It took an hour and fifteen minutes to complete a firearm and ammunition purchase.

After I had called to put a couple of the cheap 38 spl on hold.

After I called a second time to confirm that they had their **** in one sack so I could expedite this transaction.

I fill out the paper work and wait for the salesman to fill out his part and call for the NICS background.

"You Passed." Big surprise there.

"I have to enter you in the computer now." Try not to type w/one finger please.

Am I ready then? No. Now some other yah-hoo from the sticks has to go over the whole thing again, including but not limited to the computer.

Then this Sherlock Holmes/Dick, as in Dick Tracy, house Dick, plain clothes Dick or just plain Dick as in short for Richard, wannabe remarks that my hair cut has changed/different as he's eyeballin' my drivers license picture.

Can't imagine that since my drivers license picture was made circa Spring '08.

I have an Academy CC, current State drivers license, I've already passed the background test and I'm wearing a toboggan.

(This is the second time I've been questioned about my damned, that's right I said damned, hair cut/style.

The other guy in short time was no longer employed in the store where I formally purchased firearm related merchandise.)


After telling him to look at the date of issue and explaining how folks cut their hair as the mood strikes them and not every old fart like him was bald he hands me back my license and now I have to wait for another lackey to tote the sidearms to the register.

(Before this ordeal, while waiting on them to pull the guns, fill out serial numbers I had picked up a few boxes of shotguns shells. I look at the handgun ammo and spy Blazer 44 spl under a $20.99 plastic tag.

I ask one of the clerks if that is the correct price. He assures me it is and asks how many I want. I wanna know how many I can buy. He tells me 2,3,4,5 and I tell him I'll take five coz that's a good price and they're usually $29.99.)


My escort arrives and off to the register. The young lady can't ring up the firearms even w/assistance from a young man. another lady that is in some type of management, coz she was wearing the 2 year tag, tried her luck.

I was trying to explain that the pistols would want to ring up at 20 bucks more, the standard price, except that I was being sold at last weeks sale price.

Of course the young lady quickly cut me off saying it had nothing to do w/price. O.K. While she tries to determine the problem I ask the original young lady to scan the 44 spl.

You guessed correctly! The price comes up at $29.99.

(I'm pissed coz the last time I was at Academy, black Friday, I asked if they still had some ammo that was on sale and the guy sez, "Yeah, wait till I get through installing this scope."

That took him 30 minutes and when I took the two boxes of 40 cal on sale and other ammo to the register they were the normal price coz it was a door buster, only good till noon sale. I thought the clerk should've known and should've told me before I watched him for 30 minutes install a little scope on a rimfire.)


The young lady calls the gun counter and it's confirmed that they told me $20.99. Now, both young ladies take the two pistols and go over to the managers cubicle.

They come back and I explain it's a price over-ride. The two year gal is in control. She gets the scan in and it sez $229.99 except she looks at me and sez,"Is the price $199.99?"

W/o hesitation I tell her no, it's $229.99. She's still punching numbers on the computer register and asks a minute or two later, "Is 229.99 the correct price?"

I assure her this is the correct price. She then asks me if I have talked w/ the manager personally. Yes, I have and that's why I'm here and that's why I've called twice today in order to confirm that ya'll knew what the deal was on this purchase.

About that time the bald guy, so intrigued w/my haircut, comes out of the managers cubicle, as he's briskly walking by, sez quietly to the gal, "The price is $229.99" and scurries away.

Now the handguns are in the register and the 20 bucks per gun has been deducted, yet there's still the matter of the 44 spl ammo.

Another call is made by the original checker and baldy goes back to the counter, comes back and sez to sell them to me for $20.99.

So, I got my sale price as agreed by the store manager that I spoke w/last week. I saved nine bucks & tax on five boxes of 44 spl coz the guy told me that was the price and overall it was worth the additional hour and a half.

However, I think they were trying to sucker me into agreeing that $199.99 was the price of the sidearm so they would have an excuse, to discredit me as if I was trying to work a scam, not to sell me the five boxes of 44spl ammo @ $20.99.

The sale price was 20 bucks off of the regular pistol price so where did they try to come up w/additional $29.99 deduction on top of the twenty spot?

I smell a rat. I think they were trying to pull some lame end-around run so they could claim I was trying to pull a fast one on them and/or pulling hte wool over their eyes on the ammo.

They wanted me to finger the sales clerk! Ha, ha, ha except that's not really funny and I played dumb and told them it was one of the guys.

I can be bought, but not for 48 samolies.

I joked w/teller that if they'd sold the pistolas for $199.99 that I'd gladly pay $29.99 for the ammo. I think that would've been 18 clams better a deal.

Anywho, it appeared rather odd when the register was showing $229.99.

Overall a good deal, but I spent a lot of time over several days running down the manager to talk her into extending the sale until the CC came in the mail.

Buying firearms and/or ammo @ Academy may well save a few bucks, yet at times it's not as sweet a deal as it appears...

YMMV

You were wearing a sled? No wonder..that would also slow you down through airport security.

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

Hahahahaaaaa.



Ken

I reckon if the sled had been in the license pic I would've been rushed right on through el pronto...

It ain't a cap coz they have bills, it ain't a hat coz they got brims, ain't a sock coz it got no heel and it ain't a tube coz one end's closed.

I'm not sure what the Yankees call 'em...

Unfortunately buying firearms from a lot of the large retail outlets can be painful. Then there's the "Walk of Shame" that comes as the manager has to walk alongside you and carry your firearm to the front door. If I didn't think I'd be denied a sale from the manager thinking I was a few fries short of a happy meal I'd have some fun with it. I'd demand to be called Bwana Simba, inform the manager that he was my gun bearer and from then on only refer to him as Kidogo and motion to him with hand gestures, I'd walk down the aisles half crouched as if I was stalking through the tall grass. Yeah I could have some fun with it, I could probably also have a conversation with local law enforcement if I ever tried it.

All kidding aside some of the policies of the big box stores really do piss me off. Years ago K-Mart had Ruger 10/22's on sale for an unbelievably cheap price. I decided that I needed one. First I had to track down someone who worked in sporting goods. Then they didn't have the keys to the firearms case and had to track down someone else. After looking at it and telling them that I wanted to buy one, they had to track down a manager because they didn't have access to the safe in the back. Assistant manager shows up, asks what I want and goes back to get one. He brings it up to the counter and then gets miffed when I ask to take it out of the box to look it over before buying it. Fill out the paperwork and then the assistant manager has to go find a manager to double check the paperwork. Thank God this was in the days before background checks or it would have added even more time to the process.

Clerk goes to ring it up and it comes up at full price. I correct him and he starts to argue and claims it's a different model. Clerk finally gives in and asks assistant manager for keys to the register so he can overide the price. Correct price comes up and I ask the clerk to ring up a brick of .22 ammo as well. "I'm sorry but it's store policy, we can't include ammunition in the same sale as a firearm." I said fine ring it up separately. He said they couldn't sell ammo and a firearm during a single visit to the store. I asked the assistant manager who confirmed the policy as well. He did tell me that I could buy the rifle, be escorted to the door, secure it in my vehicle and then come back in and buy the ammunition.

I told him that it was the most ridiculous policy that I had ever heard and if they were going to enforce it they could keep the rifle because I wouldn't be buying it from them. I was then told by the assistant manager that I had to buy the rifle because all sales were final. I told him no money had changed hands therefore no sale had taken place. He then went on about how they already had the paperwork completed and made notes in their inventory. My suggestion was to tear up the paperwork and get an eraser from the school supplies aisle and walked out.

All in all, about an hour and a half of my life wasted that I'll never see again. Probably worked out for the better since I bough a 10/22 Deluxe later.

"Correct price comes up and I ask the clerk to ring up a brick of .22 ammo as well. "I'm sorry but it's store policy, we can't include ammunition in the same sale as a firearm." I said fine ring it up separately. He said they couldn't sell ammo and a firearm during a single visit to the store. I asked the assistant manager who confirmed the policy as well. He did tell me that I could buy the rifle, be escorted to the door, secure it in my vehicle and then come back in and buy the ammunition."

On more than one occasion, someone bought ammo and a gun at the same time, and offed themselves in the store or parking lot. In fact, the son of one of the Kmart execs did just that. Then, of course, the lawsuits were filed. That was the reason for the policy.

__________________
Tom

Very funny account of your adventure, Nick. Sadly, I have felt your pain.

Reference the price inquiry your related, I was at the local stop and rob the other day and bought newspapers and a coffee. Lady said: "You gave me a twenty, right?" Me: "No, I gave you a ten." Lady: "Are you sure?" Me: "Yes."

Not sure she believed me; like you, I can be bought but it takes a whole lot more than $10. to close that deal.

Be safe.

I got a chuckle out of that and it fairly well mirrored my experience overall.

Those little 3" Rossi are distributor/dealers specials made for Academy.

They don't list them on the Rossi websight. They show the 2" models.

Next time around Gander Mnt might have 'em.

It absolutely kills me w/all the check, double check then a different manager has to escort you to the front. And don't forget that after purchase they have to walk the firearm to the exit door.

I'm more concerned about being mugged between there and my car, but no one is offering to escort me that far...

I hear your pain about the walk of shame. A couple of years ago at the local walmart I bought a shotgun for my oldest. I was in uniform (I work for the local PD), but had to have it carried to the door.

I have had the "walk of shame" happen to me also. I did ask the gun toter if he would carry it to my car...he declined.

__________________
Miss My Buddy crsides!!

I guess some folks can't be bothered with a bit of time being spent getting a good deal on something then having to wait for it to be all done special for them.

I know were I work customer service is getting to be what I would think the butt kisser job would be at a gay bath house.

That's funny! Note to self: Do not apply for Customer Service position...

----------
I snagged a good deal especially w/ammo. However, I spent several days trying to connect w/store manager, slowly working my way up the chain of command and buying in box stores is like pulling teeth w/all the double & triple checks you'd think you were buying upsidaisium.....

Nick,

It seems you have more patience than me! Sometimes my time and agravation are more expensive than the few bux discount. And the gross incompetence is just amazing! I, at least on some level, am relieved to hear the incompetence is not only around here. Sheesh. Sometimes the promise of a deal can seem to actually cost more. But where would we be if there was no one willing to run the register and follow some simple rules. Or at least try to.

I bought a 10-22 on sale at Big 5 and all through the deal the assistant manager was telling me the usual story about gun and ammo sales being terminated "within six months". That the pres. was practically on his way over right now to shut the industry down, bla, bla, bla. So, there was a mistake on the paperwork. She was engrossed in her story and while checking all the details, failed to notice I had failed to write what county I lived in and sign the form. So I got a worried phone call and returned the next day to find she had signed my name and sent it in! Yep, she forged my name on the gov't form. Amazing. She had a hard time answering me when I asked her what the definition of "felony" was, and to tell me why I should not turn her in right there on her phone. That I did not take forging my name lightly, etc.

Of course there are lighter moments around the gun world too. Like buying ammo at Walmart, for instance. You know, the six box limit? I have fun bypassing that one and recently walked out with 6,000 rounds of 22LR Thunderbolt that comes in 50 rnd boxes. Or 3,000 rounds of 9mm in one trip, etc. Or buying after hours and having the clerk ask "oh, is that hand gun ammunition?". The correct answer to that question is "no, it's for my rifle" then a simple register override clears the sale and out I go with a basket of boxes, under the wary scrutiny of others in line. Of course, that tactic doesn't always work as in the case of buying Federal "410 Handgun" and being asked if it's for a handgun. The folks at two of the stores are so helpful they have volunteered their phone numbers so I can check stock before I come in. I also need to beat the local gun store owner in because that's where he buys his ammo too.

My "walk of shame" at Cabelas doesn't stop at the door but out to the extent of the entrance overhang. I guess that's where any trouble is likely to start or end. I can never really understand what good it is supposed to do and whether or not the assistant is there to stop any trouble, if it starts. Sheesh.

You went through all that to buy a couple of Rossi's???

Jungle Work

I'm just glad there wasn't a quiz at the end of that story.

__________________
Thirty characters. Exactly...

Couple of cheap Rossis, but in for a penny in for a pound, eh mate? The ammo on top of the extended sale price of the pistolas made the deal.

I'm po' and ninety some odd dineros is a lot of scratch for me. That's pert near three late fees.


Sip has hit the nail on the head.

This is a pre-Alzheimer's retention response pop quiz.

Stay tuned. Next week: The Rorschach inkblot test goes anime!

You should have walked behind him with your hand on HIS shoulder and said loudly "Keep moving son"

With all this whining a moaning about how long it takes to purchase your gun, got me to wondering how long it takes in England.

__________________
- Change it back -

You know what they say about being in the eye of the beholder.

Wrote a blues song about it. Wanna hear it? Goes like this:

I dun walked thurty miles and spent half a day in the sto' baby...

Financing a tool to put a screechin' halt to yor low down cheatin' ways...


Thank you, thank you very much!