Here is a rather long reply to this post I recieved on another forum. This is a great read and, if true reminds me of the old saying ..."Don't make your hobby your business"
This should be made into a poster and placed on the wall of every gunshop!! ;D
I own my own plumbing business, have ZERO complaints on my license and have always treated customer service as my top priority. I have worked in retail when I was younger and even owned a Paintball store for sometime and had the same attitude there. Always thrived and did my absolute best to deal with customers in a fashion that would make them happy and wanting to come back and ask for me.
What I'm getting at with that is I have dealt with all types of customers over my time and have had a good success rate in making them happy.
With that said, I have been volunteering at a local shop for sometime now and I have can say without doubt that the stupidest, rudest most ignorant people I have met in my life have been at the gun store.
Examples:
Customer: You have a holster for a 40?
Me: What make an model of 40 S&W do you have sir?
Customer: A 40 Smith and Wesson.
Me: Great sir, which model 40 Smith and Wesson do you have as they are all different and I would need to find you a holster that is made for your model.
Customer: I don't know which one it is, it shoots 40 though, can you get me a holster for it, it looks like that one.
Me: Sir that's a FN 5.7, I don't know any 40 caliber pistols that look like that one, if you could bring it in with you we could try and match it up.
Customer: So you don't have one?
This exact conversation happened today. And has happened countless times in the six months I have been there. Guns/Firearms/Weapons are serious business and I wish people would educate themselves at least a little.
Another conversation today....
Customer: You have an AMMO?
Me: Which ammo are you looking for sir?
Customer: Just whatever for my Taurus.
Me: Which model Taurus do you have sir?
Customer: I don't know it looks like that one over there.
Me: Sir that is a Bersa Thunder 380 Auto, I don't know of a Taurus that looks like that, can you describe it a little better please.
Customer: Man I just want some ammo for my Taurus.
Me: I understand man, and I want to sell you ammunition however I need to know what fire arm you have so that I can sell you the right thing, otherwise it wont work and you will probably get upset. Do you have the firearm with you?
Customer: No its at my friends house, I will just go to Walmart and get it.
Me: Good luck brother.
Are you kidding me, doesn't know what type of ammo his gun takes? Doesn't know what gun he has? I get this at least 4 times a day. I hope the people at Walmart found this gentleman as enjoyable as I did.
Then you get all the hip hop gangsters that come in the store and want to see everything, ask you bunch a questions about the back ground check only to leave the store without buying anything, ever. Then there are the old people that have nothing better to do then come talk to you because they have no friends alive and no where to be. Then other customers come in and see you talking to these old people and they think you are ignoring them for your friends so then they complain that you suck because you don't help them. Yep that's what I was doing, talking with this old codger about a gun he sold in 1957 and wished he had back is exactly how I planned on spending my day, besides avoiding you that is. Thanks for noticing.
THEN THE WORST OF THE BUNCH...
The I know every thing and read it in this magazine and want to ask your opinion so I can argue with you and show you that I'm smarter then you. I hate these guys and wont play their game. People ask my opinion I say they are all great, find something your budget that fits good in your hand and you will be fine. Practice makes perfect and the more you shoot the more confident and proficient you will become. Just because you buy one pistol over another it wont make you shoot any better, only you can do that. I have heard good things about them all but I choose to shoot XYZ because its what I like. You may like something different, I implore you to look around and try them out.
Oh and yes, coming in and asking me what your 1823 musket from Austria is worth and then acting surprised when I don't have clue what that is.. Yea I love you too. It's your gun, do me a favor and look it up. I know what my guns are worth, why because they are mine. If your asking if I want to buy it well you will have to ask for the owner, its his money and I cant give it away. And no I cant quote your for it over the phone. And no I wont ballpark you over phone, is there some part about the owner wants to see all guns he buys and appraises that is missing you? I can say it slower if it will help.
Another thing, this is not Burger King you cant have it your way. There are laws that we have to follow, I'm sorry you the address on your ID is not the same because you didn't get a new license when you moved. No we cant start over and just pretend I didn't hear that, yes you have to get secondary ID now.I'm sorry that this bothers you, I don't makes the laws. I guess this is just more of my bad customer service since I wont break the law for you. We don't ask you if you want fries with that and we are not Walmart there is no greeter at the door to say hello to you. If we are slow we will say hi and wish you well, if there are 20 people in the store and 3 guys behind the counter then OH MY GOD MR IMPORTANT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT 5 MINUTES BEFORE WE CAN SERVE YOU AND YOUR GREATNESS. Why don't you look around the store? Your going to be really pissed when you get delayed by NICS. And no I didn't do it to you, no they don't tell me why and no we cant try again. I do not control the world, I'm not out to get you. I'm simply trying to sell you a gun so you can know nothing about it, shoot 50 rounds a year and think your dirty harry and then sell it back to me next year so you can pay the electric bill. I will be here for you.
Another note, if you need help, ASK FOR IT. Countless times I see people standing at the counter silently and even when I look at them from across the store they wont say anything until you walk all the over to them and ask them if you can help them. To which they reply "about time". Mother [beeep] I'm holding a gun you better watch your mouth before I slap you with it. We leave you alone because we figure you want to look around, when you want help you will like a big boy or girl ASK FOR IT. I HATE HATE HATE going to Best Buy/ Car lots or wherever and having sales guys up my [beeep]. I'm looking, when I need something I will take the initiative and ASK FOR IT. Like any responsible adult does. I don't need you to hold my hand and I guess MY BAD for thinking that most people think the same. I will do my best to hold your hand and cuddle your from now on.
Then there are the good people, the ones that make you laugh and you enjoy helping. The problem is you honestly get so beat down by the dumb people that you just don't see all the good ones.
Another note, why do you call a gun store and ask them for a detailed price history of every single firearm they have in stock? One or two is ok, but when you start with a list we just want to hang up on you. You have to keep in mind we have VERY important customers in the store and we need to talk to them, the longer I'm on the phone with your important [beeep] then more I'm ignoring them. Yes I know we should probably higher like 30 more people so that way everyone can get everything they need and I can talk on the phone with you more, yes that makes sense. Take your important self and drive on down here.
Also this is not your private work shop. Why do you feel the need to break down every single gun you handle? When you test drive cars do you tear the engine apart and rebuild it? NO. Break it down when you get it home and you own it. I have seen 6 different BRAND NEW guns damaged by people who started doing things they shouldn't. That is 6 guns in 6 months the owner is now taking a bath now because you want to play mr goodwrench on guns you don't have a clue about, OR OWN YET. Keep your dick beaters to yourself. The "break down" procedure will not save your life, the "break down" procedure is not why you buy a gun. You figure that out on your own time douche.
Why do you ask to take a brand new gun and test it in holsters? Tight leather holsters that add wear to the gun? Oh I know because your special and left your gun at home. And since you couldn't be bothered with READING the package that states its for your model you ask to see out brand new model and then shove it in and out a 100 times just to make sure that the $30 holster will work for you. Great, thanks for putting wear marks on my $900 SIG. I'm glad I made that $30 sale. Thanks for your business.
But heaven forbid I tell any of you this in person, because now we are mean and unfriendly and you will most definitely be shopping elsewhere. Great, I hope Sportsmens has more patience then I, say hello to the teenagers at Big 5 and Bass Pro for me.
And because I'm so unfriendly I like it when your bring you crying kids to the gun store. That is helpful. They drool and rub their little monkey fingers all over the glass that I just cleaned. I'm so glad you couldn't be bothered with a baby sitter or even with watching your own kids in the store. I mean there is only knives, swords and other pokey things ALL OVER THE PLACE. Sounds like a great place to bring your misbehaving 3 year old.
What do you mean your out of ammo? I don't know, has your head been the sand for the last 6 months? Yes I bought it all and I don't want to sell it to you. That's what I'm doing, I'm glad you caught me.
Can I get a clip for a 380? WHAT THE [beeep] IS A CLIP? You want a hair clip? They are called magazines, you are a gun owner, you could kill someone, know what things are called. Take it seriously, it is not some toy. I hate you and want to shoot you myself. I mean, which brand 380 do you have sir? No I'm sorry I don't stock those at this time, that is pretty rare pistol and its just really hard to keep every magazine for every pistol in stock. I know I should sir and I agree with you its now way to run a business. Thanks for your input.
This is all day every day. It blows my mind.
Oh how could I forget these...
You have a screw for this? What is it? Its the side screw for my 1904 Umberti Pistol, they are very rare..... AND YOU THINK I HAVE A SCREW FOR IT?
?
Or...You guys are out of 45acp?
Yes
Do you know where I can get it?
Yes actually because I call every shop in town daily just to check their inventory, and then because I do that I can tell you that you can get it here, here and here and probably at a better price because we all know that I'm out to get you and will do whatever is in my power to make your life [beeep]. I thank your for taking the time to let me know that. Again my apologies that I don't keep track of the inventory at every other store in the valley. I will work on that so that you can get what it is you need as I know just how special you are.
AND TO THIS COMMENT:
"It really burns me when I go in a gun shop and ask about a new firearm and the person behind the counter has no idea what your talking about. Maybe its just me but if you are going to do a job, know something about it. Guess there is to many people out there that treat it as just a job, just a pay check. I go out of my way to hit the shops that know what there selling and treat you like your business is important. "
Do you know how many guns there are? How many come out daily and how many are suppose to come out and hit the magazines yet do get released for months later? Do you have any clue about how many DIFFERENT guns there are? And you expect us to be an encyclopedia on every single one? And if we don't we are just there for a paycheck? Can you for a second step back and see how ridiculous that statement is? Since your the expert, tell me about that gun. I'm curious about it now too and would like to hear something. Oh a guy at a gun show told your neighbor who then told you and saw something on the internet about it after hearing it from them and now you don't remember what its called or know all the info but you thought I would.... GREAT.
You go to a car lot, they know their cars. They don't know every single car ever made in history. And even if they did, great! Because that's about 1/10th of the guns that come out yearly from every single little country in the world. Not to count the 8 zillion different gun makers and custom shops we have here in the US to top it all off with the 40 different models they all produce and change from year to year. Yea your right, my bad I don't know every single thing about all of the. Guess I should get right on that. I'm in it just for the money though, I'm sorry.
But I just keep all of this inside and smile, because you the customer are a bright shiny individual special little snowflake who is always right. What was I thinking.
Even with all that said, its fun and the best part is since I'm just a volunteer... I can quit and go back to reality in my business where I deal with 1/1000 of the stupidity. I just feel bad for gun store owners, my buddy is going to have a heart attack at any moment from the stress of dealing with the dumb.
I can say for 100% fact that gun store employee's take more crap and field more stupid questions then any other field I have worked in. I now understand why many of them are the way they are, its hard keeping that smile. I keep mine but only because I'm a part timer. If I was full time I would have smashed someones face in by now. Again, you have to understand that I am as customer service focused as they get. My business is successful because of it.
It makes sense to me now more and more, this is why across the US gun store guys are known aholes. They are fielding the same dumb questions and it just beats you down. If you dont think they are an ahole, its probably because you are a good customer. Think about that one....
