LGS Support Or

[harbormaster]

Yesterday I walked into a LGS I’ve been to a few times. I’ve done a PPT there once. I bought some ammo from them during a special. A few years ago I bought a new CZ from them and they’ve always been genuinely decent in every way. They don’t seem to be struggling though less busy then some other stores I visit - I say that because I’m aware they bought a competitor out and are moving.

Any way I really want the new Kimber 1911 Ghost 9mm on the roster, and turners advertises them at $799 but I have to wait for them to get one. Turners is 2 miles away not a big deal. This store has it, the sales guy pulls it out and it’s tagged at $999, crap. With taxes it’s like $240 more. Crap. I politely said the turners price and offered to split the difference and pay $900 to which he politely said no thanks. I even had my license and permit on the counter from my wallet as though I was ready and he was polite but just wouldnt / couldn’t. I love LGSs and want them to stay but just couldn’t part with that much more.

How much extra are you willing to give LGS’s

[k1dude]

This is just a sign that you should be buying a 2011 instead of a 1911.

All kidding aside, I think the Kimber's MSRP is $868, so $999 is ridiculous.

I don't mind spending a little extra to support my LGS, but not when they're charging 15% over MSRP and 25% higher than the competition. No one wants to feel like they got robbed. Buy it at Turners and wait a little bit.

[Steve G]

I’d pay the $240 in a heartbeat. Immediate gratification. A couple hours of my life is totally worth it (to me). Turner’s reminds me of people that wait in lines stretching to the street at Costco to fill up to save $2 bucks. All depends what your time is worth!

[Citadelgrad87]

Yesterday I walked into a LGS I’ve been to a few times. I’ve done a PPT there once. I bought some ammo from them during a special. A few years ago I bought a new CZ from them and they’ve always been genuinely decent in every way. They don’t seem to be struggling though less busy then some other stores I visit - I say that because I’m aware they bought a competitor out and are moving.

Any way I really want the new Kimber 1911 Ghost 9mm on the roster, and turners advertises them at $799 but I have to wait for them to get one. Turners is 2 miles away not a big deal. This store has it, the sales guy pulls it out and it’s tagged at $999, crap. With taxes it’s like $240 more. Crap. I politely said the turners price and offered to split the difference and pay $900 to which he politely said no thanks. I even had my license and permit on the counter from my wallet as though I was ready and he was polite but just wouldnt / couldn’t. I love LGSs and want them to stay but just couldn’t part with that much more.

How much extra are you willing to give LGS’s

I am torn. I typically do as you did, give the local the opportunity to meet me halfway. Typically they do what this guy did, sometimes they thank me but they say no.

If the other option is Turners, though, I am not sure. I live and die by time, I bill my time in .1 increments.

I cannot help doing the math on driving to somewhere else, and what it "costs" me to deal with delay and crowds.

[XDJYo]

The time element is big issue. When I want something and I *KNOW* I want that exact thing, I will usually get it. It depends if I am willing to wait for either a sale or for it to be in stock.

It also depends on the money. $240 is a lot for me. I don't know if I would spend that in a heartbeat. I would probably spend an extra $100 max to support a LGS. I mean, I gotta eat and put gas in the car too.

ETA: For an extra $240, I'd look at options in the same price range that are even way nicerer, like a Springfield.

[turbolarry]

How much extra are you willing to give LGS’s

$0.00
It's business not charity.
You made your offer and they said no. It is what it is. Let them make profit from the next person who walks in.

[TrappedinCalifornia]

I've reached a point in life where I've adopted the philosophy that if it was meant to be, it'll be there when I want it at a price I can live with.

If not, it wasn't meant to be.

LGS vs a Big Box Store has long been a source of debate (any locally owned shop of any kind vs. a big box store of any kind actually). 40 years ago, I remember walking into a Ranch & Home store which sold firearms and the kid behind the counter was insistent I should buy since they were selling them for only $5 over wholesale. I told him I found that hard to believe since they wouldn't be able to keep the doors open with that type of margin. I was talking to a local shop owner a few days later and he told me to ask them to show me their wholesale price sheet as it was lower than what they had for local dealers given the volume difference.

That's when it swam into focus for me. I remembered having discussions about KMart and the prices they sold Remington bolt actions and various boxes of ammo for vs. local shops. Again, it came back to volume buying. That's where Big Box Stores have an advantage. Today, those same Big Box Stores are attempting to cut costs further by making you buy online, then they will ship it to your local store. The problem with that is if I can't fondle it first, I don't buy... period.

35 years or so ago, I worked in a big box store which sold an item which another big box store sold for $100 less. The other store was, literally, a 5 minute walk away. Customers would attempt to get us the price match and we'd refuse. Why? Because the other store was selling 'last year's model' and wouldn't provide any type of support, from instructing on use to warranty service. We did. As a result, we'd inform customers they had a choice, paying the $100 less, but accepting the personal responsibility to learn and deal with things themselves or pay us for the current model and all the services that went with it.

Not long after, I was working for a local shop where the manufacturers set the retail prices on the vast majority of items in the store. The idea was to create a consistent price nationwide, ameliorating the differences between local stores and big box stores. The problem then became one of getting the owner of the local shop to 'compete' in terms of big box stores offering free shipping and no sales tax on items where such 'extras' added considerably to the purchase price.

The bottom line is that it cuts both ways. I don't ask big box stores to price match and I don't ask local shops to do so either. Instead, I look at and sometimes ask what the local shop is providing or is willing to provide to make the difference in price worth it... to me. If nothing is offered, then I have to decide whether my angst about 'having it now' or waiting is worth salving and if I see 'value' in the relationship with the local shop. But, that brings me back to the beginning of this post.

[acaligunner]

Don’t they have another gun shop besides turners and the LGs ?
3rd time might be the charm .
Turners 😒, they’ll make ya wait sign extra paperwork and fill your ears with nonsense.

Keep shopping a store that wants your business will work with ya. Like Ammo bros In Cerritos did with me.

good luck.

[BigMac90660]

F Turners. Keep looking for another LGS that will come close. Can't remember, did I say F Turners?

[SDDAVE56]

In 2009 I wanted to buy a Colt SAA. Local gun stores had them for $1579.00. Buds, $1059.00. I saved $500.00, no brainer. Recently. Grabagun had what I was looking to buy. Local gun store had it for $59.00 more. I bought from the local.

[GOEX FFF]

I will always try to support the LGS over the box stores. But like said, it just depends on what your time is worth.

Here in TX though, it doesn't seem to be a problem finding a good deal since there's nearly 60 gun stores (which includes pawn shops that most sell firearms) and gun shows almost every weekend in the DFW area to choose from.

During our move, I made a list to visit as many LGS here that I can in a 100 mile radius. I've been to over a dozen or more so far and I haven't even begun to scratch the surface.

I remember back in Kalifornistan after so many good stores/FFL's were basicaly forced out of the state and being limited to one or two decent LGS.....and....Turners. ugh...

So glad I'm done with that now.

Playground of FFL's in the DFW area -

Screenshot_20260404_225054_Edge.jpg

[acaligunner]

^
Man, I also wished that some LGS were as considerate when a person went in to sell a pistol / revolver..

I’ve seen a few times an elderly person / or someone that was not as keen to what they had, get scalped.
- salesman - Oh sig 239 in 9mm , no one is going to buy that - I’ll give you $200 and that’s it -

[BAJ475]

When I was in CA I almost always used a small, one man, FFL. Now that I live in N. Idaho I generally use North Idaho Arms in Post Falls. I have also used Black Sheep in CDA. Very friendly staff.

[harbormaster]

Well Turners got it in, called me, and took my money, easy, quick, and total OTD $1006 vs $1242 at the LGS. Saving grace is state gets less too!

[Garbcollector]

I've bought a few firearms this year from Turners and everything went OK. Only thing that sucks is the never ending paperwork