gun shop
I'll be in the Lawrenceville, Il./ Vincennes, Ind. area on the 4th of July long week end. Does anyone know of any gun shops or gun shows in that area at that time.
Thank You
John
Thank You
John
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I went to a shop today I wanted to look at 45s,not one colt,kimber just springfields .He had every model he liked them and sold them.This no way to run a biz but what can he say He doent even use a computer.I asked if he would like to see how to sell guns on the internet he just mumbuled something and walked away.I just can not understand BONEHEAD,BONEHEAD,BONEHEAD 0 -
Well, you could be right. I've seen many gun shops in my area close because the owner knew a lot more about guns than business. I remember one guy who had all his guns in cases without price tags, and then got real annoyed if you asked for the price of more than a couple of guns (he closed).
On the other hand, owning a gun shop, can be difficult under the best of circumstances. Between fixed costs (rent, salaries, utilities, insurance, alarms, safes, etc), and inventory (distributors get paid BEFORE they ship guns), the slightest error in judgement as to what will sell can have severe consequences. The greatest frustration must be for a shop owner to buy a complete line of a manufacturer, then spend time with a customer who wants to handle (and lower the value of) every gun, and then decides to buy his gun from a vest pocket dealer who can save him a few bucks.
It's difficult to put yourself in his shoes. If he doesn't stock what you want, I'm sure he will order it for you from a catalog.
Neal0 -
For all practical purposes, there's no longer that much diff between Springfield, Colt and Kimber in terms of 1911 style guns. If I were buying a 1911 today, it would probably be a Springfield anyway as it would be easier to have it gunsmithed to what I want or bought out of the box with enough of the right features.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
I used to do commercial roofing and had a lot of time on my hands during bad winter weather which I spent in the local gunshop. The owner saw an opportunity to help us both out and put me to work part time. No matter how hard I tried I could not convince him to change his way of marketing. The way his father had run the shop in the 1920's was just fine with him. He has NOT gone out of business but I suspect his other income often subsidizes the gun shop operation. 0 -
quote:For all practical purposes, there's no longer that much diff between Springfield, Colt and Kimber in terms of 1911 style guns.
I would have to disagree with that statement, but we can discuss it over in the 'general' forum if you want.
Re: the small one-man gun store, I am afraid that the big store and the internet will drive them out and that is a shame. While they can't afford to carry a lot of inventory, most will order ANYTHING you want and will be there with personal attention for your needs. They are the heart of this business and are usually in it because they love guns and shooting, not just to make a buck.
Going to the big stores (or the chaun stores that just happen to sell guns) is such an impersonal experience. You never get to meet or know the folk there, always a different clerk that usually doesn't know squat about guns.
While you can almost always get a better price at the bigger store, I try to work with my guy to get it into a close to competitive range. May cost a few bucks more but worth it in the long run. Try to bring him new business and he will always appreciate it and work hard for you. Just my $0.02
Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis0 -
nelchris, I think you'd find that he carries only one brand because that's what he can afford to do. Gun stores don't get their stock for free. They buy it from the distributor then re-sell to you.
As to selling on the net, it's not for everyone nor is it the only game in town. (Most of the guys I know would never buy a firearm sight unseen. They want to feel it, see it and then they might part with a couple weeks pay for it.)
On line selling is also expensive to get into both in time and money. Up here, it costs $500Cdn plus to have a web page made, then there's the domain registration($70 a year), upkeep($100 a month for us to manage your server). Plus all the rest of the fees involved with having it on line(ADSL is $200 a month, we provide the equipment). Never mind that places like Amazon.com have huge sales figures but have never made a dime in profit.
Either way, how a guy runs his business is up to him.0 -
This is a topic I've thought about often. I don't own or work in a gun store, and certainly don't have the definitive answer about how to most profitably operate one. However, I've been as frustrated as could be when it comes to shopping for guns.
For example, based largely on what I've read on the internet, I became interested in CZ pistols and rifles. I don't have a CZ dealer within 90 minutes of my home, however, and the one that is 90 minutes away is in the neighboring state where I can't buy a handgun anyway. I went to four local stores inquiring about CZ guns. Two wouldn't even look up prices for me, saying they "don't handle them". Of the two that looked up prices - one obviously didn't know anything about CZs (which I understand) and quoted me a price that was much, much higher than it should have been (I'm guessing he looked up a similar but different rifle that costs more). It took me 3 phone calls and 2 visits to get a price out of the last one.
Two of you guys mention that most dealers will order guns in for you. That's true, but only if buy the gun sight unseen. I wasn't willing to do that on a gun I've never seen before. Certainly, none of the stores offered to get one in without me promising to buy it in advance. I've had this happen with other guns I've wanted to see in brands my local stores do carry. None have ever offered to have one shipped in for me to look at, even at stores where I regularly buy guns and ammo. I know stores can't have everything in stock, but the complete lack of customer service amazes me.
Regarding the CZ, I waited until I was out of town for business where a CZ dealer is located. I felt kind of bad looking at the guns with no intention of buying them (out of state, so I couldn't buy the handgun there), but it was the only way I could figure out how to handle one before buying. I ended up buying a CZ pistol on the internet and had it shipped to my local dealer. I did end up going back to the out-of-state dealer to buy a CZ .22 rifle, even though I could have saved a couple of bucks buying it online.0 -
Buying at a gun shop is always a mixed bag. I always prefer to buy guns at my small local shop, some accessories and ammo there as well. I like some of the bigger stores for some supplies and a chance to drool over some different guns (haven't bought elsewhere yet), and the internet for most everything else.
One thing for sure. We'd be DOA without our local shops. I'd rather put up with a few idiosyncracies in the short run for long run exercise of our most essential freedons.
Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead0 -
I had really planned to just sit on the sidelines on this post, but as one of those "bonehead" dealers who sells only the models he likes, I just had to chime in. I have been a licensed dealer here in Southern California since 1982 and that is quite a while for an independent FFL to still be selling guns. There is a reason why guys like me are still around- we handle the items the big boys would never touch because the market is too small. The specialty firearms that you never see in the bigger shops due to limited sales potential.
I cut my teeth in the gun business working for one of the larger gun stores in Orange County. This was a full service gun store which handled hunting, commemeratives , target guns (long guns and handguns), high end collectables (Colt's, Winchester's,Civil War, WWI, WWII), reloading, you name it we sold it. The shop was owned by Mr. Sam Fowler. Those who have read my posts often hear me mention the name Mr. Sam. Sam was one of the last true hard core collectors. Picture JudgeColt, I. Scout, Neal Meyer's, V35, RancheroPaul, Iconoclast and a bunch of others on this board all rolled into one man. HE KNEW IT ALL and was willing to share what he knew. Walk into the old shop and you walked out with an education...and lighter in the wallet if we did our jobs!
Just like Mr. Sam, most of these old guys are now dead and their shops either died with them or were taken over by men who were just looking for a fast buck or felt that they knew enough about guns to run a gun shop. In nearly every case these guys were badly mistaken and went under. To run a store like Mr. Sam's you need tremendous knowlege about guns, deep pockets to buy inventory, and a staff of damn near experts to sell all of those firearms for you. All three of these components are in VERY short supply these days! How many times have you found you knew more about the gun you were being showen than the salesman showing it to you? Too many times I'll bet. As for using a computer- Hell, Mr. Sam hated the idea of the pocket calculator! "I can figure it in my head Mark".
No independent FFL can make a living selling the same items (Glocks, Beretta's, Springfield) as the big shops or the items peddled at Walmart (Ruger 10/22)- I won't even try. But suppose you want something different; like a Walther GSP Match pistol, An older discontinued Colt or S&W, A top line rifle (Mauser 66) or Skeet gun (Remington 3200 1 of 1000)? Where do you go? NOT TO WALMART! You seek out the independent "bonehead" who you think knows so little about business that he actually has these items in stock and will spend as much time as needed to show them to you. If you collect M1 Rifles do you drive to the monster gun shop and check over their stock of "Blue Sky" imported Garands or new cast-receiver, parts-kit, junk? I hope not! You go the the "bonehead" who knows his M1's inside and out and will back up your purchase with a signed statement on the sales receipt that this M1 is correct and your money will be refunded if found otherwise. That is what you'd get from me...the "bonehead". Chris, if you don't like the way the man runs his shop or the inventory he carries just walk out and leave him alone and then go to a shop that better fits your needs...both of you will be much happier!
Mark T. Christian0 -
I would really like to have a "gun shop"! A place where I could sell quality firearms and make people happy and myself some money! Hard to do!! If I stocked everything that any Joe Blow off the street came in an wanted I'd be belly up in no time! If I charge a fair price for my time to rebarrel your action to MY satisfaction you woudn't want to pay the price!! (MY satisfaction is no corners cut and no detail left undone) It better shoot or I'm PO'ed more than the customer!! As mch as I'd love to do this, it's a no-brainer as to feasability! So I'll just play with my own stuff and take the kids hunting some more and teach somebody else how to shoot and be satisfied!! Thank oodness for the little shops and stores we still have!!! GHD 0 -
I agree with you Mark about Mr.Sam. Also Hal Sharky in the same shop. I always got good advice and help from both of them. Most fun was to get them talking about WWII weapons. You would learn what to collect what to dump...............Hondo 0 -
THIS WHOLE TOPIC BELONGS ON THE GENERAL DISCUSSION FORUMS......
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0
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