Grumpy_old_Fart
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- May 21, 2021
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If you have to clear a firearm to pass it over the counter, ensure the customer learns the same discipline. Or try. If they don't get the hint, clear it again as it crosses back to you.
Starting part-time job at gun shop & range for the first time…
- Thread starter dekibg
- Start date
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Ignition Override
Member
dekibg:
Out of curiosity, are you familiar with US gun laws, or are you in a different country?
Many of us realize that in some countries people first must attend "theory classes" (i.e. Germany: for the "Waffen Bescheinigung" ?) or instead, have different background checks + training before they are allowed to have the legal permission (legally) to touch a gun.
A regular guy on THR who lives in the Czech Republic described their process (to allow Ordinary citizens) to acquire a handgun carry permit.
In other words, most first-time gun customers in Europe and the UK/Irish Republic etc might already be familiar with safe gun handling - compared to so many gun store customers in the US
.
Out of curiosity, are you familiar with US gun laws, or are you in a different country?
Many of us realize that in some countries people first must attend "theory classes" (i.e. Germany: for the "Waffen Bescheinigung" ?) or instead, have different background checks + training before they are allowed to have the legal permission (legally) to touch a gun.
A regular guy on THR who lives in the Czech Republic described their process (to allow Ordinary citizens) to acquire a handgun carry permit.
In other words, most first-time gun customers in Europe and the UK/Irish Republic etc might already be familiar with safe gun handling - compared to so many gun store customers in the US
.
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Also tell them what a Glock leg is!Study the Glock catalog very well, they come in many sizes and calibers and you just never know which size and caliber glock a customer will want.... I can't really think of anything else other than just be friendly and knowledgeable when helping a customer choose their glock.
Jk.
vintovka
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- Oct 26, 2020
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- 902
In addition to most that has been said:
Get a nice comfy stool that can be moved out of the way as needed. We had a couple wall mounted, spring loaded fold ups behind counters.
Find a comfortable pistol/holster that can be seen over the counter and doesn't snag. Never remove it unless SHTF time is near
Learn to listen to and cordially end conversations
Make clearing an important and automatic event before and after showing merchandise. Double check everything and every time and before and after shift.
\
Carefully watch customers especially when they first enter or busy.
Remind customers BEFORE they start the 4473 that pot is still a federal narcotic. This is especially important if they pay by CC.
Theres tons more and why old age can take your edge away.
Get a nice comfy stool that can be moved out of the way as needed. We had a couple wall mounted, spring loaded fold ups behind counters.
Find a comfortable pistol/holster that can be seen over the counter and doesn't snag. Never remove it unless SHTF time is near
Learn to listen to and cordially end conversations
Make clearing an important and automatic event before and after showing merchandise. Double check everything and every time and before and after shift.
\
Carefully watch customers especially when they first enter or busy.
Remind customers BEFORE they start the 4473 that pot is still a federal narcotic. This is especially important if they pay by CC.
Theres tons more and why old age can take your edge away.
Claus
Member
Most customers don’t need you to go on and on telling them everything that you know. Don’t lecture them, ask questions, in fact most of what you say should be a question to help them refine their choice or make a decision.
Purpose-Defensive/protection? range toy? collectible? CW carry? Experience level. How often do your shoot? Do you reload? What do they already know? or have heard? how much research have they done? Get them to do most of the talking
Then qualify, are they ready, willing and able to purchase? Ask what they’ve already looked at, etc. The guy who says “Well I was just at Academy/LGS/etc.” went out today to make a purchase, so be the guy that sells him. The guy who’s says “My wife’s shopping for clothes next door, I just came in to look around” is probably not buying, politely give him your card and move on to another customer.
Have fun.
Purpose-Defensive/protection? range toy? collectible? CW carry? Experience level. How often do your shoot? Do you reload? What do they already know? or have heard? how much research have they done? Get them to do most of the talking
Then qualify, are they ready, willing and able to purchase? Ask what they’ve already looked at, etc. The guy who says “Well I was just at Academy/LGS/etc.” went out today to make a purchase, so be the guy that sells him. The guy who’s says “My wife’s shopping for clothes next door, I just came in to look around” is probably not buying, politely give him your card and move on to another customer.
Have fun.
Selling anything to the public is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. You have to know the aspects of each gun & how it works for their needs.
I sold tires for a few years & I'm glad I got out of it.
Just be sure all guns are clear would be a good start & remember a lot of people you encounter it will be the first time they touch a gun in their life.
I sold tires for a few years & I'm glad I got out of it.
Just be sure all guns are clear would be a good start & remember a lot of people you encounter it will be the first time they touch a gun in their life.
Particularly in an era when online sales have grown, remember that personal service is your only advantage. Engage, listen, explain when asked and let the customer make the decisions. Be cautious when someone wants you to make their decision, because that makes you responsible for any subsequent frustration or unhappiness. And emphasize other services available, such as scope mounting, stock alterations and proper muzzle threading. Avoid tendency to disparage other dealers or products.
While most all have gone over the dos and don’ts of customer service 99.9% of it is common sense. It’s retail and not that hard. The one thing I would add is learn how to deal with women. Women make up a large percentage of new buyers and nothing turns them off more than being condescending. Active listening and not lecturing goes a long way. I almost forgot….never ever sell a 38 snub to a middle aged+ woman who has never fired a gun.
vintovka
Member
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- Oct 26, 2020
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- 902
My 73 year old neighbor has a .38 LCR. She liked my tiny RM 380 and wanted one. Being virtually unavailable she got sold a new S&W Shield on basis of supposedly easy operate slide. She hates it and LGS will NOT take it back citing "legal issues" and not having staff to do paperwork!!! I may have to buy it from here and have her keep the LCR.
Hello Sir, I am in the United Statesdekibg:
Out of curiosity, are you familiar with US gun laws, or are you in a different country?
Many of us realize that in some countries people first must attend "theory classes" (i.e. Germany: for the "Waffen Bescheinigung" ?) or instead, have different background checks + training before they are allowed to have the legal permission (legally) to touch a gun.
A regular guy on THR who lives in the Czech Republic described their process (to allow Ordinary citizens) to acquire a handgun carry permit.
In other words, most first-time gun customers in Europe and the UK/Irish Republic etc might already be familiar with safe gun handling - compared to so many gun store customers in the US
I actually started just few days ago and it was a really slow day at the store and the range.
They were explaining rules at the range and in the store, how to charge transactions at the register etc
I am supposed to work this coming weekend and it is going to be busy according to the manager.
I will let everyone know how that went.
They have a rule if you rent their gun you have to purchase their ammo , so right now 38, 357 and an AK are not for rent since they can’t get ammo for it ( they don’t allow Russian ammo)
I don’t think they are gouging customers on ammo they sell for example Blazer 9mm brass at $26 for 50 rounds)
Grumpy_old_Fart
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2021
- Messages
- 261
That's not horrible.
[QUOTE="PapaG]I can tell you from first hand experience you'll be paying the owner more than they'll be paying you[/QUOTE]
The good thing is that it'll be worth it. Just about everything I bought at work is worth double what I paid. With the Covid price jumps many have tripled in value. I'll probably never see the profit though.
The good thing is that it'll be worth it. Just about everything I bought at work is worth double what I paid. With the Covid price jumps many have tripled in value. I'll probably never see the profit though
.
illinoisburt
Member
Glock is a generic term to a lot of young people these days. $300 Glock = an SD.Study the Glock catalog very well, they come in many sizes and calibers and you just never know which size and caliber glock a customer will want.... I can't really think of anything else other than just be friendly and knowledgeable when helping a customer choose their glock.
Jk.
Lots of younger people get their gun knowledge from video games. They will ask for items by the names from the games.
Also at ranges, best up sell is expensive carry munitions for target shooting. Most people don't shoot a lot of rounds, encourage them to train with the good stuff.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Yikes. I ordered 4 50rd boxes of Blazer brass 115gr from Academy for $18 a box about a month and a half ago or so. I think I've seen Sellier and Bellot 115/124gr for about $29 a box at gun shows in OKC and Tulsa which is more worth it, but I still would like to pay less that that for FMJ ammo... I really like S&B ammo though. The Czechs make darn good stuff.
X62503
Contributing Member
Keep your fingernails groomed and your hands clean. Guys and girls who have butty fingers and dirt under their nails, and who aren’t in the middle of doing a dirty job, are just plain disgusting.
CherokeeGunslinger
Member
If the store requires people to unload their mags before going onto the range or prohibits carrying loaded handguns, BAIL. Those types of places suck.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
Been thinking about that. My closest indoor range is about a 30 min drive. Currently it's under new management. They now have a range officer on the range anytime it is in use. They also have new range rules. Those rules include only loading on the firing line. Each stall has a partition left and right and a shooting table in front of the shooter. I could walk up into a stall and see bullet holes in the Plexiglass partition extensions, the ceiling and even the small table areas in front of shooters. They are pretty big on the new rules which are in place for safety reasons. You load on the firing line and only the firing line and based on some stupidity I have seen at ranges I am fine with that. While you can't fix stupid you can at least try to control it. I also wonder if range insurance has rules they expect their clients to abide by. Range insurance extending beyond liability to things like health and safety, Things like air handlers. Range insurance is not cheap. A well run range is a good business venture with a good client base.
Just about anyone who frequents and indoor range open to the public has seen incredibly stupid people on the firing line. This is why range safety rules are in place to protect others on the range. While impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are ingenious people so no, I see no reason to bail from a range which enforces good safety practices, I go to a range to shoot and not hope the hell I don't get shot.
Ron
SunnySlopes
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- Nov 3, 2011
- Messages
- 1,224
You posted that on Nov 4. How's everything going? I enjoy all things gun related, which is why I don't think I'd ever want to do anything guns as a business.
Hope you're faring well. Give us an update.
I’ll give suggestions based on stores that I don’t go in anymore.
Don’t have your buddies hanging around chatting thereby making customers feel like intruders on the good ‘ol boy club.
Eat in the back. I can see eating at the counter if it’s a one man shop but if there are 4 of you, take turns eating in the back.
Don’t suggest stupidly powerful cartridges for the local 140 lb average deer. Just because you are young and think the latest craze short mags are the bomb doesn’t mean other, more traditional cartridges won’t do the job as well or better.
Don’t tell lies about your shooting prowess. It might impress the teenagers gathered around the counter but the older guys (that have the money) know that you are full of it.
Don’t put guns on sale that you only have one of. And don’t lie when later called out on it.
Don’t have your buddies hanging around chatting thereby making customers feel like intruders on the good ‘ol boy club.
Eat in the back. I can see eating at the counter if it’s a one man shop but if there are 4 of you, take turns eating in the back.
Don’t suggest stupidly powerful cartridges for the local 140 lb average deer. Just because you are young and think the latest craze short mags are the bomb doesn’t mean other, more traditional cartridges won’t do the job as well or better.
Don’t tell lies about your shooting prowess. It might impress the teenagers gathered around the counter but the older guys (that have the money) know that you are full of it.
Don’t put guns on sale that you only have one of. And don’t lie when later called out on it.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
So if Im a shop owner and only have one gun of a specific type and model (Barrett M107 for instance), I can't ever put it on sale for Christmas or something? I'm a bit confused as to what you mean by that... I hope this doesn't come across as rude, I just can't wrap my smooth brain around it lol.
DarkswordDX
Member
Man I wish more customers would follow this rule. Yeah dude I bet you're a heck of a pistoleer. Joebob's Tactical Destroyer course, you say? Seven times? Wow. By the way you're crushing the takedown lever - the slide release is the one in the middle.
Worked part time at a gun shop range for 5 years.
Don't let your part time job become more important than your full time job. One pays the bills, offers retirement, and healthcare. The other supports your interest. If your full time job starts to suffer, it's time to quit, or really scale back the hours you put into the part time job. I eventually found I did better at my full time job when I didn't have a part time job.
There are AH's on both sides of the counter. There will always be some old timer trying to play "gotcha" with his superior esoteric firearms or cartridge knowledge. Old farts have nothing better to do with their time. Smile, say you're not familiar with it, and move on. Or get him talking about it and possibly learn something new.
As mentioned, 1 gun outside of the counter per customer, per employee. Check and clear every firearm you handle to make sure they are unloaded. Expect any firearm brought in by a customer to be loaded.
Keep an eye on the gun you placed in the customer's hands. Don't let a customer handling a pistol turn their back on you so you can't see the gun. Have them handle it pointing down at the floor in front of you. Reasons for this are robbery and suicide. Be mindful of where the customer is pointing the gun and instruct them when necessary. Check the gun again when it is returned to you.
Be prepared to instruct on gun safety.
Actively engage all customers in conversation. Greet everyone that walks in the door. Follow up with them. Don't sit behind a computer and ignore customers after your 1st greeting. Be around be available.
The owner of the gun shop I worked for, gave me some sales tips.
1. When a customer comes in, pull a gun off the rack and fondle it - work the action, etc. Offer the customer the chance to see it / handle it. Get a gun into the customer's hands. This is a sales ploy but does work!!!
2. If the customer is hemming and hawing over a gun - be quick draw on that 4473. That will frequently get a customer to buy a gun.
3. If the customer is looking at a used gun, offer to let them try it on the range. There are range rentals and used guns. Both have been shot before and aren't considered new guns anymore. This works best with regulars vs someone new off the street. Throw in a small amount of ammo.
4. Accessorize! New shooters buying a gun will also need - ammo, cleaning kits, magazines, holsters, eye & ear protection, slings, scopes, etc. Make it a point to check with them. How about some night sights?
While you may like Glocks and AR15s understand that not everyone likes Glocks and AR15s. Learn what guns your customers and regulars are into.
Be careful of shady deals. Be careful of fellow employees doing shady things. Run everything questionable by the owner. There are legal consequences for doing the wrong thing in this job.
The ATF frequently pulls stings on gun shops. Along with trying to set up gun store employees with straw purchase sales. They would love to close the private sale "loophole." Keep this in mind.
Keep an eye on what is going on in the shop. Who's coming in etc. What are other customers doing.
We had a group of gang bangers wearing colors scope our shop out. One came in wearing colors and quickly left. The rest came in and one stood by the door the while the others moved around the shop. We all saw it and got ready. Shirts were pulled back etc. Regulars were told to stand by the loaded Mossberg 500 or be ready. They noticed our moves and left.
The owner of the shop was oblivious to what was going on. We had to pull him to the side and tell him to put his gun on.
Don't let your part time job become more important than your full time job. One pays the bills, offers retirement, and healthcare. The other supports your interest. If your full time job starts to suffer, it's time to quit, or really scale back the hours you put into the part time job. I eventually found I did better at my full time job when I didn't have a part time job.
There are AH's on both sides of the counter. There will always be some old timer trying to play "gotcha" with his superior esoteric firearms or cartridge knowledge. Old farts have nothing better to do with their time. Smile, say you're not familiar with it, and move on. Or get him talking about it and possibly learn something new.
As mentioned, 1 gun outside of the counter per customer, per employee. Check and clear every firearm you handle to make sure they are unloaded. Expect any firearm brought in by a customer to be loaded.
Keep an eye on the gun you placed in the customer's hands. Don't let a customer handling a pistol turn their back on you so you can't see the gun. Have them handle it pointing down at the floor in front of you. Reasons for this are robbery and suicide. Be mindful of where the customer is pointing the gun and instruct them when necessary. Check the gun again when it is returned to you.
Be prepared to instruct on gun safety.
Actively engage all customers in conversation. Greet everyone that walks in the door. Follow up with them. Don't sit behind a computer and ignore customers after your 1st greeting. Be around be available.
The owner of the gun shop I worked for, gave me some sales tips.
1. When a customer comes in, pull a gun off the rack and fondle it - work the action, etc. Offer the customer the chance to see it / handle it. Get a gun into the customer's hands. This is a sales ploy but does work!!!
2. If the customer is hemming and hawing over a gun - be quick draw on that 4473. That will frequently get a customer to buy a gun.
3. If the customer is looking at a used gun, offer to let them try it on the range. There are range rentals and used guns. Both have been shot before and aren't considered new guns anymore. This works best with regulars vs someone new off the street. Throw in a small amount of ammo.
4. Accessorize! New shooters buying a gun will also need - ammo, cleaning kits, magazines, holsters, eye & ear protection, slings, scopes, etc. Make it a point to check with them. How about some night sights?
While you may like Glocks and AR15s understand that not everyone likes Glocks and AR15s. Learn what guns your customers and regulars are into.
Be careful of shady deals. Be careful of fellow employees doing shady things. Run everything questionable by the owner. There are legal consequences for doing the wrong thing in this job.
The ATF frequently pulls stings on gun shops. Along with trying to set up gun store employees with straw purchase sales. They would love to close the private sale "loophole." Keep this in mind.
Keep an eye on what is going on in the shop. Who's coming in etc. What are other customers doing.
We had a group of gang bangers wearing colors scope our shop out. One came in wearing colors and quickly left. The rest came in and one stood by the door the while the others moved around the shop. We all saw it and got ready. Shirts were pulled back etc. Regulars were told to stand by the loaded Mossberg 500 or be ready. They noticed our moves and left.
The owner of the shop was oblivious to what was going on. We had to pull him to the side and tell him to put his gun on.
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The shop I worked for paid us hourly plus gave us $5 commission for every gun we sold. I thought that was a pretty fair deal.
Expect that shop needs to make $ on everything. You might've pulled in a used gun for next to nothing. Run it by the owner and mention you would be interested in buying it. Expect him to want to make a profit even on used guns sold to employees. If you don't like the price he gives you - pass on it.
We didn't try to screw folks on used guns and would inform them on how we made our offers. Figure we can buy commonly available firearms new at dealer costs for less than what they are trying to sell it to us for. Their gun is now used. We had simple formula for buying used guns. IIRC it was dealer cost less 20%. Older guns - we would check the Blue Book of Gun Values and sold auctions on gunbroker and make our offer based on that. Figure the shop needs to make a profit.
The key 1st question when buying a used gun off a customer is "How much are you looking for?"
You might pass on it altogether. You might inform them about armslist and gunbroker.
You might give them more $ than they were originally looking for.
I had an older couple come in with 2 guns that they wanted to get rid of. The guns belonged to a family member who passed away and they didn't want anything to do with them. I offered them $ for the guns and they turned me down. Asked if they had any other family members that might like the guns? Nope - they donated them to the shop.
Expect that shop needs to make $ on everything. You might've pulled in a used gun for next to nothing. Run it by the owner and mention you would be interested in buying it. Expect him to want to make a profit even on used guns sold to employees. If you don't like the price he gives you - pass on it.
We didn't try to screw folks on used guns and would inform them on how we made our offers. Figure we can buy commonly available firearms new at dealer costs for less than what they are trying to sell it to us for. Their gun is now used. We had simple formula for buying used guns. IIRC it was dealer cost less 20%. Older guns - we would check the Blue Book of Gun Values and sold auctions on gunbroker and make our offer based on that. Figure the shop needs to make a profit.
The key 1st question when buying a used gun off a customer is "How much are you looking for?"
You might pass on it altogether. You might inform them about armslist and gunbroker.
You might give them more $ than they were originally looking for.
I had an older couple come in with 2 guns that they wanted to get rid of. The guns belonged to a family member who passed away and they didn't want anything to do with them. I offered them $ for the guns and they turned me down. Asked if they had any other family members that might like the guns? Nope - they donated them to the shop.
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Indoor ranges are fun...
Expect a suicide with a rental gun, probably by a regular, who has his own guns. We had a few at the shop I worked at. One time, the Owner asked if I would clean it up after the cops left. I was like hell no. I believe the company they hired to clean / sanitize was called Aftermath.
Our policy on the range was - reloaders and shooters are welcome to pick up their own fired brass. The rest of the fired brass & lead on the range belongs to the gun shop. There will be some shyster of a reloader trying to sweep up and steal all the fired brass on the range. Tell him he can buy a bucket of fired brass for X amount. IIRC we would sell Home Depot buckets of brass for $20 to $50 cash. The rest was sold to a scrap company.
The owner had a deal with guy that would come and vacuum the backstop for lead. Also to be sold for scrap.
Shop employees had to clean the range at the end of the day. Work that out with the other employees to clean the range, empty trash cans, clean the bathroom, and closeout the register. Don't get stuck being the only one to clean the range. Wear eye protection, a dust mask, and rubber gloves when cleaning up the range.
Also don't get stuck being the only one to work the cash register. That should be shared by everyone in the shop. Selling guns is more fun than being stuck at a cash register at a busy shop.
Expect a suicide with a rental gun, probably by a regular, who has his own guns. We had a few at the shop I worked at. One time, the Owner asked if I would clean it up after the cops left. I was like hell no. I believe the company they hired to clean / sanitize was called Aftermath.
Our policy on the range was - reloaders and shooters are welcome to pick up their own fired brass. The rest of the fired brass & lead on the range belongs to the gun shop. There will be some shyster of a reloader trying to sweep up and steal all the fired brass on the range. Tell him he can buy a bucket of fired brass for X amount. IIRC we would sell Home Depot buckets of brass for $20 to $50 cash. The rest was sold to a scrap company.
The owner had a deal with guy that would come and vacuum the backstop for lead. Also to be sold for scrap.
Shop employees had to clean the range at the end of the day. Work that out with the other employees to clean the range, empty trash cans, clean the bathroom, and closeout the register. Don't get stuck being the only one to clean the range. Wear eye protection, a dust mask, and rubber gloves when cleaning up the range.
Also don't get stuck being the only one to work the cash register. That should be shared by everyone in the shop. Selling guns is more fun than being stuck at a cash register at a busy shop.
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