Gun shop fun?

[benenglish]

Alternate thread title - Is customer service really this dead?

OK, what's the right response to this situation?

I walk into a gun shop. I'm greeted immediately by a guy who's anxious to show me something, anything. I tell him I'm just browsing to see if any interesting used/old stuff has come in. I'm obviously headed to the case where the old guns taken in on trade are kept.

Without me asking, he puts a reproduction SAA in my hands, then calls attention to some repro shotguns and rifles. I glance over the Glock case and ask if a particular one is a Gen 5 and he pulls it out. I ask if that's a Ruger charger behind the counter. It was and it was.

I didn't ask him to show me stuff. I had told him I was just browsing for interesting used stuff. Yet he put all this rapid-fire effort into trying to shove into my hands anything even slightly related to any small talk I was making. I just wanted him to leave me alone to look at the stuff with the "used" tags.

Then he looks square at me and asks "Are you going to buy anything today?"

"No."

I had been making that clear and trying not to waste his time since I stepped in the door. He just frowned at me and walked away.

And I just walked out.

The encounter really left me in a sour mood, something that's the opposite of the way I usually feel when leaving a gun store.

So is this normal? Am I supposed to buy a gun within 90 seconds of entering a shop or else be made to feel unwelcome?

 

[Tblack89]

Unfortunately it’s becoming more and more normal in all aspects of customer service. Times are changing for the worse everyday.

 

[Moonpie]

He was just trying to bum rush you.
Sales guy had no idea you’re experienced.
I’d just let it go.
You could always try Carter Country. Hehehe.

 

[Sam7sf]

Ben, it’s just a guy working a low wage job who was told how not to be a salesman.

I give most salesmen a hard time because what he did was get a conditioned response from you.

Unfortunately common.

The tactic is typical to put items in your hand but a better scenario is you walk in, I say “welcome to Sam7’s dumbass palace” and observe you in a friendly manner. Once I see something catch your eye I can talk to you more and ask if I can help you find something if we don’t have it and thus a way into talking different options.

Unfortunately conditioned responses kill a lot of repeats. Good salesman make you feel welcome while not asking too much just seeking the right time to hear or observe you.

 

[zackmars]

Tire kickers are probably going to be like 95% of your interactions working at a gun store. They suck to deal with since it's usually only clear they're wasting your time at the very last second.

The counter guy set himself up for that.

"Just browsing" should be responded to by "ok, if you need anything please feel free to ask".

 

[baboon]

I really hate dealing with people marginally ignorant, so I don't go places.

 

[zackmars]

We, being a not gun forum anymore, are not a gun stores average customer.

The average gun shop employee is a salesperson first. Pretty good chance the only experience they have is what their employer has given them.

It's damn near impossible for a young guy who actually knows about guns to get a job at a gun store

 

[Tblack89]

We, being a not gun forum anymore, are not a gun stores average customer.

The average gun shop employee is a salesperson first. Pretty good chance the only experience they have is what their employer has given them.

It's damn near impossible for a young guy who actually knows about guns to get a job at a gun store

You should talk to the dip shit sales guy at psa who ffls have to talk to. He will say I don’t know anything about anything we sell, I just place your order.

 

[Sam7sf]

I’ll call psa and tell em I need an order placed for Richard Fitzwell…then yell @TreyG-20 is your daddy! Then hang up.

 

[TreyG-20]

We, being a not gun forum anymore

Thanks for the clarification.

The last couple of shops I have been into have been exactly as Ben described. Desperation to move something. The places are dead when you walk in. I wonder at times how the bills get paid.

 

[TreyG-20]

I’ll call psa and tell em I need an order placed for Richard Fitzwell…then yell @TreyG-20 is your daddy! Then hang up.

Do it!

 

[Grumps21]

Alternate thread title - Is customer service really this dead?

OK, what's the right response to this situation?

I walk into a gun shop. I'm greeted immediately by a guy who's anxious to show me something, anything. I tell him I'm just browsing to see if any interesting used/old stuff has come in. I'm obviously headed to the case where the old guns taken in on trade are kept.

Without me asking, he puts a reproduction SAA in my hands, then calls attention to some repro shotguns and rifles. I glance over the Glock case and ask if a particular one is a Gen 5 and he pulls it out. I ask if that's a Ruger charger behind the counter. It was and it was.

I didn't ask him to show me stuff. I had told him I was just browsing for interesting used stuff. Yet he put all this rapid-fire effort into trying to shove into my hands anything even slightly related to any small talk I was making. I just wanted him to leave me alone to look at the stuff with the "used" tags.

Then he looks square at me and asks "Are you going to buy anything today?"

"No."

I had been making that clear and trying not to waste his time since I stepped in the door. He just frowned at me and walked away.

And I just walked out.

The encounter really left me in a sour mood, something that's the opposite of the way I usually feel when leaving a gun store.

So is this normal? Am I supposed to buy a gun within 90 seconds of entering a shop or else be made to feel unwelcome?

Carters? I only ask because that was my last experience there.

 

[Axxe55]

I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENC A FEW YEARS AGO AT A GUN STORE!FELT LIKEBEING AT A USED CAR LOT AND BEING PRODDED INTO BUYING SOMETHING!

 

[zackmars]

You should talk to the dip shit sales guy at psa who ffls have to talk to. He will say I don’t know anything about anything we sell, I just place your order.

It's not a big deal if they are upfront.

This was over in NM years ago, can't remember the store name, but was a big store, had at least 6 guys on the floor. On one wall they had an old ammo collection, the centerpiece was a few rounds of those all plastic WANDA shotgun shells. I mentioned to one of the guys that i had a box of them, and that i didn't want to shoot them because of how hard it is to find a full box. Every single one of them swore up and down they were rare dummy cartridges used to ensure guns would feed properly.

 

[zackmars]

Carters? I only ask because that was my last experience there.

If you see a real short guy there, and his name is Joe, tell him "zack called you a turd"

 

[Tblack89]

It's not a big deal if they are upfront.

This was over in NM years ago, can't remember the store name, but was a big store, had at least 6 guys on the floor. On one wall they had an old ammo collection, the centerpiece was a few rounds of those all plastic WANDA shotgun shells. I mentioned to one of the guys that i had a box of them, and that i didn't want to shoot them because of how hard it is to find a full box. Every single one of them swore up and down they were rare dummy cartridges used to ensure guns would feed properly.

 

[General Zod]

It's not a big deal if they are upfront.

This was over in NM years ago, can't remember the store name, but was a big store, had at least 6 guys on the floor. On one wall they had an old ammo collection, the centerpiece was a few rounds of those all plastic WANDA shotgun shells. I mentioned to one of the guys that i had a box of them, and that i didn't want to shoot them because of how hard it is to find a full box. Every single one of them swore up and down they were rare dummy cartridges used to ensure guns would feed properly.

I went to a LGS looking to buy a spare mag for my 1911A1. Asked the guy at the counter for a "Standard 7 round magazine for a GI 1911A1 in .45 caliber". He swore up and down that nobody had ever made a 7 round magazine for the 1911. Then he tried to sell me an 8 round 9mm mag for a compact 1911.

I haven't gone back to that store.

 

[zackmars]

Thanks for the clarification.

The last couple of shops I have been into have been exactly as Ben described. Desperation to move something. The places are dead when you walk in. I wonder at times how the bills get paid.

Margins on guns are razor thin, other stuff, ammo, holsters, mags... Thats where the money comes from. The average markup on a serpa holster is like 150-200%. The markup on promags is probably pretty close. Ammo has got a hefty markup, but not near as much

Lot's of shops will sell at gun shows, or gun broker. Of course what is usually the case, they're about to go under.

 

[zackmars]

View attachment 381468

I mean, it'll feed alright. It'll also blast a hole in whatever unfortunate thing the gun is pointed at.

 

[MTA]

is this a gun store or a car dealership? Awful