What do you look for in a Gun Shop?

[mljdeckard]

To a degree I've given up on finding any expertise.

I go to Impact, and I hear the kids behind the counter selling guns on 'knockdown power'. I go to Cabela's with a friend who is looking for a 25-06, and I have the guy behind the counter show him a Ruger American, I ask him if they are available in long-action cartridges, and he tells me; "No they are all in bolt-action".

I find the more local the better. I recently moved to a more rural area, and we have a farm supply chain called Cal Ranch that has a good selection of lots of guns, they were the last to run out of primers and powder. I was in with my seven year old, and the unassuming 5'2" librarian-ish woman behind the counter was helping us out, and my boy noticed the great mountain lion trophy on the wall, and asked me; "Wow!! Who shot that!!" And the woman said; "I did." Once my little sister went in to try on some coveralls, (yes, she's a professional hick,) and her dog got out of the truck, followed her in through the automatic doors, and was waiting for her outside the fitting room. No one said a word. Yes, we like Cal Ranch.

 

[riceboy72]

Really well thought out and specific points made here by everyone!

For me, I find a spelled out, direct return policy (if you choose to have one) is nice to see. If you require a restocking fee, please say so either in the store somewhere easily read (like near the cash register) or on the receipt. There's nothing more frustrating that going to do an exchange or return and being hit with the hidden fee which I knew nothing about.

My favorite store that gets nearly all my business has an ample area for me to fill out paperwork while they do their part. If you're going to move me over by the cash register to finish the sale, please ensure I have enough counterspace to fill out the paperwork, and not feel like the guy standing next to me is reading everything I write. That makes me feel better about what I'm scribbling down. As dumb as it sounds, available pens for the paperwork are always nice, usually in a caddy next to the register or designated area for paperwork. Having the sales staff ask, "Do you have a pen?" is a total turnoff.

If you're ever in the position to do so, a small discount for military, law enforcement, first responders, or frequent and loyal customers is always a nice bonus. Even a slight discount makes me feel like I saved a little, and usually invites me back.

Otherwise, your sales staff is the heartbeat of your store. Well spoken, educated, clean, friendly, employees are who I love to deal with when I am in the mood to buy. Treat customers the way you want to be treated, and bring up your staff to have that same mentality. Think of the successful businesses that employ people who seem like they genuinely want to be there -- you want your staff to want to be there, not feel like they have to be there. I've been on the receiving end of a grumpy employee who serviced a long line of tire kickers before me, and just assumed I was going to be a waste of his time. His attitude was a turn off, and I left without buying anything because of it. I believe in second chances and he was better the next time I went in, but the immediate turn off factor was something I didn't soon forget.

Remember, it's a very competitive field with many looking to outdo each other in the industry. Have a good business and work ethic, work hard, and do what's fair and right. I wish you well in your professional endeavors!

 

[Loc n Load]

Gun shop

I have been buying guns, ammo and reloading supplies for 50 years, have lived all over the country and have dealt with a lot of folks. For the past 10 years I have dealt with a "mom & pop" 60 miles from my home. There are plenty of stores and shops closer to me, but I patronize this shop, because:
A. The owner will acquire anything I want (if it is available)...I don't even ask him the price, cause I know from past experience that he will beat anybody else from around my locale.
B. He is a shooter, gunsmith and knowledgable. I have been in a profession that has included firearms as an integral part of it for 40 years, I am not too interested in listening to some counter commando expound on the virtues of whatever the topic of the day is.
C. I can make a phone call, have him send a copy of his FFL to somebody whom I want to buy a gun and have it shipped to him and then transferred to me. I have done this dozens of times over the years and he has never let me down. A lot of shops will give you the "okey doke" when you want to do this or simply not do it.
So I am willing to drive 120 mile round trip to patronize somebody who takes care of his customers.

 

[trapper1]

As mentioned before, a good selection of used guns at fair prices.

One thing I can't stand, is the LGS local buddies just hanging out there. I've sometimes had to wait for service, until they've finished up a story. If you want buddies hanging out, have them over during non-business hours.

 

[xwingband]

Well... I have bought at one store that is slightly more higher priced. I'm talking about $30-50 more. Why? They have the best selection. I know they have close if not the full line of what I want on display to compare. I went to look at the XD's... they had full, compact and sub compacts plus the XDs/XDm's. I don't buy their absurd stuff and let them know that.

Next, I want to see. That's one thing that bothers me at the shop. It's hard to see their labels and sometimes guns because of the display case. If I can't see the price I'll either take their time to get it out or give up. If I'm in a casual mood it means I'll give it up and there's no chance of an impulse purchase. I shouldn't have to ask if that's ______ model in the back.

I'd say also try not to be everything to everyone. Too difficult. I have a shop I do transfers through exclusively, the one I'm speaking of that I primarily do pistols and if I want long guns another. A turkey hunter isn't going to care how many black rifles you have, but would likely look at bolt actions. A revolver guy would probably like looking at lever actions. Pick a niche to start and cater to that with a good selection.

 

[Dunkelheit]

guns, ammo, powder, gunsmith, consumables

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Good inventory, fair prices, willing to special order, friendly people, good gunsmith, good coffee, comfortable chairs.

 

[GoWolfpack]

Remember this:

Gun people are cheap, petty, vindictive bastards with astonishingly long memories. Do not implore them for mercy when they decide you are wrong. They'll take advantage of you if you give them anything for free, they'll hate you no matter what you charge them.


Simple rule for running any business: casual conversation opens the door to somebody saying something stupid that runs off a customer. Especially politics. The less you and your employees just idly chat with the customers, the less chance somebody will get offended over your opinions and spread hate all over the internet.

You can be friendly without being chatty. Go for that.

And don't talk about politics. Or religion. Ever.

 

[GoWolfpack]

Almost forgot; let us know where you are so we can come see you.

 

[Gaerek]

There are three things that will keep me coming back to a Gun Store:

1. Friendly, helpful staff. - If your staff is rude to me, I'll take my money elsewhere. Answers of "I don't know." and that's it, really turn me off. An answer of, "That's a good question, I don't know the answer off hand, but wait here a moment, and I'll try to find out for you." will make me happy, and keep me coming...even if they can't find the answer. At least an attempt was made. I also don't want a salesperson to steer me towards another product. Chances are, I know what I want. So I don't really want the salesperson to inject their opinion unless I ask.

2. Clean. - I think this speaks for itself. A dirty store doesn't give me an impression of a professional establishment.

3. Well stocked store, with high quality products. - I know with the panic, this is a tough one, and the places I go to regularly are getting a pass from me on this one, for now.

 

[larryh1108]

You have to be better at what your competition is weak at. You may earn the right to be the best shop in town but that takes time. You have to earn your business and the trust of your patrons. If your competition excels at reloading, keep your reloading section lean. If no one in town caters to the reloaders, expand it and make it known you are the guy to go to. Be strong where they are weak.

When I walk into a gun shop, I look for the used case. That's just me. Some shops have a great selection, some have 1 or 2 in a corner of a dusty case. I like buying used firearms. Pay "top dollar" for trade ins and off street purchases. Like some said here, if you're willing to make $30 on a new gun, why try to make $100 on a used gun? The name of the game is to turn over your inventory. In and out. Find out your strengths and excel at them. I'm sure every gun buyer wants you to carry every gun of every maker so he can drool over them but unless you have a few million to invest in inventory it's just not possible. Excel at CCW weapons. Have a nice collection of hunting rifles if you are in an area big on hunting. Carry a lot of bling if you live in an area that likes flashy and fancy. Know what your particular location wants and get it, even if it is not who you are or what you like. So many business buyers buy what they like instead of what they need.

Like others said, have a blow-out display. A pallet of a type or two of ammo. In hunting season, have a pallet of popular hunting ammo and/or components. Run a special (at cost) of 9mm ammo once every two months. Same with .45ACP ammo. Every month have something hot to bring the people in and then let your inventory and sales staff get the rest of their disposable income.

Hook up with a credit card company. Nowadays, you can get an instant credit decision over the internet. If someone wants $1500 in something and is short of cash, a quick application and they can have an open line of credit up to $1500.

There are lots of ways to make money in your own business but you have to work at finding what your customer base wants to buy, not what you want to sell. Huge difference.

 

[hariph creek]

Decent prices. They don't have to be the rock bottom, big box, volume, prices.
I'll pay a fair price to have a "Cheers" reception. You know? To have some kind of "relationship," with a local shop.

NO GUN COUNTER COMMANDOS!

Assuming your not busy, take time to chat.

Treat peoples kids with a little extra attention. (assuming of course they're well behaved and respectful) Let them be a part of the action.

 

[KAS1981]

One thing I can't stand, is the LGS local buddies just hanging out there. I've sometimes had to wait for service, until they've finished up a story. If you want buddies hanging out, have them over during non-business hours.

Yes. This. This this this!!!

I CANNOT STAND THIS! Nothing worse than walking in to a Good Ol' Boys club.

 

[blkbrd666]

I think everyone covered all the basics, but there's one thing that keeps me stopping at gunshops when I don't really "need" anything. I know pretty much what everyone stocks where I live if I have a need or want.

The "USED GUN" selection is the only thing that consistently changes and it's the MOST interesting thing they have in the store. It's the only thing that keeps me stopping by rather than just driving by. And, for used guns, larger hang tags with all the info you have on the gun so a customer can window/counter shop without having to have someone pull out a dozen guns to check them out.

 

[PBR Streetgang]

I miss the old days when most people in the shops knew guns and they had a in house smith.

I was in a local shop awhile back and needed some .380 rounds in factory packaging to fly with. He gave me box of the Zombie marked rounds. Jokingly I asked him if they really work and he replied he knew it for a fact because he has shot people all around the world while working as a shooter on a contract security team....( I figure he's 22 at most.)

He asked me it there was anything else I needed and I asked if he had any 106 MM rounds in stock,,,,,,without missing a beat he looked between the 9mm,.40S&W and 10mm boxes and then told me they were out but should have them back in stock in a day or so........he was dead serious........:banghead:

 

[justice06rr]

Good customer service, knowledgable and courteous staff, clean and well-lit shop, and decent selection of products.

You don't need to have everything in stock, but the ability to order guns/parts would be a plus.

 

[Ignition Override]

KAS1981: It might not be quite that clubby in a shop near here with many LEO and regular visitors, but one can easily feel like an outsider.

 

[CapnMac]

Simple things.
Like good handwriting--yes, life in the shop can be hectic, time may be short, the day too long, but if it takes three people to try and figure out what $0Z¥Q "is".

Many here have fumed about people gabbing at counters or with the staff. Personally, that's something I look for in a shop--but, it has to be welcoming, not excluding. (Yeah, TWI are a fact of retail life; but your skill/success in retail is measured by how you manage the TWI.)

When you hire employees--especially relatives--you have to not be a "manager" but a leader. You need to make sure that everybody understands that your focus is on customers (even the bad ones, and time wasters, etc.) Remember that the shop is your (business) life; you want your employees to see it as more than a "job" to slog through to the end of the shift.

Some of my favorite shops did not have a "counter" to stand behind. When you are out with the customers it can be very personal/personable. One place in my memory just had a table and a workbench in the middle of the floor. The display cases locked (at the end of the day; the cash register was on the wall. There were always regulars in that place. Mostly it was because it was a welcoming place. If the employees were busy, the regulars would help (sometimes they were better than the staff). now, that's a hard combo to hit.

That's my 2¢; you'll need $4 for a happy meal.

 

[Fishslayer]

Nobody can reallistically expect a small LGS to carry everything. But when you tell me I can have something in a week... GET it in a week or let me know why not. Don't wait for me to ask about it two weeks later & mumble something about backorders or whatnot. We both know you forgot to order it.

My LGS owner isn't in a hurry. When it's your turn it's your turn & he'll take good care of you. He also has chairs and a table full of gun mags and TV to keep you occupied while you wait. Dogs are welcome. You never know WHAT you're going to find in his case on a given day. He caters more to the cowboy crowd but you'll also find used Glocks & other plastic stuff. Where he comes up with this stuff is a mystery to me. Walked in one day to see one each NIB S&W 4536 & 4596. Last time I was in there he had a pre-29 that was just beautiful. So have interesting stuff for sale.

 

[Bill4282]

1. Good selection of makes and models
2. Willing to order if not in stock
3. Willing to call me if a particular gun requested comes in and I've asked you to call
4. Lefty section, clearly marked, so I don't have to dig through all the other stuff
5. NO COUNTER STOOLS; stools are for bars and hanger-outers that don't buy, just looking for somewhere the wife isn't
6. HOT CHICKS WORKING THE COUNTER

 

[BigBore44]

Have your store segmented. Rifle counter and racks on one side, shotguns on another, pistols somewhere else. It avoids congestion and that helps keep customers happy. We like easy access to what we want.

Staff: Needs to be knowledgable. But don't brag about how much you know and make the customer feel dumb. Offer your opinion. But don't force it.

CATER TO WOMEN AND KIDS as well as men. Offer some "pink" guns. I love seeing women and kids in a gun shop. It means they are preserving and spreading our sport. Have a bag of candy behind the counter. Kids love that. And even dad will like that you are nice to his kid and will likely return.

Prices: Offer prices competitive with online stores. But don't try to profit to much to fast. It's going to take a while to get your name out as a reputable shop. Maybe even a couple years. The profits will come when you get more clients.

Reloading: If you do offer it, offer basics based off of what your clients reload in your area. I would be more concerned with carrying powders, bullets, primers, casings, than with the actual hardware. Your reloaders already have the hardware. If they don't they can probably get it from Midway or some other company cheaper than you can. But the components you can compete with because of the shipping charges.


Have a sign that welcomes CCW customers.

Keep the store clean.

Print a survey for people to give you ideas about what they want. Offer it at the counter.

Carry pamphlets on different guns.

Let people see you want them as a customer. Don't just sit behind the counter with your feet propped up watching tv and let the customer come to you.

 

[Cryogaijin]

Let me start out with some things that deeply annoy me about LGS I've visited previously:

1. Politics: Having a plaque up on the wall reading "Salesman of the Year" with Obama's picture is funny and not really likely to annoy anyone. Having that same picture with crosshairs over it and "Public Enemy Number One" is a bit offensive to a LOT of people.

2. Foot-in-mouth disease. One shop I frequented in Alaska had a salesperson who was VERY VERY knowledgable, but RABIDLY anti-intellectual (as well as very very political.) He practically foams at the mouth talking about "Ivory tower intellectuals, and people with degrees." I hold an advanced degree. So does the friend I brought in to buy his first rifle. Guess where he's never coming back to.

3. Bigotry and Bias. I WILL show up in your shop wearing a t-shirt and shorts. That's just what I wear when I am not in my work clothes. There is a decent chance I showed up on my bicycle. You need to treat me the same as someone showing up in their fatigues. You really shouldn't judge people by appearance. You get mega-bonus points with me, however, if you can suggest a product that works with me biking.

4. Don't (expletive deleted) sweep me with the barrel of a gun. Even if the action is open. If you casually sweep me with the action open, You're going to do it at some point with the action closed.

What I look for in a gunstore:
1. A large and INTERESTING selection. Don't waste display space or inventory $$ on things that can be bought at every big-box store in the area. If 9mm glocks are massively represented in your area, why stock them? If someone wants ONLY a 9mm glock, send 'em to a big box store. Otherwise show them less common alternatives (XDs, cz75b, S&W M&P)

I love unusual firearms. Because of this, I pretty much want EVERYTHING KelTec makes that isn't a handgun. (And even some of their handguns. 30 round .22 winmag handgun? Yes pls!) If I can walk into your shop and take a look at an RFB, a KSG, and a Su16 in the same place, I'll be in hog-heaven.

Also try to come up with as many uses as possible for firearms, and try to have at least two options for every use. Hopping a plane to Alaska the next day? We have quite a good selection of "Alaska Safari" guns! Doing your first 3gun competition tomorrow? Here, this rem with an X-rail system and folding stock is excellent for the shotgun stage. . . What, your daughter needs a purse gun? Here, how does this LCP feel in her hand? How about this SCCY cpx2?

2. Whenever someone buys a firearm, offer to show them how to take it down. Even better, show them before they finalize the sale. Some people simply KNOW they'll lose a non-captive spring that is under high tension, and being forewarned is a good thing.

3. Offer alternatives, but not in a pushy manner. With the 9mm example above, I feel it is always good to show two alternatives that are equivalent. Point out the differences, and the similarities. This is especially useful for people that are nervous about the lack of traditional thumbsafeties on newer handguns.

4. If a common firearm frequently has a modification done, have both a normal and a modified version. Example: Glock 20 with a 20 or 23# wolff recoil spring. Or say a Saiga 12 shotgun with at least a nice muzzle break on it.

5. Have firearms for people of all body sizes. I dated a girl in Alaska who LOVED to go shooting with me, but had fairly tiny arms. She couldn't use any of my rifles comfortably until I put telescoping stocks on a couple.

6. Have "learner's kits" that include everything a beginner needs to get started. Package rates on Cleaning supplies, first 100 rounds of ammo, scope, and case would be nice. Remember, growing the shooting population should be the goal of every LGS.

7. Know what ranges in the area have rentals.

8. If your state allows hunting with a suppressor, For the love of Ghu, sell hunting rifles with threaded barrels. Even better, have at least one suppressed "package" rifle.

9. Offer a sighting in service. I've bought two handguns now that the windage was off straight from the factory. (A Tanfoglio Witness and an XD) I am not terribly comfortable fiddling with dovetail sights, and would prefer someone with more experience do it. Likewise putting in aftermarket sights.

10. Offer bulk ammo and Milsurp. I bought my Tokarev specifically because of the two boxes of milsurp at the store. Likewise if I see several spam cans of 7.62x54r next to a display of decent quality mosins, or even better SVDs and dragunovs, I WILL get one. . . (Or even better than that a 54r Vepr. . .)

11. No-name ammo brand for cheap? Yes please! Part of the reason I bought my 10mm was that a local store sold bulk Sheepdog fullhouse 10mm ammo.

12. Have bulk ammo in front of the counter, and small boxes behind the counter.

13. Nowhere in your store should it be so narrow that some random guy needs to rub his junk against me to get past me in an aisle. If your aisles can't accomodate two normally sized people without unwanted physical contact, get bigger aisles.

14. I like a ratio of 2/3rds new and interesting and 1/3rd used. I do not consider Milsurp weapons to be "used" I consider them to be Historic and Interesting. Having a couple interesting C&R firearms is also awesome. (I'm a nut for thompson m1928s. )

15. A wide array of reloading supplies is nice even though I personally lack the room to reload currently.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

OP,
What you put in your shop will depend on how much space you have and how much money you can spend.
I don't care if a shop looks cluttered, as long as they have what I need\want. Empty space is wasted space in my opinion.

Good luck, we can never have too many gun shops.

 

[TheDaywalkersDad]

Right now I'm looking for ammo and maybe firearms.
Normally I look for good customer service and professionalism. I realize that it's boring telling the same thing to 20 customers per day but it's the job that the salespeople picked.

 

[oneounceload]

At this moment in time, INVENTORY would be all I require