LGS vs Big Box - how much extra will you pay?

[BugI02]

Your LGS is charging over MSRP?

So is your car dealer. It's called supply and demand for popular items

Why is it only bad when they do it?

 

[BugI02]

Local owned used to be a lot more important to people than it is now. The house I was raised in only bought gas at the locally owned station with a repair garage, even if the gas was 3 cents more. Of course the station guy knew us as good customers and treated us well. And when the station needed something welded, our shop is where he went. That was just part of being in a neighborhood.

How I long to return to that simple life

The 'creative destruction' that entrepreneurs are so enamored of these days seems to be 2 parts destruction and one part rapacious capitalism with no redeeming value for the participants at the 'little people' level

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I've quite literally never bought a gun from a big box store. LGS, private sale, a few times from Bud's when they were new, or from gunbroker. Not out of any real ethical stand, I don't think. Box stores are just bleh.

 

[shootersix]

This has happened to me at RK…reason I don’t go there anymore…well they kept delaying me for no reason. Don’t have that problem anywhere else.

They aren’t delaying you, the government is delaying you! Their (rural king’s) lawyers are the reason they don’t transfer to you after 3 days without resolution (which is a Brady bill attachment!) but fyi the transfer after 3 days is at the gunshops discretion!

I’m betting that you get delayed when you buy from a lgs, they just proceed with the transfer after 3 business days.

And a upin won’t always help (I’m sure you’ve been told to get one by your friends) because Ive seen delays and even a denial with a upin!

When I worked at a shop I always called in my background check, and I always got “further review” and once I asked if I get a upin will it stop that? She said no, you’ll always get one because of the other “shootersix” in your town…I’m white as sour cream and he’s African American!

 

[bwframe]

INGO classifieds for me.

I'm happy to let others break my guns in, pay the king, etc.

Even a few scratches or some rust reminds me that I'm saving money. Icing on the cake is that I can treat my investment as a user. No tears shead for holster wear, safe dings and the like.

If the want isn't in the classy's, often a WTB add does the trick.

Icing on the cake is shaking hands with some of the best folks around.

 

[mcapo]

I would say 5-10% but during and since covid, it has more been availability driving where I buy something.

Very seldom have I bought something from a big box store.

 

[xwing]

$0.00. I will always purchase at the place with the best price. Not that big box is always the best price. For guns & ammo, it's pretty much always "online" for the best price.

 

[Jont22]

They aren’t delaying you, the government is delaying you! Their (rural king’s) lawyers are the reason they don’t transfer to you after 3 days without resolution (which is a Brady bill attachment!) but fyi the transfer after 3 days is at the gunshops discretion!

I’m betting that you get delayed when you buy from a lgs, they just proceed with the transfer after 3 business days.

And a upin won’t always help (I’m sure you’ve been told to get one by your friends) because Ive seen delays and even a denial with a upin!

When I worked at a shop I always called in my background check, and I always got “further review” and once I asked if I get a upin will it stop that? She said no, you’ll always get one because of the other “shootersix” in your town…I’m white as sour cream and he’s African American!

Trust me…it’s RK. I get approved in seconds everywhere else.

 

[warren5421]

I went to an LGS for years, bought over 50 guns off him. I sold a pistol and went to him not wanting to give Fed-Ex $80 to ship. He came back $100 to ship, that was the last time I went in his shop. Sometimes you just can’t work with them.

 

[KellyinAvon]

No more than 50

Please see PM with attached rules.

 

[Ingomike]

$0.00. I will always purchase at the place with the best price. Not that big box is always the best price. For guns & ammo, it's pretty much always "online" for the best price.

I always buy from the best source, that includes both short term issues like price and long term like who has the best service or who do I need to survive to serve me in the future…

The bitterness of poor quality and service remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten.

 

[model1994]

depends on my relationship with them but probably no more than 15% or so. some shops treat you like you’re intruding and disturbing them. I’ve bought a few guns from broker while still in the parking lot of a lgs lol

sometimes the bbs gun counter is ran by the former lgs owner, and that’s awkward but the way she goes

 

[DadSmith]

My two favorite gun shops shut down because of covid. I'm trying to find a new shop that I can do most of my business with again.
I've found a few I've been using. I like the owner of the one better we get along great. He's very helpful as well.

 

[Chewie]

Never bought from a big box store, always from an lgs. I have a rk about 15 mins away. I look but never bought from them. Just something about a bb store that kills the desire to buy from them (attitude maybe?).

 

[Creedmoor]

I went to an LGS for years, bought over 50 guns off him. I sold a pistol and went to him not wanting to give Fed-Ex $80 to ship. He came back $100 to ship, that was the last time I went in his shop. Sometimes you just can’t work with them.

I dealt with a shop in Anderson since Clevinger closed his store. With the INGO lowers last year he charged me $20.00 each for the three I ordered.
Three separate recites and one 4473.
I asked if they charged that with the $39.00 Anderson lowers that were in the case? Salesman said well, no.
What he lost with his salesman charging me $60.00 was a customer that would spend 3-5 thousand a year in that shop.

 

[foszoe]

So is your car dealer. It's called supply and demand for popular items

Why is it only bad when they do it?

Or maybe he was just surprised?

I haven't seen my local guys charging over msrp.

I don't check everything every week though.

 

[edporch]

The LGS I've dealt with for many years usually has a lower price than the big stores on firearms down here in the Indy area.

PLUS he'll order things for me if he doesn't have it.
I don't even have to give him a deposit, he orders it and I pay him when it comes in.

 

[Born2vette]

I have 3 LGSs nearby that I have purchased more than 1 firearm from. At 2 of them they know me by name when I walk in (They are both very close by) Which has given me a few perks that a stranger likely does not get (like sending a copy their ffl to the sending dealer 3 times and following up with a phone call). Whenever I have purchased something new when you acxount for gas or shipping and transfer fees they have always come real close and on 2 occasions beat an internet price (not by much but who cares). Have also been offered $ off on some of the used firearms in the store when looking/purchasing.

As the commercial used to say, these relationships are priceless.

 

[Mij]

73 years, if a few bucks are where you’re loyalty’s lye, you deserve what you get. JMO

 

[BAgun]

There's a local place near me that I look at and buy from occasionally, usually reloading products. I was looking for a certain bolt action rifle, they had one, it was about $650. Since I was out I decided to look at the Sportsman's Warehouse, they had the same rifle for under $600. After that I decided to look the same one up on the internet and it's $465. I have a pawn shop near me that will do the transfer for $30. That's about $100 to $150 difference, made my decision pretty easy.