What You Want In A Gun Store

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Having managed a gun store/indoor shooting range the MOST important thing is to have adequate capital to pay the overhead and restock.

The owners have to decide up front how much they are going take out of the business for themselves.

The owners need to realize that there is little profit in selling guns. The real money comes from selling ammunition, grips, etc. Give the customer a great deal on a gun and he will come back for ammunition and accessories.

Holster require a big investment and are generally slow movers. In fact some will never move.

As for a gunsmith I would rent store space to him as a independent tenant with a seperate entrance. This is a minefield and limits your libility. Also think about the damage to your stores reputation if he screws up repairs. Do you think the pissed off customer with a ruined gun is going to say Joe Hacksaw screwed up my gun or the gunsmith at ABC Guns screwed up my gun? Big difference and this is NOT the kind of publicity you want.

Store hours. You have to be open when customers are off work. Kiss your evenings and weekends goodbye.

Like to shoot a lot? Forget it. You need to be at the store working not playing.

Prices? The Interent has made everyone a informed customer. Discount your retail prices by 10%. Everyone loves a good deal.

Don't be a *********. In December I brought a rifle from a dealer I have a account and needed a FFL to have the transfer. Going rate around here is $25.00. A gun store I checked with wanted $100.00 to do the transfer!!! Needless to say I ran out of that store.

Oh odds are they will be out of business in two years.
 
what would be important for you to find there in order to make it a frequent stop for you. I.E. hard to find brands, knowledgeable staff, on-sight gunsmith/customization etc...
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If it's a hard to find brand, chances are it's because they don't sell well. That's money tied up in idle inventory.
I'd much rather see a shop with a well rounded inventory but if I were to go that route, I'd also do all possible to learn what the local market is. What's the local clubs/ranges do for shoots and shooting activities? Stock inventory that appeals to that market. Once the shop is established, I'd perhaps venture into a small niche that other shops in the area don't address but are still viable for the local area. (don't stock 1000 yd guns if the longest range around is only 100 yds)
The folks behind the counter...I'd want them to be helpful and knowledgeable. If they're asked a question and they don't know, I'd hope they'd make the effort to find out even if the question isn't pertinent any longer. There's always a chance the question will come up again. A biggie is that they don't see themselves as experts simply because they are on the back side of the counter, something a LOT do. It's the "I sell guns, so I'm an expert" complex. That would definitely make me walk out the door. Keep the shop user friendly.
 
Visible tags - I want to know what manufacturer made it, the model name/number, the chambering, and the price. Rather than having to point to the rack behind the counter and argue over which gun I'd like to see, just make the damn tags readable from across the counter or over the glass. Or put the stuff within reach. I'm tired of having to wait for a chance to ask "What's that thing there?" while pointing.
If you absolutely can't make the damn tags readable, make the racks/shelves numbered or otherwise identifiable, so I can ask what the rifle in slot #17 is, or if that handgun is a .22 or a .25 in the back row on the left ... but I'd rather just be able to read the tag.

Organized ammo - I want to know what kind of {caliber} ammo you have, how much a box it and how many rounds in the box. Sorting through a jumble makes me wonder why I don't just buy online, and then I just buy online. After peering over the counter at a jumble of ammo, half of which was turned so I couldn't tell if it was 20x or 50x boxes and none of it with a visible price, I just ordered from Midway online, on my smart-phone, in the car.

Stocked ammo - I'll pay more to get something now, if you have it.

Ditch the chump boxes - I won't, however, pay a premium on a 20x box of ammo that I can order in 50x, just stock the 50x boxes of defensive ammo.

Cheap ammo - Yes, I shoot the cheap stuff on the range most of the time, and I'll buy it from the Walton family's chain stores if you don't carry it. Cheapo 9x19, .45acp, fo-tay, .22lr, .223/5.56, 7.62xeverything ... stock a cheapo steelcase and brasscase (Brown/Silver Bear and Blazer Brass are pretty cheap) and you'll make sales, stock nothing but specialty ammo and you'll make an occasional specialty sale or sell to chumps who buy a gun and box of ammo once a decade.

Hours - you need one weekend day open, and one or two extended hours days on weekdays, if you're open 9-5 M-F, I work 6-6 on random days (and random AM/PM) ... I'll just order online or go to the shop with hours I can work with. And be open for your posted hours, I quit going to a shop that was suppossed to be open from 4pm to 9pm most weekdays (dude had a day-job and ran the shop after) ... but reality was that you had to call the day before, hope to get an answer, and make an appointment ... screw that, I'll drive an extra 5 minutes down the same road and go to the reliably open place!

Answer your phone - I may call with a random question about "can you order {item}" or "do you have {gun} in stock" ... the shop that answers the phone gets me in that shop the same or next day to talk about price. The shop that doesn't answer or is vague about the question I ask gets ignored.

Business cards - this sounds simple, and should be. Shop name, hours, phone #, and electronic contact (if applicable) on front, place to write down a quote on the back. That's all I need to get a quote when I'm comparison shopping, maybe include the person making the quote if it is more than an owner-operator shop.

Magazines -
first thing, if I catch another shop stealing the spare magazine out of the pistol box, marking it retail, and selling it as an overpriced accessory, I'm burning the shop down. I buy a gun and expect the factory loadout of magazines in the box, and I either know what comes in the box or I'm going to ask and then look up what comes in the box if it sounds fishy, the same shop that had iffy hours played this game as well, and tried to sell me a $45 magazine that should have been in the box in the first place.
second thing, organize your magazines (and speedloaders, I guess) at least by the guns they go in (Glock/Walther/Smif), and leave them in the factory package, adding another label for visibility if needed. If it isn't in the factory baggie/box, I'm not paying new prices for it unless it is something really rare, like a new CZ52 mag.

Safety - no, I don't trust that every gun in your case is unloaded without checking, and neither should you. Either chamber-flag (hey, something to put a visible label on!) the guns or visibly clear them with the muzzle in a safe direction. And have a safe direction, whether it is a box of old catalogs and paper junk behind the counter or a stuffed critter up high on the wall.

Politics - quit jabbering about politics
Women - if you piss off my wife, I'm not coming back, she doesn't want a pink 5-shot revolver and is probably better armed than the clown trying to sell her a "ladies' gun" ever will be, and the condescending morons at the big-box stores are the worst about this, she'll ask if they can get in a Springfield XD subcompact, because there's just fullsize in the case, and they try to shove a cheapo pink J-Frame knockoff or a .22 mousegun into her hands. MrsBFD likes mouseguns as toys, and so do I, but when we're asking about an carry-type autopistol we don't want to see the Beretta Minx. (OK, I want to see the Minx, but just because they're adorable, don't suggest that she should carry it when she's looking for a specific gun)
 
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Don't put the used rifles/shotguns behind the counter. The nearby Pile O' Geese just built a new store, and now all their firearms are behind the counter. How can I browse the used guns if I have to wait on a clerk to walk over and hand me each one? I understand if something is worth a lot of money, you want to keep it safe; but even the Mosins?!?

My second beef is: Clean your guns. It bugs me when I pick up a mil-surp/sporter, pull the bolt, and then can't see down the barrel because of dirt/cobwebs/cosmoline. At least swab out the barrel so I can see the rifling; it might make the difference between a sale and a dust collector.
 
Another vote for staff. Polite, not condescending, well groomed, perhaps in a company polo shirt tucked into a pair of khaki tactical pants with a visible holstered side arm.

A decent website! Have a decent website and you will save yourself some phone calls on questions like where are you located? What are your hours?

Location! Not in some dumpy industrial part of town. Well lit, parking, clean bright interior. I shouldn't fell like I'm walking into an old saloon.
 
Just to expand on sales staff hire a knowledgeable woman. There is a hugh market for self-defense for women including non-lethal and defensive tactics. Trust me on this (and as every married guy SHOULD know) women base their buying decisions differently than men. A female sales clerk would be great for tapping into this market.
 
^ female sales rep for sure. My gf loves going to gunshop because the guys give her discounts, but I think she could relate to a female better in terms of buying a gun, since when I try to help her decide on a gun , we are in 2 opposite realms. Secondly. Match internet prices. Have friendly staff that are genuinely friendly.
HAVE YOUR STOCK OUT SO PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT THEM AND HANDLE THEM IF THEY ASK, LOOKING AT HANDGUNS AND RIFLES BEHIND A CASE SUCKS
HAVE LOTS OF STOCK ON HAND! IF YOU CARRY WALTHER P22 FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE MANY COLOR OPTIONS SO THE CUSTOMER CAN SEE IN PERSON.

HAVE A GOOD DEAL OR 2 TO GET PEOPLE IN TO BUY MORE STUFF.
MIGHT BE GOOD TO HAVE JUST PLAIN COOL STUFF NO ONE ELSE CARRIES TO BRING THE WOW FACTOR
 
I forgot to add: DIVERSIFY, have something for everyone, such as don't just cover hunting or don't just cover tactical. Cover everything from long range bolt guns to hunting guns and home defense to tactical whatever.
 
The nearby Pile O' Geese just built a new store,
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speaking of the big chain stores

Don't hand me a gun with a trigger lock on it, it is insulting and stupid.
Also don't try to give me a free trigger lock with a gun purchase and call it a "deal". A free box of ammo, some range time, a gun cleaning mat or cleaning device/solvent, a coupon for a holster, a freebie magazine, a generic pistol case ... these are all "deals" and are appreciated. Bundling a trigger lock onto a lever gun tells me that your staff are morons or that your corporate policy is written by morons (or both).

And that's just the pet peeves that thinking about Goose-Crap Hill bring up!
 
No matter how bad I want it I am not going to ask you what it costs.
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I don't understand, why wouldn't you ask? I've had several instances where a shop has had something new behind the counter that they had not yet priced; and by asking about it, I've been able to get a good deal.
 
HAVE A GOOD DEAL OR 2 TO GET PEOPLE IN TO BUY MORE STUFF.
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Interesting idea. Kinda like Amazon's deal of the day. Everyday, pick something in the store (could be a holster one day, a box of primers another and a shotgun the next) and mark it down below cost. You could always limit the quantity (first 5, 10 or only 1) for the day so you don't get your clock cleaned. But I know that would pull me in about every day to see what is going on.
 
If I were a gun shop customer, here are the things I'd want in descending order from most important to least important.

1. Friendly people at the counter. Nobody who is condescending, arrogant, or hostile. My part time job at school is working at the IT Help Desk; I know how to do customer service. The first words they see when one greets a customer should be "Welcome to the store." and the last words one speaks when the customer leaves should be "Have a nice day." Me, my mother, their friend, and an absolute greenhorn should expect and demand the same quality of service.

The last time I went to a gun store, it was to help a friend pick out a gun for Home Defense. After much talking and teaching her information, we decided that she was going to get a 12 gauge shotgun, although if she wanted to know anything else, I'd be happy to tell her. So we go into the store and I'm telling her all sort of different things. Ultimately, she decided to get a Mossberg Cruiser, but being cautious, decided to ask the counter guy his opinion. We spend 15 minutes hearing the counter guy and his friend talk about basketball and it doesn't stop until my friend asserts herself. Now the guy would have been forgivable if not for what he did next. My friend presents him with the cruiser and asks for his opinion or if there's anything else that he could better recommend for her as a defensive firearm. She makes him aware that since she's only 20, he can't sell her a handgun. Now my friend is not frail, petite, or a waif in any way. She played basketball in high school and stands at 5'11" with enough muscle to compete with some of the crew guys. Now the counter guy says this: "Ma'am, that's not really a good choice for home defense. It's got way too much recoil to be controllable and it's not that easy to aim. Now usually, I'd recommend a revolver or a pistol for defense, but since ya'll can't buy that, tell you what." He's said good things and so far things are looking up until this happens. He reaches down below the counter and pulls out a pink plastic Mini-14. "Now this is a much better choice. You can change clips, it fires the big 223 Remington bullet, and it recoils even gentle enough for girls; even your half pint brother could handle it." We bought the shotgun and got out ASAP. I'm never going there again.

2. Knowledgeable staff at the counter. Finding friendly people for cashier work is not hard. Finding skilled people for cashier work is not hard. Finding knowledgeable people for cashier work is not hard. Why then is is seemingly a fool's errand to expect all that in one place? Another thing is that the sales staff should be without an agenda when recommending guns. They shouldn't be looking to sell the guns with the best profit margins, nor should they try to force their own ideas onto a customer as to what they should purchase. This means that if a man comes in looking for a concealed carry piece, that they just don't grab a Taurus Judge and hand it to him. If a woman is looking for a personal defense weapon, then she just isn't given a tiny revolver, 20 caliber pocket pistol, or some monster of a gun she can't even operate.

3. A well-stocked quality inventory. This is the real incentive to visit a gun store versus buying online, going to another store, or waiting for a show. The inventory should be stocked with at least the 12 most popular handgun models, every caliber of ammunition that can be used in a Glock, Smith and Wesson, AR-15, any WW2 rifle, any round adopted by a major NATO member, and a Mossberg 500. several AR-15's, AK's, a few FAL's, SKS's, several types of bolt actions, at least a box full of Mosins, and rows of accessories, guides, cleaning supplies, and literature.

I love The Nation's Gun Show because it's got a huge variety and I can shop around. Try to recreate that gun show feeling that anything could be there, even if you've got a place only the size of a McDonald's. Customers who are excite to browse are more likely to become buyers and tell their friends about how you have got a fine operation.

4. Competitive prices. I will pay extra for immediate availability, better service, warranties, higher quality, and in order to cover your overhead. However, I won't pay extra unless there's a good reason for it. If the store a few blocks away charges $150 less on average per gun, then I'm not going to bother with your place unless I get something like free ammo, cleaning supplies, spectacular service, and much higher quality everywhere.

5. Proximity. I'd like to be able to go to a gun store that isn't much more than 30 minutes away or so. I rarely have time and the inclination to spend 2+ hours on any given day to go to any sort of store unless I've got business in the vicinity.

6. The ability to handle the merchandise before I purchase. This is tantamount. I will not buy unless I am allowed to pick up, handle, examine, and maybe even test the goods to my content. I'll pay for the test ammunition.
 
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Condescending workers is a major problem with gun stores. They can be as aggressive as used car salesmen, but don't make you feel as good. LOL... I tend to be a pretty quiet person, which is universally perceived as ignorance, evidently. Help without pretense would be fantastic.

I enjoy variety in gun stores. Generally, this means more space for more guns and more stuff, but size isn't necessarily a must. I like to find things you don't see in most stores... like t-shirts, books, posters, bumper stickers, etc... I also mean variety in guns, too. So many that I've been to seem to "specialize" in a few brands. That's OK, but I like knowing the store has a little bit of everything. One of our local stores does a lot with Sig and CZ. Another does a lot with 1911s, while another specializes in tactical gear, etc... I like variety. This typically means a store with a lot of used guns, in my experience, which is fine with me.
 
You can have all of the things you want except one...

You want service, selection, brands, full shelves, ammo in a hundred different calibers, cheap transfers, a great gunsmith, reloading supplies from multiple brands, courteous staff, knowledgeable staff (knowledgeable staff is expensive!), etc, etc...

You also want prices at or very near Buds, and you just can't have that and all of the other things... those cost money and tie up immense amounts of capital in a bricks and mortar store.
 
Friendly staff is important. I don't buy from a**holes.

Variety...ditto. Guns...accessories...ammo. Have a bunch of everything.

Decent prices. I understand that you have to cover overhead...but $100 (or more) over msrp and I'm gone as fast as I can go.

Decent transfer fees.

Classes would be nice. ccw classes...reloading classes.

Deals would also be cool. Free box of ammo...holster coupon etc.
 
guitarguy314 said:
I understand that you have to cover overhead...but $100 (or more) over msrp and I'm gone as fast as I can go.
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I've never seen a gun in any shop priced higher than MSRP (though there seem to be a lot of stories out there like this...). I'm talking about the guys who begrudge you for having a price that's $50 more than Buds, or don't want you to make $100 on an LWRC even after you show them the invoice... this isn't a hobby, it's a business, and business needs to make a profit or they will be out of business. Most larger shops will need to move $10,000 or more a day in merchandise just to pay the staff and keep the heat and lights on...


guitarguy314 said:
Deals would also be cool. Free box of ammo...holster coupon etc.
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There's no "free". It might make you feel good to get those things, but they are included in the price of the gun.
 
1. Professional, friendly staff. I've seen plenty of "friendly" workers that are chatting with the first customer in line and don't even acknowledge that there's anyone else in line. If there are two people in the store, chat away, but when there's a line be pure business.

2. On-site gunsmith. If I'm going to buy a gun and have work done on it right away, this is a big one.

3. Well inventoried website. Some stores nearby have a list of everything they have, its price, and whether it's on order or in stock. Others have a list of some of the things they carry and their price, but not specifically all models and it might not be on order. The ones that I don't like are ones that just have a list of brands with no cost. When I have to drive a good half hour just to visit a gun store (and a half hour or more between them), I'm going to shop around online first, especially with the price of gas.

4. Staff that will admit they don't know everything and look up the answer for you, instead of blowing smoke up your skirt when they don't know the right answer to your question.

5. Close proximity to a gun range would be nice.
 
I think courteous staff is the most important thing. Always, Always, Always remind the staff to NEVER assume about a customer. treat everyone with respect. When you see a bunch of clowns coming in and asking questions I understand it's human nature to assume everyone is a clown, but take the time to build repeat customers at every turn. your business will live or die with repeat business and word of mouth advertising. remember this.
 
Skribs-

Most manufacturers make vendors stick to a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price). Actual prices are often lower than MAP... which is why it can be hard to find them listed. Many shops also won't do pricing on the phone... phone shoppers are horrible time sinks, and rarely produce results. The customer who has taken the time to come by the shop gets priority over the guy on the phone.

Regarding "not knowing everything" I agree with you... but there are plenty of people who will criticize the staff for not knowing arcane trivia. You just can't win sometimes.
 
You can have all of the things you want except one...

You want service, selection, brands, full shelves, ammo in a hundred different calibers, cheap transfers, a great gunsmith, reloading supplies from multiple brands, courteous staff, knowledgeable staff (knowledgeable staff is expensive!), etc, etc...

You also want prices at or very near Buds, and you just can't have that and all of the other things... those cost money and tie up immense amounts of capital in a bricks and mortar store.
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Thankyou drsfmd! I thought the same thing while reading through this thread. We gotta have at least ONE... I agree with most posters. Customer service, knowledge modesty, organization, and cleanliness top the bill... and location, location, location!
But some folk just don't understand business.. A few posters are asking for it all and it is just not possible. I assume these are the same guys that buy a Rock Island 1911 on Gunbroker for $389, pay another $50 for FFL and shipping, and then tell their friends they bought the gun for $389

Regarding "not knowing everything" I agree with you... but there are plenty of people who will criticize the staff for not knowing arcane trivia. You just can't win sometimes.
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This is the icing on the cake, every store has a few poo-holes that stumble on interesting gun trivia, then go to a store just to stump the staff and feel good about themselves... Often this is tied in with the guys that say they are a sniper. Most customers relay interesting info through conversation.
 
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Well why not sell online?

Do exactly what buds does. Make that money

*swyped from the evo so excuse any typos*
 
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