Should I be a bit angry at my local gunshop?

[Handgunguy316]

I'm a younger guy (21) with an expensive taste (purchased a Loaded Springfield M1A this summer) and love to go local but when I ask to see the Caspian 1911 and am told the price by a clerk warms crossed I make it a point not to purchase any more firearms from that location. I will deal with a little higher prices for good service and a selection that I can fondle but when I run into rude clerks thats it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd visit that "gun shop" one last time, but only to tell the owner why he's lost my business.

I work in a gun shop that most emphatically does not treat its customers like dirt.

 

[GRB]

Tell them exactly what you told us, that you WANT to support them but they are making it impossible.

This is a good idea, then listen closely to their reply. If they give you the sob story that prices are going up, and they need to keep them high to stay in business, I would proffer something else - that they drove the prices so high they lost business. I have a gun store about 3 blocks from my house, same stroy from them, and I told them to go play without my money. I have lots of better places to shop, with nicer folks, better prices, and overall better business manners. It sounds like you do too; enjoy those other shops.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

[jhansman]

My last gun purchase was online. I wanted to patronize the shop where I get just about all my other needs (reloading and accessories, mostly), but they weren't even close to the price I paid. Add sales tax and other 'fees' and it was just out of the question. I found a local guy who did the transfer for $30 (as opposed to the $100 my local shops want-and that's only if they don't carry the gun!) and that, as they say, was that. Nope, I suspect B&M gun shops will eventually go the way of the dodo.

 

[10-Ring]

Years ago, I used to live 1 block from my closest gun shop. I went in & overpaid for a 10/22, a case, cleaning kit and ammo. I also took the abuse from the old man from the behind the counter because this was my first firearms purchase & I didn't know anybetter.
Then I discovered you can get a good deal w/ good customer service from the same shop. The old fart went out of business but my favorite shop has moved 2X because their business keeps growning!
Morale to this story -- find a quality shop & give them your business!

 

[Kentak]

I'm not familiar with the price of guns in your area, but they sound on the high side, for sure. While I understand and (sometimes) agree with the idea of supporting local businesses, it should be a two-way street. What are they giving for your loyalty?

If you do decide to get your guns, ammo, and accessories elsewhere, I agree with letting the shop know the reason. I would do so in a polite and straightforward business letter to the owner. Be sure to mention your previous level of business and desire to support local business.

If the owner has class, he'll reply with at least a letter thanking you for your previous business and express regret at your leaving. He may, or may not, explain the economic factors that don't allow him to offer better prices. That's fine.

If you get no reply, well, I guess you weren't important enough to them. Their loss.

K

 

[Bones11b]

I don't think this is a case of you turning your back on local business, I think it's more a case of them turning their back on you. Here's two links to local gunshops in broward county I do business with. Both have P22's in stock as well as a number of other .22 hand guns. Give them a call and get quotes from both. Then simply make a day trip down here, do some shopping and head home. G and K has a range so you can get some shooting time in as well. Only the best has all the suppressed and full auto goodies you can imagine. Either way you are better off than getting shafted for trying to do the right thing by a retailer who is profiting off price gouging.

http://www.onlythebestfirearms.com/

http://www.gunsandknives.com/coppermine_dir/index.php

 

[66912]

I am sorry, Did you say $550 for a "P22"? Find another option for sure. How long have these guys been in business?

 

[wideym]

There are a few great gun shops in Ft. Smith. Half the time I talk to the shop owner longer than I look around. Just about ever gun shop will cut you a break on sales price or at least throw in a box or two of ammo, if you ask.

One gun shop/pawn shop had an older heavy weight gentleman(fat s.o.b.) who worked the gun shop counter. He would'nt get off his chair unless you asked to see a gun and when he did looked and acted as if you had personally insulted him by doing so. Only when he saw a roll of bills or a wallet in your hand would he be helpful. Although prices were very good there they lost alot of buisness to other shops until he was fired three years later.

 

[Kentak]

Coronach,

You said some good stuff. If brick and mortar gun shops can't compete on the basis of price, they better darn well compensate with friendliness, excellent service, and stocking the store full of all the odds and ends that buyers want, to give them a reason to come in.

K

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

joey....those prices are high across the board. Find another local shop to support. no .22 pistols in the $300 range? are they out of their mind? I could go to any of 5 local guns shops and pick out at least 10 different .22 semi-autos and revolvers in that price range.

Being a loyal customer is great, but not when they are screwing you left and right.

 

[ceetee]

I'm in total agreement with Coronach on this one. I live in Palm Beach County (just a ways south of the OP) and I've been looking for a good gun shop to give my business to. Most of the shop keepers around here got their start when the only resource available to the consumer was Shotgun News, and Walmart was still just an interesting idea. They got used to being the only game in town, able to charge whatever they felt like at the time. I used to patronize a small shop a ways south of here... they had one clerk I got along with, and one I didn't. I knew that I could usually do 20% to 30% better on the price of whatever I was looking at, depending on who the clerk was.

Nowadays, these self-same business owners don't realize that we consumers have access to the same costing information they do. They still think they can set whatever price they want, because we don't know any better. (For example, Gator Guns, the aforementioned shop here in Palm Beach once offered to let me examine a S&W MP9, but only if I was "serious about buying it"... at a whopping 150% MSRP. I simply said "Thanks, but I think I'll shop around first" and walked out. I sincerely want to give them my business, but not if I feel like I need a hot shower afterward...

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Don't get mad, not worth it. Simply take your business elsewhere.

There have been shops everywhere I've lived that after one or 2 stops in I wrote them off. Eventually, I found someone who was fair and wanted my money without ripping me off.

Keep looking around.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Maybe you could put it to them this way:
Because of teh intranets, I, and most of your customers, know what you pay for a gun. I like to support my local businesses and realize that you need to make a profit to stay afloat. I'm willing to pay a bit more than that to support locals but there is a point where I'd feel bad about a purchase knowing how much I overpaid. Can we talk frankly about pricing? Because I'd rather purchase from you than go somewhere else.

If they brush you off or their attitude stinks, avoid them like the plague, as it's obvious where their intentions and mindset are. If they are willing to be fair then maybe the prices they are offering you are fudd-prices or they genuinely are out of touch with what the 'net has done to level the playing field on pricing. They probably don't move enough inventory to work on the narrow margins of someone like CDNN or AIM but they need to be realistic if they expect to stay in business.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

(I'm only 21, so alot of times I'm not taken very seriously by people at gun shops/ranges due to my age).

I know how ya feel Bud. I started collecting/shooting around 18 (22 now) and I still get it. As far as the pricing and what not though, I'll simply put it to you the way my grandpa told me before he passed. It's one thing about loyalty, be loyal, upstanding, and honest to those who deserve it and give it back. But always remember, it's a two way street.

Those prices and the like, I'm sorry but when you walk in there, chances are all they're seeing is dollar signs. I'll be the first one to pay a little bit more for the oppurtunity to hold it in my hands, inspect it, and see how it functions, but if that means buying a Mosin I can get for 70 bucks at certain places, for $200 from the gun shop? Well I'm not that rich lol.

You say you've been pretty happy with your purchases. Go in, tell them what you told us here, let them know what you liked and what you disliked, and tell them why they'll no longer get your patronage.

When I turned 16 I got a job in the local supermarket and one of the managers told me during training something I still remember "For every one person who comes up and tells you why they will no longer come to the store, there are 10 that walk out and never come back without saying a word"

I wish you luck

 

[03Shadowbob]

XM15,
I know what you are talking about. PB County is one of the worst places to buy a gun. One place that is very small and sometimes pretty affordable is Liberty Guns off Belvedere Rd. If you want directions let me know. It's not big at all, has very little selection but he can get anything you want. He had a G23 in there the other day for $569 I believe. I bought a P3AT from him for $270 NIB. Also, I have had luck dealing with Bob at Delray Shooting Center. I got a LNIB SA1911 Parked GI for $400.
As far as Gator Guns, there is a guy there I buy guns from that are his personal collection and I always get a good deal.

 

[springmom]

I found the guy who does our local transfers ($20 a pop) through gunbroker.com back when I bought DH his Lee Enfield for Christmas. IIRC, you can go onto their site and look for FFL's who will do transfers in your area without actually being in an auction. Might want to check that out.

No way am I going to pay 20% of the cost of the gun for a transfer when there ARE people out there who will charge a reasonable fee for 5 minutes' work.

Springmom

 

[BersaManII]

I'm thinking it may just be time to find yourself another dealer as this one seems to be in the rip-off business for sure!

 

[woof]

I'd say there is no point in trying to talk to them, they don't care whether you leave or not. But that suggests that they have a good business and many people willing to pay those prices. So what does that make the area SCREAMING RIPE for? Competition! If I wanted to open a place like that anywhere in Florida right there is where I would want to be. Can you imagine what would happen in the first month if a new place opened with prices 20% lower across the board and friendly to boot? That is exactly what they deserve and I'd say it is only a matter of time.

 

[Wheeler44]

I took my son to a gun store the other day. The guy behind the counter spoke directly to him ( he's 15) the guy handed him around 15 different single action revolvers and took the time to explain the differences between them.
Then he disassembled a couple and showed my son the difference in how they're manufactured. He explained that a young guy has many years of shootin' in him and needed to buy a gun that would last long enough to be an heirloom.
Then he took him over and showed him some autoloaders and explained the differences between them. All the time letting my son handle the handguns, working the actions, trying the trigger pull on a few, etc.
I was up front that we weren't buying that day. He ( the counter guy) said thats okay if he finds something he wants he will probably come back and if he comes back once he'll come back again.
I noticed that the XD-40 that I was looking at the week before was gone. They had only one left. I asked about that and he said that they had been selling like hotcakes.
The moral of the story is, gun stores that have reasonable prices and excellant customer service sell a lot of guns. And they will probably be in business for a while.