There have been a few posts about the attitudes of variousgun shops and their owners /staff. Yes they are in the “service” business anddealing with the public brings in all type of people. I asked a few of myfriends who work or have worked at gun shops about some of the various types ofcustomers who have tried their patience.
1) The “ I know everything type ”: Comes in to look at a gun, handles it andexplains every aspect for about 5minutes, then gives it back and says he likes the gun but would never buy it.
2) The “ Well let me explain it for you “’type: Your showing a gun to someone and anothercustomer comes over and try to take over the conversation and “explaining” tothe potential buyer everything about the gun…many of the facts being wrong orhis opinion)
3) The “Let me see inside” type: Asks to look at a new gun then tries to takethe gun apart to see inside! What dothey intend to see that is that critical? What happens if they lose a part ordamage the gun? Do they even know how to take it apart or putting it backtogether?
4) The “Can I return this ammo- a and b” type : Type a)Brings in a box of ammo and says he bought the wrong type. Wants to trade itfor a different caliber. Problem is that the ammo wasn’t bought at YOUR gun shop! Type b) Bring back a box of ammo and says it doesn’t’fit in their gun …. They bought 38 special and they needed .380!!!
5) The “This gun doesn’t work” type: Brings in gun complaining they can’t get thegun to dry fire. Asked if they had the magazine in when they tried…they say no….problem /cause …magazine safety! (Which was explained to them when they boughtthe gun in the first place.
6) The “This gun is worth XXXX” type. People comingin to sell a used gun and they want way more for it then what a new gun of thesame type currently goes for!
7) The “This gun on Gun Brooker sold for”type: Want to sell their gun for the highest asking price fortheir gun listed on Gunbroker! (note: not the price of the ones which were actuallysold but the ones where a stupid starting price was listed!)
8) The “Can you take 50 dollars of the price” type. Price haggling is part of the fun forsome people and it never hurts to ask. But asking $50 to $100 off a new gun(when you and your customer know your store has the lowest prices around) just isn’tgoing to fly! Then they leave butt hurt cause you didn’t sell the gun to themfor below YOUR cost!
9) The “Can’t tell time” type: Comes in to the gun shop 5 to 10 minutes beforeit closes and wanders around looking at everything, asks to look at a few guns thendecided to buy a hand gun after the shop is officially closed. (NH pistol background checks take 30 minutes toan hour + to get a response). Not happywhen told about the waiting time. Not happy to hear the shop will not remainopen while wait for the background check reply and not happy to be told he canreturn tomorrow to pick up the gun or to come back tomorrow and go get it alldone then.
10) The “Tire kickers” type: Asks to look at a number of guns, asks a lotof questions, takes up a lot of time and has no intention of buying any.
11) The “WOW a Gun shop” type: Usually a small group of people who havenever been in a gun shop before and bounce around taking guns and looking atthem, joking around asking stupid (funny to them) questions about rates of fireand wanting to see and hold just about every hand gun in the store. Clearly notintending to buy anything, just having fun seeing guns and taking pictures oftheir friends holding guns!
I’m sure some you out there have visited your LGS and seen /experience some of these types. Care to add any other types you’ve seen?
1) The “ I know everything type ”: Comes in to look at a gun, handles it andexplains every aspect for about 5minutes, then gives it back and says he likes the gun but would never buy it.
2) The “ Well let me explain it for you “’type: Your showing a gun to someone and anothercustomer comes over and try to take over the conversation and “explaining” tothe potential buyer everything about the gun…many of the facts being wrong orhis opinion)
3) The “Let me see inside” type: Asks to look at a new gun then tries to takethe gun apart to see inside! What dothey intend to see that is that critical? What happens if they lose a part ordamage the gun? Do they even know how to take it apart or putting it backtogether?
4) The “Can I return this ammo- a and b” type : Type a)Brings in a box of ammo and says he bought the wrong type. Wants to trade itfor a different caliber. Problem is that the ammo wasn’t bought at YOUR gun shop! Type b) Bring back a box of ammo and says it doesn’t’fit in their gun …. They bought 38 special and they needed .380!!!
5) The “This gun doesn’t work” type: Brings in gun complaining they can’t get thegun to dry fire. Asked if they had the magazine in when they tried…they say no….problem /cause …magazine safety! (Which was explained to them when they boughtthe gun in the first place.
6) The “This gun is worth XXXX” type. People comingin to sell a used gun and they want way more for it then what a new gun of thesame type currently goes for!
7) The “This gun on Gun Brooker sold for”type: Want to sell their gun for the highest asking price fortheir gun listed on Gunbroker! (note: not the price of the ones which were actuallysold but the ones where a stupid starting price was listed!)
8) The “Can you take 50 dollars of the price” type. Price haggling is part of the fun forsome people and it never hurts to ask. But asking $50 to $100 off a new gun(when you and your customer know your store has the lowest prices around) just isn’tgoing to fly! Then they leave butt hurt cause you didn’t sell the gun to themfor below YOUR cost!
9) The “Can’t tell time” type: Comes in to the gun shop 5 to 10 minutes beforeit closes and wanders around looking at everything, asks to look at a few guns thendecided to buy a hand gun after the shop is officially closed. (NH pistol background checks take 30 minutes toan hour + to get a response). Not happywhen told about the waiting time. Not happy to hear the shop will not remainopen while wait for the background check reply and not happy to be told he canreturn tomorrow to pick up the gun or to come back tomorrow and go get it alldone then.
10) The “Tire kickers” type: Asks to look at a number of guns, asks a lotof questions, takes up a lot of time and has no intention of buying any.
11) The “WOW a Gun shop” type: Usually a small group of people who havenever been in a gun shop before and bounce around taking guns and looking atthem, joking around asking stupid (funny to them) questions about rates of fireand wanting to see and hold just about every hand gun in the store. Clearly notintending to buy anything, just having fun seeing guns and taking pictures oftheir friends holding guns!
I’m sure some you out there have visited your LGS and seen /experience some of these types. Care to add any other types you’ve seen?