Why don't people compartive shop?

[LeonCarr]

It is hard to go to a store nowadays and find something cheaper than finding it online. About the only gun related thing I buy locally is powder or primers.

My big pet peeve with Cabelas is that you walk into the store and before you can even get a shopping cart some jackleg in an orange vest is trying to sell you a Cabelas Visa or some other way to spend money you don't have on things you don't need. Once upon a time once you got past the registers you could shop without being harassed. The last time I went there they now have jacklegs going from department to department trying to sell you credit WHILE YOU ARE SHOPPING. I explained that to a Manager and he did not seem to have a problem with his minions harassing shoppers.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[TruthTellers]

Some folks, like my wife, have the opposite problem, I often have to point out to her that the gas to drive across town to save a $1.50 on something will eat up the savings, not to mention the time we'd waste doing so.

Time is money, I won't criticize anyone for getting what they want and can afford when the opportunity arises.

That is why I like gun shows, I surf the net for best prices on what I want and then hit the shows, I can usually equal or beat the on-line prices, especially after factoring in shipping and transfer fees.

I don't disagree with such thinking as that has been MO when gun buying, which is to buy locally. However, I'm starting to look at buying more things online even though I pay a minimum of $50 shipping and ffl transfer combined, I'd rather that go to someone or some company that's actually adding value to the transfer than my lovely state government extracting tax money not because they do anything of value with it, but because they have some divine right to do so.

 

[Praxidike]

Where I live we have three big box stores in close proximity. Bass, Gander and Cabela's (a touch of a drive). They all sell handguns.

However, you can go to Academy for many standard items - let's say you want a Glock or SW revolver - and save a bundle. Yet, folks are at the first three and buying such.

You can even do better at the gun show but I understand that is scary for some.

I just don't get it. Any insights?

I agree. I went to Brass for the first time last month. The price of their firearms where WAY, WAY over prided, yet people had numbered tickets waiting to be called so that they could make a purchase.

I just don't think they know any better.

 

[Praxidike]

Some folks, like my wife, have the opposite problem, I often have to point out to her that the gas to drive across town to save a $1.50 on something will eat up the savings, not to mention the time we'd waste doing so.

Time is money, I won't criticize anyone for getting what they want and can afford when the opportunity arises.

That is why I like gun shows, I surf the net for best prices on what I want and then hit the shows, I can usually equal or beat the on-line prices, especially after factoring in shipping and transfer fees.

I only buy used firearms at gun shops because they're usually priced better than buying online, on GunBroker, or in a forum... Otherwise, 90% of my firearms come from online stores with free shipping or a great final price even with shipping included.

I pay $50-$200 less for the firearm, $20 for the transfer, and no state tax on a very expensive purchase.

 

[Win73]

Win 73: My condolences to you.

Thanks. Fortunately it was not a serious wound. The shooter was considerate enough to have his own hand between my son and the gun. The bullet fragmented in his hand and several of the fragments hit my son. Only one of the fragments penetrated and was easily removed at the ER.

 

[OilyPablo]

Gun show, range, gun shop, home, whatever, there are no do overs for ND firearm safety rule violations. Indeed we all should be wary of any gathering were people don't know the rules, don't care about the rules, aren't lucid enough to follow the rules, etc.

As noted above, a good club such as WAC and MVRC, SVRC, etc in my area at the very least do a first level screen, so to speak.

Glad your son is OK and that is something nobody ever forgets.

 

[22-rimfire]

Impulse buying is fun. I just about pulled the trigger on an Anshutz 22 rifle the other day... and then had second thoughts. I still may buy it if it is still on the rack. The price is okay based on my experience. I am not particularly worried about $20 on a $1000 firearm.

As far as buying at Bass Pro, Cabelas, Gander Mountain, Dicks and so forth..... Their guns tend to be higher priced. Of the four, I tend to choose Bass Pro or Cabelas.

 

[GEM]

One exit on the highway and save $50 bucks without the hassle of points, bringing in an ad to show the clerk, etc. - seems to me an easy thing for someone who just wants a SW 642 or Glock 19. Since I know the game I can use all the tricks but I was interested in the casual shopper.

I do understand the time element. If I had to drive a long distance, it may not pay but here that's not the case.

As far as the gun show being scary - around here you have to drive to the show, park in a big dirt lot, pay to park and walk around very crowded aisles. You get to see the big Nazi flag display and t-shirts with violent slogans. Now, since I know the game, it's part of the territory and the show is fun.

If I'm just a casual person wanting a reasonable SD gun, it may not be pleasant. Although Charles Blow, a usually antigun columnist for the NYTimes went to a San Antonio gun show with his brother and had a fine time. Found the people reasonable and friendly. But the surface appearance might be intimidating.

 

[Warp]

Impulse buying is fun. I just about pulled the trigger on an Anshutz 22 rifle the other day... and then had second thoughts. I still may buy it if it is still on the rack. The price is okay based on my experience. I am not particularly worried about $20 on a $1000 firearm.

As far as buying at Bass Pro, Cabelas, Gander Mountain, Dicks and so forth..... Their guns tend to be higher priced. Of the four, I tend to choose Bass Pro or Cabelas.

I doubt many people worry about $20 on a $1,000 purchase.

But many people buy Glocks, M&P, Smith or Ruger, whatever, at a place like Bass Pro where you are talking about $100 on a $500 purchase, or similar.

 

[Baron_Null]

explained that to a Manager and he did not seem to have a problem with his minions harassing shoppers.

If Cabela's is anything like other retail outlets, complaining to the manager that employees were offering you credit while you were shopping won't do anything, because chances are that at the morning meeting that very same manager was probably reminding the employees to try to push credit on customers while shopping.

If anything, the employee offering you the credit in the first place probably hates the credit thing as much as you do. There are few things that irk the average salesperson than being graded on selling customers things they absolutely don't want.

I feel like that's a big reason a great deal of people don't comparison shop as extensively as some of us do. In the mind of someone who is purchasing a gun for personal protection or home defense but doesn't plan to purchase additional firearms, the added effort of finding the equivalent item in a different shop (which can be very difficult for those who aren't into guns as a hobby) and the added unpleasantness of dealing with people isn't worth the amount they could save on the purchase.

There's also issues of "loyalty" and familiarity in general. My grandfather used a local shop very often, and still had their price stickers on 30yo cleaning accessories. I know people who will go to Sportsman's Warehouse as a first stop when looking for a gun, and only buy online when there's a very significant price difference. For some, the easier experience is worth the extra cash. It's just personal preference and market forces at work.

 

[GEM]

So, in a very easy drive for a Glock 17 Gen 4

Bass Pro $629
Gander $599

vs. Academy at $569

I am talking about 3 to 6 miles between each on the highway. That might be alot of driving for some but not in TX.

If you were going from San Antonio to Austin, which I do a lot, if I stopped at Cabelas - $629. In Austin, GT Distributors for $549.

Now I got one at the gun show for $539. No screwing around with showing them ads or saving up points.

The Bass Pro vs. Academy is just a very short distance.

 

[SC Shooter]

I try to stay away from the big box stores when buying guns. Their prices don't vary that much, service and expertise are usually lacking, it takes longer getting through the buying process, and generally is just a pain. When I go to my local dealer, I get a lot more customer service, he will take trade ins, I have even heard him to offer lay always, and he truly appreciates my business. Oh yeah, his prices are competitive.

 

[entropy]

I prefer buying from LGS's, having worked at several. I have bought a couple pistols from Fleet Farm, and a shotgun for 4-H at Wally World. (Which I work at.) Buying guns at guns shows isn't scary for me personally, but I could see where it would be for some; more than one friend has asked me to come with them. (I am a gunsmith, strictly a hobby now.) Your average shopper who buys at Gander/Bass Pro/Dick's either: 1.) As mentioned, got a gift card for the holidays or BD and uses it towards a gun, or 2.) Walks in shopping for something else (.22 ammo, maybe?) and sees the newest gun they saw in <insert magazine name here> and then fondles it....

 

[whatever]

I buy from Cabelas quite a bit for one simple reason: my family gets me gift cards there for gifts. I'm about to spend 649 for a Glock 30 at Cabelas...but I have 450 in gift cards. The way I look at it is someone let me buy a Glock for 200 bucks for Christmas. Not too bad.

I know I could beat the price by $50 or more but that would involve more money out of my pocket.

 

[thump_rrr]

Knowing your prices is vital if you want to save money.
Now that many of us have smartphones with the world at our fingertips we are less likely to overpay when we decide to buy on a whim.

Every time I am looking to buy a new pistol I seem to be able to find a slightly used one with 5 mags for 20% less than a new gun with 2 mags.
Since HK 10 round mags aren't exactly cheap I usually end up buying the slightly used one.

 

[22-rimfire]

I doubt many people worry about $20 on a $1,000 purchase.

But many people buy Glocks, M&P, Smith or Ruger, whatever, at a place like Bass Pro where you are talking about $100 on a $500 purchase, or similar.

I have never purchased a gun at Bass Pro, Gander, or Cabelas.... I seldom even look at their firearms except in the Gun Room at Cabelas. I buy other stuff there mostly (like over priced fishing rods). I was tempted during a sale at Gander on a Ruger LCRX. But money was tight at the time and I decided against it.

I sort of know where to go for guns if I am seriously interested in buying, especially for the common stuff like Glocks. But there is the impulse thing which I enjoy. I am mostly looking for "fair" prices and $100 does make a difference to me.

 

[hemiram]

I have a couple of friends who I guess are too lazy or something to really compare prices. One just bought a Taurus 66 .357 for a much higher price than was available online. Even if you include the $14.99 shipping and $25 transfer fee, it was almost $180 less than from the LGS he bought it from. I haven't told him yet..I always check online, and have enjoyed some great deals. A hundred bucks still buys a fair chunk of ammo.

We have a couple of LGS's here that have amazingly high prices on both new and used guns. I was looking at a CZ SP-01, and the price one of them had for a used one was almost $100 more than most new ones went for on Gunbroker. The new ones were full list price. I've passed on guns I really wanted, because they refused to bargain at all. Not a penny. No "I'll toss in.." no nothing. So I go to the PC, and in about 10 minutes, I'm waiting for my new gun.

 

[tarosean]

Now I got one at the gun show for $539. No screwing around with showing them ads or saving up points.

Now add Parking Fees, Door Fees, Fuel and other ancillary expenses. You likely didnt save as much as you thought.

If I am looking for a particular gun I will buy from whoever actually has it in stock. Sometimes that means paying MSRP for it. That said, I am generally not looking for run of the mill glocks, or other commonly found guns.

 

[Warp]

Now add Parking Fees, Door Fees, Fuel and other ancillary expenses. You likely didnt save as much as you thought.

If I am looking for a particular gun I will buy from whoever actually has it in stock. Sometimes that means paying MSRP for it. That said, I am generally not looking for run of the mill glocks, or other commonly found guns.

I have never had to pay a parking fee to go to a gun show. Never had to drive very far at all either...rather comparable to driving to any other location. Why would you count gasoline? You have to drive somewhere to get it anyway (unless CMP or you have some kind a C&R or something).

 

[tarosean]

I have never had to pay a parking fee to go to a gun show. Never had to drive very far at all either.

thats good for you.. Cause parking for me is 10+, drive is 1.5hrs just to show up.

 

[Warp]

thats good for you.. Cause parking for me is 10+, drive is 1.5hrs just to show up.

Did the person you quoted have to drive 1.5 hours to and pay for parking?

 

[GEM]

Now add Parking Fees, Door Fees, Fuel and other ancillary expenses. You likely didnt save as much as you thought.

$5 entry, $3 parking, Probably.

Distance 12 miles, so about 1/3 gallon of gas. $0.80

$8.80

So that gives me a $539 as compared to $569 or 629. Also I get to hang out at the gun show and soak up the culture.