rude gun store

[Trigger Mike]

I recently moved to south Georgia to a small town. Overall very nice people here. There is a road by my house that is named after the man who owned all the land around here. He now owns a gun store in town. He is way over priced compared to what I would pay when I lived in Atlanta or even at Bass Pro shops 1 1/2 hours away. His is the biggest shop. Lots of hunting and boating etc gear. To establish good will I bought a few fishing supplies and even over paid with no negotiation for one of his pistols that I wanted. I thought I could show I am willing to work with him in case I ever brought in something I wanted to sell. Later I took in a Uberti 1866 rifle, they offered me 80% which was fair since it was around that amount of finish left. I sold it on the wire instead. I took a new looking Taylor Smoke Wagon in later, they offered me 80% again, I asked for a little more, the guy took me to the owner(my neighbor) and he said he did not want that kind of gun. I asked what kind are you interested in and he replied all kinds, uh, I mean just not that kind. I went in yesterday with a diamondback 380. They have the Ruger LCP 380 for 90 more than I saw it near Atlanta last weekend. I already knew I was not going to trade. They offered me 200 for mine. I asked if they could throw in a wooden turkey call, the mgr snapped , "NO". finally I said alright, I'll take the 200 cash. The mgr snapped "NO, trade only". Owners rules he said. Seems like they are going out of their way to not promote good will. I don't care if they are the biggest dealer in town and have other fishing things I need, I doubt I go back. At one time he had a Desert Storm Beretta I wanted, he wanted 995 for it. I asked if he could go lower he said no. I bought it elsewhere for 300 less. In the age of the internet you can't afford to be hard nosed about things. I even was going to have something shipped to him, but he refused to take it from an individual and would not release his FFL. Someone else in town is friendlier, ships and receives for less just is much smaller is all.

[Birdgun Quail, SASS #63663]

I doubt I'd do much business with such a person. Especially if I have other choices. A good attitude and good service goes a long way in getting my business even if I pay a little more.

[Willy Cheaten]

We have a dealer that charges $50.00 for a background check IF you FAIL.

[Hoss]

His store, his rules. Just don't go back.

 

There is a guy near me that has a small gun store. I've been in there 3-4 times, he is always rude. I've never bought anythhing from him, and wont go back now. I like a store to at least act like they appreciate my business. I know the average clerk at walmart could care less if I buy anything, but a specialty store should take care of thir customers.

[Grizzly Dave]

Could be that he sees you as an outsider and don't want anything to do with you. Still a rude thing to do, especially to a neighbor.

[Anvil Al #59168]

Yep. His store. His rules.

Nobody is making you go back.

 

Besides. I NEVER try and sell a gun to a gun store.

You will never get what you want. They have to buy low to make a profit.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

His store, his rules. Just don't go back.

 

Yup - his store, his rules - my money, his loss

 

GG ~

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

Yep. His store. His rules.

Nobody is making you go back.

 

Besides. I NEVER try and sell a gun to a gun store.

You will never get what you want. They have to buy low to make a profit.

 

yup - kinda like pawn shops

 

GG ~

[Middlefork Bob, SASS #53945]

General rule of thumb when trying to trade guns. Dealer will take blue book price for your gun subtract 30% to 50% and that is their offer. Ever watch Pawn Stars??

[Smuteye John SASS#24774]

Maybe he'd be nicer if you quit trying to low ball him on everything. Some stores don't like to dicker on price.

 

I'm that same way. I don't want to have to set there and argue over a price. Set a reasonable price and I'll buy from you. Set it high and I'll buy someplace else. When I sell something, I set a reasonable price. If you want what I'm selling, pay it.

[Utah Bob #35998]

Some small towns are wary of newcomers. They can be a bit clannish. I know this first hand. Takes quite a while to get them to accept you. That might be a part of it. And as mentioned, a gun shop is not the place to get top dollar for your stuff. Just like trying to sell your used car to a dealer. I assume you haven't mentioned that prices were better where you came from. That's guaranteed to put a black mark by your name in their minds.

Be interesting to know what his reputation is with the locals, if he's hard to deal with generally or considered a good guy.

There are all kinds of gunshop owners.

[Anvil Al #59168]

yup - kinda like pawn shops

 

GG ~

 

 

+1

 

Only try and sell to them when you are desperate to sell.

Trade?? I have never had a whole lot of luck trading in guns at a gun store either.

Normally get about half what it is worth.

But I understand. They have to turn it back into profit.

[BLACKFOOT SASS #11947]

We have a dealer that charges $50.00 for a background check IF you FAIL.

 

Pray tell just how he collects the $50 for making one phone call. If he asked me for the $50 up front he would see my back as I was going out the door. If he tried to make me pay after the call he would see the same thing.

 

Lafitte

[Rancocas]

Pray tell just how he collects the $50 for making one phone call. If he asked me for the $50 up front he would see my back as I was going out the door. If he tried to make me pay after the call he would see the same thing.

 

Lafitte

The cost of a background check in Georgia is $40

Is this done by a phone call at time of purchase?

[BLACKFOOT SASS #11947]

I have never paid for a background check and will not do so in the future.

 

Lafitte

[Utah Bob #35998]

I have never paid for a background check and will not do so in the future.

 

Lafitte

Some of us have no choice.

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

There is really only one gunshop here (don't count WalMart, Big R, pawn shops) and I won't trade/buy there. Used to, but then the owner started to trying gouge me on a lot of things. Him and i really don't like each other and I agreede to take my business somewhere elso....even if its 50 miles away! Havn't been in the store in 5 years and i do spen quite a bit of $$$ every year on ammo, reloading and guns.

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

We have a dealer that charges $50.00 for a background check IF you FAIL.

As well he should. Actually it should be more like $150 or up, and posted in big print as you enter the place of business. This keeps undesirables out of your store. If you even think you may not pass I don't want you anywhere near me, or my inventory.

[Henry T Harrison]

Eighty percent sounds like a pretty good offer to me. When I was working in a gun store I would never offer anywhere near that since that was what we would sell it for. Depending on the gun and the local market offers vary wildly and may gofrom 70% for a gun expected to sell quickly to 30% for a dog that will sit for months. Try putting a 45 GAP in the showcase and see how long it sits while a nice S&W snubbie will sell in days.

[Calico Mary]

Ya wanna know whut a rude gun store is like, come here ta Denver and I'll take ya down to Gunsmoke.....

[Yul Lose]

We've got a pretty large, small gunshop about 15 minutes away and they do not like CAS! My neighbor is one of their gunsmiths and they will not work on cowboy guns. I asked him one time if he knew how much business they were losing by not catering to us types and he said they didn't care. Needless to say I don't spend any money with them.

[Big Jake1001]

I don't like RUDE people and tell them so. If they don't like it, I tell them "GO POUND SAND" Nobody wants to fight me about it... 6'6" 390 lbs...can't figure why???

 

Jake

[Blackwater 53393]

About twenty years ago I failed a background check. Not my fault, but some twenty years before that I was charged for something on a felony level for which the charges were subsequently withdrawn. A clerical error on the state's, (not the state I live in) part had been sitting there waiting to rear its ugly head for years and years! If the store owner doing the background check had tried to charge me like a couple of people suggest, I'd likely have earned a misdemeanor charge!

 

In this case, the store owner kinda' knew me and volunteered to help me through the appeals process which cleared up the matter in a couple of days. It cropped up again when I applied for my first carry permit a few months later. Again, a little outside help walked the paperwork through the propper channels and I've not had any problem now for 19 years.

 

By NOT being a rude @$$#0!3, the store owner gained not one, but at present count, five loyal customers who frequent his store regularly and refer others to him as well!!!!!

[Wyatt]

Mike,

 

There are two sides to ever story. I'll bet you they think you are a rude customer with unreasonable expectations of the value of used firearms and services they should provide that put them in the position of risking their FFL.

 

I know the cost of a Diamondback DB 380. They were more than generous with their offer. You can't buy a used firearm at wholesale prices

 

I suggest you try working in a shop. Trust me you will see a percentage of customers in a different light

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

I don't like RUDE people and tell them so. If they don't like it, I tell them "GO POUND SAND" Nobody wants to fight me about it... 6'6" 390 lbs...can't figure why???

 

Jake

 

I just run away

 

GG ~

[royal barnes sass #5792]

It appears to me you are upset because you cannot sell your merchandise for retail in a retail store. Our standard offer for a gun in good condition was current retail less 50%. Eighty percent was exceptionally generous. If you don't like his way of doing business just go elsewhere. He obviously isn't about to go under for lack of business.

[Smuteye John SASS#24774]

When I was working in a gun shop, we usually offered 40-60% of value for a used gun. If it was something sort of rare, collectable, or unusual that we knew we could move fast (like we had a regular that was into that kind of gun or looking for something in particular), sometimes we'd go higher but 40 to 60% was normally where we were. That didn't happen often but I remember a pristine '50's vintage Smith and Wesson Model 27 coming in and we paid the old fellow that owned it (the original owner) for it as a collector's item rather than what the Blue Book said it was worth and it ended up going to a local Smith collector for a premium since it had everything including the box in good condition and original sales receipt..

 

We all knew what we had in the gun and what percentage we needed out of it to show a profit (it was coded on the front of the tag). There just wasn't a lot of wiggle room on most guns and almost none on new ones (we marked them up cost +15% or to current fair market price). Some guns like Seecamp .32's were marked up almost 100% just because of the going market price.

[Trigger Mike]

I did not mind their 200 offer as I had already decided on that very figure before I got there to allow them room for profit. I mainly hate the pistol and just want out of it. My problem is the attitude displayed when I asked for a $10 turkey call to go with it and the more so rude demand that their offer was only good for trades only. I intended to take the cash and go buy the one I really want, not buy from them since they are over priced on their products.

[Wyatt]

I did not mind their 200 offer as I had already decided on that very figure before I got there to allow them room for profit. I mainly hate the pistol and just want out of it. My problem is the attitude displayed when I asked for a $10 turkey call to go with it and the more so rude demand that their offer was only good for trades only. I intended to take the cash and go buy the one I really want, not buy from them since they are over priced on their products.

 

It wouldn't surprise me that you let them know your intent to go to another shop to buy the one you really wanted. Did you tell them they are over priced? Did you ever think they offered you more to offset the higher price on the other item?

 

Just curious, what did the other shop offer you for your Diamondback?

[Caliope Cupcake #13981]

HE'S PROB'LY A BITTER OL' COOT. TELL HIM TO QUIT TAKING THAT POISON--IT AIN'T KILLT YOU YET

[Apache Hawk 60642]

Gun shop about a mile down the street USED to sell all kinds of supplies for every kind of sportsmen/women.

 

Now.....they only cater to smokeless shooters and some fishermen. They don't even carry cleaning supplies for anything I need.

 

Told them I will never ever buy anything from then agin and please do not send me any more fliers !

[Tom Bullweed]

I live in central North Carolina. There are two Ganders, one BassPro and at least thirty decent sized gun shops (not counting pawn shops that I never go to) within an hour of my house. Some I go to and some I no longer visit. Poor inventory, high prices, and bad attitudes will keep my money in my wallet and take my business elsewhere.

I have learned though that, while shooting is a hobby for me, it is a living for those folks. I do not negotiate prices. If it is too high, I go elsewhere. I do not sell to gunshops and rarely trade with them.