In Sales, there is a phrase, "Sell what is in the truck."
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In Sales, there is a phrase, "Sell what is in the truck."
Believe me, I had no ulterior motive for going into the stores, I only wanted to look around. Having recently read this thread https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=139658 and then having a clerk tell me a Bushmaster is the equal of a Colt was more than I could take. I didn't rave or become animated, I cooly explained why I prefer a quality product. My wife had a heart attack on Sept. 19 causing me a lot of stress lately and that may have been partly to blame for my actions.
Last edited by coastwatcher42; 10-09-13 at 07:34.
"When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not Guilty." ~ Theodore Roosevelt
"If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck." ~ Colonel Jeff Cooper
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~ Benjamin Franklin
I agree....somewhat.
The "idiots"I was referring to are the ones that are mis informed to the tune of "It's just as good" and have zero desire to improve their gear or shooting "skills".....they are completely comfortable shooting dirt or microwaves filled with tannerite.
I understand the guy that has a hard time saving due to family or low hours, and I would NEVER judge. I do know how that is.
I typically try not to get into discussions about brand or quality with guns shop employees. I try to educate myself and when I go out shopping I know what I'm looking for. No need to sit through the sales pitch trying to sell whatever is currently holding a place on the shelf.
That said, I have purchased nearly all of my firearms online and had them shipped to local FFL's for transfer. Prices in my area tend to run from high to "am I reading this tag right?". I can usually find my firearms for anywhere between $50 to several hundred cheaper from a few trusted online dealers, and the transfer fee is typically less than half of what sales tax would have added to the price of a local purchase.
This is not something exclusive to the gun industry. Do your homework on TVs for example and then walk into a Best Buy and start asking questions you already know the answers to and see what happens.
It's been my observation over the years that you'll find three types of people working as salesmen, regardless of what it is they sell:
1. The rarest is the one who is educated on the products he sells and legitimately knows what he's talking about and wants to do right by his customers. This is the guy who will ask you questions about your intended use for the item and what you're looking to spend, etc. in an effort to match you up with the best product for your needs that your budget will allow. It's not uncommon for this guy to recommend multiple items for you to choose from after talking to you. He might put three pistols on the counter in front of you for example and say "any of these will meet your needs." Even if you end up disagreeing with him, he will still be respectful of you as a customer. Be grateful if you have a place around with salesmen in this category.
2. The next one is the person who truly doesn't know any better and only knows to repeat what he read in a magazine, recite the spec list to you, or repeat whatever the manufacturer sales rep tells him to say. IMO this guy's heart is in the right place, but he could benefit from doing a bit of homework on his own. No need to be a prick to this guy, but take whatever he tells you with a grain of salt.
3. Then you have the guy looking to make a sale, regardless of your needs/desires. His goal is simply to move product off of his shelf. This is the guy who'll tell you that "a DPMS is as good as a Colt," or that "a Proscan is as good as a Panasonic," or tell the 90 pound woman "all you have to do is rack this 12 gauge and the bad guy will run away screaming and pissing himself." He'll be offended any time you disagree with anything he has to say and expect you to hang on his every word. This guy is a douche bag. You can not have a rational discussion with him and any disagreement will result in an argument or you being treated like you're beneath him and lucky to simply be in his presence. Avoid this guy like the plague.
On another note, it's interesting that a previous poster mentioned that magazines used to have useful reviews in them. When I was in my early 20's I had my first crotch rocket. I also had a subscription to Motorcyclist Magazine. In one particular edition the editor told the story of a moral dilemma they faced at the magazine one day. They were provided with a motorcycle for evaluation by an unnamed manufacturer. Said manufacturer bought a considerable amount of ad space in their magazine. They were expected to "evaluate" this motorcycle and write a (glowing) review. The problem was that after the evaluation period they didn't hold a particularly high opinion of this motorcycle. It wasn't bad per se, but you could get something considerably better for the same money. The question they then faced was whether to write an honest review and risk losing all of this manufacturer's advertising dollars, or do they write what they were expected to write in order to keep the money coming in? In the end they chose integrity and wrote an honest review. Sure enough, this manufacturer stopped buying ad space in their magazine. This was when I learned that magazine reviews, no matter the types of items being reviewed, are suspect at best.
Last edited by SteveL; 10-08-13 at 20:52.
Steve
Some companies prioritize ther budget towards R and D and QA/QC.
Some put it into glossy adspace.
My brother saw Deliverance and bought a Bow. I saw Deliverance and bought an AR-15.
Availability plays a big role in what a shop will sell.
Customer preference is a significant factor as well. I think preference is regional. A Colt will spend a long time on the sales rack in my area and a few other brands fly off the shelves.
Train 2 Win
I go to some stores just to see how stupid people are, laugh and walk out![]()
When gun store clerks (or any type of sales clerk for that matter) tries to pass off BS to me, I usually just smile and nod my head in agreement. It's their job to tow the party line and regurgitate the sales pitch. I'll usually throw in some trivial bit of information about certain products they sell just so they know I'm not some misinformed idiot off the street. Those who don't really get the hint typically respond with something along the lines of "Well okay then. Let me know if I can help you with anything else." Obviously trying to avoid getting sucked into a conversation where their knowledge might come into question. They go wandering off to some other customer secretly hoping I disappear I'm sure. Some gun store guys who are knowledgeable will sit and chat with you a bit, seemingly relieved that they don't have to feed you a line of BS and recognize you as an informed consumer. Good times.
"People have always been stupid. The Internet just makes it easier for us to know about them." - donlapalma
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