What You Want In A Gun Store

[RhinoDefense]

If someone is opening up a business, the market research should be done already. They should already know what is expected of a business in their industry. What you're getting is basic retail business answers that should already be obvious to a serious businessman.

 

[Jim NE]

Guns and their enthusiasts are what you could call a "sub-culture". It was the same when I was involved in the musical instrument industry; a sub-culture.

When a specialty store reflects the sub-culture of it's clientele, it can be both positive and negative. The positive is that a specialty store has the expertise that customers want. The negative is that they think their professionalism need extend only as far as their expertise.

The people at Wal-Mart's gun department generally have more "people skills" than most of the locally owned gun stores I go to (and Wal-Mart's people skills aren't all that great.) I don't hang out at gun stores and make a nuisance of myself. I'm there only to buy a specific item or peruse their inventory.

Yet gun store owners are generally terse, smug, owly and often act very bored with their jobs. They often act like customers are merely one more job duty they have to fulfill.

There's only one "gun store" I like going to in my home town. The owner's a good guy, but not very "slick". He showed his true measure when he rec'd a gun I'd ordered online, and, though he made no profit on the sale, he worked on it for 45 minutes when something wasn't right with it. And he didn't charge me. I paid him anyway, and ended up buying four guns from him.

To all the gun shop owners out there: IT PAYS TO TREAT PEOPLE NICE!!!!! It ain't easy to do sometimes, but that's what being in business is all about.

 

[Agsalaska]

I know I am getting to this thread late, but Customer Service is number one. Just because it is a gun shop does not make it any different than any other place. I have reached the point that I rarely go into gun shops anymore because of the attitudes of the staff and never go to gun shows. Hell you can see the attitude on this board sometimes too. Get professional sales people and teach them guns, not the other way around. That is the best way to do it. They will never think they are superior to their customers which you almost always find today.

 

[guitarguy314]

@drsfmd - I understand that a brick and mortar store needs to make money to keep going, but some stores jack up prices like it's going out of style. I don't mind paying a little more for a "right there right now" gun. I just don't want to get shafted by predatory sellers.

Sorry. ha ha. I went to la la land for a minute. That's what I meant...buy a gun get xxxx with it. Free ammo does sound fishy.

 

[DammitBoy]

Most of what I would add has been covered. But...

Give me wide enough aisles to walk in so I can see your inventory without drowning in camo coveralls on overstocked racks and overstocked shelves.

Too much does not sell more.

 

[bigfatdave]

In NC that free trigger lock that comes with the gun is mandated by state law.

3KillerBs, as far as "handing me a gun" I was talking about pulling a gun out of the display case that I have asked to inspect and leaving the stupid trigger lock on. Even if I don't want to dry-fire the gun (I generally won't without asking) I can't test feel in the hand with a big, stupid, yellow, heavy, bulky piece of crap bolted to the same place the designer of the gun expected my hand to interface with.

And take a look at your nearest lever gun, or dig up some pictures of the action opening/closing on one if you don't have one handy. Now tell me exactly how a trigger lock is useful on a design where the trigger guard is movable.

Trigger locks are the WORST method of securing a gun devised by legislators and fools (but I repeat myself) ... They require putting something in the TG of a gun you do not want to fire, they make the gun bulkier without actually securing it in place, they do not prevent putting the gun in battery, and they can be torn off with bare hands (cheap ones) or a pipe wrench (less cheap ones).
Your state lawmakers may mandate it, but you don't have to ever let it touch your gun. Removing a slide/bolt or running a cable lock through the action is far more effective, in the specific case where a trigger lock is absolutely non-functional that got this started (lever gun) you need to lock the lever closed on an empty chamber, I use a cable lock and a spacer that doubles as a pad, to make sure the lever is shut tight and that the cable won't damage the gun.

 

[BSA1]

Another important thought. Hire sales staff that ACTUALLY have experience with the type of guns you are selling. Case in point if you are selling blackpowder firearms and accessories have a sales clerk that has shot frontstuffers and revolvers and understand what makes them unique. When I walk in and ask for bore butter someone in the store need to understand I am not wanting to butter my toast in the morning. Better yet is if the clerk has enough BP savy to talk to me about how well bore butter works but why based on his experience something else worksd better I'll probably buy more than I planned.

A case in point. A LGS (the same one that wanted $100.00 to do a transfer) had a clerk that was a Cowboy Action Shooter. He not only looked and dressed the part, long hair, cowboy duds and hat but he really understood shooting black powder guns and guns used in CAS. He brought a lot of business into the store from CAS shooters and had a reputation as the "go to" guy for CAS needs and information. Well the owner and clerk got into a argument over the length of his hair and the clerk either quit or got fired. When the clerk walked out of the front door so did all of the CAS customers.

If you hire a bunch of young shooters that only shoot black rifles you can kiss older, experienced shooters like me goodbye. Just because I am shooting 1800 era guns doesn't mean I have not burned my share of powder shooting IPSC, etc. I rarely go into the two LGS because that is exactly the type of staff they have. They are young, self righteous who think they know it all. but don't know the difference between 44-40 and 44 WCF.

 

[303tom]

Guns, & gun related stuff at great prices..............

 

[drsfmd]

If you hire a bunch of young shooters

Do you know why the salespeople in the gun business are generally very young? Because the jobs don't pay well. At most shops the counter guys are lucky to make $10 an hour. Why don't the jobs pay well? Because people are looking to get everything at fire sales prices and don't want to let the dealer make a living. To make a living, he has to cut corners in other areas, and staffing costs are one of the largest expenses.

 

[BSA1]

That may be true for your area but where I live we have close to 20% actual unemployment which means there a lot of middle age laid off workers that are willing to work even on a part-time basis.

 

[drsfmd]

That may be true for your area but where I live we have close to 20% actual unemployment which means there a lot of middle age laid off workers that are willing to work even on a part-time basis.

Trust me, we're in tough shape around here too, but most folks can stay home and make more on unemployment than retail will pay them to work. That's a different discussion of course...

 

[CountryUgly]

One more pet peeve I forgot to mention earlier.....Please for the love of all that is right and good no one and I mean no one behind the counter should be wearing a shoulder holster with the biggest gun they could find to shove in it, or a small of the back holster filled with a baby Glock. You are not Dirty Harry and you are not super secret deep cover Johnny Law so please don't act like it. Keep the gun of the day on your strong side hip or maybe cross draw if you spend alot of time sitting down behind a desk/counter. Sorry had to get that off my chest. No appendix carry either unles you want the guys walking out the door laughing and calling you stumpy.

 

[Sniper66]

You can offer discounted products or great service. It is extremely tough to provide both. If there is a discount place near you (Cabela's or Bass Pro) you will have difficulty competing with them on the amount of product you can offer on any given day. I have access to both and I do buy some stuff from them. But, I prefer to deal with a smaller shop, that doesn't have to call out my number when it's my turn. Service will be what gets them in your door and keeps them. I am willing to pay a bit higher price for products if the service is great. And, keep your store friendly yet clean, well organized and refreshed with new products and new displays. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[rodinal220]

Staff that are friendly and competent/knowledgeable.I don't need the typical conceited rude attitude that is all too common in the LGS world.If you treat me with respect and true professionalism I will give you my business and spread the word.Its a shame that gun owners are not on the same page.
If your thinking about opening a range in the future one tip for you.If my brass(my personal property) hits the ground its still mine,not yours.

 

[jdex]

Friendly dog, or dogs. My wife has no problem mentioning that we should stop at a local gun store if we are close while out running errands. However she will only go to the ones with animals, gives her something to do while they run the check on me.

 

[A.Rifleman]

jdex,

I will not go into any shop for anything that has loose dogs.

One shop out of town has a dog that runs over, pokes its dirty nose at you and all. I did find a nice rifle there years ago however I won't go in there again.

 

[Inebriated]

Nice salesmen. No commandos, no Bubbas, just normal people with good knowledge.
Large inventory of ammo and holsters.
Prices UNDER MSRP. If prices are higher than online, I still support local, until they approach MSRP or higher.
A range attached.

 

[jk2008]

My LGS has anywhere between 0 and 4 black labs underfoot at any given time. The dogs are very well-mannered, so I've never minded and my kids enjoy petting them, which allows me to hang around longer shooting the breeze with the owner.

 

[22-rimfire]

Free guns and ammo.

 

[DeMilled]

If I could ask for one thing, that would make a gun store way more than just somewhere to spend money, I would ask for a social corner.

Ever go to one of those book stores that has a coffee bar over on one side of the store? Something along those lines.

It would not need to be very large, and the coffee need only be Folgers with a little cream and sugar available. I'm sure most people actually would put $.50 in the jar and you would at least break even on the coffee.

Cookies! Store bought would be alright but if you could bring in home made I would pay a buck a cookie to go with my coffee.

Chairs wouldn't need to be very nice, skip the couch though.

Maybe a coffee table with last months gun magazines laying around for people to thumb through. (Have this months gun mags. for sale in a proper rack.)


See, I can go pretty much anywhere to buy a new gun. If I really want to save money I'll buy used on line and have it shipped in. What you can't get from the internet is somewhere to talk to other gun lovers(in person), flip through magazines on hunting etc., have a cup of coffee, and then grab that box of ammo you need for the upcoming range trip.

Ever see how willing guys are to linger in a Fun Store even when it's obvious they are finished with their business? It's 'cause we just like being in there. Give us a spot to sit, out of the way and not bothering anyone, and we will drop in there pretty much any chance we get. We will, of course, buy a little something while we are there, even if it's just a brick of .22shells or a pack of paper targets; even though we don't really need them.

 

[jdex]

A.Rifleman, understandable, a lazy dog lying by the door can help or hurt business I guess. Personally I love it, adds to the atmosphere for me.

 

[oneounceload]

Funny how a lot of folks want gun stores to supply a retail item for less than MSRP, but have no issue paying that at the grocery store, tire shop, department store or local eatery.

A gun shop is a retail store and needs to cover costs. Anyone who has ever had a store understands the "ancillary" costs that need to be covered and utilities, taxes, and more taxes comprise a huge cost.

As to the post about competing with the big discount houses like Cabela' and Bass Pro, around here those folks only sell at MSRP +10-25%.
If someone is to cut prices, then you will see the corresponding cuts I other areas to make up for it - lower inventory, less services, fewer products. I'll take the service aspects and a regular fair price from a local guy. If I know what I want, then he gets a shot to compete with the internet, and in many cases, he beats Bud's and similar sources

 

[drsfmd]

Demilled-- the last thing a retail shop wants is people who sit around all day, drink coffee, read magazines and don't buy anything! If you want that, join a gun club... most have a bunch of old guys who sit around and chew the fat in the clubhouse all day.

 

[ChCx2744]

What do I want in a gun store? Online prices.

 

[csa77]

military surplus and antiques. like lee metfords lee enfields arisakas commision rifles webley revolvers ect




that and real gun smiths, not just parts installers.