Politely--I will disagree. But I'll offer this: most of the guns I buy are via the internet. That's for several reasons, but primarily it has to do with availability of what I want. Secondarily, I can almost always save money in this manner. BUT--here's the kicker--almost all of the gunbroker auctions I win, the seller IS a local gunshop . . . but not a gunshop local to me. It might be the gunshop local to you and he ships the weapon to my dealer for me to receive."Use it or lose it!"
As an elder, and one who has operated various small businesses, I am saddened to see & hear so many talk of buying guns or ammo from big box stores, catalog companies, or via internet.
Of course, we all sometimes get an item from Midway, Cheaper than Dirt, etc; but we really need to support our local shops.
I urge everyone to try to buy your guns locally, from YOUR shop. These local shops are so necessary for continuation of our hunting, shooting, & self-protection efforts.
If we, the hunters & shooters, don't use these small businesses, they will close and go away. The repairs, extras, advice, and emergency needs won't have any resource to draw upon.
Please shop your local Gun Shop FIRST !
leVieux
So, in a twisted way, I do buy from local gunshops, but not by walking into their brick and mortar stores. Gunshops need to watch their prices and remain internet savvy. If they forego internet transfers, internet sales opportunities, etc., and only plan to survive by local walk-in foot traffic, they will perish in this marketplace.