Poll - What is most important to you in a Gun Store

[B_Scott]

Here's my take:
ALL retail stores should be clean and usually even the ones with inept people running them are.
So, after that given here is the list -
1. Customer Service / Friendliness. If you can't give good customer service because of the customers atitude at least be friendly.
2. Knowledgeable staff - I know that we get all our information off the internet and read books and periodicals, but most who buy one or two guns for protection and/or hunting don't do there research and are looking for guidance.
3. On-site smith. What GrayBear said above.
4. Price. The whole point of business is to make a profit. Be able to come down to your rock bottom price if you need to, but I feel it is better to let people pay sticker and throw in some free ammo or bags or eye/ear protection. Most people don't know you can haggle over a gun price, so when they get stuff for free they love you.
5. Gun inventory. PBIR has it right and that has to do with #1. Besides a large inventory is not good busisiness.
6. Accessory inventory. Even less important than #5. I go to my gunshop and ask them to order it for me. Same price as Brownells less the shipping.
7. Lounge area. I guess I am just too busy to understand this, however it would be relatively inexpensive to setup and from a business standpoint should help out.
Finally I would like to add one thing. I like to buy used guns (same with cars) so I would like to see a good size used gun inventory (consignment works well)

 

[nhhillbilly]

Large Inventory is very important. That is what keeps me going back. Looking for somthing different.

Good staff is also important. Price some what important.

 

[entropy]

Having been on both sides of the counter, and currently in the smithys shop, I voted Great Customer Service, and this extends to the gunsmith too. Without great service, it's a one-stop only. Knowledgeable staff and friendliness are tied in with great service, and while I know a bit about guns, not everybody that walks into a gunshop does. I have seen gun counter guys sell new shooters whatever has been sitting around a while. Inventory should offer enough choices, but I don't need to see every version of the Glock in the case. (Especially the ....oh, never mind.... ) Cleanliness should be a given, and prices will be competitive, or you won't be in business long....Lounge?

 

[Kharn]

I couldnt find "Not a a** to his/her customers", so I had to go with friendliness.

Kharn

 

[Majic]

Large inventory, but specifically large USED inventory. I don't care for most of the models coming out of the factory today. If you keep a large inventory of used handguns, rifles and shotguns I will keep coming back.

 

[bfoster]

I'll second what Majic said, and I'll add that I want a focus on top quality used arms. There were plenty of second tier guns made in the past: thanks, I'm not interested in those.

Bob

 

[Zeke Menuar]

Good Customer Service
Price
Willingness to deal and dicker. All of the shops here in Moonsoon Central are very inventory heavy. They wouldn't even look and a trade or partial trade when I was trying to sell/trade my old 357. Not their fault but I was forced to deal elsewhere.

I like to see inventory other than the usual brands. If I walk into a shop and see Kimber, S&W, Ruger, and Taurus and not much else, I am usually out the door. I like it when there is strange, different, unusual guns in the used rack. Particulary milsurps and old-timey guns.

Since I got my 03 license, I have barely set foot in any gunstore. I have been doing almost all of my gun business online.

ZM

 

[shep854]

Off-topic; New Member Greeting

Old Dog, welcome to The High Road! This is a fairly laid-back place, where you can catch your breath and unwind (not to mention have some fun).

Are you the same "Old Dog" who is on Military.com? Double welcome!

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

Great Customer Service/Friendliness can easily make up for a slightly higher price. Lucky enough, the places I frequent tend to have all of the above.

 

[GunGoBoom]

1. Large Firearm Selection
2. Great Customer Service
3. Large Accessory Selection
4. Price

 

[Savage99]

I voted friendiness first but everything counts.

There was a gunshop in CT run by Charlie Benton. The orginal shop was built in an old chicken coop. There was no heat, ventilation or even a lot of headroom. Old Charlie would buy any gun from you on the spot that worked. He would not pay a lot but the main point of this story was that his mark up was very low.

This shop was so crowded on Friday nights that one could not move. He had just bought a mint Trap Door Springfield with the rod bayonet and had put a tag on it. There was no room for Charlie to step out and put it in a rack so he handed it to me to do that. The price was $25. I handed it back to him and paid for it. The bore was as new.

He had a Parker there with gold inlays for $220 that I passed on and best of all he had a case full of pre64 M70's. Super Grades went for $150 and regular ones for $75.

His son wanted to upgrade it so they built a big store in the next town and now the Bentons are gone and they sell trailers there.

Charlie was quite grumpy. I put up with it. On Thursday's another guy ran it for him. That as a better night to be there.

 

[Edward429451]

Knowledgeable staff
friendliness
customer service
gunsmith
price

In that order.

The price is the price until it gets to gouge, then I leave without an attitude. Can't blame them for trying and gotta respect capitalism!

 

[SapperLeader]

Friendliness and customer service is the most important thing for any business. Gun smithing and knowledge are nice too, but Im flexible on that. I went to a local shop a few months back, stood in front of case for 10 minutes, counting the money in my wallet, and was never helped. The 5 gunshop workers ignored me and kept bsing behing the counter. I asked once for help, and then left. I promptly went across the street and purchased from them. Im willing to pay a little more for a gun if I like the shop, and cheap transfer fees is my favorite thing. I actually did find my perfect gun shop with Virginia Arms in manassas, as they only thing they are truly missing is a gunsmith. They do minor stuff but no major work. On the other hand, thier friendly, courteous, bend over backwards with customer service, have a great selection, good prices, and 20$ transfer fees. They have gotten all my transfer business, most of my purchase business and a lot of word of mouth business from me. That is the perfect gunshop in my world.

 

[Old Dog]

forgot to add ...

that cheap transfer fees are another good thing ... and agree w/Majic: large used inventory is very, very important -- you don't see that at the chain stores.

Shep854 -- nope not me on Military.com, sorry (just an old call sign earned for hanging around longer than anyone else), but thanks for the welcome!

 

[countertop]

Customer service is right up there with Price. I wish I could afford to walk out on a good price if there is crappy customer service, but sadly, I can't. However, I am much less likely to learn about a good price if I don't even show up to the store because of customer service issues.

After that, I would say a good selection of ammo at reasonable prices. This might even be more important than a good selection of guns for me as I am far more likely to be looking at $100 ammo purchases every few weeks - while I purchase guns much more rarely.

Still, a nice organized selection of pretty guns is always great. Have a variety - surplus and new ones - bolts and assault ones. Display them in a museum like fashion so the customer WANTS to come by and just drooooool


If you can, put in a range thats operated as its own profit center - not one to spur sales of store ammo (though it certainly will if the selection is good). But its important to allow people to bring their own ammo in.

If people enjoy the experience, they will invariably start purchasing range ammo there - gun rentals are also a good profit point.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Customer Service is #1 because with great customer service, the rest usually follow.

If the service is great then I don't need a lounge because I won't mind standing and talking/learning with the sales staff/owner

If they have great service, they the salesmen then they have most likely learned their product line well and can help you find what firearm is right for you.

They probably have competative prices, not the cheapest but certainly competative when you figure in quite a bit of the salesman's time to show you a variety of firearms or accessories for you to decide what is best for you.

If they don't have what I want, then with their great service, they will probably order what I want.

That's my dime's worth of an opinion (inflation + quality )

-Jim

 

[Quad Fifty]

Friendliness

Friendliness and/or good Customer Service. Before I started reading this thread I always thought it was just me, but I see others have had some pretty unfriendly experiences in gun stores. The worst customer service experince I ever had was in a gun store: went to the case, no other customers around, three employees standing around chatting, acted like they didn't see me. Finally just asked them if anyone was available to help, one of them sighed, rolled his eyes, skulked over and asked me what I wanted while the other two stood and glared because I'd dared to interupt their conversation (a fishing tall tale, as I recall). I asked to look at two of the firearms in the case, the employee who'd skulked over asked me if I intended to buy either of them that day. I said I was thinking about one or the other in a few weeks, but probably not today, just wanted to look at both of them for now. He told me that that was why the case was glass, so I could "look," and to come back when I was ready to buy, turned on his heel, and went right back to his buddies and their fishing stories.
Okay, rant over; just wanted to get that one off my chest.

 

[ducktapehero]

Friendliness, customer service and being willing to stand behind what they sell. I will pay extra money for that.

 

[joe sixpack]

Friendliness and great customer service tied
Good prices
Large firearm inventory
Knowledgeable staff
Large accessory inventory
Cleanliness
A good on-site 'smith
Lounge area

That's the way I rate 'em.

cheers, ab

 

[JohnBT]

1. Guns.
2. Guns.
3. Guns.

Good lighting is nice.
Friendly, intelligent service is nice.
Low prices are nice.

But if they don't have a bunch of guns...

John

 

[Spieler]

Price is the determinant for me.

Accessories, 'smithing, and selection I get by shopping around and when it comes to firearms knowldege I have learned not to rely on any one persons word. I'll do the research myself. And when it comes to customer service, well, that's a joke in this country anymore in the last few years so I don't expect it anymore no matter where I shop.

 

[Skirmisher]

Price was my top pick. Good prices usually goes along with a large inventory and lots of sales. Friendly is a must. If any sales clerk doesn't want my business, he won't get it. If they don't think I know what I want just because I'm a woman, I am out of there. So far only two shops are my s*** list.

We have a couple of favorite shops where we buy most of our guns. They have all of the qualities I've mentioned plus a knowledgeable staff and plenty of accessories and ammo in stock. When I walk in their eyes light up because they know I won't walk out empty handed.

 

[Heraclitus]

Large firearm inventory. I like to see and touch right now, BEFORE I buy.

Price, knowledgeable staff and friendliness are all issues the negative sides of which one will inevitably have to contend with at some point. Under normal circumstances, they have little or no effect on my purchase.