Done buying from my

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Irn-Bru

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I've been buying regularly from my local gun store for about a decade now. For the most part I usually buy online and have him transfer the guns for me ($25) but I will buy 2-3 guns directly from him every year too, even though I end up paying more. I also buy a box of target ammo every time I pick up a gun from him that I've bought online.

So this week I had him order me a gun directly from him, figured it would cost a little more, but feel it's important to buy from him direct now and again.

So to cut a long story short. I ended up paying $695 for a gun that I could have bought online, including shipping and transfer fee for $450 out the door. Had it been an extra $100 I probably wouldn't have minded too much. The difference this time was enough for me to NEVER buy another new gun from his store again. I'll still use him as my FFL and buy that box of ammo, but that was the straw that broke the camels back as they say. I'm all for looking out for small business owners, but not to the point I'm gouged.
 
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I didn't discuss my unhappiness with the store owner, but did a little research before buying. I saw it on Gunbroker for around about $480 with $30 shipping. I did a little more research after getting home with the gun and saw one place had it for $405 +$15 shipping.

I totally agree that it's my own fault for paying over the odds. I've knowingly paid over the odds in the past just to keep a good relationship with the owner. I don't want to be that guy that just uses him for his $25 transfer fees and never buy in store.

I have no idea what his profit was, but that was the last time I'm buying a new gun and having him order it from his distributor.
 
'I don't want to be that guy that just uses him for his $25 transfer fees and never buy in store.'

Why not, you are paying for a service he chooses to offer and he places no restriction on the use of that service so why guilt yourself into paying more? I don't buy a higher priced car from my dealer just because I get my oil changed there.

My dealer charges 20 dollars for a transfer but will waive the transfer fee if I spend that amount in the store. It moves inventory for him and I get my gun.......
 
$20 is the Normal fee around here and there a couple as low as $10. I was a good enough customer (3-5 retail used guns per year) at my main component supplier, he didn't charge for transfers! He has retired and his S-I-L charge the regulars $10. But the regulars would help unload ammo shipments (sometimes 3 pallets of 22's) and stack it in the warehouse!)

Ivan
 
I did the exact same thing on a model 69 last year. I figured the price to me would be ballpark GB..and it was hundreds more. I was disappointed at first,but realized you can't assume pricing. I'm sure the high volume gun shops get a discount on quantity purchasing, and the going rate for a single sale is surely higher. Next time ask..don't assume,when ordering.
 
The indoor range I'm a member of also sells and trades as well as offers gunsmith services. After researching online adds and printing out the best price, I'll ask if the want to quote. If they are too high, I'll show them the printout and maybe they'll try harder. Most times they are close enough to get the sale, if not there is no hard feelings being the FFL, since they got first crack.
 
"FRIENDS"

Friends are friends and business is business. Just because a service provider & customer are cordial doesn't make them friends. IDK what that gun cost him, & suppose you don't either. "Gouged" is a harsh word. Comparing his price with an ASKING price (NOT THE SELLING PRICE) from a big internet source is neither accurate nor fair. CAVEAT DEMPTOR is as true today as ever. Back in the day I was friendly with my barber, while in his chair, that's as far as it went.
 
You didn't agree on the price before he ordered it? That's the first thing I ask.

Irn-Bru said:
I didn't discuss my unhappiness with the store owner, but did a little research before buying. I saw it on Gunbroker for around about $480 with $30 shipping. I did a little more research after getting home with the gun and saw one place had it for $405 +$15 shipping.

I totally agree that it's my own fault for paying over the odds. I've knowingly paid over the odds in the past just to keep a good relationship with the owner. I don't want to be that guy that just uses him for his $25 transfer fees and never buy in store.

I have no idea what his profit was, but that was the last time I'm buying a new gun and having him order it from his distributor.
Click to expand...
 
Local shops can't compete with the big online operations. They can't afford to sell guns as cheaply because their volume is so much less. Some shops around here will charge higher amounts for transfers of online purchases for that reason. Supporting the local guy will be more expensive, but will help keep their doors open. I would hate to see the local shops close because online sales wipe them out.
 
Something else I have noticed is that a lot of people do not know how to build relationships. People come off the street and demand they meet or beat a certain price and they have never spent a dollar at the store.

My local guy has an employee that works at his store that is a good guy, but him and I are just different people. Let's just say I would be the last person he would invite to a candlelight dinner. Anyways, he was looking at the transfer book a little while ago and he was like" I need to be a lot nicer to you! Your name is in here more than anyone else." You gotta build that relationship...
 
My FFL runs his business as a no stock, transfer only business. He does NFA items and non NFA items. He can do your fingerprints and pictures for all the NFA stuff. He does quite well. Charges $20 for transfers.
 
Maybe I had a flawed business philosophy...but when I was selling guns...I certainly didn't make a LOT of money on the sale of guns. I made the best profit on the small extras people bought. I also took trades. Trades on guns are like trades on cars..The average amount on a trade is pretty low... Especially on slow moving type items...so you get less on a trade. When I went out of business to move west in about 2005 I had over 100 22 rifles I had kept from trades. No junk guns either. I should have sold them when the shop was in business but...you lose sight of the amount of money tied up in such transactions. I know that business is much tighter these days. It is a wonder that many gun shops can stay in business. I suspect that if it weren't for credit...most wouldn't. I buy very few guns from full time gun stores any longer.

A true story... I bought a Remington 1100 the year they came out. got 2 bbls with it. Full and skeet. Over the next 12 years I shot the heck out of that gun. Used it for a loaner when I was guiding. Decided to sell it and did to a fellow with not too much money..told him if he wanted to upgrade in the future I would give him what he paid on a trade for a new gun. Over the next 15 years I did that 11 more times. Made about 15 bucks on the old gun each time I sold it. Last owner passed away before he could trade it back in.
 
Last edited:
speedyquad said:
Any time that I am going to order from someone local, no matter what, I find out what the price would be before I confirm the order.
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth. Sheesh...I've ordered several guns from my LGS and I always ask the final price first (minus sales tax) before I pay my deposit. I always get an invoice showing my deposit and the remaining balance due. In the case of the OP, if it was a new gun from the factory...and via a distributor...then perhaps the manufacturer increased the price very recently and those other examples seen online are older, still unsold examples reflecting old prices???
 
Last edited:
speedyquad said:
Any time that I am going to order from someone local, no matter what, I find out what the price would be before I confirm the order.
Click to expand...

Same here. Then I ask if they can match or beat the price. "Normally" my Mom&Pop LGS's already have the price beat or will match it. I don't mind paying a little more now and then to help keep the door open though.
 
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