Stopped going to your LGS?

[GetReal]

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?

 

[joshb]

I will continue to stop in at my favorite local gun shops. I have developed good long term relationships with them. I get warm welcomes when I enter. “Hey Josh, welcome back! How’ve you been?” I always chat with them, ask about family, what’s going on... simple friendly stuff. It helps a lot!
A couple weeks ago, I wandered in to one. Bob pulled me aside. “Do you need anything? I just got a powder shipment in.” He took me in the back and we started opening boxes. There was Varget, which I use a lot of, so I asked for 6 pounds. Bob said fine, just let me enter in the system, which he did immediately for me. I was set with Varget @$40 a pound!
Last spring, just back from Texas, I had stopped in at my other favorite store. 6 months before, I had stopped in looking for a pump action 20 gauge shotgun and all they had were 12 gauge. The girl behind the counter looked at me, held up her finger, and went in the back. She came out holding a pristine older Mossberg 20 gauge pump shotgun! She smiled and said “We’ve been holding it for you.” Astonished, I asked how long? “About 4 months ago, a guy came in with it. We figured you’d like it.” I did and bought it!
I like to create relationships with the people I do business with. It only takes a little time. It’s fun and pays off in spades!

 

[CJ6]

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

 

[rockhound78]

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

 

[dc.fireman]

I will continue to stop in at my favorite local gun shops. I have developed good long term relationships with them. I get warm welcomes when I enter. “Hey Josh, welcome back! How’ve you been?” I always chat with them, ask about family, what’s going on... simple friendly stuff. It helps a lot!
A couple weeks ago, I wandered in to one. Bob pulled me aside. “Do you need anything? I just got a powder shipment in.” He took me in the back and we started opening boxes. There was Varget, which I use a lot of, so I asked for 6 pounds. Bob said fine, just let me enter in the system, which he did immediately for me. I was set with Varget @$40 a pound!
Last spring, just back from Texas, I had stopped in at my other favorite store. 6 months before, I had stopped in looking for a pump action 20 gauge shotgun and all they had were 12 gauge. The girl behind the counter looked at me, held up her finger, and went in the back. She came out holding a pristine older Mossberg 20 gauge pump shotgun! She smiled and said “We’ve been holding it for you.” Astonished, I asked how long? “About 4 months ago, a guy came in with it. We figured you’d like it.” I did and bought it!
I like to create relationships with the people I do business with. It only takes a little time. It’s fun and pays off in spades!

I don't even have an LGS in my area anymore, and there used to be 4 of them. My advice would be to buy whatever you can from them, while they exist.

 

[Bocephus]

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?

Do not wish to appear at all cynical, but taking a hard, honest look at the rate of deterioration of our freedoms, rights and liberties, I have my doubts.
Having said thst, I’m convinced that the power-brokers have no intention of letting us continue to enjoy our freedoms, but then old king Georgie felt the same way.
Things are moving fast, we’ll soon see...

 

[K22]

The two local shops that I visit and have used for years are good people that run a responsible business. They have not increased prices to the outrageous level in all the years I've used them and political upheavals that have occurred over the past 20+ years.

It's not their fault that supplies are so scarce or that ammo is so expensive. They want to sell a lot, that's how they make money, but they can't obtain the supplies from their distributors. One is struggling to remain in business, and I would hate to see him fail.

There is a Cabalas in my area, but I avoid them like the plague especially since Brass Pro Shop brought them out. Besides, their supplies, from what I'm told is worse that the local small shops. Figure that one out! I mean with a national presence you would think they could command a lot of buying power, but they have never been up to speed even in the good times like the local shops when it comes to reloading components and their prices have always been higher than the local shops.

 

[rijndael]

My preferred LGS changed hands and the new owner is a dirtbag.

Now, I buy it all online and transfer it to my range, or an FFL about 30 minutes away.

 

[troupe]

Support your local LGS. If you are a loyal customer, they will look out for you. They have to pay the light bill just like we do.

 

[drop_point]

I once had a local gun shop owner tell me "you have to support your local gun shop" when he heard me tell a friend of mine that was with me that he could buy X product much cheaper online. While I agree, I want to support my local shops, but not to my financial detriment.

Time before last I was in there, I was undercharged by $100 for some supplies. I told the cashier and he thanked me and stated that the products didn't scan properly. He fixed it, I paid the amount I owed and went on. It was all things I could have bought online for slightly less money, but I was supporting my local shop.

A week later, I was purchasing a pistol from them that was about $100 more than I could buy it for online. I handed them some cash. A moment later, I realized I had given six twenties instead of five for that last $100 I owed them. I asked that the money be recounted and clearly saw six $20 bills in the owners hand spread out. I was told, "no, there are five, you paid the right amount." Perhaps it was an honest mistake. At this point I'll never know, but why not for the sake of the customer? Perhaps it was intentional. Maybe I will be following the free-market to guide my purchasing decisions in the future.

 

[Triple BB]

I stopped by my LGS the other day. Inquired if they had any Varget or H4350. I picked up a lb of Varget. Then they offered me an 8lb’r of 4350. She said they had 5 in the back that were reserved only for their regular customers. Definitely creates loyalty…

 

[Bronsin]

I try to support them because I really don't want to have it shipped, but when I go there and check their inventory list, find a powder that i need, and they come back with "that's been sold to an online customer" it makes me wonder why I went there in the first place.

 

[PopCharlie]

My LGS is just that. He has guns. A good amount and variety. He seems to have good sources. He does carry some garden variety ammo, 9mm , .40, .357, 38 special, etc. He does not limit how much ammo you can buy. I've bought, sold and traded several rifles and pistols thru him. Always fair, and usually busy. He's my go to guy. He can build a really good AR, based on your needs. He does not carry reloading equipment or components. Closest store for this stuff is an hour and a half away. So, I buy on line.

PopCharlie

 

[Bocephus]

I once had a local gun shop owner tell me "you have to support your local gun shop" when he heard me tell a friend of mine that was with me that he could buy X product much cheaper online. While I agree, I want to support my local shops, but not to my financial detriment.

Time before last I was in there, I was undercharged by $100 for some supplies. I told the cashier and he thanked me and stated that the products didn't scan properly. He fixed it, I paid the amount I owed and went on. It was all things I could have bought online for slightly less money, but I was supporting my local shop.

A week later, I was purchasing a pistol from them that was about $100 more than I could buy it for online. I handed them some cash. A moment later, I realized I had given six twenties instead of five for that last $100 I owed them. I asked that the money be recounted and clearly saw six $20 bills in the owners hand spread out. I was told, "no, there are five, you paid the right amount." Perhaps it was an honest mistake. At this point I'll never know, but why not for the sake of the customer? Perhaps it was intentional. Maybe I will be following the free-market to guide my purchasing decisions in the future.

Only takes one bad apple to sour the whole bushel. But as an individual, doing the right thing is rarely wrong.

 

[Bocephus]

Only takes one bad apple to sour the whole bushel. But as an individual, doing the right thing is rarely wrong.
Forgiving may be easy, but forgetting, well...let’s be honest, that doesn’t usually happen until we hit the dementia ward.

 

[andym686]

"But as an individual, doing the right thing is rarely wrong."
I like that. I have a friend who owns a gun shop and range. I can tell you for sure that he has spent countless hours, working 7 days a week. just trying to find some inventory the last two years. Those of you in the business know well that it's very hard to sell a gun and tell the customer you have no ammo for it.
Of course, it's never ok to treat your customers badly either. Retail can be a tough business.

 

[abishai]

I still like to pop in at least once a month. At my LGS, you never know what kind of
rare / obscure item they will get in on consignment. If i don't have it, I must need it

 

[BlueWater]

I've got one small shop I head to, roughly once a month, within a day or two of their shipment arriving. Hoping to find the occasional 1000ct box of primers or 1lb (even 8lb) jug of powder. Isn't often that they've got it, but their prices are very reasonable. In the past year, I've picked up a half dozen 1lb jugs of powder I've looked for, but no primers yet. (I suspect folks grab the primers within 10mins of hitting the floor, though that's just a guess.)

I'd probably go more frequently to various shops, but nearly nobody has any inventory to speak of, and I've got pretty much all I need.

 

[MSS]

I stopped going years ago. I do all my purchases online.

 

[rijndael]

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.