Professional Gun Cleaning?

-db- · Jun 15, 2013

I was at my local gun store last night picking up the karma win gun (thanks again, Muddyboot!) and a guy walks in and asks the counter guys if they do "professional gun cleaning". The store guys look at each other in confusion and ask the guy "What kind of gun?". The guy replies telling them it's a Glock. At this point I had to conceal a smile knowing we were in for some humor. The customer goes on to explain that his father borrowed the gun and put 150 rounds through it and it's very dirty. The store guys ask him if he needs a cleaning kit and point to the shelf with the kits. The guy says no, he has a cleaning kit, but wants the gun "professionally cleaned". By now, everyone in the store is quiet and listening to this conversation. The store guys, not knowing what else to say, tell him no, they don't do gun cleaning, sorry, and the guy thanks them and leaves.

We all had a laugh at this afterwards but it got me thinking later last night. Sure, the idea of a Glock requiring a "professional cleaning" after only 150 rounds sounds ridiculous, but at the same time I think the shop blew an opportunity to make some money and perhaps gain or maintain a repeat customer. Surely there are times during the day when these guys working the store don't have much to do and could be cleaning a gun, so why not call it a "professional cleaning" and charge the guy $25 or so for the service? He'd be happy his gun got "professionally cleaned" and the store would make a few bucks for basically no work at all. I think it it were my store and I was behind the counter, I would have told the guy, "Oh, yeah, we do that, no problem, bring it in."

Smithhound · Jun 15, 2013

Many new shooters are entering the hobby and they just don't know, guns confuse them for the most part. I've been shooting for over 45 years now, the day I shot my first gun I learned how to clean it. Most new shooters never had the early life experiences handed down to them like I, and alot of us did. I'm grateful for that.
Having said all that, I actually make some pretty good extra cash cleaning guns for friends/acquaitances, these aren't new guns for the most part but older firearms that they have inherited or have just neglected for years. Many of them really require a good takedown and cleaning, I lightly polish and wax, oil and grease what I can. I've always enjoyed working on guns and cleaning them, it's kind of meditation for me. I've got three here right now, a nice old Remington 511P, that when brought to me looked very bad and was missing the peep sight retention screw (it now looks near new, as good as it will get), a nice older Marlin 36 with milled top strap, this one will be a challenge, and an old Stevens double that will spend it's life as a wall hanger (but a nice looking one!).
On average I get between $25 -$35 for this, so I'm doing something I enjoy and making a little extra spending cash.
Have patience with the Newbies, at least they are trying, and without them we wont have a future.
RD

AirForceShooter · Jun 15, 2013

Your LGS guys are idiots.
A guy borrows a gun, shoots it and wants to return it cleaner than when he got it. This is a bad thing?
Your LGS doesn't want to do the job?
AFS

P&R Fan · Jun 15, 2013

As someone who owns a business, I have a different view.
I would have told him to bring it in. Then I would have broken out the Hoppes #9 (out of my shaving kit

) and taught him how to do it. I wouldn't have charged a dime.
Next time he came in he would buy some cleaning supplies, and, most importantly, tell all his friends how nice the guy at the gun store is.

That is how to build a successful business.
Jim

GKC · Jun 15, 2013

There are a couple of shops in my area that do sonic bath cleaning...not just the kind of cleaning I or anyone can do at home. I've never used it, but they only charge $30 so it seems like it would be worth it the next time I buy a RIA or some other gun that comes packed in grease/oil.

Smithhound · Jun 15, 2013

P&R got it right!
Never let an oportunity to please a customer pass you up, word of mouth is free advertising and pays off way more than any other form. I've always been put off by the 'gun fighter' attitude of some LGS's, I've refused to set foot in a few because of this, they didn't last long for the most part. You can't run a business and offend the people you want to help you grow, it just don't work that way.
Back in the early '90's I worked in a local shop, the owner was one of the worst businessmen I've ever seen. I used to cringe at the way he treated some people, it was embarassing to see. Once a guy pulled up in the parking lot and he asked me 'Who is that?', told him I didn't know but it looked like a customer. His reply was 'I don't have time for this B.S., I'm trying to run a business!'. We parted ways soon after that.
I've never forgotten that, never will.
RD

rog8732 · Jun 15, 2013

I think most of the older gun stores,the ones established before the advent of Glocks and such, did, almost always offer a cleaning service.
Some would even allow you to come to the work bench and watch. They also had a competent smith on hand most times. Not so much anymore, but, if you could ever get on good terms with an old smith, boy oh boy you could learn some great gun care info!.. As I said, not so much anymore...My favorite store,( owner and one part-time helper) still has a fair amount of business, cleaning and light smithing.

Steely Dan · Jun 15, 2013

The good part is a lot of people are buying guns.

The bad part is a lot of people are buying guns.

Part of responsible gun ownership is to know how to care for it.

Personally, I find it enjoyable to clean a firearm. Getting all the areas clean, then applying a light, protective coat of oil before placing back into storage or back into your holster for another day of personal protection.

Many people buy out if impulse, shoot then put it up.

Some never clean them.

Others improperly clean them with stuff I wouldn't even dream if using.

If I'm going to lay down the cash for a firearm, I'm going to know how to clean it.

Cleaning should be done before you ever fire it so you can get it range ready and familiarize yourself with it before throwing lead at a target.

SD

Nframecollector · Jun 15, 2013

People I work with bring me different guns all the time to clean for them. I don't ask for anything but I take what they offer me. I did show another guy(via iphone) how to completely strip a Yugo M57 and reassemble it! He later gave me an AK bayonet for my collection!

Arik · Jun 15, 2013

I saw a post on another forum from a gunsmith proclaiming "people clean your guns". He had photos of his friend's Glock that has been carried and only cleaned via a field strip. He was pulling out all kinds of caked on gunk mixed with lint and other stuff.

It might not matter on a newer gun but its not a bad idea to do a detailed strip and clean on thats been shot and carried for a while

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

BJoe · Jun 15, 2013

I also would have done it for $25-$35. Some people just feel more confident having 'professionals' do a job.

snubbyfan · Jun 15, 2013

Up here people buy guns, shoot them 'till they stop working, get them cleaned then start all over again.
I've made a fair bit of money detail cleaning guns. When someone needs a handgun cleaned, a lot of times they'd say, "while ya have it, could you make a holster for it too?" Nobody ever quibbled about prices, they'd get a nice shiny clean gun, a new custom leather holster to go with it and leave happy. I chased down magazines, repair parts and reblued shotgun recievers and muzzleloaded Hawkins replica tangs.
Yeah, I'll clean your guns for ya.

Ilike9mm · Jun 15, 2013

I would love to have a slave. No, I mean like a: "girl friday", or a "go-fer", to clean up after the range. I would be so happy.

Xtasy · Jun 15, 2013

Nothing wrong with asking for a professional gun cleaning. I know one place where all the retirees bring in their shotguns after they went the whole day skeet shooting. The LGS was an idiot, he lost not only one customer but probably a couple potential ones too.

pownal55 · Jun 15, 2013

I have seen rifles so badly neglected from years of shooting without proper care or cleaning they were considered worn out. A gunsmith with a bore scope and some time could bring a gun like this back to life in many cases.
The owner needs an expensive lesson in the proper care of firearms.

old bear · Jun 15, 2013

Professional Gun Cleaning?

As my interests lay in P&R vintage Smith and Wesson revolvers, the first thing I do when I acquire a new, to me, revolver is have my gunsmith clean and inspect it for me. This includes removing the side plate all of the internal parts, then a sonic cleaning, a proper lube job and reassembly. I pay a whopping $45.00 for this. Its money well spent.

kwselke · Jun 15, 2013

I quit using professional gun cleaners the same time I quit using professional gun bearers. When the finances are not there, you have to give up the finer things.

Josh66 · Jun 15, 2013

It's just like anything else - some people don't care to do the maintenance or don't know how to. If they'd rather pay someone to do it for them instead of just learn to do it themselves, who are we to say they're wrong?

Some people change their own oil, some people take their car to the shop... This isn't really any different. Would I pay someone to clean my guns? No. But I'm not going to sit here and say that the idea of paying someone to clean your guns for you has no merit.

IMO, cleaning your guns is just something that you should know how to do as a gun owner, but let's face it, it's not exactly "fun". If some people would rather pay someone to do it for them, that's their choice...

Hack · Jun 19, 2013

First off, I'm a bit anal about cleaning my guns. I've been working on a 7mm Win 70 for the last week, removing probably twenty years worth of carbon/copper/****.

Secondly, I've had a bad run of dealing with 'professionals', so I wouldn't even consider taking one of my firearms to someone I didn't have a long standing relationship with.

I've got a good dozen guns in the cleaning quegue, however, I would be more than happy to clean that man's Glock for $40...

rwsmith · Jun 20, 2013

Um.......

What if the internals need cleaning?? I just saw a very good video on taking apart a 5943 like mine and it scared me pretty bad. Mine doesn't need 'professional cleaning' but I'm not a gunsmith and it looked like I could.....'mess'... something up trying to reassemble. How about taking the side plate off of a revolver to clean and lube the inside? I don't want to attempt that, either. If it needs 'professional cleaning' that's what a gunsmith is for.

Yes, the guy was uninformed, but I don't think it is quite as silly as all that.

PS I just 'non-professionally' cleaned my guns tonight.

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