So . . . Are the People at Your Local Gunshop a Bunch of Jerks?

[conw]

Myles is right on. The guys that hang around are greasy and unwashed and always offer an unsolicited opinion if you make a move to buy or handle something. They are also just patently unfriendly, like they are mad because you want to steal their time with their idol, the Gun Shop Owner.

Seriously, it would be bad business to let guys like that hang around forever - but (like someone else said) it's a small market so you don't want your name getting dragged through the mud either by some disgruntled hanger-on.

 

[conw]

Templar223, honestly this is how capitalism works. It'd be even better if people gave specific names of bad shops alongside the specific names of good shops. If no one ever talked about good or bad purchasing experiences, we'd all be paying a lot more with worse service. IMO capitalism is High Road because it gives everyone the best possible price and keeps people in jobs (the people who are suited for the jobs that is). So...why don't you join in and complain?

rdhood, I have found bike shops mostly delightful places to do business. The smaller the better. The bigger ones and the ones the cater to road bike hobbyists seem to have more snobbery...as if spending twice on your Campagnolo drivetrain really makes you that much better

 

[Grey_Mana]

Half the auto dealerships around here seem to follow the 'treat your customers badly, and they'll be grateful for the chance to pay too much for a crappy car' model of doing business.

Half the gun shops seem to be following the car dealership lead.

 

[Phydeaux642]

There is another shop in my area that I have only tried once and realized the owner was very difficult to deal with. I have had other people describe him as the 'Soup Nazi' from Seinfeld. A friend of mine hangs there a lot and likes the guy for whatever reason. The owner regularly takes his phone calls on speaker and berates the caller while the guys laugh at the poor slob.

 

[Autopistola]

Nope, no jerks I've come across. A grumpy old gun snob, yes. Another shop has a great selection but I can't stomach their prices on guns or ammo, so I buy a magazine or accessory for the privilege of looking and/or fondling their merchandise. I've never had a dealer ask me "you got money for that?" when I ask to look at a firearm; that would be plain rude.

If a shop has obscene prices or cops a bad attitude they are likely to hear "just browsing" from me and I'll soon leave after I check out the selection.

If I want the hard sell, dishonest sales pitches and inflated prices I'll just go to a gun show!

 

[azhunter122]

Yes they definately can be a bunch of jerks, I like shopping with big companies like J&G, Cabelas (if they're cheap), and Buds online if at all possible. The employees are just nicer for some reason.

 

[CoRoMo]

I'd venture to guess that if I were employed in a gun shop, I'd be a jerk too. I'd definitely try to be courteous and polite, but being short and stern would make for a better fit.

I guess I'm glad that I don't have to work in an environment where any little mistake I make could cost me my entire career or even worse. I would hate the idea of having to scrutinize each and every customer as though they were a criminal or an undercover agent trying to slip something past me in the ole game of gotcha.

Nope, given that lifestyle, my patience would wear so thin that you guys would post on how much of a jerk I was.

 

[spudster]

We have a local shop where the guy is a jerk.

I thought he was just being a jerk because I am half asian.

No he's just a jerk to everyone.

 

[dillynfw]

I think partly some of these guys are into shooting/the mechanics or camaraderie of guns like some are with cars, airplanes, computers, etc.

And some others want to be seen as living the lifestyle. THOSE tend to be the jerks.

They also tend to be real cliches that make me want to laugh like in a local store I went to the other day.

 

[Stainz]

I had a local pusher raise his price $80 as I was filling out the check once - and I had bought from him for years. Of course, his rationale was that he had paid more than he though for the handgun. Selling at the label, which they had filled out, price would have made him break even, a fair thing to do for an old and valued customer. Instead, I re-inspected the revolver and decided I didn't want it, voided my check, and left. A frequent visitor there -and a one-time public range RO, I had sent them lots of buyers.

Seven months would pass before I returned - they made me a better deal on a newer model - and I began buying there again. This is a store renown for their less-than-friendly behavior to new folks. Why would I go back? Recall the fable of the frozen snake.

A woods lady comes upon a frozen snake on her walks one winter eve - and carefully picks it up and takes it into her cabin to place by the fireplace. When it thaws, it turns on her and bites her - mortally wounding her. About to expire, she turns to the snake and asks, "Oh, Mr. Snake - I took care of you... why did you bite me - I will surely die?"
"Yo, mamma, it's what I do... you knew I was a snake when you picked me up. It's my nature."

Remember that. It's a snake - you know it's a snake - you play with it anyway - you get bit. I still shop there... I guess I like snakes!

I have no idea why universally one finds the least friendly folks at gunstores - big or little. They had legitimate claims for years that folks did their window-shopping there, bought on auction or elsewhere. They have had a seller's market for a while now, bumping those 'black rifle' and ammo prices up as fast as they could. And - they have sold things they couldn't give away not that awfully long ago.

Remember - the tide will eventually turn - the sales will drop - ammo stocks will return to wally-world, etc - and they may starve. I wouldn't want to be them. I can avoid snakes, if I want...

Stainz

 

[ants]

Good golly, 5 pages of replies in less than 24 hours.

Now we know what's really important to us: It isn't legal, or reloading, or ammo selection, or what gun is best for you. It's whether the guys at the gun shop are jerks.

 

[John Wayne]

How does bashing gun shops further our cause? Is it High Roadish to paint, as so many here seem to be doing, gun shops in general as staffed by rude jerks?

And ignoring rude employees is somehow going to remedy the situation? Rather than "shooting ourselves in the face," as you so tactfully put it, we are trying to change an aspect of the gun-buying/owning process which deters people from buying guns!

How does having rude shop employees, price gouging with no accountability, and crappy service encourage someone to get involved in a sport which many already perceive as intimidating?

When did THR become politically correct?

 

[Ron-Bon]

The people at the gun shop that I frequent don't like black people

 

[Ron-Bon]

There is one guy in particular and I observe him every time I enter the shop. He seems to be a friendly enough a guy but everytime a black person and probably any other minorities come in the shop, his whole countenance and demeanor undergo a very noticeable change

 

[308win]

I frequent two gun larger stores in Central Ohio - common ownership - and both have staff who are polite, helpful, and busy. I have always had the same experience at a large outdoor store in Ashland as well. Maybe we are just lucky or maybe the Midwestern culture is more polite? - can't say.

 

[glock26]

The folks here in jersey are not bad at all.

depends on the location i guess. It can be very easy to become irrated when you have a bunch of new people come in looking for guns.

 

[Landor]

A few years back I went in to a gun local gun shop with $1000 cash in my pocket. I was going to buy a Kimber CDP they had in the case. I walk in and there was a guy talking to this somewhat pretty girl. They were standing right in front of the case where the Kimbers were. I kept kneeling down and moving back and forth trying to get a look at the CDP. The guy looked at me and then just kept talking to this girl. At that point I told myself I would not be buying it from them. Then I just wanted to see if they would even help me. I stood there for 15 minutes before I decided to leave and within that fifteen minutes there were three guys chatting with that girl and about five customers standing in various places at the counter all waiting for someone to help them. I went home, bought online and never looked back.

I guess I could of interrupted his conversation but should I have to. Oh well..

 

[Judicator]

The only "gun shop" we have that's local is a little pawn shop called Edge Exchange. The clerks are actually pretty knowledgable about guns, but they do their best to gouge you on prices. I don't see very many higher quality guns, either, they usually stock Taurus, High Points, etc.

This week I dropped in to see what they had, and I noticed an '03 Springfield, cut for pederson device, for $1200. I passed on it.