What do you want/need?..... opinions needed!....

[STOGIE]

I've been givin a kind of assignment and I'm turning to you guys for your opinions... in a kind of brainstorming kinda thread....

What would you like to see offered by your local Gun Shop that they don't offer already?
...and/or...
What kind of Services does your favorite gun shop offer that you haven't seen at any other shops around?

and any other ideas (Service Type) that you think would help in boosting business?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Just One Shot]

Uh...............AMMO an assortment at a reasonable price!

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

There really is no magic one thing, just have stuff priced at reasonable prices. If you do that and have what I want in stock, then I'll buy it from you.

 

[CoRoMo]

Here's a couple recent threads about this very topic:

What does a good gun store need?
Planning on opening a gun shop...

 

[esq_stu]

Uh...............AMMO an assortment at a reasonable price!

That's the main thing.

They don't all carry everything. I go to one store for a good optics selection, another for a good holster selection, one had a great selection of sport/utility rifles.

But few have military-type slings. Few have a large selection for rim-fire officianados. Or basic tools like top quality screwdriver sets. Or accessories for CZ rim fire rifles. All things that I care about but are not worth stocking when you can find the items online.

 

[STOGIE]

These are all good points and well taken..... How about Programs, Services, classes, etc....

The ideal gun store is going to have every single kind of weapon and ammo available and with reasonable prices for the "average Joe" to buy..... thats just not pratical....... due to initial capitol, physical limitations of store volume, etc.....

People already come or call to the shop to see if we have a particular type/size/style of products.... What I'm looking for is What can we do to bring in new people to the shooting sports and keep our current customers?

 

[youngda9]

Lovely ladies that show off the goods!!

 

[Kimber45acp]

Sell at least as many AKs as ARs. I've noticed that gun stores tend to stock a lot of niche ARs and only a few "starter" ARs. I want to see a "starter" AR from at least several brands. I warn you, this will cause your ARs to actually SELL, instead of sitting there collecting dust, which I see all over town.

AKs really only come in a few flavors, but variety of AKs is sorely lacking in most gun stores. Keep some WASRs around (the "starter" version of the AK).

 

[mesinge2]

Grips - a large variety of grips

 

[ohioshooter]

A gunsmith

 

[oneounceload]

A COMPETENT gunsmith;
Ammo at competitive price levels;
Reloading components at reasonable price levels;
Sales folks who are not afraid to say "I don't know that answer, but let me get the answer";
Information regarding local places to shoot, instructors, matches, etc.;
A better selection of cleaning supplies and gear.

 

[RC45]

The range of products and extended business hours that Gander Mountain have, but with the quality, skill and level of competence you favourite gunsmith has.

 

[STOGIE]

I'd like to see of course more products; accessories, ammo, guns of all kinds (but that goes without saying), Basic gunsmith classes for the beginners, IDPA, IPSC & USPSA training sessions, self defense scenario lessons, maybe an outreach and education classes for children and parents together and promoting the NRA in a family atmosphere, Question & answer sessions with local, state, and National representatives, an intranet keyosk for customers to surf the shop's website for orders/ideas to free up some of the staff for face to face service.

 

[hot2trot]

A newbie night once a month. Newbies could get help and assistance without being made to feel the fool.

 

[JEB]

at least a 1-2 lane range and rental guns. for all i know there isnt one to rent handguns within 500 miles of me

then add in a good selection of holsters and a KNOWLEGEABLE and helpful staff and i will be quite happy.

 

[BMF500]

A gunsmith

...or one that doesn't "sub" the work out to another gunsmith.

 

[TCB in TN]

IMHO a good gun store would survey the area they are serving and see what the wants and needs of the are are.

Here locally a good reasonably priced gun smith is a huge advantage, most of the local store stock more handguns than rifles and shotguns, the rifles are a real mix of EBRs and hunting rifles, and the shotguns probably 90% hunting guns.

One universal complaint here is lack of reasonably priced ammo. We have Walmart but they don't stock many "odd" loads, and the gun shops ammo prices are not that competitive.

The shop I normally deal with is owned by a friend of mine and they are real competitive on guns, but on ammo and scopes they are not. They normally do special order for a 10% fee, and they trade as well as sell.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I want staff that doesn't try and push something on me that I don't want. If I ask for a specific brand or caliber, don't tell me why another one is better. There's a reason I'm asking for what I'm asking for. I've been looking for a good used Blackhawk in .45 Colt and everywhere I go they try to sell me a .44 mag. I have no problems with the .44 and will more than likely eventually own one, but right now, I'm looking for a .45 for a reason. Don't push a specific product on me just because you're trying to move it.