Do they think we're idiots?!

[JamesArthur60]

I've never been in sales, but maybe gun counter employees are sick and tired of novice, know nothing, potential new gun buyers trying to get a deal price on every gun they handle. So, in turn, everyone seems to be treated as an idiot. I've heard customers ask the dumbest questions and make offers that are just laughable. But, I'm not new to guns and I've been offered a trade in price for my gun that was laughable to me. What goes around comes around.

 

[ElKabong]

I've been on the other side of the table at gun shows, I know the game a little.
If you want to sell somethng, keep them there, and keep them talking.
Hell, try to make them laugh, or find some subject that you have common ground.
I guess my point from the OP was that it felt like I was in a museum, and had interrupted someone's lunch.

 

[fishcreekrim]

Maybe this has been brought up, I didn't take time to read the entire thread, but what I think would sour the owners of gun shops is the current trend to go in and look at guns in stock, then buy it on line from a huge distributor at a price the LGS can't offer, I can't blame people for saving money but the stocking LGS may be on the way out.

 

[ElKabong]

Maybe this has been brought up, I didn't take time to read the entire thread, but what I think would sour the owners of gun shops is the current trend to go in and look at guns in stock, then buy it on line from a huge distributor at a price the LGS can't offer, I can't blame people for saving money but the stocking LGS may be on the way out.

Agreed, but this was a used gun tagged and represented as NEW.

 

[Camster]

I've been in sales,been in buyin',there are simply some folks that refuse to buy anything,no matter how fairly it is priced,unless their own ego is indulged, and they can chisel something off.
Part of many games,I know,but those types turn me off.
I remember going to shows,in the negotiating mode myself.It turned out that my best dealer association was a dealer that balked at negotiation.I eventually woke up,realized that was his nature to keep things simple and stressfree,his prices more than fair,and from that point,many of my best guns came.So much easier to be presented something good at a good price, and simply say "yes please,here's your money" or "no thanks".
I price my own guns that I decide to sell fairly,and stick to that price as well-too much pushing and it's becomes "not fun", and I'd just as well keep it.

 

[Maximumbob54]

The OP's story reminds me of walking into a LGS and being told that a decent but worn looking pair of Security Six revolvers were both $600 guns. Ignore the wear on the bluing, the dings and scratches on the grips, and the fact that there isn't nearly the huge clamor for older Rugers the way there is for older Colts and S&W's. When I asked about any possible wiggle room and why the high price, I was informed that they are high demand collectable models...

And my first thought was:

That thought was quickly followed up by:

And then I left.

 

[C.S.63]

Intresting thread,
I spent some time in retail sales in a large and growing Gun Shop.
we where given a bottom line (10%) where I was able to go on discount and that was it and it did not matter if it was cash check or credit card.
What was really unnerving was when a customer tried to nickel and dime ya comparing to big box stores. small shops cannot compete with nationwide chains. If you want to buy a shotgun 500 from w w for 189.00 do not expect 189.00 on trade in after 2 years of use. DO you have room on the other end of the sale?
Will ww take a trade in?
MOST IMPORTANT if you do not know the answer do not BS the customer but find the answer out. Honesty politeness and curtiousnes. Unless they are a but head!!! To open a PROPER shop today there is a large initial capital expenduture up front you need more then an FFL and a shingle. One soured customer could cost you 50. Today the internet is abundent with Knowledge look at this Forum
Ok my 2 cents is over and let the flames begin

 

[J. W.]

I've noticed as time passes, haggling at gunshops is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Sticker price or not at all and they don't seem to really be concerned which it is.

 

[mkk41]

Having been in the guns biz , I realized the way to make money on used guns is fast turnover. To do that , ya gotta price 'em to move AND be willing to haggle. Providing ya get the foot traffic , $50 profit today beats waiting a month for the right sucker to pay $100 over what ya got into it. Especially if it hasn't attracted much attention. And the way to keep the paying customers and serious gun buyers coming back is to DEAL with them.

I've seen shops start up and charge prices higher than new for used guns. They try to make up for slow revenuve on a few sales. Ya don't last long in the biz that way.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

Having worked behind the counter in gun sales, and in other retail businesses since the early 60's, I can tell you it sometimes takes nerves of steel to keep from reaching across the counter and strangling the life from the various assortment of belligerant idiots who think they "know" anything and everything about the products being sold, when in reality they are barely bright enough to operate the door knob....so it is a two way street. Some sales people can shrug it off and keep smiling and some will be put in a foul mood for the next poor guy who comes through the door. Human nature is what it is.... I know people who delight in giving sales clerks a hard time, and have also come across a few sales clerks(and owners) who should probably have chosen another profession. Think about it...how long will a store owner stay in business if he intentionally and continually badgers and belittles his customers and by doing so, is cutting his own throat? Not just gun shops, but any retail business. On the other hand, If I thought I was being treated badly every time I went in a particular establishment, and the shop appears to be doing a successful business with others, a close look in the mirror might be in order. That said, in my own experience, 99.9% of the folks who come through the door are pleasant and reasonable to deal with and make it easier to shrug off the troublemakers of the world

 

[Oldsoul]

If you want to buy a shotgun 500 from w w for 189.00 do not expect 189.00 on trade in after 2 years of use.

Well said! have you ever seen on the forum when a member gets a great buy? He'll post pics and say something like "I only paid "X" dollars for it! what a deal." then you'll see it for sale price is now higher marked with "Price is firm" on the same forum

 

[mkk41]

Yes , but there's probably an equal amount of clueless , beligerant , dishonest hucksters behind the counter and tables at gunshows. I always seem to find the ones who try to tell me why I NEED TO BUY some new and improved wonder-weapon , or some state of the art covert , tactical junk I have absolutely NO interest in. Pushy sales pitches and a ton of BS will keep my money in my pocket.

 

[GTbob]

And if they don't like a buyer's offer a simple "No" or "The price is firm" should suffice.

I haggle over NEW guns...

I too haggle over new guns.... and I usually get a better deal. When I was shopping for my LCR.357 I asked every one of the dealers what their best price was and every one came down at least $50.00, some as much as $150.00. Then I found it at a LGS for $459.00 on the shelf. I didn't even haggle on that price as they were $75.00 less than the best price I had gotten so far.

Bob

 

[tripledipper]

Research, research, especially on forums. In a moment of not thinking about who might do their homework a buyer brags about what they paid in a post long forgotten. I found a few on here which changed my mind about the seller. Fortunately, they are few and far between and are not representative of most of the good folks who list in this classified section.

 

[Camster]

If you're lucky to have a decent,fair, guy as your LGS and you're a collector,haggling is non productive in the long view.Who does the dealer call when a nice piece comes in? The guy that bring grief and wants a lengthy dance,or the guy that's simply says "Wrap it up.".

 

[TAROMAN]

Had a pleasant surprise with the opening of a new store last summer. He sells only quality handguns: S&w, Colt, Kahr, H&K, Ruger, etc. NO junk allowed in the store. I always stop in as his inventory moves quickly. Fair prices and he'll wiggle a bit. Thus far, I have purchased two M29s and a superb 1909 Mauser Mountain Carbine.

I think too many dealers/sellers are infected with Gunbrokeritis. They see something similar stupidly priced there and are convinced that their "treasure" is worth that, or even more.

 

[cwo4uscgret]

funny but true...

ELKabong, I buy, sell, and trade custom handmade knives.

Around 2001 I attended my first show as a dealer. Making friends with a knifemaker we talked about pricing.

He told me about this one potential buyer, picking up a $350 marked knife, asking what the maker's best price would be. The maker replied $500. In shock the potential buyer said but its marked $350. Then the maker replied but if you gave me $500 for it then it would be a "best price" for the maker!

I have a limited number of gun shops within 45 miles of me; 3 in the city I live in, 2 in the township (counting Gander Mountain), and several more in the area around Port Huron, MI. I generally only shop at one shop, The Hock Shop/Sporting Center of Port Huron, where I've paid quite a few of their bills in the last 8 years. They are the most flexible regarding pricing and finding some "wiggle room."

There is one shop I will go see what they have but more then likely won't buy a gun from them - what you see on the sticker is what they want.

My best solution for this is to go somewhere else and spend my money elsewhere. I don't (most of the time) let an overpriced dealer rent free space in my head any more. As a knife dealer I've had people say I can go to so and so's table and buy the same knife for less - I don't normally wave the BS flag on that; but I do often invite them to go to so and so's table, knowing full well that they aren't going to get a better deal then I did...

 

[gaspipes]

Seems like gun dealers have no problem insulting customers when it's trade in time. There's no rule in the gun business that you have to make your entire weekly income on one used gun.

Dealer will give you the 60% price listed in the Blue Book of Gun Values. That's IF what you are selling or trading is 90%+. They will sell it at the 90% price if the gun is 90%.

Watch Amercian Guns on Discovery. That guy Rich goes and buys a collection worth $50,000 for $25,000. Even something that is highly collectable he won't over pay for it.

Anything is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it. The dealer has something you want, you can either work out a deal or walk away. All the people wanting "no lock" guns are what is driving prices up. If I was a dealer, I would be asking a premium because in a short time it will sell even if it cost what a new gun of the same model cost.

Every time there is a post on here boasting about how great the older revolvers are and how crappy the new ones are with the lock, the price on no lock guns goes up. That's good for the guys who have 100 no lock revolvers they want to sell and bad for new buyers who have none and are persuaded the new ones are c r a p.

So for some new guy who really wants a no lock 622, he is not going to argue with the guy over $60. He will pay the $459 and be happy as heck. And the same with the 686 for $600. Because a new 686 still cost more and since he read here all the new guns are c r a p, he will get the old one for the asking price and be happy.

Guys who lust after no locks are their own worst enemy. Especially when they post on the public inter webs about it. JMHO You should be posting how fabulous the new guns are so people who don't know any better sell of their old junk cheap to get new.

 

[Joe in SC]

If possible, I try to know what price range new guns are selling for. Like most everyone else, I try to make a good deal. I ask if the price is
firm. If it is and it's high, I move on.

Same deal with used guns. I try to buy armed with knowledge of the current market. I will try a little harder with a used gun to get a lower price just because of the knowledge I have of LGS's buying and trading practices with used guns.

One thing I will not put up with is a rude clerk or owner. I expect any business to appreciate me spending my money with them and I don't think expecting a pleasant exchange is too much. On the other hand a clerk or owner should not have to put up with rude customers. It works both ways. I stay away from shops that have so much business that they no longer value all their customers.

I don't want to see the local shops go out of business and for that reason I try to do as much business as I can without losing too much money. There are some good shops left that have found a way to stay competitive and retain the friendly atmosphere we older guys remember. They are worth seeking out.

 

[skywag]

Then...there are the cases where the dealer "gets it" from a stupid uninformed potential customer. I had a lady (who obviously had a severe hormone problem) come by my table recently practically shouting about how high the prices were and how she knew she could by these guns off the internet for less and how I was not going to be in business very long...and this went on-and-on. I eventually got tired of the insults and tried to politely explain to her that....yes, if you had an FFL and yes, if you did not have to pay the shipping or transfer fee....you could purchase these guns off the internet cheaper. At which point she shook her finger in my face and told me to shut-up....twice. It was all I could do to prevent myself from dragging her nagging butt across the table by the hair.......BUT, I just told her yes mam and she moved on. I expected to hear a gun-shot and a scream somewhere in the building when she worked her way to some other non-understanding dealer. I guess she got out of the building without being injured. I never heard a gun-shot or a scream.

I might have asked her politely "are you a swallower or a spitter?"