Why I will never become an FFL dealer

[turnandshoot4]

Because so many people buy cheap crap that has little to no markup.

Example 1:
Buds recently sent me an email about the most sold guns for 2011. The most expensive pistol is a Taurus 1911 with GOLD ACCENTS. Oh yea, hi point made the list too.

I think I will find other ways to make money.

1. Mosin-Nagant M91/30 7.62X54R for $109 DELIVERED

2. New Ruger LCP .380 for $289 DELIVERED

3. S&W Sigma SW9VE 9mm Black/Stainless for $289 DELIVERED

4. S&W Sigma SW40VE .40SW Black/Stainless for $289 DELIVERED

5. Ruger LC9 7+1 9mm Bl 3 dot Adj Sts for $340 DELIVERED

6. Bushmaster CAR15 223 16 BSH REDD DOT for $699 DELIVERED

7. Hi-Point 34510 45ACP/P 45ACP 9RD POLYMEER for $177 DELIVERED

8. Ruger SR9c 9mm Compact Black for $398 DELIVERED

9. Taurus 24/7-9SSP17 9MM PRO SS for $375 DELIVERED

10. Ruger 22/45 Mark III 22LR 5.5" Blued ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS for $259 DELIVERED

11. Ruger SR9c 9mm Compact for $398 DELIVERED

12. Rock Island Armory GI M1911A1 Mil Spec .45 for $380 DELIVERED

13. Mossberg Tactical 22LR Adjustable Stock 25rd Magazine for $249 DELIVERED

14. Kahr Arms 7 + 1 Round 9MM w/3.5" Barrel/Polymer/Stainless for $371 DELIVERED

15. Taurus M1911 45 Stainless W/Gold Highlights for $504 DELIVERED

 

[jgreiner]

Some folks simply don't have the funds to buy some of the better stuff out there. Kids are expensive, etc. When I was younger...I couldn't afford to indulge in buying a lot of guns. Now that I am older...with one almost through college, I have more disposable income. So instead of $200 pocket guns, I am looking at the $1300 1911's.

 

[Regionnus Rattis]

Because so many people buy cheap crap that has little to no markup.

Example 1:
Buds recently sent me an email about the most sold guns for 2011. The most expensive pistol is a Taurus 1911 with GOLD ACCENTS. Oh yea, hi point made the list too.

I think I will find other ways to make money.


12. Rock Island Armory GI M1911A1 Mil Spec .45 for $380 DELIVERED

Hey, that one looks like a good buy!

 

[turnandshoot4]

I am sure it is a good buy. I wouldn't even want to stock this stuff though.

 

[SideArmed]

Just because something is inexpensive, doesn't mean that it is "cheap crap."

I mean hell, the Ruger SR9c is on that list and I would call it anything but "cheap crap". Now that I look at it again, there aren't many guns on the list that I would lable as "crap" at all.

 

[Disposable Heart]

Having worked and ordered for a dealer before, WOW, those are all low margin allstars. When we started ordering Mosins, we would have to order 10, sell 9 to cover the shipping/handling and the last one would be the meager $20 profit for the store. Our store sold Hi Points too, those were a mess. Yeah, yeah, yours works fine, I don't care. For every 1 that went out the door, 3 would come in with issues.

One thing I hated working for an FFL (LGS) was when folks come into the store with a brand new gun and want me to fix it. Flash forward, now I work sales for an Indiana manufacturer that has a warranty situation. We ask that folks contact US directly, instead of hauling it back to the dealer. Why can't gun owners do that?

 

[jedi]

I am sure it is a good buy. I wouldn't even want to stock this stuff though.

When the zombies come I get you will wish you had a Hi-Point in any color in any caliber.

 

[Disposable Heart]

Just because something is inexpensive, doesn't mean that it is "cheap crap."

I mean hell, the Ruger SR9c is on that list and I would call it anything but "cheap crap". Now that I look at it again, there isn't many guns on the list that I would lable as "crap" at all.

Very true. I have an SR9, it's my fav, even over my Glocks and 1911s!!

But, from a dealer perspective, there's no money in them or minimal. The guns aren't necessarily cheap in the perspective of materials, they are cheap in the level of margin. The overhead of your LGS is VERY high compared to other businesses that have higher product turnover. Low margin guns will pay for the chemicals to clean the toliet, but you have to sell ALOT of 'em.

 

[jcharrison05]

Some folks simply don't have the funds to buy some of the better stuff out there. Kids are expensive, etc. When I was younger...I couldn't afford to indulge in buying a lot of guns. Now that I am older...with one almost through college, I have more disposable income. So instead of $200 pocket guns, I am looking at the $1300 1911's.

Just like u said some of us cant afford those $1300 1911's because of kids and disposable income is getting harder and harder to come by. Although I'd like to have the inventory of an FFL dealer.

 

[Birds Away]

I am certain there are a lot of car dealers that sell the crap out of cars they wouldn't be caught dead in. Just sayin'.

 

[Disposable Heart]

Another issue is that the cheaper the gun, the higher the expectation of it's performance seems to be with the end user. Folks expect match accuracy or competition triggers out of Cobra derringers. Their expectations are on par with the product when the cost of the gun (or allure) is higher. Just an observation...

People buy cheap guns, never clean them, use crap ammo (which there is another can 'o' worms with profitability) then get mad at YOU the dealer when they jam or don't work. Heck, 95% of the problem guns that walk in the door still have the factory packing grease in them and their owners are shocked when they are magically 100% when you clean and lube em right.

 

[indykid]

When I worked with a dealer I was amazed at how small the mark up was on even the high end stuff. Many manufacturers control the selling price based on the dealer's standing with them, whether they are just a "dealer" or "distributing dealer" or any other of their favorite terms for their sales people.

And talking about high end stuff, I was shocked when I saw the dealer cost of a certain "high end" 1911 and what the manufacturer required it be sold for. And then at shows people expect discounts on something like that?

That is the reason many of the smaller FFLs whether a store front or not have so many used firearms, because that is where the money is at.

 

[Disposable Heart]

And talking about high end stuff, I was shocked when I saw the dealer cost of a certain "high end" 1911 and what the manufacturer required it be sold for. And then at shows people expect discounts on something like that?

Yeah, gotta love Kimber. Their requirements pretty much require lube and the constitution of Patton himself to pull it off, and for no profit when it's said and done. There is a reason we pulled out in time and why Plainfield Shooting refuses to be a "Kimber dealer".

Just because it looks cool or "should sell well" doesn't mean it will.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Or that "selling well" will make the dealer enough money to cover costs.

 

[Arm America]

It's not supposed to be about the money,
you are supposed to just love to sell guns. Ha Ha Ha............

Thats what Don says.

 

[DaveL]

No one has mentioned how many people go to their LGS, test-handle ten different guns, say "Thank You" and go buy the one they want off the web? I owned a stereo store many years ago. At times, I was the local FREE demo facility for the mailorder houses. Unfortunately, they never paid me anything for providing their showroom for them.

 

[TopDog]

Because so many people buy cheap crap that has little to no markup.

Example 1:
Buds recently sent me an email about the most sold guns for 2011. The most expensive pistol is a Taurus 1911 with GOLD ACCENTS. Oh yea, hi point made the list too.

I think I will find other ways to make money.

1. Mosin-Nagant M91/30 7.62X54R for $109 DELIVERED

2. New Ruger LCP .380 for $289 DELIVERED

3. S&W Sigma SW9VE 9mm Black/Stainless for $289 DELIVERED

4. S&W Sigma SW40VE .40SW Black/Stainless for $289 DELIVERED

5. Ruger LC9 7+1 9mm Bl 3 dot Adj Sts for $340 DELIVERED

6. Bushmaster CAR15 223 16 BSH REDD DOT for $699 DELIVERED

7. Hi-Point 34510 45ACP/P 45ACP 9RD POLYMEER for $177 DELIVERED

8. Ruger SR9c 9mm Compact Black for $398 DELIVERED

9. Taurus 24/7-9SSP17 9MM PRO SS for $375 DELIVERED

10. Ruger 22/45 Mark III 22LR 5.5" Blued ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS for $259 DELIVERED

11. Ruger SR9c 9mm Compact for $398 DELIVERED

12. Rock Island Armory GI M1911A1 Mil Spec .45 for $380 DELIVERED

13. Mossberg Tactical 22LR Adjustable Stock 25rd Magazine for $249 DELIVERED

14. Kahr Arms 7 + 1 Round 9MM w/3.5" Barrel/Polymer/Stainless for $371 DELIVERED

15. Taurus M1911 45 Stainless W/Gold Highlights for $504 DELIVERED

You consider the Rugers, Kahr CW and RIA Mil Spec on this list cheap crap? Not everyone wants to spend big dollars on a handgun, that does not mean they are going to buy cheap crap.

 

[Delmar]

Because so many people buy cheap crap that has little to no markup.

Example 1:
Buds recently sent me an email about the most sold guns for 2011. The most expensive pistol is a Taurus 1911 with GOLD ACCENTS. Oh yea, hi point made the list too.

I think I will find other ways to make money.http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/60546

OK, find another way to make money. Why should that bother me

 

[turnandshoot4]

I consider most of the list "cheap crap." I prefer 1911's at least made somewhere else than the Phillipines or Brazil. For this reason I can't buy most Springfield 1911's.

I guess I just want to stimulate the AMERICAN economy.

Also the fact that the Sigma line of pistols made that list twice and the M&P line didn't make it once shows me people don't care about quality, just that it goes bang.

 

[turnandshoot4]

OK, find another way to make money. Why should that bother me

Shouldn't.