Gun store employees

Telecaster

Telecaster

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I've been using the same store for several years for transfers, and the owner recently sold it and retired. He was a decent guy, a little quiet, but a normal human being. The new owner (or manager perhaps, I'm not sure), I don't know how he's going to stay in business other than by the luck of being in a hot industry. He's quiet and I have to strain to understand him when he speaks. He sounds almost autistic, to be honest. I asked him if they're taking any guns on consignment and he asked what I had, but he didn't give me any definitive answer. I prompted him with, "Are those anything you'd want on consignment?" And he kind of stared through me and murmured something unintelligible. Doubleyou tee eff.

The other place I use for transfers is more of a gunsmith shop with a tiny display case, a handful of milsurps and higher dollar guns for sale. Not a high traffic store for consignment sales. The big store in town doesn't take consignments. And GB is too much hassle any more.

I guess overall, gun store employees are no different from any other retail people, which ain't sayin' much. Rant over, carry on...
 
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It started off as a rant about how bad gun store employees are, but I realized that most retail employees were just as bad.
 
Thankfully my range/ gun shop is just about perfect. They all know me when I go in and we talk more than shoot as they ask me about " old stuff" they get. Went in today and gunsmith held out his hand, said this is for you", gave me 12 38 Spl. wadcutters, said this is for your Mid Range. He then showed me couple nice pieces he had. Met some " new guy" that has S&W 500 with 4" barrel that he has not shot yet. He's going in Monday AM to " try it out" for first time. Called buddy so we will be there to watch him. Going to be interesting….
 
I had an Autistic lady that worked for me years ago. She was what they use to call a "Data Entry Operator" and what offices called a "typists." She had been disabled out of the Navy when she had become progressively worse. She then worked for an elderly physician I knew and represented until he retired and asked me to give her a job, which I did.

She could be challenging to put it mildly. I learned the best way to communicate with her was in writing, by email, internal memos, etc.

I suggest you reach out to the gentleman and see if you two can find some middle ground via email. I believe we gun fanciers need to all stick together. Plus it sounds like you have had a good relationship with the store over the years, it's a convenient place to do business etc. I know it's not your responsibility as a customer to reach out to the guy. But extend a helping hand. I have found in life collecting friendships is far more profitable than losing them.
 
The lady I deal with on transfers is great, she knows me and it goes smoothly. So just for transfers, the store is ok.

There are a couple others in the area I will scope out for consignments.

One thing that bugged me was when I went in today they had a sign saying as of June 22 all debit and credit card transactions would be charged a convenience fee. That's been illegal in Florida as long as I can remember. So when I was waiting my turn I googled it and it turns out in 2015 a Florida court case got the law nullified. It centered on the wording of "extra charges for credit cards" (illegal) vs. "discount for using cash" (legal) and it was actually a 1st Amendment freedom of speech case.

What bugs me about that is, a business pays about 3% for the very valuable service of having someone else handle accounting. How much does it cost you in time and mileage to count cash, go to the bank and deposit it?

If they charged 3% more across the board for everything, no one would even notice.
 
Do banks charge merchants a fee for the use of debit cards? I thought not.

(One of the discount grocery store chains we use occasionally will take debit cards or cash, but not credit cards.)
 
I try not to use anyone who openly states extra charges for card use. Maybe most just hide it I don't know. I do know this with the new GB sale tax charges and credit card charges if you win from a seller charging that unless it is the odd and unusual gun my local gun shops will be getting my business. No deals on GB for anything I want in a long time.
 
UncleEd said:
Doesn't everyone pay with cash.

Who are these peasants who use
credit cards.
Click to expand...

I pay cash if it's cheaper. If the price is the same I use my wifes credit card and she get a little back.
Awhile back I had a large equip. repair bill and the price was the same so he got the credit card. My last home repair bill was cheaper with cash. This peasant was born at night but not last night. :D Larry
 
My urologist will no longer take credit cards. I asked they why. Unfortunately I don't remember the answer clearly. Something about the card companies are now charging them much more than the normal 3 or 4%. It seems the card companies don't like you if you have a lot of small charges (co-pays) as opposed to big ticket items and were tacking on more charges. I guess I'll have to go back to hauling around cash again.
 
Credit/Debit card fees vary depending on the processing company,there are many of these companies, some are huge ripoffs.
Some charge the same for both types of cards
Some charge a lower fee/percentage for debit cards.
The possibility of no fee for debit cards is remote. Maybe if the business owners bank is the actual processor.
 
I have met some pretty squirrelly sales staff at gun stores. Sometimes it's the owner. The largest nearby gun store really took off when the owner stepped back from the counter and turned all the retail sales over to a younger guy with a business degree and plenty of retail experience in other industries. The new general manager trained the staff in customer interactions and it paid off. More sales and the flakey guys on staff left.
 
The shops I deal with have people with good knowledge most times but some are not really sales type people at all and can come across as kind of know it all's. I have learned to overlook that in gun shops. Those types would never last in the real sales world but do fine in gun shops if they know guns. Many would not do great with first time gun owners or people there to learn and buy their first gun.
 
OK, me behind the gun counter. First I know a LOT more about revolvers than semi-autos. And I know more about shotguns than centerfire rifles, Rim fire I'm OK.
Yet at least once a week I'll get some guy (various ages) that treat me like I know nothing. Most of the time I can prove them wrong but a few I just have to say Whatever and walk away because they are clueless. Last week I was having a revolver discussion with a guy, all was well until it came to SA/DA. He insisted that revolvers like a Ruger Blackhawk were D/A and S&W were single action and there was no such thing as one that could be shot both ways. I finally had to just give up.
Guys, remember that old gal might know more than you do!
 
I was under the impression that it was Federally unlawful to charge an add'l fee for CC use. Perhaps I was (am?) mistaken. I have found it rather easy to have the fee waived by announcing the store just lost the sale and starting to walk out.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
fees

About 20 years ago my LGS stopped taking credit cards, fees were too high. He posted a large sight about a week before he stopped taking cards. Talked to him a month later and he said sales didn't drop off. Sometimes he held a sale until the buyer ran to a bank or ATM. No one complained.
SWCA 982
 
I recently went to pick up a .41 Colt Army Special won on GunBroker, and the two 20 something guys behind the counter had never heard of that Colt Model. You would think I just arrived on horseback.

One of them had no idea how to release the cylinder. Both had never heard of the .41 Long Colt round. Man do I feel old sometimes.
 
/QUOTE]

Show them a Webley and really confuse them.[/QUOTE]

LOL. I just bought a Webley Mk IV .38 at a pretty good price from an estate/consignment sale. When I picked it up I noticed it was actually a Mk VI .455! Darn those Roman Numerals!
 
Telecaster said:
I've been using the same store for several years for transfers, and the owner recently sold it and retired. He was a decent guy, a little quiet, but a normal human being. The new owner (or manager perhaps, I'm not sure), I don't know how he's going to stay in business other than by the luck of being in a hot industry. He's quiet and I have to strain to understand him when he speaks. He sounds almost autistic, to be honest. I asked him if they're taking any guns on consignment and he asked what I had, but he didn't give me any definitive answer. I prompted him with, "Are those anything you'd want on consignment?" And he kind of stared through me and murmured something unintelligible. Doubleyou tee eff.
Click to expand...

Is it possible the new owner has Aspergers? Those that have it can sometimes struggle with face-to-face interactions, reading body language, etc. It may help to get the shops email address and submit questions online. Is there any way to contact the prior owner and see if he has any insight? Don't give up just yet! Call him by name. He may have a wealth of knowledge but is challenged in how to best share it. Plus by sticking around you'll be more likely to develop that good customer/owner relationship you've benefitted from in the past.

Best wishes,
Todd
 
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