Tendency for gun store clerks to wrap up the display model

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BillBloggins

BillBloggins

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I have found a predisposition of the typical gun store clerk to automatically wrap up the display model when the decision to purchase is reached. I don't know about anyone else but I always ask if they have one in the back that is brand new in the box. I want to get the gun that has not been pawed up/ drooled over by who knows how many tire kickers.
I just picked up a new Springfield Stainless Loaded in .45 yesterday- I had seen the SA promo and knew now was the time, and was I ever happy they had more in the back unhandled until I laid my mitts on what was to become MY gun. Just a fantastic gun and it met my expectations with the first 200 rounds put through it.
 
My preferred choice in a new gun is one from the back room, not the the display model in the case. If the one in the case is the only one they've got and it checks out okay, then I would go with that one. Might also ask for a bit of discount if it's not some hard to come by model that's in great demand.
 
Everywhere I've worked that sold guns, you'd only get the display gun under two circumstances; 1. You requested it, or 2. It was the only one left, and even then, we'd offer them a new one when it came in.
 
When I sold guns it was always easier to sell out of the back then to put out a new display, this was big box so they had all kinds of stickers and crap to print...but if it's the last one that's what you got, and no discount cause it's got fingerprints on it.
 
bannockburn said:
My preferred choice in a new gun is one from the back room, not the the display model in the case. If the one in the case is the only one they've got and it checks out okay, then I would go with that one.
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Same here. I've bought display guns a few times. Not a big deal since I check it out first, and then clean and oil it before shooting it.
 
FL-NC said:
In many small gun shops the display model is often the only choice.
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Yeppers, but the upside to that is the display model in a small gun shop might not have been pawed over and generally mishandled by as many know-nothings as the display model in a big box sporting goods store.:)
 
I have to admit that I'm not fastidious about my guns. I don't care if it's the display model or not. The exception to this is if the display model shows signs of abuse such as being dropped, scratched, etc. I do care, however, that I have inspected the one I am taking home.
 
I just ask if they have when in the back, but normally it is offered or they go and check before I start the paperwork. Of course, I have two great local gun stores.

Actually, whenever my favorite salesman at my LGS brings out a new gun from the back, he always opens it in front of me to have me "touch it first" as a superstition and to be fun. Obviously it's been handled multiple times in transit, but it is funny to have a mini "ceremony" where I get to be the first person to un-mint my new gun.

On a side note, some big box stores put firearms on clearance if they get too many handling marks from being a display for too long. That's how I got my Stoeger Cougar for like $300 as opposed to $400.
 
Everytime i ask if they have one that hasn't been handled, they look and say , no thats the last one.
 
As a former long-time gun shop employee, I can tell you that most stores want to rotate their stock & sell display models after a few weeks of display (on orders from the owner). Sometimes, they'll even say "This is the last one we have" whether it's true or not; they know the customer can't verify it.
As for other people handling & drooling on the display model, I've had pretty good luck buying the display model. Unless the gun shows nicks & dings or signs of being dropped, I wouldn't care; it saves you the trouble of removing the factory grease.
I got really lucky with a Ruger Bisley Vaquero in 45 Colt. I really wanted one BAD. The salesman told me the display model was the last one they had. It did have a few scratches & the cylinder turn line showed quite a bit of working the action. But I bought it anyway & got a big surprise at the range. At 25 yards, it printed 5 shots into one ragged hole - and right at POA - with fixed sights. Something you usually get from a custom revolver.
 
I've never worked in a gun shop, but have to believe Shaq is right on about rotating the stock, etc. I have had occasions where the salesperson did show me "one out of the back" and I still bought the display model. This, because the display model was fitted better, had a better trigger, a better finish,etc. than the one brought out of the back. I've seen significant differences in build quality between firearms of the exact same model. Saw a guy in a shop the other day buying a $200.00 gun, and wanted the one out of the back. He and his buddy appeared to spend considerable time closely examining the one in the case, then bought the one out of the back with barely a look. Obviously, fit, finish, action,etc. didn't really matter, only that he got the one out of the back;)
 
I've spent many a moment of indecision and analysis-paralysis over the minutiae of shooting... but I've never once thought about asking the store clerk to go digging into the back of the fridge for the "colder" eggs.

Thanks for giving me one more thing to pore over, fellas.
 
Shaq said:
As a former long-time gun shop employee, I can tell you that most stores want to rotate their stock & sell display models after a few weeks of display (on orders from the owner). Sometimes, they'll even say "This is the last one we have" whether it's true or not; they know the customer can't verify it.
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Many people tend to look at, handle and dry-fire guns at local retail establishments and then purchase their choice online. When I go to a local store, I add up the total cost of their offering including sales tax compared to what I've researched the gun to be available for online, plus applicable fees like shipping and the transfer fee. If the local store is close, as in the amount of the sales tax or less, I try to buy it from them as it isn't their fault they have to charge the tax.

But it is their fault if they put their concerns above their customers' as you describe above. I'll get a untouched gun from the online vendor, and in some cases this matters. The last gun I looked at in person was a PPQ .22, and did not want one that had been dry-fired countless times. But of course I got the instant 'that's the only one we have' response, and strongly suspecting the above I did not purchase, even though in this case they were dollar for dollar with online prices - sales tax included - as they maintained the same about every other gun I inquired about even though this was a large store that obviously must have 'some in the back'.

Traditional retail is a dying breed, and sometimes for good reasons. Before strong online options provided a real alternative retail stores didn't actually have to be good enough at their jobs to consider much of anything from the customers' perspective, much less tell them the truth.
 
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I've turned down the "out of the back" gun at times in favor of the display unit just because I though the display was in some way better. I've found significant differences in "sister" guns, triggers, timing, fit & finish etc..... I've been burned by not inspecting even new guns closely enough in the past, a Marlin 1894 Cowboy being the worst example, and that was PRE-Remington. A close inspection might not catch everything but it'll at least catch the obvious things.
 
It's funny how some don't want a gun that's been dry fired a few times, but think they have to run 500 rounds through it before it's ready to use.

Those who spend time handling guns at a shop, knowing they are going to order online should just be ashamed for wasting other people's time.
 
Snyper said:
It's funny how some don't want a gun that's been dry fired a few times, but think they have to run 500 rounds through it before it's ready to use.
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It all depends on the gun in question. I'm sure you are aware that dry-firing of most rimfire arms, and even a select few centerfire ones, is expressly prohibited. When shopping for a Ruger American Rimfire rifle, I had no qualms about accepting a floor model as Ruger has designed it to suffer no damage from dry-firing and stated such. A few other rimfires have anecdotally proven safe to dry-fire, although there is no manufacturer statement on the issue. With most other rimfires one should not consider dry-firing a safe activity, and when it's the display model you can rest assured it's been dry-fired a lot more than a few times.

Everyone has got to do a good job if they are going to get a piece of my money. And that includes the manufacturer. If quality control lies at levels low enough that only the floor model started out flawless, I'm probably going to focus on a higher-quality product. And rest assured, I'm not taking any gun home that has fit and finish issues, floor model or from the back.
 
I'm way more picky when choosing a revolver than an auto. Actions trigger pulls, cylinder alignment & cylinder play vary with each individual gun. Two of my Rugers - GP-100 & a Speed Six are perfect examples. I bought the GP-100 when I was a gun shop employee. I had the opportunity to check out several right off the truck before choosing one. The Speed Six was bought many years ago & it was the display model. Everyone who has handled both guns--including gunsmiths--has asked me who did the action work. When I tell them they have had no action work, they reply, "Aw....C'mon." Neither gun has had any work by anyone.

The Speed Six (2.75" barrel, fixed sights) consistently groups into 2-3 inches at 50 yds.
 
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