Your local GUN SHOP

[leVieux]

"Use it or lose it!"

As an elder, and one who has operated various small businesses, I am saddened to see & hear so many talk of buying guns or ammo from big box stores, catalog companies, or via internet.

Of course, we all sometimes get an item from Midway, Cheaper than Dirt, etc; but we really need to support our local shops.

I urge everyone to try to buy your guns locally, from YOUR shop. These local shops are so necessary for continuation of our hunting, shooting, & self-protection efforts.

If we, the hunters & shooters, don't use these small businesses, they will close and go away. The repairs, extras, advice, and emergency needs won't have any resource to draw upon.

Please shop your local Gun Shop FIRST !

leVieux

 

[Jarine88]

I shop at AGR Outdoors in Cypress for most of my firearms.

 

[orbitup]

My closest local gun shop does it right. they do most of their business online. They also have a storefront that I frequently visit and spend $$. It's called SWFA, maybe you've heard of it. There is another one in Waxahachie that I spend a little money at too.

 

[Charlie]

I really like my local gunshops but I can't afford to pay the premium they need to stay in business. I'd pay a little more than on-line prices but they want full retail.

 

[Moonpie]

Its not that simple Boss.
There is exactly ONE local gun shop here. If it isn't AR or Glock'ish they do not have it. They will not order it. Many times they have never even heard of it.
Want to see something funny? Go in there and ask for some 1 1/8" English flints for a 1777 Charleville. Or maybe a magazine spring for a C-96 Broomie Mauser. Watch the look on their faces. A computer that is turned off has a less blank looking screen.
Once in there I had them tell me Mossberg no longer makes the M590A1. This is the same shotgun the U.S.military uses currently.
$75.00 for a transfer.

The Internet is the only way I can get most of what I need.

 

[tact]

Explain how these “local shops are necessary for the continuation of ....”.

 

[Texasgordo]

Its not that simple Boss.
There is exactly ONE local gun shop here. If it isn't AR or Glock'ish they do not have it. They will not order it. Many times they have never even heard of it.
Want to see something funny? Go in there and ask for some 1 1/8" English flints for a 1777 Charleville. Or maybe a magazine spring for a C-96 Broomie Mauser. Watch the look on their faces. A computer that is turned off has a less blank looking screen.
Once in there I had them tell me Mossberg no longer makes the M590A1. This is the same shotgun the U.S.military uses currently.
$75.00 for a transfer.

The Internet is the only way I can get most of what I need.

What place is that so I don't bother stopping there?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Big Green]

We have two local ones, I've been in one of them only once and the other a few times to mostly look. Like others said they are significantly higher than I can get online. My biggest issue is the condescending attitude that seems to be present at many gun stores I've been to over the years. In addition to the guys who don't even know what they are selling. I understand car dealerships where it's not really seeking them on a car so much as just selling to them. Guns are different, they are more personal and should be sold as such, not just a sale.

Rare is the gun store worth visiting and purchasing from more than once. Unfortunately.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Having been a dealer and gunsmith of my own one man shop I can relate to issues of cost of items vs the break the chain stores get. Nearly impossible to make any profit solo. And I was doing this before the internet.

Today, I'm retired existing on a meager pension, in a remote area. Closest gun shops are from 30 to 40 miles. I buy from them as well as I am able. But some items they don't carry, well eBay and others are my friends as well. I try to buy locally as much as possible and often do. Powder, primers, and guns (on occasion. I'm not rich). Holsters, loading dies, and off the wall items I get elsewhere.
Ok, I'm done. My goodness I get long winded!

 

[Shady]

if local gun shops existed I would gladly patronize them over the internet.

But for the most part local gun shops have no clue, spread misinformation because they are experts, always want to tell you oh that gun you are looking for sucks the 1911 is way better. No I will not order what you want take what we have or hit the road.

Would I pay 50% more for a gun to get it local nope. The one gunshop I do trust even made the comment that he is happy to transfer guns from internet sales as he makes more on transfer fee 15 bucks for military police and if you have a carry license or 25 with nothing over the profit on a new gun sale and he does not have to carry inventory on guns that don't sell in his area.

 

[Dawico]

I am all for supporting the local gun store if they deserve it.

 

[Texasgordo]

There's one local gun shop that is about $200 above Academy on most guns. I haven't been back since.

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[tact]

Expecting me to pay a substantial amount extra for the same product I can get a lot less JUST to keep a local gun shop in business is a form of socialism......sorry Bernie Sanders, I subscribe to capitalism and no free handouts.

 

[Buckshot Wade]

Well sadly it's the same in many speciality shops. Guitar shops are the same. The mom & pop guitar stores usually have good people that are older and are mostly very customer oriented. But they must sell MSRP or starve. Whereas the big chain stores buy in mass from the manufacturer and undercut the independent stores. Their "staff" are kids with half of their head buzzed, adorned with huge hoops cut in their earlobes and covered with tattoos. They wouldn't know a sour note from proper due to all they play is trash with full distortion. They're for the most part just kids with a job voicing their single opinion of music. Sorta like the gunshops with younger guys with narrow minded opinions and poor knowledge of firearms. Its a job within their hobby but hardly a true profession.

Yet this is the retail world as it exists today. The internet sales is enormous and will only continue to grow. The big chain stores dominant brick & mortar stores. And the locally owned and operated shop struggles to make ends meet. Thus is the way of things.

Just views and observations of an old man

 

[leVieux]

I really like my local gunshops but I can't afford to pay the premium they need to stay in business. I'd pay a little more than on-line prices but they want full retail.

If they truly want "full retail", as in MSRP's for guns, they are not very interested in serving you, unless something really special. Act accordingly, but do visit and tell them that. leVieux

 

[leVieux]

Explain how these “local shops are necessary for the continuation of ....”.

Try getting Mr Cabela or Mr Academy to fix your scattergun on Dove opening morning. Just try. leVieux

 

[leVieux]

Having been a dealer and gunsmith of my own one man shop I can relate to issues of cost of items vs the break the chain stores get. Nearly impossible to make any profit solo. And I was doing this before the internet.

Today, I'm retired existing on a meager pension, in a remote area. Closest gun shops are from 30 to 40 miles. I buy from them as well as I am able. But some items they don't carry, well eBay and others are my friends as well. I try to buy locally as much as possible and often do. Powder, primers, and guns (on occasion. I'm not rich). Holsters, loading dies, and off the wall items I get elsewhere.
Ok, I'm done. My goodness I get long winded!

Few of us have this to fall back on: "Having been a dealer and gunsmith". leVieux

 

[Charlie]

If they truly want "full retail", as in MSRP's for guns, they are not very interested in serving you, unless something really special. Act accordingly, but do visit and tell them that. leVieux

I do shop around in the stores. Small town, most people know (or know about) most other folks. We don't have any big box stores here that really sell guns so the small shops and pawn shops do not really suffer much.

 

[leVieux]

Having been a dealer and gunsmith of my own one man shop I can relate to issues of cost of items vs the break the chain stores get. Nearly impossible to make any profit solo. And I was doing this before the internet.

Today, I'm retired existing on a meager pension, in a remote area. Closest gun shops are from 30 to 40 miles. I buy from them as well as I am able. But some items they don't carry, well eBay and others are my friends as well. I try to buy locally as much as possible and often do. Powder, primers, and guns (on occasion. I'm not rich). Holsters, loading dies, and off the wall items I get elsewhere.
Ok, I'm done. My goodness I get long winded!

Most of us don't have this to rely upon: "Having been a dealer and gunsmith". leVieux

 

[tact]

Try getting Mr Cabela or Mr Academy to fix your scattergun on Dove opening morning. Just try. leVieux

Extremely weak argument for your plea that a firearm will break and hunting will die since a local gun store won’t be around to fix it. I buy quality equipment and know a thing or too......a local gun shop typically hires the same morons that work in Academy or Cabelas. I have not nor will ever buy firearms from those two places either.