Guns Shops that aren't willing to deal....

[BogWalker]

$50.00 for the transfer? Seems a bit steep

Shoot, not so much anymore. Every LGS in my area wants $35 for a transfer, and one of them chargers something on the order of $75 or $95 (been a while since I've been in there) if it's a gun they can order from their suppliers.

 

[Cameramonkey]

$50.00 for the transfer? Seems a bit steep

Shoot, not so much anymore. Every LGS in my area wants $35 for a transfer, and one of them chargers something on the order of $75 or $95 (been a while since I've been in there) if it's a gun they can order from their suppliers.

Exactly. I was going worst case scenario. Not everyone is reasonable like USDS.

 

[NyleRN]

I know to a lot of folks paying an extra $40 or so for an item to support local businesses isn't a big deal, but to me it is. I work hard for my money so why should I just give it away for something I can get elsewhere cheaper? I bought several guns this year. My LGS could've gotten them all for me but would've cost me an average of $40-$60 more after sales tax. The money I saved by buying online was enough to pay for a 1000rd case of 9mm. Little bit saved adds up over time

 

[TiMMaY]

I know to a lot of folks paying an extra $40 or so for an item to support local businesses isn't a big deal, but to me it is. I work hard for my money so why should I just give it away for something I can get elsewhere cheaper? I bought several guns this year. My LGS could've gotten them all for me but would've cost me an average of $40-$60 more after sales tax. The money I saved by buying online was enough to pay for a 1000rd case of 9mm. Little bit saved adds up over time

Now you sound like my wife.

 

[VERT]

BUT......they WON' be........see?.....cuzzz....they got'a ONLY potroast in 20 county's............an' it 12.99........


Bet'cha .....ya ain' never been ta a Harley dealer, huh?......

potroast and gas are bad examples. Lot of places in town to buy those commodities and all basically price match. Gas is essentially the same price locally.

Harley's and Wilson Combats you pay the asking price. Supply and demand there I suppose.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Sales tax usually eats more than shipping and transfer fees. That's one advantage of online that's unfair but the reality.

You are still supposed to report and pay that sales tax in your own state arent you?

 

[jss1956]

Shop and shop hard and you will rarely find a better deal than on-line. I quit shopping the LGS a long time ago due to rude sales folks, inflated prices and poor service after the sale. And I'm not just referring to one or two stores. My money is my money and buying for more just to "support" someone doesn't cut it for me. A local merchant in my community recently asked me why I go elsewhere (bigger city) to shop. Simple: Price and selection. Match it and I'll buy from you. No response.

Buy what you want at the price you are willing to pay. All LGS buy from the distributors at the same price. What they choose to charge for their product is their choice or meets their cost structure.

As for the comments on transfer fees: Get a C&R or find someone who is reasonable. Anything over $25 is a ripoff to process a transaction that takes at most, 5-10 min. I walked into an LGS and told them I would give them all my business for $20 per transfer with no increase, ever. Guess what? Been doing $20 transfers for 3+ years. Everyone else pays $30-$35.

 

[Bunnykid68]

You're getting seriously ripped off if your LGS is selling a Shield for $427. My favorite gun shop in Terre Haute, and an INGO advertiser, Terre Haute Guns is selling them for $380.81.

Not much of a deal if you have to spend $50 in gas and 2 hours of your time to get it though

 

[Doug B]

Shop and shop hard and you will rarely find a better deal than on-line. I quit shopping the LGS a long time ago due to rude sales folks, inflated prices and poor service after the sale. And I'm not just referring to one or two stores. My money is my money and buying for more just to "support" someone doesn't cut it for me. A local merchant in my community recently asked me why I go elsewhere (bigger city) to shop. Simple: Price and selection. Match it and I'll buy from you. No response.

Buy what you want at the price you are willing to pay. All LGS buy from the distributors at the same price. What they choose to charge for their product is their choice or meets their cost structure.

As for the comments on transfer fees: Get a C&R or find someone who is reasonable. Anything over $25 is a ripoff to process a transaction that takes at most, 5-10 min. I walked into an LGS and told them I would give them all my business for $20 per transfer with no increase, ever. Guess what? Been doing $20 transfers for 3+ years. Everyone else pays $30-$35.

USDS charges $15 for a transfer. Good folks.

 

[Vamptepes]

How exact is a c&r supposed to help with a new gun? Think about what you said.

 

[churchmouse]

Shop and shop hard and you will rarely find a better deal than on-line. I quit shopping the LGS a long time ago due to rude sales folks, inflated prices and poor service after the sale. And I'm not just referring to one or two stores. My money is my money and buying for more just to "support" someone doesn't cut it for me. A local merchant in my community recently asked me why I go elsewhere (bigger city) to shop. Simple: Price and selection. Match it and I'll buy from you. No response.

Buy what you want at the price you are willing to pay. All LGS buy from the distributors at the same price. What they choose to charge for their product is their choice or meets their cost structure.

As for the comments on transfer fees: Get a C&R or find someone who is reasonable. Anything over $25 is a ripoff to process a transaction that takes at most, 5-10 min. I walked into an LGS and told them I would give them all my business for $20 per transfer with no increase, ever. Guess what? Been doing $20 transfers for 3+ years. Everyone else pays $30-$35.

No, they do not all pay the same price. I have seen the invoicing on new guns. There is no way in hell Buds could sell the way he does if they all paid the "SAME" price. Volume still gets the best price......period.

 

[Snapdragon]

......
They AIN't in bizznizz......ta make you a deal......
Ever......go the grocery store, git up the chekout an' say " Uhhh.....you want'n..... 12.99 fer 'is POTroast....I'ma give ya..?...8 dollars.....an' .59 cents....."
......know whut I mean ?
Try yer logic.....at'a gas pump......ya cain't even PUMP the sh**......till ya pay the price.....

I agree with Harley. (I think..... )

I don't walk into a store expecting to negotiate. Either the price is what I am willing to pay or it is not. If I can get a better deal elsewhere, I just keep on walking.

 

[churchmouse]

I agree with Harley. (I think..... )

I don't walk into a store expecting to negotiate. Either the price is what I am willing to pay or it is not. If I can get a better deal elsewhere, I just keep on walking.

It does not hurt to ask but knowing LGS owners as I do......drop the "On Line" bomb and you are a leper.

 

[jdmack79]

Not much of a deal if you have to spend $50 in gas and 2 hours of your time to get it though

I would suggest he finds a more reasonable LGS, not drive to Terre Haute. I wouldn't shop somewhere that sells for just under MSRP.

 

[jagee]

Usually cash is king. USDS (mentioned above for transfer fee) will work with you on a gun if you're paying with cold hard cash. Plastic is more of a set price. If you lay a stack of cash on the counter you have a better shot at some wiggle room..."this is all I got, take it or leave it"

 

[Snapdragon]

It does not hurt to ask but knowing LGS owners as I do......drop the "On Line" bomb and you are a leper.

I may ask "Is that the best you can do?", but that's it. I hate the back-and-forth games.

 

[churchmouse]

I may ask "Is that the best you can do?", but that's it. I hate the back-and-forth games.

Yeah, me to.
Thing is, after many years playing the game I have a set route of LGS that I will even consider spending money with for any number of reasons. I know them, they know me. Easy peasy and they hate to let me out the door because they know I am going somewhere to buy a gun.
If the price is reasonable and I can get them to eat the tax I usually leave with a gun. I never, ever buy on line. Ever.

 

[Libertarian01]

No, they do not all pay the same price. I have seen the invoicing on new guns. There is no way in hell Buds could sell the way he does if they all paid the "SAME" price. Volume still gets the best price......period.

This is spot on!

Walmart is a perfect example of this. Say Remington has a popular shotgun that it costs Remington $100 to manufacture, including both fixed and variable costs. So Remington sells the shotgun for $100 to their distributors. When Walmart approaches Remington they say, "Hey, we want to offer your product to our customer. However, we are willing to pay $95 per product. With that in mind we want to order and pre-order 5,000 per month with a contract for one (1) year. What do you say?"

Remington is now in a bit of a pickle. They will be losing $25,000 per month on the deal, but on the flip side they are guaranteed a cash flow of $475,000 per month for the next twelve (12) monthes. That guaranteed cash flow is a huge deal to them. They may turn down Walmarts offer, or they may decide to take it with the guaranteed cash flow and just spread the $25,000 to their other dealers. They may even try to improve efficiency and bring their cost down to $95 per shotgun. Whatever they do Walmart is in the catbirds seat by buying in bulk.

The smaller retailer cannot compete with a large company on price, it is impossible. What the LGS needs to do is offer much better service, variety, or something to keep you - the customer - returning time and time again. If they are unwilling or unable to do so they will eventually succumb to extinction evolution places on the free market.

I think that if I ran a gunstore I would also not negotiate on price - ever! It creates too much of a headache for the book keeping to even begin to understand how much profit you are making (or losing) on every sale. The ability to budget and make plans for the future would be much harder if the price wasn't the price.

I would try to regularly use a SWOT analysis to improve my services offered to keep people coming back.

It sounds like in the OP's story the store owner wasn't able to compete solely on price (I get that), but was also unable to compete on service in regards to customer satisfaction. If he is failing on both price AND service it will only be a matter of time before he goes out of business - in which case this will open up a new market for someone else to move in and run the LGS in a better way.

Regards and Happy Holidays,

Doug

 

[jagee]

Yeah, me to.
Thing is, after many years playing the game I have a set route of LGS that I will even consider spending money with for any number of reasons. I know them, they know me. Easy peasy and they hate to let me out the door because they know I am going somewhere to buy a gun.
If the price is reasonable and I can get them to eat the tax I usually leave with a gun. I never, ever buy on line. Ever.

You also have an LGS that calls you when they get a new Springer in the door...we're not all on your level, man.

 

[Snapdragon]

Yeah, me to.
Thing is, after many years playing the game I have a set route of LGS that I will even consider spending money with for any number of reasons. I know them, they know me. Easy peasy and they hate to let me out the door because they know I am going somewhere to buy a gun.
If the price is reasonable and I can get them to eat the tax I usually leave with a gun. I never, ever buy on line. Ever.

We're very limited here in NW IN as far as LGS's. There are only a handful besides the Ganders and Cabellas. It's not too hard to find a pistol, but more difficult to find revolvers, especially if you want something other than a Taurus or a Smith Airweight. Online I can find a better selection and better prices, although buying used is a crapshoot. I've had good luck on all used guns except one, and that one should be easily fixed.