spartacus2002
Member
There is a distinct difference between discrimination and marketing. I would submit that "Ladies' Day" is a marketing issue as opposed to being "Anti-Men's Day"
Sexist gun dealers
- Thread starter Mastrogiacomo
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StudentoftheGun
Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2003
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I am inclined to agree with you Spartacus.
However, having a Ladies' Day is not fair to the men, as Mr. Car Knocker pointed out.
In his view I guess this would be "necessary discrimination"?
I would rather just call it necessary in order to preserve the sport and leave it at that, but to each his own.
However, having a Ladies' Day is not fair to the men, as Mr. Car Knocker pointed out.
In his view I guess this would be "necessary discrimination"?
I would rather just call it necessary in order to preserve the sport and leave it at that, but to each his own.
Lupine
Member
I've seen a few ignorant salespeople, but mostly I've been treated wonderfully. But at my first gun show, I was ping-ponging between tables comparing models when some sweet old coot asked me, "honey, are you looking for the Beanie Babies?" (apparently they sell beanie babies at gun shows.)
"No, sir," I replied. "I have plenty of targets already, but thank you."
"No, sir," I replied. "I have plenty of targets already, but thank you."
Sounds like in the original situation Mastro just had a couple lazy idiots there. A male and female coming in together, even if father & daughter, should be a tipoff that they are serious buyers.
As I used to say - pay minimum wage, get minimum work.
I am still in the process of buying stuff for the new house here in NC, which is stupidly big for a single guy. So far I've bought about four grand in furniture and a ridiculously expensive washing machine. One guy sold me a big roll top desk, and was friendly and helpful. He had enough sense to look down and see no wedding band, and was very attentive.
The females at the nearby high end furniture shop ignored me as I browsed around, at least until I walked up to one of them and said, "wanna sell me a leather sofa?" That got their attention.
And...while I think of it, the heck with Pam Anderson. They ain't real. I'd way rather meet the tall brunette on V.I.P. than Pam.
As I used to say - pay minimum wage, get minimum work.
I am still in the process of buying stuff for the new house here in NC, which is stupidly big for a single guy. So far I've bought about four grand in furniture and a ridiculously expensive washing machine. One guy sold me a big roll top desk, and was friendly and helpful. He had enough sense to look down and see no wedding band, and was very attentive.
The females at the nearby high end furniture shop ignored me as I browsed around, at least until I walked up to one of them and said, "wanna sell me a leather sofa?" That got their attention.
And...while I think of it, the heck with Pam Anderson. They ain't real. I'd way rather meet the tall brunette on V.I.P. than Pam.
Mike_IN_PA
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
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- 51
I got an idea . . . . .
instead of the usual threads about "sexist gun dealers" or "worst gunshop" how about "SEXIEST gun dealers" or something?
some other ideas:
- smallest gunshop you ever been in?
- dirtiest gunshop you ever been in?
- wierdest gunshop? (think macreme and hollow points)
- gunshop you miss the most? (old-timers thread)
just some ideas.
instead of the usual threads about "sexist gun dealers" or "worst gunshop" how about "SEXIEST gun dealers" or something?
some other ideas:
- smallest gunshop you ever been in?
- dirtiest gunshop you ever been in?
- wierdest gunshop? (think macreme and hollow points)
- gunshop you miss the most? (old-timers thread)
just some ideas.
effengee
Member
I'm just as curious as a dead cat...
SIGLADY, what's your response to the people who ask:
"why do you carry that thing?"
"are you crazy?"
"do they make pink grips for it?"
All questions my wife has been asked...
MIKE_IN_PA... I've been to that gunshop; small, weird, and dirty...
It's on Rte. 7 near Burlington, Vt... And shall remain un-named...
I won't knock it till I've tried it, and I'm knocking pretty hard right now...
Jim
SIGLADY, what's your response to the people who ask:
"why do you carry that thing?"
"are you crazy?"
"do they make pink grips for it?"
All questions my wife has been asked...
MIKE_IN_PA... I've been to that gunshop; small, weird, and dirty...
It's on Rte. 7 near Burlington, Vt... And shall remain un-named...
I won't knock it till I've tried it, and I'm knocking pretty hard right now...
Jim
Well, that depends...
I pretty much don't announce that I have a CHL except to other gun owners. However, I run a very small business out of my home involving graphic design and photography (including tabletop product photos), and there are gun pictures (enlargements in frames) either on the walls or propped up on the floor... along with many other types of product photos. People who are curious take note of them; many others say nothing at all. They either just didn't happen to notice 'em or are being discreet by making no comment. Mostly I just don't announce it unless the guest remarks first.
Sometimes I'll wear little pewter gun pins in public on the lapel and that'll bring out the gun owners sometimes if anything will. Just depends on whether I think it's wise to wear them wherever I end up going.
My landlady/manager came into the apartment one day on other business and noticed the Kimber 1911 photo on the wall, and said something like, "...oh yeh, my mother had one of those. She was in nursing school in downtown L.A. long ago and felt safer carrying it." Right on.
However, an "anti" lady-friend noticed the photos one day and somehow thought it was cool and kinda relaxed her attitude about it, what with me being such a decent person and all. Instead of getting uptight about it, she asked a lot of intelligent questions and went away happy.
I've been in Eugene over 11 years and most people know I'm not a frilly "pink" person so much as a serious lady who brooks no bu**hit from people on ANY topic. Moreover, Eugene is kind-of a mish-mash of liberals and conservatives, with a generous dose of not-into-guns people. So I'm cautious. But you'd still be surprised at how many people here DO shoot that you'd never suspect of being shooters. I count on that sort of thing to sustain my chancy interactions with strangers.
Took a hefty computer tech college course this past spring... there were four of us in the class including the instructor. Three of us, it turned out, were shooters--including the instructor. None of the guys for a moment ever questioned my interest in sports shooting and thought that a CHL was a damn' good idea.
So... so far no jerks have razzed me about my shooting. If they ever do, they'll regret it, of course.
I pretty much don't announce that I have a CHL except to other gun owners. However, I run a very small business out of my home involving graphic design and photography (including tabletop product photos), and there are gun pictures (enlargements in frames) either on the walls or propped up on the floor... along with many other types of product photos. People who are curious take note of them; many others say nothing at all. They either just didn't happen to notice 'em or are being discreet by making no comment. Mostly I just don't announce it unless the guest remarks first.
Sometimes I'll wear little pewter gun pins in public on the lapel and that'll bring out the gun owners sometimes if anything will. Just depends on whether I think it's wise to wear them wherever I end up going.
My landlady/manager came into the apartment one day on other business and noticed the Kimber 1911 photo on the wall, and said something like, "...oh yeh, my mother had one of those. She was in nursing school in downtown L.A. long ago and felt safer carrying it." Right on.
However, an "anti" lady-friend noticed the photos one day and somehow thought it was cool and kinda relaxed her attitude about it, what with me being such a decent person and all. Instead of getting uptight about it, she asked a lot of intelligent questions and went away happy.
I've been in Eugene over 11 years and most people know I'm not a frilly "pink" person so much as a serious lady who brooks no bu**hit from people on ANY topic. Moreover, Eugene is kind-of a mish-mash of liberals and conservatives, with a generous dose of not-into-guns people. So I'm cautious. But you'd still be surprised at how many people here DO shoot that you'd never suspect of being shooters. I count on that sort of thing to sustain my chancy interactions with strangers.
Took a hefty computer tech college course this past spring... there were four of us in the class including the instructor. Three of us, it turned out, were shooters--including the instructor. None of the guys for a moment ever questioned my interest in sports shooting and thought that a CHL was a damn' good idea.
So... so far no jerks have razzed me about my shooting. If they ever do, they'll regret it, of course.
mattz357
Member
Not to detract from this thread, but I thought it read "SexiEst" gun dealers. I was a little disappointed to say the least. I think that is a great idea for another thread if anyone has pics of their gun dealer.
effengee
Member
I don't know any sexy gun dealers...
Both of the shops I deal with on a regular basis are run by regular guys and their wives... I wouldn't exactly call any of them sexy...
There used to be a free website of hot looking, scantily clad female models posing with various firearms.... Then it turned to a paysite...
I guess I went there too many times
There still are a few free sites,
www.alex-in-wonderland.com/GirlsWithGuns/Pictures
is a good one, featuring girls with guns from movies and T.V....
O.K. some may think that's a bit weird, but I know mechanics who have a picture of a scantily clad female posing with an air wrench, on the wall...
Both of the shops I deal with on a regular basis are run by regular guys and their wives... I wouldn't exactly call any of them sexy...
There used to be a free website of hot looking, scantily clad female models posing with various firearms.... Then it turned to a paysite...
I guess I went there too many times
There still are a few free sites,
www.alex-in-wonderland.com/GirlsWithGuns/Pictures
is a good one, featuring girls with guns from movies and T.V....
O.K. some may think that's a bit weird, but I know mechanics who have a picture of a scantily clad female posing with an air wrench, on the wall...
Lots of pages - no time to read -
If someone were like that to me i'm pretty sure I'd not buy a dang thing there - aka - nothing.
Most places i find are happy to talk to anyone interested in something.
Gf however does take me places like lowes and just about anywhere else to avoid the "won't talk to a girl" problem.
Found this one furniture shopping, hardware shopping, car shopping, etc.. =(
I think its funny when i smirk as they approach me and I say "No, its HER that wants to spend the 38k on that new s2000...." They get this deer in the headlights look and fumble around amusingly....
J/Tharg!
If someone were like that to me i'm pretty sure I'd not buy a dang thing there - aka - nothing.
Most places i find are happy to talk to anyone interested in something.
Gf however does take me places like lowes and just about anywhere else to avoid the "won't talk to a girl" problem.
Found this one furniture shopping, hardware shopping, car shopping, etc.. =(
I think its funny when i smirk as they approach me and I say "No, its HER that wants to spend the 38k on that new s2000...." They get this deer in the headlights look and fumble around amusingly....
J/Tharg!
joe sixpack
Member
Thanks for the thread, it caused me to evaluate how it is I interact with
the consumer.
To wit: I sometimes wear the salesman hat (not guns) and many of
the people I deal with are women, no problem there.
However when husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend are together, I believe
I always include them both in the presentation and in fielding their questions. However, I must admit, if the girlfriend/wife is very attractive
or dressed in a rather sexy outfit, I do not exclude them but I am very sure
to include the husband/boyfriend so I do not put him off or create
an uncomfortable situation by giving her what might be perceived as improper attention.
cheers, ab
the consumer.
To wit: I sometimes wear the salesman hat (not guns) and many of
the people I deal with are women, no problem there.
However when husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend are together, I believe
I always include them both in the presentation and in fielding their questions. However, I must admit, if the girlfriend/wife is very attractive
or dressed in a rather sexy outfit, I do not exclude them but I am very sure
to include the husband/boyfriend so I do not put him off or create
an uncomfortable situation by giving her what might be perceived as improper attention.
cheers, ab
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myopicmouse
member
It justifyed. Lets face it, men go into a shop and will go "ohh, mummy i want that one" and there you go, the dealers got a sale. A woman however is more meticulous and will not instantly decide to buy something, rather spend the time looking at whats avialable rather than one specific gun, then other shops to compare prices etc, therefore they gun dealers got a far higher chance of selling to a man, so his time is better spend looking after his male customers. On the issue of women working in gun shops…my gun guy has his wife there and she is a lovely lady but if I need gun talk, I find David. It's usually a fair assumption that the womans only there to take the phone calls and have a nice chat too.
Not necessarily. The last time I went to a gun shop to buy a gun, I went in knowing what I wanted. I wasn't there to "shop," I was there to buy a gun, one particular one, in fact, which I had called ahead to verify they had in stock. You'd think that would be a cut and dried transaction, but the salesperson was obsessive about trying to sell me a revolver. I finally just had to be blunt about it and he sold me the gun but was kind of cranky about it.
I think it was blatent discrimination. I was trying to buy a Sig and he was obviously a Smith & Wesson guy.
I think it was blatent discrimination. I was trying to buy a Sig and he was obviously a Smith & Wesson guy.
Of all the nerve...!
Barbara--
That dealer should have bent over nearly backwards to sell you a Sig (given how costly they are sometimes), especially since you knew what you wanted! (I'm a little partial, of course.) Anyway, shame on him!!!
Barbara--
That dealer should have bent over nearly backwards to sell you a Sig (given how costly they are sometimes), especially since you knew what you wanted! (I'm a little partial, of course.) Anyway, shame on him!!!
Eh, he was a moron. He kept trying to sell me a Lady Smith. I have no clue what his deal was.
I should have protested with my feet, like I normally do, but was set on getting the gun that day.
Seriously, with gun shops or anyone else, if they can't treat me decently, I find someone who will. Simple enough. I don't need to be treated like an idiot or an easy mark and if someone insists on behaving like that, I take my business elsewhere. In my experience, auto mechanics are the worst, followed by metal fabricators. Gun dealers more times than not are ok.
I should have protested with my feet, like I normally do, but was set on getting the gun that day.
Seriously, with gun shops or anyone else, if they can't treat me decently, I find someone who will. Simple enough. I don't need to be treated like an idiot or an easy mark and if someone insists on behaving like that, I take my business elsewhere. In my experience, auto mechanics are the worst, followed by metal fabricators. Gun dealers more times than not are ok.
spartacus2002
Member
Same thing happened when my wife went to purchase a handgun at a Richmond gunshop...
Spent our money elsewhere.myopicmouse
member
My favourite line if someone was to muck me about like that is "Fine! if my moneys not good enough for you, thats just fine"...and walk out. Though maybe in his experiance didn't think the Sig was a good choice for you...and because he'd get more money selling you the sig, maybe he was being really considerate trying to sell you something cheaper/better that you'd be happyer with when you got it home sort of thing.
Stereotypes work: thats why it's called generalisation, it works for most customers - and I'm sure they get quite a lot of those.
Stereotypes work: thats why it's called generalisation, it works for most customers - and I'm sure they get quite a lot of those.
Sell her what she wants--and more...!
But if the female customer walks in KNOWING what she wants, already has the data she needs, and is sure of herself, the dealer should oblige by selling her the damn' gun. Now, that said, while he is taking her order for the Sig (or handing her one at that moment), he can ADD to the conversation by asking her "...and have you seen the Smith & Wesson (whichever) model lately...? It's got (this) or (that) feature now and a lot of people seem to like it. I can show you one if you like." It's simply called good salesmanship. Then she can either say yes or no and go from there. Either way, the clown behind the counter ALREADY has his solid sale in this case, and may be cheating himself out of an additional sale or maybe the entire sale if he gets too resistant or pushy!
Moreover, if he was a REALLY good salesman, he'd have complimented her on her choice of firearm in the first place.
But if the female customer walks in KNOWING what she wants, already has the data she needs, and is sure of herself, the dealer should oblige by selling her the damn' gun. Now, that said, while he is taking her order for the Sig (or handing her one at that moment), he can ADD to the conversation by asking her "...and have you seen the Smith & Wesson (whichever) model lately...? It's got (this) or (that) feature now and a lot of people seem to like it. I can show you one if you like." It's simply called good salesmanship. Then she can either say yes or no and go from there. Either way, the clown behind the counter ALREADY has his solid sale in this case, and may be cheating himself out of an additional sale or maybe the entire sale if he gets too resistant or pushy!
Moreover, if he was a REALLY good salesman, he'd have complimented her on her choice of firearm in the first place.
myopicmouse
member
I see what you mean, but the exact same thing happened to me, but it's not a woman thing, rather the armourer giving his hard earned advice maybe a bit more forcefully because he 'knows' he's right.
i.e I wanted a ruger 10/22 coz I just like the look of it, and he was pushy in saying I should get X instead. However I politely said, "right, but I want a Ruger" he's like if you wanta ruger I can get you a ruger thats no problem, I think you would however be better with X.
Now he was telling me what to buy rather than just saying yes sir I can do that for you. Why? becasue he was helping me, and with this threads story offence is being taken over pretty much the same thing I experianced, so I don't think this is a woman thing, rather the gunsmith thinking of what was best for the customer and maybe being pushy, but only so the customer wouldn't walk away unhappy.
i.e I wanted a ruger 10/22 coz I just like the look of it, and he was pushy in saying I should get X instead. However I politely said, "right, but I want a Ruger" he's like if you wanta ruger I can get you a ruger thats no problem, I think you would however be better with X.
Now he was telling me what to buy rather than just saying yes sir I can do that for you. Why? becasue he was helping me, and with this threads story offence is being taken over pretty much the same thing I experianced, so I don't think this is a woman thing, rather the gunsmith thinking of what was best for the customer and maybe being pushy, but only so the customer wouldn't walk away unhappy.
I must say i went to Galayans for the first time yesterday and wont go back.. Lack of service is the main problem i was on lunch of course in company uniform and wanted to check couple guns out guess they thought i was standing there for my health.
I was gonna buy some smaller things but after wasting 20 mins waiting i put it all down and split.. what sucky service
To keep it totaly on topic it was the gun counter chick who ignored me didnt even ask if she could help me.. Guess i didnt look good enough in my work uniform for her to have to lower her self to do her job.
I was gonna buy some smaller things but after wasting 20 mins waiting i put it all down and split.. what sucky service
To keep it totaly on topic it was the gun counter chick who ignored me didnt even ask if she could help me.. Guess i didnt look good enough in my work uniform for her to have to lower her self to do her job.
Edward429451
member
In Chicago they made me show them my gun to be able to buy ammo cause I had no FOID.
Sue's really nice. I like to give them my business.
-------------------------------------------------------
I go looking for what I want, price it, tell em I'll sleep on it, then send my wife back alone to buy it and more often than not she gets a better price than I was quoted!
effengee
Member
Good salesmanship...
My friend brought a .25 Colt to me and I bought it...
He said his girlfriend couldn't hit ????? with it and knowing I have a "thing" for Colt's in particular, sold it to me...
He was TOTALLY discriminatory and sexist!
And I thanked him...
I have nothing bad to say against any gun, but ever since I could pick up a stick and say bang bang you're dead, my sidearm of choice was a Colt.
Of course, beggars can't be choosers and of the 5 or so pistols I've owned, this is the 1st Colt...
It's so cute and little!!!
I actually have a pistol butane lighter that is bigger!
My wife hates autoloader pistols due to a grip-related slide biting thumb incident. She prefers the old Marlin .22 rifle that was her grandfathers, then her fathers, now hers, to pass on to our daughter...
I confess that I send her to the shop to sell a gun outright when we come up short on cash.
There's two reasons for this:
I don't want them to see me cry like a baby for selling one of my guns
She can sell fish to a fisherman who has a full net, and still make a profit
Jim
My friend brought a .25 Colt to me and I bought it...
He said his girlfriend couldn't hit ????? with it and knowing I have a "thing" for Colt's in particular, sold it to me...
He was TOTALLY discriminatory and sexist!
And I thanked him...
I have nothing bad to say against any gun, but ever since I could pick up a stick and say bang bang you're dead, my sidearm of choice was a Colt.
Of course, beggars can't be choosers and of the 5 or so pistols I've owned, this is the 1st Colt...
It's so cute and little!!!
I actually have a pistol butane lighter that is bigger!
My wife hates autoloader pistols due to a grip-related slide biting thumb incident. She prefers the old Marlin .22 rifle that was her grandfathers, then her fathers, now hers, to pass on to our daughter...
I confess that I send her to the shop to sell a gun outright when we come up short on cash.
There's two reasons for this:
I don't want them to see me cry like a baby for selling one of my guns
She can sell fish to a fisherman who has a full net, and still make a profit
Jim
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