JBS Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Erm I don't get it, if he told you he had just bought a used mondeo would you feel the same? What a stupid comment. What the hell has a used mondeo got to do with it? Most people can afford to buy a used ford for 5k but I very much doubt most people could afford or justify spending that amount on a custom rifle. I'm sure when his shop has a closing down sign in the window he will think back to the times when he boasted to his customers about how much money he had and wonder why he didn't keep his trap shut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 What a stupid comment. What the hell has a used mondeo got to do with it? Most people can afford to buy a used ford for 5k but I very much doubt most people could afford or justify spending that amount on a custom rifle. I'm sure when his shop has a closing down sign in the window he will think back to the times when he boasted to his customers about how much money he had and wonder why he didn't keep his trap shut I would guess he did'nt pay £5k for his set up, he was probably boasting and quoting the RRP/what its actually worth. . . . . Iv got a £1200 gun, doesn't mean I paid that for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 The way I read if he wasn't necessarily boasting. Just making conversation. It's amazing how often people see boasting when that's not what's being said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 I would guess he did'nt pay £5k for his set up, he was probably boasting and quoting the RRP/what its actually worth. . . . . Iv got a £1200 gun, doesn't mean I paid that for it You could be right there but in my eyes it makes his boasting even more ridiculous, if he had stood behind his counter and told me a story about how he wished he could afford to spend 5k on his rifle then we would of instantly shared some common ground, This is how you build relationships with returning customers, and make sure they keep returning! Whether he is telling the truth or not doesn't matter as I've spent my money and left feeling I've done the right thing using his shop and will return in the near future, If he then gets in his 100k motor and drives home to his 750k pad well good on him because at least he didn't rub my face in it while I was spending my money in his shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 The way I read if he wasn't necessarily boasting. Just making conversation. It's amazing how often people see boasting when that's not what's being said. Maybe your right but that's not how he came across and in a small one to one type business it's how things come across that are important, I think too many of the small gunshops have a don't give a monkeys attitude towards the smaller spenders until its too late. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Maybe your right but that's not how he came across and in a small one to one type business it's how things come across that are important, I think too many of the small gunshops have a don't give a monkeys attitude towards the smaller spenders until its too late. Fair enough, I accept that, you were the one there and I wasn't. As you say, today's brass brush for £3.99 could be tomorrow's Beretta at £1500!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 What a stupid comment. What the hell has a used mondeo got to do with it? Most people can afford to buy a used ford for 5k but I very much doubt most people could afford or justify spending that amount on a custom rifle. I'm sure when his shop has a closing down sign in the window he will think back to the times when he boasted to his customers about how much money he had and wonder why he didn't keep his trap shut £5k is £5k, what he spends it on is up to him, I bought my OU from Rugby and while the bargaining was tough I thought the price was very fair (cheapest on GT at the time). Their success is something to be ashamed of? You must have a meltdown walking past a mercedes/porsche/bentley garage.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 As you say ebay/online are killing them, one of my local gunshops are great to have a look around and a chat but just so expensive compared to online. people cant afford to pay the higher prices to help keep there local stores open imho I disagree with this. People can afford to day the prices in the smaller gunshops but choose not to. It's not as though you have to pay twice as much to shop locally. What really, really pee's off the smaller gunshops is the fact that many, many customers use them simply to check out and fondle the merchandise then nick off to somewhere like York Guns or SGC and buy from there to save a relitively small amount of money. To be honest, lots of shops can easily match the price of the big outfits close enough to make it worthwhile to buy locally if people would only ask. It's just that they can't afford to keep large stocks and, to be honest, a lot of the bigger shops with flash websites listing everything under the sun very often don't actually have half of what they say they do anyway. If shooters want local gunshops then they have to learn to buy stuff from them. This isn't to say that there aren't good cutomers out there - there most certainly are - but a lot more people should try to make the effort. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 but a lot more people should try to make the effort. Agreed - but that sentiment cuts both ways and it still doesn't excuse the grumpy unfriendly crowd who - let's face it - put people off and are their own worst enemies. No retailer's commercial strategy should be 'the customer should make more effort!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Agreed - but that sentiment cuts both ways and it still doesn't excuse the grumpy unfriendly crowd who - let's face it - put people off and are their own worst enemies. Agreed. No retailer's commercial strategy should be 'the customer should make more effort!' It was made from the customers point of view and for their long-term benefit. If shooters want the small local gunshops to survive then they need to make the effort and buy stuff from them and not just use them as a shop window. For many people the only reason as to why the big boys are a viable bet is because they can have their purchase shipped to said local gunshop for transfer to their cert. If the local gunshop isn't there any more then the purchase from the big boys isn't nearly as attractive. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 It was made from the customers point of view and for their long-term benefit. If shooters want the small local gunshops to survive then they need to make the effort and buy stuff from them and not just use them as a shop window. J. Fair play, I always support a local shop when I can (not just with guns, with groceries, all sorts). It would be a shame to see the decent ones go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 (edited) SGC big retailer http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/product/724b5d7a3493d95182642847/SMITH+AND+WESSON+586+6inch/ Local shop http://www.arthurbale.co.uk/p44932/Umarex-Smith-and-Wesson-/b290-2540-2540 Not all one way traffic.....both within 10 miles of each other (retail outlets) Whether either have stock I don't know. Edited July 18, 2012 by HDAV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 I have a rifle/shotgun shop within 5 miles of where I live....but rather drive 20 miles to a dealer that I can trust and enjoy a chat with...service is a little more important than saving £1 on a box of carts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBS Posted July 18, 2012 Report Share Posted July 18, 2012 Agreed - but that sentiment cuts both ways and it still doesn't excuse the grumpy unfriendly crowd who - let's face it - put people off and are their own worst enemies. No retailer's commercial strategy should be 'the customer should make more effort!' My points exactly. I run my own business and make sure my customers know how much I appriciate them coming to me, I will bend over backwards to keep them happy and try to make sure they always feel like they are getting the best price I can offer for the work I provide. HDAV, I too bought my rifle from rugby and I have also been in there with the intention of buying two other guns before that, in fact I was looking at a brand new browning again this weekend in there, you're right he doesn't really want to barter at all which is why I walked out empty handed twice. On my third attempt he knocked a few quid off a slip and the same off some ammo, probably about twenty quid total on £600 quids worth which was fine, I don't expect something for nothing. You are quite right that he can spend his money on whatever he wants BUT he knows as well as I do that I can buy the same things he sells much cheaper online, I choose not to because i like to think I'm helping small business's like myself. If he then decides to stand and boast about his fortunes while I'm handing over my money then my opinion is he obviously does not need my help so I'll go elsewhere. His loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 19, 2012 Report Share Posted July 19, 2012 Buisness is Buisness, it aint a game. Retail price is totally irrelivent to the guy selling its margin that important. Few new guns make any worthwhile profit as nobody can sell them at full RRP. Ammo is largely a waste of shelf space that just brings in the impulsive buyers of other products. The right used guns make good money and sell quick but the wrong ones don't and can end up costing the dealer in depriciation and shelf space. I am totally amazed by the poor buisness acumen possesed by some gunshop owners and thier lack of selling and comunication skills. There is still a stack of money in the guntrade for those persons who can make a buisness work. without mentioning names and location i was speaking with a newish dealer the other month, they were very proud of the fact that they had no credit on thier stock yet it had all been sat gathering dust in the main part and they had drawn no wadges in some time. Now compare this to a car dealer who has a stocking plan (yes finance) he buys more of what sells but at say 90 days it becomes an illegal stock item in his eyes as a result and he gets his money back on it (maybee within the trade) or makes a small profit. if he brings in a swapper he don't want its sold before it reaches his forecourt to another dealer or packed off to block to make what it makes. Now how many of us see the same gun sat on thier local dealers shelf for weeks, months even years having an RFD should in theory give some protection from competition, yet many are thier own worst enemy. can't buy right, can,t sell right and no nothing much about buisness, those that can do the above and also have the drive make it good and tend to become big. aint this the way with all buisness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 (edited) The internet is having an effect though, near here a big fishing tackle shop closed down a couple of years ago. The owner blamed the internet very strongly. Thats three out of the four fishing tackle shops gone from this area now. Two RC/model shops gone as well. I am sure the internet is at the root of those closures as well. As I sit here now, if I wanted to visit my local gunshop(s) I have an hours drive each way on a Saturday morning. In reality I am only likely to do that for ammo. Otherwise its -click- ebay -search- Forrest Bore Foam -click- buy it now -click- Paypal. Done. Edited July 21, 2012 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 The sensible shops have on-line sales as well - you would think it's a no brainer, but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 21, 2012 Report Share Posted July 21, 2012 The sensible shops have on-line sales as well - you would think it's a no brainer, but.... Yes but even then they can't compete with somebody working out of his spare bedroom living rent free on benefits and not paying tax. In a recent (and ongoing)purge on ebay sellers by HMRC some very big sellers have been caught out and others have disappeared rather suddenly. What chance does a shop stand against that sort of competition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 Yes but even then they can't compete with somebody working out of his spare bedroom living rent free on benefits and not paying tax. In a recent (and ongoing)purge on ebay sellers by HMRC some very big sellers have been caught out and others have disappeared rather suddenly. What chance does a shop stand against that sort of competition? That's true and one reason I avoid eBay too many dole flouts, tax, dodging and everything else dodging some blame lies at the hands of importers who give out trade accounts willy nilly, and don't support the retailers that stock their product it's rife in my industry with people selling online at trade or below trade prices..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 23, 2012 Report Share Posted July 23, 2012 That's true and one reason I avoid eBay too many dole flouts, tax, dodging and everything else dodging some blame lies at the hands of importers who give out trade accounts willy nilly, and don't support the retailers that stock their product it's rife in my industry with people selling online at trade or below trade prices..... You are SOOOOOOOOO right. I could really get angry because, as you say, its happening across all industries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 The sensible shops have on-line sales as well - you would think it's a no brainer, but.... I think its an often used excuse for failure, a poor one though as you mention there aint nothing stopping them. having fixed premises and an outwardly comited image does a lot for bargaining power with supliers who its often said are a major stumbling block in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanL Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 The sensible shops have on-line sales as well - you would think it's a no brainer, but.... It's not that simple. You can't just decide to do online sales if you only have a small shop and not enough staff. Online is seen as an 'easy' way to make lots of extra profit but I doubt it end up that way in the majority of cases. You need a packing department, significant storage facilities and you also have the hassle of accepting returns under he distance selling regs. For most small shops it wouldn't be worth it. I think that the real place where a lot of shops fall down is that they try to be all things to all people rather than just concentratng on doing the things rthey are good at eally well. There are loads of gunshops who are, for example, well stocked with shotguns and cartridges because that's their area of expertese who then try to get in to stocking full-bore rifles and screw it up because they know very little about them and buy in the wrong stuff or get a bad rep because they've advised the customer wrongly. And vice-versa. If I wanted a new Volvo I wouldn't seek sales advice from a volvo HGV dealer so why go to someone who specialises in tactical rifles if you want a best English side-lock shotgun? There is a line from one of the Dirty Harry films which is 'A man's got to know his limitations' That philosphy applies equally will to business - especially gun shops! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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