So it is not worth 40 bucks every now and again to be able to come into a friendly gun shop every weekend and look at the new trade in guns? That is what I am saying. This guy buys what, couple, maybe three guns a year? And he won't pay a transfer fee to cover it. Exactly my point. Gun guys are cheap. I am cheap. It is my nature. But I also realize that if I don't open my wallet now and again, my local gun shop WILL CLOSE! Then what? My buddies instead of going to the local gun shop talk about guns we read about, we what, go to your moms basement to talk about them? Grow up and pay a bill. The Gun Shop gives you a place to go, surrounded by like minded people. If you are too cheap to pay for that, well, I don't know what to say. You guys that want to save a few dollars then complain that there are no good gunshops around drive me crazy. YOU have to open your wallet now and again to keep a gunshop in business. No way around that.

If you have a LGS you LIKE, do what you can to give them your business, this doesn't mean you buy everything from them, but do what you can, too many good smaller shops have closed their doors because everybody buys online now, we are all guilty of this, there is a shop going up in Harrisonville, indoor range being built, should have FA rentals, good selection of AR parts, nice people, prices aren't terrible for KC area, a bit high for rural Missouri, but, you have an insane amount of overhead to consider.

That said, if you don't like them buy elsewhere, over 10 years ago, I had some douche that worked for Dennys get shitty with me without good reason, I went in, visited with Chuck a minute,  because I had always enjoyed doing business with him, but I left, and have never been back.  YMMV

Back on topic:

zhamaggid, if you make the jump, good luck.  It can be a challenge, but also rewarding.

Give me a call if we can help.

JJH

Really so you buy every single thing from your LGS?  Don't answer we already know the results. Like I said in my previous post I've literally spent thousands at my LGS, but that doesn't mean they are the only people that get all of my business.  I open my wallet 90% of the time I set foot in any shop and it's mostly for stuff I know I can find cheaper online.  The point is if you have a consumer that gives you business damn near every time he puts a foot in the door show him some love on a transfer that you can't match the price of.  Let the market decide and all, if you don't give me the right price somebody else will.

ETA: By the way I've bought 3 guns this year so far not including NFA items and we've just started the fourth month, rant over

You're a member of the gun-a-month club, huh? You're going to have to step it up there, fella. Don't forget, anti-gun activists once proposed a law limiting people to buying one gun a month. You should double your efforts just to spite them . . .

(This message brought to you by the retail gun sellers of America . . . )

I'm all for supporting my LGS, but only if it's within reason. A few dollars here and there is no problem, but on the $40 transfer fee, we're not talking a just a few dollars difference, we're talking twice as many dollars as what I pay at my FFL. Hell, one guy here in KC advertises $15 transfers. People talk about price gouging with the 22lr and whatnot, well I think $40 for a transfer is more akin to actual gouging because that transfer is required by the government in order for the buyer to purchase the firearm.

And then there's the prices. Full MSRP in many cases. Only a sucker pays full MSRP, whether it's at a car dealership or a gun shop. Back in 2006, I bought a HK P2000 in 9mm. When I was shopping around for it, I called Denny's and Arms Mart both and was quoted $835 or $839 plus tax or some shit like that (the full MSRP, whatever it was at the time). I ended up buying that gun brand new for $679 plus tax from another FFL. Again, we're not talking about $20 difference, or $80, or even $100 difference in price. Denny's and Arms Mart wanted me to pay over $150 more for that gun, and for what? What's funny is if either had quoted me $750, I probably would've never found the $679 guy and they still would've made a nice profit and earned a good customer. But when they're not even trying to be reasonable, well, I'm happy to move on to someone who will.

There have been a lot of good ideas above.  I won't expound on most of them... You cannot be everything to everyone.  Be a specialist and be the best guy in the area for it.   It doesn't mean you don't carry other items.  
Better than average Scopes, mid to upper range AR parts. (I agree 100% with those two)  

Holsters?  A good quality general selection with the ability to get what the customer wants.

Transfers - There are ranges of $20 - $35 in my area.  They are all local GS.  Guess where I go.  You should NOT do them for free.  (I do like the, '"buy $50 and get the transfer free deal")   I would find $50 in stuff to buy.  I guarantee you that I need an extra magazine or two.

Gun prices - Just be competitive.  Remember you have to charge sales tax, while most internet shops don't.  Normally, if it is within $100-$150 bucks including sales tax I am very apt to buy it from you than waiting a week to see what it looks like.  I have bought a number of guns on line because the locals guys would not or could not come off their price, even $25.00.  Yeah, I kick a lot of tires.  But, when I am ready to buy,  I buy.  It may the 1st time I visit your store or the 50th.  I waited 6 months to get my hands on a gun I wanted to purchase because I wanted to see it in person.  I was in the shop every week.  I only bought it there because of the salesman. He knew what I was looking for and could describe it, functions, features, etc.

I like friendly people.  Say "Hi" when people come in.

My .02

The biggest issue I've seen with any locally owned specialty business is them not being open....closed for lunch, closed for going to the bank, closed because they didn't want to work that day, etc.

Sunday can be a huge shopping day, so can evenings.

Don't forget, that old fart who owns the gun shop actually works there. If he's open six days a week, he's probably putting in 50+ hours a week as it is. How many hours do you expect him to work? How many do you work?

Hire more staff, you say? OK, fine, but the sales volume has to be there to justify the extra hours. Unless you're Walmart or DIck's there probably isn't enough business to make it pay. Also, you try to hire somebody you trust to run your business in your absence who is willing to work nights and weekends for what you're able to pay them and see how that goes.

ETA: I wouldn't even think about extending hours unless I had two staff members there for a.) security, and b.) to discourage employee theft/shenanigans. Figure about $30 an hour minimum staff cost just for warm-body level employees. They better sell some stuff and not just be there to entertain the occasional after-hours tire kicker. Is there any wonder that the sporting goods guy at Walmart is always no where to be found in the evening?

I work 60+ hours a week (salary pay at that) it sucks balls so I can relate, but if you're not open you can't sell anything.

Selling to people is much more about their willingness to buy then your selling skills.  And that is the important point.  One of the sales gurus out there has a saying... "All things being equal, people want to do business with people they like.  All things not being equal, people still want to do business with people they like."  It's all about the relationships with your customers.  I come from a sales background and your repeat customers will drive your business.  Very simply, don't treat them like crap and offer good value for a good price.  So what am I looking for in a gun store in KC?  Better than I've seen so far.  I'm pretty sick of the counter-ninjas and the crusty bastards.  But that's why I order most of my stuff from the internet.  I know what I like, what I want and what I need for my shooting...  so cater to that.  Don't sell for you, provide value to your customer.

and with that the soap box is put away...

Obviously.  ( And I'll submit that's probably why they think they can get away with the lies in the first place. )

However.

When a LGS says NO ONE is getting S&W Shields after you've been on a 5- 6 month wait list there - while not willing to let me pre-pay for it - it does suck for them when the customer is reading and seeing pictures of a ton of people loving their new Shields.

Blatant lie by the gun store.  And then they add insult by snickering that you can't believe what you're seeing on the internet.

No problem.  They lose.

I drove right down to Mid America Arms, put my $100 down, and within 6 weeks, I walked out with it.

Mid America told me the truth.  Fair price.  Delivery as promised.

Their parking lot is busy for a reason.  It should be.

Gunshops need to stay open till at least 6pm.  When people get out of work at 5 and shops close then or 5:30, that is a pain.  I know some in KC stay open till 6, and those are the ones I go by.