Gun stores were almost ran completely out of business by Walmart and other chain stores.

Then the internet came along and people started buying alot of the ammo and accessories online.

So meanwhile, the poor schumck that your whining about is barely hanging onto his business. He can't afford to expand or keep inventory like he used to because Walmart and Dicks's sells guns cheaper than he can buy them.

The only thing keeping many gun stores open is the fact the chains don't sell AR's and many chains don't sell handguns.

He can't afford to update and yes in many cases his store looks crappy. But he's still there to answer your questions and let you handle a gun before you buy it from Gunbroker.com or have your local Walmart ship it in.

Now add in the government and the way they are trying to force gun shops out of business over paperwork issues and you can't understand why some of these guys are cranky?

Maybe you should look @ it from the other side before you complain about things you don't understand completely.

And as far as crappy customer service in retail. Look @ why.

The people who work in these places have no vested interest in the store's success. If it closes down, they just go to the next chain store thats opening and get another job there.

The big chains don't care because if they piss a customer off in city a, city b,c,d and f take up the slack. It isn't like it used to be when your neighbor Tom owned the store and needed to keep his customers happy. Now they don't have to keep you happy or coming back. Their customer pool is huge.

Example: I recently purchased a washing machine and dryer @ a chain store. The dryer started acting up after 3 months, I went to the store and asked for some help. The manager (who looked to be about 9) gave me a number to call for service and proceeded to tell me that the store just sells them and service isn't their problem. I called their corporate headquarters and was told the same thing. I didn't expect them to replace it, but hell couldn't they arrange the repair? I just spent $1,000 there.

Obviously, they don't care and don't have to care. We sold our retail souls for longer hours and cheaper prices years ago. Now we all complain about crappy customer service.

You get what you pay for skippy, you get what you pay for.

Went to what I would consider upper scale outdoor store. Small Personally owned business. I was filthy from work and it was on my way home. the sales people took plenty of interest in me. They followed me around like I was gonna steal something!! Never once asked me If I needed help. Ill spend my money at wal mart before I spend it there!! I will even bust out their name if anyone asked! now on the other hand I went to a Gander Mountain and the sales people couldnt help me enough. Even with the drool runnin down my face!!LOL

I deal with one of the largest gun shops in ontario. It is a long drive away from my place so i didnt get there to much. The first rifle i bought there had a oversized chamber and a year later they took it back(no restocking charge, offered me twice the price i paid in trade). These guys take really good care of me and so they get most of my business. They will match anyones price no matter where it is from. How many shops can you go into and spend all afternoon just talking and drinking coffee.

In this shop they will show you anything you ask and will explain any of the odd ball stuff. They also know tha ti collect old winchester and marlins so they keep the guns they think i will like stashed in the back room. I return the favor by recomending customers to them.

I will not deal with a couple of certain stores (bass pro) becasue they dont carry used guns and they also dont know what they are talking about.

If your buying guns north of the border the place to look is ELLWOOD EPPS.

There's one gun shop here in Omaha... mainly concerned with shotguns and clays.

My father-in-law, who buys cheap crappy S&W auto trade ins, is treated like a king.

I, who shop for Springfields and Kimbers, am ignored and then treated like a gangbanger thug when I ask to see something.

The difference, as you may have fathomed, is that pa is grey-haired and I would look 12 if it wasn't for the beard.

On the upside, if I ever want to shop and NOT be harassed by the help...

I would rather buy from a local gun shop than a chain but what drives me up the wall is the " you should be honored that we let you shop here attitude". Another thing is the owners ignorant brother-in-law who has a job there to placate the owners wife and knows as much about guns as the teen aged salesman at Dick's.
That being said, I have received some of the best and most knoledgable service from the guys at the Wal-Mart that I go to for cheap shotgun shells and clays.
One big thing to remember. If you buy a gun at a chain and have a problem, you're on your own. They don't want to know. Contact the manufacturer is what you'll hear

I went into the same chain store several times before anyone even acknowledged my presence. I was looking for a shotgun but their disinterest in service sent me to another store where I was not ignored.

Read the article and found B. Cameron had virtually written my note before me. I have to add:
Dick's: I was handed a double barrel shotgun by a high schooler who seemed to have never touched one. No sale. I buy sale ammo there, cheap, not guns as I feel out of place handling a gun they own.
Cadela's: Our store manager is a fisherman, big time. Shelf price tags are missing, guns are locked down, maybe half the staff seems knowledgable or gives a hoot. Best sales person : an young lady that understood customer service. Have not seen her lately.
Local shops: Be in the "Click" or forget it. You can have the clerk that tells you your guns suck, the one that does not care, or the manager that wants to move you on. "Do I know you, uh, I mean can I help you?"

I perceive in Western Upstate New York there are a number of specialty stores that can sell and service excellent shotguns and rifles for any taste, need and level of experience. There are also those dealers specializing in handguns for any need and desire. These stores have good staffs and are gracious. The chain stores are here, but they have a tough time competing since their prices aren’t all that below these specialty dealers, nor can they service the aftermarket shooting needs. My opines of chain stores:

Dick’s Sporting Goods—basic dealer for entry level shooter in all areas. Staff seems indifferent.

Cabela’s—Great PR and packaging by scoundrels. Corporate Management always seems to be sued or have problems with the communities where they built stores by not following through on their end of the bargain. Don’t ever get on their credit card unless you like epic court battles on consumer violations. How can you trust buying from a corporation that’s out of Star Trek’s Furinge [bible is the 200 laws of acquisition]. No Cabela store in NY. Think our AG and consumer protection commission would immediately have them in court.

Wal-mart—Don’t like buying shooting stuff in a store that also sells mayo. See Dick’s Sporting above.

Orvis—Class and quality products for the serious sports person. Staff is excellent. Bring your money. Their fishing and shooting schools are a very positive experience and vacation for a couple.

Filson’s—Likely the best outdoor clothing going, but many of their products are very pricy.

Bass Pro Shop—People seem very paranoid in the gun department. Not a friendly place. I wonder how many guns they really move?

I don't understand the knock on large outdoor retailers. They provide a service, have a huge inventory, plenty of help, clean and well lighted, and fair prices.

I have made many purchases from both Cabela's and Bass Pro, no complaints after 10 years of doing business with both.

We also have a few local gun shops that suffer from some of the conditions described by others. That said, at least one local family owned/operated gun store seems to not only remain open but also retains a good customer base.

The "small shop" is able do so by offering the things that the larger stores can't, quality gunsmithing and very personal service when required.

Both types have their place but when I want to look over several gun makes/models and not spend a weeks wages on fuel, I'll go to Cabela's or Bass Pro for my needs.

The worst & best expiriences were at the same Gander Mountain store. I went in after Xmas one year to exchange some items in the gun dept, the manager was at the exchange desk by the door & ok'ed the exchange. I went to the gun dept. & the 5 clecks were involved in a discussion among themselves. after 15 minutes of being ignored I went back to the manager & asked if I had to drag one of the clecks across the counter to get some service back there. She went back & took care of me & several other customers herself & the next time I stopped in there were all new people staffing the gun dept. that were eager to help the customers.

Too add: I dont have alot of disposible income. Dumb thing and a motorcygle! Ill spend a little more for someone that can show me about repairs Instead of just handing it off and get it back fixed!

Big Daddy:

"60% of the buyers are hunters whom shoot just 1 box of ammo a year at the most. An are happy with 1 rifle of $450 and an Moss.500."

I don't quite fall into that category, but truthfully, how many of us are that far away?

I own several guns (.17HMR, .22LR, .223Rem, .270Win, .30-06, 12ga, 20ga, .50muzzle), but truthfully, how much do I shoot in a year? A box or two in the .17, almost nothing in the .22 (it needs replacing, stupid Remington 597!), a couple hundred rounds of .223 for fun, *maybe* one box of .270 and .30-06, ten or fifteen shots in the muzzleloader, five or ten slugs from the 12ga and a couple hundred rounds of trap. Nothing significant. Add up the prices:
.17HMR @ $12.50 x 2 = 25.00
.22LR @ $ 2.00 x 2 = 4.00
.223 @ $ 6.00 x15 = 90.00
.270 @ $15.00 x 1 = 15.00
.30-06 @ $15.00 x 1 = 15.00
.50 @ $15.00 x 1 = 15.00
12slug @ $12.50 x 2 = 25.00
12shot @ $ 4.00 x16 = 64.00
20shot @ $ 4.00 x16 = 64.00

Total: $313.00.

Annually. Now, I consider myself a pretty avid hunter, and I probably do spend a bit more than that - a few boxes of turkey loads, some accessories (gotta love a gadget...), etc...

But truthfully, how much do MOST of us spend on shooting goods in a year? Not on "capital" items like the guns themselves, which are essentially investments and rarely depreciate or wear out except through our own stupidity, but on the true money-makers - ammo, cleaning supplies, ammo, ammo, ammo... ?