Posted: 2/11/2008 2:56:52 PM EDT
| Do the employees at Gun Stores just make up stuff as the go along or do they really have no idea about the guns they sell? |
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I saw a salesman trying to sell a 44 magnum to a woman maybe 4'8" and perhaps 100lbs. He said "This is the perfect gun for home defense" the woman said "I have never owned a gun before." He said "This gun is perfect for your situation" This woman was in her 60's The pistol would probably break her wrists the first time she fired it. |
The same "sales man" told me...why do you want a .223..its just a big .22...you want this .308 with the EOtech, forward pistol grip, bi-pod and $400 adjustible stock" All because I said I was looking for a home defense carbine for around the ranch... |
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I do expect some level of product knowledge. If I worked at a knife shop. I would learn the products probably in about a week. And I would be knowledgeable about them. If someone asked me a question I did not know. I would tell them I did not know and I would find out for them. I would not try to sell them a samauri sword and tell them it makes a great fishing knife. Nor would I sell them something that is not what they are looking for just to make some type of sales quota or commision. |
aint that the truth. I've worked at one for about 2.5 years now. In all honesty, the weirdo's are on both sides. We've had more than a couple of guys past and present say the most effed up stuff. I flat out ignore one of the guys there b/c of the stupid shit he spews. I gave up arguing with him. Most of the regular customers avoid him at all cost. One of the things he told me was .."The ATF will come to your house and lock you up if you buy that AR-15 pistol simply cause you have a rifle and the parts can interchange to make a SBR.. they call that INTENT" |
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I was at a different store looking to buy a 20" A2 chrome lined AR-15. There were maybe 50 Ar15's on the shelf in 5 collumns about 10 deep. The sales man hands me a 24" stainless barrel flat top. I said "no I am looking for an A2 chrome lined 20" AR15" He then hands me an 16" stag arms flat top with the carry handle mount on it. I said "Never mind" and walked off. |
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Id tell you if I could get any of them to talk to me. My local store is excellent and helpful but doesnt have much stock. Only two guys working and they do their best. Went to another store with by far the biggest inventory Ive ever seen, lots of employees, and because Im not a fudd they wont ever help me because Im typically looking at EBR's. I give them 5 minutes and I walk once I see a clerk not doing anything. Sucks for them because they'd several K a year in business with me, and Ive bought 3 guns from them in the past for about 3500 in sales. |
Thats just plain ignorance on the sales associates part. Sounds like they stole him from the one of the wally worlds that quit selling firearms. I don't claim to know everything about every product we sell, but I will at least point the customer toward an associate that knows more than I do about a certain genre of guns. Most of the older guys refer customers to me when they ask about AR's, AK's, or Mini's and I'll steer them toward the guys that know more about reloading, muzzleloaders, and SAA's. |
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All depends on the gun store. Very small, one owner shops - usually very good as the owner is singularly knowledgable Medium sized shops - ususally crap as the store is motived by profits and not exlemplary customer service Large ( gun stores - NOT Gander Mountain or Dicks) - usually very good as they have a well seasoned staff and a reputation for great service and consulting to protect. "Yous' plays your card and yous takes yous chances" |
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The small store I go to is usually ok. Some of the people that come in every now and then are just damn nuts and sound like they gobble up every conspiracy theory that gets thrown their way. The owner is very knowledgable, and so are the regulars who help out. But some of the others...just smile and nod until you can back yourself out of the store  ETA: Oh yeah, it's a surplus store as well, so you get folks in there who aren't necessarily gun owners hearing some of that stuff. Must make a real good impression. 
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The nuts behind the counter only counter balance the nuts on the other side. Many moons ago I was at my favorite shop/range, now closed for many years. A true melvin who had been shooting on the indoor range walked to the counter and started the following conversation with the man behind the counter; "Hey, how would I go about making this gun full automatic?" Shows the man behind the counter a Raven .25 auto. Man behind the counter replies; "Well, making that thing full automatic wouldnt be worth the effort with its low power and small mag capacity........AND, since I work here part time when I'm not on duty as a deputy sheriff, it's probably not a good thing to be asking me." 
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i worked behind the counter at a gun shop on and off for about 8 years. Still shop there a lot, but i have seen it on both sides as well. i think so many times the sellers are to preoccupied with selling you want they think you should have. Now sometimes that is a correct process and sometimes it isn't. For example, i beginner wanting a semi-auto when a revolver would be a smarter beginning piece. However, when i worked at one, there were a lot of times that i might just go alone with a crazy notion just avoid arguing with the dumbass. I am not an expert by any means, but I have a lot of experience in the horse business and the gun business. And there are more 'experts' in those realms than in any I have ever seen. Just because they read an article or shot a match or rode a horse they think they are experts. But on the other hand, i have had the more than once about coworkers or gun shops I visit.
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When it comes to gun shops I figure both sides of the counter have plenty of stupid on them. Heck, I've been the stupid guy before. Now I'm a bit more informed and take the stupid talk with a grain of salt whether its the guy pushing the product or the guy looking at the product. "Just rack the shotgun" is always my favorite. It comes from everywhere including the local PD. |
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wow you guys need some better shops, or just stop shopping at ChinaMart I don't expect them to know everything, it simply isn't possible. I do expect them to say "I don't know, let me find out" That's more than fair and it makes sense. Both of the two gun shops I go to, the people know their shit and they know when they don't. Their prices are fair to excellent and I've never seen either one push someone into something they really shouldn't be. I spend a lot of money in both these shops and I expect I'm not the only one. Service and knowledge are certainly rewarded. |
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My go-to shop is a private dealer, he's a nice guy and has provided some deals for me in the past. But one day I picked up some sort of Mosin from behind the counter (I have access privileges), and asked him how the bore is. He said "perfect," but I could see rust just inside the muzzle. He's also the kind to give widows $1,000 for a mint .33 WCF takedown Winchester lever-action, mint in original case. I personally don't have a problem with that practice, but I know some people do. |
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One of my personal favorites lately; I'm checking out the selection while there is a very good looking and petite asian lady asking about a Walther PPK, she obviously knows very little about guns. The guy behind the counter says "this is a pretty nice gun, but .380 isn't vey powerful." he said, and with all the bravado of a true wannabe tough guy, "If I was wearing a leather jacket you could shoot me with it and it would hurt but it wouldn't kill me." LOL, WTF? I'm not sure what is a more reliable source of info; gun shops or the Internets. |