Indy Trading Post, part two

[INccwchris]

After the initial blow up of what happened on a visit to this gun shop, I posted what happened and my reaction. Brief summary, I went in, asked a question about blanks for my grandma, and got laughed out of the shop. I have been apologized too several times by two of the employees who were involved, they explained that they misread the tone of my voice when I came in and that they were very sorry. As part of the apology, I was allowed some free range time. They didn't have to do that, the apology was enough. Long story short, things were set right and I was a happy customer again. However, last week, things changed. I am no longer a happy customer, I am a happy employee. I am now officially a gun dealer as of my first day today and I completed my first transaction today as a dealer and not just a seller. Got the 4473 out, had the customer fill it out, got em approved and listened to the reaction he got when he fired it for the first time on our range. Not a better feeling in the world than having someone tell me that they now feel safer that they have a gun to protect themselves with that I sold them. Now I'm hooked. Any advice to give a new gun store employee?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[gasmitty]

Yes - per Clint Smith's experience, watch those muzzles when the customers handle guns!

[INccwchris]

Had a guy just whip out his loaded Glock on me today too, swept me and everything as he unloaded it in the store.

[HKinNY]

Good luck with new job.

[atctimmy]

My advice is to not make your hobby into your profession.

I'd keep job hunting.

[Steve666]

My advice is to not make your hobby into your profession. I'd keep job hunting.

The old saying goes “Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life”

[INccwchris]

Not exactly a profession, I give my time, he gives me guns/ammo that are bought on store credit. I earn the store credit by selling guns. In exchange for the work done for him, he gives free range time, free gun rental, 25 percent discount on everything but guns, dealer pricing on guns, and 5 bucks store credit per gun sold. So I'm doing it to help finance my addiction. In exchange, they do not set up a schedule, they do not tell you when to come and go, and they do not tell you what to do with your time while you are there. So I don't deal with the register, I don't deal with the range payment and set ups, I don't deal with the ATF. I help people pick em out, help em with the paperwork and hand em over to the guy at the register.

[HotGuns]

Sounds like a great gig to me.

When dealing with people that arent aware of the rules, be polite, be firm and be safe.
You dont have to be a jerk about it, just make them understand that there is no tolerance when it comes to safety.
Good communication skills is the key here.

[atctimmy]

Not exactly a profession, I give my time, he gives me guns/ammo that are bought on store credit. I earn the store credit by selling guns. In exchange for the work done for him, he gives free range time, free gun rental, 25 percent discount on everything but guns, dealer pricing on guns, and 5 bucks store credit per gun sold. So I'm doing it to help finance my addiction. In exchange, they do not set up a schedule, they do not tell you when to come and go, and they do not tell you what to do with your time while you are there. So I don't deal with the register, I don't deal with the range payment and set ups, I don't deal with the ATF. I help people pick em out, help em with the paperwork and hand em over to the guy at the register.

I hope it works out for you.

I played paintball for years as a teen/young adult. I was good enough to move up higher and higher in competition until one day I was at the top end of the game. It wasn't too long after I started getting sponsors and paychecks that paintball stopped being fun for me. When you HAVE to be there it stops being a hobby.

Just remember to enjoy it and if you stop enjoying it then it's time to get out.

[archer51]

After the initial blow up of what happened on a visit to this gun shop, I posted what happened and my reaction. Brief summary, I went in, asked a question about blanks for my grandma, and got laughed out of the shop. I have been apologized too several times by two of the employees who were involved, they explained that they misread the tone of my voice when I came in and that they were very sorry. As part of the apology, I was allowed some free range time. They didn't have to do that, the apology was enough. Long story short, things were set right and I was a happy customer again. However, last week, things changed. I am no longer a happy customer, I am a happy employee. I am now officially a gun dealer as of my first day today and I completed my first transaction today as a dealer and not just a seller. Got the 4473 out, had the customer fill it out, got em approved and listened to the reaction he got when he fired it for the first time on our range. Not a better feeling in the world than having someone tell me that they now feel safer that they have a gun to protect themselves with that I sold them. Now I'm hooked. Any advice to give a new gun store employee?

Never lose sight of how you want to be treated, and remember to treat each and every customer that way. I know it is difficult. I worked retail sales and many times customers need slapped up along side the head.

[Yankeejib]

Make sure your paycheck makes it to the bank:)

[Yankeejib]

Never lose sight of how you want to be treated, and remember to treat each and every customer that way. I know it is difficult. I worked retail sales and many times customers need slapped up along side the head.

I worked retail before selling furniture. I'll never forget the time I had a big deal working, but the customers (husband and wife) were being very difficult with lots of strange requests/changes/options/issues. The owner summoned me over and said "Go fire those customers". I was stunned with such a big deal working. He said, "they're going to be nothing but trouble for you, me, the delivery guys, everyone. They're never going to be happy and will just badmouth our store to everyone they know. Go over there and tell them everything comes "as is", no discounts, no substitutions. Give them your card and then go help someone else". I did, and they got a hold of the floor manager who quietly listened to them complain for 15 minutes. Then he politely said "Thank you", gave them his card, and walked away. In today's retail world where 99.9% of customers are always right, I really liked working for a store that could fire a customer.

[dukalmighty]

When somebody comes in looking for blanks for their Grandma....don't laugh

[TN_Mike]

Indy Trading Post? Is this that place on Madison Ave? If so I went in there once or twice when we lived there. I didn't like the hand cranked target pulley system. I think they said something about a new range at some point. Did that ever happen?

All in all, you could surely do worse in Indianapolis. You could be working at Don's Guns! I liked Pop Guns over on the East side, on Washington I think.

[Burns]

Never lose sight of how you want to be treated, and remember to treat each and every customer that way.

I've come across a quite a few LEOs in my area that could really take a lesson from you.