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LGS Website, inventory lies?

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  • Higgins909

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    Apr 7, 2016
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    I've noticed a few local gun store have this similar website. I went to one gun store and essentially they didn't have any of the guns I was wanting to look at, which because of variants was about 10 guns. All of which, the website said they had 1 or more.

    Reds indoor range and Blackland Gun Works have this very similar website. Well I think Red's upgraded to a newer version. I noticed the website has a Gearfire banner at the bottom. I wonder if it has to do with the inventory being wrong.

    But whats up with the website inventory being totally wrong?
    Venture Surplus ad
     

    lonestardiver

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    Dec 12, 2010
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    Likely they subscribe to a service to host their inventory so they don’t have to support that portion of the website. So it could be the service provider or they could be trying to get you into the store. Not calling it “bait and switch”, but it could be a marketing ploy. Since someone else provides the web content they could blame them for the mistake.....just a thought on the topic.
     

    Southpaw

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    Mar 30, 2009
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    Likely they subscribe to a service to host their inventory so they don’t have to support that portion of the website.

    This... plus they probably drop ship from a distributor so the inventory online is probably not what they have in the store or any control over. Someone here in the biz can probably verify that.
     

    V-Tach

    Watching While the Sheep Graze
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    This... plus they probably drop ship from a distributor so the inventory online is probably not what they have in the store or any control over. Someone here in the biz can probably verify that.

    Yes that is their "online" inventory, not in house inventory.......and yes they drop ship from the distributors everything but firearms....
     

    Shady

    The One And Only
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    the item most likely is in stock in a warehouse and not in store. So you can purchase it just cant fondle it.
     

    bgw45

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    Lots of mom and pop lgs do this. The sight is essentially setup by the distributor. The lgs can't afford to stock all the various models. Product is usually cheaper than if stocked by the lgs and the consumer is not charged a transfer fee. To me, this is a win for both the consumer and seller.
     

    TheDan

    deplorable malcontent scofflaw
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    Nov 11, 2008
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    Austin - Rockdale
    Lots of mom and pop lgs do this. The sight is essentially setup by the distributor.
    Yep... It's the inventory at the distributor that is "in stock." Personally I think it's a bit lazy of the store to not have their own inventory system. It's very easy these days... Lots of brick and mortar stores suffer from this, tho.
     

    V-Tach

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    GearFire is a company that is the middleman. They have Distributors that will drop ship on contract and some that won't. Dealers are brought on board by providing the website to link to. They charge 100.00 per zip code. Yes, per zip code. That gives you exclusive sales to the zipcode you are paying for. Some folks in larger markets have many zip codes they are paying for. I tried it for our small shop.

    Since some distributors won't drop ship, the merchandise (and all firearms) has to be picked up at the store. The dealer picks the percentage of mark up and the pecking order in which distributors to be used first when an item is in stock. Our zip code only has about 1500 people. Sales were 1-2 month and ultimately I dropped it.
     
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