Big 5 worst experience ever!

[onequickshift]

you go, girl!

I just saying, cause I can understand if they don't think a woman is in a safe mindset to PURCHASE like if she looks like a bubble gum chewing barbie doll beach bunny with to much fake tanner. And just radiates no common sense lol.

Sure, cause they may think a person isn't responsible enough to be buying a fire arm. Which is understandable. Or sure, if they think you are buying it for someone else who is by legal standards not to own, or touch one...ok.

Few things, is; there has to be a reason why the guy didn't sell. Or thought as he did.

Also, why only go to that big5? I just bought a stack on 8 gun security cabinet, Suisse sport Alpine 3lb fill mummy bag, asic running shoes, Timberland wool socks for walking around in home comfy like, a 22 795 from marlin, boxes and boxes of ammo, mossberg security shotty 8 shot for $269 a few boxes of ammo, LOTS of gym clothes, and I came in after working out, in pink top, shorts, letting my fake boobs hang out, and acting tart. Asked alot of ignorant questions that shouldve raised concerns, like OH GEE, THIS WOMAN is just a doll, shes buying a dangerous item, she shouldn't be buying. And I completed my paperwork, and am waiting to take them home in a few days.

Point is, a sale is a sale, and they really would want to complete it, after the whole charade, I acted normal, exhibited proper handling and system manipulation. Showed off a few handling gestures with their knives, yada yada.

maybe your bf looked gruff? Maybe the sales person was just a jerk? Or maybe you said something to raise an invisible red flag over your head? I dunno. I've had more trouble at turners than big5.

Mostly old perverted guys, or seeing other customers voicing they don't think a woman should be buying guns lol.

Try buying elsewhere. If you buy one, also get cleaning supplies, and make sure you have a locking cabby, if you do not live with your bf, and he doesnt have one or a safe. Cause you need to be able to lock away your fire arm.

If you are looking for ammo some small bulk places like palmetto state armory, and etc are good to buy from. It gets addicting. lol.

[JJ682]

I've worked at Big 5 since 2006 so I feel like I should weigh in.
Let me start off by saying that 95% of all managers (the only ones allowed to sell guns) have never owned a gun. I'd wager to say that an even higher percent than that have never read any laws about guns other then paperwork the corporate office passes down.
I'd even be willing to bet that the corporate office people have never spent any amount of time researching correct firearms laws.

I say all of that to say that no one gets fired faster than someone who messes up a gun sale. To say they are overly cautious is an understatement.
The manager was not judging you or trying to be a jerk, he (like the rest of the managers) is miss informed and under threat of unemployment.

I myself run into problems with buying guns at Big 5 and I work there/know the people selling me the gun personally!

[Shellshocker66]

Personally for myself I've never had a problem at Big 5. I know what I want to look and I don't ask questions.

But I did take a female friend to make a purchase of a shotgun and had a paperwork Nazi yelling at us. It was her first time filling out DROS and suddenly she came to the place where it asks for Birth Place. Technically she was born in West Germany, which of course we know no longer exists. So she asked me how to answer the question. Guy came running over telling me not to help her and that he was going to cancel the sale if I did. I still told her to just put Germany and he gave me the evil eye and walked off till she was done.

I agree with the above poster that most of the folks who work the gun counter don't know much about guns or even look comfortable handing them. But hey sometimes they have deals and you never know what kind of little gem you can find there when they have C&R sales.

[BadKitty]

I went in to a Big 5 on Mira Mesa Blvd. in San Diego about two weeks ago. I am a female and was shopping alone. The two guys behind the counter were both helpful and patient while I looked at some six or so of the shotguns. They answered my questions and one of them even commented on owning one of the particular models I was considering.

It probably helped that I knew a little bit about what I was talking about and had useful questions to ask. Your milage may vary.


BK

[1lostinspace]

Just remember what they told me " .223 is not really a popular round" I guess I should asked what was... I am sorry the fun ended there.

[powaybob]

Perhaps a bit off topic, but California is a community property state. So whatever is purchased by one in the marriage becomes the joint property of both. If both partners in the marriage are eligible to own a firearm, does it really matter who DROS it? I realize the OP was not married, but for those of us who are, what is the difference once it is in the house? All the guns in the house were DROS by me, but a couple of them I bought were for my wife's use. Since we are both eligible to own, that is not a straw purchase.

In our house we defer to apparent expertise- when we remodeled our kitchen my job was to go with her to all the appliance and cabinet stores and look at what she was choosing and say, "Yes dear, that looks great", and then write a check. Buying a gun is a little more personal with concerns of fit and weight and recoil, but she depends on my input in this area.

[WhatsTCP]

I've worked at Big 5 since 2006 so I feel like I should weigh in.
Let me start off by saying that 95% of all managers (the only ones allowed to sell guns) have never owned a gun. I'd wager to say that an even higher percent than that have never read any laws about guns other then paperwork the corporate office passes down.
I'd even be willing to bet that the corporate office people have never spent any amount of time researching correct firearms laws.

I say all of that to say that no one gets fired faster than someone who messes up a gun sale. To say they are overly cautious is an understatement.
The manager was not judging you or trying to be a jerk, he (like the rest of the managers) is miss informed and under threat of unemployment.

I myself run into problems with buying guns at Big 5 and I work there/know the people selling me the gun personally!

this, when I worked there I bought two firearms (mosins of course) and even then things didn't go so smoothly.

And as an employee I've had my fair share of straw buyers. One such case was a young woman that came in wanting to see a .22, a ruger mini 14 and a stoeger coach gun. My curiosity was peaked at her seemingly random choice of firearms asked her what was her intention of the firearm so I could point her in the right direction (just getting into shooting=recommend a .22, want to shoot clays=maybe a nice o/u, etc.) She nervously and quickly replied with "ummm deer". That's when she got my attention as she was starting to act nervous and whatnot. Without even holding or checking out the stoeger coach gun she decided she wanted that one and laid the cash on the counter.

I told her "they'll actually ring you up for it up front after you finish filling out this paperwork and you can pick up your firearm in 11 days " to which she replied "eleven days???? ummm I don't have enough money ill come back later"

she left and never returned. You can bet that if she still had tried to purchase the firearm I would've advised against it. It's not always ONE BIG RED FLAG, but a bunch of smaller ones that add up. Sorry but if you feel offended feel free to purchase it at another location. Any gun owner should know how sensitive the gun hobby is.

When I go look at firearms I'll say whatever I damn please "oh my friend wants one of these".

But when it comes time to purchase a firearm, watch what you say, because anything you say that sounds incriminating might just make that employee think twice. Remember they don't know you, you are a stranger wanting to purchase a firearm

[CA Cowboy]

I know this is an old thread but I just had to chime in.I have had some shaky experiences at Big 5 but Sports Authority was worse.I went in Dec 08 to buy a 10/22 on sale for $179.I had my CDL a Current DMV registration and a handgun safety card in my billfold.The kid behind the counter insisted I did not have the proper paperwork to buy the gun.I had 2 govt issued proof of residency and a Handgun safety card witch you dont even need to buy a longarm I just brought it for good measure.I got the Store Manager and the 10/22 lives with me today.The people working in the chain stores dont know up from down with regard to guns you have to find a manager.