Things I've Learned Working in a Gun Store

[propellerhead]

Ha! We were just there today.

I was gonna say... some of those apply to the store employees too.

 

[Texas1911]

Ha! We were just there today.

I was gonna say... some of those apply to the store employees too.

Yeah, someone should do one about store employees.

Did you say Hi to Travis? He's Sig_Fiend on the forum.

 

[propellerhead]

Was he over by the rental counter? I asked to see the Sig P226 to compare the recoil spring. The CPO I got has a really tough spring.

 

[Texas1911]

I don't know, you'd have to ask him that. He'll probably see this thread later tonight.

 

[Wolfwood]

yah ever get a guy that comes in and says "what the best i can get for X dollars?"

 

[Txfishermn]

That's me!

Just can't quite fit into a category. I carry a 1911-.45 ACP. Love my .380 pocket pistol. Have the .44 mag. Except my wife won't carry anything. Knows how to load and fire all my weapons. Yet seems to prefer the loaded 12 gauge. She says anybody stupid enough to keep coming in the house after one shot is just plain stupid and I get to shoot next after her. Good post though.

 

[Texas1911]

yah ever get a guy that comes in and says "what the best i can get for X dollars?"

Occasionally ... but those guys are easy to deal with. You just gotta find something they want and do the paperwork.

 

[Outbreak]

I think I've hit "Regular."

I walked into the shop on a busy day (right after work, and right before IPSC; 2 hours where you can't move in the shop) to pick up a pistol or two and patiently waited my turn. The owner comes out from the back, doesn't even acknowledge me, just puts a 4473 on the counter. Another worker said something about his customer not even being sure of what he wanted yet, and the owner just pointed toward me and said "it's for him."

 

[Wolfwood]

I think I've hit "Regular."

I walked into the shop on a busy day (right after work, and right before IPSC; 2 hours where you can't move in the shop) to pick up a pistol or two and patiently waited my turn. The owner comes out from the back, doesn't even acknowledge me, just puts a 4473 on the counter. Another worker said something about his customer not even being sure of what he wanted yet, and the owner just pointed toward me and said "it's for him."

Hah! nice.
i ahvent yet made freinds with any gun store guys, (that is to say, in the store) but thats mainly because by the time iw as old enough to buy guns, the onyl real gunstore in ym city clsoed down.

 

[SIG_Fiend]

I work at the same place Alan does now. I was there today, wear glasses, and probably had a look of disgust on my face due to the loaded .270 someone unintentionally pointed at my face earlier in the day. I swear to God, I'm going to start wearing my plate carrier and Level IV plates to work with the stuff that happens there.

The Quiet Professional - This person comes in, smiles, buys what he wants, and leaves. You later find out he was a SEAL team leader, runs a Fortune 500 company, and likes to come in and draw smiley faces with a Mk11 Mod 0 in his off-time. He takes his laser sighting so serious that he uses a spotting scope to ensure that his Sig P226 is putting the bullet in the same hole. (This is not a joke, this person exists and is a customer of ours)

The man is a MACHINE.

 

[Texasjack]

Dude! I saw that grouchy guy trying to buy .380 ammo last week! He wouldn't buy what they had because he wanted something cheap and then stormed out mad.

You must not work around Houston, or you would have some other categories:
'gangbanger' - prison tats, always pays cash, has someone else buy the gun he wants (girlfriend), likes pearl handles and gold trim. Never comes alone. Checks out anything valuable in the store and most of the cars in the parking lot. Wants to know if you buy guns - and if you check the serial numbers first.

'wanna-be-gangbanger' - total smartass, wants something really, really cheap in 9mm, pushes past anyone else at the counter or store shelves, leaves a trail of trash behind him, would probably pee his pants if he ever actually got into a fight. Shoots 2 boxes of the cheapest ammo in about 10 minutes, hits the target about 5 times and is pretty likely to hit other people's targets more than that.

'completely clueless' - Wants a gun because he/she saw an article in the paper. Doesn't know what a gun looks like. Wants a pistol, but it's gotta be one that looks cool when he/she poses with it. Wants to know if ammo comes in boxes smaller than 25. Wants to rent a gun first. You can watch his/her eyes glaze over if you explain anything technical about the gun. Asks about lessons, but never signs up for any.

 

[bikerbill]

love the list ... used to shoot at your shop despite the long drive until I found a range closer to me ... I'm 64, usually know what I want, but love to discuss my extremely intelligent choice with gun shop guys ... have to drop in next time I'm in the market ...

 

[Texas42]

Gamer

: )

 

[TexasRedneck]

Gomer

: )

There - fixed.....

 

[kville79]

interesting list, usually just an average guy myself except when I go there to buy tok ammo and someone refers to my tattoo of a Vz. 58 as an ak47

 

[dobarker]

interesting list, usually just an average guy myself except when I go there to buy tok ammo and someone refers to my tattoo of a Vz. 58 as an ak47

Haha! don't you love that mistake? When I used to work the gun counter at Academy whenever we had people ask about that "ak47" I'd ask them if they had the time for me to explain how much different it was.
Great guns, and usually the "know alls" that make the mistake.

 

[Texas1911]

interesting list, usually just an average guy myself except when I go there to buy tok ammo and someone refers to my tattoo of a Vz. 58 as an ak47

Haha, that was me. I was just giving you shit.

 

[TheDan]

You forgot the guy that comes in to see if you have any beat up but otherwise very cool old guns, but usually leaves disappointed.

 

[Texas Bulldog]

Having worked at a high end range for 4 years... i agree with your list 100%.

I absolutely hated dealing with the guy who was a know it all fanboy. He knew exactly what he wanted before he even got in the car to come to the range/store. He will ask a question about it in a way that seems legit. You will waste an hour talking with him about the subject and then he will completely turn on you and say how XXXX and XXXXX is all wrong and you don't know what your talking about. Even though he just sat there talking and agreeing with you for the past hour.

such a waste of time.

and the "i need to buy a handgun for my wife"... "give me a .38 airweight... she needs something light and simple".

Do people realize how insulting that is? Do you think your wife can't figure out how to use a handgun? Give me a break.

JOe

 

[Adionik]

I feel so bad for gun store employees, they must get so damn tired of all the idiots that walk in there. Your classifications are exactly right, i've observed it myself from gun counters and stores alike. I'm sure I come off like a fanboy/ninja online, but in a gunstore, where i've learned that they couldn't care less about your opinion (And often don't know much about the firearms themselves varying by store), it's better to just be educated on your own and stay quiet.