LGS Refused to Remove Stocks (grips)?

[VictorLouis]

I wouldn't have bought a used one last year, had I had the sense to take off the grips. In similar situations now, I would do so. Also, I have to cajole the pawn-shops to remove the danged trigger locks, else you can't check the action, timing, and lock-up. THat's a real challenge, let me tell you!

 

[hemiram]

I've had a couple of guns I looked at in a pawn/LGS that had corrosion under the grips. If a store didn't want me to see what's going on, I would just walk. And I have.

 

[Breadman1]

If it's important to the customer, the owner should try to accommodate the request. It's a used gun, if he's a serious buyer, it's reasonable to request to the inspect the gun. I work hard for my money, and they're not giving the things away!

If refused the option, I'd politely let the man know that I don't agree with his business practices, and I'd leave. He may stay in business doing things that way, but it wouldn't be thanks to my money…

My thoughts exactly

 

[Retired W4]

If that happened to me I would not only walk out and never come back, I would tell all my friends about the place. And I have a few friends!

 

[CH4]

I don't think it's unreasonable. I've never had a shop refuse to remove the grips.

 

[Erocksmash]

They would have lost my business, first sign of something fishy....

 

[Narragansett]

I wandered into a pawn shop once and saw an older Smith. I asked the guy to please remove the grips. he said why? I said so I can see if they number to the gun. He replied, " Assume they don't". I did not say a word, just walked out and have not been back

 

[NYlakesider]

Back in the mid 1970s I wanted to shoot sub class PPC. (2 1/2 Barrel maximum) Trying to find a good adjustable sight 19 or 15 was almost impossible

A dealer I had done a lot of business with had a rather abused Model 15 2''. Gun came from a cop who carried it and it had a hard life. Dealer really wanted to get rid of it and quoted me a extremely good price.

I looked it over close, normal revolver checks and said I will buy it if you let me remove the side plate and all inside is OK.. Went to the back and took it off all looked OK, I bought the gun and for sure it was a ugly duckling but it shot extremely well. That dealer went a lot further than just allowing grips pulled. I did buy a set of Pacs rubber at the same time.

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

Grips

Wood grips I would probably not have let it kill the deal.
Rubber grips, and I would have handed it back to them.
No shortage of that model anyway, they made 1000's of them.

 

[cmansguns]

Cover all bases...it is your money

Main reason I stopped even looking at Cabela's after they were taken over by Bass Pro, they're absolute refusal to remove the trigger lock until you had bought the gun, paid for it, and going out the door..you were handed one of those ding-dong little keys.

So...didn't matter the price..no way to check for push-off and mechanical things, if tragets on, couldn't even check for serial number on butt.

As far as LGS goes, I understand it is their gun, not mine, until cash changes hands, but I feel I need to be met at least half-way. I do not expect (nor even want) a clerk to "touch" the gun beyond taking it out of the case, checking for empty, and handing it to me. I have witnessed "clerks" doing a Hollywood flip to close the cylinder and that's a deal breaker too.

On the other hand the LGS does have a counter manager who seems to know and respect some requests. Grips off is reasonable with revolvers but he does it, with proper hollow ground screwdriver tips. On the other hand there is no counter top disassembly of 1911,s by anyone, simply because parts and springs can "fly-off" in anyone's hands, and as said above, grip bushings on a WWII 1911A1 that have to be "loctited", or even replaced will destroy the value of that possibly collector grade gun.

I did once at this LGS ask for a further disassembly of a Colt 1911A1. This was ages ago, but still the asking price was in genuine, all numbers matching area, so I had to be sure. I mentioned that we would need to take it down enough to see if the s/n digits were on the slide stop as the age indicated for a Colt to be. The manager knew what I was asking and together we did disassemble that far down, and the gun was all in order. Reassembled and I did buy it, but I would not have if denied the request.

Bottom line to me is that only you can spend your own money. The LGS is not out one red cent whether you buy it or the next guy/gal.

I value the money I'm spending and I want to be absolutely sure that I did my best due diligence before parting with those Bennies. So far I can't recall very many times of buyers remorse.

 

[jcelect]

While walking around the Tulsa gun show I stopped at a table(FFL) to look at a mod 29 8 3/8" barrel w/presentation case and cokes! I ask the owner to remove the grips! I was told they would not be numbered to the gun. I explained I would like to check for rework stamps, he complied with my request by removing the grips. Upon close inspection I noticed the serial number stamped in the yoke was not the serial number stamped on the bottom of the grip frame, not even close with many digits being different! I ask him which number he had entered into his FFL log? He was lazy, he entered the number in the yoke! The BATF official number is on the grip frame! The next time past the table, the gun had been removed!
How did he solve his problem?
jcelect

 

[squidsix]

Customer service is the last thing we have total control over. You do it poorly, and you will be looking for work pretty quick.
I have had owners refuse to cut zip ties holding slides shut on guns for sale before. I just walk out.

 

[Laketime]

Usually any shop will if you tell them the sale will be contingent upon seeing no rust under the grips

 

[Jon651]

I'm not offering any excuses for the staff not immediately offering to accommodate the customer, but I can think of a few reasonable ones. The first being that they may have a policy that only their own designated gunsmith(s) can work on any gun, and one wasn't available at that time. I would not have had a second thought if that was the explanation.

You say you didn't hear if there was a reason offered for their refusal, but before I can say if it would affect my decision whether or not to do business with them then I would have to find that out for myself before giving you an answer.

 

[Imissedagain]

In Atlanta, you definitely want to check the trunk! Might see somebody you know.

I love seafood.
Good to know that there's an Umbertos Clam House in Atlanta.

 

[WCCPHD]

Their shop, their rules.

My money, my rules.

Unless its a one off, I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[sigp220.45]

I harrumphed at first about Cabela's trigger lock idiocy, but folded quick when they had something I wanted. I've probably bought a dozen since then with nary a problem.

Once I dithered on a nice Colt Pocket Hammerless at a really good price, and when I went back the next day a fellow Fudd was holding it and grousing about the trigger lock. He finally handed it back to the guy and I told him to leave it out and I would take it. Fellow Fudd stood by and I pulled the slide back to cock it (and check for empty) then pulled the front of the trigger lock and got a nice click. I could have easily disassembled it with the lock on it, but didn't. Its a great gun.

The only time I thought I had pooched it was on a hoary old New Service .38/40, also priced nicely. When I took the lock off in the car the action would barely move. All it needed was a good cleaning but I sweated it a bit until I got home.

Everyone has their own comfort level, though.

 

[hkcavalier]

You have your standard and they have theirs. It's their gun and your money. "Unreasonable" is completely subjective. All shops put their foot down or draw lines in the sand --- sometimes they drive customers away, but they have their reasons.

If they don't know you, 99% they figure you're a tire kicker and aren't going to accommodate much. Whip out those $100 bills and show you're a buyer (conditionally, at least) and that might help. In the credit card era it's not quite as cool to slap your VISA on the counter, but it might work...

 

[LostintheOzone]

I thought I saw you leaving the gun shop the other day!
Runs like a dream though, right?

That wasn't me. I don't look in the local shops anymore for used firearms. There isn't anything to look at. Now with our impending magazine restrictions there will be even less.

But I have a daily driver that looks just like that.

 

[lihpster]

I was able to get Cabela's to let me check the action on one revolver I was looking to buy. But. the gun had to be pointed into a bullet trap, held by the clerk. I could then snake my finger into the trigger guard and try the action. I think the fact that I had cash in hand and promised to buy it if it functioned, led to a bending of the rules.