Should I take job at LGS?

Protected One

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Been thinking about what to do in "partial retirement" and a friend suggested I take an opportunity to work counters at one of our LGS. Part-time as something to get me out of the house and make a little extra cash.

Would like to hear the pro's and con's from those of you who have done or ARE doing it.


Thanks!
 
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I would think ANY business would turn a back-flip to get an experienced hand like you obviously are—especially someone like you with a love of the area in which the business operates. The single hardest task in any business these days is finding reliable help—I hear that across the board from clinics hiring physicians to a janitorial company hiring custodians.

Plus a knowledgeable gun person like you could do some genuine good on a gun counter. People new to shooting really need help from someone who knows what they are talking about, not someone who learned from YouTube. I also think experienced shooters doubly appreciate someone advising them who knows what they are talking about.

We will benefit here at the fourm if you take the job because I am sure you will have a multitude of stories to tell. One of my friends that ran a gun shop wrote me almost weekly with stories of “unloaded” guns that were brought in for holsters or other work where he jacked a round out, a loaded magazine (“it’s not loaded unless one is in the pipe”) or dumped the cylinder! Or the “Mrs. Santa Clause” looking lady who immediately held a a nice old Colt SAA up to his eye to see if a “bullet is stuck on there?”
 
You will have to develop very thick skin because you will encounter many people who think they are gun experts and will proceed to tell you that you are way out in left field and they are the ones with the correct information. Biting your tongue will be become an event which will happen many times each day. If you can put up with the idiots and be helpful to the newbies, I think you will be a great asset to any gun shop.
 
If I had the free time and wanted to get out of the house and interact with the public I would do it. Your old enough and have probably been married for sometime so know how to bite your tongue when that is the best path. I doubt you'll make any money, but, you will make some guns. Should be interesting and may lead to some friendships and possible good times.
 
The only way to know if you will like it is to try it. But remember the guy
who was looking for a new job. The boss said we will give it a try for
30 days and then start paying you what your worth. The job seeker
thought a minute and then said I can't do that. I'm making a lot more
than that now.

When I retired, 20 years ago, I jumped through the hoops and got the
NRA instructor certifications. Taught probably thousands the required
training for the concealed weapon license. Then when the Enhanced
License came into vogue I did that class for a couple of years. I enjoyed
every minute of it but now, almost 84, I am retired again.

Knowing you, from your posts, I believe you will be an excellent LGS
employee, and I'll bet you enjoy it. Good luck.
 
How well do you listen? Forgive me, as I do not know you, but if you are one of those "The little lady needs a J-frame..." don't apply. If, on the other hand, you can think on your feet and use your ears to point someone in the right direction, whether you like their choice or not, you will do well. And yes, all guns are always loaded. Check them when they hand them back to you! Oh yeah, have fun!
 
You will have to develop very thick skin because you will encounter many people who think they are gun experts and will proceed to tell you that you are way out in left field and they are the ones with the correct information.

And then you get to try to sell them a gun . . . :D
 
I used to love fishing Lake Okeechobee. Couldn't get enough. Then I took a job as a fishing guide and ended up fishing 5-6 days a week. Did that for about 7 years and it burned me out on fishing. I overdid it because the work was there and the marina needed help plus I was in my mid 30s and had energy to burn the candle at both ends.

That could happen with guns, too, I suppose. I know I get tired of some of the fools that attend gunshows but the good gun people way outnumber the fools so I enjoy setting up at 4 or 5 gunshows a year. 10-12 years ago I was setting up at about 20 shows a fall/winter season and that was too much although I did accumulate a nice collection by putting the time in.

Guess the take away from this ramble is don't let them work you so much that your hobby becomes a chore. :)
 
It can be fun as I did work part time for Sportsman's Warehouse in Oklahoma City before the store closing. Just remember you are selling the stores products, what they have, can get, and what the buyer wants. Not what you want. And the saying that always gets me concerning S&W revolvers. "But it's a 22, why does it cost more than a 38?
 
My objection to being in the gun business these days is, 1) I'm not that fond of black plastic. 2) Everybody but me is an expert. 3) I have never suffered fools gently!

I am guilty of remembering of when the prices were much lower. Any employer would get tired of me agreeing that all the prices are much too high!

Ivan
 
I would need a lot of practice in disappearing into the back room for a few minutes and reappearing to say, "The lowest we can go is $X," calmly listening to the customer complain, and coldly letting the customer walk away if they won't pay that much.

Or conversely, reappearing to say, "The most we can give you on your trade is a hundred bucks."
 
I'll wade in and try not to be too negative and hope I don't sound narcissistic....
My first two 'p/t retirement jobs' were at two different LGS's. Worked consecutively, due to a move of about 25 miles at the time.

What I'll call the 'honeymoon period' was really enjoyable. Learning the store and stock, procedures, getting to know other staff, and getting to know some of the interesting regular customers and/or hang-arounds.
At that first store, sales/counter guys did no paperwork. All 4473's and actual sales transactions were handled by owner's elderly mother and his daughter and perhaps one other girl at the cash register.

Then - the 'panic buying' episodes came along.
O M G - the damn phone would NOT stop ringing. Callers and prospective 'buyers' on the phone sounded like they'd just run the 880M race and had almost zero knowledge about what they wanted but wanted it NOW.
This is all while the store was at maximum Fire Code capacity for customers. I sold AR's priced at close to $2000 to people who had to be shown a .223/5.56 cartridge. They'd never seen one.

Actually recall having my sleeve grabbed while enroute to the bathroom for a rare break. Panicked customer talking about 'C-mags', or 'Beta-mags' or some mess.

Fast-forwarding to the next LGS after our move....
This one, smaller, but also an indoor range. Very busy.
A couple more panic-buying episodes. Same thing with the phone which would ring continuously ALL day. Store so crowded it was shuffle-room only. And, we're supposed to keep an eye on the range through the Lexan windows also. Impossible.

Both locations shared the commonality of being family owned with various members of the family being employed there.
That in itself proved very problematic.
At such a location, no matter what you do or how much you put into the job to go the extra mile, and no matter how knowledgeable and experienced you are, guess what you are NOT?
You are not family.
Not regarded as anything beyond a hired clerk that will drift in and later be gone and they'll be hiring another body to take your place.

And there's no real impetus to actually PAY for your knowledge and experience. They just need someone who knows enough to make the SALE, as that's what's really important.

Glad I did it, valuable experience. Met some great people. Acquired some great guns (S&W's) as both places handled estates regularly.
But now count myself as having suffered 'Retail Burn-out'.

My most recent 'retirement job' was Security Contracting outside CONUS.
Much less stressful.

I'd say give it a try - enjoy the enjoyable parts and keep the whole thing in perspective. If it's family owned, always remember you're not family and keep expectations low.

Good luck.
 
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Interesting question OP.:D

A LGS up here that I & wife do a reasonable amount of business with up here put out a add. He had a large bunch of requirements needed for the job but I do all right on that. (background check, pistol permit, computer, gun laws & general gun knowledge ETC.

My wife has been trying to talk me into applying, but I have been retired from my construction union since 2001 and to be truthful I do not need the money a PT job would provide and also going back on a schedule. I did vacillate about it as a benefit would be a nice discount on purchases.

O well guess I will not apply, but thank you for this thread!:)
 
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