Gun Shop Loyalty

Mark_Mark

Mark_Mark

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Joined
Jan 9, 2021
Messages
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Long story, but I have a Gun shop Loyalty rant to talk about.

I been buying lots of unique & fun guns over the past few years. But I been running into a gun shop trend.

1: After you are a establishment customer, they stop caring about keeping as a Customer

2: No wiggle room off the price because they know you will just buy it. but before they would wiggle.

Kinda Sucks to be a nice Guy sometimes. I stop going to one shop because of the top reason (well only buy a few guns a year) and they were offended that I stop going there. I did find a new shop but I’m running into the same issue. They look at me as a Sure Purchase and put ZERO effort into keeping as a customer.

Example. They had a beet up Old Leather Holster marked for $25, I ask $20 out the door, manager was like $25 plus tax. I spend tens of thousands there…. very frustrated but I just don’t care anymore really.

Time to look for a New Shop! lol 😆
 
I used to be like that but after getting reamed a couple times I went to just buying where I could just get the best price on new guns . I just figured that if you have an issue with one you buy you send it back to the manufacturer anyway so I have continued to buy where I can get the best price and it has saved me a lot of money. The last one I bought I paid $565.00 out the door the other shop was $675.00 plus the fees , I have found out over the years that loyalty and being nice doesn’t really help you all that much anymore.
 
I've been going mostly to the same shop since 2015 when we moved here to Northern Nevada. Mine still gives great deals to regular customers.
Got a used Sig Sauer M18 can't with Leupold Deltapoint Pro and TLR-7a. Was $600+tax. They had just got it earlier that day.
They also got a import license for ammo and we're able to get ammo all during the shortage.
There's probably 10-12 gun shops and 4 big box Sporting Goods stores locally. Not to mention pawn shops. I usually go to my LGS.
 
Some may be like that but my favorite Pawn and Gun isn't. As I'm a good customer, they frequently offer un-asked-for deals; a) looking at a used scope marked $100?...."I'll sell it to you for $80, b) almost every deal "out-the-door" and they eat sales tax c) will order anything they can get from their distributors at 10% above their cost. Consequently, I buy ammo and reloading supplies from them commonly even though Academy or Walmart may be cheaper.
 
I like to think I am a savvy gun trader, but I suspect that the gun dealer, who watches, listens, lists, consigns and checks prices all day every day will always have me outgunned. "Ya wanna pet it?" my old dealer, since retired, used to ask. He could watch my response, see the eyes dilate, and simply stand by as I telegraphed all the information he needed to put a 4473 in front of me. Once he had my number, I realized that if I saw something interesting I was much better off if I had something he was interested in.

See if you have something that you have no use for to swap for the holster. Most of us have extra scopes, mags for guns no longer owned, or old military stuff lying about.
 
I've found just the opposite myself. Those I've bought from multiple times always have some leeway or give on their prices for me. And some have even mentioned they gave me a discount because I buy more often than others.
I did have one shop I stopped at every time I drove past just to look. On numerous occasions I also bought, and always asked if they could do better, and they did. But one day I stopped by as they were buying a nice old 1800's Marlin Ballard single shot rifle, and they offered a young guy what I felt was an obscene low price. I hoped he'd say no, and I was going to follow him outside and stop him and offer much more. But he took the offer, and I wasn't happy until I asked the shop owner what he wanted for it? He handed it to me and said, "I need to make 50% on all used guns." That made the rifle $450, which I quickly paid him for. The next day he called me and told me to bring the rifle back. I asked why, and he said he sold it to me too cheap! I told him he set the price, and I didn't dicker or counter it this time. I also asked if I came back and paid more would he call the seller and give him more also? He was silent, and then said I needed to bring it back.
I refused his request, and from that point on the shop never gave me a discount on another gun I wanted to buy. Only lasted a couple years anyway as they went out of business from poor financial decisions.
 
Last edited:
rust collector said:
I like to think I am a savvy gun trader, but I suspect that the gun dealer, who watches, listens, lists, consigns and checks prices all day every day will always have me outgunned. "Ya wanna pet it?" my old dealer, since retired, used to ask. He could watch my response, see the eyes dilate, and simply stand by as I telegraphed all the information he needed to put a 4473 in front of me. Once he had my number, I realized that if I saw something interesting I was much better off if I had something he was interested in.

See if you have something that you have no use for to swap for the holster. Most of us have extra scopes, mags for guns no longer owned, or old military stuff lying about.
Click to expand...
I didn’t really want the Holster that much. Dealer thinks it’s a game.. I was like 😎 cool, I’ll just stop buying and seeing if the deals come back!

I’ll still stop by the gun counter, since I have a ton of free range passes to use. but definitely not buying unless it’s a STEAL DEAL on the tag.
 
Mark_Mark said:
2: No wiggle room off the price because they know you will just buy it. but before they would wiggle.
Click to expand...
Do you haggle with other businesses? How does that work at restaurants, WalMart and the grocery store? :scrutiny:

Would it make you happier if the dealer priced the item 25% higher......then gave you 20% off?:rofl:

I occasionally have guns for sale, 6-8 right now. Whether you are an old customer or new.....the price is the price.


Exhibiting a sense of entitlement because you've been a long time customer? Oh heck no.
 
dogtown tom said:
Do you haggle with other businesses? How does that work at restaurants, WalMart and the grocery store? :scrutiny:

Would it make you happier if the dealer priced the item 25% higher......then gave you 20% off?:rofl:

I occasionally have guns for sale, 6-8 right now. Whether you are an old customer or new.....the price is the price.


Exhibiting a sense of entitlement because you've been a long time customer? Oh heck no.
Click to expand...
I mostly buy Used Guns, or they are selling it for someone else. It’s traditional to haggle used guns prices. Now if the shop was strict about rock solid price, I get it. But they Gave me 5% off - 10% off in the past. And I buy a LOT of used guns 💪

So entitled, a little. But I put my $$$ where my mouth is. It’s common for my to buy 3-4 used Guns at a purchase… 🤷‍♀️
 
Mark_Mark said:
and I almost always pay CASH! crispy under the table CASH! lol 😆
Click to expand...

That’s an excellent way of doing things and while you’re at it I’d just flat bring it up to them my LGS is a pawn shop I spend quite a bit of money there and when I buy a gun from them
I have Zero Qualms pointing Out Yeah This is the 5th or 6th gun I’ve bought from you guys this Year……. And if after I had spoken my piece if I were in your shoes and nothing changed well I know exactly what I’d do First I’d spend a Bunch Of Time In There Not Buying ANYTHING just Tire Kicking and make em talk to you another line I like is when they start in about a Rare/ unique/Desirable Gun “Yeah I’ve Got 3 of those at Home Myself” or “My Uncle left me a pair of those when he died” if they want to act like your money doesn’t help them after that then fine down the road to greener pastures also I’d hammer the Fact that Inflation is HURTING EVERYONE!!!!!
 
dogtown tom said:
Do you haggle with other businesses? How does that work at restaurants, WalMart and the grocery store? :scrutiny:

Would it make you happier if the dealer priced the item 25% higher......then gave you 20% off?:rofl:

I occasionally have guns for sale, 6-8 right now. Whether you are an old customer or new.....the price is the price.


Exhibiting a sense of entitlement because you've been a long time customer? Oh heck no.
Click to expand...


Yes I do Haggle and If I’ve Helped Keep The Lights on or put Money in Someone else’s pocket I will ask worse they can do is say No but to treat a Guy Who Has Done Tons of business with you recently like he hasn’t bought a thing in years absolutely Not Going to Fly with Me! I work in the Shipping World and if I am in a bind between 2 clients because of time constraints or whatever I Promise you I am Going to Help The Company That Has Helped me feed my Family Waaaaayyyyy Before I think about helping the guy who doesn’t spend enough with me in 6 weeks to fill my gas tank yes all customers are important but you Take Care of Those who Take Care of You Plain and Simple!!!!!! Also Yes I am a regular at a local Diner Every Friday Morning Payday No Less I have Breakfast and I leave a Fair Tip I haven’t missed a Friday in 11 months guess what yesterdays breakfast was on the House! When I Asked Why they said you are in here every Friday You’re a Great Customer easy to get along with Tip Our Waitresses well and We Want to keep seeing you so as a Thank You For Your Loyal Business Let us Treat You…… also I’ve noticed more than once or twice the Owner has forgotten to ring up my side order of Bacon when I pointed that out to him he said “it’s my bacon my diner if I want to give some away I will” all while grinning at me like a Cheshire Cat 😃😃😃 so yes I’ve come to “expect” to sit at my usual Table Have my Usual Order show Up Without Asking because in this relationship it’s gotta work for both parties also FYI I pass 3 other breakfast spots to get to this place and He Knows that and I’ll continue to Patronize him just because he understands this
 
horsemen61 said:
That’s an excellent way of doing things and while you’re at it I’d just flat bring it up to them my LGS is a pawn shop I spend quite a bit of money there and when I buy a gun from them
I have Zero Qualms pointing Out Yeah This is the 5th or 6th gun I’ve bought from you guys this Year……. And if after I had spoken my piece if I were in your shoes and nothing changed well I know exactly what I’d do First I’d spend a Bunch Of Time In There Not Buying ANYTHING just Tire Kicking and make em talk to you another line I like is when they start in about a Rare/ unique/Desirable Gun “Yeah I’ve Got 3 of those at Home Myself” or “My Uncle left me a pair of those when he died” if they want to act like your money doesn’t help them after that then fine down the road to greener pastures also I’d hammer the Fact that Inflation is HURTING EVERYONE!!!!!
Click to expand...
I love your style!!!

Kicking tires, my uncle left me 3 of those, INFLATION HURTING ME!

I have like 24 free range pass from them, and I love shooting at there range. So that what I’ll do! few months of not buying but browsing ! 😆 … ( unless a deal comes out )
 
Mark_Mark said:
I love your style!!!

Kicking tires, my uncle left me 3 of those, INFLATION HURTING ME!

I have like 24 free range pass from them, and I love shooting at there range. So that what I’ll do! few months of not buying but browsing ! 😆 … ( unless a deal comes out )
Click to expand...


Sometimes for me it’s all about the haggle take that Mossberg 500 I got back in July Same LGS had $250 on it iirc I said $175 and it’ll go home with me mainly as a starting place I really planned to pay $200 or $220ish I Didn’t need another Pump 12 Gauge But for Me what did I lose by asking and when he said I’ll start the paperwork well it was worth more to me than $175 bucks so it’s mine 😈😈😈😈 but yes I think the point is after say a month or so of you not buying Anything you might let it slip that you would buy more stuff if their was some wiggle room I’ve had to walk away from a few shops and I’ve set stuff down that I wanted Over a $1 bill had friends and family offer me the difference to pay for it but like I tell them if “he won’t budge a dollar I don’t want to buy from him” I’ve also been Fond of Saying “C’mon Man I’ve gotta go home and tell the wife I got a win” that has gotten me some sweet deals at the end of the day I realize the worst they can do is say sorry can’t come down and that’s ok to but you never know if you don’t try
 
horsemen61 said:
Yes I do Haggle and If I’ve Helped Keep The Lights on or put Money in Someone else’s pocket I will ask worse they can do is say No but to treat a Guy Who Has Done Tons of business with you recently like he hasn’t bought a thing in years absolutely Not Going to Fly with Me! I work in the Shipping World and if I am in a bind between 2 clients because of time constraints or whatever I Promise you I am Going to Help The Company That Has Helped me feed my Family Waaaaayyyyy Before I think about helping the guy who doesn’t spend enough with me in 6 weeks to fill my gas tank yes all customers are important but you Take Care of Those who Take Care of You Plain and Simple!!!!!! Also Yes I am a regular at a local Diner Every Friday Morning Payday No Less I have Breakfast and I leave a Fair Tip I haven’t missed a Friday in 11 months guess what yesterdays breakfast was on the House! When I Asked Why they said you are in here every Friday You’re a Great Customer easy to get along with Tip Our Waitresses well and We Want to keep seeing you so as a Thank You For Your Loyal Business Let us Treat You…… also I’ve noticed more than once or twice the Owner has forgotten to ring up my side order of Bacon when I pointed that out to him he said “it’s my bacon my diner if I want to give some away I will” all while grinning at me like a Cheshire Cat 😃😃😃 so yes I’ve come to “expect” to sit at my usual Table Have my Usual Order show Up Without Asking because in this relationship it’s gotta work for both parties also FYI I pass 3 other breakfast spots to get to this place and He Knows that and I’ll continue to Patronize him just because he understands this
Click to expand...
there is literally 20 gun shops around King County Seattle. and tons more near the Navy Base
 
That is not my experience. There are 2 well established independently owned gun shops here in town in addition to 2 Walmart's and another big box store. In the past there were 3 other smaller independent stores, but when the owners died the stores closed.

I rarely buy anything from Walmart but a few years ago found a youth 870 in 20 ga with the 21" barrel. I wanted it for turkey hunting. When I tried to buy it, I was informed that there was no one currently at the store qualified to fill out the forms. They gave me a $25 gift card and apologized for the inconvenience. I used the $25 card and bought it the next day.

I've been buying from the larger of the 2 independent shops for 40+ years. Watched the owner's 3 son's grow up and they are now running the store. I don't ask for deals; they just give me discounts when I buy something from them. They usually eat the tax and round down to the closest dollar but sometimes do even better than that.

The other shop started SMALL. He only had a handful of guns initially, most were used. He would order anything you wanted. But he sold everything below the costs of anyone around. All of the prices marked on guns, or any other merchandise already included tax. If something is marked $350, it is $350 OTD. And that is usually $20 or so below the pre-tax price everywhere else.

I've gotten to know the owner and have a good relationship with him. His prices are already rock bottom so no discounts when I buy something. I'm at the point where I'm selling more than buying and I've sold several to him. I know I could get a bit more selling on my own, but for a variety of reasons I'm hesitant to do that anymore. He has given me more than any other option and I feel I've been treated fairly.
 
I have had good luck at the two shops that I deal with. They know I am going to dicker with them and will usually always give me a reduction on the marked price. The one guy always says when I walk in, how bad you going to beat me up today :) I have bought a lot of guns from both and it's just a game we play. I rarely pay retail for anything.
 
jmr40 said:
That is not my experience. There are 2 well established independently owned gun shops here in town in addition to 2 Walmart's and another big box store. In the past there were 3 other smaller independent stores, but when the owners died the stores closed.

I rarely buy anything from Walmart but a few years ago found a youth 870 in 20 ga with the 21" barrel. I wanted it for turkey hunting. When I tried to buy it, I was informed that there was no one currently at the store qualified to fill out the forms. They gave me a $25 gift card and apologized for the inconvenience. I used the $25 card and bought it the next day.

I've been buying from the larger of the 2 independent shops for 40+ years. Watched the owner's 3 son's grow up and they are now running the store. I don't ask for deals; they just give me discounts when I buy something from them. They usually eat the tax and round down to the closest dollar but sometimes do even better than that.

The other shop started SMALL. He only had a handful of guns initially, most were used. He would order anything you wanted. But he sold everything below the costs of anyone around. All of the prices marked on guns, or any other merchandise already included tax. If something is marked $350, it is $350 OTD. And that is usually $20 or so below the pre-tax price everywhere else.

I've gotten to know the owner and have a good relationship with him. His prices are already rock bottom so no discounts when I buy something. I'm at the point where I'm selling more than buying and I've sold several to him. I know I could get a bit more selling on my own, but for a variety of reasons I'm hesitant to do that anymore. He has given me more than any other option and I feel I've been treated fairly.
Click to expand...
There was a shop like that called Ed’s in Pinehurst NC. Everything was priced well below retail, and if you bought enough, they gave you a box of shell or two. Everyone was treated exactly the same too! Good customer service & good price. I moved away years ago, hope Ed’s Gun Shop is still around
 
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