CheaperThanDirt.com Gun Holster Mishap

[wbond]

I just ordered two gun carry fanny packs from CheaperThanDirt.com.

I'm not home during weekdays because I'm at work.

So I had them shipped to work. That should have been no big deal since I do that with lots of things.

However, Cheaper than Dirt did not put my full legal name on the shipping label. I very carefully spelled it out in the order form and asked they use my full legal name. When it arrived, the receptionist did not know who it was for because it didn't have my proper name on it. So she opened it and then asked around whose it was. She should have asked without opening it, but there isn't anything I can do about that now.

The first thing in the package said "Top Secret Gun Holster Fanny Pack".

I have a WA State concealed weapons permit and can legally carry anywhere except a post office, police station, court house, or saloon-bar.

However, private property owners can ban guns on their property, if they choose. Employers can ban guns and often do. My employer had never given it a thought before this incident.

Thanks to Cheaper than Dirt: I'll never be allowed to wear a fanny pack at work again, even if I only have my wallet in it. Furthermore, people are going to be looking at me funny from now on even without a fanny pack.

I don't need my gun while at work, but I don't like leaving it in my car because someone could break in and steal it. Employees are not allowed to park in the parking lot. We have to park a half block down the street so customers can have the parking lot. That's why I don't want to leave it in the car.

However, thanks to Cheaper Than Dirt, I'll have to leave it in the car from now on.

When it's time for promotions, do you think they'll promote the "gun nut" as I'm now known?

Thanks a lot CheaperThanDirt.com. Also, thanks Uncle Mike and Bianchi for having such explicit "Gun Holster Fanny Pack" labels in large print. You guys are all the greatest.

By the way, my Dopp fanny pack works better for carry even though it wasn't made for guns. I should have just stuck with the Dopp.

It would have been equally embarrassing, but less damaging if it had been a box of Playboy magazines the receptionist opened.

I strongly recommend anyone ordering anything gun related from CheaperThanDirt.com not have it shipped to your work address. If you're never home during weekdays and work address is your only option, then just don't buy anything gun related from CheaperThanDirt, unless you want everyone at work to know about it.

I'm livid! Happy Monday!

 

[lyricsdad]

When it's time for promotions, do you think they'll promote the "gun nut" as I'm now known?

That must suck living in Washington...

 

[Soybomb]

Sadly if knowing about your gun hobby is bad at work, I don't think you should have that kind of stuff shipped there. Sex toys and porno would also be a bad idea.

 

[Mulliga]

1. Yeah, CTD screwed up.
2. That's one really nosy receptionist.
3. Why not carry the gun with you? Does your boss not allow it?
4. Maybe it's time to find somewhere else to work.
5. Heck, maybe it's time to move to another state.

 

[Spot77]

When it's time for promotions, do you think they'll promote the "gun nut" as I'm now known?

My boss knows I'm a shooter. I made it a point to let all of my coworkers and upper management know. On our yearly business plans, we have a section devoted to integrating personal interests and hobbies with business issues and customer relations.

Every year I spell out my shooting interests and political activism. It's amazing that I was well received and complimented on being such a "well rounded and educated individual." None of my bosses shoot or even own a gun.


Hopefully your boss is a closet cool guy (or girl) too.


Best of luck to you.

 

[wbond]

Actually the boss doesn't know yet.

The receptionist didn't say anything to the boss about it, nor did any of the employees. I probably won't have any fallout over it as long as I NEVER wear a fanny pack at work again.

However, I'm a computer technician and I often need to wear a fanny pack for tools. I'm the computer network administrator and on staff programmer.

A few liberal employees are giving me the evil eye now. Most don't care. The receptionist herself doesn't care, but it's thanks to her that everyone else knows.

Actually, everyone knows except the boss (owner) and the administrator (second in command). They're out of the loop. The assistant administrator (3rd in command) knows and doesn't care. The assistant administrator is the person in upper management who is in the loop with the employees. She said she doesn't care if I carry at work, but she recommends I not do it anymore because the two top people wouldn't like it at all. The top two people are the only ones who don't know at this point. I think I'm going to start leaving it in the car from this day forward. I like my job and would like to keep it.

People here knew I like to target practice on the weekend and the receptionist herself laminated my concealed carry card for me. Most people here wouldn't bat an eye that I own or carry a gun, but it never before occurred to them that I might be carrying at work. Now that thought cannot be escaped in their minds after seeing the contents of the CheaperThanDirt package.

There has never been a policy at work about carrying guns at work. This is because they never thought of it before. However, you can bet there will be a ban if the owner or administrator find out I was carrying. The only question is if-or-when the two liberal, anti-gun types here report me. I think they won't say anything if I never wear a fanny pack again at work. However, I have to wear one for my tools.

Oh well. Whatever happens happens. I'm not going to let it stress me further.

 

[KriegHund]

However, thanks to Cheaper Than Dirt, I'll have to leave it in the car from now on.

Right, im sure its CTD policy to 'accidently' screw up to make your life more difficult

You dont seem very proud of the fact that your exercising you constitutional rights...

 

[wbond]

Actually Washington and Oregon are pretty reasonable

states for concealed carry. Oregon is better, but Washington is OK.

The problem I mentioned is localized to my place of work and partly my own fault for having it shipped there in the first place. However, CheaperThanDirt is largely at fault too.

I am very glad I don't live in California or Washington DC or certain other places that are anti-gun states.

I think the problem with liberal anti-gun people is that they think everyone is as irresponsible as they are.

 

[Car Knocker]

The morale of the story is: Never have anything delivered to your workplace that you don't want your co-workers to know about. Doesn't matter who messed up in this example, but people are nosey and bored and will pry into anything unusual.

 

[Mulliga]

You also might try experimenting in the realm of deep concealment...

 

[Old Fuff]

I would wear the fanny pack you used before, and wait for someone to question it. If (or when) they did I would open it up and show that it only contained tools. After several looks and no guns they'll all forget about it, and if the "liberal types" make an issue and the pack doesn't contain gun(s) they'll shut up too. Just go about your business.

 

[tc300mag1]

I understand not being home i have this problem soem times but i would never have anything Gun related shipped to my work

 

[torpid]

The problem I mentioned is localized to my place of work and partly my own fault for having it shipped there in the first place. However, CheaperThanDirt is largely at fault too.

Were you afraid someone would steal it if shipped to your home address?
If not, why did you even have it shipped to a work that you knew would be uncomfortable with such things- were you just excited to get it ASAP? Were you anticipating throwing it on during your lunch break and trying it out?

I just can't jump on the blaming CTD (or especially Uncle Mike's )bandwagon here.

Yeah, they didn't follow your instructions to the letter, but you got the item delivered on time and as described. As you say, you should have just had it sent to your house in the first place since it was such a risky and potentially disturbing item in the eyes of your workplace.


.

 

[honkeoki]

As a person who's had sex toys shipped to the office, then had the package actually opened by my boss (who thought maybe it just contained samples??) :banghead: -- I can sympathize with your plight.

If I were you, I'd say screw that "taking pride in exercising my constitutional rights" line. An alternate story: the fanny pack was a gift for your nephew, who's way into Airsoft guns. Or it was paintball gear.

If you turn it into a joke, then people can laugh about it instead of giving you the evil eye. That reduces tension all around -- especially for you.

My $.02 -- good luck.

 

[choochboost]

Hmmm, yet another unhappy cheaperthandirt.com customer. Another reason why I still won't give them my business.

 

[joab]

The receptionist didn't say anything to the boss about it, nor did any of the employees. I probably won't have any fallout over it as long as I NEVER wear a fanny pack at work again.

However, I'm a computer technician and I often need to wear a fanny pack for tools. I'm the computer network administrator and on staff programmer.

OK I've been married three times, I'm good at this so listen up and practice this explanation for your boss if he brings it up.

"Cheaper than Dirt is not an on line gun store.
They sell surplus items, from all walks, at low cost. A friend told me these make good tool pouches and have an extra padded pocket where I can store my sensitive calibrated equipment and it was about 1/3 the price of other fanny packs of the same quality. I was as surprised as you when I found out that it was a gun holster.
So excuse me for trying to be a better service provider and taking initiative in this relationship, you ungrateful bastard.
See if I ever try to make your life a little better
Why don't call all your friends and tell what a lousy employee I am like you usually do or pack your stuff again and run home to your regional manager
I don't know why I even bother coming to work after home any more

 

[otomik]

everything you send to your employers address you should assume that it will be opened by some secretary. i thought this was common knowledge, i'm not saying that that's necessarily the way things should be.

 

[wbond]

To Torpid:

Quote of what Torpid said: "Were you afraid someone would steal it if shipped to your home address? If not, why did you even have it shipped to a work that you knew would be uncomfortable with such things- were you just excited to get it ASAP? Were you anticipating throwing it on during your lunch break and trying it out?"

Like I said in my earlier posts, I'm never home 9 to 5 during weekdays. What is the FedEx guy supposed to do? Leave it on my doorstep?

What if they needed me to sign for it and I'm not there? If they did leave it on my doorstep: I live in a city. Would it still be there when I got home after dark? I don't know.

Hindsight is always 20/20 both for me and all you other guys too. I've had a lot of things shipped to work without problems, including ammo. No one ever opened my packages because my full name was on them. Cheaper Than Dirt is the first time I've had a problem.

However, the days of mailing personal things to work are now over.

I'll get a MailBoxes etc box and have all personal packages sent there. That seems the best solution for the future.

 

[wbond]

Cheaper Than Dirt Apologized

They also corrected my name in my account.

No I didn't enter it wrong. I entered it right. It got screwed up on their end either by their computer system or by a human.

Either way, they've straightened it out for the future.

However, I'm not having anymore gun related anything shipped to work again.

I'll get a Mailboxes Etc mailbox since they can receive shipments for me and I don't need to be home.

 

[torpid]

Hindsight is always 20/20 both for me and all you other guys too.

Please don't get mad or defensive as I am really not trying to pile on here, but I just have to add to your statement that foresight is important as well.

I live in coastal CA, and if I was working in an office environment in this political climate, I'd avoid having "controversial" items shipped to my workplace and risk my doorstep instead. A few others here have expressed the same caution.

Anyway, sorry that you got marked the "Scarlet Letter" at work, but hey- at least you have a CCW and can carry.

My entire county is like your office.

 

[torpid]

Cheaper Than Dirt Apologized

Hey, kudos to them!

.

 

[torpid]

Oh, and kudos to you for this earlier:

I don't need my gun while at work, but I don't like leaving it in my car because someone could break in and steal it. Employees are not allowed to park in the parking lot. We have to park a half block down the street so customers can have the parking lot. That's why I don't want to leave it in the car.

There are some pretty decent bolt-in lockboxes and mini safes that you can get to curb the risk of smash and grab thefts, so at least that's an option that I'd recommend in your unfortunate situation.

.

 

[wbond]

Most of you guys have given me some good advice.

Some of it's the obvious hindsight type of advice that is already obvious to me in hindsight.

However, some is quite good and I might not have thought of it. Thanks.

As for the fellow who made the reply about "pride" and how I should be proud of carrying a gun, etc. Pride has nothing to do with this situation. If my boss brings it up, I'm NOT going to give him a lecture about how proud I am to be carrying a gun on his premises.

However, the advice about using a fanny pack with tools and my wallet in it is excellent. I'm going to flagrantly wear it every day from now on, even more than before, but with only tools and my wallet in it. I'll do that for a month. During that month I'll leave the "other tool" in the car, but bring the mag to work and stick it my my locked desk drawer.

That way if anyone questions me, I can open my fanny pack and show tools and a wallet and honestly say that I am not carrying a gun. If some creep steels my gun from my car, at least they won't get my mag or ammo. I'm going to actually make use of my gun lock during that month (came with gun) when leaving gun in car.

Then after everything calms down in a month or two, I'll be back to business as usual. Maybe there won't be any problems anyway. We'll see.

I'll make it a point to open my fanny pack and pull tools out in front of people for the next month.

The married guy advice is great too. If the issue comes up I'll use that, although I'll not be as over the top with it as your post since I'm not married to my boss, but I get your point and you're on the right track.

Thanks everyone.

 

[pete f]

As one who is doing property managment, I will tell you that I would never go int office without a gun. EVER. No matter what the policy was. We too have had people walk in and blame us for everything from geting evicited( as if the 11 months behind in rent was not reason enough) to the cops showing up at the door, (Next time you are cutting a K of coke, Don't leave on the the kitchen table when you have the AC repair man show up) to we did not do enough to make sure they were listed as a good renter, even though they had been evicted twice before and never had made a rent payment on time since they lived there. We now have a barricaded lobby, bullet proof glass for the receptionist, and cameras all over the place with signs pointing at the cams going your are on tv.

we still get thte willies when people park in the lot for hours just watching us. Carry a gun or find a way to stick one close to you.

 

[wbond]

P.S. - I work at a large real estate development and landlord company.

We've had two or three "nuts" customers (renters) in the office on a rampage during the past 7 years. In the last 7 years, I can remember 3 incidents of violent, crazed renters - two with knives and one who was so big and tough he didn't need one.

Usually those incidents are rare (less than once every two years). When they do happen, they're usually not directed at me personally since I'm the computer technician, not the receptionist, manager, or administrator. The maintenance guys are also a likely targets too (based on prior observations), but they're also tough guys. However, one of those nutty tenants did go for me once. During the other attacks on employees, I was not present nor involved.

The good news is that our employees do not attack each other. We get along well.

Prior to carrying a gun, I kept track of where the fire extinguishers were. On one occasion I used one like a can of mace. A fire extinguisher is a very effective weapon. It serves as mace and a club. i.e. - mace first, then club. Also, when someone is after you, you can yell fire and go for the nearest fire extinguisher and they don't realize what you are doing until after their bottom is kicked. (I hope "bottom" is clean enough for High Road)

So although I don't feel I need a gun at work because I'm not doing a job that p's off unruly tenants, I'd certainly think the two anti-gun liberals in management would want a gun since they seem to be among the common targets. (two of our management people are liberals, two are conservatives, though none are to far from center)

Although I wouldn't want to put my fire extinguisher up against another guy with a gun, I do feel quite confident in a fire extinguisher against a knife.

You may recall from the news that about a year ago a stewardess used a fire extinguisher to beat a terrorist into submission. She skipped the mace part and went straight to the clubbing. When the authorities arrested the terrorist he was already beaten senseless. The passengers held the terrorist while the stew whacked him in the head. He never got to set off his bomb. I love that. It makes me smile everytime I think of it.

In my situation at work, there'd be no one to hold the guy, unless the maintenance crew was there. However, I wouldn't need that kind of help because I'd spray'em in the eyes first, then club 'em.

So honestly, I feel pretty confident that I don't need a gun at work anyway, but I would like to keep it with me and not leave it in the car where it could get stolen.