Why do gun shops try to take advantage of you?

[aaangel]

like USA1 said, it's all about the benjamins baby! sell your gun here.....you'll do much better. if you're around mesquite area, GT distributor just opened. bunch of good guys there!

[HotLeadSolutions]

Hey Hotleadsolutions,
I see that you are in Rowlett, I'm a gunnut and live in Mesquite. I frequent the gunshows and all of the local gun shops, and look at pricing on all of the different models. For best price and service drive a little past B&S West bound on I30, take the Galloway exit, go through the light staying on the service road once you pass under 635 drive about another 1/4 mile or so and look to your right and you'll see Gun Zone, big red letters. It's in the same building as a Plumbing shop, if you get to Gus Thomason you've gone to far loop around and try it again. Next on the list would be S.A.W. in Sunnyvale, East bound on 80 from 635 exit Collins rd. turn right at the light and look to your left they are the fist lease in the stip center if you get to the light at Clay Rd. you went too far, their pricing is on the same level as the Gun Zone, just not quite as friendly, both shops have an amazing selection.The way I rate them, friendly service= Gun Zone, price=close to the same, selection=S.A.W. I hope this helps you in your quest, for the record I will never buy anything at B&S most of their stuff is priced full retail. FWIW both of the shops that I recomend do drop their prices buy about 5%-7% when they are at the gun show, there is one at Big Town this weekend and one at Market Hall next weekend. I know, I know, I am absolutely sick with my obsession.

Thanks for the suggestions. Since we are neighbors, drop me a line and we'll grab lunch...

[HankB]

I would have chased the lady down and offered to sell her yours.

EXACTLY my thought!

. . . Also noteworthy: He told me they sell new for 380.00...When I looked at the new tags they were listed for 479.00

The lowball offer is just bad business. The lie about the "sell new" price is just that - a lie, and says much about the shop's ethics. I've experienced unethical conduct first hand that netted the dealer a bit more money on that transaction, but cost him a LOT more business in the long run. (I vowed years ago never to set foot in Heritage Firearms in Austin for that very reason - and I haven't.)

Funny thing is, if you attend matches and such or just talk to other guys at the range, odds are, you'll eventually hear similar tales from different people; word gets around.

[steve817]

How much would you like for the LCR? My wife has been looking at them.

[QB]

B&S has been off my list for years. Bunch of jerks is right, especially to women. They've lost out on thousands of dollars from purchases that I made elsewhere once they showed their true colors to me. Yes, I hold grudges

[texjames]

All our local gun shops are struggling to stay open but still have outragous prices.I guess they are not getting good deals from thier suppliers.
They have to make a profit to keep the doors open.One shop closed up just recently and another is close to it.What even made it harder is now
they sell guns at the Air Force Base BX..I'm retired and bought some out there..pretty good prices but no sales tax is the best thing.
I used to be a FFL back in the mid to late 80's and i did pretty good just part time but did not have much overhead either.I was in the AF
and did it out of my house, then you could get by with it.I am 100% sure the internet sales have put a hurt on gun shops too, just doing transfers
on SN controled items and we gun guys just have everything else coming to the house direct...I know i do that too.Unless the small shops can
get smart and deal we might see them fade away and the big box stores like Academy and Cabelas end up as only retail sale places...my 2 cents.

[Ameer]

"A fool and his money are soon parted." -Thomas Tusser

[danpaw]

Seems like some of the most impressive gun shops I've been in, with the most selection are the biggest rip offs. Collectors and Nagles in San Antonio come to mind.

[KinnyLee]

Question...Why do gun shops try to take advantage of you?

Answer...$$$

end of transmission.

Very subtle.

[Rex B]

All our local gun shops are struggling to stay open but still have outragous prices.I guess they are not getting good deals from thier suppliers.

Then they need to band together and buy in quantity

thee was a small shop that opened in Watauga a year or so ago. I went inside one time to see what they had. Not much except bull, it turned out.
I asked what they charged for transfers for a CHL, and he said $50.
Never went back there.'

I think the 2nd (1st being act nice) thing a small gun shop should do is offer CHLs $10 transfers, and similar low price for non-CHLs. Very few brick-and-mortar stores do that because they think it competes with them, and it does to some extent. But most transfers are local. They need to get over that. Same with shipping. The FFLs operating from their house have the best deal, no reason a retail shop can't do that and bring people in the door.

I'm a marketing guy in a different business. So many small businesses screw themselves when they could be hitting a home run with very little extra cost and effort.

[RECIT]

I think these small shops are under the impression that the have to be able to pay the bills on every possible transaction. Not having the thought process of x% of something is better than the y% nothing. My boss would LOVE it if I could get 30% markup on tire sales, but when i have to compete with Discount Tire and Firestone it takes my markup down to usually 15-22%. My employer will mention low gross profit on my tire sales for a day or a week and I have said plenty of times 15-20% of something is better than 25% profit of nothing. If the customer leaves especially if they are not happy when they leave you may never get another shot at earning their business or them as a customer. One mad/angry customer will tell EVERYONE about their bad experience but usually a happy/satisfied customer keeps their mouth shut or may tell a friend or two.

[LJM]

On the positive side. I went to Tejas shooting sports in Odessa last week just looking. I found the sr9c and the sr40 I had been looking for, for less than Academy . I bought both as well as a Ruger 10-22 and Special ordered a Remington deer rifle i had been looking for. The prices are not lowball but the staff is friendly and willing to help paperwork was done quickly and i was on my way . I have shopped other stores in the area, all overpriced and pushy . Just my christmas to me.

[HotLeadSolutions]

Go east young man, go east. On a better note: After visiting The Gun Zone on Interstate 30, I believe I have found a new local store. Good selection, fair pricing, knowledgable staff and very friendly. Bought a few holsters, some accessories and I think I am going to pick up some crimson trace grips from them soon.

Also while I was in there, I overheard them selling a first timer a weapon for home defense. They hit the target right on the mark. Didnt try to take advantage of the newbie, and led him into the direction he needed to go. Explained benefits and disadvantages of certain weapons in the real world, and allowed him to make a desicision based on his best judgement.

Thumbs up!

[jcarp02]

You should have offered the lady $100 less than the new price right in front of the guy.

[MechAg94]

Honestly, I don't know of a gun dealer that won't give you a lower than average offer. First, it is in their best interest to start on the low side especially since they have no idea if the gun you are selling works reliably. Second, there are many people out there that like to deal and dicker all day to a get a few bucks extra (not me). I am to the point that I don't really expect anything from dealers. I just try to find what I want at a reasonable price.

I figure if I am going to sell a gun, I figure the best situation is to find a buyer like that lady who is looking for the same gun and happy to get a discount on one that is close enough to new. That is why I like forums like this.