Elmore’s hit AGAIN!

[88E30M50]

I don't think that most of the guys at Elmore's are bad guys. I've bought a lot of stuff there over the years and always got along well with most of the guys working there, but there were a few that just were lacking in personality. The main issue was that they just don't seem to care for new customers. They make enough money apparently with the usual folks and cop friends, but just don't need most new customers that walk in the door. That business model apparently works for them, but it does suck when you stop by during lunch and all of the counters have employees eating lunch on them and nobody that gives a rat's back side about letting you take a look at what you stopped by to see.

It's their shop and they can run it how they like, but it's cost them business. I won't say that I'll never go in there again, but it's never my first choice. It's been a year or maybe two since I've been in there because the guys at The Outdoorsman and USDS are more than happy to take the money from me that Elmore's doesn't seem to care about.

Still, while it's not my favorite shop, I sure don't wish a burglary on them. I do wish that they'd get some better security camera's though.

 

[DanVoils]

Still, while it's not my favorite shop, I sure don't wish a burglary on them. I do wish that they'd get some better security camera's though.

Maybe they have great cameras but the lens is covered with smoke residue? A little Windex and a soft rag might solve the problem!

 

[Indy317]

I don't do a lot of gun shopping anymore, been years really. I sometimes stop off at a place once or twice a year, but usually when I'm in the area. I haven't been to Elmore's for years, and when I come to think of it, it might have been over ten years. I remember years ago going into the place and the smoke odor was pretty strong. With so many stores that have opened in the just the last seven or so years, I have to believe that competition is pretty fierce.

 

[OurDee]

I have had my favorite stores. In Northern Illinois it was Gilmore's. The lady that owns it used to run an auto repair shop before turning it into a classy gun store. Dead eye at the range too. Beachgrove used to have a store named Albro's. I did a fair bit of horse trading there. Always a fair shake from Albro. And now for one that probably never had a good word said about it. I used to live behind Don's Guns range on the south side. There were a couple sales people in there that were my friends and I was in there almost every night. I enjoyed being able to load a few rounds walk across the parking lot and test them out. Made it easy to work up loads. I'll leave this on a possitive note and not say what I didn't like.

 

[Ggreen]

Elmore's may not be for everybody, but it is a solid store with a lot of things on the shelf that can be hard to come by elsewhere. It is like the crazy grandpa of gun stores they are set in their ways, dismissive of younger guys, and kind of stinky, but they are also fairly knowledgeable (hard to find at most gun stores), honest to a fault, and they keep a generous supply of accessories on hand. I have been in there 4 times the first was a shock trip smoky less than welcoming staff, I left after a lap without even looking at prices. The second trip was less smoky, still rude, but I did look at their shelves. The third trip was just as rude but I was looking for a specific holster that they did not have. Last trip I was looking for hot 40sw 180gr for deer season and ended up walking out with a holster, ammo, and a gun. Each trip that I did not make a purchase was followed by a purchase at a shop just down the road. The last trip I was ignored for a good 15 minutes while they were trying to work a deal with a guy who didn't end up having money to buy that day. By the time they "got" to me I had eyed the rifle I knew I wanted and just needed some advice on ammo. I almost walked, but I can kind of understand their position. The salesman was showing multiple rifles to a guy in work boots, jeans and an camo cap meanwhile I was in work khaki's and a nicer non hooded sweat shirt I'm sure they have a customer profile that leads to sales. Every LGS I've ever been in has it's own eccentricities elmores is an interesting shop, and the local shooting community would lose a valuable resource if we lost it. It isn't for everyone, but no single shop is. I would not recommend anyone to go get their first gun there because it is not inviting, but it is a valuable local asset. There are very few shops that I would suggest a first timer go to tho, my favorite local shop has a kid working behind the counter who really needs another 5 to 10 years before he should be tossing around the "advice and suggestions" he throws around, while at Elmore's I know I'm talking to someone who has put a substantial amount of lead down range. I've been into a lot of gunshops that push expensive brands in stock over cheaper brands in stock without being able to back up why the two ar15's are different (especially when they are both free float handguards). I've watched the guy at Elmores sell a more expensive ar the right way, by showing the differences and upgrades from one to the other. There are very few shops with a sales staff that can do that.

 

[wakproductions]

I live about two minutes away and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been in the store.
I’ve got mixed feelings about the place. I’d hate to see ANY gun shop close but if they did, it’d be their own fault.
I guess they get enough business, but they could have so much more if they would just be receptive to new and younger customers, greet people when they enter, maybe even smile occasionally!? (I know, that’s a lot to ask!)

I live close by to them. One day while leaving LA Fitness I thought I'd drop in there to check the place out. There were a few older gentlemen standing in front who gave me a cold stare as I pulled up. Maybe it was too close to closing time. Not very inviting, so rather than getting out of the car I decided to leave.

 

[Alpo]

You have to realize that some of the guys coming from the fitness club are dressed perhaps in a non-firearm set of fashions

 

[WebSnyper]

Never been in the place, but also never sought it out due to the reviews I have read here, and just not evidently needing anything they have. So, I have no specifics to base this on, but part of the reason some of these places don't make any changes, etc is because they don't really go check out their competition. That said, if they are making money and staying open, more power to them. Not everyone needs to try and be the top dog or the #1 market share, etc. However, it is kind of short sighted not to look at what your competition is doing and see if some of it could apply, etc, as well as keep an eye on online mentions, etc.

Some of these places just become self contained and have no real idea what is happening in a particular industry outside of their walls. The ones that do break out of that mindset, before they are in failure mode can make some great changes. Plainfield Shooting Supply is one that comes to mind. One of my go to shops, but primarily because of their good prices (on what I was generally in the market for) and better than any LGS I have compared for trade in prices, but the shop itself was a dump and suffered from many of the same things I see people complaining about in this thread. Then the store had to be moved to a new location, and it seems Bob must have done some research due to needing to move and made some great changes.

 

[hemicharger]

I know these guys were going for guns, but the cash they could make from the accessories on the shelves at Elmore's on ebay.... Most of the shops I frequent have resorted to locking everything up every night in a safe. What a pain for these shops with lots of stock.

When I worked at a gun shop, that's what we did every night. We locked up the guns in a few big safes and cable locked the cheaper long guns. Yes it was a pain in the butt but never did have any get stolen

 

[Ggreen]

Never been in the place, but also never sought it out due to the reviews I have read here, and just not evidently needing anything they have. So, I have no specifics to base this on, but part of the reason some of these places don't make any changes, etc is because they don't really go check out their competition. That said, if they are making money and staying open, more power to them. Not everyone needs to try and be the top dog or the #1 market share, etc. However, it is kind of short sighted not to look at what your competition is doing and see if some of it could apply, etc, as well as keep an eye on online mentions, etc.

Some of these places just become self contained and have no real idea what is happening in a particular industry outside of their walls. The ones that do break out of that mindset, before they are in failure mode can make some great changes. Plainfield Shooting Supply is one that comes to mind. One of my go to shops, but primarily because of their good prices (on what I was generally in the market for) and better than any LGS I have compared for trade in prices, but the shop itself was a dump and suffered from many of the same things I see people complaining about in this thread. Then the store had to be moved to a new location, and it seems Bob must have done some research due to needing to move and made some great changes.

Elmore's is pretty savvy on what is going on in the industry. I've been to a lot of shops and very few are as contemporary as Elmore's. Nice selection of quality kydex, competition gear, modern optics, a lot of modern firearms, etc... It is as up to date as any shop around other than their smoking policy. As far as everyone getting the cold shoulder when they walk in the door, that is a more universal reaction when walking into gun stores than most people like to lead on. A lot of us have our particular shops where we become the welcomed few, but most locally owned small gun shop keepers are downright rude until you slide your plastic into their slot a few times.

 

[WebSnyper]

dupe

 

[Leadeye]

Old guns? Haven't been there.

 

[LP1]

Went in one time a few years ago looking for a tuckable holster. Guy acted like he had never heard of such a thing. Don't know if he was ignorant or just jerking me around, but haven't been back to find out, and have no plans to return. Plenty of other places to spend my money.

Glad they only took a handful of guns - sounds like most of the stuff was locked up, as it should be.

 

[churchmouse]

Elmore's is pretty savvy on what is going on in the industry. I've been to a lot of shops and very few are as contemporary as Elmore's. Nice selection of quality kydex, competition gear, modern optics, a lot of modern firearms, etc... It is as up to date as any shop around other than their smoking policy. As far as everyone getting the cold shoulder when they walk in the door, that is a more universal reaction when walking into gun stores than most people like to lead on. A lot of us have our particular shops where we become the welcomed few, but most locally owned small gun shop keepers are downright rude until you slide your plastic into their slot a few times.

Not so much. If they are rude then I just leave.
Yes we all have our favorite places.

 

[Ggreen]

Not so much. If they are rude then I just leave.
Yes we all have our favorite places.

I'm just a glutton for punishment, but I won't go out of my way to shop there. When I'm close I'll stop by the

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

Reward offered!

https://www.ammoland.com/2017/11/at...ail&utm_term=0_6f6fac3eaa-b1ef90a404-20594033

 

[MarkC]

I hope they can find these guy(s). It has got to be frustrating for GPD and Elmore's to keep getting hit. Although I don't shop there much anymore, I hate to see this happen to any small, local businessperson.

- - - Updated - - -

I hope they can find these guy(s). It has got to be frustrating for GPD and Elmore's to keep getting hit. Although I don't shop there much anymore, I hate to see this happen to any small, local businessperson.

 

[DanVoils]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I was reading an article on Fox 59 and this popped up down below.

Teen arrested for stealing firearms from Greenwood gun store | FOX59

Glad they at least caught him but shame they only found one gun.

 

[citizenkane]

He's 19 and already a convicted felon. He must not have got much jail time for him to be back out on the street already.

 

[223 Gunner]

I do wonder how many of those guns were sold on Armslist?