People who hangout at gun shops.

[MountainPeak]

So then GunPacker, What DID the clerk tell him? Maybe a discussion about THAT might have explained his angry. Added: Let me give you an example. I ordered a stainless Bearcat when they first came out. It was for my grand daughter's birthday. The shop had months of lead time, and promised no problem on delivery. I gave them a couple of more, because I planned on having it engraved. It was to be her first handgun. Got a phone message to pick it up. I arrived less than 48 hrs after the message was sent. Less than 24 after I heard it. It had been sold, and I know why. Someone else offered more than my deal. THIS, big biker looking dude was pissed, and I wonder what you would have thought of me, and my conversation with the clerk? Just the other side of the story!!!! Strategic THAT!!!

 

[bpisler]

There's only one gunshop that i
sometimes hang out at.I used to
work with most of the guys at a
different shop so it's nice to
catch up with everyone.However
if they're busy i'll just get
whatever i came in for,chat for
a few minutes and leave.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

No, I usually don’t hang out at gunshops. But I don’t have any problems with most guys who do. Heck, some of my best friends are gun shop hanger-outers. Seriously though, if I was a woman I might have some problems with those guys. When my wife is shopping for shooting accessories or a new gun, she has basically two bad choices of which type of gun shop to go into. She can either go into a small, locally owned gun shop where she’ll get leered at and get all kinds of unsolicited advice as well as smart-ass remarks from the guys hanging out at the counter. Or, she can go into one of the large chain sporting goods stores where she’ll receive stupid advice from the sales people. Often, in the large sporting goods stores, the sales people behind the gun counter simply ignore my wife until I walk up behind her. Have you ever seen a spitting mad cat? That’s akin to what my wife looks like when that happens.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Mountainpeak, your wife called. She says don't forget your happy pills.

 

[mr.trooper]

1) Yes. I loiter at the local gun shop as longa s i can, as offen as i can.

2) N/A

3) Yes. Some of the dumbest people you will ever meet hang out in gun shops

I dont think the shop owners mind me much. i buy range time frequently, and iv purchased a shotgun, a rifle, and a cold steel tanto from them in two months time. they smile when they see me coming.

 

[mnrivrat]

Before Al Gore invented the internet the only way to chat with other gun people was to hang out at the gun shop or at a gun show.

If anyone has a problem with a well mannered shop fly , then I would have to ask " What are you doing here - on the THR - hanging out ? "

 

[HI express]

Guilty as charged

I am guilty of being one of those guys who used to hang out...actually, if I get a chance now and again, I hang out at one of the local gun stores. OMG, I'm a gun store junky.

One of the things when I had more free time and I was just beginning to look for my "perfect handgun" I used to hang out at a local store that had about 9 or so regulars. I heard a lot of opinions about a lot of subjects besides guns, but several guys were law enforcement officers (couple of SWAT guys, some dealing with the gangs, etc.), some non-LEOs were competition shooters (bull's eye, IDPA, IPSC, black powder, some that went to high end safaris, others were collectors with really extensive collections etc.. A lot of very knowledgeable gun enthusiasts. Several of the guys were prop masters who supplied some very big action movies..I got to meet Tom Selleck, Mel Gibson, etc. at the shop. Too bad my friend eventually had to close his store. When it was open, it was a great place to just ..well, hang out.

I'm sure some customers were annoyed..mainly by the frank opinions of some of the guys hanging out but if you took a little time to find out who some of the guys were then you would know that their opinions were backed by a lot of experience.

So I was there to learn a lot about firearms and over time I have made some really good friends who got me started on a long journey into the world of guns. I also got a lot of good deals throughout all the years.

IMHO beats a lot of other interests that I used to be engaged in.

 

[MAURICE]

1) Keep it short. Don't like to crowd up the store. Usually in there no more than five or six hours.
2)N/A. Oh I wish I wish I wish I wish I worked there.
3)Most of the Hanger Outers are pretty cool guys. Some of them I have shot with and some I know from outside of the gunshop (through and old job at a well known knife store, at the range, gun shows, etc.)

I can't wait till they open this morning! Picking up a new Springfield.

 

[kframe357]

1. no, I don't like to hang out cuz I have no will power.
2. N/A
3. I don't like them most of the time, especialy the ones that brag about "taking a strategic position" when I walk in. Last person to draw on me was in Kosovo, and he regretted it.

 

[albanian]

"3. As a gun shop customer, do the guys who hangout at the shop annoy you?"

I am annoyed by most people that are "hanging out" anywhere. These are the people that apparently have nothing else to do than stare at you while you work or try to get things done and make smarta$$ comments.

There are far too many people in the world already we don't need people clogging the aisles that are not even shopping. If these gunshop bums know their place, they are not bad. If they stop talking to the guy who works there long enough so paying customers can ask a few questions and buy some things, no problem. It is when they seem to think because they know the worker, they are more important than the customer that I get mad.

I have walked out on buys at a gunshop because I was being ignored in this way. I go to gunshops to buy and look for deals to buy. I leave with a gun more often than not.

 

[Zach S]

1) Yes. A simple trip to the range usually lasts about four hours, and its 20 minutes away.

2) I dont work there, however I do wind up working occasionally if there's a rush, or if the other guys are busy and another customer comes in. I could live without some of the guys that hang out, normally these are the same guys that no one else cares much for.

3) At some stores, yes. I dont hang out at them. As for the store I do hang out at, I get put on the back burner a lot. It doesn't bother me, I know its a business, and I know that customers come first. As with #2, some of the regulars dont know that, and I find that annoying. Of course, I may be one of the annoying guys, if Ken sees this thread he'll probably let me know, lol.

 

[XLMiguel]

1) - I don't really 'hang out', as I don't go into gunshops that regularly. When I do go, I like to take my time and see what's new/interesting. I'm upfront about whether I'm browsing or buying, so I try not to waste anyone's time, but if they aren't busy and I'm researching a particular gun, we chat, often with interesting results. I always seem to end up buy at least some ammo or some do-dad.

2) - N/A

3) - Not particularly unless they're really intrusive, or tying up the staff with BS when I'm trying to buy something. I figure you can learn something from almost everyone; everybody has value, even if it's as a good example of a bad example

 

[Gunpacker]

Mountain Peak

Maybe I should have been clearer. Basically, the guy came in with a threatening manner. Owner was trying to placate him and do the right thing. He told the guy that he could take his gun, etc. Guy was just not going to hear any of it. It was a situation that owner, (armed, we had just discussed his carry weapon) was trying to defuse an angry, bellligerant person. Now, I had no axe to grind in the deal, but having 2 people in the shop may have been the difference between a violent confrontation and the guy finally settling down, talking more reasonably to the owner. Actually, he left the gun there on consignment, but was still outraged. I do know that the normal sized owner (50ish) would not have stood a chance alone hand to hand with the much younger larger customer. Now you can say what you will but I didn't do anything, simply stayed there, in the view of both guys, intending to provided the guy with some help if required. I thought I did the right thing from the conversation I heard. People often have a reason to be pissed, but no one has the right to come in and threaten a guy he has never seen, refuse to discuss a situation, without being seen as a threat. If seen as a threat, expect to be treated as a threat. Situation that!

 

[Omni04]

1. no, i usually get in and get out
2. n/a
3. honestly, kind of. It is kind of intimidating being a newer gun enthusiest, especially because they do say some things that i know are BS, but i can't call them out because i probably couldn't tell the difference between a GLOCK and a USP! (jk BTW)

*edit* sometimes they need to learn the gun rules... such as not sweeping me with the muzzle.

 

[Hollowdweller]

When I was a kid there was a local gun store with all kinds of cool surplus and ammo and stuff.

My mom used to get PMS really bad and the best way was for us to just stay out of her way during those times

Whenever those times came along my dad would say "Boys, you mom's brain has swelled, lets go to the gun store, and we'd hang out there with the owner and the old men and have a good old time. But that was in the early 70's and people weren't in such a rush back then.

 

[jamz]

Usually I go in, browse, buy or get out. But of the three gun shops in MA that I frequent, I have 3 different experiences...

1. Owner and I are on a first name basis. He's very freindly, will go out of his way to do me a favor, lets me in the back door, etc. I bought most of my guns from him. Haven't seen any hangers-on in this place, but lots of "long conversations".

2. Another store that has hangers-on. Owner is friendly enough, but it's hard to get him out of his crony-conversations. They don't look pleased when they are interrupted.

3. Another store, freindly enough owners, no hangers-on, but you can carry on a good conversation with the guys. One guy unloaded his Jframe for me so we could see what size primers a .38 took, and another time I was behind the desk helping them out with a new email address and some problems they were having with it.

Now, all my gun shopping is at the Kittery Trading Post, which is a big place, and there is no place or room for hangers-on. The employees really know their stuff for the most part too.

-James

 

[NHBB]

no, I don't hang out at any gun shops... if I go I am looking to buy something, it is a place of business.

the hangaround crowd doesnt bother me, as long as they don't interject ignorant advice about whatever transaction I may be carrying on... I don't be rude, I just acknowledge them and take their warnings or advice with a grain of salt.

the biggest irritation I have found is rude clerks towards their customers, I have overheard so much crap and been subject to it myself in the past... if I don't like someone's attitude, I will tell them and take my money elsewhere. nothing worse than someone who acts like they are doing YOU a favor by selling you an expensive firearm that you can find elsewhere minus the attitude.

 

[newfalguy101]

I havent "hung-out" in a gunshop since the local pawnshop closed, I used to go in there three or four times a week to take a looksee at what he had on hand and to shoot the bull. I spent too much money in that shop, but hey, when you find a place that has freindly people who arent afraid to actually HELP a customer find what they need, I get carried away.

I am an FFL, but as I dont have a "shop" I dont have any squatters driving my customers away

As a customer, as long as I get help when I need it I dont care whos hanging out, sometimes there REALLY is some good advice thrown around.

Anymore, unless I am in a smaller shop, I seem to spend more time avoiding the moronic salesmen that dont know beans about anything, than I spend actually "shopping"

 

[ID_shooting]

Before "my" shop closed, it was required that I hang out there. Literally, they would bring in doghnuts and coffee every Sat AM for the regulars. It was certainly a social outlet. As for when customers came in, yes, I tok a back seat tot hem and just did my own browsing while busines was being conducted. I have been "volunteered" a time or two while the place was exceptionally busy. I felt it an honor when he trusted me with a set of keys.

When the owner retired and closed the shop, a big part of my life went away.

 

[NMshooter]

Just where do some of you folks think gunshop employees come from?

A training program at the local community college?

I suppose some folks think the best place to meet other shooters is at the local range too...

I will admit I prefer hanging out here at THR, but it did not exist when I was starting out, and there were simply no other options for me.

We must all start somewhere, and be glad that there are several ways to do so, lest we be the last generation who handles actual firearms...

 

[Justin]

I have considered writing a book on the stuff I heard while working at gun shops, and later as a customer/hanger on.

Jim, that'd be great. You should do one idiotic comment per page, and have Peter Bagge illustrate it.

 

[Navy joe]

1. Yes.
2. N/A, but sometimes I hang out and end up working behind the counter.
3. Yes and no. There are good regular hang out types, then there are the ones you want to call the mental ward on or the ones that make you glad one of the managers has his full-auto AR propped up in the corner.

Proper hanging out should be part of the gun culture. Modern, trigger lock, no touch, no dry-fire big box gun stores have taken the life out of the gun culture just as much as the little dusty bin, hitler uniform in the back room, shops have.
My later life goal would be to own a gunstore with a range, classes, a youth program, and most importantly a lounge with a wood stove, coffee pot and some informative gun magazines on hand. What's the fun of having guns if you can't talk about them? When I do the gun store loiter I stay out of the way of customers paying that day.(Chances are I paid a lot more the day before). I help the staff when needed, advocate shotguns with stocks over PGs, give low key honest advice that still aims the customer towards something in the shop. When that's done we talk about an IDPA match, or the latest GSC line we saw on Glocktalk.

 

[JMag]

Jim, I've heard just about as bad from gunstore staff/owners over the years.

 

[mustanger98]

Proper hanging out should be part of the gun culture. Modern, trigger lock, no touch, no dry-fire big box gun stores have taken the life out of the gun culture just as much as the little dusty bin, hitler uniform in the back room, shops have.

Amen to the first part. Damn shame about the second.

goal would be to own a gunstore with a range, classes, a youth program, and most importantly a lounge with a wood stove, coffee pot and some informative gun magazines on hand. What's the fun of having guns if you can't talk about them?

Yeah, me too. Except in my dream store, there'd be a good mix of guns and that kind of stuff, and western wear and saddlery/tack. I think a lot of folks would find guns-and-horses kind of place interesting. I know I would. And I tend to lean on the counter and talk stuff in both kinds of places. I don't like to do business with stuffy people any better than with a loudmouth Mr. Know-it-all.

I help the staff when needed, advocate shotguns with stocks over PGs, give low key honest advice that still aims the customer towards something in the shop. When that's done we talk about an IDPA match, or the latest GSC line we saw on Glocktalk.

I've done, and do, the same thing. This is a lot like the situation I described at my friends' shop earlier in this thread.

 

[ruger270man]

I hung out at the local shop today for about an hour, shot the ???? with the owner and a few customers, talked about guns and politics. good times