What do you look for in a Gun Shop?

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eye candy behind the counter. :D

i'm still alive enough to enjoy the pleasantries of the fairer sex, especially when she happens to be knowledgable about the subject at hand, freely expesses her likes/dislikes and doesn't judge mine. the same would go if it were a guy.
 
What do you look for in a Gun Shop?
Click to expand...

Anything less than this, you offer little more than some of the dealers at gun shows.



Ammo inventory (500,000-to-1,000,000 rounds)

Gun inventory (300-to-400 firearms)

Reloading inventory (all brands equipment and enough components to do 1,000,000 rounds)
 
There are three LGSs I go to often. The closest is the one I visit the least because its half gun shop, half lawn lower repair shop. That's fine, but the owner also allows people to smoke in there, so it stinks horribly for a former smoker. Also, not much in stock, yes really more of a gunsmith who sells a few guns and ammo, but he's a good gunsmith.

The second is close to work, so I hit that up every is and then. Decent selection of guns, massive amounts of camping and fishing gear.

Lastly, my favorite LGS had a lot of new and used guns, lots of ammo and archery, lots of accessories, lots of everything. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. Prices are reasonable, but not always the lowest.

All of these are mom and pop shops, so I usually don't mind bouncing between the three to find the best deals.
 
Personalities/customer Service

I for the most part really do not enjoy going to most Gun shops ,most of them in My area as soon as you approach a salesman or employee you hardly ever get a personable response and someone that seems intent on making your visit a good one,a place that you may end up spending a large sum of Money,I for past 12 years have managed Concerts and Festival events where the most important aspect after a safe enviroment is CUSTOMER SERVICE,I understand do to the current enviroment and all that is Firearms in Our day has changed and that there is a influx of many many unknowledgable people who are becoming involved with Our lifestyle, with that said is not an excuse for poor Customer relations..when we interview prospective Employees Our main focus is How we they interact with Guests to Our venue,as with any Business where peole are spending their hard earned money it is a make or break factor as to a business and its longevity and success..Most Firearm related Businesses are Missing that Point.Of all the many Firearm Businesses I have Shopped at in the past 4 months in search of that perfect Firearm the best experience I've encounter was a large Box Store ,Gander Mountain,its just too bad Their prices Kill the deal..
 
The worst thing in a store is when I hear someone behind a counter say something racist. In your own time, whatever but in a store I don't want to hear your views on how the president is really a towelhead muslim or how the new ch__k representative is really a commie.
 
+1000 on No Know it all staff! I hate it when the guy behind the counter states something that I know for a fact ain't so. Then do I call him on it or let it slide? Usually let it slide.

NO EX-military war stories w/o DD214 documentation and signed affidavits by two credible witnesses. Heard too many "I was there" stories!

Hats off to real Vets!
 
Don't push a gun on me cause you think I need it. Especially women. Let them decide what they want, guide em to a decent gun, don't push em.
Rant done. Good luck.
 
Guns. Lots of guns.

The stuff you can't easily buy online because of high shipping or hazmat fees, like powder, primers and bullets.

The stuff Wal-Mart doesn't carry, like a selection of solvents beyond just Hoppes. Don't try to beat the giants on loss leader stuff, but be the place people go to buy the stuff you can't get at the big box stores.

No cloud of cigarette smoke.

People behind the counter who don't feel as if the entire world needs to know how they feel about every particular topic.
 
I had a guy at a Shoot Straight in Tampa start talking to my .40 hollow point rounds once when i was taking my wife shooting. i thought i could pick up a box of range ammo, but they were out. so i said i could just shoot a box of HPs that i had. the guy behind the counter picked up the box and started talking directly to the box saying how sad he was that all the HPs were going to be used for simply shooting paper targets. he was using this weird high pitched voice too.

it really weirded out my wife.

i would recommend against such tactics.
 
I like for a shop to have a handful of things that I don't know I need until I need them. Some examples might be aftermarket recoil pads, aftermarket parts for popular guns like 1911's and S&W revolvers, spent cases for reloading, things like that.

I also like a shop to be able to do quick, easy fixes for a couple bucks. I needed the hammer-nose of my revolver replaced, and the local shop took care of it quickly.

Oh, and .22 ammo.
 
Lot of good suggestions, just one major problem. Retailers can't get guns, ammo, reloading components, reloading tools, or just about anything else gun related. It took 18 months for the market to recover from Obummer's first; this one looks to be 24+ months by the time it shakes out. Terrible time to start a gun store....
 
All pretty good suggestions.

Remember also that you aren't just marketing to old guys. Nix the coffee pot. Counter stools for paying customers only. An aisle of military surplus section would be nice. Hire a younger tech savvy guy to maintain a positive web presence. Be prepared to answer a lot of stupid questions.
 
Good inventory of new & used guns at good prices and staff that knows guns without being know it alls.
I like a place where I can get to know at least some of the staff by name and where I can trust them to be honest. They should also facilitate internet transfers. Forget fishing stuff' a gun shop should be gun shop. If you want to open a sporting shop with a gun section then do that. Just my o.o2
 
My favorite shop is this guys garage converted shop. He runs a lean business. The majority of his revenue comes from consignment sales, internet sales and transfer fees, that is, he only charges $15. If you need something and he does not have it he will call his supplier and will have it on the next truck. He carries a great inventory of reloading supplies. He also only carries guns he knows will sell. His prices are very good, you will never see any price gouging and always has ammo in stock for someone that is purchasing a gun, not so much for someone coming in just looking for ammo. There is a lot of things I buy on line and will shop for the best prices for, but is is nice to have a clean simple gunshop when I want to peddle gun I am tired of or just to order a new one and have a place to ship it to.
 
Military surplus rifles are my only real gun interest, and sometimes .22 ammo (in the 'normal' times).

The few milsurp types in shops around Memphis -if at all- give me little incentive to return.

A friend has over thirty five in his vault (no-not a safe, almost rpg proof), probably over three times what any shop has had at any one time in the last few years.
 
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A knowledgeable staff is a must!!!! A willingness to haggle prices is also a huge bonus for me. Nothing better than feeling like I got a bargain, whether I actually did or not doesn't matter :)
 
How about a few higher end firearms and scopes. I was blown away walking into my LGS and spotting a Sig X5 L-1! To handle something like that is amazing! He didn't figure anyone would pay that much for a pistol, but he sold one to me and a X-5 & X-6 to my buddy. I usually check out the scopes. What I find are lower Bushnell and Burris and maybe a Tasco or Simmons. How about a Zeiss Or Night Force? Also priced fairly. I have seen friends showing off their new 3200 scope they bought from a dealer and find out for the same price they could have had a Conquest if they bought it on line.
 
Clean, well lit, magazines, holsters, reloading supplies, targets and so forth, clothing if that appeals to you, good assortment of ammunition (including some calibers that do not sell well), reasonable selection of long guns and handguns. Ability to at least recommend a gunsmith that is local that is reliable. Pricing.... just fair prices. You don't have to match online pricing. Also best price in the area on transfers.
 
Glock test. If a Gen 4 is more than $550, everything else is high too. Other than that, I can ignore jack wagon know-it-alls. Holsters..... I like holster selections other than plastic.
 
Non-cluttered, friendly folks. Of course a decent selection is great.

No zombie crap.

No politics.

No "Operator" mentality.
 
I'm going to second much of what has already been said:

Knowledgeable, friendly staff is key. My favorite store lost my business after they changed ownership and I overheard a salesman explaining to an older couple how 9mm and 45 were the same caliber, and 38 special was more powerful than both of them! It's amazing how many shops I've been to with a completely unfriendly attitude. Maybe they just think I look too young to be a serious customer... (which is a mistake - I'm a surgeon).

Ammo sorted by caliber. I think Sportsman's Warehouse is the only one I know that sorts by brand - what an idiotic system!

Prices you can see, along with an easy to read label that includes the gun's model number and caliber. Gun shops are usually kind of packed these days, so waiting for a sales rep just to check details like that is a total pain.

Accessories. High end stuff especially. Anything that helps shoot better. In these times when guns are hard to come by and overpriced, a lot of people will be willing to spend a little to improve the guns they already have rather than spending a boatload to buy new. Bipods, scopes, laser sights, stock upgrades, triggers, etc. Even things like bedding kits and target barrels.

As for gunsmithing, same principle applies. People have higher expectations of accuracy than they used to. If you can accurize a used rifle, you could have a lot of business with those of us who already have guns (and if this "boom" ever slows down, that will be a LOT of us!)
 
Clean, organized, well lit rooms. Consistantly labled price tags that are easy to understand.

That would make me happy.
 
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