Went to LGS to do a bit of holster shopping...got some FUD instead

[trex1310]

Obviously this guy was not a fully trained and experienced lgs
clerk. I didn't hear mention of open shirt, hairy chest or gold
chains. A few (dozen or so) tatoos wouldn't hurt either.

 

[ROCK6]

I guess the sad thing is that most who own/shoot firearms as a hobby and/or carry for work can easily spot the moron sales-person; however, the new-to-firearms individual can really get some crappy advice. I understand the business aspect and trying to make a sale, but the best salesmen/women I've talked to were more open and enjoyed discussing advantages/disadvantages of various firearms rather than telling a customer what they need. There is a fine line between brand-loyalty and snobbery, but true gun enthusiasts realize that not all pistols feel the same to everybody. I probably would have called BS on the moron's comment about not being able to do a tap, rack and bang drill with an XD...he's full of lard. That technique can be used on all semi-autos, and is a fundamental malfunction drill.

Nothing against Glocks as that is what I carry the most, but my wife just doesn't care for them. Although she carries her little Bersa .380 the most, she really enjoys shooting Sigs, 1911's and really like my XD .45 Compact...it was more about comfort in the hand than anything.

I've done several informal training sessions (mostly with women teachers), and just about everyone of them had their favorite between revolvers (Ruger and S&W) or semiautos: CZ, XD, Glock, 1911/BHP, Sig, Beretta, Kahr and Steyr...very few being the same pistol. I surely don't know everything and would never claim that, but I do know that not one pistol is going to work for everybody and you shouldn't make it that way.

ROCK6

 

[marv]

I was in retail for 50+ yrs. First thing I learned was: RIGHT OR WRONG, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

 

[jehicks87]

Oh yeah, you get that a lot. I actually respect the guys who admit when they don't know something, makes me want to give them my money even more. What I hate hate hate is going in to look at a big-bore autoloader and being told I should instead buy a .22 revolver because I "already have a .45". Yes, that happened.

The absolute worst "commando story" I head was at the range, though. My buddy was shooting his ruger .357 and there was a "tex" shooting his S&W. He was nice enough, came over and was asking my buddy about his gun and showing off his, which is fine. Then he started saying "see how your barrel is longer than mine? That's because mine is made for accuracy and yours is made for penetration. That's why I shoot black talons, ever heard of'em? They got outlawed to where you have to have a permit to buy them now. I got some though, and it's all I put in here outside of the range."

And on the flip side, when I was younger I was the "guy on the other side", retelling opinions that had been told to me as fact and I took them as such. The salesmen smiled, nodded, sometimes corrected or coached, sometimes didn't. I appreciated not being made to feel like the moron I was unknowingly coming across as.

Quote:
... Advanced Auto parts store and ask for "Blinker Fluid" ...
We used to send people in for "Muffler Bearings". Joke was on us one day, apparently Mercedes actually HAS "Muffler Bearings".

Awesome. As a crewcheif, we have sent our new guys looking for everything from a blade-straightener to some BA-11S (pronounced B.A. Eleven S.)

 

[KenW.]

Obviously this guy was not a fully trained and experienced lgs
clerk. I didn't hear mention of open shirt, hairy chest or gold
chains. A few (dozen or so) tatoos wouldn't hurt either.

You've been to Redjacket! (Sons of Guns)

 

[Sport45]

What's a FUD?

 

[MrSpiffy]

I was in retail for 50+ yrs. First thing I learned was: RIGHT OR WRONG, THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.

Marv, I have to disagree. The customer is NOT always right. And I say that from a customer's point of view.

I have no problem with a clerk or manager telling a customer that they are wrong or misinformed, as long as they do it politely and respectfully. If a customer gets all huffy and puffy about an employee providing them with correct and relevant information or products, that's their own problem. If I had a store, I wouldn't want customers like that in my store anyway. They annoy the good customers, making them not want to come back. However, when it comes to things like the OP mentioned, or what MyGreenGuns posted, where a customer comes in looking for a specific accessory or part for a gun they already own, telling them to buy a completely different gun as a solution is ludicrous.

Be a kind, courteous, and helpful salesperson, and you'll have lifelong customers. But to say a customer is always right is just encouragement for people to be the know-it-all, pushy, "I'm entitled to everything" customer that annoys everyone else, including the good customers.

 

[HOOfan_1]

What's a FUD?

Fear Uncertainty Doubt
It usually means spreading misinformation, usually to send someone in a certain direction.

On gun boards people also sometimes use the term "Fudd" as in Elmer Fudd, to describe people full of advice and often very deprecating of anything seen as non-traditional.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

On gun boards people also sometimes use the term "Fudd" as in Elmer Fudd, to describe people full of advice and often very deprecating of anything seen as non-traditional.

"Only need one shot to kill a deer, why would you need that AR15?"

That basically sums up a Fudd.

 

[cougar1717]

Translation: "I don't have the holster you're looking for; here, let me sell you a gun for which I do have a holster for."

Exactly. The salesman would obviously like to sell you a new gun and holster instead of just a holster for the gun that you already have. I hate to admit it, but that rhetoric does work on a certain percentage of LGS customers.

 

[bbuddtec]

I was at a Gander Mtn here and the salesman told me I should always ease the slide into battery... never let it slam. I had to look at him to see his deadpan face, and said "really? Hmmm" and then commenced using him as a gun getter.

Still can't get over that, lol, It was so farfetched, I was blindsided... never again hehehhe

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I was at a Gander Mtn here and the salesman told me I should always ease the slide into battery... never let it slam. I had to look at him to see his deadpan face, and said "really? Hmmm" and then commenced using him as a gun getter.

It's not good for the gun if it's a 1911 or a Hi Power on a empty chamber. He most likely heard that and thought it applies to all guns.

 

[Wanderling]

Until I started shopping for my first gun a few months ago, I've never set my foot inside a gun store. There's quite a sub-culture in these places. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of BS, arrogance, and 'f...-you" attitude I see in a good half of them. While I didn't have any prior experience, I did read a lot about handguns and talked to many knowledgeable people. So I was able to see when someone was being a total jerk.

Here are some of the comments I got - not from the temp clerks, mind you, but from part owners in small shops, which I prefer to large establishments:

"This gun is $700 everywhere else. You won't find it any cheaper than our $650" (Glock 17 that I ended up buying online for $499 delivered. To this day I don't know if he thought that I don't know how to search on the Net, or if he never figured out how to use it himself.)

"If you are a beginner, you need a revolver. They are simpler and safer. All beginners cause automatics to jam up". Now this was probably a sincere advice, but still rather stupid and condescending.

"You really need a 1911, all other autos are junk compared to it." Right.

There was even more clerks in stores who behaved like they made you a huge favor even speaking to you. Looking genuinely annoyed whenever someone asked them a question. It's like they are Special Forces who were temporarily moved to retail but never discharged, so they are walking around waiting to be called back.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

If you came here for advice, then you came to the right place. One of the reasons why I love this forum is the overall respect of other members and their guns.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I've never been a Navy SEAL or Delta guy, but I always wanted to play one on TV........., and maybe drive a Ferrari, too.....................

 

[Radagast]

Easy enough to mexican carry a 1911, wear a loud shirt and grow an 80s moustache. Finding a millionaire writer with a fetish for role playing an English butler is much harder.

 

[Averageman]

I think as people have become more and more computer savy, the guy behind the counter needs to be a little more careful as to what he suggests and how he sells.
Essentially I can buy nearly everything in the store cheaper online than I can by purchasing through a store. What I may be comming to the store for is convienance. Make it less convienant and I will walk away and not come back.
If I was a dealer with a store I would certainly be very careful about who I hired. 50% of those who I have come in contact with have little more of an educated opinion than I do. Taking the Customer's word for what he wants and either having it or getting it is really what needs to be done.
If you are wearing a fanny pack behind the counter I almost immeadiatly have no reason to ask your opinion about holsters.

 

[alienbogey]

In my area my experience has been that the small, mom & pop type of gun store are friendly and helpful to experienced and beginners alike, and one local big box sporting goods retailer is atrocious with both experienced and beginners. Recent example of their customer service:

I go up to the yards and yards-long handgun display case needing some primers that are kept behind the counter. I know that lots of people window shop and drool on the countertops while ogling the firearms, but I'm standing right there, looking at the several salespeople behind the counter on either side, trying to get some help. I see one older guy look at me three times, return to his conversation with his coworker each time, then sigh, decide I'm not going away, and saunters over. He stops 8 feet away and looks at me, no greeting, just looks at me, which I guess is his way of saying "May I help you?".

Me: "I need a thousand Federal small pistol primers."
Him: Turns his back and starts perusing the shelves of primers.
Him: "Federal you say?"
Me: "Yes."
Him: "What size?"
Me: "Small pistol."
Him: "How many?"
Me: "O-N-E T-H-O-U-S-A-N-D."
Him: Picks out a box, slides them down the counter to me and, without saying another word, returns to his conversation with the co-worker.

I was tempted to slide the box right back at him, but I needed them, it was the only place that had them for 40 miles, and I was in a hurry.