Pranks at your LGS?

[Ryanxia]

Another thread got me thinking about this, anyone else play any "pranks" on the other regulars at your local gun shop? (Assuming you're also a regular). Our local shop is kind of a hangout / hub where regulars are always exchanging ideas and knowledge. It was bound to happen that we would start messing with each other. Couple of examples;

I had a Browning BPS pump 10 gauge shipped to my LGS, it was still in the box with a bunch of packing tape on it. When I cut it open, I discovered not a Browning but a beat up Norinco Hawk 12 gauge! I didn't know if it was a mistake or the GB seller was trying to pull something but eventually everyone started laughing and they pulled out my Browning from behind the counter.

Another time we had a nice .308 rifle come in on consignment, the owner didn't have an exact price on it yet and my buddy really wanted it. It was a $1,200 rifle but we staged it so I had an open 4473 form and my license on top when he walked in the next day, and told him the seller only wanted $400 for the rifle so I was scooping it up (after he had said how much he wanted it the day before). The look on his face was well worth it.

So how about it, any prank stories? Kind of juvenile I know but if you can't laugh in life you might as well call it quits now.

 

[Jim Watson]

I do not do "pranks." Any store that supported such nonsense would lose my business.
Lazarus Long said it well:
"A "practical joker" deserves applause for his wit according
to its quality. Bastinado is about right. For exceptional wit one
might grant keelhauling. But staking him out on an anthill
should be reserved for the very wittiest."

 

[Ryanxia]

I bet your a blast at parties...

 

[cslinger]

I knew the owner of a shop/range many years ago. It was a pistol caliber range only and they really didn't even like Magnum calibers out of a rifle.

Anyway one day I sprinkled a bunch of .308 brass on the floor/bench at one of the shooting positions and waited. So on one of his walk throughs I heard "HOLY SH$&2!!!" He came running out yelling. I was in tears.......it only took him a minute to figure out the game. I believe there was much colorful language.

 

[hdwhit]

Ryanxia wrote:
Kind of juvenile...

Yep.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I had a child's understanding, my thinking was child-like, but when I became an adult, I stopped behaving as a child.

And, yes, to save you having to say it, I can be a major buzzkill at parties.

 

[13Bravo]

Keelhauling and ant hills? Biblical quotes? I like the idea of a thread about pranks you've pulled on your buddies or vice versa.

 

[Ryanxia]

Keelhauling and ant hills? Biblical quotes? I like the idea of a thread about pranks you've pulled on your buddies or vice versa.

I remember for April Fools Day, one company announced the ATF ruled full autos were legal and to place your orders now. They then published some of the questions they got, it was pretty funny.

 

[dogtown tom]

Yep.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I had a child's understanding, my thinking was child-like, but when I became an adult, I stopped behaving as a child.

Nice try, but that is using Paul's words completely and wholly out of context. 1 Corinthians 13:11 isn't an admonishment against jokes or pranks.......it's about maturation and development of a spiritual life.

A persons sense and appreciation of humor develops as one gets OLDER. As does the type and complexity of puns, jokes and pranks.
Sarcasm and satire can be damned funny to an adult, but children just don't get it. Children prefer physical comedy......as in cartoons or the Three Stooges. Adults tend to outgrow that.

And, yes, to save you having to say it, I can be a major buzzkill at parties.

I got a feeling it isn't just parties.




That said...............a BUSINESS has to be careful about jokes, pranks and practical jokes. If your customers do not have the same appreciation or sense of humor as you, you could be driving off business.

There is a difference between hanging out at Starbucks and socializing and hanging out at your local gun store socializing. Starbucks encourages this because it increase their income. Gun stores that allow this rarely increase their income and it may actually intimidate some buyers.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I do not do "pranks." Any store that supported such nonsense would lose my business.
Lazarus Long said it well:
"A "practical joker" deserves applause for his wit according
to its quality. Bastinado is about right. For exceptional wit one
might grant keelhauling. But staking him out on an anthill
should be reserved for the very wittiest."

I agree. The gun store is NOT A place to play games and do pranks.

 

[Axis II]

Nice try, but that is using Paul's words completely and wholly out of context. 1 Corinthians 13:11 isn't an admonishment against jokes or pranks.......it's about maturation and development of a spiritual life.

A persons sense and appreciation of humor develops as one gets OLDER. As does the type and complexity of puns, jokes and pranks.
Sarcasm and satire can be damned funny to an adult, but children just don't get it. Children prefer physical comedy......as in cartoons or the Three Stooges. Adults tend to outgrow that.


I got a feeling it isn't just parties.




That said...............a BUSINESS has to be careful about jokes, pranks and practical jokes. If your customers do not have the same appreciation or sense of humor as you, you could be driving off business.

There is a difference between hanging out at Starbucks and socializing and hanging out at your local gun store socializing. Starbucks encourages this because it increase their income. Gun stores that allow this rarely increase their income and it may actually intimidate some buyers.

I went into a place maybe 8yrs or so ago that just opened and was supposed to be really nice and really cheap. I walked in and there was a counter and then in the middle was a bunch of people on couches and chairs hanging out. Im of the younger crowd and it kind of turned me off that there was a bunch of people sitting around and not one person was at the counter cause he was sitting in the lounge chairs b.s too.

Now i despise the LGS when you hit the door and they look at you all smug like who the hell is this or some crap. I quit going to one because the guy worked for a metro housing P.D. and claimed to be retired but was only about 40yo and was just the most loud mouth, rude, know it all ***** id ever met. The other stores that are affiliated with it are somewhat the same. I stood in one for about 10min because the counter guys were yucking it up with their friends and came a hair of leaving but i needed a revolver grip and they had it so i stuck around. after awhile they opened up but i do agree a gun store, nore any business is not a place that you should be screwing around. I have been around guns all my life since i was in diapers and anytime someone is acting like a fool in a gun store it puts me on edge big time. Guns are not toys to be joke, played with, etc unloaded or not.

I will admit the one with switching them in the box was a little funny but anything else could get someone hurt, turn away business, etc. One local range/shop by us someone slipped in with a HP rifle and ended up sending the round through the backstop from what i was told because no one checked him. I have had my guns and ammo checked each and every time I've set foot in there so IMO it was someones buddy they let slide and he could have hurt someone.

 

[Sam1911]

I once walked into a Class 3 dealer's shop full of VERY expensive machine guns -- entering directly into the midst of a heated AirSoft battle between the owner and his brother which had 6mm plastic bbs littering the whole showroom.

On the one hand it was really funny and good-natured. On the other hand... it was a little off-putting.

Not a practical joke, so much as illustrating youthful immaturity, a sense of fun and enjoyment, irresponsibility, joy, derpitude, elan, etc.

 

[GRIZ22]

I can't support "pranks" when it comes firearms. There are too many safety and legal ramifications with them to be "prankable".

 

[Robert]

Eh, no. I'm all for fun and games, but not with or around firearms.