I just want to complain about Gun Stores, maybe I'll feel better

[TexasRifleman]

Do they just think we are all stupid and uneducated? Or are most of their customers REALLY that stupid?

Do they really expect to sell S&W revolvers priced $150 or more ABOVE the MSRP on Smiths' web site?

Do they really expect to sell used shotguns for MORE than new ones by telling me "They dont make them as good anymore" even though its exactly the same thing?

Do they really think they will stay in business against the online guys by behaving this way?

I came into a small amount of totally disposable cash last week and I swear I couldn't GIVE it to the dealers around me. I just don't get it. I posted in the handgun forums about a couple of pocket pistols and I though, what the heck, I'll buy a couple and test drive them myself. Couldn't make a deal to save my life.

Now I'm not a big fan of the kitchen table, online FFLs. I do every thing I possibly can to patronize my local retail gun stores, I don't want them to go away. But, I had to do business with one of these $15 transfer FFLs and buy a gun online.

I even went to Cabelas and at least they have the decency to not price things above MSRP. I almost felt like I'd get a bargain if I paid sticker price until I came home and looked online.

I understand they have higher costs, and I'd be willing to contribute to that a small amount but I flatly refuse to be raped unless it's by a couple of Cowboys' Cheerleaders.

Well I was trying to do a poll but I am doing something wrong so here's the question:

Is it just me or is the price gap between online and retail stores getting wider?

 

[rbernie]

Must be livin' on the wrong side of town.

Truth be told, on this side of town we're spoiled by a couple of decent shops that charge less than list and generally price used firearms quite appropriately. But I feel your pain - I always felt that way whenever I walked into a few gun shops in northern Virginia.

Now I'm not a big fan of the kitchen table, online FFLs.

Of the last half-dozen firearms I've acquired, four have been via trades/purchases made from THR members. That seems to be working well for me. It doesn't help keep the local brick-n-mortar guys in business, but it does reward good clean livin' and that's not A Bad Thing. In all fairness, I will always look locally first and turn to the online market when the local market simply can't give me what I want. That's the best I can do, and all I feel morally obligated to do. The rest is plain ol' market dynamics.

Is it just me or is the price gap between online and retail stores getting wider?

I suspect that, with the demise of the sportings goods chains' gun sections and the loss of WalMart as a retailer, there will always be those that figure that they can raise prices with impunity.

But for every arse in a retail store trying to treat me like a weenie, I can point to a dozen or better in the online world who really believe that a clapped-out no-finish-no-bore-chipped-wood Savage 99E in 300 Savage is worth $650. It's just easier to ignore when all I have to do is redirect my web browser elsewhere.

 

[bender]

There aren't very many gun stores left in my city (san antonio TX), at least compared to the 1980s. Many have disappeared since then, and its mostly the ones that had extremely high prices.

 

[trickyasafox]

i had that experience by me, so i just kept searching and found a very small shop run out of a local guys basement. his prices are pretty good for me locally, definatly fair market value, but he's an outstanding guy and he has great ammo prices. i try to do all my business through him now.

 

[dlcrouch]

Big Gun Stores are like Starbuck$

overpriced and you have to wait in line for service - the Houston Gander Mountain is a perfect example.

 

[rbernie]

Did it work?

So, TexasSIGman, you never did tell us - did it help? Do you feel better now?

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I have had numerous experiences in gun stores, ranging from Awesome to "Sir please leave, and don't come back!". I have to say, for those of you living in central NC, Shooters Express in Belmont if one of the finest stores I've ever been in. I have frequented this place for about 5 years now, the same guys (and 2 women) still work there, range is great, overall a very pleasant experience. On the flip side, a certain store on 74 in W. Charlotte, prices firearms well above MSRP. Larry: "Sir, that's the best we can do, I'm already loosin money on this deal." Dave: "Your dealer cost on these is $550-$575, where are you losing money?" Larry: "Sir please leave, and don't come back!". As I commented on a $900 Sig P220 American, I thought I was being nice by offering $675.

 

[mosttoyswins]

There aren't very many gun stores left in my city (san antonio TX), at least compared to the 1980s. Many have disappeared since then, and its mostly the ones that had extremely high prices.

I agree completely. I am here in San Antonio as well.

Dury's on Hot Wells is the ONLY gun shop I will deal with. You can work deals on their extensive pre-owned collection and EVERY gun comes with a lifetime warranty, new or used (gunsmith on site).

Ever go to Nagels on San Pedro? I feel like I need some anal ease every time I go in their to look at guns...WAY overpriced...but somehow they stay in business.

WalMart and Sportsmans Warehouse typically price right at or just a little below suggested retail.

 

[t49si83]

It's not going to get better until we reverse the damage that klinton did by driving 2/3rds of the gun dealers out of business. Bush SHOULD be helping with this by lowering FFL fees, but he's too busy being president of the world just like his daddy. We americans and our g** damned piece of paper (a.k.a. the constitution) just don't matter to him.

We need more guys to get together and get FFLs, and instead of trying to be "all guns to all people," concentrating on just a few and offering low cost transfers ($10).

As another prong of the attack, we need to ride Kmart/Wal Mart/Sears RELENTLESSLY until they start selling handgun ammo again (as in Kfart's case), begin selling handguns somewhere OTHER than Alaska (as in the case of Kmart/Wal Mart), and start selling ANY of the above AGAIN (as in the case of cowardly Sears).

 

[bender]

Ever go to Nagels on San Pedro? I feel like I need some anal ease every time I go in their to look at guns...WAY overpriced...but somehow they stay in business.

LOL !! Yeah, I almost said something about Nagels in my original post up above. They are one of the few high-priced stores still around, and on top of that, they're pretty much jerks. Haven't been there in probably 15 years.

As another prong of the attack, we need to ride Kmart/Wal Mart/Sears RELENTLESSLY until they start selling handgun ammo again (as in Kfart's case), begin selling handguns somewhere OTHER than Alaska (as in the case of Kmart/Wal Mart), and start selling ANY of the above AGAIN (as in the case of cowardly Sears).

I'm not a K-fart shopper, I didn't know they don't sell ammo. I think wal-fart sells handgun ammo here (texas)... but I'm not really a shopper there either. Didn't know sears didn't sell ammo either.. If sears did sell ammo, it would most likely be the highest price in town.

 

[orangelo]

Carter's Country in Houston is not bad on certain prices. Some guns are comparably priced with what you'd find on Gun Broker. Even with TX state sales tax the total comes out very close to what you would end up paying if you went through the whole online ordering, paying for shipping/insurance and FFL transfer deal.

They had a Remington 870 Police Express for $287 and the nickel plated maritime version for $540 which is pretty close to what they go for online. I was tempted to pick it up, but I got a Springfield M1A instead. It was only a couple more bucks than some of the online offerings.

 

[t49si83]

"sportsmans"WHEREhouse is an interesting animal. I was a die hard fan of theirs all throught the 90s, but as they've gotten bigger, they've taken all power from the local people behind the gun counter (at least that's what all of their hourly gun counter people claim, the management denies it vehemently unless you ask specific questions about how they USED to do things). THIS was tolerable because their gun prices are hard to beat. A second problem has surfaced though which sent me straight back to my smaller gun dealer. Several of SW's counter people have been allowed to become arrogant beyond what sometimes appears in gun stores (you know, the people who bash the gun you want, or want to argue various things with YOU the customer, and talk down to you). I thought this was just an anomaly, but the MANAGEMENT in the hunting department was even WORSE. SW has developed a culture of "our employees are always right" and "we know what's best for you, and we're never wrong." One of their gun counter snobs got so argumentative one day that after him talking over me (intentionally) for several sentences, I just walked away. To my surprise, as I was down another aisle, THERE HE WAS AGAIN, amazingly wanting to force more of his point of view down my throat. I wasn't in the mood, so I told him to "get the F*** away from me." He immediately (with joy in his eyes) threw me out of "his" store. I had a talk with the district manager and was told this employee was WAAAY out of line, but a day later got a letter from that store manager telling me to "take my business elsewhere" and refunding the money I had put towards a layaway. Needless to say, I drove down to Cabelas and bought the same gun. I had to get Cabelas to match the price, but they did.

 

[bender]

san antonio just got 2 sportsmans warehouses this year. so I don't know how they used to be. Regardless, I've been in one of the stores many times, but have only once gotten to the gun counter... other times was very crowded.

I was pleased with my experience with Academy. they showed me an XD-45 and let me fondle it for a while. they let me do all the talking.... very nice about everything. Good price too ($496). Haven't bought one yet, but if I do, I may buy it there.

 

[deadin]

Do they just think we are all stupid and uneducated? Or are most of their customers REALLY that stupid?

Do they really expect to sell S&W revolvers priced $150 or more ABOVE the MSRP on Smiths' web site?

Do they really expect to sell used shotguns for MORE than new ones by telling me "They dont make them as good anymore" even though its exactly the same thing?

Do they really think they will stay in business against the online guys by behaving this way?

Apparently Yes.

Dean

 

[Low-Sci]

Yeah, actually I'm inclined to agree with deadin that the plain answer is "yes, they do think we're stupid."

They're not always wrong, a fair amount of us are. Hell, I know I'm stupid, thats why I research before I go looking in an actual store. If I don't someone will feed be BS and I may not catch it if I don't know what I'm looking at already.

That said, local shops around here are pretty much hopeless concerning handguns. Nothing good that isn't extensively used, and very little inside a reasonable price range.

If I could only find a CZ 40P locally for an internet price, I would be so happy my friends wouldn't recognize me.

 

[TexasRifleman]

So, TexasSIGman, you never did tell us - did it help? Do you feel better now?

Well, I DID get a new gun so that helped a lot.

 

[Byron Quick]

And then, you run through the working life of a good dealer and he up and retires on you.

I've been dealing with The Gun Cabinet in Augusta, Georgia for over twenty years. And Joe Sheehan's selling out. Another thirty days at most.

 

[rbernie]

<sidebar>

If I could only find a CZ 40P locally for an internet price, I would be so happy my friends wouldn't recognize me.

I can get a black polycoat CZ40P in the DFW area from local stock for the princely sum of $299. If you want, PM me and I'll hook you up with the dealer. Even with transfer fees to a local FFL, you'll be in well under $350.

</sidebar>

 

[Alex45ACP]

I have to say, for those of you living in central NC, Shooters Express in Belmont if one of the finest stores I've ever been in. I have frequented this place for about 5 years now, the same guys (and 2 women) still work there, range is great, overall a very pleasant experience.

Yeah, it's a nice shop, but they charge $65 to do a transfer

 

[dracphelan]

Do they really expect to sell S&W revolvers priced $150 or more ABOVE the MSRP on Smiths' web site?

It's not just on your side of DFW. There is a range/gunstore in Garland that is only a few blocks from my house. They wanted $450 for a RIA 1911, plus their staff was not friendly or helpful. I went to Gunmaster in Plano and paid over $100 less. I choose to frequent the stores that have employees that are friendly and helpful, even if I'm not buying that day. I've actually chosen to pay higher prices at times just to support stores with good employees.

 

[Falconeer]

I'm right there with you pal. I have four shops in the area:

a) Two are just overpriced and has that 'I know you're stupid but I'll be nice because I can get more money out of you' vibe
b) One is high, but they have some really bad return policies (aka no returns on most stuff)
c) One is somewhat high but has little or no wiggle room and doesn't generally stock the stuff I'm interestested in

I've bought at three of the four, but they had (close) to what I wanted in stock. Why should I order something sight unseen from a local dealer when I can get exactly what I want online for signifigantly cheaper?

Here's a business idea for some smart entrepreneur:
Open a gun store with an indoor range. Stock very little in the way of guns; instead spend the capital investing in a LARGE number of rentals. Come up with a decent flat pricing scheme; I HATE having to fight for a reasonable price (my definition of reasonable is both parties leave the transaction happy). When the customer decides which gun they want, you order it. Could also make a package deal: "Pay a flat rate to rent five guns with two mags worth of ammo each. If you end up ordering one of the guns you rented you get the rental fee back, or half back or something"

If someone uses it, credit me and we'll figure out some kind of compensation. I have a list of Sigs I still want.

 

[Molon Labe]

Whenever I hear someone complain about the "high price" of something, my stock reply is:

Compared to what?

 

[Deanimator]

All of the good gunstores in this part of Ohio are either in the Akron area or in Ashland. Dick's Gunroom and Pro Gun and Sport aren't the cheapest, but they always have an interesting selection and sales people who mostly know what they're talking about. Fin, Feather & Fur Outfitters in Ashland has decent prices.

The stores in the Cleveland area are generally overpriced, understocked, and haunted by obnoxious elderly men with no place else to go.

 

[Rem700SD]

I'd check out B&s guns or Bachman Pawn and Gun in Dallas. Their prices are pretty competative. I think Bachman still does the gun show ciruit, but B&S stopped a few years back.

Hope that helps.
Dan

 

[Rockrivr1]

Pricing also depends upon how much competition these gun stores have. Here in Mass, gun stores are few and far between. Some stores take the gouging customers approach, while other try to provide a good selection at a great price. Some of the higher priced places stay in business because they have no local competition and it would be a significant drive to get to another place. A prime example is a gun shop on Rt 9 in Shrewsbury. I cannot for the life of me figure out how that guy stays in business. Every handgun is easily $50 to $300 more then any place else I've been to. The last time I was there some guy bought a romanian drum mag for his AK at a dirt cheap price of $200. What a rip off.