The real question should be
How many good gunshops are within 30 minutes drive of your home. There are 8 gunshops within 30 minutes drive of my home. There are 3 that I do business with on a regular basis because they still know what customer service is and how to treat people with dignity and respect.
The other 5 shops I have been to a few times and they are always rude and condescending to the customers and they try to rob you blind on gun and ammo prices as well as gunsmithing services. I don't know how some of these people came by the thought that they are gunsmiths. I see 25 year old kids that took an 18 month mail order course on gunsmithing and think they are gunsmiths. Most of them want $100+ an hour and half the time all they do is box your gun up and send it to the manufacturer or a real gunsmith then add the $100 per hour to whatever they were charged by the person that fixed the gun.
Don't get me wrong, I don't expect people to kiss my behind and I don't mind paying a fair price for the gun, ammo and accessories I want. I also don't mind paying a decent wage to what I consider a real gunsmith.
What I can't stand is when I walk into a gun shop and the 3 or 4 people behind the counter completely ignore you while they all BS with one person about something that is not making the shop any money nor bringing in any new customers. They act like you're not there and then get all grumpy if you ask one of them to get off their fat ass and help you.
Good guns, good knowledge of guns (at least the ones your selling), and reasonable prices keep customers interested in a gunshop but what really brings the customer back everytime and what might make them willing to pay a little more even if the gun is $75 cheaper 20 miles down the road is good, polite customer service. You treat me nice and I'll pay the slightly inflated price you have on a gun I want and probably buy 500 rounds of ammo and a holster or sling to boot.
If your all uppitty and a smartass just because you want to show off to the other nitwits behind the counter with you, I'll walk out every time and I don't give a damn how much cheaper your guns are.
Molon Labe,
Joe