the price is the price?

[kjohn]

I have been on both ends of the stick. I owned and operated a tractor salvage yard for twenty years. Our prices were firm. If you were a regular customer, the price was usually better without asking, and they understood that. We never minded someone asking for a better price. What would sometimes make us roll our eyes was the "last of the big spenders" attitude. By nature of the business, we almost always had to "make an offer" on the tractors we we bought, so we tried to mind our manners both ways. My partsman/office manager had a wonderful sense of humor and would give people parts that had little movement. That always made for a good return customer!

 

[mr00jimbo]

I would imagine it would depend on the markup that the dealer put on the gun.
I know when i'm buying watches, 25% off isn't unheard of, even for a customer just walking in, unless it's a more controlled brand like Rolex.

For guns, I have a feeling the markup isn't very big, but I could be very wrong.

 

[cz52]

Yeah, the markup for guns isn't very high.

 

[Shakyshooter]

Everything is negotiable. Everything. If they look at you like a "d-bag" for suggesting it, then take your business elsewhere.

There's some fine shops out there that are willing to make a deal work for them and for you. If I find a piece that I want, and they make me a deal on it (& maybe plus some ammo + some cleaning stuff + whatever else I can convince myself that I need that day) they can be pretty sure that I'll be back buying the next thing I "need". That first interaction is crucial, but they SHOULD know that if they make me want to come back, they're gonna be making money off of me. I'm sure there are a lot of people like me that maybe just went into a fun store to chat a bit & see what's new in the case, and 3 hours later walked out with a new H&P Q227 Fantabulous 9.5mm. (Or at least the reciept, while the CFO gets it's s**t together...)

Having said that, if I happen to find something that I'm interested in and start a negotiation, if we find common ground, I'm ready to commit to buy right then and there. None of this calling around for a "best price" bs. If I'm standing in front of you and we're to the point of talking about price, chances are I'm gonna buy it, and the longer I stand there, the better the odds get.

Make me FEEL like I got a deal, and I'll send you my friends. Even if I paid a bit more. Make me FEEL like I'm trying to rip you off, and a) I'll lowball you just for being a c**t, and b) ask you the most obscure questions you can possibly think of, just to prove to me and to you that you're nothing more than a paint-eating counter jockey with a body of knowledge on par with dry toast. Chances are, if I'm looking at something, I know more about it than you do.

I guess what this all comes down to, is buy from people that treat you with respect, and that you're comfortable with. If you think you'll pay $X for something and they think they want $X+$999.99, then maybe you won't make a purchase that day. That's just business. At least you got a good chat out of it. If you walk out, though, and think to yourself "wow, what a douche, I never want to see THAT dude again!" then maybe you shouldn't be spending your money in there in the first place!!


(Wow. That got a bit out of hand, but I think you get my point.)

x2