Phone quote on gun?

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rhinoh

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Ok, I decided to pick up a High Point 9mm carbine to leave in my camp cabin. Specifically wanted something cheap in case it gets stolen. I already have a Marlin Camp 9 and a Kel-Tec Sub2000 in 9mm but consider them too valuable to leave at a remote cabin, and I for dang sure ain't leaving one of my ARs:eek:

Called around and got a quote for $219. Not great but at least he had some.
Drove an hour out of my way to find he wanted $259. The $219 quote was for a used one he had. Not only that he failed to mention they add on 4% for using a credit card.


Am I wrong to assume when asking for a quote it is understood it is for a new gun? And likewise any unusual extra charges should be mentioned?

Never before had anyone quote a used gun on the phone without telling me it was used.

Needless to say I walked.:fire:
 
Cheap gun

Even at $229.00 why would you leave it in a "remote cabin" for some kid to find. That $229.00 may end up costing you alot more in legal fees if some kid steals it and shoots somebody.. I would give your idea a little more thought. (IMHO)
BeeGee
 
The cabin is remote from ME not remote from other people.
As for why I leave a gun there- its because I sometimes visit it in a company vehicle I'm not allowed to have firearms in.

Are you always home where you presumably keep your guns?
If you ever leave your home I hope some kid doesn't steal your guns and you get sued;)


Now back to the topic.......:cool:
 
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Gun store crap

Sounds like typical Gun store crap, I honestly love guns but I absolutely hate shopping for them too many stupid kids my age behind the counter. (23 BTW)
Find a mom and pop kinda place that KNOWS guns, and make friends with the owner, over the next few years of fine tuning the relationship it will develop like a fine wine. If this was a place that you frequent often, and its there first mistake give them another chance, and explain that you had to drive an HOUR OUT OF YOUR WAY!
Also you might try shopping online @ www.gunbroker.com
 
Am I wrong to assume when asking for a quote it is understood it is for a new gun? And likewise any unusual extra charges should be mentioned?
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I might be disappointed if I had made strong assumptions. I don't get hung up on whether a gun is new or used, and many people don't. He could have stated which it was, and you could have asked. It cuts both ways.

As to cc fees, it would be less common if a gun store DID NOT upcharge to cover the added CC fees. That is normal in the gun business and in some other really low-margin industries (I'm frankly surprised grocery stores don't do it). I would not be surprised by that at all. It's normal. The margin in guns is thin, and credit card fees are high.
 
It looks like a lack of communication on both parts concerning the price. Did you ask if it was new?

As far as the surcharge, that's (probably) a violation of their terms of service with their processor. You could report them if it bothers you that much.

Not to mention that 4% has some profit in it for the store. There's processors out there that charge as little as 1.5% for Visa/MC.
 
Naah I'll never visit the place again, it is a combo pawn shop/gun store out of town in a place I'm rarely near.
Reminds me of the time I phoned a computer parts store and asked if they had a particular item in stock, they said they did. Drove over there and they didn't have it. When I told them I called the guy said- "Oh yeah we have them in stock we just don't have them here, we have to order it" :banghead: True story- Still haven't figured out what planet he was from:what:
 
Oro said:
As to cc fees, it would be less common if a gun store DID NOT upcharge to cover the added CC fees. That is normal in the gun business
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Really? I own probably 35 guns all bought new and I've never had anyone upcharge for a credit card. In fact I've heard the credit card companies prohibit it. Maybe it is a regional thing.
 
They only do it where they can get away with it. If he wanted your business bad enough he would eat the 4%.
 
Well actually I would have just run down the street to an ATM and withdrawn cash if he wouldn't have removed the fee.
As for me not asking if it was new or not...well he said he had 3 of them. He didn't say he had 2 new ones and 1 used one, which is what he should have said IMO.
It was probably a good thing it soured me, I was really on the fence anyway, so he made my decision today, now I'll keep looking;)
 
The margin in guns is thin, and credit card fees are high.
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Depends on how much volume you do. I used to think that very same thing until recently. I work at a locally owned retail establishment and I always assumed that our fee was 3-4%. The owner recently told me that our fee was only .5%. The gun shop I deal with for the most part does a lot more volume than where I work, so, I assume their fees are similar. And, I have never been charged an extra fee for using a credit card at any of the shops where I've made purchases.
 
Hate to say it, but it's standard practice to upcharge for the use of a credit card on gun purchases in my area, at least. I just paid an extra $1.65 to my local FFL dealer for a transaction that was mostly cash and a little card. It goes with the territory, IMO.

As to your pawn shop call, I'd agree that it was dirty pool and also would have walked out, with a clear word that it would be the last time I made the drive in his direction. That's low, by any standard.
 
Sadly...some salesman are [junk] merchants.
My first Range had a credit card charge.
Buy from someone else. Nobody is the only show in town. Also price is not always a bargain. Buy from a reputable dealer.
 
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Some gunshop guys are scoundrals, truly. If you have someone who will do a transfer at a nominal price, I'd suggest looking around the Forums for a better deal, or even Auction arms. Saw a used Ruger P90 go for $250. + $15 shipping the other day. Almost bet on it.
 
Upcharge

Couple things.

1) Quoting price on phone, saying "we have three" but giving price of the only used one there = bait-and-switch. This also happens by accident when the guy strolls over to the nearest rifle on the rack, flips the tag over, reads the price, notes in passing there are two others, and heads back to his stool. Buyer shows up, and it's only then he notices his mistake. Naturally, if you run a gun shop, you never apologize for mistakes.

2) The general model for differences in pricing on cash vs card is that you quote the card price and discount for cash. The way he's doing it makes him look bad and is probably out-of-bounds with his credit service contract.

3) Leaving rifle in a cabin. When I was a kid, that used to be a fairly common practice, leaving a rifle of some kind (usually not a premium piece, though) hanging on the wall in a seldom-used cabin. There was always the possibility of vandalism but, fifty years ago, not so much. If you're going to leave it there, it goes without saying (as I say it anyway) that it should not be visible. At all. Nothing should hint that it's there. Even someone ransacking the place shouldn't find it.

 
While upcharging for a CC isn't kosher, offering a discount for cash is - just seems most guns stores would rather do it the other way. As to the comment about 1.5% - I haven't seen charges that low in 20 years. Most are 3-4%, some like AE even higher.

OP, now you know what to ask the next gun store you call so you don't waste your time on a fruitless journey
 
Called around and got a quote for $219. Not great but at least he had some. Drove an hour out of my way to find he wanted $259. The $219 quote was for a used one he had. Not only that he failed to mention they add on 4% for using a credit card.
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Bait and switch. Very standard at most "mom and pop" gun shops. Most of these guys are struggling to keep the electric bills paid. :barf:
 
Kel-Tec Sub 2000 9MM everyday price in my area is about $250-$300 depending on the grip and cal. Leaving the weapon in a remote cabin is asking for trouble. I would not do it.
 
As to the comment about 1.5% - I haven't seen charges that low in 20 years.
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I guess you haven't looked. We closed our family business 2 years ago and that's what we were paying for (as I stated) Visa/MC. AMEX, of course, is different - their 3% is non-negotiable.

Remember, your CC processor doesn't have to be your bank.
 
Credit Card Processor doesn't have to be your bank, but it does have to be one that will give an account to GUN DEALER, which changes the game. A lot of gun shops are on Brownell's membership program which for several things, but CCs are 1.8% through them, there is a small yearly fee.

I see both sides, also if I buy on a wholesale account and use a CC they charge me 3% also. In some ways a CC is good for business, less risk than bounced checks. In other ways very bad, possiblity of chargebacks down the road. There is always the option to pay with cash to get the best price. A retailer has to put to a sign that says "prices reflect cash discount" to get around the CC upcharge policy.
 
There's a shop around here that will not give quotes over the phone. They have been known to have outrageous prices and they probably got tired of being called out on that fact.
 
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