Rude Gun Shops ?

[CavTrooper]

In California, we are REQUIRED to do transactions through an FFL, so gunshops have a government mandated customer base. If gunshops had to depend on customer service and good reputaion to draw customers in, there would be a whole bunch of them going out of buisness.

[kemasa]

The only difference in CA is in regards to a PPT and a FFL is NOT going to survive in business with the $10 fee for doing a PPT.

I think that the main thing is that it is hard to open and run a gunshop, so it makes competition less likely. Since there are fewer choices today, that allows that bad places to stay in business.

Also, customers can be the reason why rude places stay in business. Often customers are more concerned with price, rather than good service (take a look at Walmart). There was a gunshop called B&B which had the best prices and the worse service, but many people would still go there. I did not and instead paid more to buy elsewhere. I heard that the reason that they went out of business was due to both of the owners being arrested (one for drugs and the other for illegal firearms transfers).

The bottom line is that you get what you pay for.

[CavTrooper]

The only difference in CA is in regards to a PPT and a FFL is NOT going to survive in business with the $10 fee for doing a PPT.

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you are right about that, however, the requirement to complete transactions through a FFL brings customers in to the store to purchase other items, makes purchasing firearms through the internet an expensive prospect which drives people in to the shops, and a whole host of other issues that brings people in to shops when in the rest of the country they normally wouldnt.

With some internet dealers reluctant to sell anything to CA customers, the FUD thats spread by dealers and customers alike and the laws that require customers to go in to a shop, the FFL has a really good chance to expand thier customer base if they can see past the "$10 fee for ppt" thing.

[straykiller]

you know what i live in the fresno area to and i feel the same exact way, many are rude and unpleasant and just plain out ignore you, and a lot of the time at a certain one they act like there better than you and thats just not right. there are some good ones but very very few, i just recall going to la to pick up a gun from a member on this board at OC Armory , probably some of the most friendly and dow to earth guys i have ever dealt with i have debated driving down for my next purchase just because id rather do business with them, also another good company is ammo dogs i just discovered, good ammo prices and honestly the most friendly guys i have met down here in town , i have done business with them and plan on continuing to in the future

[voiceoftheright]

I think a lot of it has to do with arrogance that many "gun" owners seem to have. Especially if you go to "tactical" stores where they think everyone knows nothing or aren't equipped with the most expensive gear because they aren't wearing a Magpul shirt and hat, therefore know nothing and will accept someone so "knowledgable" about this stuff treating them like crap. I'm sure the looky-loos play a factor, but isn't that in any business really? People want to check stuff out, especially when deciding to spend hundreds of dollars, if not thousands. I never understand this mentality, because if I owned a store I would jump at the chance to try to inform possible newcomers in their possible new decisions. Looky-loos that are in their every-other-day, understandable if you don't jump at the chance, but you still don't need to be a dick.

[kemasa]

you are right about that, however, the requirement to complete transactions through a FFL brings customers in to the store to purchase other items, makes purchasing firearms through the internet an expensive prospect which drives people in to the shops, and a whole host of other issues that brings people in to shops when in the rest of the country they normally wouldnt.

Yes, the PPT requirement brings people and that is why the FFLs should not complain about the low cost.

In all other states, the person has to have a firearm delivered to a FFL, so it is the same. Some customers think that the FFL should do Internet transfers cheap, which is an attitude which can cause problems. It also means that the gunshop is not making much money to pay the overhead expenses.

With the exception of the PPT requirement, there is NO other issue which brings people into the shops which the rest of the county does not also have. If you think that there is some other reason, then please express it.

With some internet dealers reluctant to sell anything to CA customers, the FUD thats spread by dealers and customers alike and the laws that require customers to go in to a shop, the FFL has a really good chance to expand thier customer base if they can see past the "$10 fee for ppt" thing.

Yes, there are laws which hassle out of state FFLs, but often you can talk them into it by telling them that the anti-gun people don't want you to ship a firearm to CA.

What laws, other than a PPT, require a person in CA to go to a shop which does not exist in all the other states???

Yes, the FFL should see past the $10 for a PPT.

[CavTrooper]

Outside of having a firearm mailed to your FFL (in other states) you can complete PPTs face to face between two people who are residents of the same state. In CA, you must complete that transfer at an FFL.

The LAWS in CA cause so much FUD to be spread that the majority of folks who are interested in firearms but not familiar with the laws end up in the gun shop to do ANY transaction at all, purchase ammo, parts, accessories,etc.

Its not the laws that REQUIRE a person to go to a shop, its the FUD that drives them there.

[gn3hz3ku1*]

forget that.. id say something.. so what if they have your gun? what can they do? if your 10 day is up it's YOUR gun...

I did a transfer at Gunrunners in Duarte and when I went in to pay first ($100 - which is quite high) the short fat old guy asks me what do I need, I tell him I'm paying for a transfer....He just turned around and helped the guy that came in about 20 minutes after me. That's right, I was waiting for 20 minutes for them to say a word to me. Meanwhile, the whole store had 1 customer. So guy came from the back and eventually helped me.

When I went back 10 days later to pick up, the younger guy that usually works on the guns (I think Kevin was his name) was having a discussion with another employee at the store for about 8-10 minutes before he said a word to me, but before he said it he turned to the other employee and said "look how much patience this guy has" referring to me...I was thinking WTF but didn't say a word because they still had my gun which I was there to pick up.

Reason I went there even knowing of their poor customer service: my usual FFL started charging tax on transfers... =(

[Bobshouse]

Hey, you want better service? Howabout comming in armed with just a minute amount of knowledge on what your looking for?

Try sitting behind the counter when a guy comes in asking questions, looking at and having you price 18 different models, all under $135.00 brand new. Then having to spend an hour explaining why he can't purchase those cheap "saturday night specials" in California.

You practically beg them to look at a little higher priced firearms, but they continually hit on the cheap pieces of crap...cause they want a gun to shoot, but don't want to spend any money for it.

They don't know what they want to shoot, or how their going to use the firearm, but they want one...one with a barrel about yay long and bullets come out the end, big bullets...but no recoil, don't want no recoil.

Then, while your dealing with Mr. Titewad, you lose two sales to people who know what they want and don't mind spending some of their hard earned cash for a quality firearm that will probably outlast their grandkids.

The internet has discussions on just about everything out there, read up and come in halfway prepared.

Im pretty sure everyone here has seen the threads with pictures of the "unique" walmart shoppers....well, they visit gunshops as well.

[corrupt]

Hey, you want better service? Howabout comming in armed with just a minute amount of knowledge on what your looking for?

Try sitting behind the counter when a guy comes in asking questions, looking at and having you price 18 different models, all under $135.00 brand new. Then having to spend an hour explaining why he can't purchase those cheap "saturday night specials" in California.

You practically beg them to look at a little higher priced firearms, but they continually hit on the cheap pieces of crap...cause they want a gun to shoot, but don't want to spend any money for it.

They don't know what they want to shoot, or how their going to use the firearm, but they want one...one with a barrel about yay long and bullets come out the end, big bullets...but no recoil, don't want no recoil.

Then, while your dealing with Mr. Titewad, you lose two sales to people who know what they want and don't mind spending some of their hard earned cash for a quality firearm that will probably outlast their grandkids.

The internet has discussions on just about everything out there, read up and come in halfway prepared.

Im pretty sure everyone here has seen the threads with pictures of the "unique" walmart shoppers....well, they visit gunshops as well.

So what is the answer? You could be lazy and become rude or curt to everyone, or you could learn some customer service skills and perhaps inform the cheapass customer that after having shown him the umpteenth cheap pistol, that you are going to help out some of the other gentlemen in the shop and then get back to him. What's the big deal. Your attitude shows the problem. It comes off as, "stupid customers ruin it for everyone". That should not be the case. There are stupid customers in every shop. Deal with it.

[kemasa]

Reason I went there even knowing of their poor customer service: my usual FFL started charging tax on transfers... =(

Well, you get what you pay for. I doubt that your usual FFL started collecting sales tax because they wanted to, but because they realized that they needed to, unless they are making a mistake. They do not make any money on collecting sales tax.

Sales tax is not collected on PPTs nor on firearms which can be documented to be a private sale, an occasional sale and not from a business. If your usual FFL is charging sales tax on the firearm and/or FFL fee, then they need to be educated.

If this other place did not charge sales tax when they should have, then they are not following the law and they also need to be educated so that they don't end up out of business.

So exactly how much did you save?

[tenpercentfirearms]

So what is the answer? You could be lazy and become rude or curt to everyone, or you could learn some customer service skills and perhaps inform the cheapass customer that after having shown him the umpteenth cheap pistol, that you are going to help out some of the other gentlemen in the shop and then get back to him. What's the big deal. Your attitude shows the problem. It comes off as, "stupid customers ruin it for everyone". That should not be the case. There are stupid customers in every shop. Deal with it.

I kind of agree here. I will spend as much time as it takes with a customer, no matter who they are. The idea is to make every customer feel like they are my number one customer. Cheap skates and those who could care less about price because they have plenty of money, but less time.

You keep some Hi-Point pistols in stock. If the cheapskate wants a cheap pistol, you sell him one. And that is the only reason I keep Hi-Points in stock. I will straight up tell customers I know or like that they would have to force me to sell them one of those pistols. I will do what they ask me to do, but they are going to have to force me to do it. People love that line.

Or I like to use the, "That pistol? That is for my shady customers who come in and think that is a great deal. Those are the people you kind of wonder about so you sell them something that might only work half the time so if a law abiding citizen or police officer ever got in a shoot out with them, they have better odds."

"If you want a gun that is reliable and works every time, but one of these." Either way the $150 pistol is really only a $125 pistol and you probably make more percentage wise on it. Those that don't know any better buy it. Those that know better, wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Either way, everyone leaves the store happy. And that is the key.

I honestly think the only answer to this thread is that some people don't know customer service. They don't understand that dealers need customers and are selling the customer something. You treat people good, they will always come back for more. It seems so common sense to me that you learn how to manage your time with customers. You always greet people at the door. You do what you can to make people feel great. Even if a guy is a complete waste of time, you never let them feel that way.

That is how we do it. We aren't out of business yet.

My dad is kind of a smart guy, he said, "No matter what a guy looks at, always find something good to say about it." I carry Glocks, but if someone wants a SA or a S&W, I'll sell it to them no problem. Honestly, when the price is that close, who cares what I prefer. It isn't about me unless a customer asks what I would choose. And even then I tel them it often doesn't matter. Practice will make the difference more than the gun. Then you sell them some ammo.

[GUNFREAK]

The all the Fresno area consumers out there, I agree with you about the attitudes of the emploees at the gun stores.

I've been fortunate to have made friends that work at some of the gun stores (maybe because I have spent literally thousands over the years) that treat me well. However , at one point I have been in your position and got a rude customer service.

I don't understand why they pre judge people sometimes and treat them like idiots. I guess they are just tired of doing their jobs.

I realize there are many people out there that don't know anything about guns and use poor terminology or sometimes ask dumb questions. Its too bad that these gun shops treat people poorly instead of educating them and leaving them with a good experience with guns. I truly believe this is how we're are going to show rest of the non shooting public that guns are not evil and banning guns is not the answer to crime....that and voting.

Two thumbs up to Breco in Clovis. I have bought several guns there and have recommended much business there because of their friendly straight forward customer service. Their prices are very competitive as well

[eyeluv2fish]

People who have money usually don't wear it. To judge a person by what they are wearing or the way they look is a huge mistake and will ultimately hurt your business.

Funny story... there used to be a guy that wandered around the town where I grew up and he always looked like a bum. People just assumed he was penniless and treated him as such. However, he use to come into our store and drop hundreds on a weekly basis; all cash. When he died, the paper did a write-up about him. Turns out he was a multimillionaire but he chose to live a simple life. A lot of local businesses lost the chance to make a few bucks because they assumed he wasn't worth their time.

Bottom line - never assume. A good rule of thumb in business; for every customer you p*ss off he/she will tell ten others.

[tacticalcity]

Don't get me started. I rarely have a good experience in a brick and mortar gun shop. I buy mine online and have them shipped to a local FFL with whom I have a good relationship. His prices have gone up lately, which stinks, but he bends over backwards to help me get what I want and treats me great.

One store I have had good experiences with is in Oroville. Trying to remember the name. something, something SPORTSMANS. Maybe a local from there will help me out and post the full name. A little pricey, and last time I checked no OLLs, but the old guys behind the counter are friendly to all and happy to see you. As are the really cute girls working the register (if you go in on a good day you get the cute girls - on a bad day you get the old guys - but they are friendly either way).

I see all kinds of posts from gun store owners venting their frustrations about their customers. Sure there are jerks who ruin your day, but their is no excuse for your store to be an uncomfortable place to shop where questions get answered with rudeness and hostility. They act as if we need them more than they need us. That simply is not the case. Thanks to the internet, we have all the options in the world. If you want our businesses, treat us like it. Be rude to me, or act like a jerk and I won't spend a dime.