So I walk into Academy......

[ebk06]

cause I was down the road eating dinner so I figured I'd see if they had any ammo. While im waiting for the only kid working the counter to make his way to me I hear him discussing handguns with a potential new handgun owner. Of course Glock was mentioned by the would be purchaser and I hear the young salesman say.......and I quote "Glocks are cheap, plastic guns. I'd stay away from them. The triggers dont feel good, the slides are hard to pull back and the only safety they have is on the trigger....not very safe if you ask me. We have a lot of guns in that price that are way better than Glock" He then proceeds to pull out a PX4 and tries to sells the guy solely on how the interchangable grip is the best thing since sliced bread.

Not that theres anything wrong with the Beretta, I personally like them, but this whole conversation almost killed me. My fiancee has a Glock and I do like it, even though they are ugly, but Im no fanboy. In fact I shoot a Kimber. But to hear this kid bash Glock like they are chopped liver got under my skin. I'm not the kind to butt into peoples conversations but I came close to telling the purchaser to go to the local gun shop and ask them what they thought about Glocks but I didn't.

By the time my fiancee found me I was in the gun case section and proceeded to tell her what I just heard. She flipped out and wanted to go talk to the guy and tell him a couple not so nice things.
Anyways thats my pointless handgun story of the month and one reason why my fiancee kicks ass!!

 

[Shorts]

lol I've heard many a dumb thing come out of of Academy gun counter employee. It is hard to mind your own business. Especially when it involves educating a new gun owner. We're a community that can't afford to let stupidity be the reason we go downhill.

 

[Texas1911]

I personally think they should seek out a bit more informed employees.

 

[Texas Solo]

FWIW....

I work the gun counter at an Academy. I have 30+ years experience in the field. I've owned and shot just about anything you can think of.

ON the Glock issue, I PERSONALLY like them, and feel very comfortable carrying one. I think they're one of the safest guns to carry....because I know how they work! I have taken all the time necessary to explain all 3 safeties, and explain how the double action only trigger system works.
Armed with that knowledge, we can move on to other weapons with different operating systems and make an informed comparasion. I have had countless customers thank me for the "education". Some bought Glock, some did not. I don't care, as long as they understand what their getting and how to safely use it.

My point is that Academy is a mass merchandiser. They watch their payroll and can't afford to hire "gun professionals". If they did, prices would rival the pro shops. Academy generally has the best gun prices around.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I've had idiots try to help me at Lowes, and Best Buy. But I don't think that all their employess are idiots...just the one I got at that store during that visit.

On another note,,,,did you get your CHL yet Shorts?

 

[ebk06]

I didnt write this up to knock Academy or its entire staff, sorry if it sounds that way. Ive had a few salesman there be very helpful. I was simply trying to tell a story about my experience today and the craziness I heard.

I do agree and know Academy cant hire gun professionals to work gun section. But I do believe people that work their tend to have a passion for that particular hobby and should at least educate themselves on what they are selling. Especially selling a product thats potentially deadly.....like a gun.

We dont live in a pefect world though so Im stuck complaining about it lol. I do realize Im no expert in everything and "you get what you give". So im sure I've said some really stupid things and someone somewhere is writing on a forum about it lol.

 

[Texas1911]

My point is that Academy is a mass merchandiser. They watch their payroll and can't afford to hire "gun professionals". If they did, prices would rival the pro shops. Academy generally has the best gun prices around.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I've had idiots try to help me at Lowes, and Best Buy. But I don't think that all their employess are idiots...just the one I got at that store during that visit.

I don't think anyone is making a broad statement like that, just that this particular individual seems to have slipped through.

I can agree, at $8 - 10 / hr. you aren't going to attract the cream of the crop. I and Sig_Fiend should be more than aware of that since we are right there with you, LOL.

I know I've rubbed some people the wrong way at work. Everyone has their own little ideology on what makes X gun perfect, and why Z gun is inferior.

 

[Texas Solo]

But I do believe people that work their tend to have a passion for that particular hobby and should at least educate themselves on what they are selling. Especially selling a product thats potentially deadly.....like a gun.

I absolutely agree! At my location, where the boss is also an avid hunter and shooter, people are taught to ask someone if they don't know. NEVER feed a line of BS to a customer. I do acknowledge though that my store is not typical, sad as that is.

I can agree, at $8 - 10 / hr. you aren't going to attract the cream of the crop.

You're on spot with that! I'm retired, so I can afford to do this for fun...and the employee discount. I 've also never had a problem getting ammo

 

[Scott_F]

Imagine that... a gun store employee imposing his own opinions and prejudices to a customer. Happens all day long, all over the country.

I hate to say it, but you have to take the opinion of all sales folks with a grain of salt.

 

[Texas Solo]

Imagine that... a gun store employee imposing his own opinions and prejudices to a customer. Happens all day long, all over the country.

Maybe you should read my post again.

"Armed with that knowledge, we can move on to other weapons with different operating systems and make an informed comparison. I have had countless customers thank me for the "education". Some bought Glock, some did not. I don't care, as long as they understand what their getting and how to safely use it."

I guess I should have mentioned that I also own XD's, M&P's, and Kimbers.
It's not a prejudice to be able to explain to a customer how the different systems work. It's a service.

 

[Texas42]

. . . I 've also never had a problem getting ammo

So your the reason that i can never find what I want at Academy.

 

[navyguy]

I've gotten to know a few of the guys at the local Academy a bit, just from going in there and checking on ammo the last 6 months or so. There are pretty good guys just trying to do a job, but they are not well informed gun people. The Academy I go to has a very sparse selection of guns, and I doubt I would ever buy one there. Ammo, yes if they have it and the price is right, and brand name cleaning supplies.

These guys were hired to work there with nothing other than a bit of retail experience.

 

[Shorts]

FWIW....

I work the gun counter at an Academy. I have 30+ years experience in the field. I've owned and shot just about anything you can think of.

ON the Glock issue, I PERSONALLY like them, and feel very comfortable carrying one. I think they're one of the safest guns to carry....because I know how they work! I have taken all the time necessary to explain all 3 safeties, and explain how the double action only trigger system works.
Armed with that knowledge, we can move on to other weapons with different operating systems and make an informed comparasion. I have had countless customers thank me for the "education". Some bought Glock, some did not. I don't care, as long as they understand what their getting and how to safely use it.

My point is that Academy is a mass merchandiser. They watch their payroll and can't afford to hire "gun professionals". If they did, prices would rival the pro shops. Academy generally has the best gun prices around.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I've had idiots try to help me at Lowes, and Best Buy. But I don't think that all their employess are idiots...just the one I got at that store during that visit.

On another note,,,,did you get your CHL yet Shorts?

Thanks for being a voice of education. All stores regardless of what they sell could use informed employees. Car salesman anyone?



No CHL yet. As I recall you owe me a beer! I take it you've been wearing in your carry?

I sent letters to my Senator, Rep and Gov Perry. As far as I know my Senator is looking into it. I got to talk with her assistant on Tuesday I believe. And Gov Perry's office was going to forward my info to the DPS Director. I'm glad I at least got the replies I was hoping for, but I'm not holding my breath on the results.

 

[Texas Solo]

No CHL yet. As I recall you owe me a beer! I take it you've been wearing in your carry?

Sorry to hear the bad news, and that you have to chase it down like that. But I admire your zeal.

Yes, I carry everyday, even bought a new G26 (the G30 was just too fat)
Yes, I know I owe you a beer!

 

[Texas Solo]

So your the reason that i can never find what I want at Academy.

Hehehe. Did I do thaaat?

Honestly, I only buy what I need. But, I do have first crack at it

 

[Scott_F]

Maybe you should read my post again.

"Armed with that knowledge, we can move on to other weapons with different operating systems and make an informed comparison. I have had countless customers thank me for the "education". Some bought Glock, some did not. I don't care, as long as they understand what their getting and how to safely use it."

I guess I should have mentioned that I also own XD's, M&P's, and Kimbers.
It's not a prejudice to be able to explain to a customer how the different systems work. It's a service.

I was referring to the original post. I'm not questioning your personal job performance. If you're hanging out on a forum like this, you're constantly learning still even after 30 years. You sound like an asset to the company.

I've just run into a butt load of barely out of high school gun salesmen that have no practical experience and tend to just parrot the opinions handed down to them.

 

[wayneside]

i've dealt with a few academy personnel and i have seen some very informed employees and some not so informed...but i try to get all the info i need before i buy. i go there to feel and if the price is right purchase...

 

[Big country]

When I traded my 336 off I went and met the guy and his son at their house in roundrock. I talked to them a little while about guns (all kinds) and bows and the two were very knowledgeable in both fields. Turns out the son worked the gun counter at the Academy on 183 in Austin. The son had opinions that differed from his dad's a little bit but they both seem well informed. There is also a few bone heads that work there. I had one of the sales men try and tell me that the Glock was a "cheap plastic gun". Now allot of folks on this forum know I don't like Glocks, but they are not "cheap plastic guns" if they were the price would be lower. I told the sales-boy that if he was going to voice opinion he should call it his opinion and not fact. The other two guys behind the counter laughed at him when I walked away.

Ps I tried to buy my riffle back almost every time I'm in that store. No luck yet, I'll probably have to buy a new one.

 

[TriggerTime]

The worst I've encountered so far was at a gun store in Houston -- not at Academy. I had a guy who kept going on and on about his experience in the Army and all of his survival training, etc., etc. and he told me that a 9mm Taurus revolver I was looking at did not need the half-moon clips. I specifically asked him about that twice because I've never seen a revolver for a rimless round that doesn't need them. Guess what, it needs them. This guy also tried to talk me out of buying a Beretta 40 cal because "when the SHTF there will be 9mm laying all around." I've been on this planet 54 years, practiced "duck and cover" a-bomb drills in elementary school, and so far the S hasn't HTF to the point that I'm looking for ammunition laying around on the streets.

I like Academy and there are morons everywhere.

Good shooting.

 

[DRod]

Ive been the eavesdropper on a few of these. I was also the subject of one.

I was looking at a Glock in the the .45 chambering, trying to decide about this and that when a guy walks up behind me with a leather jacket and helmet under his arm and asks, "What caliber was that one?" after I handed it back to the clerk. I tell him .45 and he says, pshh, thats too expensive and unnecessary a round and asked me if I shoot. I tell him I have a USP45F and he says, "Pff, I had a buddy with one of those and the gun broke, it was trash. He ended up buying a used XD" I stop looking in the glass, turn and face him with a blank look on my face and stare at him for a second. Then I look at the clerk. Look back at him and turn around and walk off without saying a word. The clerk kinda had a grin on his face, like he knew what I was thinking without having to ask. lol.
I heard the hot shot ask the clerk, "What'd I say?".
Clerk just said to him, "You wouldn't understand."

Kudos to the clerk.

 

[Scott_F]

That's funny.