Supporting Local Gun Shops - How Much Are You Willing to Pay?

[Bill2905]

If you believe in supporting local small business, how much are you willing to pay for that?

In the past year or two and especially since the COVID lockdowns, I have become more cognizant of the issues that small businesses face in competing against big box stores and large online merchants like Amazon. I am trying to do more business locally and if I have to shop online, I'm starting to use more small eBay merchants instead of Amazon.

Guns create more a conflict for me because the price differences can be large. I buy from online sellers because who doesn't like a great deal. I also buy from my LGS and have paid as much as $100 more than I could have paid an online seller. I feel the need to support the shop because I don't like the idea of them not being there some day due to overwhelming online or big box store competition. Where else can you put your hands on a rifle or pistol to see how it feels? However, like the rest of you, I work hard for my money and I hate giving it away randomly.

I don't believe there is any right or wrong answer. I just want to learn how others feel about this topic.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I have paid significant premiums over time supporting local businesses. Given that my local bank and hardware store have pissed all over me, I am reevaluating this position.

Specific to gun shops, there is a relatively new one close to home that I am willing to stick with even with a premium given the great service regardless of my general view shifting.

 

[yetti462]

One gs I've been frequently visiting has best prices around. He had a glock19 for $519. Good prices on everything from powder to guns.

 

[Whisk604]

I try to buy local but sometimes it's hard. I guess my cutoff would be 15% above an online price including shipping and transfer fees. I'm aware that if you want the store to stay open it has to move product, but I can't pay $700 for a $500 gun. My suppressor was $1200 local before tax and I purchased the same one online for $830 total.

 

[edporch]

I've had no trouble supporting the small one man LGS I've used most through the years.
I find that on gun prices, he beats every place I've ever bought from in the Indy area.
It's not always true that it costs more to buy from a LGS.

 

[Bill2905]

I've had no trouble supporting the small one man LGS I've used most through the years.
I find that on gun prices, he beats every place I've ever bought from in the Indy area.
It's not always true that it costs more to buy from a LGS.

I agree that not all LGS have high prices. Each shop has its own unique operating costs and business goals.

 

[DadSmith]

The more you support your lgs the more buying power they have, which also helps reduce prices because of bulk buying power. I've spent thousands at my lgs over the years. And my favorite i just couldn't spend enough to help keep their doors open. Good people they were.

 

[edporch]

I've had no trouble supporting the small one man LGS I've used most through the years.
I find that on gun prices, he beats every place I've ever bought from in the Indy area.
It's not always true that it costs more to buy from a LGS.

Let me add that in the case of the LGS I'm talking about, I would bet his prices are lower than around Indy because for one his overhead is lower than many gun shops because he's owned the property for many years and has no rent or mortgage to pay.
And most every time I drop in, he's always got people in there and has built up a good following with repeat customers.

 

[Bennettjh]

I don't know if I could put an actual number on it. I guess it depends on what it is and if I "feel" like it's too much. Since COVID, I've tried to buy more from local, and smaller retailers no matter the item.

 

[92FSTech]

I'm happy to pay more to buy local...I've paid $100-$150 more on several occasions (which really isn't that bad when you consider the costs of shipping, transfer, and the convenience and security of buying local). If I can get it locally, that's my preferred approach.

The issue I've run into is that often the local shop doesn't have, and can't get, the specific gun I'm looking for. I like a lot of older, out-of-production stuff. Sometimes I get lucky and stumble across it at the LGS, but in most of those cases online is the only option.

 

[STEEL CORE]

He "had" a glock19 for $519...……………..Who? Where?

 

[yetti462]

sent you a pm steelcore

 

[Mongo59]

I have the best of both worlds, a LGS that has the lowest prices! I only buy on line what he doesn't have.

His grandad told him, "You can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin him once..."

I have been there when he buys, and don't think he will sell it to you at cost, but the price he puts on things are more than affordable. It is like going to an auction when no one wants what you want, you don't have to outbid the next guy just pay the price and go on.

It is also amazing what people carry through the door to sell to him. Some of the rarest stuff you have ever seen simply walks right through the door.

 

[kaveman]

If local shops had what I wanted to buy I'd be happy to pay an additional 10-20%, but they don't. I don't really like much new stuff and am not interested in catalog items which is what they're able to stock and carry. On the rare occasion an interesting item does find its way into a local shop I find that the pricing just isn't realistic. Sometimes it's unrealistic low(rarely)and I buy it if I'm the first to see it. More often it's priced at twice what its worth just because the seller doesn't know.

With that dynamic I'm forced to do all the searching on my own and find my own deals(which is really what I like to do anyway). Once found, an item ships to my friendliest LGS where he makes his cut by booking it in and out and sending it out the door. I know he has light bills to pay and whatnot so I use up as little of his light as possible and we use my money instead of his to stock the store for me. Best I can do.

 

[STEEL CORE]

Thank you my friend.

 

[tcecil88]

I try to buy local whenever I can, but just like everywhere else, there is no stock.

 

[Kozaturf]

I do try to support the local LGS's whenever I can. However, recently I had to bite my tongue instead of quoting Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, "What are you, people? On dope?"

Found a gun that I have been looking for at a LGS and had to walk away so as not to be forced to smack myself upside the head. I understand the current market situation but 60% over MSRP? I want that gun but not that much. Heck, that's more than double what I paid for its sister, same MSRP different caliber, OTD 6 months ago. I hope it sits there a looooong time.

 

[WanderingSol07]

I buy locally whenever I possibly can. Yes, prices are a bit higher, but that is the cost I am quite willing to pay to keep such a place in business. But do I really pay more? The local shop does do some free gunsmithing for me, not every time, but once in a while. I was able to get more ammo to shoot at their range during the shortage. I feel I can trust the people at the local shop to give me advice for my advantage, not theirs. They are part of the community and offer services to the community an online place could never do. I like dealing with a business where I know every person's name working at the shop and they all know my name.

 

[1nderbeard]

I've talked to a few of the LGS owners. I know them well enough that they've told me they make as much on a FFL transfer than the do on the margins of new guns.
At this point, nothing online is as good a price as I can find locally.

 

[tsilveus]

I struggle with my local gun store because they do not even try to be competitive with online pricing. I will pay more for local but not stupid, take advantage of me prices. I wanted to get my Dad a set of scope rings - $39 in my LGS - $22 on Amazon - this was pre-pandemic. I hate the big chains, but that's a big difference. I only buy powder there, when they have it, because it's close when you factor in hazmat fees. I find the same issues when buying American vs. others (China). I try to not buy Chinese anything but sometimes the cost difference is just too much, especially when quality is similar. My current dilemma is with a red dot for my G34.5 MOS. RMR vs. Holosun507C. When researching best prices, it's almost a $200 difference. That's hard to swallow.