Supporting your local gunshop

[Bradders]

I always try and buy everything from my local gun shop (less that 5 miles away), ammo, accessories etc. But it makes it very difficult to buy the expensive items such as guns. I have been after a Webley and Scott 812 in Synthetic for use in the field as a cheap don't mind if it gets knocked gun. Guntrader shows the cost to be around the £400 mark, my local shop wanted £500, even after I negiotated a discount they still wanted more than the average gun trader price. After ringing around found a new one for £320.00 less that 30 miles away.

 

Everything in my local shop always seems to be about 10% dearer, which isnt a problem and I dont mind paying a little more for the convinience of being able to get there in 10 minutes.

 

Does anyone else find it difficult to support their local shop at times.

[GJUK]

It's the same with most items.

 

If you want some curtains for your house, you could go to your local curtain shop, which will be expensive due to them having to pay a premium for their floor space or you could buy them online.

 

I buy a lot of stuff online these days, it's much cheaper.

 

Jon.

[dogfox]

yup i do! went in to buy carts decoys and camo netting yesterday, came away with carts (cheap as dirt) 4 full shell pigeon decoys but no camo netting being as it was €65 for an 8x10ft piece :blink: i went on ebay last night and bought a military grade one 8x10ft for €23 posted! id usually support my local rfd, but that price differene is amazing!!!

Edited November 1, 2008 by dogfox

[JohnGalway]

I shop around and buy where it's cheapest. Shooting is expensive enough without middlemen (not necessarily the shop now) taking the ****.

 

Best example is my Leica CRF 900, 650 in the shop, 280 on Ebay, what ya gonna do?

Edited November 1, 2008 by JohnGalway

[Imperfection]

My local gunshop isnt too bad on prices,but some items can appear to be a little pricey.This shop is literally round the corner from where i work so i dont excally have to go out of my way for cartridges etc and the range there is massive so it does have an awful lot going for it.The two other gunshops are a 40 minute drive in opposite directions and i know one of them is a little cheaper,but then you have to take into account fuel to get there and the display isnt as good.

[Dougy]

It would be nice to support your local wether it be gun shop, pub, post office or general store,

But you may have one like i went to some time ago,

 

I was told by the shop owner when i asked if he could get me a Sako75 SS laminated stock and Heavy barrel .

 

" No you dont want one of those- you want one of these " then proceded to show me what he used.

 

"what do you want one of those for"

 

"you dont want to go into reloading" while shaking his head and tutting :blink:

 

So what do i do.

 

simple--- go somewere else.

 

so thats the one i look after, the one that looks after me

[Windknot]

My nearest gunshop has a used MK38 for about £100 more than I can get it new at my second nearest gunshop. What would you do?

 

For cartridges I go to Brook Bank. Cheaper than the competition, and when they say they'll keep some aside for me, then that's what they do.

 

Money's expensive these days.

[Bagsy]

I live round the corner from Essex Gun so they get all my trade :blink:

[AdamHall]

i agree you should support your local shop but as said else where they can often be more exspensive and apprehensive to get you something you want because they dont use them , so yes but no support them yes but know your prices as you can soon be out of pocket in my experience

[Jimbo57]

You're lucky you have a local gunshop. I used to have 7 within 20 miles. Now I have to go into Edinburgh.

 

Get most of my gear from Cabelas in USA - far cheaper and great selection.

 

Jim

[Cranfield]

Bradders, I have a lot of sympathy as I believe your local shop is the nearest one to me (but hardly "local").

Not only are they a tad expensive, they are also incompetent.

 

I rang to check the availability of some cartridges, swallowed the higher price and drove up to collect them.

When I got there, they hadn't them in stock and couldn't understand why the woman that I spoke to on the phone said they had.

 

As far as I am concerned they can sit and let their "wool grow", I won't be back.

[baronvontreffyes]

i always go to my not that close local gun shops,i bought a new hw97 the other day price sounded good to me,he had a second hand hw80 a bit rough over priced so i offerd £30 less,thinking that becouse i was buying a new gun he might take offer,a big NO not well make it what ever,NO that was end of conversation,i do think in the present climate theres got to be room for negotiation,after all i pop in at least twice a month,

[njc110381]

I buy from the cheapest localish shop I can find. My nearest told me not to buy a Beretta when I was looking for a shotgun, and to avoid Theoben air rifles. Turns out they just don't deal with them

 

I buy shells from them sometimes when I'm passing, and also HMR ammo. Anything bigger and I usually drive to Bromsgrove to see either Andy Banner (Wildcat rifles) or Shooting Supplies. Even taking in the fuel costs they are cheaper, and they're miles away!

[seb]

I have 3 shops I know of within 35 minutes of me. I would love to support them all but.....

 

The nearest is only open Thurs, Fri & Sat, they are great in there and friendly but I think it is expensive. I go there if I am passing on the right day...lol

 

The second nearest is like the two guys mentioned above,...you don't wanna buy that Brertta etc you wanna buy this escort semi best gun ever....and no I don't want your part ex its not worth my bother, even when I was going to spend a load of cash!

I also tried to get them to order a moderator in for me and they wouldn't order it because I didn't need it fitting by them. I just thought to myself I am not coming to your shop again, they can P*** off now.

 

The 3rd shop, shooting supplies in Bromsgrove I buy my cartridges from and other bits that I need quickly and have not had any problems with them they seem good.

 

Everything else I buy online now and make some great savings.

[Dunkield]

I bought 500 Winchester subs from mine the other day, at £39 I knew they were overpriced but I didn't have to drive 70 miles to get them, and I was doing my bit to support an OK local shop.

[Bleeh]

Because the shooting world is so close knit, I believe you will find that you'll have two types of gun shops.

 

The ****ty ones, which the largest percentage of it's trade is made from selling ammo, and dealing to newbies. Because of their poor service, and sometimes stupid prices, they never get a real following, I'm sure we've all had a good natter about experiances with gun shops while shooting, and it does spread because of this.

 

Then, you have the real Gems, I, for instance, Live near a local gun shop, the place itself is tiny, and crammed full of a few select guns and clothes, but because of the level and quaility of service you get from the chap who runs it, the shop is respect for miles and miles.

 

So, always give your custom to those who deserve it.

Edited November 2, 2008 by Bleeh

[Cranfield]

Have you also noticed that they are disappearing.

 

I can think of three that have disappeared in Kent in recent years , making the travelling greater and lessening the competition.

Eventually I can see myself buying everything I need from the Internet.

[Bradders]

Bradders, I have a lot of sympathy as I believe your local shop is the nearest one to me (but hardly "local").

Not only are they a tad expensive, they are also incompetent.

 

I rang to check the availability of some cartridges, swallowed the higher price and drove up to collect them.

When I got there, they hadn't them in stock and couldn't understand why the woman that I spoke to on the phone said they had.

 

As far as I am concerned they can sit and let their "wool grow", I won't be back.

 

Cranfield, spot on.......As you can probably guess I headed west into Sussex.......

[malkiserow]

I went into my two local ones last week ... one was helpful and had stock of carts I wanted the other was just rip-off prices for knackered old guns.

[lurcherboy]

Bradders, I support my local shop, Greenfields, even though they are expensive but the back up I get from them more than makes up for the price difference and the next nearest shop would cancel any savings when you take into account the fuel costs and the time involved which as a self employed bod proves to be very expensive

 

Cranfield has hit the nail on the head regarding buying online and I am doing more of this now as time = ££££££

 

 

 

LB

[Santlache]

The gun shop I first used when I started shooting I never go to anymore and here's why:

 

After using them a few times and having brought a gun off them, I then when buying a substantial amount of kit asked for a discount for cash and pulled out a wad.

 

"No sorry, we don't do discounts" was the reply

 

I'd never really felt comfortable in there and always had this feeling I was being ripped off, or when I asking advice or making a purchase I was being taken advantage of. I just always had that feeling with them. I tried to make conversation several times and did my best to be friendly, but was always met with negativity.

 

After getting throughly hacked off with their poor customer service I then traveled a further 8 miles to my next nearest shop, and the change in attitude could not be more different. Friendly as soon as I walked through the door, helpful, they couldn't do enough for me and I felt like I had known them for years. When asking for some carts:

 

"Go out the back, on the right there's a rack of shelves with all you need on it, go and take a look and help yourself, break open any boxes you like and if you need any help just shout. "

 

Guess where I now shop ?

 

Cheers

[Choked]

I always judge a shop (not only gun shops) by the way I am treated, but most importantly when things go wrong. I bought my 682 gold E from a shop not too far away. The following weekend I used it for the first time, and after only 10 shots the second barrel wouldn't fire. Took it back, and after a few apologies they sent it back to GMK, offered me a loan gun and even kept me informed by telephone on its progress.

 

Probably not the cheapest of shops, but certainly the friendliest and most honest I have been to.

[JohnGalway]

The gun shop I first used when I started shooting I never go to anymore and here's why:

 

After using them a few times and having brought a gun off them, I then when buying a substantial amount of kit asked for a discount for cash and pulled out a wad.

 

"No sorry, we don't do discounts" was the reply

 

I'd never really felt comfortable in there and always had this feeling I was being ripped off, or when I asking advice or making a purchase I was being taken advantage of. I just always had that feeling with them. I tried to make conversation several times and did my best to be friendly, but was always met with negativity.

 

After getting throughly hacked off with their poor customer service I then traveled a further 8 miles to my next nearest shop, and the change in attitude could not be more different. Friendly as soon as I walked through the door, helpful, they couldn't do enough for me and I felt like I had known them for years. When asking for some carts:

 

"Go out the back, on the right there's a rack of shelves with all you need on it, go and take a look and help yourself, break open any boxes you like and if you need any help just shout. "

 

Guess where I now shop ?

 

Cheers

 

 

Ah, empathy...

 

I spent 700 and something odd Euro and some odd cents in one go, along with making up a total with a few hundred deposit... They even took the 0.whatever cents

 

When I went looking for a certain brand ammo, I had another brand pushed on me, I refused and got asked why? Said the rifle I bought from them wouldn't group with anything else. Heard muttered into the "open till" "That's not my problem".

 

I now drive half way across the country - happily - to a shop where my custom is appreciated, I get thanked regularly for travelling there, and even though it's a little more expensive I do get a few bob off stuff. It's nice to be nice.

 

Guess where I bought my last two rifles and the vast bulk of the ammo I feed them..............................

 

[MartinP]

Am into supporting local shops, etc. Local farm shop and butchers gets all my trade!! Went to my local this week. Was in the market for a waterproof jacket. Got soaked through last sat beating. Twas a wed and shop had 6 people working there!!!! went into the clothes bit, young girl behind the counter. had agood look around, bloody expensive. Girl engrossed in her mobile. saw that they stocked a clothing brand i had researched on tinternet but didn't have jacket i was after. Asked girl if they could order it for me, she replied 'No' and carried on playing with her phone. Walked straight out. Don't want to shop there, but have to as closest for carts. They do a booming trade, but don't understand how cos every staff member i have dealt with is cocky and not very customer friendly. Would love to have funds to giv em a bit o competition, friendliness alone would probs grab half there custom!!!!

[LEFTY478]

Needed to get a gun serviced recently - phoned two shops: one near home and one near work. The first wanted £99, the second one wanted £58. As far as I could tell, the 'service' was identical, just that one was £41 cheaper - guess where I went.