Cash Duckett Posted April 29, 2011 Share Posted April 29, 2011 I bought my first Colt, a .357magnum Peacekeeper at WM in their hometown of Bentonville, AR. Also picked up a few hundred founds of ammo. Best friend, Colt Faro picked up a nice looking 1911 with mother of pearl grips. they nice gentleman behind the counter rang us up and gets on the intercom and announces: "I have two guns and ammo leaving the sporting goods department with security tape", and away we went. Colt lived in Texas at the time and was just visiting. We couldn't believe how easy it was! Granted, it was some years back. Cash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badlands Bob #61228 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 My experience has been that most small gun shops have their prices higher than I'm willing to pay. I don't pay sticker price for guns or cars. I shop around for the cheapest price cause I'm cheap. It's my money and I really don't care what their overhead is or how much rent their paying. I have overhead too and I had to work hard for that money. The more places selling guns, the better I like it. Let the free market keep the prices in check. We don't have a shortage of gun shops around here. If there was only one FFL in 100 miles, I'd probably think differently....maybe....but I'd still be cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Name calling doesn't prove you right. Why not? Strip away all the other stuff Walmart sells, and it's just another gun store. Do you have a problem with Gander Mountain? I called yer statement stoopid...now there is a difference ya know. Take a minute and think about it...it'll come to you. I don't have a problem with Gander Mountain, Cabellas..or Walmart. I just love the inconsistancy in people's attitudes. Cheers! Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I wonder why different policies at "Wally World" in different parts of the nation? Good luck, Castalia Just wait and see, I'd be willing to bet that not one of the store reversals will be in California, not one. And yet I'd also be willing to wager that when guns were taken out of WM's equation that the majority of them were probably ones from California. I reload and WM doesn't sell components so there is no business being done there at all. Having been in a gun selling Wall Mart I can also tell you that the guns that they do sell are ones that I would not probably ever be in the market for, so again no business being done and I'm once again back to support my local dealer. Someone earlier had mentioned the evils of the internet including the "gun genie" and I would have to take issue with that one as I have utilized that service a number of times in the past. Of course you all know that the "gun genie" is associated with Davidson's and is their on line search engine for firearms. It is also hooked up with their registered customers (yes you have to log in to fully utilize the system) and registered Dealers. So I log in and do a search for a gun I'm pining for, find it and find out that Davidson's has half a dozen of them in stock. I place my order for one with my handy dandy credit card (for a listed deposit amount from my "local dealer"). Davidson's has that local dealer's FFL on file and is in agreement with them to do these kind of deals already. The deposit amount goes towards the wholesale cost of the firearm and the gun is immediately packaged and shipped to the local dealer. I then meet up with the dealer and pay the balance (listed on Davidson's website). Painless for me, for Davidson's, and for the local dealer. All he/she has to do is run paper and collect money as the looking and ordering has been done for them. The prices are established by the dealer with Davidson's on a percentage basis over wholesale. So the dealer knows how much he/she is getting ahead of time without doing any work at all. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Just wait and see, I'd be willing to bet that not one of the store reversals will be in California, not one. And yet I'd also be willing to wager that when guns were taken out of WM's equation that the majority of them were probably ones from California. I reload and WM doesn't sell components so there is no business being done there at all. Having been in a gun selling Wall Mart I can also tell you that the guns that they do sell are ones that I would not probably ever be in the market for, so again no business being done and I'm once again back to support my local dealer. Someone earlier had mentioned the evils of the internet including the "gun genie" and I would have to take issue with that one as I have utilized that service a number of times in the past. Of course you all know that the "gun genie" is associated with Davidson's and is their on line search engine for firearms. It is also hooked up with their registered customers (yes you have to log in to fully utilize the system) and registered Dealers. So I log in and do a search for a gun I'm pining for, find it and find out that Davidson's has half a dozen of them in stock. I place my order for one with my handy dandy credit card (for a listed deposit amount from my "local dealer"). Davidson's has that local dealer's FFL on file and is in agreement with them to do these kind of deals already. The deposit amount goes towards the wholesale cost of the firearm and the gun is immediately packaged and shipped to the local dealer. I then meet up with the dealer and pay the balance (listed on Davidson's website). Painless for me, for Davidson's, and for the local dealer. All he/she has to do is run paper and collect money as the looking and ordering has been done for them. The prices are established by the dealer with Davidson's on a percentage basis over wholesale. So the dealer knows how much he/she is getting ahead of time without doing any work at all. Smithy. Don't remember anyone putting "Gun Genie" down...it's a real nice system. Love the remark "So the dealer knows how much he/she is getting ahead of time without doing any work at all" The work goes into have a place for folks to come to and get their gun(s). Payin the rent...dealing with odd-ball customers...and employees. Yep...no work at all. Still don't know why you have issues with Paragraphs...hard to read yer post. Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Steel Duke Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Someone earlier had mentioned the evils of the internet including the "gun genie" and I would have to take issue with that one as I have utilized that service a number of times in the past. Yep, that was me, but I didn't mean to give the impression I was against it. Davidson's and others are real competition to local shop owners by their price and inventory. My last 4 or 5 purchases have been from Davidson's , and they were guns that were either never on the local shelf, or were there at a significantly higher price. Most small shops around here pander to the Glock/1911/AR crowd, and I rarely see a SA or Wheel Gun in the case, but when I was looking to buy two NMV's for the wife, Davidson's had 75 in stock! BSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sun Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 If ya don't see the long gun you want in the small Wally World cabinet, ask the teenager behind the counter for their firearms book. It'll be somewhere behind the counter and he'll have to search for it. They can get Marlin rifles for a good price with no shipping. Of course, it's a bit of a hassle 'cause then the teenagers has to go find a manager who knows how to order guns. Takes about 2 days if the warehouse has them in stock. When it comes in, the manager has to escort you while he carries the rifle out the front door so you don't load it up and shoot up the store on the way out. They never stopped selling guns/ammo around here either. I've only bought one gun at WM, a single barrel shotgun for side matches. They had to find the manager to do the paperwork because the kid behind the counter couldn't do it. When paying for the gun, I tried to buy a couple of boxes of .22 ammo. They wouldn't sell it to me because I was buying the shotgun at the same time......wouldn't want me to shoot up the place with the .22 ammo in the 12 gauge shotgun. The manager then escorted me to the door with the shotgun/box in his hands. Guess he wasn't worried about the handgun he never saw under my shirt (even though I showed my CWP during the paperwork portion). As far as WM putting independent gun stores out of business, that is quite a stretch. WM doesn't sell the kinds of guns that most folks are buying. If a gun store around here goes under, it's not because of WM. It's because they didn't provide what the customer wanted or they were charging far more than other gun stores were charging for the same item. Another reason gun stores go under is because of their employees' attitude toward the customer, ranging from indifference to downright disrespect.......kind of a "buy something now or get the f out" or a "I'm the big boss here, don't you see that pistol on my hip?". Of the (at least) seven gun stores within 3 miles of my house, 2 of them have this type attitude........needless to say, they don't get my business. Sun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Smithy, Interestingly my local WM started stocking reloading supplies recently. They never stopped carrying a poor selection of modern long guns and muzzleloaders. Their loading supplies are a decent selection of rifle brass and bullets, a few appropriate rifle powders and a great assortment of Alliant shotgun powders and a big supply of W209 primers (but no rifle primers). One can't buy what they need in one trip to reload either shotguns shells or rifle cartridges. Much of this inventory will not sell and will eventually be deep discounted (and go home with me). Their staff and management barely understands the gun biz. A full-service gun store with a full selection of new and used guns, black powder supplies twelve months of the year (not just hunting season), knowledgeable sales staff, and gunsmithing service can prosper in a market served by WM. WM provides me cheap, readily available promo SG shells, clay pigeons and bulk .22s for practise. I also benefit from their overstocks. My local gun shops get the rest of my business. Regarding Davidsons, one of our local Ma and Pop gunstores (and combination auto repair shop) loves them. Inventory he could not hope to move quickly is his small market flows through his shop generating cash flow. Davidsons partners with him providing online inventory to augment his local stock. Without them many customers would drive fifty miles to a Big Box retailer in Albuquerque and he'd lose the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 They never stopped selling guns/ammo around here either. I've only bought one gun at WM, a single barrel shotgun for side matches. They had to find the manager to do the paperwork because the kid behind the counter couldn't do it. When paying for the gun, I tried to buy a couple of boxes of .22 ammo. They wouldn't sell it to me because I was buying the shotgun at the same time......wouldn't want me to shoot up the place with the .22 ammo in the 12 gauge shotgun. The manager then escorted me to the door with the shotgun/box in his hands. Guess he wasn't worried about the handgun he never saw under my shirt (even though I showed my CWP during the paperwork portion). As far as WM putting independent gun stores out of business, that is quite a stretch. WM doesn't sell the kinds of guns that most folks are buying. If a gun store around here goes under, it's not because of WM. It's because they didn't provide what the customer wanted or they were charging far more than other gun stores were charging for the same item. Another reason gun stores go under is because of their employees' attitude toward the customer, ranging from indifference to downright disrespect.......kind of a "buy something now or get the f out" or a "I'm the big boss here, don't you see that pistol on my hip?". Of the (at least) seven gun stores within 3 miles of my house, 2 of them have this type attitude........needless to say, they don't get my business. Sun I agree 100% CS about the attitude thing...and obviously prices have to be competitive. These are components that are well taken care of through traditional market presures. But you'd be surprised...or maybe not...that there are folks that will give up on good customer service and small town like gratitude just to save 10 bucks. Cheers! Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Steel Duke Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 But you'd be surprised...or maybe not...that there are folks that will give up on good customer service and small town like gratitude just to save 10 bucks. Cheers! Phantom I still see the small shop as a place to get used guns, expert advice (especially for new shooters) and repair service. It puzzles me though that my local shop will carry a Charter Arms Bulldog for $425, but then allow Davidson's to sell it through them to me for $375. BSD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I still see the small shop as a place to get used guns, expert advice (especially for new shooters) and repair service. It puzzles me though that my local shop will carry a Charter Arms Bulldog for $425, but then allow Davidson's to sell it through them to me for $375. BSD Yeah...that's kinda crazy. A fair price is a fair price. Many small shops...whether they be Gun shops or Donut shops...don't have folks with Phd's or Master's in business...nor do they come from a Retail background. They do what they think is okay...and they usually do the best they can. BUT...sometimes things go on that just don't make sense. I would hope that all my customers feel comfortable enough with me that if they found some kind of "Weirdness" in my biz, that they'd mention it to me. Afterall, I do make mistakes...not that I need to tell the folks on the Wire this Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boon Doggle Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 I would hope that all my customers feel comfortable enough with me that if they found some kind of "Weirdness" in my biz, that they'd mention it to me. Afterall, I do make mistakes...not that I need to tell the folks on the Wire this Phantom Dang, that almost sounded like a confession. For penitence say, “What don’t you understand about SINGLE ACTION Shooting Society?” three times, and leave a small donation on the way out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted April 30, 2011 Share Posted April 30, 2011 Don't remember anyone putting "Gun Genie" down...it's a real nice system. Love the remark "So the dealer knows how much he/she is getting ahead of time without doing any work at all" The work goes into have a place for folks to come to and get their gun(s). Payin the rent...dealing with odd-ball customers...and employees. Yep...no work at all. Still don't know why you have issues with Paragraphs...hard to read yer post. Phantom That's because YOU didn't make the comment. I wasn't pissing and moaning about the whole situation. It absolutely baffles me why you feel a need to do so yourself? Never a nice thing to say about anyone or anything at anytime. Must be rough to be you. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 That's because YOU didn't make the comment. I wasn't pissing and moaning about the whole situation. It absolutely baffles me why you feel a need to do so yourself? Never a nice thing to say about anyone or anything at anytime. Must be rough to be you. Smithy. Sensitive aren't we. You see what you want to see. As the saying goes: what I see is me. Too funny. PS: I said "Don't remember anyone putting "Gun Genie" down" Please note that I said "ANYONE". Oy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anvil Al #59168 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Phantom. Just want to take a moment and wish you the best on the Opening. Wish I could be there to help you celebrate. But it's about a 9 hour round trip. So hope you understand with the fuel prices and all. But good luck with the new shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Phantom. Just want to take a moment and wish you the best on the Opening. Wish I could be there to help you celebrate. But it's about a 9 hour round trip. So hope you understand with the fuel prices and all. But good luck with the new shop. Total understand - thanks for the Well Wishes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowhand Bob, 24229 Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I guess 95+ percent of my gun business goes mail order or to a cowboy friend with an ffl. I just plain got tired of wasting time and gas on the local dealers. The local gun shops, and there are several, will tell you in a heart beat that they can not support our group with inventory or shelf space. In all the years Wal-Mart sold guns I never purchased but one, a Henry Youth Model 22 that perhaps saved me five bucks tops. They never stopped selling ammo here but the WW 12ga prices have not been the best deal in town for many years now, so who cares what Wally does? SASS has plenty of vendors who are going under for lack of sales in these hard times and they are the ones who tried to support us, Wal Mart and the local shops have nothing for me! Speaking of vendors, have you guys heard that Dutch Henry Brown of GUNPOWDER CREEK TRADING POST broke an ankle recently? I hear he is not liking the tether to much! Hope things heal quickly fer you Dutch, we missed you in Columbia this weekend and if things get to tough, perhaps you might rent me a pig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry T Harrison Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Given the choice I will always buy from the little guy if possible even if it costs me a few extra bucks. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m buying firearms and accessories or hardware. If I can get it from a local dealer at a reasonable price even if it is a little more expensive price I will buy local. I haven’t bought a gun in 20 years from anyone but my local dealer, and he loves the internet, it gives him an outlet for the stuff that comes in that has limited local interest. He also makes a lot of money doing internet transfers, a phone call to the purchaser, ten minutes of paperwork and he has $35 bucks in his pocket, shipping guns out is a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 He also makes a lot of money doing internet transfers, a phone call to the purchaser, ten minutes of paperwork and he has $35 bucks in his pocket, shipping guns out is a little more. Some folk here on the Wire don't realize this fact. My dealer also appreciates the internet sales because it cuts out a lot of what he would normally have to do in a regular sale. Ie. tie up funds in inventory, rent/overhead for the display space for the gun, and the decision making process of "is the firearm the one that will sell?". In an internet sale; Non of the dealer's money is used, the selection of weapon is made by the customer and sale already made, no overhead. All it really requires is accurate paperwork, holding the weapon (for what ever time frame the state/feds require) and collecting the money. Easy peasy! That's why dealer's in general like this type of sale and business. They can charge what they see as appropriate and the customer does a fair amount of the work. Davidson's Gun Genie has to be a perfect example of how flawlessly this system can and does work. About 20 years ago (when I held an FFL) I had a good friend that was practicing things ahead of his time. He would make all the calls to distributors to find his particular weapon of interest. If one didn't have it he would turn to another until he found one that he knew I had a copy of my license with. He would go ahead and order the gun without me knowing about it. He would then contact me with a wad of cash (much more than I would have charged) to cover C.O.D. amounts, reg, tax, and profit and tell me what was coming in and who from. It was the best. I loved it as I didn't have to do the painful part of gun ordering (trying to find one). Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Some folk here on the Wire don't realize this fact. My dealer also appreciates the internet sales because it cuts out a lot of what he would normally have to do in a regular sale. Ie. tie up funds in inventory, rent/overhead for the display space for the gun, and the decision making process of "is the firearm the one that will sell?". In an internet sale; Non of the dealer's money is used, the selection of weapon is made by the customer and sale already made, no overhead. All it really requires is accurate paperwork, holding the weapon (for what ever time frame the state/feds require) and collecting the money. Easy peasy! That's why dealer's in general like this type of sale and business. They can charge what they see as appropriate and the customer does a fair amount of the work. Davidson's Gun Genie has to be a perfect example of how flawlessly this system can and does work. About 20 years ago (when I held an FFL) I had a good friend that was practicing things ahead of his time. He would make all the calls to distributors to find his particular weapon of interest. If one didn't have it he would turn to another until he found one that he knew I had a copy of my license with. He would go ahead and order the gun without me knowing about it. He would then contact me with a wad of cash (much more than I would have charged) to cover C.O.D. amounts, reg, tax, and profit and tell me what was coming in and who from. It was the best. I loved it as I didn't have to do the painful part of gun ordering (trying to find one). Smithy. Guess that Biz model didn't work too well as you are no longer in biz... For me, I'd much rather go through the terribly painful part of gun ordering in order to double my revenues...but hey, what do I know?! PS: A gun is a gun...it's only a weapon when used as such. Cheers Mr. Smiley Face! Phantom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted May 2, 2011 Share Posted May 2, 2011 Guess that Biz model didn't work too well as you are no longer in biz... Wasn't in it to make money per se. If you were up on some of my past posts you might have read that I use to do gunsmithing work on officer's private weapons for my department. That was the main reason behind the license. Too much California paperwork was the reason I finally gave it up. Thanks for inquiring. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost, SASS #50125 Posted May 4, 2011 Share Posted May 4, 2011 Love to see all yer support for Walmart...hopefully they'll put the local shops outta biz...then...maybe they'll change their minds about selling guns again...and y'all can go pound sand without a local shop to go to. Yeeeehawwww...yeah...right...that's the attitude. The Ghost supports our cowboy vendors and gun dealers. They have the best select and prices. Does Walmart shoot or endose Cowboy Action? I don't think so. Ghost (Who backs Phantom's play) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuco Taveras SASS#79313 Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Love to see all yer support for Walmart...hopefully they'll put the local shops outta biz...then...maybe they'll change their minds about selling guns again...and y'all can go pound sand without a local shop to go to. Yeeeehawwww...yeah...right...that's the attitude. Yeah that 's the right attitude to have if you live in the Trinidad,co area!!!!!Every Good old boy shop down here gouges the heck out of every body they can ,cause they are the only ones in town.....Give me Gandner,Bass pro,Big five, and the Home depot every time....I'll drive 50 miles to keep from being "cobbed" from these local shops and thieves.......Tuco. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longshadow, SASS #70099 Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Wallyworld in San Antonio never stopped offering guns, but I would not buy one there. Their stuff always looks unloved, kinda like the cheap Chinese gym equipment on the next aisle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom, SASS #54973 Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Yeah that 's the right attitude to have if you live in the Trinidad,co area!!!!!Every Good old boy shop down here gouges the heck out of every body they can ,cause they are the only ones in town.....Give me Gandner,Bass pro,Big five, and the Home depot every time....I'll drive 50 miles to keep from being "cobbed" from these local shops and thieves.......Tuco. Well then, why not open a shop that doesn't? You say "Every time"...like little shops everywhere are like the one's you describe in your town. Well pard, they ain't! PS: Some customer's feel that they NEVER get a good deal...like they KNOW exactly what a shop's profit margin is...like they deserve some extraordiary deal cuz it's them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 PS: Some customer's feel that they NEVER get a good deal...like they KNOW exactly what a shop's profit margin is...like they deserve some extraordiary deal cuz it's them. Ain't that the truth though - Being in the cutting tool business there are so many folks that look at price and say 'that's expensive!!' . However, after some testing and cost analysis they realize that the performance of the tool 'over a long period of time' actually can save them oodles of cash! - have even proven out that a 'free' cheap tool cost them more than actually buying the quality tool. Anyway - I know where your coming from on this point... GG ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted May 5, 2011 Share Posted May 5, 2011 Now from the start, I don't mean to tick any one side off and Phantom this means you too. I am not being nieve when I say this or not trying to be. But for the most part, isn't the products that a local dealer might be involved in different than that of a large chain Wal-Mart. I leave it only as "Wal-Mart" because I realize that other large chain retailers get a whole lot closer with their inventory selections such as; Bass Pro Shops, and others much like it. This thread started out mentioning Wal-Mart anyway. In my experience, I have found that because of their target markets or of each other, the two different stores products really do not overlap. Just look at a few items (again this is only in my personal experience); Handguns - you'd have to go to the local dealer, cheap prices on promotional ammo - that one goes to the Wal-Mart, Reloading components - again you'd have to go to the local dealer, an inexpensive import 22lr rifle - probably would go to the Wal-Mart, a target grade match 22lr with mounts and scope to match - you'd be looking at your local dealer for that one, cheap shotgun ammo to blast off a few rounds of trap this weekend - the Wal-Mart, a tube set OU skeet gun for registered targets - your local dealer. You get the basic idea. For cheap knock off foreign made, high production stuff, it seems that the "Wall-Mart" can't be beat for prices nor most sportsmen will stay away (no I am not saying me in this) from the purchase. This includes promotional ammunition from known US makers as well. The local dealers forte seems to be in customer service and in building that special order for handguns and non cheap rifles and shotguns, the stuff that Wal-Mart will not and for what ever reason does not touch. And that is a lot in sporting gear terms. In fact when you think about it, if you went to a local shop (prices aside) if they only had a Wal-Mart inventory for a "gun shop" you'd think "that was a pretty crummy gun shop" and "they didn't hardly have a thing" and "they didn't have any cowboy stuff at all". The town I left (a college town of 32,000 population) had 5 major known small gunshops all doing very well in an area with two Wal-Marts, a K-Mart, 4 Big-5's all within 20 miles of each other. Of those, two gunshops were in my town that I frequented a bunch getting all my handguns, reloading components and specialty stuff ie. scopes, mounts etc. Since I reloaded I never found reason to go to the Mart stores at all and life was grand. Smithy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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