stepping in to help a customer in Gun Store

[growr]

Today I was a Cabela's where a young lady asked the person behind the counter for a box of .38 Special for her husbands revolver.

The very enthusiastic employee said, "you are in luck, we have one box of .38's " and promptly handed her a box of .38 S&W....not the same at all.

I said to the young lady, "As ammo is NOT returnable, maybe it would be a good idea to call your husband just to be sure." She did that and told the employee that her husbands revolver was indeed a .38 Special.

The employee then replied , " If it is a .38 revolver then this will work.....I told her to look at the end label of the box to confirm.

She then thanked me, and again asked for .38 Special and was told they don't have any and haven't for awhile.

Boy, did I get glared at!!

Normally, I don't step in, unless it is clearly wrong or dangerous.....

What about you fellow forum members? Step in or keep your mouth shut?

Randy

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Recently at Cabelas I asked about a Smith Model 28-2 a clerk was showing a customer.
Nickel!
The clerk and the ‘knowledgeable’ customer both gave me a bad look.
Apparently not factory.

 

[alwslate]

I vote step in in the .38 ammo situation.

 

[Onomea]

I think you did the right thing, growr.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Person behind the counter should've been stacking pallets in the back room. You did right.
There's a local gun shop not far from me where this one (person)hole behind the counter always does smart(alec) stuff. Once I asked for .44 mag or .44 specials. He said how about 44-40? I asked last time I was there to a guy if by chance they had a box of .327FedMags, FMJ for practice. The young kid didn't know what they were. The same idiot reaches back & lands a box of 20 Hornady man-killer self defense rounds for like $50 with tax. I told him I just wanted practice rounds; I have some of these at home. He just smirked & walked back to the guy he was helping. I don't like him at all.
Oh, sorry. You did good. You helped her.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I am a gray man. I generally keep out of the affairs of strangers. Seeing someone attempt to sell the wrong ammo to someone unwary and me thinking that the wrong ammo could possibly damage the gun and injure the shooter I would have definitely injected myself into that conversation.

Had I not it would have gnawed on me.

You chose wisely.

 

[Krogen]

You did right, growr. I would have done the same thing.

 

[DWalt]

If I personally witnessed such a transaction, I would speak up. I am surprised Cabela’s had a box of .38 S&W.

 

[Chubbs103]

Typically, when you see two people across from one another at a gun counter, at least one of them thinks they know a lot more than they really do. I have found it is usually a good idea to stay out of it.

In this case, I think you were spot on.

 

[snowman]

Absolutely, positively the right thing to do. I believe that I may have glared right back at that clerk, administered some serious corrective words, and asked for the owner/manager to come out and do some necessary training on the spot. I see no excuse for employing someone in a gun store who doesn't have the knowledge to avoid dangerous mistakes like that, and then to act like he knows what he is talking about.

Regards,
Andy

 

[jc2721]

I too agree that you did the right thing. Normally I mind my own business when people are shopping but I often run into friends at the LGS and sometimes they ask for an opinion on a gun they're looking at and I'm happy to help.

Just last week a man was picking up the .32 top break S & W he had purchased and he was asking the clerk about ammo. The guys know me well at that shop, so the clerk asked me what cartridge fit the Smith and I told him it was the .32 S & W "short," and to not try shooting .32 ACP in a gun that old. Unfortunately the shop didn't have any .32s except for ACP so hopefully a disaster was averted.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Sales/counter help should know their merchandise.

 

[johngalt]

Add me to the list that say you did right.

 

[LVSteve]

Yep, you did right.

Yesterday while picking up a transfer I had to tell a store guy and the "owner" (more on request) that the dismantled Mosin carbine they were looking at had suffered the stock being shortened and the handguard discarded. If it had been a complete 91/30 action I would have put in an offer. I have some 91/30 stocks in the garage.

 

[yaktamer]

Safety issue. Definitely step in.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Good job, Growr...thanks for being a mensch.

 

[Model52guy]

8-10 years ago I was in cabelas looking at the empty reloading section. Two guys were looking for powder, primers and bullets. They were the Paraguay silhouette shooting team. There was nothing to be had. I asked them what they needed, said they were going to fort bend for the international competition and always stopped in Fort Worth to buy the components. I felt sorry for them and invited them to my house to see if I had what they needed. Gave them 1000 primers, 2 lbs of powder and 500 bullets. ended up with a nice t-shirt with the Paraguay team emblem. They left as happy campers.

 

[woodsltc]

Normally, I don't step in, unless it is clearly wrong or dangerous.....


Randy

growr/Randy............the above sentence is what makes stepping in the right thing to do IMO.

If it was just a regular sales situation then "Caveat Emptor", but when someone could be physically maimed or worse then I feel any honorable, caring person should speak-up; as you did.

Don

 

[Smoke]

I mind my own business

 

[.455_Hunter]

I will step-in when one or both parties are spouting absolutely wrong information that has credible safety, operational or financial implications, exactly like what the OP indicated.