At a Gun shop just off the end of the earth

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11B Lifer

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New to a tiny town where I bought land when my wife passed-went into a tiny gun shop-in a mobile home-trying to be friendly-Good ole' boy at the counter-
Me "I just thought I'd take a look around-how long you been doin' this?"

Him "Since I turned 21"

He then walked to the rear of the room-end of conversation
 
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Did you buy anything? Lol he knew you were not going to lol.
 
It seems that not everybody...

11B Lifer said:
New to a tiny town where I bought land when my wife passed-went into a tiny gun shop-in a mobile home-trying to be friendly-Good ole' boy at the counter-
Me "I just thought I'd take a look around-how long you been doin' this?"

Him "Since I turned 21"

He then walked to the rear of the room-end of conversation
Click to expand...

It seems that everybody doesn't have a friendly disposition. In some parts of the country it is taken as a weakness.
 
Kinda sounds like some of the shops I've visited over the years. None were in a trailer, but no greeting, no asking if they can help you, etc. A few owners and/or employess seemed suspecious that I actually entered, and gave the impression that I was unwelcome. Yea, I usually didn't buy anything, and apparently not many others did either. Those shops didn't usually last long. I agree with Andy Griffith.......
 
I've been in my share of shops run by personality disorders.Walk in-get the dead stare.
However,I'd rather take that,than the treatment I once received.A female clerk was on duty-she virtually matched me step by step,as I walked to each display case.Even though she had seen my PL,she gave me the feeling that she was expecting me to smash a case or something.Being helpful is one thing-being shadowed is another.I never returned.
 
Yes my friend

Lee Barner said:
was it somewhere south of lake of the Ozarks? if so, I've been in it once also. lee
Click to expand...

It is-and with the passing of my wife I have purchased land out there and will be putting up a place-many friendly folks-but I've had some very odd experiences-
Went to the local hardware and purchased purple paint-the only hardware-put the cans on the counter-told the clerk I was new to the area-wanted to mark my property-and some guy ( he and some lady the only other customers) starts yelling "there he goes! he got him his purple paint! no trespassing! thats it don't go there" and the couple walked off into the store! He yelled loud enough that it would have been heard throughout the store-
I can only surmise there are pockets of poison air in the area-I shall endeavor to avoid them.
 
Many years ago, at the end of my ministry days, I lived for a while in a small central Kentucky town surrounded by wondrous hunting and farm pond fishing.

I read somewhere that bass would be much more attracted to plastic worms if they were placed in a plastic bag with a few drops of oil of anise.

I couldn't find any of the oil in town, but the pharmacist at the best drug store in town said he could order it for me.

A week or so later I was in the store, which was very crowded, looking for a greeting card on the racks up front. And from back at the back, the pharmacist yelled, "Reverend, your ay-nus oil is in!"

"I'll be back!", I called, and beat feet.
 
11B Lifer said:
New to a tiny town where I bought land when my wife passed-went into a tiny gun shop-in a mobile home-trying to be friendly-Good ole' boy at the counter-
Me "I just thought I'd take a look around-how long you been doin' this?"

Him "Since I turned 21"

He then walked to the rear of the room-end of conversation
Click to expand...
Not sure I understand the problem. Small town. Everybody he's ever seen in that store except you knows how long he's been doing this. And why do you care, anyway? Not sure where this occurred, but maybe it's a part of the country where it's not all that odd not to engage in idle speech.

Not criticizing your conduct at all. In plenty of places it would be normal. But to him, it might seem a little odd.

At least he answered your question.
 
11B Lifer said:
It is-and with the passing of my wife I have purchased land out there and will be putting up a place-many friendly folks-but I've had some very odd experiences-
Went to the local hardware and purchased purple paint-the only hardware-put the cans on the counter-told the clerk I was new to the area-wanted to mark my property-and some guy ( he and some lady the only other customers) starts yelling "there he goes! he got him his purple paint! no trespassing! thats it don't go there" and the couple walked off into the store! He yelled loud enough that it would have been heard throughout the store-
I can only surmise there are pockets of poison air in the area-I shall endeavor to avoid them.
Click to expand...

Welcome to rural life ... sorta ...
more like unwelcome to rural living.
We hate, and I do mean hate, city hatched newcomers riding into our part of the World imposing their ways upon us.
It's a very tough nut to crack as a transplant.
You need to think like a sniper.
be obscure, observe, observe some more, and pick your targets for maximum effect based on observations.
There are few givens in this sort of environment.
If you are not a God fearing sort, it's time to find yourself some religion.
Church is the only safe bet for making contacts.
You might be new, and not know much about the workings of the place.
Don't let on about it. If you don't know what you are doing, act like it anyhow. Small talk is largely useless, get straight to the point and know what you want.
Example .... "how long you been doing this. ?" .... Bad ...
"Got any 629s?" .... Better ...
"Lemme have a look at that Win mod 70 in 300 win mag" ... best.
 
Places like that......

Rock185 said:
Kinda sounds like some of the shops I've visited over the years. None were in a trailer, but no greeting, no asking if they can help you, etc. A few owners and/or employess seemed suspecious that I actually entered, and gave the impression that I was unwelcome. Yea, I usually didn't buy anything, and apparently not many others did either. Those shops didn't usually last long. I agree with Andy Griffith.......
Click to expand...

Place like that, I have strong suspicions that they are 'fronts'.
 
rwsmith said:
Place like that, I have strong suspicions that they are 'fronts'.
Click to expand...
Might be true in slightly less remote areas.
as we get more off the beaten path, it's the opposite.
Saw a pet supply store ... first clue is business type, that was rather friendly and inviting.... second clue.
yup ... thats where you got your "Extra special bird feed" ya know .. the all natural stuff that has a scent like patchouli;)
They did a lot of business with those just passing through with "Iguanas" to feed.

The Mennonite store is about as "functional" as you want to see and still fit inside the community.
It's a different set of rules out there.
 
We have a surprising number of gun shops here on Long Island, outside of NYC. They are either owned or staffed by everything from clueless neanderthals, arrogant, know-it-all chest-thumpers and conspicuous, open-carry warriors with personalities comparable to a hand grenade with the pin half out. There are also a few gentlemanly owners with a good working knowledge of their business.

However, there are customers who try on boots and hunting clothes, then tell the staff they can get it cheaper online and leave. It is understandable that some gun shop proprietors can develop attitudes after suffering abuse from customers.
 
I've had enough myself.......

federali said:
However, there are customers who try on boots and hunting clothes, then tell the staff they can get it cheaper online and leave. It is understandable that some gun shop proprietors can develop attitudes after suffering abuse from customers.
Click to expand...

I had some early job where I dealt with the public and that was enough for me.:(

I was good at it, always polite and trying hard to please people. Most everybody was gracious, but there were enough real *******s that are just out to give somebody a hard time because they are mad at somebody else.
 
You are probably right....

venomballistics said:
Might be true in slightly less remote areas.
as we get more off the beaten path, it's the opposite.
Click to expand...
\\

That's probably true where you are, but we are just remote enough to draw the shady element. We are just over the city and county line of North Charleston (not a nice place) in a 'town' that is really unincorporated Berkeley County and all of the criminals move here to be away from North Charleston and Charleston county. The last police chief in the city of Charleston did well running a lot of that element out of his town into North Charleston, which proceeded to do the same. There is a joint very near me that has been about 20 different businesses in the last 20 years and they always have shootings there, close down and reopen under another name. The rest area on the interstate that my subdivision backs up on had to be closed due to drugs, prostitution and thefts in our neighborhood from people coming through the fence that was torn open.:(

I guess if you are in the middle of Nebraska, North Dakota or Wyoming you probably don't have to worry about that stuff much. Ya'll got any extra room out there?. :)
 
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