Want So Bad To Buy From a LGS...

[beamon]

But it's very difficult to foot the extra freight.

Fondled an HK VP9 yesterday. My small hand and short fingers were right at home with the grip, and it had the medium front and back straps and side panels installed. In spite of the grip width being the same as the Walther PPQ it felt much smaller and I could get my trigger finger placed properly on the trigger.

More than I wanted to spend for a HD and range gun, I wanted to talk turkey, nonetheless. Their price, $629.99 and no negotiation. AZ tax of ~9% would be added to that. Find it listed online for $550.00 in many places, free shipping and no tax!

Factoring in the $20.00 FFL fee from my neighbor, the two sources are ~$116.00 apart. Other than the instant gratification factor, the store offers little except some nice guys with which to deal. I sorta drew the line at a $50.00 premium that I'd be willing to pay to do business locally on a gun in that price range, so I left the premises.

Where do you folks draw the line?

 

[SeanSw]

I draw the line at the average cost online plus local sales tax and a few (1-3%) percent extra for markup. Our local ~10% tax is no joke once you add in dealer markup. Too much competition out there to throw away any more money. Choosing the absolute lowest price online hasn't worked out well for me so I do stick to preferred vendors even if they're more expensive. With a 3 day waiting period the gotta-have-it-now factor basically diminishes any further interest in buying locally and paying a premium for it.

 

[Lex Luthier]

i draw the line when I decide to put money in someone's pocket who I know and like to do business with. You do a few transactions like that and you start getting the benefits from doing business like that. Taxes will always be there whether we like it or not.

 

[beamon]

Choosing the absolute lowest price online hasn't worked out well for me so I do stick to preferred vendors even if they're more expensive.

Agree. The two guns that I have bought recently online, I too, have patronized the vendors with the more solid reputations. As long as you don't have 'hot pants' for it, the preferred vendors usually get as competitive as the rest.

 

[beamon]

Taxes will always be there whether we like it or not.

They are likely headed that way, but they're still not there... yet! As long as the online vendor doesn't have a presence in your state, taxes are not usually charged. Some, however, are now yielding to the pressure and charging tax, regardless e.g. Amazon et al.

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

I'm sorry, But the supposed "service" you get from folks selling guns at gun stores is nothing more than "you want a holster and ammo too?"

Being somewhat educated in modern firearms that you'd find for sale at an LGS, Ive stood around and listened. (Usually browsing the used inventory or waiting to get into the range.) Sometimes the stuff that comes out of the mouths of salesman, remember that is what they are, makes my head cock like a confused pup.

I do not believe this "service" is worth any kind of premium. I don't even believe that its service. Perhaps I havent frequented the right gun stores? I dunno. So to answer the OP's question... buy it as cheap as you can, man.

 

[oneounceload]

free shipping and no tax!

While it may be difficult to enforce, if you are the law abiding type, you are required to remit the equivalent of the sales tax (called a "use" tax in most locales) to your state.

Also, there is no such thing as FREE freight or anything else. It is covered somewhere less apparent, but I can assure you neither UPS, Fedex, or USPS will transport anything for free.

If your LGS feels they do not have to negotiate on that item, it is because they know they can ask that price and folks will WILLINGLY pay that price. If you do not like their asking price, you are free to shop elsewhere.

I'm sorry, But the supposed "service" you get from folks selling guns at gun stores is nothing more than "you want a holster and ammo too?"

And maybe you use their price and show them the internet price as leverage to get some ammo, holster or at least a discount on some of those accessories.

 

[12many]

Costs a bunch more to run retail than a web wharehouse. Sure is nice to hold it and see how it fits before you buy. I buy local unless I can not get it local. I don't feel right using the store to it see how it fits and inspect the fit and finish and then searching the web for the cheapest place I can find. I got a couple online when I could have bought local but stopped doing that. I like to got to the store and hold em and see what fits.

 

[smalls]

Unfortunately, without that brick and mortar store being there, you'd never had a chance to fondle the gun. That's another bonus of them being there besides instant gratification. So how much extra you're willing to spend to keep that option open is up to you.

I'll glad spend a few extra dollars at the LGS. How much? Really depends. $50 on a $600 gun, sure. $120, probably not.

But whether you buy it from them, or not, let them know why. "Hey, I really wanted to buy this from you, but I can get it $xxx.xxx cheaper here, and just can't justify spending the extra dough with you guys. Never know, they might try to haggle for your business.

 

[Teachu2]

If I go to a LGS and fondle their inventory, then decide to buy a gun they have placed in my hand, I buy it from them. They have earned the sale, unless they start spouting BS trying to make me buy. OTOH, if I go looking for a particular gun and they don't have one in stock, final price to me trumps all.

California requires transfer dealers to collect sales tax on all non-PPT deals now, which has closed the gap for the LGS's. They still seem to think they should make 25% more for ordering a gun, though - and they often can't get what I want.

Of the purchases I've made in the last three years or so (a couple dozen guns), about half were purchased from four LGSs, the rest from online dealers.

 

[shotgunjoel]

I draw the line at the average cost online plus local sales tax and a few (1-3%) percent extra for markup. Our local ~10% tax is no joke once you add in dealer markup. Too much competition out there to throw away any more money. Choosing the absolute lowest price online hasn't worked out well for me so I do stick to preferred vendors even if they're more expensive. With a 3 day waiting period the gotta-have-it-now factor basically diminishes any further interest in buying locally and paying a premium for it.

@SeanSw: Oh come on, Champaign is "only" 8.75%, not 10%. If you want to save on taxes and deal with good people go out to Dave's in Mayview or Dean at Liberty Guns and Ammo in Homer. I prefer Dean.

 

[alexander45]

Check arizona firearms (not az firearms) in Tempe they tend to have very good prices compared to buds check their online shop as well they tend to have the best deals on new stock on there then ya just pick up in shop

 

[browningguy]

That's some nerve those local gun stores have, trying to make a profit off someone!

 

[fallout mike]

The LGS's around me seem to only sell at 10% over MSRP

 

[jmr40]

For $100+ I might order online. But I've never found an online deal any cheaper than I can get it locally.

 

[Plan2Live]

First, I'm not a big Internet buyer regardless of the product.

Second, I like to see, hold, fondle anything I buy. Can't do that on the Internet so if I go to your store to see it, hold it then I feel an obligation to buy from you. Obvious there is a point where your profit margin won't permit me to do that but that breaking point is pretty high with me.

I prefer the local restaurant over the chain, I prefer the local hardware store over Lowes. That's just me.

 

[StrutStopper]

If my LGS comes close to a deal I can get online plus an FFL fee, I'll buy from them even if they're a few dollars more. My LGS usually has their stuff marked up pretty high. Last weekend I asked the owner what he could do on a particular gun I had been considering, he said he could knock $45 off the price. Even then, it was a bit higher than an online sale, plus I had to pay tax. Online plus FFL fee would have been a little less, but he had it in stock, so I bought from him. Keeps his lights on and I don't have to deal with buying sight unseen.

 

[SwaneeSR]

My local local LGS does not have the selection I need, I would buy from them if possible. Good guys, and no BS.

15 miles away is a high volume shop and their prices and inventory are available on a website. I have made several purchases and they get very close to the selection and prices online.

Where I will no longer purchase from? Gander Mountain. They lost the good gun counter guy and the prices are not good.

 

[Teachu2]

That's some nerve those local gun stores have, trying to make a profit off someone!

Guess what - the online dealers make a profit, too. I have no problem with either one making a reasonable profit, but I refuse to pay for extra service and help while getting neither.

 

[TomJ]

We have 3 family owned LGS' in our area that are run by good, honest people. Between the 3 I can usually find one that has what I want in stock at a competitive price, and I make sure to buy from them. Like others mentioned, there's a benefit to being able to hold a gun prior to buying it. They're knowledgable, which I'm also willing to pay for. If I'm going to order online, I found a local guy who runs his business out of his house. Because he has no overhead, he's always been able to meet or beat prices from the big online retailers.

There's another LGS that I go to only because I can reserve time on their range, which I can't do elsewhere around here. It allows me to show up, shoot for 90 minutes and leave. I'll look at guns there, but will no longer buy from them as their owner is incredibly dishonest and the guys behind the counter are mostly rude. For the $20 I pay them for the range time, I don't feel bad looking at a gun or two without buying from them.

 

[hso]

Fondled an HK VP9 yesterday. My small hand and short fingers were right at home with the grip, and it had the medium front and back straps and side panels installed. In spite of the grip width being the same as the Walther PPQ it felt much smaller and I could get my trigger finger placed properly on the trigger.

Would you be so interested if you hadn't put it in your hand and found it fit perfectly? How does a brick and mortar tie their money up in inventory for us to handle and find it fits or doesn't and not expect to make a return on the investment vs. those sellers that their inventory never get fondled and risk damage?

I'd point out to them that they're that far apart and that you'd be happy to split the difference with them in appreciation for their making the gun available to you to fit.

 

[Blue Thunder]

My last gun I bought was a Rossie Ranch Hand AKA "Mares Leg". The big box store I went into had 3 of them in the gun case. I asked to handle one of them. I had coveted one of these since growing up watching "Wanted Dead or Alive" with Steve McQueen. It felt great and they had it in .357Magnum. I bought it on the spot below $500 tax tips and drive out. I have never bought guns off the Internet and have always bought locally. If I cannot feel and touch and caress it, it does not get bought.

 

[tarosean]

I refuse to pay for extra service and help while getting neither.

so what will you do when there is no longer a storefront to fondle or do transfers?

 

[oldbear]

beamon, like you I prefer to buy locally, and will pay a small premium to do so. In this instance with a $100.00 + dollar difference I would order on-line.

Best of luck whatever you do.

 

[orionengnr]

The two are not mutually exclusive.
I have a good LGS who sell their inventory for wholesale plus 8%.
If they don't have what I want in stock, they will order it and charge me...wait for it...wholesale plus 8%.

Yes, they will actually pull it up on the distributor's website, show me the price they pay, then calculate an 8% markup...and that is what I pay. And not just me, but all their customers.

Did I mention they also do $20 transfers?

They seem to be able to keep the doors open and the lights turned on, and I have been doing business with them for over ten years now.

Would you be surprised to hear that they have a fairly good number of loyal, repeat customers?

No? Neither am I.

Keep looking. They are out there.