LGS Refused to Remove Stocks (grips)?

[jcelect]

While walking around the Tulsa gun show I stopped at a table(FFL) to look at a mod 29 8 3/8" barrel w/presentation case and cokes! I ask the owner to remove the grips! I was told they would not be numbered to the gun. I explained I would like to check for rework stamps, he complied with my request by removing the grips. Upon close inspection I noticed the serial number stamped in the yoke was not the serial number stamped on the bottom of the grip frame, not even close with many digits being different! I ask him which number he had entered into his FFL log? He was lazy, he entered the number in the yoke! The BATF official number is on the grip frame! The next time past the table, the gun had been removed!
How did he solve his problem?
jcelect

 

[squidsix]

Customer service is the last thing we have total control over. You do it poorly, and you will be looking for work pretty quick.
I have had owners refuse to cut zip ties holding slides shut on guns for sale before. I just walk out.

 

[Laketime]

Usually any shop will if you tell them the sale will be contingent upon seeing no rust under the grips

 

[Jon651]

I'm not offering any excuses for the staff not immediately offering to accommodate the customer, but I can think of a few reasonable ones. The first being that they may have a policy that only their own designated gunsmith(s) can work on any gun, and one wasn't available at that time. I would not have had a second thought if that was the explanation.

You say you didn't hear if there was a reason offered for their refusal, but before I can say if it would affect my decision whether or not to do business with them then I would have to find that out for myself before giving you an answer.

 

[Imissedagain]

In Atlanta, you definitely want to check the trunk! Might see somebody you know.

I love seafood.
Good to know that there's an Umbertos Clam House in Atlanta.

 

[WCCPHD]

Their shop, their rules.

My money, my rules.

Unless its a one off, I'll take my business elsewhere.

 

[sigp220.45]

I harrumphed at first about Cabela's trigger lock idiocy, but folded quick when they had something I wanted. I've probably bought a dozen since then with nary a problem.

Once I dithered on a nice Colt Pocket Hammerless at a really good price, and when I went back the next day a fellow Fudd was holding it and grousing about the trigger lock. He finally handed it back to the guy and I told him to leave it out and I would take it. Fellow Fudd stood by and I pulled the slide back to cock it (and check for empty) then pulled the front of the trigger lock and got a nice click. I could have easily disassembled it with the lock on it, but didn't. Its a great gun.

The only time I thought I had pooched it was on a hoary old New Service .38/40, also priced nicely. When I took the lock off in the car the action would barely move. All it needed was a good cleaning but I sweated it a bit until I got home.

Everyone has their own comfort level, though.

 

[hkcavalier]

You have your standard and they have theirs. It's their gun and your money. "Unreasonable" is completely subjective. All shops put their foot down or draw lines in the sand --- sometimes they drive customers away, but they have their reasons.

If they don't know you, 99% they figure you're a tire kicker and aren't going to accommodate much. Whip out those $100 bills and show you're a buyer (conditionally, at least) and that might help. In the credit card era it's not quite as cool to slap your VISA on the counter, but it might work...

 

[LostintheOzone]

I thought I saw you leaving the gun shop the other day!
Runs like a dream though, right?

That wasn't me. I don't look in the local shops anymore for used firearms. There isn't anything to look at. Now with our impending magazine restrictions there will be even less.

But I have a daily driver that looks just like that.

 

[lihpster]

I was able to get Cabela's to let me check the action on one revolver I was looking to buy. But. the gun had to be pointed into a bullet trap, held by the clerk. I could then snake my finger into the trigger guard and try the action. I think the fact that I had cash in hand and promised to buy it if it functioned, led to a bending of the rules.

 

[sigp220.45]

I was able to get Cabela's to let me check the action on one revolver I was looking to buy. But. the gun had to be pointed into a bullet trap, held by the clerk. I could then snake my finger into the trigger guard and try the action. I think the fact that I had cash in hand and promised to buy it if it functioned, led to a bending of the rules.

Hahaha! I did exactly the same thing once!

It was a Ruger Blackhawk flattop and I wanted to make sure it hadn't been converted. Someone had chimp-fingered it so the hammer was partway back and the cylinder wouldn't turn. I told the guy: I will buy this gun if you take off the lock and let me watch you cycle it. He did, and I did.

 

[Inusuit]

Well, I don't know the whole story of the refusal the OP witnessed. I spent a lot of time doing minor work in a friend's gun shop. There was a guy who came in several times a week and wanted to fondle everything in the case, never spent a dime. Got to the point where my friend refused to take anything out for him and he stopped coming in. Maybe the OP's shop had previous experience with the guy and refused to remove the grips. Just a possibility.

 

[Stewdo]

Most pawn shop owners don't know diddly about a firearm other than what the Blue Book says. Most don't know diddly about the condition either! You might find some good deals at a pawn shop but don't bet on it! IMO..why would you ever take a valuable gun to a friggin pawn shop and expect a good price for it. They do t stay in business giving you what it's worth.

 

[sigp220.45]

Most of the deals I get are at shops where a kid or grandkid brings in a gun their Dad or Grandpa left them, thinking it would be a cherished family heirloom passed down through the ages and only handled with white gloves and spoken of in hushed tones.

In reality the new owner has no interest in it, brings it to the local gun store, happily gets 30 cents on the dollar for it, and uses the money to buy video games or a hat with a propeller on it.

 

[S&W Fan]

I don't see where in the op the prospective buyer wanted to take the grips off, asked if the shop would. I've done that many times and always ask if the shop will remove the grips. The only bump I've experienced was at my range where one of the sales guys said he'd have one of the on-site gunsmiths remove the grip.

The gun looked better under the grips than it did everywhere else LOL. Yes, I bought it-an old heavy barreled Model 10 I used heavily for a lot of years before it moved on to it's next owner.

 

[Buford57]

I had a gun on consignment with a local shop wearing Ajax polymer "ivory" grips. The clerk called me to ask whether I would consent to a prospective buyer removing the grips and sticking a hot pin in them to see if they were genuine ivory. I told him they weren't genuine ivory, I never represented them as such and if they were the gun would not be for sale at that price, so no, I did not want anyone sticking hot pins in the grips.

A few days later he called again, said the guy was back and would meet my price if I would let him stick a pin in the grips. I told him for that customer and that customer only, the price was now $100 more and no pins.

The gun later sold for my asking price. The grips were marked on the inside with Ajax and the part number. Some people's kids.

Removing the grips to look for rust, repair stamps or to confirm that the frame serial number was present and matched the shop's records...no problem, but I would have asked the clerk to do it for him.

 

[otis24]

Sounds kind of like not letting the customer look under the hood of a used car he is considering buying. Would you want to buy ANY car from such a dealer? If "no", the same applies to firearms as well!

 

[otis24]

Most pawn shop owners don't know diddly about a firearm other than what the Blue Book says. Most don't know diddly about the condition either! You might find some good deals at a pawn shop but don't bet on it! IMO..why would you ever take a valuable gun to a friggin pawn shop and expect a good price for it. They do t stay in business giving you what it's worth.

My experience with pawn shops is that they try selling well used/abused guns for what you can purchase nice examples of the same firearm for online or from a legitimate gun shop!

 

[JH1951]

I would only be concerned about this if it happened to me, as then I am a participant in what is unfolding. Being a participant would give you the opportunity to explain why you wished to see under the grips, and then perhaps just explain that it is important for your consideration to purchase. It is possible that the person who was denied has a 'history' with the seller, and a similar request from someone else would be welcomed. We will never know.....

 

[DR505]

How many people carry a bore light when they look at used guns? To me the condition of the bore is more important than some rust under the grips. But I guess cosmetics is everything to some buyers. I never did get that.

I always bring a bore light when I go gun shopping. The guy at the LGS I normally go to laughed and said they had two of them at the register for customers to use. I was looking at a Model 13-4 and I asked to remove the stocks. The counter gent handed me the correct size gunsmithing screwdriver and said, "Have at it." I am in there often and have bought several+ from them in the past year. Oh, and the 13-4 came home with me.

 

[Narragansett]

I have bought one gun from a LGS in the last 25 years, and that was a NIB 40 YO 1911 Colt, and that was a stretch seeing as how I am a revolver guy. I don't have a Cabela's or Bass Pro around here, and the LGS's around here never have anything anyway, so I pretty much trust the people on this forum, which is where I buy my guns. However, if I did buy used in a LGS, I would want the grips off and the ability to use feeler gauges to check for clearances. Zip ties and locks have to come off too.

While paying today's inflated prices, I still have respect for my money and the value of a dollar. I have walked away from car dealerships, because I could not put a used car on a lift for inspection. I just look at it very simply, if I cannot inspect it, I will move on.

I have told more than one person, that no matter how long they boil something, it will never get soft enough to eat

 

[tops]

Several years ago I bought a used gun from a dealer at a show that had target grips and one of the numbers on the yolk wasn't very clear but I bought it. At home I took the grips off and the numbers on the butt were very clear and they didn't match the paper work. I called them on the phone and they sent me new paper work with the correct serial number.
Sometime later I was buying another gun with target grips from a pawn shop and I didn't like the looks of the number on the yolk and asked the dealer to remove the grips and verify the number. He said the number was correct but he would remove the grips. He was wrong.
It maybe that I just can't see good but many times the numbers on the yolk are small and not that clear. There is no way I will buy a used gun without checking the numbers on the butt. Larry

 

[double-dipper]

I've been burned with pitting under the grips. For me the grips come off or the wallet doesn't come out.

I bought what I thought was a pristine 66 no dash, when I removed the grips, it had a small amount of pitting. Yes, a scotch bright pad and it was cleaned up. Probably not one would ever notice, but I know it's been sanded.

 

[mchom]

Some years ago I was in a LGS in Texas. There was a SW 44 magnum 4 screw and a 5 screw. I suspected the 5 screw was refinished but not certain. They kindly removed the stocks and allowed me to inspect the revolvers. Even loaned me a flashlight. I did buy the 4 screw and I continued to shop at and buy guns from this establishment.

 

[KEN L]

If that happened to me I would not only walk out and never come back, I would tell all my friends about the place. And I have a few friends!

I know of 3.

 

[Drm50]

When you have a small LGS you have to put up with a lot of ****. Most time it's not from customer you never saw before. You have the guys that show up several times a week. Never buy much to speak of and will drive you to drink wanting to look at stock. Worse they will try to involve themselves in conversation when you are dealing with a customer.

 

[bill-in-texas]

It really depends are the shop and your relationship with said shop.
I understand Cabela's trigger lock policy is ostensibly in place due to someone taking his own life with their handgun after inserting a round… this is from an employee in the Buda, TX "Gun Library." (I have no way to test the veracity of this story.)
My LGS might allow removal of grips by me, or more probably, by their 'smith. (I haven't tested this, yet.)
Most pawn shops near me would likely say no to a request to inspect the frame.
However, my No. 1 Honey Hole (a pawn shop) allows me complete tear down of most anything I've been interested in because they know I'm a serious buyer and have bought a few (understatement!) guns from them. (The Union Switch & Signal receiver / Colt slide M1911A1 I posted about in another thread is on such example -still on layaway, but I've taken it down and removed grips to take pictures.) I've taken Ruger SP-101s all the way down, short of the trigger group being disassembled, various pistols, shotguns, bolt actions, and so on.
Again, it helps to have a relationship with the shop in which they appreciate your buying power and expertise.
That's been my experience.
-Bill

 

[Model46]

Indeed it's all about your relationship with the shop. I frequent a half dozen local shops and any of them have allowed me to remove grips and pull slides off. But as the previous poster says, I'm a serious buyer, (I bring my own proper tools) and have demonstrated that many times. Not to continue beating a dead horse, but its your money and if the shop is not interested helping you to decide whether or not to buy from them, then that's your cue to leave.

 

[Drm50]

That's a good way to frame it, once you are established as a serious buyer, you will get treated as such. That doesn't mean that others are treated badly. By same token the pests are tolerated.
A dealer I knew well, up in next county started on back wall of his parents HDW store. His shop was on path of major steel mills and mines. He bought property and put up new shop with ranges. He quit stocking black guns altogether when he could have made a killing selling them. Reason, the "special Ops crowd " was using his new shop as a club house. He ended up as a dealer in top shelf firearms. He would order anything his customers wanted but didn't stock. It solved his problem quickly.