Just a quick suggestion here. Depending on your level of knowledge about guns in general and about prices specifically I would suggest the following.
Have a good idea of what you want before you go into the store (assuming you intend on buying). It is very easy to get sidetracked from what you have decided to get. Also, do not be in a rush to buy the first thing you see. Take a pen and paper, write down what you see and prices. Or better look at their sites before going in.
Also, you will probably realize after buying the first gun that regardless of what you thought going in that you made the wrong choice and you overpaid. I would suggest buying something not too expensive as you will lose less money selling or trading it off. The first time(s) through is a learning experience and it's the price of an education.
And lastly. There are a LOT of goodies for sale in the classified section. find something you like, grab a knowledgable freind and go have a look at it (of course with the intention that if all looks good you are going to buy it). I would suggest NOT tying up somebody, an individual seller, to go to merely " just look" without the good possibility of buying. That is unless, of course, you tell them specifically on the front end what your situation is and that you will probably NOT be buying on that trip. let the seller make the call at that point.
And finally, hook up with as many people as possible, shoot as many guns as you can and get a feel for what you think you like. Even then, realize you will probably make the wrong choice first time around. Only lots of shooting lots of different guns for a long period will give you an understanding of what guns you like and what really works for you.