LEO discounts...Why??

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R

RH Factor

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OK...I might get flamed for this one, but here goes. I just this morning called a local gun store to give me a price on a PM9. There is a gun show going on here in town that they will be displaying at and I heard that there would be some great sale prices. I wanted to know if they would honor the same sale prices at the store since I couldn't get to the gun show.
The first words out of their mouths was if I was a LEO or not....I asked why...they told me that their store like many others, offered special discount prices for LEO's.
Now if I'm not mistaken, most departments require LEO's to carry a specific department approved weapon. And their holsters and uniform are also regulated.
I have a CCW from my state and own a business that almost requires me to carry daily....not to mention that I'll bet that most gun enthusists spend more money more often than most LEO's.
I own a business....I give the best price to the people that shop with me on a regular basis, not because of their "title".
Oh by the way two of my relatives are LEO's, and I'm not talking about whether they can get high cap. mags.....I'm talking about walking in and getting the same price and treatment.

OK...I'm done venting. I'll look for a new gun store. Thanks for listening.
 
I own a business....I give the best price to the people that shop with me on a regular basis, not because of their "title".
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this make sense. it's like you're a buying in bulk, you get discount as you buy en masse. maybe students should get discount as well :)
 
Lets see...you own a business selling widgets. There is a distinct subset of the population that ends up buying widgets as a part of the job. In order to help get a good chunk of the widget business of this subset, you offer them a discount. In return, they buy their widgets from you, talk to their friends and they, in turn, buy their widgets from you as well.

This sounds like good business to me.

Now, if the subset members start demanding a discount, and use their power influence to get said discount, that, my friend, is not kosher.

Mike
 
RH, think of it as a "loss leader" like grocery stores and produce. It gets people into the store and ensures that cops feel welcome. As well, same reason White Hens or VPs (Kwik-E-Marts, check local listings for Apu-marts in your area) give out free coffee to cops at night shift.
 
Many manufacturers offer better prices to dealers if the sale is an Leo sale.
They do this so they can sell to cops and advertise that they X number of cops carry their gun.
Glock is the King of this tactic.
Some shops show preference to cops, just like some diners give cops free coffee and discounted meals, or so I have heard. ;)

BTW, the Glock 32 I bought on thursday was a Le priced gun.
NIB it was $419 + tax of course. I tried to pay full price, but they wouldn't let me. :rolleyes:
 
Coronach......if I'm wrong just tell me....but I was under the impression that a LEO had to use the approved weapon for their department. So after that, they really aren't buying any more handguns or supplies, than any other enthusist<sp>. My problem is not with them not giving special consideration to just some person that walks in off the street, but to giving it to a LEO just because they have a badge. I've bought several guns and holsters over the past 3 years for this gun store...yet if I was a LEO i'd get better.
 
they are trying to take the ROB out of stop and rob ... I know the store I use they actually greet the new officers and give them a tour of the shop , give them a discount and they always come back .Just to see what just came in .. :rolleyes:
 
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I have no problem at all with law enforcement discounts. If you look back over the last 30 years or so, there have been times where one company (manufacturer, not local store) has offered LEO discounts while other have not thus sometimes giving a financial advantage to one company over another. To me, it just makes good business sense. Same with local stores.

At the same time, a good shop, that doesn't already sell for rock bottom prices, will give their good customers a passive discounts that they would be less likely to give a first time customer. I've probably bought 15 guns from my favorite local ship in the last two years who has very good pricing, probably the best in Indiana. I never 'ask' for a discount or for ammo to be thrown in etc... As a result, I never had to pay for transfers either coming or going. He knows what I'm looking for on the used market and he calls me all the time letting me know what's come in. If I'm in the store when he takes a trade or before he makes a tag for a trade earlier in the day, I get it for what he paid for it. This too makes good business sense. The word of mouth advertising I give him is incalculable.
 
This kind of ties into the other posts, but I always felt that discounts were offered because there are a lot of cops (or in my case firefighters). Someone at work asks where you bought such and such and you tell them that store X gave you the hook up because you were a cop or because you were a firefighter. And word gets around the department and they get a whole lot of business as a result. Cops are also out in the public all day and tend to know a lot of people. In general conversation they might tell people about your business.
I have found that sometimes this tactic is just window dressing. For example, a few months ago I was buying a new pickup. All the joes at work told me to go to dealer X and tell them that I was a firefighter; "they have a firefighter discount". I mean I was told that by 50 people. I went there, but I found that I could still do better at another dealer who just plain had better prices.
Another aspect of it is that many people in the community appreciate the job that is being done by the public servants. They feel that we have a tough, and demanding job that far too often results in injury or death, and they simply want to show their appreciation.
 
Local LEO discount.

The Distributor, from whom I buy all my primers and most of my reloading equipment , gives LEOs a discount because he used to be one and appreciates them and the job they are doing. He sells retail out of his business to support the locals and owns and operates a pistol and rifle range and a Clays/Skeet range. I am thankful for what he does, including my "LEO" discount.
 
I know that many stores like having LEO's come in, to help keep down the possibility of a robbery, and do appreciate the business. The local Stop&Rob's would give free coffee, and even refuse payment, after a chief had told the officers not to accecpt gratuities. The store managers said they would do what they wanted, and give free drinks.
As a LEO, I do not ask for discounts, but if given I am thankfull for it. Nice to know that some are gratefull, not that there aren't a lot who are. Can be a tough job at times. Plus, no matter what I have to carry, I'm always looking for other guns to add to the collection. Never have enough toys, and they keep making more gun safes.
 
Around here about the only thing that pays less than school teacher is LEO. First year Highway Patrol makes around $28k. Doesn't bother me a bit that they get a discount.
 
The Sheriff's Office I currently work for mandates that all patrol officers carry a Glock 22 while on duty.

And the officer has to buy it with his/her own funds.

The last one I worked for required that each commissioned officer carry a sidearm with which he/she could score a minimum of 80% on the twice-a-year range qualification.

And you had to buy the pistol with your own funds.

*shrug*

LawDog
 
RH Factor-- Coronach......if I'm wrong just tell me....but I was under the impression that a LEO had to use the approved weapon for their department. So after that, they really aren't buying any more handguns or supplies, than any other enthusist
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Many LEO's carry backup firearms too. Some buy a duplicate of the firearm issued to them (for pratice, as some LEO's have to leave their duty firearm at the station when offduty). Also, as previously stated many businesses like Cops to stop by (it's good for business, people feel safe), and many places recognize that Cops aren't paid very well and want to help insure they have the tools they need to do their job. This store also had a pretty good sized gunsmith dept and they get a lot of return business from the Cops. Also, I see the cops buying a lot of ammo there (qualifing, duty, and plinking). It seems to work out pretty good for all involved.
 
I've heard that LEO purchases of firearms are exempt from some sort of excise tax ... some shops may pass that savings along to the LEOs?

Hell, every job has its perks (mine is free office supplies and discounts on the products we sell).
 
Coronach......if I'm wrong just tell me....but I was under the impression that a LEO had to use the approved weapon for their department. So after that, they really aren't buying any more handguns or supplies, than any other enthusist<sp>. My problem is not with them not giving special consideration to just some person that walks in off the street, but to giving it to a LEO just because they have a badge. I've bought several guns and holsters over the past 3 years for this gun store...yet if I was a LEO i'd get better.
Click to expand...
TheeBadOne already addressed this, but...

Issue policy can and will vary by department. But even if you are issued your duty gun and duty ammo, you still have leather gear, back up guns, ammo, accessories, etc etc etc. Cops are sometimes not the best shoppers around, so once they're in the door, they'll often buy everything they need there. They also tend to hang out with other cops, so once you hook one, you hook a couple. Cha-ching!

I can certainly understand the feeling of not getting a discount when some other guy does, but believe me, they're doing it for business reasons (in this instance), not out of love of the badge.

Me? I don't get stuff from our local cop shop. Why? Well, remember the thing about most cops not being good shoppers? Well, I'm the exception. I priced out our local 'leo-friendly' places and discovered that they were somewhere between "highway robbery" and "prison rape" in the pricing department. WITH the discount.

The internet is a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Mike
 
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