Gun Store Etiquette Question

[keith1911]

This may have been discussed before but I got to thinking about it this morning.

With the increase of people new to firearms looking for their first firearm the following situation may happen more often and I wanted to find out how others might have handled it.

I was in a local gun store a while ago and a husband and wife walked in. They walked to a case and they guy behind the counter asked if he could help them. The husband pointed to a S&W 637 and said let her look at that. The guy behind the counter pulled it out, checked it and handed it to her. When she handled the gun I could clearly see she was terrified of it and had never fired a gun before. The husband was talking about how perfect it was for her because it was light and small. They guy behind the counter was mute. I knew the husband was full of it because I've got a 642 and it isn't the most pleasant firearm to shoot. She muzzled me a couple times and I beat feet because I didn't want to interfere.

The husband had the vibe that he "knew what he was talking" about and the guy behind the counter wanted the sale.

I don't think I would have done the same thing now. I've been shooting for a long time and have taught a few people how to shoot. I think I would have advised them to find instruction first (and given them a couple options) before choosing what handgun to buy. That might have made be PNG at the store, but I only go there to look around since their prices are high and won't deal on the firearms.

Your thoughts?

[WartHog]

BACON!

[Condorguns]

Unless you are an employee it's normally best to not get involved. A good shop will point out the good and bad parts of the firearm they are looking at for a new shooter. This has to be done carefully. You don't want to make the husband look bad and you don't want to make the new shooter even more uncomfortable. Most of us also have places that we recommend for new shooters to take a beginner course.

[mcat707]

Not my store, not my customers, not my business.

But... If they turned and asked my personal opinion on the matter then that's a different story.

[keith1911]

I can understand that. I was thinking more about the safety of her, her husband and more importantly the other people on the range when they took it out for the first time. I sure as heck wouldn't want to be anywhere near when she touched off a round for the first time.

Also what about the part of getting people interested in our sport. Having someone's first experience with shooting be something painful like that wouldn't engender them to try again.

[Barbarosa]

If people ask me questions I am glad to answer, otherwise not my monkeys, not my circus.

[Red-Osier]

You beat feet and missed what happened so we don't know what the guy behind the counter said for instruction.

[major burnout]

Probably a overbearing male who beats his wife and makes her buy guns she doesnt want also it was a straw purchase and hes planning a terrorist attack. You should have inserted yourself in their business. Lives would have been saved, better firearm selections would have been made. I bet If you would have stepped In and shared your expertise she would have ditched him and walked out of that shop hanging on your arm looking lovinly at you. You blew it. Have you thought about a career in politics? You seem to have a gift for knowing whats best for other people.

[alfred1222]

MYOB, it's not ours to change people

[BONECUTTER]

From working in gun stores the sales guy will only offer opinion when asked. It's not my job to tell someone how little they know. Doing so unprovoke will just make they yelp about that know it all they have there.

People who want info will ask...the customer you are describing is the norm. They have made up their mind before they walk in. He could be like show her that J frame and my response is:

"that's a terrible gun, I got one for my wife and she hates shooting it....the trigger pull is so hard she can never hit what she aims at and the recoil hurts her hand after 3 shots"

He is still going to buy it of go someone else and buy it.

Shoot, my own uncle wanted to buy a small 1911 for his wife who never shoots to put on a CCW she is applying for. I told him all the disadvantages of that type of gun for someone who never shoots and how a more simple firearm would be a better option for her.

He went to a store and bought her one anyway. She doesn't like it and is confused every time she picks it up. You can't help those people.

[readysetgo]

I don't go out of my way but if I'm asked, I tell inexperienced women that if a guy (any guy, don't care relation or occupation) hands her the smallest lightest pistol there is and tells her "that's the one for you" to dismiss everything else they say as BS.

[The Gleam]

Sounds like and appears to be like every "husband introducing wife to guns" first time buy I've ever seen or heard. She's new to it, he's not (maybe), he's recommending which gun he thinks will be good for her (sometimes a mistake, sometimes not) but that is objective from his point of view, yours, and hers.

I see the first step to gun ownership. Next step, she reads up on safety or he gets her involved. Third, he takes her to the range or she takes a firearms class.

Newb wife with know-it-all husband. Not new.

[The Gleam]

I don't go out of my way but if I'm asked, I tell inexperienced women that if a guy (any guy, don't care relation or occupation) hands her the smallest lightest pistol there is and tells her "that's the one for you" to dismiss everything else they say as BS.

Agree with this too. It's the cliche husband/boyfriend intro to guns. All you have to do is throw in the phrase "little lady" and the end of that sentence.

i.e. "that's the one for you, little lady."

[readysetgo]

Specifically though, what to do? Stand behind him doing this...



She'll pick up on it.

[russ69]

Let them buy the wrong gun, they will be back. You have to start somewhere.