In-Store Employee Carry Question

[drmweaver2]

Okay, not concealed but in my opinion, a Self-Defense question... so here goes...

Just got hired to work at a gun store/shooting range combo. Yay me! 99% of the employees carry openly while in the store. Fine with me and not unusual.

However, during my hiring interview, my new boss/the owner was pretty adamant mentioning that he thinks my choice of weapon, an SD9VE, is "garbage, trash and whatever other perjoratives you can think of" - yes, that is pretty much a direct quote. I'm 90% happy with the handgun myself. But, I have to work with him/these guys who carry a variety of handguns - none of which is an SD9/SD40 or the VE models.

So, the question is, should I be looking at another handgun? I initially bought it solely for SD, it's stated purpose, and I can shoot it now fairly accurately out to abut 10 yards. The store has inside dimensions of about 15 yards corner to corner and cash register to front door (it's not quite a square). If I were to buy another handgun, it would probably be an S&W 9mm Pro with a 5 inch barrel - not a particularly great EDC weapon due to the barrel length in my estimation (but I'm a fairly new guy to this area/consideration and have limited draw-from-holster experience as it is).

Thoughts?

 

[murphydog]

1. The owner is allowed to set his own policies regarding what you carry, and whatever training/competency testing he chooses. If he states you 'can't' carry your SD9, you need to either decline the job or go gun shopping.

2. If he treats his paying customers the same way regarding his opinions about their guns, it would behoove you to look for another job anyhow.

Good luck in your decision(s).

 

[AlHunt]

I wouldn't work for such an arrogant individual.

 

[drmweaver2]

I guess I wasn't clear. he didn't say I couldn't carry it while working nor that I had to carry any gun while working. He was expressing his opinion of the handgun. Period.

However, being that his opinion is so adamant, the question arises wheter or not that would ultimately affect his opinion of and interaction with me...

 

[bigwheelzip]

Not knowing the availability of employment opportunities, or your need to be earning a wage, I wouldn't cavalierly dismiss the opportunity.
Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise, and you can use the owners opinion of the SD to negotiate a larger than usual employee discount on a gun you'd have bought eventually, if the price were right.

Lemonade from lemons. Good luck.

 

[drmweaver2]

The pay's not great, but it's adequate... I am retired and don't NEED the job to survive financially. But mentally, I needed something to do with my time.

As far as negotiating discounts, anything in the store is available at cost for all employees.

 

[SAFireman]

Zip is on the money - ask for a BIG discount to get a nicer gun!

I don't know much about the modern S&W autos, but I did have the opportunity to fire a Sigma on the LE range a few years back and I was less than impressed with that S&W.

Maybe he will let you test drive some of the guns that he feels are 'suitable'? and you can choose what you like best (shoot best) from the lot?

Good luck with the new job (and be sure to ignore any gun snobbery that may rear its ugly head in a gun shop )

 

[OKFC05]

Perhaps he has a "policy" that you should carry a high dollar example of a gun HE SELLS; I know one large gun store that does (unofficially). He also may not want to make it an official policy for obvious reasons.
The markup on an SD is small.

I declined a low pay retirement job because it was clear I would be expected to sell people what would make the highest profit, not what met their needs economically. You decide for yourself.

 

[lefty_jake]

Address the issue like a savvy gun guy who also wants to learn more and fit in.

On the savvy side, tell him your gun meets the four requirements for a duty pistol.

1. totally reliable
2. sights you can see
3. trigger you can control
4. totally reliable (again)

This list is an approximate quote of someone famous, possibly Jeff Cooper. If this list is not true for your gun, then you actually should replace it. But assuming all of these are true, then the pistol is a sufficient duty gun and does not "need" to be replaced. If you describe the gun with these four factors, then any real gun guy should accept that you know your stuff. And it is four factors because reliable really does count twice.

Of course all the above should be discussed politely, but also matter of factly. Then you can kiss up to the boss a little. Say that even though your SD9 has proved reliable, that you know it is not a top tier gun and you would like to hear more about the guns he recommends. Tell him you are interested in guns that you should try firing before you make your next purchase. Hopefully that will get him to talk and you may learn some interesting stuff.

Just so you know, I am not a fan of the SD9 guns either, but I know that for many people the SD9 is entirely sufficient for its intended purpose. And I also know that not everyone needs to choose something that I like. Anyone in the firearms business should be prepared to accept these principles.

Good luck.

 

[petepeterson]

Two options occurred to me:

1. Carry it concealed
2. If your pistol works for you, out-shoot him with it. That will close his trap.

I must say, I do like the suggestion of negotiating a new pistol out of the deal!

 

[Arik]

I guess I wasn't clear. he didn't say I couldn't carry it while working nor that I had to carry any gun while working. He was expressing his opinion of the handgun. Period.

However, being that his opinion is so adamant, the question arises wheter or not that would ultimately affect his opinion of and interaction with me...

In that case it's just his opinion. He probably meant well but came off wrong......or maybe not.

It's just a gun!

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[grcoffman104]

Shoot every trade in gun the store gets. Use owners bullets and time to do so.Thus you can stand by your ability to reassure a buyer " yep it works". Find a gat you really like. Purchase at cost.
Eeek, my problem would be limiting myself to one...or three.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

[reddog81]

I'm sure he'd rather his employees advocate for buying the most expensive handgun there is. If you have a $1,000 gun on your hip it makes it easier to try and convince a buyer they also need a $1,000 handgun. If you have a $300 handgun on your hip you're reinforcing the notion that a $300 can work for self defense.

There are countless ways to handle the situation. You can just wear your gun and see if it anyone really cares. You can always say you're waiting to find something that shoots better and plan on buying something else down the road.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Well, (tongue in cheek mode on) the SD9VE must be incredibly good, since my local shop Shooters of Jax has one in the used case for new price.
Geoff
Who has a SW9VE with the 14lb trigger.

 

[dougb1946]

This is an opportunity. Ask him what he recommends. Then ask him about your discount.

 

[cmort666]

Carry one of these instead:

 

[Jonzim]

If you're comfortable with it, by all means take the job and carry it. Nothing wrong with the SD9VE.

 

[mnshutterbug]

He sounds extremely opinionated to me. If it were me and I didn't need the job, I'd work just long enough to get a juicy discount on another gun and then give a 2 week's notice. Unless you end up loving the job and the boss of course.

 

[haywood]

If it were me and it was only a hobby, I would do what I want. If they gave me a big hassle, I would put up with it until I got out of them what I wanted. After that I would quit. Ride the storm out as they say. Everyone els may be nice to work with and feel the same about him. Get what you need. If things don't get better, move on.

 

[whataboutbob]

nothing you can't get past.tell him you would like to learn all you can about different handguns and if he could explain why and how some are better than others you would be thankful.it will foster your relationship and you will learn something;maybe about firearms or maybe just about him