Another dumb gun shop

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J

Josey

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Catfish Co, KY
I went to buy today. I had my credit card cleared and was ready to go. The four shops I went to either had the pistol(s) I was interested in or the ammunition I wanted and one even had a holster. Not a single shop had the pistol(s), ammunition, mags, sights, holsters, grips or other services and accessories I wanted. No sale. Why don't shops carry the needed and desired accessory items for what is in their displays!? If I am buying a revolver, why don't they have quality leather holsters for their revolvers in stock? If I am buying a Browning Hi-Power in 9MM, why don't they have 9MM ammo? If I ask for BSA scopes, red dots/laser sights why do they try to push Trashco? Is CDNN, CTD and SG to blame?
 
If a shop carried everything that everyone could possibly want it would look like walmart. And you look how people feel about walmart. Besides i havent even found an internet seller that EVERYTHING in one place including firearms. I suppose it depends on what your buying though.

What were you looking to buy anyways?

Oh, and if you were serious about that 9mm thing i would SERIOUSLY not go to a shop that didnt carry 9mm ammunition cause thats pretty sad.
 
I agree. The shops did have American Ammunition and Wolf. I have heard and seen a LOT of bad news about both of late. "CHEAP", the shop guy says. An estate was sold and stuff went to four different shops. Older Lugers, Walthers, Mausers, Astras and a couple of pre-war 38-44s with one 44 Triple Lock. A few BHPs, GP-35s showed up in one shop. A Colt Woodsman too. Everything was WAY overpriced too.:banghead:
 
As the owner of a small retail motorcycle shop I can say that it's impossible to have everything a particular customer needs. That's what the huge places like Bass Pro are for. Inventory is expensive. I can't afford to have every possible thing a customer might desire and neither can an average gun shop.
 
I like to buy my guns online, but the accesories I tend to buy at retail shops especially things like holsters, and belts.
 
The shop that I go to the most doesn't have everything on hand, although I am amazed at what he does have squirreled away somewhere. The great thing is that he can GET almost anything that I want within a week. I've built up enough of a relationship where I can call him on the phone tell him what I want, and if it isn't already there, he'll order it for me and (usually) call me when it's in.

The only thing he can't get a decent deal on in ammunition. He has to order in 10,000 round lots to get any kind of price break and he doesn't sell enough of one kind of ammo to do that.
 
Two words; Overhead and Cash Flow

If you where able to find everything you wanted a piece at a time from shop to shop then you should have just spread your business over all of them (unless you where hoping to get "a deal" on ammo or accessories when you buy the gun).
 
It's not really an overhead issue. Overhead would include things like the store rent and the paper towel supplies for the restroom. This would fall under the realm of inventory.

Cash flow is certainly correct. The owner has to expend cash (and capital) to acquire the merchandise. That merchandise doesn't do the owner any good until it sells, generating revenue and more cash to buy more products. If the owner sinks too much cash into merchandise that doesn't turn over quickly, the owner risks not having enough cash to buy inventory that does sell or pay the rent. Knowing what will and won't sell is the difference between a successful store and a closed store.

Instead of getting angry at the owner for not being telepathic, why not ask them to order the merchandise you are looking for? Most gun shop owners have an extensive catalog collection and are more than happy to order for you. Thus you get exactly what you want (although not all at once) and the owner gets business. If we don't support the small stores, pretty soon we'll all be buying our shooting supplies from people in blue vests.
 
I still think that service and accessories are important. In my area the shops are selling long guns that Wal-Mart sells. Bad idea. When I buy a firearm I do get the works. I want dies for reloading, extras like upgraded sights, grips and even extended controls. I buy a pistol/holster and belt together. I want a choice of colors, finishes, basketweave, floral or plain in my leather. I buy the good stuff. I have bought more new accessories and paid for gunsmithing than I have bought new firearms. I am finding more stuff at gunshows and online than my local shops have. If I buy a S&W M10, I expect to buy speedloaders, grips and a way to carry it. I plan to purchase either ammunition, powder, components or brass for 38 Special. I do not consider this unreasonable. If a tire store didn't have any sizes but 13" tires, I would think they were dumb.
 
Hello all,

I had a similar experience which I thought was equally a bit odd. I bought a SW 642 at a Gunshow last weekend. I decided that since I was in the "spending money mode" I'd pick up a nice pocket holster for it and be done with it.

I couldn't find one in the whole place (and the place was big ;) ) After I made my purchase and walked around a bit more, I noticed several other people buying J frames too. Someone could have made a nice chunk of cash that day.

Thanks,
Brent...
:scrutiny:
 
It's not really an overhead issue. Overhead would include things like the store rent and the paper towel supplies for the restroom. This would fall under the realm of inventory.
Click to expand...
I would consider inventory part of your overhead ... but its really just semantics.
 
I used to own a emergency supply house. I kept many service items in stock. The Hurst Jaws of Life pumps and hoses were available 24/7. I often had to order custom lightbars but, I had parts and upgrades in stock. Blackinton badges were about the only things I couldn't keep in stock as each one is a custom order. I feel that a shop that wants to make money would have custom parts, upgrades, grips and stocks/barrels in stock. I have even bought a old mil-surp because the parts were there in front of my nose.:cool:
 
A good friend owned the largest gun shop in my area, built up over 20+ years. He was a stocking dealer for S&W and Kimber, and several others. Qualified armorer (as were his two gunsmiths) for S&W etc., etc. His inventory always had leather and nylon for his "constants", even if the selection wasn't wide for each gun, and his reloading supplies were the most complete in the area. He tossed in the towel a little over a year ago, driven to the wall by taxes, ATF paperwork, financial upkeep (payments vs.credit vs. cash flow), and capped offby thedivorce from hell. He was, for the most part of his run, the most successful non-corporate "big gunshop" I have seen, but for a couple on the East Coast. Another, a small shop in a small town to the south of me, ran on light inventory and the hustle of the owner. He could get anything you wanted within a couple of days, and his customer relations were tops. I usually drove down every other week, and enjoyed a visit, ammo re-stock and a new one every now and then. Last trip down, the shopwas empty. I asked at the restaurant next door, and was told that he had just loaded everything out the past weekend, and moved "back east". It isn't an easy business. You have to love it and have lots of guts (and a few fried brain cells) just to get into it. That is why I will pay a bit more for ammo or a new gun at a small business. Guys like that need friends.
 
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