Service with an attitude Vs. Service with a smile
- Thread starter DustyVermonter
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speaksoftly
Member
The local gun stores that I support know that I can, will, and have found better deals online than what they can provide. They, however, are friendly and courteous and I have a respect for a locally owned business that gives the lowest prices they can. If I have to pay and extra $50 to order from them I don't have a problem as I like supporting them. They, however, know that if they start treating people like dirt (par for our local Gander) then the clientele will have no problem dealing with budsgunshop, cheaperthandirt, gunbroker, and the forums. I've never bought anything at a gun store that I couldn't have found a bit cheaper online but some local stores earn their customer loyalty.
This also seems to be the attitude at nearly every Harley Davidson dealership I've been to in recent years. I went to one locally with the intention of buying a certain leather jacket. Couldn't find it on the racks, and nobody would help. They looked me over, of course, and decided I was just a tire-kicker and not worthy of their time. So, I took my cellphone and called them. Oh, very helpful on the phone! So I said "well, I'm the guy over here by the jacket rack, the one you looked down your nose at. Think I can get a couple minutes of your time?"
Ended up buying the jacket at a much friendlier shop in another state.
Ended up buying the jacket at a much friendlier shop in another state.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Hmmm, my experience has been quite the opposite. I've only had my bike for about four years now but have been going to dealerships with family and friends for ten or twelve. Obviously some are friendlier than others but on average, customer service is much better than most gun shops.
Even my local shop (only been in the area for three years) is kinda hit and miss. I've done a couple transfers but so far no purchases because he doesn't carry what I like. Last week I was in there when a customer came in with a Mauser 1895 that had been shipped directly to him. The shopowner acted like he had committed a felony and I told them that anything made before 1898 didn't require a dealer transfer and could be shipped directly to its new owner. They simply ignored me.
tinygnat219
Member
If it was shipped to the shop, the shop HAS to account for all guns that come into the shop. If they didn't have any paperwork on it, I can definitely understand them not liking it. Also, if it was an antique, why was it shipped directly to the gunshop and not directly to the new owner?
Corporal K
member
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- Sep 24, 2007
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There is a little gun shop that is almost walking distance from my house. It is literally a mom and pop store. Their prices are a little higher, but their proximity would make it worthwhile except that "pop" is a grouchy old fart and the place looks like a bomb went off in it.
I was in there w/ my 4-year old son who accidentally knocked down a canvas baton-holster. Nothing remotely breakable and the place is so cluttered that they wouldn't notice anyway. So both my son and I immediately go to pick the thing up at the same time and the owner glares at my son, sighs loudly, and starts to say something when I guess he got control of himself. If he had been dumb enough to say something, I would have reamed him a new one, but instead, I'll just never go back there.
Terrible businesspeople.
I was in there w/ my 4-year old son who accidentally knocked down a canvas baton-holster. Nothing remotely breakable and the place is so cluttered that they wouldn't notice anyway. So both my son and I immediately go to pick the thing up at the same time and the owner glares at my son, sighs loudly, and starts to say something when I guess he got control of himself. If he had been dumb enough to say something, I would have reamed him a new one, but instead, I'll just never go back there.
Terrible businesspeople.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Sorry for the confusion, the guy had received it directly from the seller and was looking for ammo for it. He didn't get it from the shop in question. There was some confusion over the chambering but after the reaction I got on the transfer comment, it was obvious that my help was not welcomed or needed.
Shadow 7D
Member
My favorite LGS, rocks
Now mind you it is run by a bunch of crusty old veterans, and their computer geek, and the coffee isn't exactly the best, unless you like it strong as an ox and black as midnight, but they know their stuff and don't mind answering questions.
They did their civic duty by doing transfers for the city gun auction, they made no money, stayed open later on Saturday and dealt with like 100+ people who weren't there to buy. They were rushed, and smiles aren't the usual in the shop, they still had service. My buddy said they did pretty well on ammo and mag sales, even if they didn't get a dime from any of the guns.
Now mind you it is run by a bunch of crusty old veterans, and their computer geek, and the coffee isn't exactly the best, unless you like it strong as an ox and black as midnight, but they know their stuff and don't mind answering questions.
They did their civic duty by doing transfers for the city gun auction, they made no money, stayed open later on Saturday and dealt with like 100+ people who weren't there to buy. They were rushed, and smiles aren't the usual in the shop, they still had service. My buddy said they did pretty well on ammo and mag sales, even if they didn't get a dime from any of the guns.
harmon rabb
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I've been going to one gun shop by me (Shoot Straight in Casselberry, for any central florida people) for quite some time now, have bought 4-5 guns from them, buy ammo there regularly, etc, and they're not bad. Most of the guys know me now and will greet me in a friendly fashion when I walk in, and are happy to help me out.
Find a new gun shop.
Find a new gun shop.
Hatterasguy
Member
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- Jan 4, 2010
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- 1,604
I drive to another city because I found a good shop, the local ones are horrible I won't buy so much as a can of CLP from them. They seem to think they need to make their Mercedes payment with each rifle they sell.
The worst part is that LWRC seems to be in bed with them, so if you want an LWRC in CT you are going to pay at least $500-$800 more than you should. If its a Repr $1k.
The worst part is that LWRC seems to be in bed with them, so if you want an LWRC in CT you are going to pay at least $500-$800 more than you should. If its a Repr $1k.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Shoot Straight is not bad. I was a loyal customer to their flagship store in Apopka going back to the late `80's. There's a little bit of the arrogant prick factor with some of their employees but most of them are okay. I've known the manager, Larry, since I was a kid. Back when Wayne Blecha owned it. Brad's a good feller too. However, their "new" owner, Khalid, gives new meaning to "arrogant". Luckily he's one of those smart enough to employ folks who are better with customers than he is. His papa is not bad though, I think he still manages your Casselberry store.
Onward Allusion
Member
Smart merchant! How about the name of the store? 
I've never really experienced any attitude towards me when in a gun shop. The thing that I have noticed is how pushy the salesmen are at the Scheel's that's near where I live. They'll leave me alone for the most part, but as soon as I want to look at something or appear to be semi-interested in buying, they start pushing and trying everything in their power to get me to buy. The local one-man gun shop that's closer to me than the Scheels is run by a very nice and polite man named Dave. Dave is always helpful and when I ask to see something or have questions about an item, he's always honest and gives his true opinion. He doesn't lie or try to BS his way into a sale. When I ask him to order something for me, he'll check the availability and if it's in stock, he'll order it for me- no questions asked. When I asked Scheel's to order me a gun that was on back-order for 2 months, the salesman immediately tried to push something they had in stock on me, and they lost the sale.
Purgatory
Member
This is very interesting, DustyV. I just commented on this very topic in my thread, Does your Gun Range allow double taps?. Though FFL's are very prevalent in my area, as well as gun shops, I am usually prepared for similar treatment in most places I go from at least one employee.
I'm not sure what exactly the dynamic is that is causing this, but I've come across the new series Lock'N'Load on Showtime,(Not the History channel Gunny show) I believe, and remember thinking, "That's the friendliest gun shop I've ever seen."
I know at this point in time there is a flood of inexperienced customers buying guns, but the inability to greet potential customers with a positive and welcoming vibe seems epidemic.
I agree with your post and offer no explanation.
It seems the ultra-experienced do NOT welcome the inexperienced to the arena and are equally unimpressed with anyone working to better their skills and knowledge.
I'm not sure what exactly the dynamic is that is causing this, but I've come across the new series Lock'N'Load on Showtime,(Not the History channel Gunny show) I believe, and remember thinking, "That's the friendliest gun shop I've ever seen."
I know at this point in time there is a flood of inexperienced customers buying guns, but the inability to greet potential customers with a positive and welcoming vibe seems epidemic.
I agree with your post and offer no explanation.
It seems the ultra-experienced do NOT welcome the inexperienced to the arena and are equally unimpressed with anyone working to better their skills and knowledge.
Tim the student
Member
Nick5182, where are you at? The staff is generally good at my local Scheels, and even the guys in Iowa City are not bad to deal with, IME.
Tim the student
Member
Nick, I stopped in at that Scheels after the NCAA D1 wrestling tourney last year. There were a bunch of DB's in there. If you make it around any of the others, check them out - they usually have good service I think.
DustyVermonter
Member
The shop I like over in NH is friendly enough, but there was one guy in there that I really liked and wish he was still there, he retired after working there probably 10-15 yrs, he was a former marine and he and I seemed like we were off to a first name basis, but then when I went back there it was only the owner, who's a little wound up but not so bad that I use a nickname for him, and a new old guy who didn't have any social skills, or gun skills for that matter. He didn't even know how to strip a glock, or take the mag out of an M1A....seriously. I guess that's about as good as I'm gonna get for now. I should open my own shop and show people the meaning of 'service with a smile', or even work in one of these shops and show em how to make money.
A lot of retailers have this problem but for whatever reason it does seem more prevalent with gun shops.
It blows my mind in the age of Amazon, budsgunshop.com etc. that there are still business owners out there who haven't figured out if they want any chance of competing with the internet, they have to distinguish themselves with good service. Competing on price is a losing proposition, and a store that offers great service can usually get away with charging a higher price and still have a loyal customer base.
It blows my mind in the age of Amazon, budsgunshop.com etc. that there are still business owners out there who haven't figured out if they want any chance of competing with the internet, they have to distinguish themselves with good service. Competing on price is a losing proposition, and a store that offers great service can usually get away with charging a higher price and still have a loyal customer base.
Purgatory
Member
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DustyVermonter
Member
Well, I guess there is one good thing about the shop I frequent(shop I don't like), they have great prices on Hollowpoint ammo, $13.00 for 25 rds of 9mm hornady TAP and $15.00 for 20 rds of .45acp Hornady TAP, in my opinion that's a great price compared to the shop in my hometown, the guy there charged me $30.00 for a box of non-jacketed(just lead) .45 ball ammo, and they were reloads, I didn't know it until I got home and was pretty pissed off to pay such a rediculous price for FMJ ball ammo to begin with, but then to find out they're non-jacketed reloads!!! Come on, $30 bucks I'm still steamed about that, it was one of those, ill take a box of .45 hardball, the cheap stuff, and payed for it with other stuff not really paying attention, bad call.
lobo9er
Member
while i can grype (or is it gryp?) is the guy who works there I.E. owners friend sitting behind the counter that gives you the attitude or is an expert.
One fairly simple thing that you can do to tilt the odds of good service in your favor is to go to the gun store at times when they're not busy.
I was in the guns/ammo dept. of a Bass Pro around mid-afternoon today (Monday) and it was nearly deserted. Within the space of five minutes every employee came over and asked if he could help me.
Sure rudeness and indifference by gun store workers occurs but there are times when they're just swamped, like on weekends. Times like that I've seen customers become impatient and frustrated with slow service. They hit the store the same time as two dozen other people, then complain that the employees have a bad attitude when they have to wait their turn.
I was in the guns/ammo dept. of a Bass Pro around mid-afternoon today (Monday) and it was nearly deserted. Within the space of five minutes every employee came over and asked if he could help me.
Sure rudeness and indifference by gun store workers occurs but there are times when they're just swamped, like on weekends. Times like that I've seen customers become impatient and frustrated with slow service. They hit the store the same time as two dozen other people, then complain that the employees have a bad attitude when they have to wait their turn.
DustyVermonter
Member
The hell of it is, after I payed for the ammo, while at the time I didn't know how much I actually payed, I was out in the parking lot and the guy that owns the shop and is responible for the crazy prices, talked with me for about 20 minutes about ammo scarcity and how much he sees other shops charging an arm and a leg for ammo and how rediculous the prices have gotton. (Scoff) yeah, I'm sure he makes $15-20 for every box he sells, not even kidding. I've actually gone to wal-mart to stock up on 9mm, this particular time was about a year ago and 1 100rd box of winchester white box was about $22.00 even, cuz there is no tax in NH, where the wal-mart is that I go to, and when I got there it was all gone, even though the guy in sporting goods just told me the previous day that they were completely stocked. Anyway, point is when I went to the the local shop, he was completely stocked on Winchester White box 100rd value packs and charging $40 for them. I honestly believe he went over there with his sons and bought out wal-marts stock and just doubled the price back at his shop, also before I went to Wal-mart I went into his place to check for ammo and he was completely tapped out for a solid two weeks, I have heard of him doing that before to and after all of this I beleived it. Especially since, if you all remenber about a year ago the ammo draught was in full effect......what a DB
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