This is almost certainly true, however a salesman will meet thousands of customers, while those customers will only meet a small handfull of salesmen. A single poor salesman poisons a much larger pool than even 100 terrible customers. Furthermore one end of that relationship is getting paid and the other is doing the paying, the fact is that it isnt a realationship that has actual parity, so the comparison is moot.
Gun store employees...they just don't get it.
- Thread starter OH25shooter
- Start date
- Status
This is almost certainly true, however a salesman will meet thousands of customers, while those customers will only meet a small handfull of salesmen. A single poor salesman poisons a much larger pool than even 100 terrible customers. Furthermore one end of that relationship is getting paid and the other is doing the paying, the fact is that it isnt a realationship that has actual parity, so the comparison is moot.
TrapdoorBilly
Member
Maybe you are the problem.
redneck2
Member
+1
There is a shop not too far from my house where the owner is the ultimate rude jerk. Many of the shooters I know will not do business with him. Unfortunately, he carries a good selection of reloading stuff so I end up buying stuff once in a while if I'm in the area and need it quick.
While I too have been treated rudely, I find it unusual that no one in any of three stores would be willing to help. I've worked in a gun shop. You may show 200-300 guns a day and sell one or two. You usually have a pretty good idea the guy isn't going to buy when he's been in 10 times, looked at 100 different guns, and never bought anything
Also, the poor guy behind the counter is stuck there. There were times we'd see the gun shop commandos come thru the door. We'd hit the door for the back room. The poor slob that was last would have to stand there and listen to endless stories of how one caliber is better than another, or brand X is a total piece of crap and something else is the best thing ever.
I'd start by saying "I'm going to buy a gun today, if I can find what I want". I do this when buying a car. It's amazing how nice the attitudes are when the guy that's selling knows you're not another waste of time like the last 40 guys that came in.
FWIW...don't tell me how salesmen ought to act. I sell industrial products for a living and I'm in the top 3% of my company worldwide. Not all shops are worth dealing with. Not all customers are worth dealing with.
There is a shop not too far from my house where the owner is the ultimate rude jerk. Many of the shooters I know will not do business with him. Unfortunately, he carries a good selection of reloading stuff so I end up buying stuff once in a while if I'm in the area and need it quick.
While I too have been treated rudely, I find it unusual that no one in any of three stores would be willing to help. I've worked in a gun shop. You may show 200-300 guns a day and sell one or two. You usually have a pretty good idea the guy isn't going to buy when he's been in 10 times, looked at 100 different guns, and never bought anything
Also, the poor guy behind the counter is stuck there. There were times we'd see the gun shop commandos come thru the door. We'd hit the door for the back room. The poor slob that was last would have to stand there and listen to endless stories of how one caliber is better than another, or brand X is a total piece of crap and something else is the best thing ever.
I'd start by saying "I'm going to buy a gun today, if I can find what I want". I do this when buying a car. It's amazing how nice the attitudes are when the guy that's selling knows you're not another waste of time like the last 40 guys that came in.
FWIW...don't tell me how salesmen ought to act. I sell industrial products for a living and I'm in the top 3% of my company worldwide. Not all shops are worth dealing with. Not all customers are worth dealing with.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Gunshops
This takes me back a long ways. I've been in shops once that I won't visit again...and I've been in a few that I'll drive 100 miles to spend money in.
The shop that I worked in for a while was one that drew people from two states regularly, and was often so crowded that sometimes you had to elbow your way in. The owner's cardinal rule was:
If a customer walks in the door, I want two people standin' ready and willing to show him whatever he wants to see. If he doesn't buy, and comes back the next day...I want two people standin' ready again.
The guy made a small fortune in that shop.
This takes me back a long ways. I've been in shops once that I won't visit again...and I've been in a few that I'll drive 100 miles to spend money in.
The shop that I worked in for a while was one that drew people from two states regularly, and was often so crowded that sometimes you had to elbow your way in. The owner's cardinal rule was:
If a customer walks in the door, I want two people standin' ready and willing to show him whatever he wants to see. If he doesn't buy, and comes back the next day...I want two people standin' ready again.
The guy made a small fortune in that shop.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Regarding tire kicking...
When I bought my S&W 3913, I handled one two or three times before I bought it. It's a big investment, and I wanted to think about it.
I'd do the same when buying a car.
When I bought my S&W 3913, I handled one two or three times before I bought it. It's a big investment, and I wanted to think about it.
I'd do the same when buying a car.
Declaration Day
Member
Has anyone ever given a gun shop a second chance?
A few years ago I stopped by a local gun shop (at the time I lived several miles away from it) to find a buyer for my SPAS-12. The salesman, who was very condescending, said "Huh, if you can find somebody to give you more than $400 for it, take it and run." Even if he was right, his attitude completely sucked.
I walked out, and ended up making an even trade for a brand new M1 Garand that weekend at the local gun show.
Normally I would never set foot in such a place again.
I moved about a year ago, and I now live less than a mile from that shop. The next shop is six miles away and is way overpriced. The one after that is much farther. So I decided to give them another try.
It was worthwhile; I don't remember that salesman's face, but he must not be there any more.
Whether I am buying or just "tire kicking", the owner and his employees are great. Very respectful, very helpful. Most of their prices are about $50 above what I can find at a gun show, but considering drive time and gas, it balances out. I'm glad I gave 'em another try.
A few years ago I stopped by a local gun shop (at the time I lived several miles away from it) to find a buyer for my SPAS-12. The salesman, who was very condescending, said "Huh, if you can find somebody to give you more than $400 for it, take it and run." Even if he was right, his attitude completely sucked.
I walked out, and ended up making an even trade for a brand new M1 Garand that weekend at the local gun show.
Normally I would never set foot in such a place again.
I moved about a year ago, and I now live less than a mile from that shop. The next shop is six miles away and is way overpriced. The one after that is much farther. So I decided to give them another try.
It was worthwhile; I don't remember that salesman's face, but he must not be there any more.
Whether I am buying or just "tire kicking", the owner and his employees are great. Very respectful, very helpful. Most of their prices are about $50 above what I can find at a gun show, but considering drive time and gas, it balances out. I'm glad I gave 'em another try.
JohnBT
Member
"Maybe you are the problem."
That's me. Bad customer, bad, bad, bad.
About 2 Wednesday afternoon my dad and I went into the shop near his house to do our usual walkaround. I was halfheartedly looking for a gas-operated shotgun for geese and before I knew what hit me the owner gave each of us a Beretta keychain and lapel pin. Then he fetched a copy of the Beretta episode of Tales of Gun and told us to bring it back next week.
Well, the 26" 391 was really pretty and the gunsmith recommended the Super Black Eagle for waterfowl and someone else showed us some other guns (the 4-pound Franchi 28 ga. autoloader was really nice and that's another story), but they were really busy being short-staffed right before Thanksgiving and all. After a bit of poking around in the racks I spotted what I wanted.
So how was I a bad customer? After all the trouble they went to showing and selling the Beretta/Benelli line I bought a used Winchester SX2 3.5 with Shadow Grass camo.
That reminds me, I need to mail my dad a check. I'd left my checkbook at home and had to borrow some money to do the deal. (Of course I have a credit card, but I didn't want to lose the cash discount.)
John
That's me. Bad customer, bad, bad, bad.
About 2 Wednesday afternoon my dad and I went into the shop near his house to do our usual walkaround. I was halfheartedly looking for a gas-operated shotgun for geese and before I knew what hit me the owner gave each of us a Beretta keychain and lapel pin. Then he fetched a copy of the Beretta episode of Tales of Gun and told us to bring it back next week.
Well, the 26" 391 was really pretty and the gunsmith recommended the Super Black Eagle for waterfowl and someone else showed us some other guns (the 4-pound Franchi 28 ga. autoloader was really nice and that's another story), but they were really busy being short-staffed right before Thanksgiving and all. After a bit of poking around in the racks I spotted what I wanted.
So how was I a bad customer? After all the trouble they went to showing and selling the Beretta/Benelli line I bought a used Winchester SX2 3.5 with Shadow Grass camo.
That reminds me, I need to mail my dad a check. I'd left my checkbook at home and had to borrow some money to do the deal. (Of course I have a credit card, but I didn't want to lose the cash discount.)
John
Gun shops around here have a pretty high turn around it seems, so I always give em another chance, with one singular exception; Butch's Gunshop in Seattle. If that shop were to burn to the ground and a whole new shop with new owners and new employees were placed in it's previous space, I still wouldnt walk through that door out of a belief that the very earth itself were poisoned against all decent humanity.
redneck2
Member
"Lookers" are fine. You can stay hours and look to your heart's content.
The problem comes when you have a shop full of customers and one guy wants to see that one...and that one....and that one....and that one. For maybe 45 minutes or an hour.
Now, if you kinda "fill in" between guys that are standing at the register holding 4 boxes of ammo waiting to be checked out, that's fine again. He's made his decision. Let him get out.
If the shop's empty, I'll take all the time I need to show you whatever you want.
Just because the cleck is trapped behind the counter doesn't give you license to hold him hostage
Now, if I'm the customer and there's two guys behind the counter just BS'ing, that's when I get blunt. "Could I get some help here?" clears that up pretty quick. Actually a good solid stare usually works wonders
The problem comes when you have a shop full of customers and one guy wants to see that one...and that one....and that one....and that one. For maybe 45 minutes or an hour.
Now, if you kinda "fill in" between guys that are standing at the register holding 4 boxes of ammo waiting to be checked out, that's fine again. He's made his decision. Let him get out.
If the shop's empty, I'll take all the time I need to show you whatever you want.
Just because the cleck is trapped behind the counter doesn't give you license to hold him hostage
Now, if I'm the customer and there's two guys behind the counter just BS'ing, that's when I get blunt. "Could I get some help here?" clears that up pretty quick. Actually a good solid stare usually works wonders
I have a few thoughts on this. I'm the gunsmith for the biggest sporting goods store in our area and at times people DO ask questions that tell me that they are fairly new at the gun stuff.
They ask my opinion on which gun or model I think is best. If it's a shotgun for deer, I'll tell them one thing. If it's a handgun for deer hunting, I will have a particular gun in mind...etc...
For instance if a person comes in and wants to start shooting trap or skeet, I'll steer him away from a mossberg 500...Now if this SAME guy wants to hunt some small game and maybe deer, I MIGHT suggest the mossy, because he's told me he doesn't want to spend a lot of money and wants a "fairly" good shotgun.
If he picks up a Winchester 1200, and asks me, "Is this one any good"? I'll kinda mumble and get coffee.
Ok what I'm trying to say is that we see ALL kinds come in the store. Usually we can tell a "shooter" from a neophyte, not always.
Are we opinionated as to which gun is better than others?? You bet..
I see certain guns come in for repair more than others. We get brand new guns from certain makers that do NOT function. We try to steer people away from them.
If a guy comes in and says, " I want a new Remington 11-87 for rabbits"!! I say YESSIR..
Knowing it'll be too heavy for him in the long run, but if I try to dissuade him, he'll likely get irate.
We get people all the time that don't really know what loads to buy for their 30-06 for example. One guy said he wanted some 120 JHP's because they shoot "fast"..He did say he was a little dissapointed in the accuracy but he thought a 5" group/100yds was probably ok.
Now could you stay quiet when someone tells you that?? And hand over the 120 grainers without ANY advice?
Be a little patient with the gunshop guy...He sees all kinds and I do mean ALL kinds..You tend to burn out just a tad.
They ask my opinion on which gun or model I think is best. If it's a shotgun for deer, I'll tell them one thing. If it's a handgun for deer hunting, I will have a particular gun in mind...etc...
For instance if a person comes in and wants to start shooting trap or skeet, I'll steer him away from a mossberg 500...Now if this SAME guy wants to hunt some small game and maybe deer, I MIGHT suggest the mossy, because he's told me he doesn't want to spend a lot of money and wants a "fairly" good shotgun.
If he picks up a Winchester 1200, and asks me, "Is this one any good"? I'll kinda mumble and get coffee.
Ok what I'm trying to say is that we see ALL kinds come in the store. Usually we can tell a "shooter" from a neophyte, not always.
Are we opinionated as to which gun is better than others?? You bet..
I see certain guns come in for repair more than others. We get brand new guns from certain makers that do NOT function. We try to steer people away from them.
If a guy comes in and says, " I want a new Remington 11-87 for rabbits"!! I say YESSIR..
Knowing it'll be too heavy for him in the long run, but if I try to dissuade him, he'll likely get irate.
We get people all the time that don't really know what loads to buy for their 30-06 for example. One guy said he wanted some 120 JHP's because they shoot "fast"..He did say he was a little dissapointed in the accuracy but he thought a 5" group/100yds was probably ok.
Now could you stay quiet when someone tells you that?? And hand over the 120 grainers without ANY advice?
Be a little patient with the gunshop guy...He sees all kinds and I do mean ALL kinds..You tend to burn out just a tad.
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Dionysusigma
Member
If a large store (say, the size of Outdoor America) has only four salesmen behind the counters (which it does), then there's nothing we can do. It's not easy when you're filling out four 4473s, grabbing ammo, dealing with constant pages from the office/ warehouse, and trying to be polite with the other ten people waiting on you to finish.
I get paid $7.00 an hour. Comission is .3%--meaning thirty cents for every hundred dollars' worth of stuff I sell. I don't make a lot of money.
But I try. Even to the jerks that think they're God (whether they're other employees or they're customers), I try. If I walk past you and don't so much as acknowledge your presence, I'm sorry. I genuinely am. If I come off as some sort of jerk myself, I really don't mean it--it's just that there are several customers who see me not doing anything (not doing anything includes filling out 4473s, etc.) and they get P. O.ed since I'm "not helping them." Occasionally, customers are polite enough to let others go before them if all they want is a box or two of ammo. I appreciate that.
Give us a break. Hunting season is still on. Distributors and other shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, DHL) are trying to keep up. Christmas is in a month. Our massive sale is next week (no matter how unprepared we are). And no, not all of us are stupid. I am a salesman. I am not John Moses Browning, Buddha, Carlos Hathcock, or Col. Cooper. I am myself.
PS It doesn't matter if you have $5.00 cash or $5,000.00 cash with you. I showed a guy with a wad of fifties in his hand everything he wanted to see and he still didn't buy squat. So it doesn't matter. A decent attitude from both ends does. Even if you wish to God I'd drop dead, and I'd like to see you do the same, let's both act nicely. Pretend, lie through our teeth if we have to. That's what manners are. Respect for another human being...
I'll be quiet now. It's been a long day. If anybody needs me, I'll be at The Biting Sow. :banghead:
I get paid $7.00 an hour. Comission is .3%--meaning thirty cents for every hundred dollars' worth of stuff I sell. I don't make a lot of money.
But I try. Even to the jerks that think they're God (whether they're other employees or they're customers), I try. If I walk past you and don't so much as acknowledge your presence, I'm sorry. I genuinely am. If I come off as some sort of jerk myself, I really don't mean it--it's just that there are several customers who see me not doing anything (not doing anything includes filling out 4473s, etc.) and they get P. O.ed since I'm "not helping them." Occasionally, customers are polite enough to let others go before them if all they want is a box or two of ammo. I appreciate that.
Give us a break. Hunting season is still on. Distributors and other shipping companies (FedEx, UPS, DHL) are trying to keep up. Christmas is in a month. Our massive sale is next week (no matter how unprepared we are). And no, not all of us are stupid. I am a salesman. I am not John Moses Browning, Buddha, Carlos Hathcock, or Col. Cooper. I am myself.
PS It doesn't matter if you have $5.00 cash or $5,000.00 cash with you. I showed a guy with a wad of fifties in his hand everything he wanted to see and he still didn't buy squat. So it doesn't matter. A decent attitude from both ends does. Even if you wish to God I'd drop dead, and I'd like to see you do the same, let's both act nicely. Pretend, lie through our teeth if we have to. That's what manners are. Respect for another human being...
I'll be quiet now. It's been a long day. If anybody needs me, I'll be at The Biting Sow. :banghead:
Cosmoline
Member
I've thought back on it, and I can't recall a single instance when some issue I had with a store employee actually caused me to blacklist a shop. I will only do it when the OWNER or someone setting policy is to blame. And believe me the owners tend to be far, far ruder and nastier than any clerk. The owner of Northern Security set a policy where no returns for exchange could be made, and refused to alter that policy even when a clerk actually remembered me buying the holster, and even when the holster was in original packaging with their tag on it. He essentially accused me of theft, which is way over the line. I stormed out and wish all the ills of the world to befall that nasty, putrifying snake pit. I send all the business I can to the excellent folks at Grubin's Great Guns--the older store Northern Security is competing with for the LEO and security market.
But I've never raised the black flag because one clerk was having an off day. It's a tough, low-paying job. In my experience the owners are the only ones who ever get so inbred, ingrown and arrogant that they earn the black stamp.
Poul D'eau
Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2004
- Messages
- 12
My rant
Today, I went to my local gun store with a great reputation for their gunsmithing abilities. I was planning on getting a Para Ordnance LTC and getting an ambi safety installed. (I have the south paw curse) early next month I was planning on getting a beater 1911 either a SA GI or RIA commander.
I told the first salesman what I was looking for and he said I'm not the one you need to speak to you would have to talk to him. (ok so far so good)
I repeated what I was looking for and the first remark out of the "experts" mouth was "why the hell would you want that...." kind of stunned me a little, its not like I asked to order a jennings. This shop is listed as a dealer for Para (which may not mean much now that I think about it) but the shoe was on the wrong foot. He asked "LDA?" which its not and I told him so. He went to the back to find some information and came back and confirmed that he was not up to date on that pistol and before he started the ball rolling he wanted to talk with the gunsmith who would be in next week so he asked that I check back on Monday and Tuesday.
Shoe is back on the right foot at this point I asked if he could guess what it would be dollar wise under similar situations. He said that a $1000 dollar gun....
Shoe headed south again....
MSRP is $900.00 with gunbroker going for ~$650 for those who want to know. I pointed that out and he said you can take that to a pawn shop....
This guy was pushing me to go to another store.... Now I know that I was not going to get out of there for $650 since it was not in stock but with $250 worth of wiggle room between the MSRP and the smith being in house which I told him..... Silly me I was looking to get out the door for ~$900.
This guy is one that I try to use when I go here and even when I "kick the tires" I pick up some primers or a pound or two of powder, I try to give him my business because of a previous gun purchase.
I look at several other guns and after a bit of head scratchin I decide on a Kimber pro raptor II (new model with the internal extractor) He did not push or encourage me to get this pistol all did was pull it out of the case for me. I thought for a bit and by the time I would get the Para with an ambi safety plus night sights and front strap work I would be forking over more than the cost of the kimber.
I made sure the guy I had been working with got the sale...call me stupid, loyal, whatever. But I took myself to that gun not him. He threw in a box of Golden sabers for free (I was getting 2) along with 1k of primers and 1# of win 231.
Did I get what I wanted when I walked in? No.
Am I happy with what I got? yes.
Could the process getting what I got been better than my trip to walmart on the day after Thanksgiving?
Yep.
Sorry for the long rant.
Now I can enjoy my kimber.
Today, I went to my local gun store with a great reputation for their gunsmithing abilities. I was planning on getting a Para Ordnance LTC and getting an ambi safety installed. (I have the south paw curse) early next month I was planning on getting a beater 1911 either a SA GI or RIA commander.
I told the first salesman what I was looking for and he said I'm not the one you need to speak to you would have to talk to him. (ok so far so good)
I repeated what I was looking for and the first remark out of the "experts" mouth was "why the hell would you want that...." kind of stunned me a little, its not like I asked to order a jennings. This shop is listed as a dealer for Para (which may not mean much now that I think about it) but the shoe was on the wrong foot. He asked "LDA?" which its not and I told him so. He went to the back to find some information and came back and confirmed that he was not up to date on that pistol and before he started the ball rolling he wanted to talk with the gunsmith who would be in next week so he asked that I check back on Monday and Tuesday.
Shoe is back on the right foot at this point I asked if he could guess what it would be dollar wise under similar situations. He said that a $1000 dollar gun....
Shoe headed south again....
MSRP is $900.00 with gunbroker going for ~$650 for those who want to know. I pointed that out and he said you can take that to a pawn shop....
This guy was pushing me to go to another store.... Now I know that I was not going to get out of there for $650 since it was not in stock but with $250 worth of wiggle room between the MSRP and the smith being in house which I told him..... Silly me I was looking to get out the door for ~$900.
This guy is one that I try to use when I go here and even when I "kick the tires" I pick up some primers or a pound or two of powder, I try to give him my business because of a previous gun purchase.
I look at several other guns and after a bit of head scratchin I decide on a Kimber pro raptor II (new model with the internal extractor) He did not push or encourage me to get this pistol all did was pull it out of the case for me. I thought for a bit and by the time I would get the Para with an ambi safety plus night sights and front strap work I would be forking over more than the cost of the kimber.
I made sure the guy I had been working with got the sale...call me stupid, loyal, whatever. But I took myself to that gun not him. He threw in a box of Golden sabers for free (I was getting 2) along with 1k of primers and 1# of win 231.
Did I get what I wanted when I walked in? No.
Am I happy with what I got? yes.
Could the process getting what I got been better than my trip to walmart on the day after Thanksgiving?
Yep.
Sorry for the long rant.
Now I can enjoy my kimber.
AStone
Member
good on you...
...OH25Shooter, for starting this thread.
I've experienced this, too.
But for now, I've just discovered your thread,
am too tired to read all of it, yet,
so will postpone substantial comment for another day
{with confidence that, having posted this,
i'll be reminded of new posts,
and thus stimulated to re-read it, & post again later.}
just this comment for now:
like high school teachers, college teachers & university professors,
once a 'gun shop' employee is 'hired',
he (almost inevitably 'he' {which is part of the problem, eh, Pax?}
thinks he is smarter than those who come in.
Example: yesterday afternoon, a gunshop employee
told me that semi-auto 'jam' problems were 'caused' by
holding the pistol incorrectly.
I don't believe that, at this moment.
But, it IS a testable hypothesis.
Prof Nem,
THR University
...OH25Shooter, for starting this thread.
I've experienced this, too.
But for now, I've just discovered your thread,
am too tired to read all of it, yet,
so will postpone substantial comment for another day
{with confidence that, having posted this,
i'll be reminded of new posts,
and thus stimulated to re-read it, & post again later.}
just this comment for now:
like high school teachers, college teachers & university professors,
once a 'gun shop' employee is 'hired',
he (almost inevitably 'he' {which is part of the problem, eh, Pax?}
thinks he is smarter than those who come in.
Example: yesterday afternoon, a gunshop employee
told me that semi-auto 'jam' problems were 'caused' by
holding the pistol incorrectly.
I don't believe that, at this moment.
But, it IS a testable hypothesis.
Prof Nem,
THR University
~~~~~Example: yesterday afternoon, a gunshop employee
told me that semi-auto 'jam' problems were 'caused' by
holding the pistol incorrectly.
I don't believe that, at this moment.~~~~~
Sir this is called "limp-wristing" and yes it does cause malfunctions. When you hold the pistol loosely, it has an adverse effect on the recoil operation of the firearm.
Our deer season opened Saturday Nov 19th this year so the 2 or 3 weeks prior are our very busiest. You really *should* hang out at a sporting goods shop all day for several days at that time.
You will get an education in temper control I assure you.
I can't tell you how many come in a cab...Cannot spell the street they live on...Have not taken a shower in weeks...etc...
One guy came walking in with an Ithaca model 37 on a sling. He wanted to know why the reciever bolt would not come out..It looked like he had been at it with a butter-knife...it was MANGLED..
I said he had to remove the stock first. (Yes he was drunk) &&**$($$
He said WHAT?? I have another one of these home and I never took the stock off!!!
I took a deep breath and said, " Sir, next time you come in, please bring it along, I want to see it"..
I explained the way this gun is made and it made no difference..He just couldn't see why he had to "Go thru all THAT sh1t" to get 'er apart...
Please guys - have some compassion for the gun shop guy..
told me that semi-auto 'jam' problems were 'caused' by
holding the pistol incorrectly.
I don't believe that, at this moment.~~~~~
Sir this is called "limp-wristing" and yes it does cause malfunctions. When you hold the pistol loosely, it has an adverse effect on the recoil operation of the firearm.
Our deer season opened Saturday Nov 19th this year so the 2 or 3 weeks prior are our very busiest. You really *should* hang out at a sporting goods shop all day for several days at that time.
You will get an education in temper control I assure you.
I can't tell you how many come in a cab...Cannot spell the street they live on...Have not taken a shower in weeks...etc...
One guy came walking in with an Ithaca model 37 on a sling. He wanted to know why the reciever bolt would not come out..It looked like he had been at it with a butter-knife...it was MANGLED..
I said he had to remove the stock first. (Yes he was drunk) &&**$($$
He said WHAT?? I have another one of these home and I never took the stock off!!!
I took a deep breath and said, " Sir, next time you come in, please bring it along, I want to see it"..
I explained the way this gun is made and it made no difference..He just couldn't see why he had to "Go thru all THAT sh1t" to get 'er apart...
Please guys - have some compassion for the gun shop guy..
mrmeval
Member
It's very hard to buy from enemies. I won't tolerate bad service from anyone and beyond that you can easily push me into being actively against your store.
Majic said:
mrmeval
Member
Rewrite this as a question they need to answer, include your name and address. Then follow up later in person.
rmgill said:
The_Antibubba
Member
Being a good customer
Having worked in retail and sales,I know what it's like to work with rude or (seemingly) stupid customers. I've resolved not to be one. If I'm looking at a gun, and I'm not at the buying stage, I'm going to let the clerk finish his sale or pitch or educating before I make him stand there while look a gun over. And you know what? When I wait my turn, or when I tell them I'll wait til they're done with the other guy, I almost always get better service.
Having worked in retail and sales,I know what it's like to work with rude or (seemingly) stupid customers. I've resolved not to be one. If I'm looking at a gun, and I'm not at the buying stage, I'm going to let the clerk finish his sale or pitch or educating before I make him stand there while look a gun over. And you know what? When I wait my turn, or when I tell them I'll wait til they're done with the other guy, I almost always get better service.
stratus
Member
I treat people the way I'd like to be treated, regardless of which side of the counter I'm on (I don't work at a gun store, but it applies to any retail store pretty much). There are an abundance of customers who wouldn't recognize good customer service if it bit them in the rear. Or worse, they know that they are being treated with respect, they just don't care enough to reciprocate that respect. I've dealt with a few surly clerks in my life while shopping for a gun (or for ammo at Wal-mart), and it doesn't matter how warm and friendly you are, it just doesn't reach them. I treat such clerks in a matter-of-fact and unapologetic way. But, there are also the ones who are polite and informative, and I make sure that they know I appreciate the job they are doing. They probably have so many customers dragging them down that it definitely helps to be built up by a few customers - a feeling of being appreciated has a lot to do with a good work ethic.
AStone
Member
Limp-wristing
Excellent.
You know the name.
Good.
Now, please explain this phenomenon, and how to prevent it, in 200 - 500 words so that we can all understand it.
Then, fewer of us will do it, and all those drunks won't come in your store smelling bad and all.
Limp-wristing.
Hmm. Let me take a crack at it. Here's the hypothesis: If one doesn't keep one's wrist and elbow relatively rigid upon firing, there is so much recoil, that the gun flies up at a velocity/acceleration in such a way as to retard brass ejection, jamming the gun.
How'd I do?
Did I get at least a 'C'?
Thanks.
Look forward to learning more about 'limp wristing', and how to prevent it.
Nem
Ah ha!willp58 said:
Excellent.
You know the name.
Good.
Now, please explain this phenomenon, and how to prevent it, in 200 - 500 words so that we can all understand it.
Then, fewer of us will do it, and all those drunks won't come in your store smelling bad and all.
Limp-wristing.
Hmm. Let me take a crack at it. Here's the hypothesis: If one doesn't keep one's wrist and elbow relatively rigid upon firing, there is so much recoil, that the gun flies up at a velocity/acceleration in such a way as to retard brass ejection, jamming the gun.
How'd I do?
Did I get at least a 'C'?
Thanks.
Look forward to learning more about 'limp wristing', and how to prevent it.
Nem
JMusic
member
Guys take your pretty bride with you and have her ask some questions. I've found they go out of their way to help the women, especially if they ask pertinant questions. It helps to have a bride that does not mind doing this. Yes men I am blessed. Today we are going to a gun show in Knoxville and it was her idea. Yes she has sisters for a small fee I will forward their numbers.
regards
Jim
regards
Jim
redneck2
Member
another thought for "all salespeople are stupid"
had a guy come in that wanted to get a CCW for his wife (so he said). Started looking at full size S&W's in .40. These were full size auto pistols and she had small hands. He's drooling over them, and she's rolling her eyes and giving me this "please help me" look.
There is no way in hell she's going to carry a full size. I "accidentally" came up with a Kel-Tec in .380. She lit up and really liked it. Could have dropped it in her coat pocket and at least had it with her.
He had a hissy fit, and ended up getting the S&W that he "knew" she had to have
Until you've worked behind the counter, you can't believe the number of stupid people you'll encounter. Not beginners or newbies (everybody has to start somewhere), not people unfamiliar with shooting or even a particular firearm or shooting sport (nobody knows everything about everything)
I mean flat stupid people. And it seems the more stupid they are, the more stubborn they are
had a guy come in that wanted to get a CCW for his wife (so he said). Started looking at full size S&W's in .40. These were full size auto pistols and she had small hands. He's drooling over them, and she's rolling her eyes and giving me this "please help me" look.
There is no way in hell she's going to carry a full size. I "accidentally" came up with a Kel-Tec in .380. She lit up and really liked it. Could have dropped it in her coat pocket and at least had it with her.
He had a hissy fit, and ended up getting the S&W that he "knew" she had to have
Until you've worked behind the counter, you can't believe the number of stupid people you'll encounter. Not beginners or newbies (everybody has to start somewhere), not people unfamiliar with shooting or even a particular firearm or shooting sport (nobody knows everything about everything)
I mean flat stupid people. And it seems the more stupid they are, the more stubborn they are
Declaration Day
Member
redneck2 said:
Nobody here said that all salespeople are stupid.
redneck2
Member
Geez, sorry if I don't know the trajectory of every bullet caliber, brand, and weight out to 500 yards
Yeah my mistake. Not stupid. Arrogant and rude would be a better description
I'd agree that some sales people are in need of a "tune-up". Then again, if you get a chance to work the other side of the counter for a day or two, you'll see my side...guaranteed. I had co-workers tell me this before I started but I had a hard time believing it. I sure do now
I think...
I'm fairly lucky. There are 5 gun shops on the island plus Sports Authority has a small selection of long guns and ammo. Of the 5, I am on first name basis with the owners of two. I regularly visit those two, the other three I'll stop in if I'm in the neighborhood.
I've always been treated fairly by both the owners and the employees of both the shops I frequent. Both have given me better deals than I've asked for on occasion and thrown in free stuff.
As far as the kicking tires thing. If I'm out kicking tires to look for a gun to fill a need (but not quite sure which one I exactly want), I will always buy something (even if it's just 50 rounds of 9mm) before I leave the shop. There is always something you need: bottle of Hoppes, 50 rounds of ammo, etc. The order you do things is important also... pick up the small item, gaze into the case, ask to see whatever it is you're interested in. If you are not decided you can leave without anyone feeling their time has been wasted with the following: "Yeah, I just ran in to pick up (whatever it was you have in your hand), I better keep myself out of trouble and just stick to this." I've also found that if I decide to go ahead and buy a gun that day...whatever the small thing I was picking up suddenly becomes gratis.
I'm not sure how things are on the mainland, but here it is in my best interest to develop a good relationship with the gunshops and support them enough to keep them in business.
migoi
I'm fairly lucky. There are 5 gun shops on the island plus Sports Authority has a small selection of long guns and ammo. Of the 5, I am on first name basis with the owners of two. I regularly visit those two, the other three I'll stop in if I'm in the neighborhood.
I've always been treated fairly by both the owners and the employees of both the shops I frequent. Both have given me better deals than I've asked for on occasion and thrown in free stuff.
As far as the kicking tires thing. If I'm out kicking tires to look for a gun to fill a need (but not quite sure which one I exactly want), I will always buy something (even if it's just 50 rounds of 9mm) before I leave the shop. There is always something you need: bottle of Hoppes, 50 rounds of ammo, etc. The order you do things is important also... pick up the small item, gaze into the case, ask to see whatever it is you're interested in. If you are not decided you can leave without anyone feeling their time has been wasted with the following: "Yeah, I just ran in to pick up (whatever it was you have in your hand), I better keep myself out of trouble and just stick to this." I've also found that if I decide to go ahead and buy a gun that day...whatever the small thing I was picking up suddenly becomes gratis.
I'm not sure how things are on the mainland, but here it is in my best interest to develop a good relationship with the gunshops and support them enough to keep them in business.
migoi
- Status
