One of my dreams came true today!!!

[Fishslayer]

Yeah, yeah. Cool story, congratulations, way ta go. But let's cut to the chase.

What's the CalGuns discount?

[nicki]

Congrats.

Having a job that you actually enjoy going to means you will have a great attitude.

Sad to say I have over the years ran into many gun store employees who just lacked "people skills".

I hope that your boss is more concerned about his customers than his profits because ultimately, if he takes care of his customers, they will take care of him.

My suggestion to you, don't wing it. If you don't know something, be honest, don't try to bs the customer.

Customer's have opinions, even when they are wrong, in their mind they are right.

If you get a customer like me, you will have someone who will probably buy 2 or more guns on average per year.

IMHO, a up and coming gun owner who is looking at guns for defense purposes could easily buy the following:

1. 22 caliber handgun
2. 22 caliber rifle
3. 9mm handgun, full size
4. 45 caliber handgun full size
5. EBR, a AR or a AK or both

Optional: Shotgun, pump or semi in 12 guage.
Optional: 308 or larger rifle for long distance.

410s or 20 gauge are options for those that are recoil sensitive, but want some kind of shotgun.

I am not into sporting purpose use for my guns yet, so I am not going to make suggestions, others can do that.

[defcon]

ill be a customer if can you get a standard ruger 10/22 below $200

i bet you can get a couple of us buying it. what about a group buy price for the standard 10/22?

[perpetual otter]

This is a huge gunstore/gunsmithing shop and everyone is extremely knowledgeable and down to earth there. Its going to be a great work environment.

Sigh

To be young again...

[spencerk]

Having a job that you actually enjoy going to means you will have a great attitude.

Sad to say I have over the years ran into many gun store employees who just lacked "people skills".

I hope that your boss is more concerned about his customers than his profits because ultimately, if he takes care of his customers, they will take care of him.

My suggestion to you, don't wing it. If you don't know something, be honest, don't try to bs the customer.

Customer's have opinions, even when they are wrong, in their mind they are right.

If you get a customer like me, you will have someone who will probably buy 2 or more guns on average per year.

IMHO, a up and coming gun owner who is looking at guns for defense purposes could easily buy the following:

1. 22 caliber handgun
2. 22 caliber rifle
3. 9mm handgun, full size
4. 45 caliber handgun full size
5. EBR, a AR or a AK or both

Optional: Shotgun, pump or semi in 12 guage.
Optional: 308 or larger rifle for long distance.

410s or 20 gauge are options for those that are recoil sensitive, but want some kind of shotgun.

I am not into sporting purpose use for my guns yet, so I am not going to make suggestions, others can do that.

I have great people skills. All of my bosses from every job i have had have told me that. That is my main way to sell to a customer. I listen to their every want and need and try to not force a certian gun on them, even if they opt for a cheaper gun. I even tell customers who are ready to drop money on a gun to try the caliber first before trying. Ive only been working for two weeks and every customer i have told to do that up to this point have come back with a decision and bought a gun because im honest to them. If i cant answer their questions, i tell them that and direct them to someone who can. I hate glocks, just because i hate polymer, but still sell them because i know they are good pistols and not everyone has the same tastes i do. However i do make it known why i like steel framed guns better. I always give them the high and low points of every gun they wish to see without forcing one gun on them. I sell plenty of glocks, actually more than any other pistol. Even with my hatred of polymer.

My biggest attributes are my armorer's certifications. They give me a better look into the guns i sell and why certain guns are better than others. If someone wants a low maintenence, easy to clean gun, i give them my OPIONIONS on which guns seem to be the easiest to clean and low maintenence. M9a1's, glocks, and 1911's seem to be the easiest to field strip in my opinion. And i let cutomers know exactly that, its one mans opinion, and not necessarily the bottom line.

Ar's are my weak point. I dont own a complete one at the moment so i let customers looking at ar's know that, and direct them to the people who know more. I do know the internal workins of an ar because of gunsmithing school so i do give the high and low points of the platform based on that, not necessarily the difference between companies. I make sure the customer has it their way and make a decision based on what they want and need, and not just my opinion.

I do not make a commission so i am not motivated to sell the more expensive gun. I want to make the customer feel like they can be frugal if they want. If that is so then they seem to come back again for more info/guns.

Ive had a great time and i learn new things every day, especially from the customers who know more than i do. Its great when i get a customer who corrects me or teaches me something about a gun that i didnt know. Especially with history as i have been fed wrong info from actual gunsmiths in the past and willingly admit this to cutomers so they know im not just talking out my *** if they know something i dont about a guns history and i make sure to ask them if im correct with the info i relay. I do research on different guns every night to broaden my knowlege to better educate nyself and cutomers about different guns and their history. The history buffs seem to respect that and give me the info i need to know. Especially about c&r guns. One customer even gave me a book about mausers.


This job is rewarding, and im not talking about the money. The knowledge im gaining every day is worth more than any amount of money i could get. I truly love this job and happily give every bit of my energy towards doing a better job and learning.

[Omil]

Congrats to the OP'. That LGS' is very cool, lots of toys. I've been their customer for over 20 years..Btw, say " Hi " to Gray, Doug, Dan, Nick for me, these guys are nice to talk to, especially Gray.
I'll see ya' very soon.. Good lucks!

[spencerk]

Thanks! They are all cool guys and have been very helpful with my training on the 4473 and dros system.

Ill make sure i let them know you say hi! Gray is an endless pit of knowledge. Lol. Pretty much everyone there is the same way actually. Best work enviornment ive ever been in by far. Most of the guys have very little ego and are willing to lend a helping hand to me in any way they can. Basil has be especially helpful with my training which i am very thankful for.

I have the same scheduel as doug which is cool cus he has also been giving me a bunch of tips with writing up paper work and giving me a huge deal of help with identifying guns in the dros system. Most obnoxious program ive ever used but im finally starting to get the hang of it.

[joker70]

Does the shop have the obligatory hot sales girl/cashier?

[cebuvfr]

Congrats! Do I smell employee discounts? I'm sure I do.

[HappyDonut]

There's not much to say but Congratulations! I've been going to my local shooting range to ask for employment but they're full at the moment. Crossing my fingers.

[NorCalXJ]

Congrats pal

[trob]

......Just being given the opportunity to be interviewed for the job felt like an honor. Im not trying to over glorify this job but to me it feels like glory to be given this opportunity.

Yes, you are

But congrats, at least you're enthusiastic. Pretty much all the guys I ever see at a gun shop look exhausted/ half asleep because it's the same questions 50 times a day. Stay awake!

[Raider888]

Congrats Spencerk, I can't wait to see you open your own gun shop!

[spencerk]

Congrats Spencerk, I can't wait to see you open your own gun shop!

That is my career goal in life! I really hope it happens.

The store has connections with, what seems to be, all of the biggest brands in the industry so i know this is the best start out point in the industry i could have asked for. I honestly didnt think i would get the job because of my age but everybody says my work ethic and enthusiasm is what landed it. I used to have a terrible work ethic, but finding a job and career path that actually suits my personality and talents seems to have turned that right around. I used to not be able to wake up before 10 and now i wake up before my alarm goes off because of my excitement to get to work early. I havnt even been thinking about getting paid to the point where i dont even know when im getting my first paycheck... LOL. Its a rewarding enough job that the money comes second to being at work and having a good time when im there. I love how much im learning and how little it feels like work. Guns are my life and this job really gave me a good idea on how much i love actually working in the industry. I used to think gunsmithing was going to be my career path, but now that im selling guns rather than building them/fixing them, i couldnt be happier. It puts a smile on my face every time i see someone hold a gun that lights up their face. The fact that i can do something that satisfies both the customer and me is truely a blessing. Today is one of my days off, and id much rather be at work than anywhere else... That alone, to me makes it all worth while. Ive never had a job i actually like doing and this job truly is the best thing thats ever happened to me. Almost makes me glad that i didnt spend butt loads of money on college...

So to anyone who wants to realize their dream, just go out there and make it happen. I am living proof that its possible. You just have to start somewhere realistic to your skillsets and go from there. The opportunities are endless. I god this job in the ****tiest economy since the great depression, maybe from luck, but people tell me that i made it happen and that it didnt just fall into my lap. Just work towards your goals and go where life takes you. I had to fail more times in life than i succeeded but in the end, it all seems to be working out better than i could have imagined. All of my failures gave me the drive to succeed, and were the best things that could have happened to me. They made me realize a realistic goal, and the realistic steps towards that goal. Nothing feels better than succeeding because you want to, rather than having the need to.

[spencerk]

Congrats! Do I smell employee discounts? I'm sure I do.

Lol sadly i cannot give discounts to other people. I can only use employee discounts for myself, otherwise, i get fired. Our prices are fair so if you want a gun, martin b retting is a great place to get one. The employees will treat you right, which to me, is a rarity in the firearms industry. I have never been to a gunstore where the employees arent paid on commission, and martin b retting is just that. Our employes dont have the alterior motive to sell you a gun based on getting a cut of the profit. We sell you a gun because YOU want what YOU want. Not what we want. And that is a fact. We give you options, and do our best to not force a sale on you. Thats why we have regulars who have been shopping here for 20+ years.