Stopped going to your LGS?

[spudgun]

Since I work at a large retail gun store we sometimes do not have ammo or reloading supplies that our customer is looking for.

I make a habit to visit the LGS once a week to see what they have in stock.

I will and have directed my customers to LGS that have what they are looking for.

After all if I can help a customer in any way I will. Some have even came back and thanked me.

 

[drop_point]

A few years ago a local shop said (on social media) that if you've ever bought a gun from Cabelas, which is local to us, he doesn't want any of your business.

I hope he gets what he wants.

 

[BlueWater]

A few years ago a local shop said (on social media) that if you've ever bought a gun from Cabelas, which is local to us, he doesn't want any of your business.

Hm. Can't say that I recall having heard that approach from a shop in, well, decades. Seems fairly short-sighted, to me. But if they don't want the business ...

 

[Migolito]

When I was a Kid there was a LGS..."Accurate Guns". It was dark, dingy, piles of stuff, tons of guns dating back to the late 1800's. We would ALWAYS buy our ammo there for hunting and talk endlessly about hunting. They had instock 25-35 win ammo!!!
Nowadays, the LGS (California) is pretty much a thing of the past(as is hunting). It has been replaced by the big box stores, which are being replaced by the On-line stores. I do the majority of my $$$ shopping online. I do intentionally seek out small dealers and I do 'vote' with my wallet. IF I'm mistreated or the product is garbage I post up. I just built a PRS/Hunting rifle and try to guess how much I spent: AG composites stock, 6.5 PRC reloading set-up, Vortex scope, Zeiss rings, Hawkins Precision bottom, MDT mags, Proof Barrel, Defiance Ruckus, Hellfire Break, Trigger Tech...You get the idea. I specifically sought out each of these parts from either the manufacturer or the small retailer. I do the same with my reloading $$$.
I don't believe the LGS will survive Cali even with the impending 2A SCOTUS win. I think too much water has passed under that bridge. However, I do believe, just like all other commerce that the LGS is thriving via Online. I think it's extremely important that we post up our experiences when we do Online commerce. It's the only way to keep the good guys in business and the bad guys in check.

 

[rijndael]

Hm. Can't say that I recall having heard that approach from a shop in, well, decades. Seems fairly short-sighted, to me. But if they don't want the business ...

The correct way to approach it should have been to suggest that you visit his store to check for accessories, like holsters and sights. Or, maybe ammo.

 

[ebb]

I don't even know if there is a LGS near me. There is a chain called Shoot Straight, they don't sell reloading supplies and are the first to be out of stock on firearms that hold national attention at this moment. i have a guy that sells ammo and reloading stuff at the gun shows and if I need something in between i can go to his place and get what I need. he has been so expensive lately i haven't bought anything in a while. I had an older guy that owned a real LGS years ago and I shopped on the way home from work most every week. He retired and sold his place, and the new owner thought the shop was a way to get rich quick and was out of business in 3 or 4 months. Never found a new place, i looked for a long time but I have given up finding one.

 

[GetReal]

Thinking about it.... I guess the above more applies to the 2 shops over near the range. The one near work both the owner and his main guy are actual friends of mine, and do the type of kindnesses @joshb talked about.

Good point, sir.

 

[hoz53]

Yesterday I found myself in the usual Sat routine ....rifle range, then visits to LGSs. On the way, I axxed myself "Why am I going to the LGS?"

THey don't have the stuff I *really* want, but that's such obscure stuff for 6 Dasher / 6 ARC / Midas+ and some very specific parts / reloading tools. NOT AT ALL their fault. They can't guess what I'm gonna need. Or carry EVERYTHING.

Powder / primers are scarce.. tho they had Varget ($54 / lb) and primers ($10 / 100.) I'm good for now. No need to pay those prices. Leave them for ppl running out. Enuf hording.

Local car dealers have very low inventory. Might be COVID crap. Or maybe the effect of internet retail, that carrying inventory just doesn't make sense. Esp the obscure stuff. Same with the LGS?

LGS is maybe now really for the "newbie." Buy their first 9mm handgun, 100 practice rounds and 40 self defense rounds. Maybe a few AR15's for the "cool kids." Minimal supplies and accoutrments for both.

Is the LGS gonna survive the next 50 years? What are you seeing? Do you do the "visit 1x / week, every week" thing?

i sure like looking at the used rack at gunshops around me but where i live now the shops around me dont have much. sure wished they did.

 

[Dub]

Love my local gunstore. go there often.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

The correct way to approach it should have been to suggest that you visit his store to check for accessories, like holsters and sights. Or, maybe ammo.

I wonder if that store owner could truthfully say he never shopped at Walmart, but only at local stores!

 

[rijndael]

I wonder if that store owner could truthfully say he never shopped at Walmart, but only at local stores!

Not sure. I've never bought a gun from Cabelas and I won't be buying a gun from him.

 

[joshb]

Same here as "joshb". Go in about once a week. Sometimes people bring in stuff that has sat in the safe for decades. Like the older stuff. Like a K-38, pristine condition, made in 1958, that followed me home!!! Just missed a Win 53 in 32-20 by a day

Yup! Let’s me feel like a kid going on a treasure hunt! I remember the gems I should have grabbed! Instead of buying it on the spot, I’d dither, go home and research then go back the next day with a pocket full of money and it was gone!
Still tho, I have some great finds in my safe!

 

[rjtfroggy]

My lgs is a 30-minute drive, and I will not be doing it anymore.
Reason- a few weeks ago I asked him if he would do a private transfer for me, and he said NO. I missed out on a good rifle deal.
Now I've been doing business with him for at least 12 years and we were on a first name basis, he lost a customer that day and I will buy more online now.

 

[Fuj]

I have 2 LGS's within' 10 minutes of me. I would stop in at
least once a week, if only to shoot the bull. Now maybe
once a month, I'll stop in. One shop has more then dedicated
itself to estate sales. Found some Remington primers that were
made back in the 60's. Good enough for fire forming. They put
a price of $60 bucks for the brick on them. I asked if the markup
was because they were antiques ?? They saw no humor in it.

 

[Monday shooter40]

I have 2 LGS's within' 10 minutes of me. I would stop in at
least once a week, if only to shoot the bull. Now maybe
once a month, I'll stop in. One shop has more then dedicated
itself to estate sales. Found some Remington primers that were
made back in the 60's. Good enough for fire forming. They put
a price of $60 bucks for the brick on them. I asked if the markup
was because they were antiques ?? They saw no humor in it.

My LGS is still selling primers at 150$/1k. That alone makes me want to not go there anymore.

Powder is 50/lb when they have it. They have not had Varget in 2 years. every now and then i will see that they had 2lbs of H4350, but im never lucky enough to be that guy.

bullet prices are good, but when they "get bullets in" its less than 500Ct and its mostly hornady and speer products. Ive never bought a yellow box from them.

I would love the opportunity to support my LGS. But my LGS does not support me. They cater to the first time gun buyer and guys who shoot and reload "whatever they can find" so they can have range days. Not mad at them, that's what pays their bills.

 

[GetReal]

I asked if the markup
was because they were antiques ?? They saw no humor in it.

I appreciate your humor, sir. LOL

 

[Fuj]

I appreciate your humor, sir. LOL

What's even funnier is the outlay of cash for a Rodzilla rest
with IBS legal top I have on order. I'm thinking it might make
a nice lamp for the coffee table.....Maybe order a second one
to prop my feet up on.....

 

[Appowner]

This ^^^^^^^.....This is how LGS's will survive loyalty.........

Ah but, LOYALTY is a TWO WAY street.

I prefer to support local business even if it costs more. But I expect as much loyalty in return as I give. I don't mean special deals or treatment but rather just good business practices. Honesty when dealing with customers and an understanding that not everyone is your kind of expert on the matter.

The LGS was great 50 years ago when I left my hometown for the military and beyond. Now that I've been back for 5 years I find they have changed. Of course, the owner I knew has long since passed on and a new clique of younger enthusiasts run it now. No idea who owns it.

On my return I handed them a Remington 600 that needed some attention I couldn't give it. They've had that rifle for 4 years now. Well, parts are hard to find. Even though I've found every part theyv'e mentioned. And each in a matter of days. However, not once have they bothered to initiate contact to let me know the status. Not once has the armorer come out to talk to me when I was there. IOW, zero followup by the LGS. Which makes me wonder what the real status of my gun is?

One of these days I'm going to go out there and retrieve it. I'm curious to see what if anything they've done. Or if they even still have it. I'm not concerned. In the 40 plus years I've owned the thing I've never fired it. I didn't pay much when I bought it and today it would simply be a project gun. I don't have any real attachment to it. But, it is still my gun.

Next time I go there will be my last. I don't need them as much as they need me. I have an FFL 5 doors down in the neighborhood who will handle my needs. The rest is online. It will be a shame to see that LGS go the way of the dinosaur. But that's the way it goes....

 

[CJ6]

What's even funnier is the outlay of cash for a Rodzilla rest
with IBS legal top I have on order. I'm thinking it might make
a nice lamp for the coffee table.....Maybe order a second one
to prop my feet up on.....

Or make a great hood ornament.......

 

[FarmerDave]

SEE ABOVE POST by Appowner

This is what I have found at 4 different gun shops, in 3 different states. Asking for help is like asking them to donate a kidney. Seems like the customer service of years ago has long since faded away so Cabelas is like normal