Dumb local gun shops

[marksolar]

I'd bet they would pay me a little more attention if I walked in with a Python and says " my dad gave me this, but I don't really like guns, and my wife wants me to get it out of the house. What is it worth and do you guys buy guns ????

Fast forward .... gunbroker.com

[kblack583]

Cordova Shooting Center is GTG. Guys behind counter are always pleasant and helpful.

[ohlone]

I think i know the two shops, i never done business with them but stopped by before, one seemed ok, nice to me, the other one was a bit weird

[Metal Fiend]

I think i know the two shops, i never done business with them but stopped by before, one seemed ok, nice to me, the other one was a bit weird

Same here, been to both and made a purchase from the shop that's next to the auto repair place. I got a decent deal (I think) from him, I was able to negotiate $30 off an sks purchase.
The other shop was kinda weird and the guys behind the counter were very grumpy.

[whipkiller]

I know there isn't big money in performing a ppt, but the parties are gun / ammo people .... potential customers for the business their in.

Funny way to do business .....

If only that were true... Every time I've done one (as buyer) I find myself spending a crap-ton of money on some or all of the following:

Optics
Ammo
Holsters
Magazines
Mag Pouches
Cases
More Ammo
More Magazines

Guess who gets that business... helpful courteous shop or jerkwads?

I'm amazed that some of these guys don't have the foresight & business acumen to understand this.

*Now that I think about it, when I've done them as the seller, that money typically goes for another gun... See above list.

[mycrstuff]

If I were the sales guy the first thing I would do when someone wants a PPT is to ask the seller how much he got for his gun. You then know how much you can get him to spend in your store. A $500 PPT means that the seller now has $500 burning a hole in his pocket.

[RP1911]

yep, I feel ya.

I am about 5 miles from a local gun shop. I moved to this area about 2 years ago and wanted to develop a working relationship with a local retailer. It is helpful to both sides if I bring them money, they often can work with pricing within reason - and I am okay with that and it has worked well for both the retailer I would patronize and for me as I would get reasonable access and pricing on my shooting/hunting needs.

So,
my local gun shop.
I bought a $1k collectible S&W revolver from them
I bought a Seekins lower from them during the panic at a $100 premium as I needed one for a build and would rather pay the extra cash and not have to wait. Good for both of us - extra money for them, no wait for me. I am good with that.
I bought another Stag lower from them.

I asked them to ship a rifle to my father in Oregon for a Christmas present. I gave it to them about 10 business days before Christmas.
I called my dad on Christmas day and he had not heard from anyone.
I called the LGS - no apologies, no explanation, nothing ...
Finally mid-January it finally made it to him.
Lame

I went in about 2 weeks ago and saw a Browning Hi-Power for sale. Went home to do a bit of research.
I decided I wanted it and called back to talk to the person I discussed it with.
Waited on hold until they told me he would call me back. I let the person know I wanted to buy the Hi-power and to have him call me back.

No Call ...

And the simple math here is ... No cash for them any more.

Too bad for them, I just bought another 2 rifles for an upcoming trip this summer.
If the owner and staff weren't such aloof nitwits they would have seen every penny I spent this year on firearms (>15k) flow through their store.
That won't be happening at their store, that is for sure.

Sometimes it amazes me the lack of business sense and overt self-absorbed attitude these guys have. - freakin' ridiculous IMO.

On a completely opposite end of the spectrum (and unfortunately about 50 miles from my place)
Parallax Tactical has always come through with me as promised, great prices (my LGS prices suck in general), and are just normal friendly, socially normal people.
That counts for much in my book.
And so I go there.
In the past 3 weeks, they have received a CZ550 I purchased, I bought a Kahr PM9 from them, and a scope for said CZ550.

It would be funny if I didn't have to drive an hour each way just to deal with decent people.

I've seen a single phone call with a price quote for a firearm turn into a $10K+ per year customer.

[stix213]

This kind of short sighted thinking will eventually close those shops. Anyone that hassles people over doing a PPT is off my list of places I'll buy anything.

[GOLDEN GUN]

Went to big 5 once to sell a .50 Beowulf via ppt, they noticed the caliber and refused to do the transfer as their little paper said no .50 calibers.. It was there a implied version of no .50bmg but it didn't say that.. Just any .50 calibers.. So no ppt there...

Went to the big 5 across town 15 min away and just brought in the lower which said "multi caliber" on it.. Apperently thw doofus at the first big 5 called and warned as the next shop was ready for is and denied the gun before we even took it out.. Stupid..

It was a Sunday and luckily the only gun shop open was right across the street.. Went there.. Had no problems.. I bought a few ammo cans and we went on with our lives..

Another story..

Wanted to do a ppt on a .357... The lady selling the gun didn't know anything about gun stores so I told her meet me at the big 5 near the mall.. I discovered that day that big 5 doesn't so pistols.. Ok.. That's reasonable.. They don't sell pistols.. I can see why u wouldn't trust ur high school employees around them..

Went to the nearest firearms dealer ... "Schmidt and titonis"... Hi can you guys do a Ppt? " no, it's appointment only, call back and come another day"... Grrr I went to the next firearms store a few minutes away.. "Hello can we do a ppt?" "Salesman, sure wel so it right now" very courteous and nice.. While filing out the paperwork I glance just passed the paper into the glass counter and see the kimber my brother always wanted.. I call my brother and let him know that if he doesn't want it, I'm buying it.. The guy overheard and said he had another in the back... We bought 2 1911s that day because he did the ppt.. Over 3k in receipts.. Good job Rinkor arms!

[BigPimping]

I've seen a single phone call with a price quote for a firearm turn into a $10K+ per year customer.

I called Cordelia Gun Exchange about a firearm I wanted and they would not quote a price. I live thirty miles away plus bridge toll here which is 5 dollars. I then called City Arms and......BADA BING!!!!!! Guess who got my money and will get my money?

[BigPimping]

Went to big 5 once to sell a .50 Beowulf via ppt, they noticed the caliber and refused to do the transfer as their little paper said no .50 calibers.. It was there a implied version of no .50bmg but it didn't say that.. Just any .50 calibers.. So no ppt there...

Went to the big 5 across town 15 min away and just brought in the lower which said "multi caliber" on it.. Apperently thw doofus at the first big 5 called and warned as the next shop was ready for is and denied the gun before we even took it out.. Stupid..

It was a Sunday and luckily the only gun shop open was right across the street.. Went there.. Had no problems.. I bought a few ammo cans and we went on with our lives..

Another story..

Wanted to do a ppt on a .357... The lady selling the gun didn't know anything about gun stores so I told her meet me at the big 5 near the mall.. I discovered that day that big 5 doesn't so pistols.. Ok.. That's reasonable.. They don't sell pistols.. I can see why u wouldn't trust ur high school employees around them..

Went to the nearest firearms dealer ... "Schmidt and titonis"... Hi can you guys do a Ppt? " no, it's appointment only, call back and come another day"... Grrr I went to the next firearms store a few minutes away.. "Hello can we do a ppt?" "Salesman, sure wel so it right now" very courteous and nice.. While filing out the paperwork I glance just passed the paper into the glass counter and see the kimber my brother always wanted.. I call my brother and let him know that if he doesn't want it, I'm buying it.. The guy overheard and said he had another in the back... We bought 2 1911s that day because he did the ppt.. Over 3k in receipts.. Good job Rinkor arms!

Good man!!!!! I love hearing stuff like that.

[navin r]

How about just trying to find parts and accessories at a LGS? I went in 3 different LGS's in the L.A. area just looking for some chamber safety flags, those little plastic things; none of them had even one! Got em from Amazon. I try to support LGS's but honestly their ammo prices are ridiculous and they don't have many parts.

[slum5150]

Kaufmann Tactical Firearms in Fresno will eagerly do a ppt...........

for $70!

[PBCRM88]

Kaufmann Tactical Firearms in Fresno will eagerly do a ppt...........

for $70!

Uhh that's illegal... CA state law states FFL can only charge $35 max. Hope no one is dumb enough to pay that fee...

[ElDub1950]

I don't mind that some LGS have limitations on doing ppts. But only because I believe in their right to run their business. I think it's dumb of them to do so because it turns off customers and they lose business as this thread proves.

But I've seen so many threads about problems with LGS doing ppt, requiring appointments, over charging etc, I'd never go without calling ahead of time.