I have been going to Eagle Arms in Breinigsville pa, just west of Allentown on rt 222 for about 10 yrs now. It's a family run place, the son's run it now dad used to, and it's a good place to get your weapons. I have found their prices to be competetive with, or less than gun shows in the area, and internet ammo merchants. I like the owners and sales staff, and they are FAIR.I have bought easily over 20 guns there, and thousands upon thousands of rds of ammo. If you're in eastern Pa check them out, beleive me, you could do worse.
Does your local gun shop shoot itself in the foot?
- Thread starter Jamie Young
- Start date
____________________________
"Why can't they just mark things up like 15-20% and sell more of it? Didn't these
people take business courses in college?"
____________________________
Yes and they learned that a 20% markup over cost won't even pay the electric bill, let alone the taxes, fees, insurance, rent, salaries of employees, workman's comp, etc. Do you get upset when you buy furniture? Because it is at a MINIMUM of 90% over wholesale. Or mad at Chevy who makes 14,000 dollars profit on EVERY Suburban? (remember, it's just a bloody pickup with a topper welded on, basically.)
It's called earning a living. And I have NEVER met a rich gunshop owner.
Buy where you wany, but don't bitch at someone who's trying to feed his family.
Now, RUDE and STUPID shop owners are another matter.
"Why can't they just mark things up like 15-20% and sell more of it? Didn't these
people take business courses in college?"
____________________________
Yes and they learned that a 20% markup over cost won't even pay the electric bill, let alone the taxes, fees, insurance, rent, salaries of employees, workman's comp, etc. Do you get upset when you buy furniture? Because it is at a MINIMUM of 90% over wholesale. Or mad at Chevy who makes 14,000 dollars profit on EVERY Suburban? (remember, it's just a bloody pickup with a topper welded on, basically.)
It's called earning a living. And I have NEVER met a rich gunshop owner.
Buy where you wany, but don't bitch at someone who's trying to feed his family.
Now, RUDE and STUPID shop owners are another matter.
THANK YOU. Can I get an amen, brothers?
Gryphon- Powder Room in Powell has, in my limited opinion, the best customer service near Columbus. Every time I go in there they are nice, low-BS, helpful and seem to give straight answers. Their selection isn't spectacular, but (as has been mentioned) I usually go in knowing what I want. I wish I lived closer to them, they'd get more busness from me if I did.
Vance's on Cleveland Ave has a nice selection, but mediocre service (usually very busy, in their defense), and not-so-good prices. They're the local cop shop, and so they can do a decent business getting money from not-so-savvy LEOs looking for a place to spend their department's uniform allowance. I had a big price dispute with them over a rifle and refuse to do substantive business with them anymore. So far my boycott has not really had a major effect, I fear.
NASR has a nice selection, they seem willing to deal a bit with used stuff, but they seem to cater to the Orvis crowd, and so their prices seem a tad high.
I'll take your advice to go to Buckeye Lake.
Mike
For me, the main reason I don't buy local is that I've never been to a local gun store that makes me feel welcome. I would gladly pay them about 10% higher than online if they were polite and acted like they want my business.
When I needed a tranfer dealer, I found a local one online who was very small and has no store front. I only deal with him because of above mentioned aholes. If he goes out of business, I'll find someone where my Mom lives and just do it there.
We actually have one here local who wants something like $50 + 10% of retail to receive / transfer arms! They also happen to be the most rude I've met.
I wouldn't buy a can of cleaner there!
I'm also not doing any more gun shows if I can help it.
Natchezss and CheaperThanDirt will get all my business.
When I needed a tranfer dealer, I found a local one online who was very small and has no store front. I only deal with him because of above mentioned aholes. If he goes out of business, I'll find someone where my Mom lives and just do it there.
We actually have one here local who wants something like $50 + 10% of retail to receive / transfer arms! They also happen to be the most rude I've met.
I wouldn't buy a can of cleaner there!
I'm also not doing any more gun shows if I can help it.
Natchezss and CheaperThanDirt will get all my business.
Jamie Young
New member
I can kinda understand how the buying "reloading" stuff over the internet is hard to compete with but, when it comes to buying NIB guns....... the gun shops or FOS because a place like www.aimsurplus.com won't ship to you unless you have an FFL. Shopping around the internet gives you something to negotiate the cost of the rifle. When I see an AR going for $799 Sept 10th and then $869 a month later I want to know why. There was a huge jump in fire arms in the last year since Sept 11th and the gun shops loved it. Mini 14's for $599???SKS's for $399???? AR15's for $900???? BS!! Dealer costs didn't go up. Dealer cost for an AR XM15E2 is about $700-$719. Any gun shop that wants to make more than $100 off a gun is shooting itself in the foot.
AMEN!!
Another thing that drives me nuts, is, when you walk into a gun shop, and there is hardly a single rifle worth looking at, AND THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO COMPLAIN IT'S SLOW!! For cryin out loud... why don't these people at least stock up on SAR I or SAR II rifles.... SKS's at the very least.
If I owned a gun shop I'd keep 4-8 russian surplus rifles and tons of Military Surplus ammo. People also want convenience. If you were going to the range this weekend wouldn't you want to swing by the local shop to pick up ammo instead of having to wait for a gun show or order it online?
AMEN!!
Another thing that drives me nuts, is, when you walk into a gun shop, and there is hardly a single rifle worth looking at, AND THEY HAVE THE NERVE TO COMPLAIN IT'S SLOW!! For cryin out loud... why don't these people at least stock up on SAR I or SAR II rifles.... SKS's at the very least.
If I owned a gun shop I'd keep 4-8 russian surplus rifles and tons of Military Surplus ammo. People also want convenience. If you were going to the range this weekend wouldn't you want to swing by the local shop to pick up ammo instead of having to wait for a gun show or order it online?
Gun shows in other states must be different than shows in Cali. Here gun show prices on guns are usually more than what I pay in a gun shop and gun shop prices are not all that great. About the only good thing gun shows are good for here is the large selection of guns that allow me cheap fondling time. But gun shops here have the same problems as everywhere else, poor selection, rude owners, expensive accessories, medicore gun prices, etc.
But gun shops here have the same problems as everywhere else, poor selection, rude owners, expensive accessories, medicore gun prices, etc.I can assure ANYONE that a small retail location can survive, and THRIVE on less than 20% markup.
I own a small business, I sell audio/video gear and accessories in a retail location. Markup is very close to firearms on most items/accessories.
I sell routinely at 10-12% markup, mainly to compete with BestBuy and online vendors. I have NO problem paying rent or making a decent living. I've been in business 10 years, going strong.
How do I do this? It's pretty complicated. I sell a .mp3 player that costs me $79 wholesale for $87.99. That's $1 cheaper than Online, $10 cheaper than BestBuy. I sell about 10 to 20 a month. Local BestBuy is lucky to sell 5 in a month.
Now, here's the really difficult part for the gun-shop guys to understand. I may not get rich off the .mp3 player, but I make 15 more people happy my way, and they also spend more time (and money) in MY store, and tell friends about MY store, and then those friends come in and buy more from ME. See how it works? Amazing I figured it out, huh?
I haven't advertised in 8 years, and I haven't had to. Sell it cheap, sell tons of it, the word spreads and you'll NEVER want for business. Now, tell me please how gun shops can't survive so I can chuckle some more.
I own a small business, I sell audio/video gear and accessories in a retail location. Markup is very close to firearms on most items/accessories.
I sell routinely at 10-12% markup, mainly to compete with BestBuy and online vendors. I have NO problem paying rent or making a decent living. I've been in business 10 years, going strong.
How do I do this? It's pretty complicated. I sell a .mp3 player that costs me $79 wholesale for $87.99. That's $1 cheaper than Online, $10 cheaper than BestBuy. I sell about 10 to 20 a month. Local BestBuy is lucky to sell 5 in a month.
Now, here's the really difficult part for the gun-shop guys to understand. I may not get rich off the .mp3 player, but I make 15 more people happy my way, and they also spend more time (and money) in MY store, and tell friends about MY store, and then those friends come in and buy more from ME. See how it works? Amazing I figured it out, huh?
I haven't advertised in 8 years, and I haven't had to. Sell it cheap, sell tons of it, the word spreads and you'll NEVER want for business. Now, tell me please how gun shops can't survive so I can chuckle some more.
Service and knowledge are good, but we tried that and Wal-Mart killed us. I've told most of the stories, so I won't bore you. But yes, mostly, gun shops are owned by old salts who hate that newfangled internet and that damned Shotgun News dealie.
There are two local shops that are decent. One is also a range and has very good deals on ammo (odd, I know) and the other is high on ammo but often has good deals on used guns. Between the two of them they stock everything I need, and they both beat gun shows.
However, one is run by a crusty old guy who brooks no dissent. I was in there one day (actually right before the EOSM) and picked up a holster. I asked him what his cheapest .45 was, since I needed about 300 rounds. Keep in mind I was just out of college and still working at Hardee's until school started. He hauled out a box and said "That there's good ammo. $12.95."
Now, the other place sells their reloads for $10/box and the same brand for $11.50, so I politely said "OK, thanks. I'll just take the holster."
He wanted to know why. So I told him. I was very polite about it; I simply said "That's just a little higher than I wanted to pay."
You'd have thought I ate his dog for breakfast. "I'VE GOTTA MAKE A LIVING!" and other assorted fun statements. I didn't bother asking how the other guy makes a living.
The same owner told me another time that transfers were $50. He knew me a little better by now, so I asked him "Why so much?"
He told me straight out that he just wasn't really interested in doing transfers; too much trouble for not much return. He figured he didn't want to refuse to do transfers, but a high price would lead people to bother someone else with it. And if someone were willing to pay $50 for some reason, why, then it would be worth his while, right?
Dad had his shop before the internet, but he treated all ordered guns more like transfers. He referred to his markup more like a fee for a transfer and still does. "So, I ordered him an 870 for $40 or something like that, and . . . ."
There are two local shops that are decent. One is also a range and has very good deals on ammo (odd, I know) and the other is high on ammo but often has good deals on used guns. Between the two of them they stock everything I need, and they both beat gun shows.
However, one is run by a crusty old guy who brooks no dissent. I was in there one day (actually right before the EOSM) and picked up a holster. I asked him what his cheapest .45 was, since I needed about 300 rounds. Keep in mind I was just out of college and still working at Hardee's until school started. He hauled out a box and said "That there's good ammo. $12.95."
Now, the other place sells their reloads for $10/box and the same brand for $11.50, so I politely said "OK, thanks. I'll just take the holster."
He wanted to know why. So I told him. I was very polite about it; I simply said "That's just a little higher than I wanted to pay."
You'd have thought I ate his dog for breakfast. "I'VE GOTTA MAKE A LIVING!" and other assorted fun statements. I didn't bother asking how the other guy makes a living.
The same owner told me another time that transfers were $50. He knew me a little better by now, so I asked him "Why so much?"
He told me straight out that he just wasn't really interested in doing transfers; too much trouble for not much return. He figured he didn't want to refuse to do transfers, but a high price would lead people to bother someone else with it. And if someone were willing to pay $50 for some reason, why, then it would be worth his while, right?
Dad had his shop before the internet, but he treated all ordered guns more like transfers. He referred to his markup more like a fee for a transfer and still does. "So, I ordered him an 870 for $40 or something like that, and . . . ."
Mike Weber
New member
When I operated my shop I only charged 15% above my cost plus my shipping costs. I didn't carry a huge inventory of guns in the shop, but then I didn't have a problem ordering items that customers wanted. For example when one customer wanted an AMT Automag 2, there were none to be found in the area. I did not have a problem ordering the pistol from AMT,and I did not find it necessary to charge the customer more than the 15% over cost and shipping. The bulk of my business were reloaders and my 15% rule also applied with them. My shop was located in a rural area of western Oregon and when the timber economy went belly up I had to close up shop. Most of my customers were regular and repeat customers. I can give you two examples of gunshops in the area where I now live which illustrate perfectly what this thread is all about. We have two businesses here that started roughly at the end of WW2. One of them operates along the lines of a general store. The bulk of their merchandise is hunting and fishing gear, heavy on the guns,ammo and reloading supplies. Their prices are comparable to Kmart and Wal Mart. They sell Ruger Blackhawks and Vaqueros for $295.00 NIB. The other shop is strictly a gun shop. The old fellow who runs it is in his eighties. He used to operate gunsmithing services out of his shop but now he no longer offers these services. He has a lot of older firearms and sporterized Mausers in his shop but, he is so proud of them that he never seems to sell any of them. Mostly because of his outrageous prices. Remember the Rugers from the other store? This guy wants $450.00 for a New Model blackhawk. He is a good source for parts for old and obscure gun parts if you don't mind paying his high prices. When this old fellow is gone his business will die with him. The other store that I mentioned recently opened a second store. We have one of those huge Sportsmans Warehouse stores in my area, This first store that I mentioned is matching them dollar for dollar in business volume.
I live in Eastern PA, subs of allentown. The gunshop were I spend most of my money is about an hours drive from me. I started going to this shop in 1991, I was looking for a HBAR AR-15, he had the lowest price by far, I paid 625.00 for a colt NIB in 91. The store is a father/son shop, they remember who I am every time I come in. Both are competitive shooters so they seem to understand what to stock. There prices on reloading componets are great, Hodgdon powder is 14.99lb, the other stores are 17.99lb. About a 1.5 years ago I was looking for a SS 92FS, I spent the day looking at all the well known gun shops, the best price I could get was 550.00 NIB. Went to the store and they had the same gun for 520.00 NIB. I just purchased an Oly AR-15 in 45ACP for 699.00 NIB from them. These guys know how to run a gunshop. They have a large selection of guns, if they can't get what you they call the distrubitor and give a time as to who long till they can get it. They have bulk ammo at the same price as most on-line stores, with out the shipping cost. I feel lucky having a gunshop like this. One of the bigger shops in allentown tried to tell me that Sig and Beretta were junk, kept trying to sell me a S&W.
Mark
Mark
Ohio guys...
The NASR is unreal. $50 for transfers??? And now, raising that to $150. I may go to shoot their bowling pins every so often on Friday nights...but, I won't pull my wallet out for anything that they have in their store.
I do most of my shooting at Rayner's Range, south of Zanesville. Lots of space and I usually have it to myself. They only charge $10 for transfers, btw.
The NASR is unreal. $50 for transfers??? And now, raising that to $150. I may go to shoot their bowling pins every so often on Friday nights...but, I won't pull my wallet out for anything that they have in their store.
I do most of my shooting at Rayner's Range, south of Zanesville. Lots of space and I usually have it to myself. They only charge $10 for transfers, btw.
johninaustin
New member
My favorite gunshop around here recently started selling guns online. Specailty items, such as high $$ drillings and custom hunting rifles that he's had taking up space for years.
Sold everything in less than two weeks. Made more profit in that two weeks than the past two years. He's sinking a lot of it into more stock. It's gonna be fun.
Sold everything in less than two weeks. Made more profit in that two weeks than the past two years. He's sinking a lot of it into more stock. It's gonna be fun.
Pigshooter
New member
A lot of people go into business for reasons other than being in business. That is especially true of the hobbiest-turned-specialist.
These people mostly want to sit in the AC all day, talk about guns with their retired freinds who lounge around there, eat peanuts and share hunting stories. Or they just don't want to work, and thought they could get by turning their hobby into something profitable.
There are succesful business people in the shooting sports business, but they tend to be in business to make money. Ironically, they also tend to have the best deals, greatest selection, and other incentives to get you in the store again and again.
These people mostly want to sit in the AC all day, talk about guns with their retired freinds who lounge around there, eat peanuts and share hunting stories. Or they just don't want to work, and thought they could get by turning their hobby into something profitable.
There are succesful business people in the shooting sports business, but they tend to be in business to make money. Ironically, they also tend to have the best deals, greatest selection, and other incentives to get you in the store again and again.
Poodleshooter
New member
jmlv: I'd bet that he's referring to Shyda's Gunshop near Lebanon,PA. They have some of the best deals in PA for gun supplies, hunting clothing,etc. They actually act as a wholesaler for most gunshops that I deal with!
Could also be TNT Reloading, but I don't know if they're an FFL.
Could also be TNT Reloading, but I don't know if they're an FFL.