I've just about had it!!!

[Spitpatch]

I've just about had it with the arrogance and snobbery of sales people at big box stores, as well as the MANY local sporting goods stores and gun shops I visit in my average 880 mile work week.

Yah, you can tell Spit to calm down if you like...so go ahead, but I just came home bout' as mad as mad gets, and I'm gonna blow off some steam.

I am sick and tired of the brand bashing that takes place when I'm there just tryin to have some fun. Ya know?....

I went to four places today and all I can remember, (and a lot was said), but all I can recall is the bashing at each store.

I have owned most of the major brands, CVA, Knight, Thompson, both Encore and Pro Hunter, Traditions, Lyman....you know. So when they bash something I've had or like....I tend to take it personal.

I'm there to look and dream and have a good time. Not for some kid barely old enough to have an opinion, to lay his PROFESSIONAL advise on me at the expense of some brand or model he has never shot. He can't even carry on a conversation of the mechanics of muzzle loading at it's most basic level! For cryin out loud.

Without going into details...I tried to engage him in conversation and he finally just turned and walked away as I was talking to him!!

Another place I stopped, all the salesman wanted to talk about was how the store was closing.
One place will steer toward TC and to hell with everything else, and if you shoot anything else...it's junk, and the next won't carry Knights because they think THEY are junk! The next place carry a majority of CVA and Traditions, because the profit margin is higher.

I'm tired of sales people who are just parrots and Mina birds. I'm tired of being disappointed and tired of being afraid that I might say the wrong thing when shopping, and I've made myself tired and sleepy and I need to go to bed.

Goodnight....

P.S. I'm also sick of seeing salesman in those silly sales vests that say they are specialists.



...and I hate standing in line at the movies.!!!!

..thanks, Spit

 

[deer655]

Wait a minute; you left out poison ivy,saran wrap and peta.

 

[vabowhntr]

I don't know, I like to talk over them until they get that confused look and wander away...I hate experts that don't know what they are talking about.

 

[sabotloader]

Spit

Thank you for expressing yourself - hopefully it has relieved some stress and you will be able to get a good nights rest...

The only minor problem is that you just expressed what a lot of people feel and do not write... but i assure you I know what you mean.

I will take it a little bit further - it frustrates the heck out of me how the modern day CEO of a major companies is more worried about the survival and the bottom line of the company than they are about the survival of the United States.

There are a lot of really good young people out there but then again there are lot of know it all son-of-a-guns...

 

[cayuga]

Unfortunately these people are all to common in the chain sporting good stores Spit. I have basically gotten to the point where I do not talk to them, I talk at them. I tell them what I want and move on.

I too have seen these "back counter experts" start spewing words of wisdom, to someone only to basically be telling them either biases or just plain false information. So I have started making it a habit to correct them to the perspective customers when possible. As one asked me in a Wal Mart if I shot black powder rifles and I mentioned I had a few.

The problem these stores find is, these are the only "qualified" people they can get to work the sporting goods. Like the person at Gander Mountain who did not know APP was American Pioneer Powder.. it was that fake powder in the white plastic jugs.

 

[Lee 9]

If you think thats bad just read some of the anti gun bills that thing we elected president has written during his days in office. Lee

 

[Grouse]

SPIT, i would not buy from places like that. There are just so many places to buy anything you want at a pretty good price.

 

[coltchris]

It always amazes me how many of the so called experts haven't even heard of new products. I've yet to find a Gander Mtn. person who has ever heard of BH-209; not that I'd buy it there anyway with their sky-high prices!!! I informed a GM employee six months ago that they ought to look into it, and they still don't know anything about it!

 

[n8dawg6]

wellp, every "salesman" i have talked to at our local big chain store thinks they really know what they're talking about. i let them say their bit ... ask a few questions here and there ... let them think they have more knowledge on the product i'm looking at than i do. it can be humorous. i havent 1 time in my life bought a firearm based on what the salesman said. i do my homework ahead of time, and when i go to the store to buy, im looking for the lowest price and im ready to buy. sometimes i want to get the feel of the gun just to be sure, but i havent ever gotten any true assitance from a salesman.

now, the small-town gunsmith i have used to work on a few of my guns is GREAT to shoot the s--- with. he knows exactly whats he's talking about, and when i want a genuine opinion on firearms, i talk to him :wink:

 

[big6x6]

You are so right Spit! That why I so LOVE shopping on the internet! If it is for something I know little about, I can research it in my on time and make the decision based on my needs.

But let's face it...MOST muzzleloader salespeople don't know a fraction of what you know and have learned by shooting/hunting yourself and well as the education you may get on the internet. Most only know what they read in a company ad, many times very far from the truth... Honestly...I don't EXPECT anything from a salesperson except maybe to show me where something is!

 

[wayles]

big box

I know what you speak of! There ain't nothin worse than some parrot spoutin off about somethin he truly knows nothin about. Hate those outfitter /expert vests tryin to sell the latest hype. Just show me where its at and I will choose. Then theres the middle of the tube toothpast squeezer. HEH HeH
Wayles

 

[Hammerspur]

I know the experience as well. :x

I had one like it some years back in the vendor of another special interest merchandise, motorcycle related.

When I asked if they had a certain item and explained my intended use for same the counter guy asked why would I want to do that, it's meant for something else?

I paused, stepped back figuratively speaking and said
"Let's start over. I know you work here but I'm certain I know more about this stuff than you. Now...
Do you have any?"

 

[txhunter58]

I hear ya.

Of course you know the old saying: "we have met the enemy, and it is us"

Through the years we have forced stores to go with untrained, minimum wage help. WE have put the Mom and POP stores out of business, because we can buy the same gun, etc. from the discount stores $50 cheaper than a store that has well paid, knowlegable people. The wallyworld syndrome has pretty much taken over.

Doesn't mean even these stores can't train their help in even the most basic customer service theories: the customer is always right!

 

[oldelkhunter]

I have a bunch of "gun" stores around my home but I have to drive 60 miles either east or west to find a really good gun store that has intelligent personnel behind the counter. I might have to pay a little more to buy something there but I can a. actually hold the rifle b. pull the trigger to see how the pull feels without bothering someone that knows zilch about the product. I I only go to GM to pick up and feel guns like a luxury import car showroom if you will.

 

[ken613]

Right there with ya Spit,

I'm fortunate in that there is a local shop that is top notch. They treat me well and respectfully, in return I do business with them.

The other thing I do is like 6x6 said, shop the internet.

I'm confident in my ability to form a valid opinion on most things after doing some research on the net. Two valuable areas on the net are the forums (if you don't mind wading through some BS) and the purchaser reviews that are available on most of the major catalog websites.

Ken

 

[younghunter_86]

I totally understand. I've wanted to post something like this for a long time. Sometimes I go just to see what the salesman(woman) can come up with today? It is frustrating though when a friend or relative goes to a chain store and gets filled with BS.

There is a certain store located in Ankeny, IA that REALLY frustrates me for a multitude of reasons. I won't mention names but it is the only sporting goods store there.

 

[Pappy]

I do agree that we should buy from Mom & Pa Stores, but the one a mile from my house has products on sale for $40 with the retail price of $30 still showing. I can't aford that. I prefer to drive about 13 miles to one or 20 miles to still another sports shop that has decent prices.

Dave

 

[black powder]

Spitpatch wrote ....

P.S. I'm also sick of seeing salesman in those silly sales vests that say they are specialists.


that say,s it all ..

 

[old/new]

:? Spit...I guess you caused a furor :!:

Hope when you woke up and read this you realize we all seem to have had the same experiences.

 

[Kootenaibill]

Sales People

Sales people. Just every day people trying to make ends meet. Probably don't like wearing the silly vests either. They go where they are told to go, do what they are told to do. If not they are told to get another job. Mortgage payments, car loan, kids sick, who knows, we have all been there.

We also know that our passion is not theirs so don't expect them to be the know all to end all sales people. They are hired to sell you something they sell in the store they work for.

Do your homework, know what you want before you go. If the store doesn't have what you want go to one that does. The salesperson will hand you the gun, you can shoulder it swing it do what you want. Just keep nodding your head and ignore all the comments, after all, you already know what you want.