Local gun store experience

[444 Magnum]

There is a small privately owned gun store near me. It is a gun store, not a pawn shop. Firearms, knives, ammo, light gunsmithing etc. The owner, "Bob" (not real name) appears very "knowledgeable" in firearms and has a cult following of customers.

I say "knowledgeable" because I've never asked him a question he didn't have an immediate answer to-no matter what brand, caliber, or age- and I have caught him a couple of times giving out incorrect information. So, when I'm dealing with a "knows everything about everything" person, I no longer go to them for advice.

What I've only recently discovered is what seems peculiar to me. Bob has a small selection of new pistols under the glass made by newer manufacturers. The same with rifles and shotguns on the back wall. The reason for the "newer manufacturer" firearms is the inventory cost associated with being a dealer. Very few used firearms are displayed. The ones he does display are usually common, low end, or something wrong with them.

Last year, my father consigned a few pistols with Bob to sell in his store. These were mostly C&R pistols from various makers and all in the $300-$900 range. We chose a good selection of calibers, makers, and styles. It was November, so my father and I both felt there would be a good amount of Christmas foot traffic in the store and the pistols should sell quickly. But a few weeks went by and my father's pistols were never in the display case. I was wondering if Bob didn't want to display them as they would compete with his new pistols. When asked, Bob simply said he had people "looking at them". After a month and still not displayed, my father went to the store and retrieved his pistols. He simply didn't trust Bob and at this point I was wondering myself.

A few months later, I was in the store and Bob asked about my dad and the pistols. I asked Bob why he never displayed them for sale. This was his answer- he keeps consignments in the back, whether a few guns or a collection, and he contacts local buyers/collectors to come in and bid on them. He then sells to the highest acceptable bid.

I don't understand this business concept. It was the Christmas buying season. Put them in the case with a price on them and sell them. ??? I don't think he was listing them online. I just think he has peculiar business concept. Have any of you had similar experiences?

Bob just seems weird. I don't let him do my transfers anymore. I moved that business to a pawn broker I've known for several years.

Edit: As a buyer, I never know what he has as I'm not on the "call" list even though he had, in the past, transferred many nice firearms for me and he knew I was a serious collector. Seems to me if you want to increase foot traffic and interest, your wares should be displayed. I don't even go in the store anymore. Its not worth the effort.

 

[DWalt]

Indeed a strange business model.

 

[Rpg]

Sounds like Bob is a poor fit with the way you want your guns sold.

Perhaps he makes significantly more on his new stock than on consignments and doesn’t want consignments competing with new stock.

Display space is always limited. Bob may find that he gets a better return per square foot of display space on newer, non consignment guns than on consignment guns.

Unfortunately, that means the consignment guns are competing with the stock he has money in. Turning that inventory is a higher priority than turning inventory he has no stake in.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Seems like a lot of effort to me. What was his commission?

 

[JJEH]

Back room bidding deals on the merchandise, like he's a high-profile gunrunner.

Seems to me he wanted maximum profit and since he hasn't purchased those guns, he had no issues taking his time finding the "right" buyer.

Nothing illegal but I wouldn't take my business there either.

 

[Ameshawki]

Not unheard of for a shop to have a list of buyers for certain makes, models, etc. Especially stuff in the collector's realm. Every shop works a little differently. Some throw everything on gunbroker. Some try to stay local. Some do everything. Some shops don't actually have that much walk in traffic.

 

[444 Magnum]

Seems like a lot of effort to me. What was his commission?

My father had purchased these pistols several years prior and just wanted his investment back. No gain. Bob was allowed to keep all "profits". All of the pistols had gone up in value since being purchased and Bob saw no problem with the arrangement. It was established at the time of consignment and the expectations were reasonable in my opinion. Bob had no money in the guns and only profit to make. Seems like that would be worth some counter space.

I should add, this is a very small store. A "one man band". I thought he would appreciate more business. This may just be a lack of communication-our expectations vs his business practices. In my defense, I did inquire a few times as to where the guns were and he would mumble some vague response. The whole experience was strange.

This is in a town of 100K plus surrounding communities. The store is in an outdoor strip mall on the busy end of town. Very close to Lowes and Home Depot. I took all that into consideration when I recommended Bob to my father. The alternative was putting them in an auction or me having to sale them, package, mail, etc. I didn't/don't have time for that right now.

 

[Puller]

Some business models work for some people and not others.

When Walmart changed their business model so that the customer does all the checkout and bagging work AND they get checked at the door I stopped doing business with them. They probably don't miss me because so many sheeple just fall in line, but at least I'm free to patronize other businesses instead.

Same for this gun shop, sound like you made the right decision to move on.

 

[GypsmJim]

Some business models work for some people and not others.

When Walmart changed their business model so that the customer does all the checkout and bagging work AND they get checked at the door I stopped doing business with them. They probably don't miss me because so many sheeple just fall in line, but at least I'm free to patronize other businesses instead.

Same for this gun shop, sound like you made the right decision to move on.

Our 3 local walmarts still do the packing. Your local store manager must do things his own way.

BTW - wally has the lowest price ammo around. I can't NOT go there.

 

[GypsmJim]

I didn't know it at the time, but m,y hometown LGS puts used trades in the display case, and consignments in the back.

One day i just had a hankering for a K22. I went in and asked him if he had one. He smiled and went into the back room. I was even able to negotiate a few bucks and it was on the range that same afternoon.

 

[lihpster]

I have some guns on consignment at my LGS. It too is a one man operation. Terry puts the guns in his case and posts them on Armslist. He's also called buyers/collectors he knows that might be interested in what he has. He takes 15% commission. Even though he normally doesn't ship guns, he has done it for me to sell my guns. Granted, I've bought about 12 guns from him in the last year or so. I also gave him a copy of the SCSW for the shop, and a few other little trinkets. My advice would be to find another shop to patronize. There are good ones out there.
P.S. Just checked my phone and he sold another one for me.

 

[LVSteve]

I recognize this business model. It's straight out of the Rock Island Auctions playbook.

 

[gjgalligan]

Have to wonder that dealer has the idea that in the owner of consigned guns dies he might get them. If nobody knew where they were then nobody could claim them.

 

[Golddollar]

A few months later, I was in the store and Bob asked about my dad and the pistols. I asked Bob why he never displayed them for sale. This was his answer- he keeps consignments in the back, whether a few guns or a collection, and he contacts local buyers/collectors to come in and bid on them. He then sells to the highest acceptable bid.

I can think of at least 3 guns I never would have bought if the respective shop owners operated like this. If I hadn't seen them in the case I would have never realized that I wanted them. I remember one shop was 200 miles away from my home and went into a newer shop in my old college town and came out with a nickeled Beretta 92C that I never would have thought about until I saw it.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Sounds like Bob had zero $ invested in those consignment guns, no time constraints and was more than willing to wait a long time to find the buyer willing to gain him the biggest profits.

No skin in the game for him so could care less for them selling or not.

 

[Baxter6551]

Seems strange and the OP sounds correct about the whole deal. I do know dealers who will call select customers who are looking for certain things like military rifles, Colt or S&W collectors, etc but the whole deal with “Bob” sounds bad. The shops I know will give it a couple of days for their certain customers to come look or buy but then the stuff gets put out.
I still shop at WalMart for their prices and the occasional score on ammo but I refuse to show them my receipt. It’s usually in my hand as I’m walking towards the exit and I just wish the employee a good day and walk by. I’m not violating any law doing so. Different at Costco and BJs club because they have always done it that way so I comply. If I do see ammo I want and spend the time waiting for someone to show up with a key to open the case then I ring out at that register.

 

[444 Magnum]

My brother found a used but ANIB pistol he wanted online at Bud's but he doesn't have a CC (for reasons we won't discuss) so we went to a local pawn/FFL and showed him the gun on a printout. My brother asked him how much he would charge to order the pistol and transfer it. They agreed on a price and cash was exchanged for the entire amount.

Over a week went buy and I noticed the pistol had neither been marked as sold or removed online. I called Bud's and was told the pistol was still available.

My brother and I went down to the FFL and waited while he talked to another customer. He looked up and asked how he could help us. I said we'd wait. He insisted, "How can I help you?" So, I asked him why he had not purchased the pistol my brother paid for over a week earlier.

The FFL blew up and shouted, "Because I've been trying to find another pistol of the same model and condition but cheaper so I can make more money!"

I was shocked. We asked for and got my brother's money back. He actually gave us too much money as he included the transfer fee. My brother did not offer it back. I didn't blame him.

That FFL is no longer in business.

We have crazy one's in my neck of the woods so you can understand my father's lack of trust in "Bob".

 

[Bald1]

Bob sounds like a goof ball. If he’s not making enough on consignments he should raise his fees. Not jerk customers around. I’d ten times rather sell a used gun over a new gun. More wiggle more profit.

 

[LVSteve]

Not unheard of for a shop to have a list of buyers for certain makes, models, etc. Especially stuff in the collector's realm. Every shop works a little differently. Some throw everything on gunbroker. Some try to stay local. Some do everything. Some shops don't actually have that much walk in traffic.

That's understood, but Bob is either taking way too long getting the word to his preferred buyers, or he is letting those buyers get away with taking too long to get off their butts and into his store to say yea or nay. I'd be po'd at a store seemingly having no interest in displaying something I'm consigning after having it htere for a month or more.

 

[6shotfan]

It's becoming more difficult to deal with local gun stores.