BloodyThumb
Member
This post in purely informational for members here to use in making their own decisions where to shop.
I work in a mostly rural area of Indiana north of Bloomington. We have stores in this area called “Rural King”. They are mostly farm stores, but also have always had a sporting goods department. I drive by 3 of them every day I work, and while I am not a farmer obviously, I have purchased hardware, tools, a compressor, and some clothes there over the last 10 years. In general it is a decent place to shop. I heard that they had recently started selling firearms in addition to the ammo, accessories, safes, etc. that they had always carried.
While I was off today, I stopped by one in a community near home to see what they had. They had a selection that was better that some of the smaller gun shops in the area. Prices were not great, but not bad either by “post-recent idiocy” standards at least. They had some ammunition that I could use in stock, so I had about $200 worth ready to purchase when I decided to ask to see a lever gun that I have been thinking about picking up.
When I asked about seeing it, the salesperson, who was very polite and professional about it, gave me the low down on their procedure for looking at any firearm. Every firearm of any type, had a trigger lock bolted on. Customers are not allowed to open the actions. Customers are not allowed to check the triggers or safeties. Basically, you can hold it, and look at it. If you want to check the trigger or safety on that $1000 SIG 1911, you buy it first and check it after you leave the store. But before you can even look at it, you have to give the sales clerk your driver’s license. He will first copy it, then file the copy, then open the rack and hand you the firearm while retaining your license in his possession. When you have finished looking at the firearm (without making any moving part move in any way!) you give it back to the salesperson, and he will return your license. The copy stays with them.
When I asked why the ridiculous rules, I was told that it was company policy. Rural King is based in Illinois. This is what they are required to do in Illinois, so it is company policy that they do it in every one of their stores. Is it truly company policy? I don’t know for sure, but that is what I was told.
Again, I am not trying to sway anyone toward or away from any retailer with which they wish to do business. I am only reporting what happened to me today and what I was told, in a Rural King in central Indiana, not Illinois.
My response was to purchase my ammo at a small privately owned shop on the way home where I am treated as a customer, not a potential criminal. I am sure the very polite and professional sales person was not happy about restocking the ammunition, but he will not have to do it again.
Thanks for listening.
I work in a mostly rural area of Indiana north of Bloomington. We have stores in this area called “Rural King”. They are mostly farm stores, but also have always had a sporting goods department. I drive by 3 of them every day I work, and while I am not a farmer obviously, I have purchased hardware, tools, a compressor, and some clothes there over the last 10 years. In general it is a decent place to shop. I heard that they had recently started selling firearms in addition to the ammo, accessories, safes, etc. that they had always carried.
While I was off today, I stopped by one in a community near home to see what they had. They had a selection that was better that some of the smaller gun shops in the area. Prices were not great, but not bad either by “post-recent idiocy” standards at least. They had some ammunition that I could use in stock, so I had about $200 worth ready to purchase when I decided to ask to see a lever gun that I have been thinking about picking up.
When I asked about seeing it, the salesperson, who was very polite and professional about it, gave me the low down on their procedure for looking at any firearm. Every firearm of any type, had a trigger lock bolted on. Customers are not allowed to open the actions. Customers are not allowed to check the triggers or safeties. Basically, you can hold it, and look at it. If you want to check the trigger or safety on that $1000 SIG 1911, you buy it first and check it after you leave the store. But before you can even look at it, you have to give the sales clerk your driver’s license. He will first copy it, then file the copy, then open the rack and hand you the firearm while retaining your license in his possession. When you have finished looking at the firearm (without making any moving part move in any way!) you give it back to the salesperson, and he will return your license. The copy stays with them.
When I asked why the ridiculous rules, I was told that it was company policy. Rural King is based in Illinois. This is what they are required to do in Illinois, so it is company policy that they do it in every one of their stores. Is it truly company policy? I don’t know for sure, but that is what I was told.
Again, I am not trying to sway anyone toward or away from any retailer with which they wish to do business. I am only reporting what happened to me today and what I was told, in a Rural King in central Indiana, not Illinois.
My response was to purchase my ammo at a small privately owned shop on the way home where I am treated as a customer, not a potential criminal. I am sure the very polite and professional sales person was not happy about restocking the ammunition, but he will not have to do it again.
Thanks for listening.
