Perverted responses to my private gun lessons advertisements

[losangeles]

OK, I've given up on advertising in the mass media for private gun lessons/firearms instruction.

First of all, I don't get many calls. Now, officially, I've gotten more perverted calls than not. You'd think I was running some kind of sex business or something, and that kind of business probably gets more respect.

Today, some old sounding lady (not trying to be pejorative here, as I treat all my callers with respect) was trying to chit-chat about guns and why my gun lessons are "private". She wanted to know if there's a little touchy-feely that would go on, too?

I respectfully responded that if she had needs like that to call somebody else. :banghead:

Yesterday, I got a call from some young guy who said he wanted to "shoot a rival". And I said, say what? Then, he jested that he meant a bird in his backyard. And then he went on about killings, AK47s and such. Apparently pulling my leg by the tone of his voice. I ended that call promptly.

Geez, people are not mature about gun ads. I guess that's why my ads are the only ads I see anywhere I advertise (Orange County Weekly, LA Weekly, LA Times, Daily Breeze newspaper, craigslist.org online, backpage.com online, etc.)

 

[Standing Wolf]

Geez, people are not mature about gun ads.

Sorry, but I'm afraid your location may have a lot to do with it. I doubt you'd get such a high proportion of nut case responders in Montana, say, or Indiana.

 

[stealthcarry]

I advertise my classes in places that i know are frequented by the 'usual suspects'. So, i'm not suprised when i get calls from some of the brady bunch. I just mention that their mother just signed up for my shotgun class...

 

[Henry Bowman]

I advertise my classes in places that i know are frequented by the 'usual suspects'. So, i'm not suprised when i get calls from some of the brady bunch. I just mention that their mother just signed up for my shotgun class...

 

[SIGarmed]

I would drop your LA Weekly ad in a heart beat. LA Weekly? That's liable to hurt your reputation. You might as well call it the LA Commie. This rag is so anti it's incredible. They make money selling sex related ads.

You couldn't get more left of center. The people that write in this publication are plain crazy.

 

[Eisande]

Born and raised in LA.

LA Weekly is the manifesto for the "proletariat." Yes, I have had my letters published by them, oh, about 10 years ago, back when they were at least edgy.

Now, if I wanted to get a "full body" massage in my hotel room, LA Weekly would be my first choice to find a provider!

 

[Warren]

I feel your pain.

My wife advertised a fur coat for sale once when we were residents of the L.A. area and you would not, or maybe you would, believe the types of calls she got.

 

[silicon wolverine]

I remeber once when PETA tried to have a rally in Spearfish SD. Two, count em TWO people from SD showed up.

SW

 

[gudel]

that's because you posted in CL

 

[hillbilly]

I advertised in the local papers here in Arkansas, but don't do it any more because it cost too much.

However, my "word of mouth" advertising coupled with business cards and a web site have produced enough customers to keep me going.

As for calls from weirdos, I've never had one in three years.

I'll bet it has a lot to do with your locality.

hillbilly

 

[merk]

And they call US gun nuts!

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

Weird people calling when you're offering something has gotten so much worse in the last few years, no doubt due to the internet.

I was selling a few pieces of high-end Recording equipment on Craigslist,
and someone asked if I would "just give it to them because it would help fulfill
their life's dream, and THAT should be good enough for me".

Another person offered to clean my house in exchange for the items.
Sorry coach, I know how to run a vacuum and a wet swiffer.

 

[AJ Dual]

Whenever I get a letter to the editor published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (about four times now…), a few days later, I invariably get a long rambling letter in the mail, comprised of photocopies of unrelated editorials, and photocopies of his handwritten notes. From the handwriting style and the envelope, I know it's the same guy each time. My last name isn't too common, save for my parents and grandparents, so he must be looking me up through public records.

The weird thing is they all have almost nothing to do with my particular (pro CCW/RKBA) letter, and cover a wide mishmash of editorial topics and letters from previous weeks. What's even wierder, I can't tell where the guy stands on any of these issues… At least it's never been threatening.

There's never a return address or any hint of who the guy is. Other people, some on this board, who've written letters that got published by the Journal Sentinel have received the same mail too.

I'm thinking it's some harmless (and probably lonely) old guy with a billion opionions on everything and nothing. I wish I could find him, so I could give him an old PC, find a free community based ISP, and set him up on the Internet so he can share his ideas, whatever they are, more easily.

 

[repsychler]

<Threadjack>I got a really weird rambling message on my answering machine after having a Pro-CCW letter printed in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. </Threadjack>

As far as losangeles' problem goes, I agree with others, find "friendlier" places to advertise. Also, I have to admit, saying "private lessons" does make me at least subconsciously think something is odd. Perhaps saying one on one lessons? (Though I guess that can be twisted too, but IMO is clearer in meaning than private)

 

[AJ Dual]

I would second the advice to advertise only in gun or sporting-related publications, or through flyers & cards at gun stores and ranges.

Also, a wording change to "individual instruction" would be a good move.

Semantics is everything.