I didn't buy anything other than one item for Black Friday: it was sitting in my online cart for months to see if there would be stock if it went on sale (not a shooting related item). I was able to use a coupon during the sale too and got it 70% off. Probably would have spent absolutely zero otherwise.
Echoing what others said: for shooting related stuff all of the sales I looked at online meant the list price from 18 months ago.
Also, most of the sale prices online and other local places (if they had stock) according to friends and family were list price from 12 months ago. Like they jacked the price up to put it on sale, as the old preconception goes. Likely covid pricing marked down.
I didn't go out to anywhere local to catch any of the sales because I knew how it would be, which was affirmed by those that I know that did: complete s#!t show. "Karen" types abusing the poor retail workers for doing their best, of which was not "the customer is an always right god" enough for the customer. Disputes over mask wearing, again, abusing the poor workers who have zero say as if the worker could get Corporate to change things. Security on high alert because of those 'flash mob robberies' happening in the USA, so more people abusing employees who had zero decision making over it. People pushing and shoving, cousin had someone ram them in the heels with a shopping cart a dozen times in the checkout lane because the store staff were not working fast enough (and had to apologize and back down from a fight when he tried defending the store staff). Just that, lots of 'entitled' people being inhumane.
When it comes to firearms and accessories, as well as hunting sporting goods, I think differently. I see four places that would be great:
1.) Try and get those that set Manufacturer Minimum Pricing to come on board for the sale. Sometimes I see the 'big box store' get them on board for Black Friday / Cyber Monday (BF/CM) when the 'mom & pop LGS' doesn't.
2.) I would like to see the free shipping, the minimum needed to be spent before getting the normal free shipping, lowered for a BF/CM sale. If it is normally $400 for free ship make it $150 for free ship, or if it is a flat $25 shipping fee make it $5 flat fee. Sometimes I don't buy more because the $60 of small springs and bits is more expensive with shipping included than to go to the online or big box store (an extra $20 to ship is still +33% of a $60 order).
3.) Discounted or free shipping for ammo with purchase of the applicable firearm. You buy a 9mm handgun get free shipping on any 9mm ammo you buy at the same time.
4.) Have product sets like a free extra magazine with that rifle (specifically the ones with the flimsy plastic ones easy to lose but cost $60), free trigger upgrade on that shotgun, free targets with that handgun. All stuff that once you add it to your cart you can select the free item at check out. Also, maybe pair up some "must haves" for a deal, an example being buy a rifle and scope you get free mounts and mounting of the scope (delayed shipping of course).
Most of what you see, most of what I think of, is how can I get the same thing to me for the same cost as driving to my LGS or local big box outdoors store... or how do I get what I want with the main purchase for a lower price.
... just my opinions though.
Echoing what others said: for shooting related stuff all of the sales I looked at online meant the list price from 18 months ago.
Also, most of the sale prices online and other local places (if they had stock) according to friends and family were list price from 12 months ago. Like they jacked the price up to put it on sale, as the old preconception goes. Likely covid pricing marked down.
I didn't go out to anywhere local to catch any of the sales because I knew how it would be, which was affirmed by those that I know that did: complete s#!t show. "Karen" types abusing the poor retail workers for doing their best, of which was not "the customer is an always right god" enough for the customer. Disputes over mask wearing, again, abusing the poor workers who have zero say as if the worker could get Corporate to change things. Security on high alert because of those 'flash mob robberies' happening in the USA, so more people abusing employees who had zero decision making over it. People pushing and shoving, cousin had someone ram them in the heels with a shopping cart a dozen times in the checkout lane because the store staff were not working fast enough (and had to apologize and back down from a fight when he tried defending the store staff). Just that, lots of 'entitled' people being inhumane.
When it comes to firearms and accessories, as well as hunting sporting goods, I think differently. I see four places that would be great:
1.) Try and get those that set Manufacturer Minimum Pricing to come on board for the sale. Sometimes I see the 'big box store' get them on board for Black Friday / Cyber Monday (BF/CM) when the 'mom & pop LGS' doesn't.
2.) I would like to see the free shipping, the minimum needed to be spent before getting the normal free shipping, lowered for a BF/CM sale. If it is normally $400 for free ship make it $150 for free ship, or if it is a flat $25 shipping fee make it $5 flat fee. Sometimes I don't buy more because the $60 of small springs and bits is more expensive with shipping included than to go to the online or big box store (an extra $20 to ship is still +33% of a $60 order).
3.) Discounted or free shipping for ammo with purchase of the applicable firearm. You buy a 9mm handgun get free shipping on any 9mm ammo you buy at the same time.
4.) Have product sets like a free extra magazine with that rifle (specifically the ones with the flimsy plastic ones easy to lose but cost $60), free trigger upgrade on that shotgun, free targets with that handgun. All stuff that once you add it to your cart you can select the free item at check out. Also, maybe pair up some "must haves" for a deal, an example being buy a rifle and scope you get free mounts and mounting of the scope (delayed shipping of course).
Most of what you see, most of what I think of, is how can I get the same thing to me for the same cost as driving to my LGS or local big box outdoors store... or how do I get what I want with the main purchase for a lower price.
... just my opinions though.
