Phone calls at a gun shop

Old Corp

Old Corp

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As some of you know, my lil' retirement job is a p/t gig at a local fairly large gun shop. For the most part, I really enjoy it, and it offers a whole lot less stress than what I dealt with when I had a real job. It's nice knowing that a small mistake at work will not result in perhaps getting killed.

We have a great time with some of the incoming phone calls. And a strange coincidence is that the phone always seems to ring constantly as soon as the store begins to get busy with actual customers. BTW - I refuse to leave a customer to answer a blasted phone.

Heres a sample of several recent phone calls : (remember - this is a gun shop..) :

- "Do you sell trained hunting dogs?"

- "I'm looking for used waders, do you sell them?"

- "Do you sell non-firing replica guns?"

- "I have a friend that saw such and such a gun at the SHOT show this week, announced new for 2011, do you have it? If not tell me exactly when you'll get it, I live an hour away."

- "Does your gunsmith work on weedeaters?"

- "I'm a convicted felon, but it happened way back, like in the '80's - will I get approved for a gun purchase?"

- "I live on the far side of the county (same county shop is in) - will you ship a gun I purchase to a dealer near my home?"

- A frequent one: "Do you make keys?"

- Another frequent one: - in-depth questions and requested advice in regards to NC Wildlife Resources Commission laws and regulations. (wouldn't your first thought be to CALL NCWRC???)

- "Do you sell guns for women?" (I didn't know they were gender-specific)

...There's a bunch more - these are just the highlights.
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I guess I'd rather have a gunsmith work on my weedeater than a small engine guy work on my Model 52-2.

These people should be flagged and screened through the NII (National Idiots Index), not the NICS.


Bullseye
 
I refuse to leave a customer to answer a blasted phone.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that. That is one of my pet peeves. When I'm standing at the counter with a fist full of cash, and the clerk walks off to answer the phone, I can feel my blood pressure rise.
 
Thank you for that. That is one of my pet peeves. When I'm standing at the counter with a fist full of cash, and the clerk walks off to answer the phone, I can feel my blood pressure rise.
Click to expand...
Ditto on that. I had to work a retail job in a big box home center store a few years back and always hated carrying the department phone. I felt that someone who actually came to the store deserved my attention over a phone caller. Besides, as the saying goes, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush! Management never agreed with me on that one though.
John
 
I used to work weekend nights at a very large internet hosting company as a level IV tech. I can assure you, the crazy customer phone calls are not confined to the U.S. I can't even begin to describe some of the calls I got. Some that stood out:

A lady who called to see if I could fix her computer. No, she didn't have an account with us, nor did this have to do with a server or internet hosting, she just had a problem with her computer and she saw an ad that we had live 24/7 support.

Another was an Indian (country of India) who called asking us to do a bunch of ill advised and/or impossible things to his server, while his wife screamed at him in the background the whole time nagging him to demand all of these things.

The last one that instantly pops into my head was a very nice, polite French lady who called to ask me to help her with her server (she was a customer). As I'm working on it, she explains that she is trying to connect from her home with her webcam. Ok, that gets my attention, but I really didn't think too much of it. Well, I finally get her server fixed and bring it up, as she's connecting with her cam, I swipe her server IP into a new window on my browser just to be sure that the web server is answering requests when her web site pops up... It's, uh, well, let's just say an "adult" web site where she is live... This sweet, nice polite French lady on the phone is an internet sex queen. I hit the mute button and start getting my coworkers attention by bopping them with pencils I'm throwing as I show them my screen and who I'm talking to. Boy, were they jealous.
 
Well, now, my gun shop sells motor oil, makes keys, sells and works on lawn mowers and weed eaters, often has used Harley Davidsons, trucks, or tractors for sale, sells a full line of hunting clothes, gun safes, gold jewelry, watches, a starter for a 600 Ford tractor, an oil filter for a Massey Ferguson front-end-loader, or a set of plugs for a '68 Bronco. The funniest phone call at the store was the fellow who called and wanted to know if the store had points and plugs for his truck. What kind of truck? "Oh, it's an old Co'Cola delivery truck."
 
Try answering phones for a Sheriffs office or Police Department!! Same silly people but even dumber questions...if ya can believe THAT!

FN in MT
 
Frank - I've done THAT too! You're right, but that's a whole 'nother thread.......
May have to tell some stories about that, too......
 
bitstream said:
The last one that instantly pops into my head was a very nice, polite French lady who called to ask me to help her with her server (she was a customer). As I'm working on it, she explains that she is trying to connect from her home with her webcam. Ok, that gets my attention, but I really didn't think too much of it. Well, I finally get her server fixed and bring it up, as she's connecting with her cam, I swipe her server IP into a new window on my browser just to be sure that the web server is answering requests when her web site pops up... It's, uh, well, let's just say an "adult" web site where she is live... This sweet, nice polite French lady on the phone is an internet sex queen. I hit the mute button and start getting my coworkers attention by bopping them with pencils I'm throwing as I show them my screen and who I'm talking to. Boy, were they jealous.
Click to expand...

URL or it didn't happen! Heheh :)
 
"Well, now, my gun shop sells motor oil, makes keys, sells and works on lawn mowers and weed eaters, often has used Harley Davidsons, trucks, or tractors for sale, sells a full line of hunting clothes, gun safes, gold jewelry, watches, a starter for a 600 Ford tractor, an oil filter for a Massey Ferguson front-end-loader, or a set of plugs for a '68 Bronco."

Sounds like my favorite store while I was in college-Story's Supermarket in Opelika, Alabama. They were open from 5 AM to midnight. They started out as a typical little store in the South-groceries, fishing pole and bait, and a few rifles and shotguns. One of the employees talked the owner into expanding the gun department by stocking more long guns, then handguns, then knives, reloading gear, holsters, etc. Then they added an auto parts section.

How many places can you go at 11:50 PM and buy a can of Unique, primers, a Zebco reel, sardines and soda crackers, and a muffler for your truck???? :D
 
Old Corp said:
Frank - I've done THAT too! You're right, but that's a whole 'nother thread.......
May have to tell some stories about that, too......
Click to expand...

LOL!!! Bring back some MEMORIES???

But how many are really printable...or believable unless you were there?

FN in MT
 
I work as a parts man in a fairly large Ford dealership. Idiots on the phone are such a way of life for me after 23 years in the parts business, that I don't even pay attention anymore. Most of them want the car fixed over the phone. I can generally stop these by asking "is this Master Card or Visa"?
 
Phone rings
ME:Gun shop
CALLER:Are you open?
ME: No, I'm just here to answer the phone
CALLER: What are your hours?
ME:9am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday.
CALLER: ok I'll call back when you're open.

About half and hour later the same person will call again and ask if the shop is open.
No dude it is Sunday.
Oh ok, click

At least five times a week.

Boss told me I need to stop doing that.
 
The worst part about answering the phone at the PD is having to try to calm down a hysterical caller to tell him or her that they need to be transferred to somebody else who can actually handle the call. "I'm just the operator"....

(For some insane reason, the PD put the switchboard in the radio room and assigned Auxiliary Officers to man it. We really could do nothing but transfer the calls unless they were actually for the radio operator on a personal basis, or a "service" call from the field to the effect that "I just checked corner #4 on my beat", which went on a log sheet.)

But they did learn enough to not trust us with the radio.... One night another of the Auxiliaries was doing that, and after sending a car to handle a drunk, got a priority call for that car. When the field Officers said "what do we do about this drunk", the Aux said "roll him over into the weeds; we'll pick him up later." The Captain was NOT amused.... :D

I've heard (and seen) some insane stuff at the gun store, too. The best may have been the guy who walked in with a sawed off AK and wanted ammunition for it. When told to "get that thing the heck out of my store", he countered with "what if I come back tomorrow without the gun?" The manager said "I still won't sell it to you."....

My remaining (semi-retired rent-a-cop) law enforcement authority is barely sufficient to drop a dime on myself, but I was really considering making some kind of arrest. Just being in the room....

I really did get upset at a Sears counterguy one time. My POV was sitting out at the curb running - dead battery - and he grabbed a call, and then disappeared into the work area while I was standing there. All he had to do was tell me to drive in - they really only had one or two battery choices for a full-size Ford at the time. Told him about it, too.... (Politely....) I should know better - that same Sears a few years before, while in a bit of a hurry (and having not had lunch yet), I watched the paperwork on my car being turned into the counterguy, who then wandered off to do several other things before looking at it. About all he had to do was initial something, and give me the keys so I could walk the paper over to another desk to pay.... I finally got upset enough to ask politely if I could have "that top packet over there".... That's when he figured it out....

I don't deal there anymore....

Point being that a customer standing there should always be acknowledged, and, if possible, handled first. About the only exception would be when you have to leave the caller on hold for more than a minute or so - some kind of "I'll be right back with you" for the caller being a good idea....

(I used to train telephone operators, too, in a "business" environment. The former day job, although I was basically the Data Processing Manager, was kind of eclectic. I was the guy who knew how to do all kinds of things nobody else understood.... "Armed Programmer" being one of my favorite titles....)

Regards,
 
gregintenn said:
Thank you for that. That is one of my pet peeves. When I'm standing at the counter with a fist full of cash, and the clerk walks off to answer the phone, I can feel my blood pressure rise.
Click to expand...

The sad thing is, in the gun store I worked at, the boss/owner would chew you out for letting the phone ring. You were expected to answer it no matter what you were doing. He always said, "DON'T let the phone ring more than three times."

I always hated it when the husband set in the background screaming at his wife because she could not ask the right question about what he was wanting. Most of the time, the wife had not a clue about guns, etc. The same thing used to happen when I worked Automotive parts.
 
Last edited:
gregintenn said:
Thank you for that. That is one of my pet peeves. When I'm standing at the counter with a fist full of cash, and the clerk walks off to answer the phone, I can feel my blood pressure rise.
Click to expand...

I'll actually give you one counter-example.

My favorite local shop is one step above kitchen table. The store is maybe 10x14, and has limited hours (3 evenings and a weekend morning). It's a one-man gig, setting up for his pending retirement, building a customer base.

The counter is usually three-deep, and he's the only one working. I don't go in to jaw-jack, and I think he knows it by now. Every time he's answered the phone while I've been there, he has either answered a ten-second question, or told the caller, "I'm with a customer, can I get your number and call you back in a little bit?"

Zero problem with that, in my book.
 
I was sitting at my car insurance agent's desk, trying to make a change to a policy. Every time we would get 15 seconds into the conversation, her phone would ring. She would take the call, look things up on the computer, converse, or handle the callers issues in some manner.

After about the fifth time we were interrupted, and still sitting at her desk, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed her number. She put her caller on hold and answered me. I just started into the conversation and got about 30 seconds into it when she gets this strange look on her face.....

She is no longer my insurance agent.

The Highlander
 
Muley Gil said:
"Well, now, my gun shop sells motor oil, makes keys, sells and works on lawn mowers and weed eaters, often has used Harley Davidsons, trucks, or tractors for sale, sells a full line of hunting clothes, gun safes, gold jewelry, watches, a starter for a 600 Ford tractor, an oil filter for a Massey Ferguson front-end-loader, or a set of plugs for a '68 Bronco."

Sounds like my favorite store while I was in college-Story's Supermarket in Opelika, Alabama. They were open from 5 AM to midnight. They started out as a typical little store in the South-groceries, fishing pole and bait, and a few rifles and shotguns. One of the employees talked the owner into expanding the gun department by stocking more long guns, then handguns, then knives, reloading gear, holsters, etc. Then they added an auto parts section.

How many places can you go at 11:50 PM and buy a can of Unique, primers, a Zebco reel, sardines and soda crackers, and a muffler for your truck???? :D
Click to expand...
Muley Gill. it is still there. Mostly firearms, but archery, black powder, some fishing, gun safes, some clothing. The old old man Mr. Storey was such a "hard to get along with kind of guy" and never could do anything with him. The son, Andrew, is in there now and he is much more pleasant but I still can't buy anything. It is all retail + and too rich for my blood. Oh yeah still have soft drinks, smokes, snacks, etc. No tires that I know of. Tylers next door shut down. No place to get a good breakfast and listen to all of the early am BS. Take care
Bob
 
The Highlander said:
I was sitting at my car insurance agent's desk, trying to make a change to a policy. Every time we would get 15 seconds into the conversation, her phone would ring. She would take the call, look things up on the computer, converse, or handle the callers issues in some manner.

After about the fifth time we were interrupted, and still sitting at her desk, I pulled out my cell phone and dialed her number. She put her caller on hold and answered me. I just started into the conversation and got about 30 seconds into it when she gets this strange look on her face.....

She is no longer my insurance agent.

The Highlander
Click to expand...

I've used that technique several times in the past successfully. Some people think I have their time to waste needless to say if it's anybody other than family/friends (get my drift :cool:).....
 
Times are tough and if there is a nitch there's money to be made from people that will buy what they need (or service) from you. My LGS has been at the same place with the same name for as long as... a few years ago a paint ball store with a similar name opened up on the other side of town. The LGS would get daily calls from people wanting paint ball guns and accessories the LGS now sells them. Not every store will change their store type because they don't want a different nitch in there stores. Back in the day hardware stores would sell guns wal-mart sells long guns and ammo, but try calling them and reaching any department the stupidity is on the other end of the line when any question is asked. :)
 
Back in the 70's, I owned a gun shop, and used to get all kinds of silly calls. I can't beat the phone call another gun shop owner got back then, though. He ran a small gun shop and a related "old west shootout" entertainment business (staged cowboy shootouts, here in Arizona) called "Guns for Hire." Some woman looked him up in the Yellow Pages and called him to hire a hit man to kill her husband! When he realized she was serious, he led her on, setting up an appointment, etc., then called the PD immediately after they hung up. The PD monitored the meeting and arrested her on a number of charges, including attempted murder. She ended up spending many years in prison.

I never got a call like that, but did have a few "walk-in" customers looking for a hit man. The really amazing part of that is I had a very upscale shop in a "ritzy" community, dealing in Weatherbys, Brownings, etc., and the shop was definitely not a low class appearing operation. Perceptions of people not familiar with guns and shooters are sometimes quite bizarre.
 
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