Back in the day, when you bought a gun ...

[Old Dog]

... at least, when you purchased a new gun, the shop would always throw in a box, sometimes two, of ammo.

I remember as if it was yesterday, buying my first Colt 1911 new in a shop in San Diego (that no longer exists), clerk threw in a box of good quality new 230-grain ball. Prior to that, when I bought my very first bolt-action rifle (let's just say, late '70s) in a well-known mid-western outdoor store, a beautiful Winchester Model 70 Featherweight .30-06, the clerk took off the shelf and handed me a couple boxes of Remington Core-Lokt in 150 and 180 grain each.

Fast-forward to today, I can't remember an occasion in the past twenty years where I've bought a new gun and the shop threw in, gratis, a box of ammo as thanks. Recently spent over $1200 on a new pistol in a shop I have spent major cash at over the past ten years, and it was almost as though they could not wait to get me out the door with barely a nod.

Are there ANY shops anywhere in the country where the old tradition still holds, you plunk down yer hard-earned dollars for a shiny new gun and the store says thanks by throwing in at least a box of their cheapest ammo?

 

[zerobarrier]

The place I go to throws small things in. Like last time I bought a pistol the owner threw a coffee cup in the deal. I know spending 1200 on a new pistol seems like a lot but most gunshops don't have that much of a mark up on new guns. They have to stay competitive with all the online and big box stores. Not like it was back in the 70's when if you wanted a gun you only had a couple choices of places to go and they knew that so they over charged.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

If you want to pay MSRP, I am sure any gun store will give you a "free" box of ammo.

 

[RON in PA]

I haven't received a "free" box of ammo with a new gun since the 1990s and then it was just one LGS.

 

[1911 guy]

I have a theory. Might not be right, but it's a theory.

Back "in the day", there were fewer shops. I can remember having to drive 40 minutes to see anything new, 15 minutes to see anything at all, and mostly just of the pump shotgun and bolt rifle persuasions. Revolvers were seen, but maybe 10 percent of any stores stock.

Fast forward to today, I have four shops within a half hour, all of them very good and all of them stocking more variety than I ever dreamed of 30 years ago.

With more competition comes lower margins. With lower margins comes less ability to throw in "freebies" and still cover costs. Add in the low availability of some ammunition recently, and it's not surprising there are no more "freebies".

Just for example, I remember buying a Remington .22 autoloader and the shop threw in a brick of Winchester .22. Not a box, a brick. 500 rounds. What's the going price of that today, the average price of a .22 autoloader and the comparative percentages? His accountant would beat him with a broom if he did that today.

 

[DSAPT9]

Well you live in the wrong location there is a store in Coeur d Alene, Idaho that still throws in at least practice box ammo up to 20 dollars with your purchase. Yes if you pay the difference they will normally upgrade.

They stopped at 20 dollars cuz when you buy a 500 Smith the ammo is more than the profit.

 

[AZAndy]

The last time I bought a gun at a store that also had an indoor range, they threw in a bag of their reloads and a day's pass to the range. I don't know if they still do that as the place has changed ownership. (High Noon, Prescott Valley) Other than that, I've never gotten any extras. When I got my Colt Compact, they wanted to charge $30 for an extra (used) magazine...

 

[bannockburn]

I can't say I have ever received any free ammo when I purchased a gun from a gun store. Typically I buy some extras like spare magazines, a gun rug, maybe a holster; but I don't recall any gun shop sweetening the deal with free ammo.

 

[CajunBass]

The only time I was ever even offered any free ammo was during the worst of the 22 shortage, I bought a 22 pistol...I forget what kind now, and the dealer offered me a couple of boxes of 22 ammo so I'd have something to shoot. I told them to give it to the next guy, I had plenty.

Other than that one time, never.

 

[ZWCoffindaffer]

I am too young to remember those times, but its funny you mention it. I was in a LGS the other day and an older gentleman come in and bought a nice AR-15. He asked if they would give him a box of ammo to go with it.

It really frustrated me the way the salesman ridiculed him for asking. There was a store full of customers and he made a big show out of it. After the gentleman left the guys behind the counter continued to talk about it, laughing. I was floored. They acted as if the man has asked for a free gun. They could have just said no sir we dont do that and moved on.

Havent been back since. Unfortunate really. They have the best inventory in town and actually manufacture some of their own weapons. I just dont want to give my business to someone who operates that way.

 

[Speedo66]

Yes I remember being given a box of ammo, or a holster for a handgun. The internet has destroyed almost all vestiges of a reasonable profit margin to allow such niceties.

Life has changed. All it took was the 70's oil embargo to change the perception of gas stations from "we want your business" to "you're lucky we're selling you any".

That was the end of gas station attendants cleaning your windshield and checking your air and oil levels. Most places it was the end of attendants period, now it's just a cashier to take your money, you pump it. One exception stands out, NJ. By law an attendant must pump your gas. But as an ex NYer, I'm compelled to say if you've ever seen how recklessly they drive there, you'd understand why they wouldn't want them handling inflamables.

 

[ljnowell]

Well, I guess it depends. If you are buying a high end item with lots of profit margin they might toss in some ammo.

The fact remains that in order to compete with online retailers LGS have to sell a product at a point that if they threw in a box of quality ammunition they would lose half of their profit margin, literally. Many of the guns sold at my local gun shop have a 40 dollar or less margin of profit.

 

[Sav .250]

The good old days are long gone!

 

[AR-15Nutt]

I remember as if it was yesterday, buying my first Colt 1911 new in a shop in San Diego (that no longer exists),

Krasnes ??

remember when buying a new gun when it was shipped with the test rounds and ballistics report?

 

[pockets]

I've been buying guns since 1964 or so, in several USA states (and Australia in the early 70s)....never had a box of ammo thrown in.

I personally believe there were more places to buy guns at 'back in the day'. My first two handguns were purchased at a Western Auto store. You could walk into any Sears, Montgomery Wards, most hardware stores, etc and find a nice selection.
Heck, I used to buy ammo at Woolworth's 5&10 stores.

 

[sarge83]

I haven't got free ammo, but free soft lined pistol cases, hats, etc... all the time.

 

[Tirod]

Yes.

Bought a P938 somewhat impulsively from a local gun store, asked for senior and or veterans discount. Got a box of Critical Defense thrown in, which for that location was a huge change of attitude considering the prior purchases. This was just last year.

If you want the cheapest possible gas, expect service to be trimmed - you pump it yourself and check your own oil. Same for gunstores - we enjoyed the prices of yesteryear with the prices they had, almost no discounting and no internet wholesalers beating them down. Today is different. It's a matter of you get what you pay for. Price competition has put the squeeze to everybody.

Of course, there is also the "do I want this gun loaded before the customer leaves the parking lot?" issue. A few bad apples have exploited that to the store's detriment.

 

[LoneGoose]

I remember those good old days. But, my LGS does give you a good-quality T-shirt with their logo on it when you buy a gun there. I have several. In fact with my last purchase I declined the free T-shirt.

 

[GBExpat]

Back in the day, when you bought a gun ... at least, when you purchased a new gun, the shop would always throw in a box, sometimes two, of ammo. ...

I never was that lucky.

I bought my first handgun in 1973 at a Charlottesville gunshop and several more new handguns/longguns during that decade and I never was offered any freebies.

Sure woulda been nice, though.

 

[gspn]

With more competition comes lower margins. With lower margins comes less ability to throw in "freebies" and still cover costs.

This.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The best I had happen was an LGS kept CCI Mini Mags on reserve in back, off the sales floor, and allowed purchasers of new 22lr guns to purchase them before other customer. This was when 22lr was completely and utterly impossible to find.

Never gotten free ammo though.

 

[yugorpk]

Now, when I buy a .22 pistol they let me buy a box of ammo.

 

[klausman]

Does anyone remember when Sierra packed 101 to the box of bullets? I expect margins all over are such that it just doesn't work that way any more. (The bullets are still just as good, if not better, and worth every penny.)

 

[2ifbyC]

I bought my first handgun, a H&R .22 six shot revolver in 1969 when I turned 21 for $20. A lot has changed since then and for the gun aficionado most of that change has been negative. It’s difficult to make a realistic comparison on prices when you are on memory lane due to inflation, postage costs, limited competition, hazmat & regulation fees, etc.

I’m not one for a small gift as a token of appreciation; I understand the cost of doing business limits this activity. What I miss is the loss of many local businesses, e.g., hardware stores, department stores, Kmart, etc. that once sold guns. That loss of freedom is sorely missed.

 

[mgmorden]

There is no free lunch - ever. Back then you got that "free" box of ammo folded into the purchase price.

Nowadays capitalism has stipulated that if one guy is selling his guns for $15-20 more than the guy down the street and throwing in a "free" box of ammo, then most customers will buy from the cheaper guy, keep their $15-20, and go buy whatever ammo they wanted in the first place.

Nothing, nowhere, is free. Better service, knowledgeable help, and little extras thrown in with purchases, ALL cost money. And for the most part - the market has decided t that all those things are things that they don't want to pay for.