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Gun Shops are Crookeder than a Dog's Hind Leg !!!
Frogdog
Member Posts: 3,029 ✭✭✭✭
Don't know how it is in your areas, but as for me, I have had enough of gun shops. From now on, I'll buy from the chain stores any day. Here's why: I generally try to stop anywhere I see a gun shop, just to take a look around, compare prices, and look for good deals or unique items. Without exception, it's ALWAYS the same story.
1. Service: Starts off with a cold greeting, if any, and an attitude that suggests I'm not welcome. Is it a store or a club? As I look around with the staff watching me like a hawk, I get the distinct impression that they can't wait for me to leave. General questions (e.g. where are your holsters?) may or may not even merit a verbal response. Sometimes they answer as if it's the biggest annoyance ever; other times all I might get is a scowl and a look towards the item I've asked about. If they do engage in any discussion, it seems to really piss them off if you know what you're looking for, or actually seem to know something about it.
2. Dishonesty: I understand salesmanship; lying about products, however, is another matter. But the more I visit these shops, the more I realize how much these guys are doing wrong by people, particularly those who want to get into shooting, but are new to it. For example, of the past three shops I've visited, here are some pitches from the staff to the customer:
A. Staff to another customer regarding an over-priced Bersa .380: "That little gun is the best personal defense weapon out there. The Bersa .380 is the official issue pistol of the FBI. Oh, yea, it's powerful enough. The .380 mimics the .357 magnum in ballistics, just with less recoil. One of the best rounds out there; it'll really put 'em down."
B. Staff to customer regarding a used Jennings 9mm for $250: "The Jennings is every bit as good as a Glock. There's been a lot of tests done where the Jennings beat the Glock hands down. It's one of the best values out there. And you won't find 'em in this kind of shape for this good a price anywhere. They're really getting rare, and values are sky-rocketing."
C. Staff to ME regarding an Olympic Arms K-16 AR: "Colt makes this gun......exact same thing as a Colt, just costs less. I've been to the factory and seen them make 'em both on the same assembly line. Colt just uses the Olympic Arms name on some of them for tax purposes. Best part is.....you get a genuine Colt for WAY less. Can't beat that, my friend, no sir. Besides, you better snap this up today. Colt is shutting down production because of Obama. I talked to my guy at Colt just yesterday and he said as of January 20th they won't be making any more AR's EVER. No sir, not ever. If you don't get one by the 20th, there's no chance you ever will."
Note: I just handed him back the AR and told him I wouldn't by a rifle off a liar like him if it was $1, and walked out.
I know some of y'all are shop owners and workers. Please take no offense......these are just my experiences. Unfortunately, I've had a lot of them. Enough to keep me away from small shops. Yea, the kid at Wal-Mart, Bass Pro, or Dicks may be an idiot, but at least I can shop there without being hassled, lied to, or given the cold shoulder.
1. Service: Starts off with a cold greeting, if any, and an attitude that suggests I'm not welcome. Is it a store or a club? As I look around with the staff watching me like a hawk, I get the distinct impression that they can't wait for me to leave. General questions (e.g. where are your holsters?) may or may not even merit a verbal response. Sometimes they answer as if it's the biggest annoyance ever; other times all I might get is a scowl and a look towards the item I've asked about. If they do engage in any discussion, it seems to really piss them off if you know what you're looking for, or actually seem to know something about it.
2. Dishonesty: I understand salesmanship; lying about products, however, is another matter. But the more I visit these shops, the more I realize how much these guys are doing wrong by people, particularly those who want to get into shooting, but are new to it. For example, of the past three shops I've visited, here are some pitches from the staff to the customer:
A. Staff to another customer regarding an over-priced Bersa .380: "That little gun is the best personal defense weapon out there. The Bersa .380 is the official issue pistol of the FBI. Oh, yea, it's powerful enough. The .380 mimics the .357 magnum in ballistics, just with less recoil. One of the best rounds out there; it'll really put 'em down."
B. Staff to customer regarding a used Jennings 9mm for $250: "The Jennings is every bit as good as a Glock. There's been a lot of tests done where the Jennings beat the Glock hands down. It's one of the best values out there. And you won't find 'em in this kind of shape for this good a price anywhere. They're really getting rare, and values are sky-rocketing."
C. Staff to ME regarding an Olympic Arms K-16 AR: "Colt makes this gun......exact same thing as a Colt, just costs less. I've been to the factory and seen them make 'em both on the same assembly line. Colt just uses the Olympic Arms name on some of them for tax purposes. Best part is.....you get a genuine Colt for WAY less. Can't beat that, my friend, no sir. Besides, you better snap this up today. Colt is shutting down production because of Obama. I talked to my guy at Colt just yesterday and he said as of January 20th they won't be making any more AR's EVER. No sir, not ever. If you don't get one by the 20th, there's no chance you ever will."
Note: I just handed him back the AR and told him I wouldn't by a rifle off a liar like him if it was $1, and walked out.
I know some of y'all are shop owners and workers. Please take no offense......these are just my experiences. Unfortunately, I've had a lot of them. Enough to keep me away from small shops. Yea, the kid at Wal-Mart, Bass Pro, or Dicks may be an idiot, but at least I can shop there without being hassled, lied to, or given the cold shoulder.
Comments
I finally have two in my area that trat me ok now. Before even if I was buying something it was hard to pay.
One is run by a ex LEO, normally only deal with other LEO's. but I came in looking for a book on the M1 Garand. For some reason that got them to talk to me. Now no problems there.
The other was run by a bunch of total Jerks. Their gunsmith was the worst of them all. After he told me to take a Hammer to the front sight of my AR to adjust it I stoped going in there. Well I heard the store had changed hands. So I went back. That day I just happened to have some extra cash.
Left with a new 870 and a Kimber Ultra Covert. So they now know I will spend some money if I'm asking about something. But the gunsmith is still there, I was trying to buy a scope for my AR, he did get me a good scope but was trying to rip me off for the Rings. He got pulled aside by another employee who I've dealt with some. Price dropped fast for the rings and scope. But they are back up for sale, they have a very bad rep for how they treat customers.
Do have one other place, but the guy I deal with there is another Marine. So we get along fine. Thru him now the rest of the guys are easy to work with.
With the gunshops we expect expertise and often do not get it from them- we do not get what we expect and get mad
and a few that are the exact opposite. I buy most of my stuff online. I have tried to throw buisiness their way, even though I know I can get things cheaper online. Sometimes they just act like I am not part of the little click in the shop??!!! I never go in there and waste their time, and always try to buy something weather I need it or not. But it is as if I am there for them and they are not there for me the customer???
I somewhat understand the impersonal moments. We ALL have down times and I have felt bad when a few people left because I knew I was "less friendly" than I could have been. But imagine being in a retail setting 6 days a week non-stop. Its almost like being on stage....everyone is expecting you to be "UP" and it is sometimes just not possible.
With the big chain stores they have an army of fresh, minimum wage workers to roll in when needed.....in small stores its just the few that have it all the time. Give them another chance! If you are near Birmingham come see me....I swear I will make a point to be extra helpful.
Some of their counter workers are total dimwits and can't speak in an understandable voice let alone comprehend what I tell them I want to order.
I have been in several McDonalds and only a few of them will I ever go back to.
I really like my local McDonalds the best.
the guy behind the counter rolled his eyes when i asked to see a commander that was like new.
i asked him how many mags it came with and he replied "one"
"make it two and i'll take it"
suddenly he was my best friend!
now, when i walk in I'm greeted with "hey tom, lemme show you what i just got in...."[:)]
another place wouldnt take a gun out of the case "unless you're buying".
I don't go there anymore.
Afield to get a shotgun.. the owners son said gary what the hell
are you doing here, i said buying a shot gun he has the same name as me filled out the form and passed paid for the gun and left
Sorry, LF but I have to disagree with you. Just as we expect cops to uphold the law, so too should retailers provide "service with a smile". I was in retail, 6 days a week, 0800-1800 in a family owned dealership. If you can't put on the appearance of being "UP", regardless of how bad a day you are having or wherever in the world your daughter may be lost at, then you need to get out of the retail environment!
I had one "less friendly" day. I fired myself and sought a different career path and have never looked back. Much better for myself and much better for the business to not have a "less friendly" person waiting on customers, regardless of whether they are cash carrying customers or window shoppers.
Whenever I go in to look for an accessory or a certain kind of ammo, they never have it, but "we can order it." Gee, so can I, cheaper and faster and sent to my door.
When I go into a shop or buy a gun, I don't need a salesman, I know my guns and what I want. That's why we buy most of our pieces at auctions or gun shows.
I get pretty good service at Cabelas or Sportsmans Warehouse.
C. Staff to ME regarding an Olympic Arms K-16 AR: "Colt makes this gun......exact same thing as a Colt, just costs less. I've been to the factory and seen them make 'em both on the same assembly line. Colt just uses the Olympic Arms name on some of them for tax purposes. Best part is.....you get a genuine Colt for WAY less. Can't beat that, my friend, no sir. Besides, you better snap this up today. Colt is shutting down production because of Obama. I talked to my guy at Colt just yesterday and he said as of January 20th they won't be making any more AR's EVER. No sir, not ever. If you don't get one by the 20th, there's no chance you ever will."
Note: I just handed him back the AR and told him I wouldn't by a rifle off a liar like him if it was $1, and walked out.
So Colt gets taxed more??? LOLOLOL As for Colt not doing public business there concentrating on Gov, Contracts.
quote:Originally posted by DBV
C. Staff to ME regarding an Olympic Arms K-16 AR: "Colt makes this gun......exact same thing as a Colt, just costs less. I've been to the factory and seen them make 'em both on the same assembly line. Colt just uses the Olympic Arms name on some of them for tax purposes. Best part is.....you get a genuine Colt for WAY less. Can't beat that, my friend, no sir. Besides, you better snap this up today. Colt is shutting down production because of Obama. I talked to my guy at Colt just yesterday and he said as of January 20th they won't be making any more AR's EVER. No sir, not ever. If you don't get one by the 20th, there's no chance you ever will."
Note: I just handed him back the AR and told him I wouldn't by a rifle off a liar like him if it was $1, and walked out.
So Colt gets taxed more??? LOLOLOL As for Colt not doing public business there concentrating on Gov, Contracts.
Well I have been to the Olympic Arms factory several times and it is no wheres near the Colt Factory.
I was interested in a NIB Winchester that was on GB and told the owner if he could match the price, including shipping, transfer fees and taxes, I'd buy it from him instead.
He said, "No problem".
After the gun came in the price was suddenly $25.00 more than what we had agreed. I asked him why and he said he was unable to get it at the lower price.
I paid him and never bought another thing from him since. I figure he gave up about $2,500 worth of sales each year since (7 years).
afield on harrison ave and introduce you to harold
the man knows everything,i have his business card
If I know what I want I will research it online first, then test the salesman and ask some basic questions about the gun. You can tell right away who to stay away from.
There is only one shop here in the Houston thats like that. Other that them, they are all decent folks. Some do have higher prices than others, but thats to be expected. There are bad apples in every business. I bought my first Harley this year, and one of the dealers that everyone told me to avoid actually tried to convince me that I didnt want a Sportster because Harley-Davidson was discontinuing them this year and wouldnt have parts or service for them afterward. My advise, Go somewhere where they appreciate your hard earned money as much as you do.
Please feel free to suggest some on the north side of town. All I've run into can kiss my * as far as I'm concerned.
In our store.....an off day (just so you know Scrumpyjack) is when I just say "hey there Joe, let me know if you're looking for anything...I'm just getting caught up over here" and I stay at my computer and let him look around. We normally follow people around and spend hours talking about everything on the planet...kids, wives, vacation plans play with everything in stock to the point that Mr. Langdon has forgotten why he came in. BUT SOMETIMES....you just can't make yourself visit for that hour. We don't feel like "catching up" on the small talk. We have HOURS of paperwork, phone calls and general things to do.
If a person walks into a gun store and looks like he/she knows a thing or two about what they are looking for.....what is wrong with letting them look around, pick out what they want, pay for it, do the proper forms and walk away? When did this turn into a "best friends" moment? Am I in some competition like J.C. Penny and Sears? Can't I just stock a firearm at a reasonable price and EXPECT the person who buys it to know what they are doing and not need me to rub their feet with lotion as people walk past showing the selection on velvet lined silver trays......
I know that is a little beyond what you guys are saying....but nobody is taking into account that THESE ARE GUNS we are talking about. Not fishing rods....kittens....or china sets....GUNS. If you need a lot of help from the person behind the counter....that just scares me. Firearm courses aren't given at the counter in these stores. I'm tired and I think my pants are at least one size tighter than they were yesturday....all I'm missing is a thorn.
G'nite yall!
quote:Originally posted by Brassnadz
There is only one shop here in the Houston thats like that. Other that them, they are all decent folks. Some do have higher prices than others, but thats to be expected. There are bad apples in every business. I bought my first Harley this year, and one of the dealers that everyone told me to avoid actually tried to convince me that I didnt want a Sportster because Harley-Davidson was discontinuing them this year and wouldnt have parts or service for them afterward. My advise, Go somewhere where they appreciate your hard earned money as much as you do.
Please feel free to suggest some on the north side of town. All I've run into can kiss my * as far as I'm concerned.
Have you tried Jim Pruetts place?
P.S. GOOD LUCK to all going into Penn's Woods tomorrow for our 1st day of Rifle season , Be Safe [8)]
Life in a small town I guess [:)][8)][:)][8)]
quote:Originally posted by Kodiakk
quote:Originally posted by Brassnadz
There is only one shop here in the Houston thats like that. Other that them, they are all decent folks. Some do have higher prices than others, but thats to be expected. There are bad apples in every business. I bought my first Harley this year, and one of the dealers that everyone told me to avoid actually tried to convince me that I didnt want a Sportster because Harley-Davidson was discontinuing them this year and wouldnt have parts or service for them afterward. My advise, Go somewhere where they appreciate your hard earned money as much as you do.
Please feel free to suggest some on the north side of town. All I've run into can kiss my * as far as I'm concerned.
Have you tried Jim Pruetts place?
Nope never been there. Pretty decent drive for me also. I live in Humble. I'll give it a try though.