Your local GUN SHOP

[leVieux]

Everyone should try standing BEHIND the counter awhile, and hearing the absolute nonsense spouted by those who aren't going to BUY anyway. leVieux

 

[leVieux]

Y

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.

Your choice, Your consequences. "Use it or lose it", remember?
leVieux

 

[leVieux]

Although I am an old man now, most needs are for protection in this hell-hole of New Orleans, I still patronize my Gun Shop. 475,000 souls in N.O. but not a single Gun Shop. Yes, there is a wonderful shop up in Baton Rouge, 1:20 on IH10; but MY GUN SHOP is in El Campo, Texas, almost 400 miles away.
As I said, "Your choice!"
leVieux

 

[tact]

Although I am an old man now, most needs are for protection in this hell-hole of New Orleans, I still patronize my Gun Shop. 475,000 souls in N.O. but not a single Gun Shop. Yes, there is a wonderful shop up in Baton Rouge, 1:20 on IH10; but MY GUN SHOP is in El Campo, Texas, almost 400 miles away.
As I said, "Your choice!"
leVieux

So you skip the local shop and continue to pass right on through Orange and beyond for 400 miles to patronize your gun shop??

Brilliant logic

 

[FireInTheWire]

I'm ok with spending a little more sometimes to help or support a local/starting company.

I'm ok with spending a little more to go-in and have good human communication. Although I get most of my knowledge from forums.... I made a friend and shooting buddy by buying at my local gun store. That aspect is worth it to me.

I'm not saying all stores are good. But, my local store is great.

 

[Charlie]

I'm ok with spending a little more sometimes to help or support a local/starting company.

I'm ok with spending a little more to go-in and have good human communication. Although I get most of my knowledge from forums.... I made a friend and shooting buddy by buying at my local gun store. That aspect is worth it to me.

I'm not saying all stores are good. But, my local store is great.

How many really big stores do you have out there that sell guns?

 

[FireInTheWire]

How many really big stores do you have out there that sell guns?

We have Wal-mart... I never even look at their guns.
We have a Gebo's. Good selection. But they pissed me off because they wouldn't let me trade/return a shotgun.

My go-to is a small place called Southern Electric. They have a gun room in the back. The guy that runs it is top-notch.

 

[Vaquero]

We have Wal-mart... I never even look at their guns.
We have a Gebo's. Good selection. But they pissed me off because they wouldn't let me trade/return a shot gun.

My go-to is a small placed called Southern Electric. They have a gun room in the back. The guy that runs it is top-notch.

It's a nice store. Friendly wether you're seriously shopping or just killing time.

 

[leVieux]

So you skip the local shop and continue to pass right on through Orange and beyond for 400 miles to patronize your gun shop??

Brilliant logic

I am more frequently @ El Campo for family visits, and have time to give them time to do small jobs.

R&M firearms is an excellent, well-stocked and well-run shop on US-59 South, between El Campo & Hillje, Texas.

Although I often work @ Beaumont, I usually just "pass-through" the Texas "Golden Triangle" area. Until recently, I flew my own plane, and would just fly "direct".

leVieux

 

[FireInTheWire]

It's a nice store. Friendly wether you're seriously shopping or just killing time.

Yes sir... A lot of times we just end up chewing the fat about other things than guns.

 

[majormadmax]

Sorry, but such blanket statements as "support your local gun shop" need to be followed up with "if they deserve it!"

I have been in some great shops but have seen more than my fair share of lousy ones as well.

Unfortunately, the majority are overpriced and should be avoided for the exact reasons already stated.

The ones the truly deserve my business will get it, even if it means paying a bit more to do so.

But it comes down to more than money, I actually haven't spent a lot at what I consider to be my favorite local shop; but I do everything in my power to send customers their way. While I may have not laid down a lot of cash there, I know many who have as they are treated as well as I am when they go there (and afterward). In all honesty it's not my recommendation that gets them the business, it's theirs. I just send folks there way. They earn their business, and deservingly so!

So why I will agree with the plea that it's important to support local business, I do so with the caveat that they must deserve it; and if they don't, then eventually they will understand why!

 

[Shady]

And the guy behind the counter should step to the other side and see what the buyer really needs over whats on the shelf they need to push. And to listen to what the sales staff actually tell patrons of the store so they can educate or fire the guys that spew crap and misinformation.

Everyone should try standing BEHIND the counter awhile, and hearing the absolute nonsense spouted by those who aren't going to BUY anyway. leVieux

 

[leVieux]

And the guy behind the counter should step to the other side and see what the buyer really needs over whats on the shelf they need to push. And to listen to what the sales staff actually tell patrons of the store so they can educate or fire the guys that spew crap and misinformation.

Yes, it does "work both ways". leVieux

 

[leVieux]

Sorry, but such blanket statements as "support your local gun shop" need to be followed up with "if they deserve it!"

I have been in some great shops but have seen more than my fair share of lousy ones as well.

Unfortunately, the majority are overpriced and should be avoided for the exact reasons already stated.

The ones the truly deserve my business will get it, even if it means paying a bit more to do so.

But it comes down to more than money, I actually haven't spent a lot at what I consider to be my favorite local shop; but I do everything in my power to send customers their way. While I may have not laid down a lot of cash there, I know many who have as they are treated as well as I am when they go there (and afterward). In all honesty it's not my recommendation that gets them the business, it's theirs. I just send folks there way. They earn their business, and deservingly so!

So why I will agree with the plea that it's important to support local business, I do so with the caveat that they must deserve it; and if they don't, then eventually they will understand why!

Yes, correct.

We, in LA, have one of the World's Gun Shops in Lafayette, about halfway between New Orleans & Houston, which prices it's guns at "MSRP + a %".

But, its regular customers keep going back for more.

I haven't been in there in 25+ years.

leVieux

 

[Pops1955]

One LGS that has worked hard to earn and keep my business is in Waco on Franklin. Fun Guns. They have done a great job of getting up and running, getting and staying stocked, providing great service and being price competative. They keep growing and expanding their offerings AND their services. Check 'em out. ASLO Pracco on Waco Drive has been solid for years. Never dissappointed in either place.

 

[SloppyShooter]

Guess I'm just lucky. I've bought 2 used guns from my local gun shop, and they aren't extremely overpriced on new and stuff. Gunsmith is a great guy, and they have a reasonably priced indoor pistol range, ( I wish it went back further than 15 yards, though. )

 

[Charlie]

One LGS that has worked hard to earn and keep my business is in Waco on Franklin. Fun Guns. They have done a great job of getting up and running, getting and staying stocked, providing great service and being price competative. They keep growing and expanding their offerings AND their services. Check 'em out. ASLO Pracco on Waco Drive has been solid for years. Never dissappointed in either place.

I was born and raised in Waco and didn't really move away until about '72. Pracco was there when I was growing up there but not familiar with Fun Guns. Back in those days, Gibson Discount Center was an excellent gun store.

 

[Moonpie]

I try to visit local shops wherever I go.

There was a Mom&Pop here for a little while. I tried to do business with them.
Here is an example: Springfield Range Officer 1911 9mm. Academy had the gun for $899. Mom&Pop had the exact same gun for $1399. Mom&Pop would NOT budge on price. Where would you buy?
I wanted to purchase an Uberti Schofield replica revolver. Went to the Mom&Pop to try to order one. They flat out could not "find one". I went home, fired up the computer, found one on Grab-a-gun in less than five minutes.
Same Mom&Pop shop - I got a late last minute invite to take a bunch of youngsters out shooting for the first time. In situations like this I have found it works well to have one firearm and many magazines. Give each newbie a mag, show them how to load it, let them use that mag at their turn at the gun. One gun is much more controllable.
So I go to Mom&Pop to buy a handful of Ruger 10/22 mags. I wanted the clear ones. NOT the black ones.
I wanted the clear ones so the kids could see the rounds in the mags. Well you guessed it. They didn't have any.
Oh they could order them. But hey I could order them myself.
I needed them now and was willing to pay a premium but no luck.
This is where I got miffed at Pop. He mouthed off about about "building" a large order from Brownell's. He would NOT order anything until he built up a large enough order.
Now he was going to charge me full retail for the mags +shipping+sales tax+ I was going to have to sit on my hands until god knows when. Now I also know Brownell's gives a large discount to FFL's and free shipping if the order is over so much $.
So I went home, fired up the computer, found clear mags a lot cheaper than Brownell's, overnighted them, and still got off a lot cheaper than Pop wanted and I had them in <48hrs.
Another stunt Pop pulled on customers was any gun that had to be "custom ordered" had to be paid in full up front. Ok. So the customer would pay and wait. When the gun would arrive and the customer went to get it, Pop would say "THEY" raised the price another $72 or $147 or some such B.S. The customer was screwed and forced to choke up the extra $. He was already into the gun for the full non-refundable amount so he had to pay the extortion money to get the gun.
The gun community here isn't large and that little nugget of info went around like wildfire.
That Mom&Pop place lasted maybe three years or so before it closed up.

 

[SloppyShooter]

Mom and Pop gun shops are like Mom and Pop restaurants. Sure, you want to support them, but if the service is bad, the food overpriced and bad.......

 

[leVieux]

I try to visit local shops wherever I go.

There was a Mom&Pop here for a little while. I tried to do business with them.
Here is an example: Springfield Range Officer 1911 9mm. Academy had the gun for $899. Mom&Pop had the exact same gun for $1399. Mom&Pop would NOT budge on price. Where would you buy?
I wanted to purchase an Uberti Schofield replica revolver. Went to the Mom&Pop to try to order one. They flat out could not "find one". I went home, fired up the computer, found one on Grab-a-gun in less than five minutes.
Same Mom&Pop shop - I got a late last minute invite to take a bunch of youngsters out shooting for the first time. In situations like this I have found it works well to have one firearm and many magazines. Give each newbie a mag, show them how to load it, let them use that mag at their turn at the gun. One gun is much more controllable.
So I go to Mom&Pop to buy a handful of Ruger 10/22 mags. I wanted the clear ones. NOT the black ones.
I wanted the clear ones so the kids could see the rounds in the mags. Well you guessed it. They didn't have any.
Oh they could order them. But hey I could order them myself.
I needed them now and was willing to pay a premium but no luck.
This is where I got miffed at Pop. He mouthed off about about "building" a large order from Brownell's. He would NOT order anything until he built up a large enough order.
Now he was going to charge me full retail for the mags +shipping+sales tax+ I was going to have to sit on my hands until god knows when. Now I also know Brownell's gives a large discount to FFL's and free shipping if the order is over so much $.
So I went home, fired up the computer, found clear mags a lot cheaper than Brownell's, overnighted them, and still got off a lot cheaper than Pop wanted and I had them in <48hrs.
Another stunt Pop pulled on customers was any gun that had to be "custom ordered" had to be paid in full up front. Ok. So the customer would pay and wait. When the gun would arrive and the customer went to get it, Pop would say "THEY" raised the price another $72 or $147 or some such B.S. The customer was screwed and forced to choke up the extra $. He was already into the gun for the full non-refundable amount so he had to pay the extortion money to get the gun.
The gun community here isn't large and that little nugget of info went around like wildfire.
That Mom&Pop place lasted maybe three years or so before it closed up.

I guess you learned the lesson that "Not all shops are equal!" leVieux