Gun store in Alaska. horrible experience
- Thread starter silversilvia
- Start date
- Status
Let's see,,,,
You're in Alaska.
You can do business with the locals OR your options are to drive to Skagway or Dawson in Canada.
Or you can take a boat down to Tacoma or Seattle,,,,,,
If I was you I would dig out my choicest rifle or handgun and take it back to that shop and offer it for sale to that proprietor for $100.00 cash.
When he agrees to the deal, and he will, stop everything and tell him,
"Oh,,, wait, wrong gun, silly me.
I meant to sell this for $500.00-$750.00-$1000.00, whatever the real value is.
I think the point will be made.
If not to him, then to any of his other customers that may be standing around.
Alaska may not have a lot of folks living there day to day but you might be suprised how many of those people have Federal Firearms Licenses and will be more than happy to sell you a gun you might be lusting after.
You're in Alaska.
You can do business with the locals OR your options are to drive to Skagway or Dawson in Canada.
Or you can take a boat down to Tacoma or Seattle,,,,,,
If I was you I would dig out my choicest rifle or handgun and take it back to that shop and offer it for sale to that proprietor for $100.00 cash.
When he agrees to the deal, and he will, stop everything and tell him,
"Oh,,, wait, wrong gun, silly me.
I meant to sell this for $500.00-$750.00-$1000.00, whatever the real value is.
I think the point will be made.
If not to him, then to any of his other customers that may be standing around.
Alaska may not have a lot of folks living there day to day but you might be suprised how many of those people have Federal Firearms Licenses and will be more than happy to sell you a gun you might be lusting after.
spacemanspiff
Senior Member
and still you remain single? such a mystery!
you do realize that its mildly alarming how often you interject the topic of your looks into normal conversations, right?yeah but you know you can get the 'good guy' discount at WWG. did you call ken about the sig, btw? he says he'll give you a Smoking Deal.
Cosmoline
Member
It all depends on the bonus situation, or lack thereof.
he asked me how much money i had, so he will pick me out a gun.
Well, he was just trying to determine what sort of customer you were. A better phrase would have been "What is your price range?" He should have just listened to you, but maybe he's used to some specific sales routine.
i told him that i just want to look at the 686. so i asked what kind of deal would he make for me. he asked if i had cash right now,
He could have been more tactful, but his question was not out of line in a negotiation. Gun stores have lots and lots of people visit, and not buy anything. If you spend ten minutes haggling with an employee, and then you don't buy anything, you've just cost that business money, as that employee could have been doing something productive. If you bring cash, it shows that it may be worthwhile dealing with you.
i ignored.
This almost guarantees a conversation will go downward from that point.
he then proceeds to go open his book of guns.
Nothing wrong with that.
While it was abrupt treatment, and maybe rude, you did a lot better than I usually do in gun shops. For some reason, it's like I'm wearing an invisibility cloak when I visit gun shops. I must just not look like a guy who will buy a gun, but the truth is every time I visit a gun store I'm serious about purchasing something.
They spoke to you? You lucky dog!
Well, he was just trying to determine what sort of customer you were. A better phrase would have been "What is your price range?" He should have just listened to you, but maybe he's used to some specific sales routine.
i told him that i just want to look at the 686. so i asked what kind of deal would he make for me. he asked if i had cash right now,
He could have been more tactful, but his question was not out of line in a negotiation. Gun stores have lots and lots of people visit, and not buy anything. If you spend ten minutes haggling with an employee, and then you don't buy anything, you've just cost that business money, as that employee could have been doing something productive. If you bring cash, it shows that it may be worthwhile dealing with you.
i ignored.
This almost guarantees a conversation will go downward from that point.
he then proceeds to go open his book of guns.
Nothing wrong with that.
While it was abrupt treatment, and maybe rude, you did a lot better than I usually do in gun shops. For some reason, it's like I'm wearing an invisibility cloak when I visit gun shops. I must just not look like a guy who will buy a gun, but the truth is every time I visit a gun store I'm serious about purchasing something.
They spoke to you? You lucky dog!
ReadyontheRight
Member
There is NOTHING more productive for any person in any business than to talk to a prospective customer.
Cosmoline
Member
Ha! I'm sorry, but asking a person you don't know how much money they have on them, then upping the tagged price of a firearm, is completely over the line.
biere
Member
He may have been having a bad day but you messed up when you ignored him when he asked about cash.
Credit cards cost a percentage of the price. Around here I can almost always get 3-4% off the price in any real gun store if I tell them I am paying cash now and they won't have to give any money to the credit card company.
I have not tried this in walmart since I have never bought a gun there.
As for who has that much money on them, I always deal in cash because I find it makes negotions happen easier. If I can get that first few percent I might snag a few more percent. Now this generally varies a lot by what type of gun I am buying and if it is new or used.
For what you were wanting to do I would have asked to see the 686. When he asked his question you could have said "enough" or something. Ignoring does not make people feel like you are worth their hassle.
Overall, I see where both sides could have done some things to make the deal. Apparently neither side felt it was worth the hassle so the day goes on with the 686 still in the hands of the owner.
And personally, if I see a gun at a good price I go ahead and buy it with no haggling. If you had said you wanted to buy that 686 he may have never touched his book.
Just my opinion from what I have read and how I deal with gun store workers and managers and owners around here.
Credit cards cost a percentage of the price. Around here I can almost always get 3-4% off the price in any real gun store if I tell them I am paying cash now and they won't have to give any money to the credit card company.
I have not tried this in walmart since I have never bought a gun there.
As for who has that much money on them, I always deal in cash because I find it makes negotions happen easier. If I can get that first few percent I might snag a few more percent. Now this generally varies a lot by what type of gun I am buying and if it is new or used.
For what you were wanting to do I would have asked to see the 686. When he asked his question you could have said "enough" or something. Ignoring does not make people feel like you are worth their hassle.
Overall, I see where both sides could have done some things to make the deal. Apparently neither side felt it was worth the hassle so the day goes on with the 686 still in the hands of the owner.
And personally, if I see a gun at a good price I go ahead and buy it with no haggling. If you had said you wanted to buy that 686 he may have never touched his book.
Just my opinion from what I have read and how I deal with gun store workers and managers and owners around here.
Cosmoline
Member
In all the hundreds of visits to local gunstores I've made, nobody has EVER dared to ask how much cash I have on me in that tone. That's something a mugger or tax collector asks. It's totally over the line for a gun store clerk. There is no excuse for it, and no need to tolerate it.
spacemanspiff
Senior Member
being asked how much you want to spend is insulting. as if i can not read a price tag. true i was home schooled, but i can still tell where the decimal point is at.
besides, i have seen plenty of customers who walk in, ask to see an inexpensive gun, and walk out with something a lot more expensive. they all intended to pay $xxx., but chose to spend $x,xxx.
Nathanael_Greene
Member
I was recently in a pawn shop I'd never visited before; as soon as I walked in, the employee told me the store was "already closed" (it was early in the afternoon)--yet after I left, other people entered and stayed.
I guess the store was only closed to me, or my "type", whatever that might be.
I guess the store was only closed to me, or my "type", whatever that might be.
biere
Member
I was not there so maybe the rest of this post is a waste.
But if I saw a gun at a good price I know I could have done better than ignore a question and most likely walked out with that gun.
I have dealt with a guy near cincy, ohio who is known for high prices and sells to his buddies for the most part. He has a pretty serious attitude but I won't compare since I have not met the guy the original poster met.
However, I went in and bought a gun off the guy near cincy since he had an advertisement. It was a high price on the gun and I went in and got it down to a reasonable price. He had attitude but I never ignored a question.
I have a couple gun shops where I go to hang out, the guys there are great and I buy stuff when I have money and they are easy to get along with.
They could not get this gun easily since it was a used gun.
I have been asked how much I have on me, I dress as a country boy so I don't look like I can just pay for some stuff right away. I have said the word "enough" and that was enough to get the gun out of the case and into my hands or out of the rifle rack and into my hands.
Maybe the guy the original poster dealt with was running customers off with a broom or something. I was not there.
I can say I know how to swallow my pride and pay a low price for a gun if I recognize a good price on one.
From the original post, some things could have been done to get that gun into the poster's hands and on home with him.
Overall that ignore word killed the deal. I have dealt with used car salesman and new car saleswomen and gun dealers and what not and overall if I can get it for the price I want I will let them think they beat me down to where I gave in.
If we were talking a new 686 that he could go down the street and find it would not be a big deal. But a used 686 with spiffy grips at a good price before any reduction seems like something he either wanted or he wanted to play power games about.
But this is just my opinion and since I am in ohio perhaps things are different.
But if I saw a gun at a good price I know I could have done better than ignore a question and most likely walked out with that gun.
I have dealt with a guy near cincy, ohio who is known for high prices and sells to his buddies for the most part. He has a pretty serious attitude but I won't compare since I have not met the guy the original poster met.
However, I went in and bought a gun off the guy near cincy since he had an advertisement. It was a high price on the gun and I went in and got it down to a reasonable price. He had attitude but I never ignored a question.
I have a couple gun shops where I go to hang out, the guys there are great and I buy stuff when I have money and they are easy to get along with.
They could not get this gun easily since it was a used gun.
I have been asked how much I have on me, I dress as a country boy so I don't look like I can just pay for some stuff right away. I have said the word "enough" and that was enough to get the gun out of the case and into my hands or out of the rifle rack and into my hands.
Maybe the guy the original poster dealt with was running customers off with a broom or something. I was not there.
I can say I know how to swallow my pride and pay a low price for a gun if I recognize a good price on one.
From the original post, some things could have been done to get that gun into the poster's hands and on home with him.
Overall that ignore word killed the deal. I have dealt with used car salesman and new car saleswomen and gun dealers and what not and overall if I can get it for the price I want I will let them think they beat me down to where I gave in.
If we were talking a new 686 that he could go down the street and find it would not be a big deal. But a used 686 with spiffy grips at a good price before any reduction seems like something he either wanted or he wanted to play power games about.
But this is just my opinion and since I am in ohio perhaps things are different.
Cosmoline
Member
$450 is no great bargain. I know one pawn shop owner on Spenard who won't even stock .357's anymore because they sell so poorly. Most folks here who shop for wheelguns want .44 Mag or better. THose looking for PD tend to go for semis. As a consequence I've gotten some fantastic deals on .357 wheelguns over the years. It's just as well you didn't get it. I have even seen very collectible pre-Python Colt .357's at pawn shops selling for $250. K-Frame .357's go for as low as $175.
ALASKACAJUN
Member
Was it the blue building across the street from Great Guns? If so was the guy wearing a leather shoulder holster with a 1911 in it... Fat gut? Goaty? Pony tail? If so I know who he is and why he's there... If it was the fella in the glasses, I've never seen him act like that.... The fat guy owns a pawn shop down the street by the Chevy dealership (log cabin) and is an ass to everyone, he pulls out that book on everything.... Or at the other shop he'll bring it up on E-Bay and tell you that it's worth more than what he's asking.... I'm sorry you met him!!
- Clint
- Clint
silversilvia
Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2005
- Messages
- 40
ALASKACAJUN said:Was it the blue building across the street from Great Guns? If so was the guy wearing a leather shoulder holster with a 1911 in it... Fat gut? Goaty? Pony tail? If so I know who he is and why he's there... If it was the fella in the glasses, I've never seen him act like that.... The fat guy owns a pawn shop down the street by the Chevy dealership (log cabin) and is an ass to everyone, he pulls out that book on everything.... Or at the other shop he'll bring it up on E-Bay and tell you that it's worth more than what he's asking.... I'm sorry you met him!!
- Clint
yes it is the fat guy. and i believe the place is called the trading post.
sorry i have not been reading this post for a couple of days. I am use to more friendly customer service. there are a bunch of stores i go to, ask to see things and never buy anything from them, yet they are always helpful.
i have bought a couple of guns from pawn shops and this is usually how it works for me. since guns there are always priced above what they should, in this case $450 i would not pay, however if he offered $400, i would really consider it. i usually ask "what kind of deal could you make for me?" they will go think about it and come back with "i can do you....." or "sorry man thats the best we can do" then i will consider it again. but this guy not insulted and made fun of me. pawn shops are made to be haggled.
and the guy asking me how much money i have was an insult, i have way more than that guns worth, but i didn't want to spend more than 400 on that particular gun. its like asking you how much you make at work, its my business.
yes i ignored him when he said how much money i had, i simply changed the subject and told him to show me the gun instead. i was gonna say "enough" but when u haggle you give them the impression that you have slightly under their asking price so they will come down to seal the deal. actually i never had anyone asked me how much i have, they ask "how much are u thinking to spend?" or "whats your budget?" i really didn't know what to say.
anyways that was a couple of days ago and i am not pissed anymore. i went to gunrunners and the guy was very nice, he is busy as hell so i know people are visiting him because of it. he might get my business with the Su-16C he had in stock!!!
i just spotted wild west guns, tomorrow i will go check it out.
ALASKACAJUN
Member
His name is Dan and he owns Southside Pawn, down the street, he used to own the Trading Post but sold it a long time ago. The owner's lost the place and Dan is helping the current owner get started, I go to the pawn shops everyday on my lunch break, I usually turn around and walk out when I see him.
I was in his pawn shop about a year ago, there was a young "tree hugger" couple in there looking at a backpack or something.... She asked if he was willing to take a lesser price. He told her to reach into a large bowl on top of a display and pull out this little folder he had... He tells her to turn to page whatever and proceeds to explain that he writes poetry.... she says that she too writes and reads poetry, so he comments that she'll appreciate this poem! He recites the whole poem while she follows along in the folder..... The poem was basically about "screw you I ain't sellin' this thing for any less than what I have it marked for and if you don't buy it someone else will!" I figured she would turn around and leave but amazingly enough she complemented his poem and bought the dang backpack.....
He doesn't get my business anymore.... And I hope he sees this thread...
- Clint
I was in his pawn shop about a year ago, there was a young "tree hugger" couple in there looking at a backpack or something.... She asked if he was willing to take a lesser price. He told her to reach into a large bowl on top of a display and pull out this little folder he had... He tells her to turn to page whatever and proceeds to explain that he writes poetry.... she says that she too writes and reads poetry, so he comments that she'll appreciate this poem! He recites the whole poem while she follows along in the folder..... The poem was basically about "screw you I ain't sellin' this thing for any less than what I have it marked for and if you don't buy it someone else will!" I figured she would turn around and leave but amazingly enough she complemented his poem and bought the dang backpack.....
He doesn't get my business anymore.... And I hope he sees this thread...
- Clint
Beren
Moderator Emeritus
Spiff, if you keep rubbing in the employee discounts, I'll have to talk to Ken about having it revoked.
Akusp
Member
Just visiting.
Silver... just curious. Are you an Alaska Resident? You mentioned that you were just visiting. I'm just curious about how much it would have cost you to have the 686 transferred to a dealer near you. Randy
Silver... just curious. Are you an Alaska Resident? You mentioned that you were just visiting. I'm just curious about how much it would have cost you to have the 686 transferred to a dealer near you. Randy
Double Maduro
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2002
- Messages
- 1,125
Never mind
silversilvia
Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2005
- Messages
- 40
edited!
Last edited:
Akusp
Member
a gift of course.
Yeah, find a local FFL and buy from that person, that way you won't have to deal w/ the jerks behind the counter. Ask around you may get lucky, I found one surprisingly here in southern CA of all places, I like to keep my money local, rather than buying from a chain store in another town over. Even if I am getting something sent to me through my FFL, he is still getting his fee, which is still better than paying the local chain store. I used to live in Palmer, AK and it was 50/50 chance of finding decent people to deal w/ at the pawn shops in Palmer, Wasilla, or Anchorage. Christmas in Spenard, buy me some SPAM okay? Happy Holidaze to all
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