Gun shops should be shops first, gun places second.

[Oleg Volk]

A new sushi place opened right next to my home. I was happy. Trouble is, the food is so-so, ranging from mediocre to decent, but barely worth the price. They play radio in the place, which is an annoyance. I wrote a page-long review for them, stating that I wanted them to succeed so I'd have sushi near my home, offering observations very politely, even telling them I'd do their advertising pro bono, if they needed that. I doubt they'll change much, but I made the try.

Most retail or service businesses are run to fit the customer needs. Some gun shops seem to be run more as hobby shops. Not far from me, is a gunshop which stays in business...somehow. I shopped there twice for Colibri ammo, but will go mail order next time.

>>The place is very smoky, with little ventilation. I can't be there for long. I doubt they'd be receptie to the idea of not smoking inside.

>>The pistol display is tiny, unlighted and reflective -- so I can't see what they have in the case! Price tags are under the guns, to they are no help. Pistols are placed half-vartically, with muzzles to the shoppers, so visual ID is hard.

>>Holster and other accessories aren't all that well organized. Rifles, reloading rigs and ammunition are organized quite well.

>>Customer service is helpful, but you have to know what you want. Looking around is very difficult due to the display case layout and the air quality.

I can get to the store in under ten minutes, as compared to 40 minutes for Guns and Leather, which is my favorite in Nashville. Do you think it is worth even trying to make sugegstions to them, or would it be viewed as presumptuous?

 

[Henry Bowman]

Do you think it is worth even trying to make sugegstions to them

From what you describe, I, unfortunately, seriously doubt it. But then, I'm often a cynic.

 

[ACP230]

I'd make a try.
What have you got to lose?

 

[real_name]

Which store is that? I don't recognize it from the description.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Which store is that? I don't recognize it from the description.

Sounds like every gun store in Ft Worth to me.........

Can't hurt to suggest a change, but you are right that a lot of them seem to be run more as a hobby.

 

[real_name]

Maybe I haven't found all the stores in town yet, that is a possibility.
I spend most of my time/money at Sporting Arms on Charlotte as it is my nearest store.

On topic, I would tell them if I was comfortable getting an adverse reaction, otherwise I'd do the usual 'not my business' tactic.

 

[SSN Vet]

Maybe the reason is....

that they can't make a living off the venture and thus it actually is their hobby.

Hey, I'm not going to tell a man he can't enjoy his hobby.

Look up some auction links and bring them an auction catalog that has retail display cases in it appropriate for diplaying/securing guns.

"Hey, I thought of you guys when I saw this"

This kind of "furniture" can't be to cheap.

Even the display cab. @ the Kittery Trading post (one of, if not the biggest in New England) has worn varnish and sticky doors on many of their displays. And they have DOZENS of cases.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I think the owner would likely tell you the door swings both ways. If you don't like get out. Most owners I know are older guys and have been around awhile. Don't really like people telling them how to run their store.
If all this is such a bother go to one of the big chain stores I sure the air is clean their and you can see everything with the perfect lighting. Where I go you wouldn't be missed. To much smoke and bad lighting we wouldn't have noticed you to begin with.
Tell me is anything right in you perfect world you didn't like the sushi place had a list of things wrong their and the gun shop is a problem. Where are you happy.

 

[AJ Dual]

The problem with gun stores is that most people who care about customer service, the shopping experiance, and merchandising are smart enough to run screaming the other way from a gun business.

It takes a certain amount of hard-headedness to stare straight into the eye of the ATF, razor thin margins, and harrasment from local zoning boards and not blink.

The dealer that has the stones to actualy be in the gun business (Without massive corporate backing like a Sportsman's Warehouse or Gander Mtn..) and can run a bright friendly well laid out shop with impecable customer service is a rare gem, and must be cherished.

 

[Oleg Volk]

In Nashville, I like Guns and Leather. Good selection and prices, well-roganized and clean, helpful staff, they even have a range.

My favorite gun store, above all others, is Gunstop in Minnetonka, MN. Howard and his helper Larry are very helpful. John, who runs attached reloading supply shop, is also very helpful. Their selection and prices are the best I've seen, and the service is superb. I wish I had a store like that nearby.

I try not to shop at the local "pro" photo store -- the level of service there is lousy, selection is small and prices are crazy high. I'd rather shop from B&H by mail -- cheaper to order rush service and have the goods in hand quicker than driving to the local store and waiting to be noticed and helped!

 

[rnovi]

OMG! Is THAT what a gunstore is supposed to look like!

I see scary guns with long, icky black things sticking out from them!

Damn I'm jealous!

 

[Oleg Volk]

I have many stories about how they treat their customers. None of the expected sexist, rude or disinterested approaches so common to other places. I like Gunstop so much that I went there on my last visit to MN...and will most likely order a shotgun from them all the way from TN.

Their number is 952.474.4570

Their shop sign at the strip mall reads GS, because their landlord won't let them have the word Gun in it!

 

[real_name]

Guns and Leather doesn't look too bad either.

Not exactly in Nashville but I'll make the trip up to them and have a look.

 

[dasmi]

Mmm. Guns and candy.
Guns and Leather looks a lot like SoCal gun in La Mesa, CA.

 

[cslinger]

Funny I prefer the place you are talking about to Guns and Leather. I have had very poor service at Guns and Leather and been out right lied to on occassion. The other place in question has literally bent over backwards for me, always been up front on trades, telling me to sell outright yet still giving me a fair trade price. They have taken ammo back that I bought that was poorly manufacured and have been generally good folks.

For me I place the emphasis on service as far as the product, well hell I can buy anything cheaper on the internet in most cases.

Guns and Leather is a very nice shop with decent prices. I am in no way trying to disuade anybody from shopping there, as one can have bad service experiences anywhere.

I do agree I do not care for the smoke but even if they stopped smoking, it wouldn't get rid of the smell. That is many many years of smoke baked in.

Chris

 

[HankB]

I visited Gunstop a couple of times when I lived up in the Twin Cities, even though I was on the other side of town. I didn't actually buy any guns there, but got stuff like a rifle case & pistol rug a couple of times. Seemed like a nice place.

My all-time favorite gun shop is long gone . . . it was "Oak Lawn Gun & Sports" just outside Chicago. During it's heyday they had lots and LOTS of guns, and downstairs underground they had a 25 yard pistol range, a 50 foot pistol range, a carnival-style shooting gallery, a 70 yard rifle range, a gunsmithy, lounge . . . and a tunnel to the saddle shop next door. I miss that place . . .

A new sushi place opened right next to my home.

Happened in my area too . . . they didn't make it, bad business model. Without fishing rods, lures, and hooks, they just couldn't compete with the established bait & tackle shops.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Chris, we need to get together soon -- I have a bunch of items for you and Sheslinger.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Without fishing rods, lures, and hooks, they just couldn't compete with the established bait & tackle shops.

I got my laugh of the day now

 

[cslinger]

I am having a bit of surgery tomorrow so I will be recovering all week and home. Maybe I will drop by next week once I get to feeling better.

Chris

 

[Oleg Volk]

Hope you get better soonest!

 

[tjbert47]

Gun Store

I can't figure out which store you are talking about but there is a fairly new store in Franklin ( Franklin Gun Shop ) that seems to be very customer friendly and well stocked.
I can't believe how many Nashville people are here. Glad to see it.

Tom in TN

 

[Monkeyleg]

Oleg, I don't see any downside to offering suggestions to the as-yet-unnamed shop you mentioned. The worse that can happen is that the owner will offer you a rude response.

Anyone who's owned their own business will tell you it's not the criticism you hear that hurts you, it's the criticism you don't hear.

If I see someone slamming a shop that's on my site on this or another forum, I'll call the owner to let him know. Sometimes they've posted in the threads (as happened the other day) and sometimes not. But at least they get to read what customers are saying about them. Hopefully, they move to change the problem.

 

[Ivy Mike]

The gun store is really kind of an odd, niche store if you think about it.

They tailor a business specifically to folks who know what they want and try to get the lowest prices. Something usually has to suffer and its most often, the look of the place they work in. Its usually something that can't be helped too much. They have to do things on a sparse budget and it usually shows.

Display cases that don't match
harsh flourescent lighting
not enough lighting
dingy floors with ripped and stained industrial carpet
old faded paint on the walls
walls covered with posters and signs that would be better in a garage


This is what you get when you work the price on the guns down to where he makes almost no money.

That being said, there are a few changes that would be almost free to improve the look. Things like a fresh coat of paint in something other than stark white. Have your employees dress a little better. Not shirt and tie, but a clean polo shirt tucked into a nice pair of jeans or cargo pants. Instead of putting up another Kimber or Glock or SigArms poster, paint your shop's name and logo on the wall. Maybe buy a couple of Oleg's posters and talk to some of the women that walk in. How about cleaning the glass on the display cases? I don't know how many times I've seen smears and fingerprints all over a case that haven't been cleaned in a week.
Other things like acknowledge each customer as they walk in. Just a simple "hi there" or "hey, how ya doin?" goes a long way. No pressure, just common courtesy.
I know some owners hate doing it, but display the prices on the guns so people can see them.

 

[lastcavalier]

Guns and Leather

I'd have to agree with the good points on Guns and Leather. I'm a student in Nashville and wanted to get into shooting; found them and took a trip up to visit their range (with the lady-friend in tow). They were helpful on the phone and in store. I explained that I barely had a clue and the guy helped me select a pistol to rent, took me down to the range, explained the rules and SOP, and it was in general a very friendly, very helpful experience. I've been back a couple of times to rent and shoot (still working on figuring out what my first pistol shall be, and working on those budgetary issues) and browse the display cases. At one point I was told they would give me a discount on a purchase based on me renting guns for their range several times.

Basically, considering the way I've read newbs get treated at many gun shops I'm downright impressed with the way I was treated there. The only criticism I have is their distance from downtown, but that's my problem, not theirs.

In fact, I'm planning on heading up there in the next couple of days for a little range time.

 

[tjbert47]

gun shops

lastcavalier

There is also a good gun shop/range in Murfreesboro that may be a little closer. Good folks and good service.

Tom in TN