who hates this?

[CSACANNONEER]

I bought my first "gun" from a shop when I was 14. It was a Benjamin .22 air rifle that they had to order for me. They felt sorry for me because the used S&W they had had just sold so, they ordered and sold me a new gun at or below their cost. They treated me like new customer that they wanted repeat bussiness from. Of course, they got both my bussiness and my dad's until they closed. At first, I would go into the shop alone and they did not know who I was yet, I must have had the right ATTITUDE because, I was always treated like everyone else who walked through the doors. When I've been behind the counter, attitude is what I've always judged people on. I've blown off old guys to show a Chipmunk to a 5 year old and his mother. If you think your poor service is only due to your age, think again. A couple years ago, I sent my 11 year old stepson over to the firearms section of Sportsman's Warehouse in Reno to get some powder. He quickly got help and asked for a jug of H50BMG. The salesman returned with a 1lb can and handed it to him. He almost laughed and politely (his mom was there) told the salesman that he needed the big 8lb jug because 1lb only loads about 27 rounds. The salesman went back and got it for him without any hesitation. This is just another example how the right attitude from a knowledgable youngster allowed a sales person to see past his age and gave him the respect that any customer deserves. If you think that poor sevice is a result of your age, try changing your young "know-it-all" or "imature" attitude. If you know your poor service is only due to your age, find another shop to go to.

[ViPER395]

I HATE THAT!!

I'm 30, but look like i'm 17 so I get ignored until the guys in the fishing vests clear.

i wanna know if im alone on this one. ok who hates when people treat us like crap cuz we are younger and are into guns? ok cuz everytime i go to a gun shop the people dont even wanna help me cuz im not 60 or something

[AJAX22]

young customers are excelent long term investments for buisnesses.
Just because they don't have a lot of money right now, doesn't mean they won't have a lot in the future (when you stop having to pay 60K per year on tuition you find yourself with a lot of disposable income)

treat them right and they'll come back for the next 50 years.

[technique]

I have never had a problem...when I go into a shop, I never take special care in how I dress. Heck I don't even bother talking to the employees half the time, most that really ever comes out is.."can I see that?".."I'll take it!".

But locally, I know everyone and they know me. So...


I understand younger folks (well I'm 25) have lots of questions. I find personally, if I even set foot in a gunshop I am already there because I know what I want..I'm not really "shopping". I have already done my research and I'm purchasing. Or I'm just grabbing ammo.

[360PA]

80% of the goons behind the counter don't know what they are talking about or are just offering up their opinion as they have their preferences. Know all you can before you go so that you don't have to ask too many questions if any at all. I remember buying a savage bolt gun used from a shop. I didn't know how to take the bolt out of the gun. I came back to the shop to ask and 3 of them were monkey-f#*%ng the gun before another guy that knew what the heck he was doing came out. I mean a savage is a common gun, and they didn't know?

[dark45]

i have gone in some stores and been looked at oddly, longer hair, lip ring, gaged ears, eyebrow rings, black metal shirt, dark blue or black jeans, and a heavy coat on. but once i go in talk to the guy make eye contact ask how the doj has been treating them and ask if they have "insert gun i am looking for here" instock or if they can get for me they lighten up. its not always about looks if they are slightly open to diference that is. its about atitude and respect. if they don't like your kind i doubt you will like their kind so agree to dissagree wright the gas money loss to learning who to avoide and find a place that you can agree with. it isn't always as personal as one might think. you say its retail well yes it is but there is a twist, most of the entire country hates there living guts and the goverment tries to kill their buissness or find an excuse to all the time. get used to it, or if you can't find a place suck it up, be a man, play their game, and get what you want. end of story.

[leitung]

Here is some tips for the younger guys that are getting into guns, just based on my experence.

1)Dress nicely, before going to the gun shop, or if I know I am going to a gun store, I leave my Sean Johns and Rocawears at home. Dress for the enviroment, usually I wear my craftsman jacket I wear when I go fishing or something and a fruit of the loom t-shirt and jeans.

2)Talk right.. That means not calling the dealer "homie", "cuz", "dude", "homeboy" e.t.c.. Avoid terms such as "hella", "gat", "hecka", and "yo". "Yes Sir/Ma'am No Sir/Ma'am" really help things along.

3) Make eye contact when possible, I know it's hard becuase you are drooling all over the wide array of firearms, but this shows honesty.

4) Act mature.. this really goes without saying. Act like an adult and you most likely will be treated as such.

5) Know what you are doing there.. If you are looking for a certain gun, remember what it is, what caliber you want it in, and what features you want. If you are there to find something to spend money on, I usualy ask the dealer straight up what the specials are.

6) Take an older buddy if possible. I find having my dad come along really relaxes dealers, he puts on the "old white guy" thing really good...

7) Have your ID ready, I usually take my ID out of my wallet and put it in a quickly accessible pocket. Give it up without a fight or any questions when carded. Also, if you are under 21 and dont have a parent or someone older than 21 along with you, enjoy looking at handguns through the glass.. Dont even bother to ask..

I hope this helps, feel free to add to my list...

[wilson_wwsc]

I went to a big 5 and they were all nice poeple, and knowledgeable about the gusn they had. I dont remember a time when I wasn't treated well at a gun store, and im 20.

[rojocorsa]

Politeness is king.

[Blue]

I went to a big 5 and they were all nice poeple, and knowledgeable about the gusn they had. I dont remember a time when I wasn't treated well at a gun store, and im 20.

Big 5 is hardly a gun shop.

[ViPER395]

Which even strengthens his point.

Usually Big 5 are a bunch of sissy-man and soccer players with a part time job only for the cash. They usually know nothing about guns. Very little about anything else. IIRC a Big 5 manager is the only person who can sell the guns, and although the one I bought my Model 60 at knew a little bit, he was no expert, and i've seen much worse at other Big 5's.

Big 5 is hardly a gun shop.

[Turo]

I never had a problem with being ignored in gun shops when I was with my dad. The very first time I went in alone (I was 19 at the time) I was treated like a regular customer and was allowed to inspect all the firearms I asked to look at. The second time, however, in the same store, I asked to see a handgun that I had actually handled the day before and the guy flat out told me "No." I was polite and courteous and asked why not, when he told me that it was illegal for people under 21 to hold pistols. Basically his idea was, "I'm not getting commission off this kid, so I'm going to tell him to buzz off."

Needless to say I told him I would be taking my business elsewhere, and I did.

[sega18]

I am 17 and have been to two gun shops. I wanted an AR15 and decided to make it into a "father son project" with my dad (mostly because I'm, well, 17). So we knew we were looking for an OLL. We went to Canyon Sports in Martinez. We went in and asked if they had any OLLs and they showed us the only one they had. They wanted $400 for it, and told my dad and I that we were better off buying a complete AR (they tried to sell us a S&W for about 2k). They were very friendly, but their priced weren't exactly competitive. However, they WERE friendly. Probably because of my dad. The second store we went to was Diablo Valley Gun Works. We bought an OLL there. We didn't socialize that much. They treated us nicely, but I'd go to Canyon Sports to fondle.

[MikeinnLA]

i wanna know if im alone on this one. ok who hates when people treat us like crap cuz we are younger and are into guns? ok cuz everytime i go to a gun shop the people dont even wanna help me cuz im not 60 or something

They don't hate you because you're young. They hate you because you don't capitalize correctly. Who are you, e.e. cummings?

Mike

[brassburnz]

My son is only 13, but he is known by every gunshop and shooting range we frequent. He's on a first name basis with everyone and gets perks even I don't get. Why? Because not only is he an easy going guy, but he knows more about firearms than just about all the customers and shooters we see.

He was raised around firearms and can tell in an instant if somebody is a newbie or not. One day we were in a gunstore and a customer was waiving a pistol around with no clue where the muzzle was pointed. Every time my son was just about to get swept, he'd duck and back up. After the customer left, the counter guy laughed and made a comment about my son's "dance." My son said, "I know the Glock wasn't loaded. I just don't like to get swept."

When he is old enough to buy his first firearm, hopefully his friends will still be at the gunstores and the ranges. But we do live in L.A., and who knows how things will be.