Not sure how to handle a negative gun store experience.

Ratfor

Ratfor

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Location
Southern Alberta
So I've been looking for my first pistol. Decided to go down to one of the Good gun stores in town (the store in question shall remain nameless). Put 50 rounds each through 4 glocks. Turning my last gun in was chatting with the fellow at the counter.

Employee: So, which one did you like the best?
Me: Mmmm, out of what I shot, toss up between the Gen 4 17 and the Gen 3 17C
Employee: Really? Just can't handle the recoil of the 21?

It went on like this for about five minutes. He called me weird for liking the 17C and said "obviously you don't have any training if you like the comp". When I said I'm looking to start with a smaller caliber, he said "Big guy like you should be able to handle anything". He made an offhand comment about "You and your wife will be able to own matching pistols".

So, Maybe I'm taking this a bit overboard. I'm not saying what store/range, because I like that store and have never had any problems there. In fact everyone else I dealt with that day was Very good to deal with. Even the new guy who didn't know the difference between the Glock Gen 3's and 4's.

How would you deal with a guy like this in the future? Also, Are guys like this common in the pistol community? I was intending to get into IPSC, and decided on a Glock 17 Gen 4 (doubly for the Keltec Sub2000 I intend on buy eventually).

It's not that I'm worried about getting ridiculed. I just don't feel like arguing with people when all I'm there to do is have a good time.
 
In my experience,any one who is profiecent with a handgun has started out with an air pistol or a .22,or maybe a .38 with light loads.This is mostly so one doesn't develop a flinch. You get good,and then You get fast.Hope this helps.

There are shooters on here with far more experience than I have who should be able to help You out.Good luck,and don't let one salesman ruin Your day.
 
Get the gun that works for YOU, you will most likely go thru 2-3 guns before you find yourself too.
You may be lucky to find one (at once) that will work for you for years thou.

The best way to do it is to rent most (all) different guns off of your 'short list' and to shoot at least 50 rounds thru each. Also!!! IMPORTANT to have a good idea about what Division you wanna shoot in IPSC.
 
It sounds like you met a ham handed salesman.

You had a poor experience. You certainly have the option to vote with your dollars someplace else.

It may also be worthwhile to return and ask the same questions of a different employee. Or perhaps ask to be guided to the person with the best knowledge base for your particular question.

If you experience something similar a second time, I would consider that a more telling description of the stores philosophy.

Sometimes people don't communicate well and end up rubbing each other the wrong way.

Flux happens...
 
All technical issues aside, you are a customer, and should not be ridiculed by an employee of that business. Speak to the manager or owner, and explain what took place, and how it left you questioning the situation. The response you get from that person of authority, will help you decide if you want to continue, and spend money at that establishment. All the best.
 
Nah, talk to shooters, not sales people, about shooting.

Personally, I rented and shot about 10 handguns and none of them was the gun I ended up with. I lost quite some money buying and selling the guns while trying to figure out what works for ME and where I wanna be at shooting competitively.
Don't go 'upgrade-after-upgrade' route, get the gun that WORKS FOR YOU; you will save $$, effort and avoid frustration in the end.
 
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I don't want to give my very personal opinion but sort of general direction; one needs a gun to start shooting thou, and it's better to start with what he likes. Then he can figure out what he wants or likes or what works for him best.
 
Geez all you guys are sooo nice. I woulda told the salesman to go get his boss and when he was done doing that to go f&$k himself. You were the customer paying out you're hard earned money you do NOT deserve to be ridiculed. It would be a different story if you knew the guy and was just joking around a bit.

I agree with the guys saying start small and work your way up. Less chance of developing a flinch. 9mm is a good place to start if you want a glock. Don't count out the .22 pistols they are a lot of fun. After a little practice you can do really fast follow up shots. And they're so cheap to shoot you'll never be too broke to go shooting.

When I was a kid my dad started me out on his ruger markI .22. After many rounds I wanted to try his ruger blackhawk so he reloaded some really light .38's for it. Every once in awhile he'd slip in a maxed out hunt load and stand back and laugh his a$$ of when I got to that one. Lol. It made me a good shot though.
 
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Yeah , that salesman need to learn to respect customers , you should go back and try having same converstation , then laft at him and confront him !!!

My god !
 
Sounds like the guy needs a bit of brushing up on his sales technique. You can go to the same store and ask for someone else to help you and this guy will get the message. Get what you want and deal with whom you want.

I was offended by a salesman at my local "good gun shop" and I swore that he was a prick and that I'd never deal with him again. In the end what I realised is that he is a bit of a diamond in the rough and actually a really nice guy with some sloppy business habits. I now deal with him on a regular basis. Life is too short to create tensions where there need not be any.

For pistols, go with what you like, I did. The 22 recommendation is excellent, I like 22, 9, 38/357 and 45. This is my first year shooting and I'm doing IDPA. I'd suggest 22 and another centre fire calibre to start, 9 is the least expensive of the centrefires and there are lots of guns to choose from. The M&P range kit is tough to beat! I also have a CZ 75 SP-01 which is a great 9 - all steel.

Get what you want from whom you want don't let one less than great interaction set you off of your intended course!

I know that you'll soon be having lots of fun.
 
I'm with lobster pot on this one.

I know what I want as I've figured out which pistols work for me, but salesman like that I would have told to go F*** himself and the horse he rode on!
I have 3 .22 pistols, a K38, 9mm & 45 1911's. The ones I shoot the most are the .22's, go figure. Even when I take out the .45 once in awhile, she will shoot as tight on paper. Start with lower recoil and work your way up.
 
Sounds like a douche.
Buy somewhere else, but do the store a favor and call the manager let him know that his sales guy was arrogant, ignorant and just plain rude, and that you'll bt shopping elsewhere because of it.
 
Someone who knows what they're talking about will respect any choice you make, regardless of the size of gun. A real shooter can get behind anything and have fun with it. Sounds like this stool-warmer has a big truck and a small ####. BTW, a salesman has specialty knowledge and makes his living SELLING, and benefits directly from every sale he makes. This guy is an oxygen/carbon-dioxide converting machine parked behind a counter to make the place look open.
 
1000yards said:
Sounds like a douche.
Buy somewhere else, but do the store a favor and call the manager let him know that his sales guy was arrogant, ignorant and just plain rude, and that you'll bt shopping elsewhere because of it.
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Bingo thats the call. We where on a little family vacation to Niagra falls once and stopped to have supper, the waiter had to be a total #### head right from the word go. After taking just so much attitude it was "get me the manager" time who then swapped dickhead waiter out for a great gal (who got a nice tip at the end). Your the customer and do not have to take any snide comments or attitude.
 
Ratfor said:
So I've been looking for my first pistol. Decided to go down to one of the Good gun stores in town (the store in question shall remain nameless). Put 50 rounds each through 4 glocks. Turning my last gun in was chatting with the fellow at the counter.

Employee: So, which one did you like the best?
Me: Mmmm, out of what I shot, toss up between the Gen 4 17 and the Gen 3 17C
Employee: Really? Just can't handle the recoil of the 21?

It went on like this for about five minutes. He called me weird for liking the 17C and said "obviously you don't have any training if you like the comp". When I said I'm looking to start with a smaller caliber, he said "Big guy like you should be able to handle anything". He made an offhand comment about "You and your wife will be able to own matching pistols".

So, Maybe I'm taking this a bit overboard. I'm not saying what store/range, because I like that store and have never had any problems there. In fact everyone else I dealt with that day was Very good to deal with. Even the new guy who didn't know the difference between the Glock Gen 3's and 4's.

How would you deal with a guy like this in the future? Also, Are guys like this common in the pistol community? I was intending to get into IPSC, and decided on a Glock 17 Gen 4 (doubly for the Keltec Sub2000 I intend on buy eventually).

It's not that I'm worried about getting ridiculed. I just don't feel like arguing with people when all I'm there to do is have a good time.
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Hmmm, I dunno. Let's ask TDC, he'll be along any moment now...:nest:
 
tell his manager or better, the owner if it is a small shop, that this guys attitude just cost them a sale and likely to scare away more business.
 
I've stopped putting up with overbearing gun store losers entirely.

My suggestion is next time, interrupt him mid-sentence and ask very flatly, "Hey, is there anyone here who has a ####ing clue? You very obviously don't, and I would rather deal with someone who does." Then look around and approach someone else, say, "excuse me, are you familiar with handguns? I'm interested in making a purchase."

In my experience, most people will react with such shock that you can then pretty much dictate how the interaction goes from that point on.
 
Aww - he's just thumping your shoulder - like a buddy might. He read you a little wrong - but so what - smile and buy what you want. I would actually agree that there is no reason to use 9mm as a stepping stone - a 22 for cheap learning and then .45 for shooting. .45 acp has little recoil - it is not a beast.
 
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