trying to convince me that revolvers were best and even repeated that I could shoot it from my pocket, when a much older LE type, (He was past retirement age, and was wearing a Sheriffs decal on his jacket, don't really know his profession, but he had the "look") broke in and started pointing out to the young cop about the danger of firing a revolver from a pants pocket, and the likely injuries that might ensue. I thanked the clerk, and left the store, thankful for the intervention of the older guy. 
