Gun shop question....

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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OK, so I've seen a thread somewhere asking about what crazy things you've heard at gun counters...but I have sort of a different question. For fun. :) Have you ever been at a gun shop/gun counter....heard bad advice being given and/or seen someone buy a guy you know isn't really that great? Maybe a gun drastically over-priced too?

100% of the time I keep my yapper shut, because I believe bricks & mortar shops mostly need all the help they can get to keep the lights on. I figure that if I'm such a wealth of knowledge (=lol) perhaps I should get a job in a gun shop! Anyhow, I recently saw a gun shop recommend a rifle (type I won't mention, but one I've owned) to some hapless customer, who gleefully overpaid a bit for it and left with a smile on his face. Everybody happy...except me fighting the urge to say "don't do it". :)

I think I'm hard-wired to try and help people without much experience...especially when it comes to rimfires. I figure if I've made nearly every mistake 3 times, I must have something helpful to add to these sorts of conversations. lol Instead, I "M.Y.O.B.", like my mother started telling me to, over 40 years ago. :)
 
"Ignorance is bliss"
-Jim Lahey

If everyone is happy I would just let it go. Except if it is one of your friends, then you can rip on him for fun or stop him.
 
Just put this on your phone and discretely flash this to the unsuspecting
victim like a bat signal...

All_of_my_nopes._Nope_36a982_3991321.jpg
 
Stay far away from a lot of the guys at Cabela's... Sometimes it'd fun to ask questions you already know the answer too and watch them make something completely inaccurate up!
 
Go into any gun store purchase armed with information about the product you are going to buy. I don't feel sorry for the simpletons. But then again, the store can't expect a repeat customer with bad advice given to them.
 
I know what you mean - always trying to do the right thing - but these days, it seems no good deed goes unpunished. Sooooo, like you, I remind myself of a couple bits of wisdom from years gone by...1) Never miss a good chance to keep quiet; and 2) Don't mess with something that ain't bothering you none.
 
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It goes both ways. Not too long ago, a chap was in a store wanting to sell a firearm known to be problematic. I got the guy behind the counter off to one side and warned him.
 
thatguy67 said:
Stay far away from a lot of the guys at Cabela's... Sometimes it'd fun to ask questions you already know the answer too and watch them make something completely inaccurate up!
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Totally agree with you on this one. You should hear some of the staff try explain why the SKS rifles look like **** and cost a fair bit!
 
You need to reverse the question back to yourself, would you want unsolicited advice from some guy off the street,
 
Grock-co said:
You need to reverse the question back to yourself, would you want unsolicited advice from some guy off the street,
Click to expand...

Quick answer? No. However, if I was about to drop over $500 on a gun that was problematic...and I didn't know it...I'd maybe have wished somebody would have said something! lol However, like I said, the MYOB thing prevails every time.

And yes...I've heard some dandy advice dished-out at the Cabela's close to where I live. lol Even better experience in their fishing dept. Went up and down their aisles twice looking for something (unsuccessfully) so I asked a staff member. He huffed and said "well, it's supposed to be my break time...but if you need it that bad.." He was gone before it really struck me that I'd been dissed. lol
 
If it's a new gun, only intervene if it's safety related. "10's a smaller number than 12 so of course you can shoot 10 gauge shells in this here 12 gauge"

If it's a used gun that you intimately know the details of and it's a lemon, I'd intervene as Tiraq did.
 
I've only said something once, as it was related to hunting ethics. Guy was being advised by the salesman that #4 shot was the best for Turkey hunting, longer range and "knockdown" power. In my own testing and that which can be easily found online, out past 40 yards the pattern with #4 shot is too thin, and it would be unethical to shoot at game. No use in a large pellet for "long range shots" if it can't pattern worth crap, even worse to give someone the impression that this load is good for long shots and encourage them to take risky shots. All ethical hunters need to pattern test their turkey guns, #5 is probably the best compromise if long shots are likely, but always know the limits of your load and stay within them.

I cringed one time but kept my trap shut hearing the sales guy tell a customer that a semi-auto (Ruger 10/22 Takedown) would be just as accurate as a bolt rifle (are ya kidding me!?) "Aim small, hit small" he said. The customer was really just looking for something to plink with at short range with the kids, so I figured he wouldn't really appreciate the accuracy of a nice bolt gun anyway.
 
Ahh... Gun shops... Probably the main reason why I do most of my shopping online!

Me (before my Internet days) walk into the local shop wanting another set of scope base for a Browning M52
- Guy behind the counter: Sorry bud, that gun doesn't exist. You got the wrong model number...

I can't even convince him to open his part catalogue :(

I really-really wanted the set of base, so back home I went, looked in my gun stuff and low and behold... I still had the Browning box for the set of bases.
Off I go back to the shop... only to be told that it must have been mislabelled from Browning as they didn't make a 52 :runaway:

Went back home and called Browning, and after much discussion (and transfer) finally talked to someone who was willing/able to take my order...

*-*-*

The only shop I still enjoy visiting, is Sportec in Drummondville. Tony and his boys are a good bunch!
 
RabidM4U5 said:
I've only said something once, as it was related to hunting ethics. Guy was being advised by the salesman that #4 shot was the best for Turkey hunting, longer range and "knockdown" power. In my own testing and that which can be easily found online, out past 40 yards the pattern with #4 shot is too thin, and it would be unethical to shoot at game. No use in a large pellet for "long range shots" if it can't pattern worth crap, even worse to give someone the impression that this load is good for long shots and encourage them to take risky shots. All ethical hunters need to pattern test their turkey guns, #5 is probably the best compromise if long shots are likely, but always know the limits of your load and stay within them.

I cringed one time but kept my trap shut hearing the sales guy tell a customer that a semi-auto (Ruger 10/22 Takedown) would be just as accurate as a bolt rifle (are ya kidding me!?) "Aim small, hit small" he said. The customer was really just looking for something to plink with at short range with the kids, so I figured he wouldn't really appreciate the accuracy of a nice bolt gun anyway.
Click to expand...

Not bad if you use a full choke.
 
#5 Winchester Turkey loads in my Xtra-full turkey choked, 28" barrel pattern tightly out to 60 yards. I wouldn't probably try to shoot a turkey that far, but based on how it patterns on paper...it sure looks doable!
 
.22LRGUY said:
OK, so I've seen a thread somewhere asking about what crazy things you've heard at gun counters...but I have sort of a different question. For fun. :) Have you ever been at a gun shop/gun counter....heard bad advice being given and/or seen someone buy a guy you know isn't really that great? Maybe a gun drastically over-priced too?

100% of the time I keep my yapper shut, because I believe bricks & mortar shops mostly need all the help they can get to keep the lights on. I figure that if I'm such a wealth of knowledge (=lol) perhaps I should get a job in a gun shop! Anyhow, I recently saw a gun shop recommend a rifle (type I won't mention, but one I've owned) to some hapless customer, who gleefully overpaid a bit for it and left with a smile on his face. Everybody happy...except me fighting the urge to say "don't do it". :)

I think I'm hard-wired to try and help people without much experience...especially when it comes to rimfires. I figure if I've made nearly every mistake 3 times, I must have something helpful to add to these sorts of conversations. lol Instead, I "M.Y.O.B.", like my mother started telling me to, over 40 years ago. :)
Click to expand...

If it is not my significant other or family member best friend buying a firearm from a retailer I shut the F_ _ _ up.
None of my business what the store owner wants to sell it for, then I do not buy there ever if there is price grudging going on.
Seems simple to me.
Rob
 
tiriaq said:
It goes both ways. Not too long ago, a chap was in a store wanting to sell a firearm known to be problematic. I got the guy behind the counter off to one side and warned him.
Click to expand...

But, the difference there tiriaq is that you now have a buddy behind the counter who may bend over to assist you in either a subtle discount or try a little harder to find exactly what it is you might be looking for the next time your in the store.
It works in many different ways...
Rob
 
I work @ a Ski/Snowboard shop winters. We are all skiers/riders and the shop only stocks mid to high end equipment. We try very hard to match the customers skill level to the gear they leave with and can only base what setups we offer on how they answer our questions about riding abilities and style. Lots of customers outright lie when asked questions and most dramatically overstate ability levels. One employe always oversells or pushes the current sales incentive promotion gear, I see lots of his customers out on the hill struggling in my other winter job as pro Ski patrol @ our local hill. Retail jobs do not pay, in my case it is the discounts and free promotional gear we get that makes the job worthwhile.
Working sporting goods @ a large chain would be brutal. Low pay, crappy hours, no or low employe discounts, and frankly crap all the time from discount shopping customers only wanting the lowest price. I would not last a day @ Cabelas or Bass Pro
 
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