Yosemite Sam
Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2008
- Messages
- 311
A few weeks ago the salesman at Dick's Sporting Goods told me a Mossberg 590 didn't exist -- just the 500.
But how many models does he have to keep straight?sure that Mercedes salesman isn't driving one of his products but he knows one model from another.
That's a good point. Just because there is a gun counter at the store doesn't mean that we should be expecting everybody in the store to be a gun expert. It's not a realistic expectation. Now, if you're going to a gun store that is dedicated to selling guns and nothing else, you can have an expectation that the salesperson will at least have a basic knowledge of firearms.If I worked at a big box store I might know a bit about the gun counter, but if a customer dragged me over to the golf department I'd be a fish out of water.
Some people just need to be taught and trained, as they are new to firearms and the like. Some people are just lazy, but EVERYBODY showing even the slightest interest in firearms or firearms safety deserves patience and understanding while being "informed" about such things. One thing we all have to remember is that ALL of us were once "wet behind the ears"
Actually I was a very talented salesman. You sell the customer what fits their needs, and explain to them why it fits their needs. But you sell them what you have that fits their needs. If they need a small concealed 9mm handgun with a polymer frame, and all you have in stock is a Taurus, you'll point them toward the Taurus over ordering a Glock. I'm not saying that you would point them to a 6" .357 instead. I am saying that you take their needs and find something in stock to sell to those needs. While the glock might be the prefferable handgun to sell, the Taurus is pretty comparable and it is in stock. If you recommend a Glock instead, then you might lose the customer if they want to purchase a gun today instead of waiting for the order. They might shop around and find a better price.expvideo,
No offense meant, but if that was your approach to sales, then you were not a good salesman.
Any good salesman is going to ask the customer questions about what they want, how they plan to use, budget, etc. Once a good salesman gets a feel for what the customer is looking for then they can make suggestions. Those suggestions will never be based on what is in stock.
Like a lot o other people have mentioned, there are bad sales staff at just about any store you go into. But these are some funny stories.
FOMOGO - "He [the gun saleman] then told us of his fast draw skills.
Telling us that he likes to have people stand with their hands at chest level... about 8 inches apart.
Facing him while he draws.
When he says go they are to clap their hands together... and supposedly he is quick enough that they clap on the barrel of his sixgun."