will you spend more to buy local

[Shanghai McCoy]

The local ( 7miles west of Topeka..) shop does not have a wide range of items or a large supply of stuff either. I have bought there when they had what I needed, or might need,
but when I talked to them today the about some cast boolits for the 45/70 he was telling me about the cast Pistol bullets that they had...gues all he heard was the "45" part.
The big box outdoors stores over in KC are more expensive but they seem to have more on hand due to the sheer volume of sales.
The "People's Republik of Lawrence" has only a couple wallywerlds.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have not been in a local gun store in my area in years not counting a couple mail order transfers that I have done recently. They either do not carry what i want and they charge too much for the stuff I do not want or need.

Even with the transfers, I paid the transfer fees, filled out the paperwork and left with only the firearm. I did not do any other business with the store.

I will admit, that my firearm and shooting interests are not mainstream. i have more self defense guns than I can shoot and I reload my own ammunition. That is all the guns stores in my parts seem to cater to. (How many mold covered ancient leather holsters do I really need?)

I do go regularly to the local gun shows. There are a couple of regular vendors currently that carry primers and powders at decent prices, I like to window shop and I sometimes find something off the mainstream that peeks my interest. I consider the entry fee an entertainment expense.

Except for firearms themselves, I do the vast bulk of my shooting related purchases on line or by mail order. Generally the prices are less, I can find what I want without driving all over town, and it gets delivered to my door. Over the past couple decades, i have adjusted my buying habits for most things, not just shooting related stuff, that I rarely need something immediately. Besides, if I do need it immediately, I am usually SOL anyway and i have to adapt and improvise.

I realize the gun business is difficult due to the wide variety of products making inventorying everything virtually impossible, but I do not feel bad for the local stores, not just gun stores, if they cannot or will not compete. Markets today are more than just local.

 

[madFive]

I've personally never bought a firearm online. I prefer to handle a gun first and make sure I'm ok with the condition, the way it fits and the feel of the trigger etc.

But I am fairly spoiled on large gun retailers in my area (north GA), and can often get sales that are as good as online. So I have little motivation to buy online currently.

I'll still get most ammo and accessories online though - just nothing that needs a 4473. During the scare a lot of local places had strict rationing on ammo and magazines, so of course I wasn't buying from them during that time.

 

[GBExpat]

I was just wondering how many of you guys will spend extra to buy from your lgs.

If there were a LGS the I frequented with good, friendly folks running it, I would not mind paying a bit extra for things.

Before buying a non-milsurp firearm, I will always check the prices with my local kitchen-table 01FFL. If he can source the same item for a bit more, I will buy it from him. On a couple of occasions over the past 12+ years that is how it has worked out.

 

[Teachu2]

I was happily patronizing the LGS/range when they were making the effort to take care of customers. I bought the high $ membership to support them, knowing that the benefits did not justify the cost. I participated in their events, often entering extra guns and paying for multiple entries. I bought from them every time they could supply what I wanted, regardless of price.

They have decided to eliminate their local competitions. I will be downgrading to the cheaper membership and shopping for prices on guns online. So it goes.

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

I live in a small town in central Texas there are a number of gun shops but all of them are outrageous on prices for ammo, one store has 22 ammo a 500 round brick for 75.99 the other has one brick of the federal 555 for 99.99 to me that is un called for. the other week I drove to San Antonio to a random Academy and they had Remington 22 ammo a brick of 525 for 21.99, needless to say I havent spent any money in my lgs in a while.

Your local gun shop is just one shop whereas Academy is a sporting goods store with somewhere between 165-170 stores, walmart with some 3,000 stores all of which gives them an enormous advantage when pricing ammo or any product for that matter. These large corporations have the ability to buy straight from the producer whereas there may be several distributors between the manufacture and the LGS. The LGS is in the same position as the end user like you and I. They are just one step above bottom of the distribution chain which is where the shooter is.

One thing I'm sure of is those putting down their LGS's will be the very ones bemoaning the loss of their LGS if they are forced out of business as a result of this mess.

 

[Josh45]

I would give only a few bucks more locally depending on how bad I want it.
Especially since I can get a feel for it in person and check it out physically.

But no more than about $25-$30 bucks. That's a pound of powder to me for reloading, Or maybe a box of bullets or a box of primers. Stuff got expensive.

 

[navystang]

Would you drive 45 min for cheap ammo or pay 100 bucks for 22 ammo. The salesman behind the counter tried to sell me a line about the gov shutdown and the ammo shipment s have been delayed.... high class people there.

 

[RockyTop]

I don't see any reason in spending more than necessary and I've found that I almost always get a significantly better deal buying online or at a gunshow than I do at my LGS. I know some areas are different but where I live this has been the case.
For example, last week I bought a new SW M&P 15 sport online, shipped and with FFL fee, for nearly $100 less than the lowest priced one at my LGS. It arrived at the FFL dealer less than 48 hrs after I ordered it and I was in and out within 15 minutes. I basically just go to the LGS to get a feel for firearm in person then I normally find a much better deal elsewhere.

 

[SuedePflow]

Most things that I buy online aren't available within a 1-hour drive. And being that I drive a Suburban, shipping fees are usually always cheaper than fuel anyway.

 

[dusty14u]

I rarely go to any of the LGS here as their prices are over MSRP and the stores are run by opinionated and rude counter people. I found an FFL who has a pawn shop and does $20 transfers. I generally save from $80 to several hundred dollars buying online to what I would pay at an LGS. The pawn shop FFL is courteous and pleasant and I do all of my business there. I reload and all my supplies come from online transactions.


Dicks and Walmart carry a good selection of rimfire and shotgun ammo so I am ready to go. I belong to Amazon Prime and order most of my accessories and I don't pay shipping on any of my purchases from there. I comparison shop everything gun related and go with the best deal. I stocked almost 10,000rds of 22LR before any of the latest scare sucked up supplies and I still have a large supply to shoot. Buy cheap and stock up when prices are low and you will survive most shortages.

 

[tekarra]

Wherever possible I buy local to support my community. However, I will not buy locally if the price is out of line.

 

[JRWhit]

If we're talking 5 more dollars for a box of ammo or pound of powder sure. If paying 60$ for a brick of 22 that's a little different. All I can do at that point is point and laugh and go home empty handed.

 

[orionengnr]

I am fortunate enough to have a good LGS, so I support them exclusively, unless it is something they just can't get.

I have spent a few bucks more here and there to support them (any number of times), and I am fine with that. If they were selling $99 .22LR, my view of them might change a bit.

Fortunately, I don't see that happening.

 

[TheCracker]

If he raised his prices through the roof on the panic that would be enough for me to shop elsewhere. Also, if he's one of the non negotiators id save my money elsewhere also. If he had something I really wanted and I absolutely couldn't find it anywhere else then I would consider buying it.

I do believe in supporting local bit I'm not gonna get screwed doing it!

I was just wondering how many of you guys will spend extra to buy from your lgs.
I have been a good customer at my lgs for a long time. I like supporting my local economy. He raised prices through the roof during the panic as did a lot of others. The problem is he lefthis prices there. One example that comes to mind is the 480$ asking price for the s&w shield(I'm in the market for one.) That's 11$ over msrp. There is also no negotiating on price what so ever.
I found the shield tombstone tactical.com for 389$ if you pay with check or money order.
His ammo prices are also extremely high in this area. There is also a Palmetto State armory about 35 miles away from me and their prices are great on everything. I hate to stop supporting my lgs, but I cant see spending that much extra money.
The family that runs the lgs are great people but seem unconcerned how over price they are.
Has anyone else had to abandon their lgs because of pricing.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

I managed to find a local LGS that stocked hard to find ammo and also guns at just above pre-panic prices. Been purchasing NIB Glock pistols for $505 plus tax. So guess my answer is yes, but only within reason. Being able to handle a gun prior to buying weighs heavily with me. Will pay a slightly higher price over internet prices.

 

[saitek]

i will try to buy from the local shop just to support the local economy ,if in stock .

 

[xxjumbojimboxx]

Ive bought a few good guns from reds gun range out here in pflugerville texas... every time i go in to shoot i have to go and look at all of the guns with red tags... i one got a sig 220 in 38 super for 350.. traded it for about 800 worth... the deals are few and far between... one must be dilligent

 

[texasgun]

LGS can be competitive with online stores if they WANT to ... some do, some don't. Many LGS here who are very over-priced ($600+ for a Glock which goes for $529 online...) but happily do transfers for guns ordered online.

I do not feel bad when ordering online... the LGS gets $20 for 5min of paperwork and a phone call.

ammo I either buy at WallyWorld/ my local LGS or online - whoever has the best price.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Almost every gun I bought at the LGS would have been cheaper at a gun show, and I've bought a LOT of guns there.

 

[MrWesson]

Without feeling like I am being scammed? Yes
What am I getting in return? I would support a LGS that carries reloading supplies(even at a premium) over one that does not.
Is the gunsmith any good? Building a relationship with a good one can help you out of a jam and sometimes at no charge.
I generally avoid pawn shops.


Then places like Bass Pro shops should have the resources to price near internet pricing. These places irritate me when they price things twice as high as amazon and above a LGS.

 

[rdhood]

Its not the cost of the item, its the replacement cost if they sold the 30rd GI mags for 10$ a piece they would be all gone, and with uncertainty in the distributers stock, there might not be any more coming down for a long while.

Yeah, I've heard that line before. I'm not buying it. This implies that if the price were to go DOWN, that the shop would lower their price their price even if their actual cost was much higher. In practice... this virtually never happens.

Its like gasoline:
If price jumps by $50 a barrel tomorrow, watch gas prices skyrocket tomorrow.
If price drops by $50 a barrel tomorrow, expect lower gas prices in about 4 weeks.

 

[Old Dog]

Yes. Yes, I will spend more to buy locally.

I may not always use my local gunshops for big-ticket purchases, but I want them to stay in business. With only a couple exceptions, most of the pricing around the greater Puget Sound area isn't egregious. It's clear to my that my area is pretty favorable with regards to gun prices compared to some of the states other THR members hail from.

I enjoy visiting the shops as much for the social aspects as I do perusing the gun selections.

On-line, I cannot handle, point, field-strip or closely examine something I may want to someday purchase (if it is a platform I don't already own).

On-line, I can't shoot the bull -- face-to-face -- with actual humans, some of whom with I may have a social relationship. It's rewarding to engage in normal interaction in person, discussing guns, politics or simply the weather, with like-minded individuals.

We have one oft-maligned LGS in my area that I make a point of stopping by at least weekly. These guys know what I'm looking for, and have let me be the first to see some really neat used stuff they get in. I can't get that kind of relationship on line.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Yes I will,,,

Yes I will,,,
But not too much extra.

For example:

The Evil Pawn Shop sold Mini Mags for $6.99 a box,,,
Wal Mart sold the same ammo for $6.49 a box,,,
I bought it from the Evil Place.

The Evil Pawn Shop Guy knows I order from budsgunshop.com,,,
A always ask him if he can match the price plus his $20.00 transfer fee,,,
Most of the time he can match buds but every now and then he can only come close.

Then it's a judgment call on how much more I will pay,,,
For the convenience of not having to deal online.

My point seems to be a $20.00 bill,,,
If he can keep the difference to that amount,,,
I support his business by allowing him to make his profit margin.

He's given me too many good deals on used guns not to do him that courtesy,,,
But remember that he and I have established a great business relationship over the years,,,
I doubt whether I would give the same benefit to any of the other LGS's in my immediate area.

Aarond

.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

I went to a gun show a couple years ago an priced an new 4" stainless SP101. I drove back home to the LGS and asked for their pricing on the same gun. First they acted like it was a huge pain in the ass for me to ask for something not in their limited selection. Then they told me how impossible it was to get those guns when I was just looking at 4 of em. Then they told me the price. I was expecting maybe $30-40 more but not 30% more. I have never been, and will not be, back.