Cabela's --- Bass Pro --- Gander Mountain --- Others.......

[Wheelgun Dunn]

Used to work in a gun store in St. Louis, MO.  They went out of business within a year after 9/11.  Anyway, we used to have folks do the same thing to us.  They would come to us and pick our brains, get all their questions answered and tell us they would think about it, then go to a chain store or something.  I know because they would show up again with a rifle and scope and want us to mount it or would come back in for shotgun accessories etc.  For some reason guns and cars get wheeled and dealed.  I always pay what the dealer asks but I know what the gun sells for i.e. I don't have a problem with a guy making a profit but if one small dealer has  gun for $25 less than another I will buy from them instead.  For example two gun stores in my hometown sell the same box of .44 special one for $20 the other $29.99.  Now both are private dealers not a chain store vs. dealer, so I buy from the cheaper one.  Who wouldn't?  Don't mind a guy making a profit but account for that?  Anyway always support the local boys if we don't have them the chains are all we have and they can be politically moved i.e. pay their owners enough and tey will change to sporting goods or close up.

[ericire12]

Ive given my opinion on this on an earlier thread, and I will share it again....

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=3604.msg42301#msg42301

In my opinion, it is vital that we help to keep full service gun shops open and profitable. These places represent something greater then just a place to buy ammo or some hunting/shooting gear. They represent an uncompromising way to exercise our constitutional rights. Not everyone has a big box outfitter like Bass Pro, Cabela's, or Sportsman's Warehouse within driving distance, so we must make sure that our local community gun shop is not priced out of business by big box retailers or internet storefronts.

I dont have a FFL, so if the local gun stores go out of business I would have to drive halfway across my state to buy one at a Sportsman's Warehouse - wouldn't the Democrats consider that disenfranchisement?

Look, I know the importance of saving a buck or two or five, but all that I am saying here is that there is a greater good being served. I think it is becoming harder and harder for gun shops to stay in business and be profitable, and contributing to those who give us a viable and accessible source for guns, ammo, and gear is of the utmost importance. There are other effective ways to use your money to protect our right to bear arms other then just giving it to the NRA. 

[SwoopSJ]

I agree completely that we must support our local gun shops, but I won't pay excessively to do so.  My area has only a couple full service gun retailers and I do business with the closest one to me as much as possible.  However, since they have little competition they charge rediculous prices on some products.  For example, I was planning on buying a PT1911 from this shop, but they wanted $700 and didn't want to negotiate.  I have spent thousands of dollars in this store this year alone and can get this same gun from GB for around $550, so needless to say, I won't be purchasing this gun locally.  (They won't even get the transfer fee as they want $50 when other FFLs in my area charge $10.)  I help the local guy out when I can but when the difference in price is that great, I feel they have priced themselves out of competition and will shop elsewhere for that particular product with no guilt whatsoever.  I don't waste their time, like others have mentioned in previous posts, and I won't waste my money.

Swoop

[cooptire]

Speaking as a local small retailer, you never know what the local guy paid. You may want it, and can get it, for a certain price but the dealer may have gotten it in just before a price decrease. He may have more money it that the big chain sells it for. DO NOT automatically assume that the local store is just trying to gouge you. It may just be as simple as the local dealer was gouged by the distributer. It is a FACT that the bigger the store, the better the price they get from the manufacturer. In my business, some big dealers can sell their product under their cost because the end of the year purchase goals and bonus' will still allow them to make a profit. I have payed the manufacturer, in some cases, far more than I can buy the exact same product for, from a wholesaler. In a way we have all been "Wal-martized", as a local pharmacist puts it in his advertising.

[SwoopSJ]

I am a small business owner also, so I know exactly what your talking about.  I realize my local gun shop cannot compete in price on everything, but with the PT1911, they had hiked their price by almost $200 over a 2 month period.  Yes, I understand supply and demand and all that jazz, however I have been a VERY good customer (probably put atleast one kid through college) and expect, justified or not, a little give when they have increased their price to that degree.  If not, then I go elswhere for that particular product with no shame.  I would expect the same from my customers.

Swoop

 

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

.........I have been a VERY good customer (probably put atleast one kid through college) and expect, justified or not, a little give when they have increased their price to that degree.  If not, then I go elswhere for that particular product with no shame.  I would expect the same from my customers.
Swoop 

What do service/product do you sell?

[SwoopSJ]

What do service/product do you sell?

Thanks to the hard work of my grandparents and parents, my brother and I have been left with a few irons in the fire.  We own a restaurant which has been in continuous operation for over 50 years, a wholesale and retail floral business, and we also dabble in real estate.  I realize these are not businesses in which you typically have to deal with price hagglers, but you can very easily price yourself out of contention for patronage.  Especially in the floral business, sometimes our wholesale customers can get specific products cheaper elswhere, even though we try to bend a little for our better patrons.  I don't blame them one bit, because, like I posted previously, it's impossible to be the cheapest on every single item and with today's economy, every dollar saved helps.  So, when the same situation arises with my local gun shop, I don't feel bad about buying somewhere else.  I won't buy somewhere else just to save a buck or two, but a couple hundred goes a long way toward other expenses.

Swoop