Gun Stores aren't hungry enough?

[OldVet]

Until recently, I'd rather spend my dollars in a local gun store rather than at Wally World or online, simply to keep the stores in business.

After having gotten back into guns in the last year after a long layoff, I've found that most gun store staff are rude and quite a bit on the "I know more about everything than you do" side of an attitude.

I confess...I don't know everything about firerarms, but I do know a lot. The last thing I need is some yahoo behind the counter looking at me like I'm the south end of a northbound mule when I ask a question or, worse yet, ignore me altogether in order to pay attention to the good ole boys hanging out there.

I don't need some wisebutt gunsmith explain to me that my European firearm's dovetail isn't the "standard" dimensions because it's metric.

No crap, Sherlock. I figured out long ago that the whole world, excluding us, is on the metric system. Now answer the question: can you fit me a new sight?

If I ask if he can reshape the trigger, I believe that's pretty much a yes or no question.

If I ask to see the M&P 40 in the counter, don't tell me you don't have one and go on yakking with your buds. I can see the pistol sitting there. It's a glass case, dummy.

I've been getting much better response dealing online than I have with the local stores.

Is it me? Or is anyone else having this problem?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[varob]

OV, there are a few threads here about poor C/S at LGS.

Most seem to act like you should be honored to be in there stores.

[Shadowsbane]

Had terrible service at a gunstore down in Micco, Florida. Guy actually told me to go to walmart and get what I wanted.

2 out of the 3 gunstores that I have gone to in my area have pretty bad service. 1 charges an extra 100 over the MSRP for the privledge of shopping there, and the other goes on very long political diatribes that are far more rumor than actual fact. (Read, internet chain emails.) They also both ignore my wife when I am in there to purchase a gun for her.

It is nice when you find a good store though. Mine is actually technically a pawnshop, but they have an excellent selection, and great service.

[Rugergirl]

Not me, but then again, I consider myself pretty lucky to have found a great gun shop, and close to home.
I've turned into one of the good old boys(well uhm, gals) that they chat with, after they have waited on other customers.
Two ranges 25 and 50 yard, clean, well lit, very large stock, good prices and in the last year I've gotten to know everyone there pretty well. We go and shoot at least once a week, and if they aren't busy, we hang out and chat for a while with the friends we've come to know. On the other hand, there is another gun shop, a little bit closer, that I've been into a couple times, really not in much hurry to go back, smaller selection, no range and not much in the way of pleasant service.
Like anyplace else, you'll find good and not so good.
Hope you find a place like my local Fun Shop soon.

[AzB]

There's a great gun store around the corner from me. It's a family owned business that's been there at least 30 years, probably longer.

I was in the other day looking for an IWB holster for my FNP-45. While one person looked through different catalogs looking for availability, another pulled just about every possible holster that might fit, including the OWB models down so that we could try for a cross fit.

They spent an easy half hour with me and I spent $50 on a holster.

That's customer service, and I'll never have a problem with paying a couple extra bucks to keep them around.

They guy at Wally World is friendly enough, but he's rarely there and he knows nothing about guns.

[Ram Rod]

Well, it is what it is in a seller's market. Plain hard truth is if we won't take it, there's someone else coming along in a minute that will. That's why you get poor service wherever you go nowadays with the exception of few. IMO, it's going to be a long time (if ever) we see a buyers market again. That's just the lay of the land from my pavement boat.

[frankmako]

the gun stores in my area are crap. i don't go in any more, just a wast of time. i can beat everything they sale from the net.

[Guardian]

I don't let them get away with bad C/S, I let them know that their bad C/S will cost them not only me but every da_ _ person I can tell in the coming weeks after I leave their crappy shop.

If they don't care, I don't mind telling everyone that they don't care.

[boricua]

You should write a letter to the store owner telling him about your experience and pointing out the unprofessional staff, by name or description. The owner should at least apologize to you. Now, you know who may not see your hard-earned money again, right? Business is business, my friend.

[DIXIETWISTER]

The ONE around here is friendly, usually an older cop hangs out and talks with owner, the cop is friendly and very pro-cc. prices on a lot of stuff are cheaper than Bass Pro., which aint saying much..

[MP45Man]

I don't think bad service is limited to gun stores. It is everywhere. Of course, if it is a seller's market, then things get a little worse. We just had a consultant come in to our organization and played some taped messages of some mystery calls that they took in our organization. We need some improvement. But then we called some other stores in our industry and boy did we get an eye opener. We didn't call a single person who even came close to caring about selling us something.

Gun stores are no exception.

[retsupt99]

I shop/buy at only two gun shops. One is a 1/2 mile from my home, and the other is about 75 miles away. Both places know me by name when I enter. I get great prices and respectable service...I pay a lot of their bills...it's a great relationship.

[DIABLO9489]

Try being in your early 20's and going into a gun store. It's almost like you don't exist. I was lucky enough to find a guy at the local store that treated me with respect the first time I dealt with him and he is he only guy I will purchase a gun from at that store. The best part is that they work on commisson and I have this problem where I only like to buy expensive guns. Now all the employees know that I buy all the time and I refuse to have them wait on me when they coming rushing over when they see me looking in the cases.
The problem with service in gun stores like the one in my area is that there is NO competition. Around here the store with the biggest selection of guns, ammo, and accessories has the worst employees because they know we all have to come back there to get the best selection.

[reyno2ac]

Try being in your early 20's and going into a gun store. It's almost like you don't exist. I was lucky enough to find a guy at the local store that treated me with respect the first time I dealt with him and he is he only guy I will purchase a gun from at that store. The best part is that they work on commisson and I have this problem where I only like to buy expensive guns. Now all the employees know that I buy all the time and I refuse to have them wait on me when they coming rushing over when they see me looking in the cases.
The problem with service in gun stores like the one in my area is that there is NO competition. Around here the store with the biggest selection of guns, ammo, and accessories has the worst employees because they know we all have to come back there to get the best selection.

Sounds like the same problem I have. If your not "older" it's assumed that we know nothing about guns and will not be spending any money. I'd rather shop online, at least then I don't have to jump up and down at the counter waving cash in the air to get someone to notice me.

[hengst]

I know how you feel . The ONLY real gun store in Colorado Springs used to have employees with the same if not worse attitude. These guys were real horses behinds. I don't know what happened but my last 3 times there have been almost pleasant....of course I have only dealt with the same guy and probably will continue to do so....I hope he works on commision...