The Gun Counter

So there's a relatively new shop in town. It's been open about a year, and it tends to keep some nice stuff, mostly AR and AK and related accessories, on the shelf. Nice as in Daniel Defense, BCM "Jack" Carbines, Geissele triggers, Magpul goodies, and lots of magazines to boot. They treat their customers fairly well, as I helped a guy buy a Daniel Defense lightweight carbine there for an already good price, and they threw in a handful of extra magazines for him.

But something is disconcerting, and rather "JV" of them. They have a couch in the middle of the showroom, complete with a TV and XBox. I can never tell who is working, and who is there just shooting the bull. Then they let all of their buddies behind the counter and into the back room for whatever. They've got personal weapons in Condition 3 or 1 leaning against the wall and hanging from slings on hooks. It's hard to tell what's for sale and what's there for protection. The workers never wear anything that signifies they're a worker there, just t-shirts and pants or shorts and sandals. Compare this to my favorite shop at home, where the workers all wear matching polo shirts with "Trop Gun Shop" on them, and they have to be tucked in with khakis, normally open carrying a pistol.

Am I off base here, or is this normal in parts of the country? I was reading a thread on AR-15.com (gasp!), about opening a gun shop, and one poster warned about having ANY place where people can sit down, as they'll become regulars who never buy anything.

Sounds a little like the tech industry has invaded the gun industry.

I think there can be a happy medium, though. Like, give the employees something that identifies them as employees... but let them indicate that they're available to hear all your stupid-ass notions about using .300 AAC Blackout to punch holes in Afghan mud hut walls and come crashing through like the Kool-Aid Man by being in the play area. That way the people who are on the clock can interact with customers who might spend a buck and let them fondle the merchandise, while also giving an outlet for the people who just come to blather non-stop.

I probably am too forgiving of friends taking advantages during shop hours, but in every case where it's happened a short mention of the situation cleared things up with no hurt feelings. I also learned that an empty seat gets filled, usually by a guy with nothing better to do than take up your time and coffee. I don't mind visitors, but I ask 'em not to take root. It's especially important at gun shows; I try to be friendly and helpful answering questions but people waving money get priority as both time and space are really limited. Extra seats always get filled and some guys just can't take a hint. Some really ballsy ones will start trying to deal on stuff while behind MY tables! I'm the schmuck payin' the rent, pal!

Like you hear at last call: "You don't have to go home but you can't stay here."

Relax. Every new gun store owner has to re-invent the wheel, until they get run over by it.

I've seen plenty of stores open up with bar stools at the counter, a couch in the floor space, and checkers table and TV in the corner.
(More often than not, because the wife-unit told them to haul that crap out of the living room/den/garage/former man-cave, so they take it to work to fill space until they can afford more inventory).

Eventually, it dawns on Bambi Owner that every square foot of floor space he's paying every month for that isn't turning a profit is dead space and dead weight.

Unless he has million$* to burn, in short order either the furniture goes away, or the store does. Economic Darwinism is one of the harshest variants.
Enjoy the couch while it lasts, and take pictures to remind Former Bambi Owner how friendly his store used to be.

I get far more worked up when I'm at a corporate store, gun or other-type, and have to interrupt - occasionally with a large employee whacking stick - the yuppie larvae in their color-matched polo shirts chit-chatting away without a care in the world, in order to get them to actually transact some company business for my greenbacks.











*(From every one of multi-hundreds of FFL/store owners I've ever talked to:
Q.:"How do you make a small fortune selling firearms?"
A.: "Start with a large one."

Try the veal, tip your waitresses. I'll be here all week.)

The formula for making a small fortune in aviation is much the same.

Aesop wrote: I've seen plenty of stores open up with bar stools at the counter, a couch in the floor space, and checkers table and TV in the corner.
(More often than not, because the wife-unit told them to haul that crap out of the living room/den/garage/former man-cave, so they take it to work to fill space until they can afford more inventory).

Eventually, it dawns on Bambi Owner that every square foot of floor space he's paying every month for that isn't turning a profit is dead space and dead weight.

Well yes, but some of that space can increase profits in a subtle and indirect way. Like areas with upholstered chairs in high-end retailers, aka places to park the husband so the wife has time to buy more.

But adding amenities for high-end customers isn't really appropriate for your average corner store, and for those customers bar stools a ratty old couch and a checkers set isn't really going to appeal.

Unless he has million$* to burn, in short order either the furniture goes away, or the store does. Economic Darwinism is one of the harshest variants.

But the only way to see if something really works, which is why so many people nursing pet fantasies hate it.

I get far more worked up when I'm at a corporate store, gun or other-type, and have to interrupt - occasionally with a large employee whacking stick - the yuppie larvae in their color-matched polo shirts chit-chatting away without a care in the world, in order to get them to actually transact some company business for my greenbacks.

Well I know when I worked retail the worst part of the job was the customers, and everyone in the store would rather have focused on the parts of their jobs that didn't involve customer contact. It's natural and pretty much inevitable, because the public really sucks. (Seriously, everyone should work retail at some point in their lives- it's one of the most educational things you can possibly do.) But it is useful for store management to remind the employees what pays the bills, from time to time.

JAG2955 wrote: "Trop Gun Shop"

Heh. I just bought 720 rounds of 5.56 from 'em. Never heard of them before, but- $.40/round, shipped free, and had it in my hands the next day. They'll be seeing more of my bidness in the future.

morsetaper wrote:

JAG2955 wrote: "Trop Gun Shop"

Heh. I just bought 720 rounds of 5.56 from 'em. Never heard of them before, but- $.40/round, shipped free, and had it in my hands the next day. They'll be seeing more of my bidness in the future.

I love that place. Bought a few thousand dollars worth of stuff there, over the years. I got my .30 cal suppressor from them and have a .22 one pending. Would you believe that a few short years ago they were a Fudd shop?

I suppose maybe I'm being too critical of the shop here. They seem to be doing plenty of business, so if their model works and is dumb, it ain't dumb. On the plus side, I've seen a girl named Kassi Kerry behind the counter there. DO NOT GOOGLE IMAGE HER NAME AT WORK.

morsetaper wrote:

JAG2955 wrote: "Trop Gun Shop"

Heh. I just bought 720 rounds of 5.56 from 'em. Never heard of them before, but- $.40/round, shipped free, and had it in my hands the next day. They'll be seeing more of my bidness in the future.

How'd you get free shipping?

Purchases over $250 ship free.