House Rules in gun shop?

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candc

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Hi...i'm new to this...trying to buy a new handgun from a gun shop, will be much appreciated if someone can list some house rules (can't find on the forum).
for example, i was told by the sales that i can't pick and choose the new handgun that i'm paying for (i already paid for a specific brand and model). He will pick one for me. I will wait until the day of pickup (about 2 months later) to know my series number. of course he committed to pick a good number for me. So does this make sense? Thank you!
 
I think it depends.
If you go in person to a gun shop, you should be able to view, handle and choose your specific firearm.
If it is an online purchase, my experience is that you tell them you want “X” model firearm; they have several in stock; they grab one and send it to you. If it is a used, milsurp etc type firearm, I have asked for the “best condition” one they have in stock.
Hope that makes sense?
 
The only pick in serial numbers I really know of that counts, is when you are
buying Consecutive Numbered Pairs.
 
Thanks for the reply. i was allowed to handle a sample handgun. but when i was paying to buy a brand new one (in store), i was told that i can't pick and choose one by myself, although they said they do have in stock.
 
I actually don't care too much about the serial numbers, but i'm just wondering why i can't check and pick one by myself just like when i'm buying a new bike? shouldn't i check it to make sure everything is tuned up?
 
candc said:
I actually don't care too much about the serial numbers, but i'm just wondering why i can't check and pick one by myself just like when i'm buying a new bike? shouldn't i check it to make sure everything is tuned up?
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The moment you "check it to make sure" it is no longer unopened in box would be my guess.

I think gun store staff get somewhat nervous about this as some finish on guns can be very easy to scratch. Would make sense they had a demo model to avoid every customer fingering all of the unopened guns in the back.
 
candc said:
I actually don't care too much about the serial numbers, but i'm just wondering why i can't check and pick one by myself just like when i'm buying a new bike? shouldn't i check it to make sure everything is tuned up?
Click to expand...

When you do get it in hand do a thorough check of it. If you feel it has any kind of defect take it back BEFORE taking it to the range. I have returned a rifle before that had some casting imperfections and they were happy to exchange, as long as it was NOT fired.
 
For an in person sale, the sales guy told me the display model was the last one. I said that the store website said there was more than one.

I didn’t want the one that was fondled and molested. He went to get a fresh one from the back.

Politely, tell them what you want - your money and your choice.
 
Guns don't generally work this way as much as some items, and stores have different policies, but there is certainly a general method of valuing new items.

'Brand-new sealed box' items are worth more than 'brand-new open box' items. Display models and previously handled firearms can be worth less than untouched items.

The profit on the sale may also not warrant the extra time of a salesperson unboxing/reboxing a half-dozen guns to satisfy a sale.

From another purchaser's perspective, when I buy a 'new' gun I like to see it as packaged, in undisturbed and undamaged packaging suitable for re-use or resale. If the item I purchase has been opened, handled, inspected, rejeceted, and then hastily or improperly repackaged, as a buyer I don't think it has as much value as one that has not. As a vendor, I would choose to use one model for display, and all of the rest remain as pristine as possible for the full-price purchaser.

Packaging is a careful and time consuming process, and quite important to some buyers. Consider items with more intracate packaging, that are more sensitive to handling. If you went into an audio store and purchased a piece of audio equipment, would you open 6 boxes, pull apart the foam blocks, tear off all the shrink wrap, etc. and then leave expecting the sales staff to spend the time repackaging all those items? Further consider the next purchaser, who would be fair in saying they doubt that the open boxes aren't displays or returns, and also doubt that the packages are complete?

I find some issue with 'check and see if everything is tuned up'...what is an in-store visual inspection going to tell you past cosmetics? If the gun you receive is cosmetically challenged, its reasonable to ask for another. Its not reasonable to sort through the stock to see which one is 'tuned' the best as that's not a likely outcome of a touchy-feely inspection. To properly determine its operation requires its use, which isn't happening at the counter and opens an entire new conversation at the return desk.
 
JohnnyPython said:
For an in person sale, the sales guy told me the display model was the last one. I said that the store website said there was more than one.

I didn’t want the one that was fondled and molested. He went to get a fresh one from the back.

Politely, tell them what you want - your money and your choice.
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From your post I take, and agree, that if paying full price I want an unmolested fresh gun, the display model should be discounted. From the exact same reasoning, I can't be the guy who asks to fondle and molest 6 guns before I pick one..or there wouldn't be any 'fresh' guns to fill orders for us!
 
Also keep in mind a pristine new in box gun is usually covered in oil. If they let you handle it, it will become covered with your fingerprints which they will have to wipe off and then re-oil the gun.

There's also the chance that in handling it to check its function, you may marr the finish. They may not be willing to take that risk.
 
A few times, while buying from LGSs in person, I was able to check a handgun to become mine ...
the box was opened in front of me, I checked the trigger, magazine's ejection. and a red dot when it was installed
gun's serial number was written on my invoice and entered into CFP system for a transfer and (oh good times!) about two weeks later I was bringing a new baby home

all at least 4 years ago ... since then, all buys were online, so no handling of a particular firearm ...
 
This is OP's first post, no introduction. The grammar gives me weird vibes.

Why do you care so much about getting a "good (serial) number"? How are guns tuned? That's what the company's QC department is for.
 
candc said:
Hi...i'm new to this...trying to buy a new handgun from a gun shop, will be much appreciated if someone can list some house rules (can't find on the forum).
for example, i was told by the sales that i can't pick and choose the new handgun that i'm paying for (i already paid for a specific brand and model). He will pick one for me. I will wait until the day of pickup (about 2 months later) to know my series number. of course he committed to pick a good number for me. So does this make sense? Thank you!
Click to expand...

If you want the one you handled (display model) some stores will sell it. Not likely they will go into the back room and spill their inventory all over the counter for you to fondle, though not entirely unheard of for one or two to be made available for your selection. Safety protocol is far more important than etiquette protocol, remember it is always a buyers market. Don't go flagging people and keep your finger off the trigger unless the firearm is pointed down range.
 
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candc said:
I'm just wondering why i can't check and pick one by myself just like when i'm buying a new bike? shouldn't i check it to make sure everything is tuned up?
Click to expand...

I remember a guy who wanted to choose. I told him that he could choose from a floor model or a model that was new-in-the-unopened-box, and he could choose his serial number. No, that wasn't good enough, he wanted me to open every (new & unopened) box so that he could handle each and every one of them (before choosing one). I tried to explain to him that - were he to do that - each of those new models would cease to be new-in-the-box, but he didn't care, he wanted to choose, dammit! Finally, he choose an unopened box, and then opened it, handled the pistol, and then asked for a discount because the box was (now) opened.

That's what retailers up against.
 
Thanks everyone for your advice! very helpful. Since this is the first time i buy a gun, and i did it in a rush (most were sold out), i was just not sure if this is the way it's supposed to be. Now after reading your replies, i have a peace of mind...thank you!
 
Wendell said:
I remember a guy who wanted to choose. I told him that he could choose from a floor model or a model that was new-in-the-unopened-box, and he could choose his serial number. No, that wasn't good enough, he wanted me to open every (new & unopened) box so that he could handle each and every one of them (before choosing one). I tried to explain to him that - were he to do that - each of those new models would cease to be new-in-the-box, but he didn't care, he wanted to choose, dammit! Finally, he choose an unopened box, and then opened it, handled the pistol, and then asked for a discount because the box was (now) opened.

That's what retailers up against.
Click to expand...

Wow! What a jackass!
 
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