Airborne33
Marksman
Fellow shooters,
So a few weeks ago, when I first got to town, I was looking to kill some time and possibly find an upper reciever for an AR that I was at the time still putting together. I Looked online to see what was close and Popguns (Correct me if I am wrong, my memory could serve me wrong, but they were also doing some rennovations) seemed convenient at the time and so I head on over.
It had not yet opened, but there was already a small line forming up outside, mostly for the indoor range I assume. Well I left my pistol in the car, because A) I didn't know if I felt like shooting at the time and B) I've been given hell before for carrying in a gun store - even with the handgun cleared.
So I walked in, there must have been about six of us in line and most of the customers went and got into the range and I continued to stroll about the place, seeing what they had and curiously leaning over the glass cases in an attempt to get a better look at their inventory. I consider myself to be a very patient person, hurry up and wait is a way of life it seems, so at no point did I feel it necessary to interrupt a salesman already working with a customer. I had a lot of questions, at the time had money burning a hole in my wallet, and after strolling around, looking at almost every product in their store, walked out without once being asked to be helped or even greeted.
Now this is a completely different experience than what I am used to. I am used to walking into a store and being greeted, regardless or how many people are being helped (nothing is more important than common courtesy, even buisness), and here I felt like I simply was being ignored and out of place.
Overall I want to know has this happened to anyone else? Does this sound like a simple fluke? I wasn't dressed like a bum, I didn't look like hell that day, if their defense they found ways to keep busy, but in this town shouldn't they approach me and ask to help and not the other way around? I feel like if I am asking for help, I am asking for a favor, when really it's the other was in my mind. I am doing them a favor by walking through their doors and not someone else's. I am doing them a favor by offering them my buisness. Well I guess that's how I see it.
Maybe I don't look the part of someone who is interested in shooting. I don't wear flanel, I don't look like a gangbanger, and I'm not over the same of 40 with NRA stickers all over the rear winsheild of my 1/2 ton truck spruced up with 14 shotguns laying in a rack in plain sight. I am a normal looking guy. I think.
Not really sure what to think. If this is the normal deal I guess I'll just have to adapt. If it was a fluke, I may someday give them another chance, it wont be before I give other places a shot at making a better first impression though.
Any thoughts? At the time I didn't know whether or not to feel insulted that they didn't seem to want my buisness. It's like going to a car dealership and watching salesmen walk past you to help someone else... like they think you don't have the funds to buy a car. Instead of having a good time looking at guns, I had a bad time feeling like I wasted my time.
I would say they had a fair arrangement of firearms to sell. I don't recall how things were priced, but I was looking mostly at AR rifles. Most of those looked decently priced. I don't mean to sound like I am trying to bash on this establishment, but I feel like if someone does a great job they should be praised, and if they do a terrible job it's my job as a member to tell my story and ask questsions.
Again.. thoughts?
So a few weeks ago, when I first got to town, I was looking to kill some time and possibly find an upper reciever for an AR that I was at the time still putting together. I Looked online to see what was close and Popguns (Correct me if I am wrong, my memory could serve me wrong, but they were also doing some rennovations) seemed convenient at the time and so I head on over.
It had not yet opened, but there was already a small line forming up outside, mostly for the indoor range I assume. Well I left my pistol in the car, because A) I didn't know if I felt like shooting at the time and B) I've been given hell before for carrying in a gun store - even with the handgun cleared.
So I walked in, there must have been about six of us in line and most of the customers went and got into the range and I continued to stroll about the place, seeing what they had and curiously leaning over the glass cases in an attempt to get a better look at their inventory. I consider myself to be a very patient person, hurry up and wait is a way of life it seems, so at no point did I feel it necessary to interrupt a salesman already working with a customer. I had a lot of questions, at the time had money burning a hole in my wallet, and after strolling around, looking at almost every product in their store, walked out without once being asked to be helped or even greeted.
Now this is a completely different experience than what I am used to. I am used to walking into a store and being greeted, regardless or how many people are being helped (nothing is more important than common courtesy, even buisness), and here I felt like I simply was being ignored and out of place.
Overall I want to know has this happened to anyone else? Does this sound like a simple fluke? I wasn't dressed like a bum, I didn't look like hell that day, if their defense they found ways to keep busy, but in this town shouldn't they approach me and ask to help and not the other way around? I feel like if I am asking for help, I am asking for a favor, when really it's the other was in my mind. I am doing them a favor by walking through their doors and not someone else's. I am doing them a favor by offering them my buisness. Well I guess that's how I see it.
Maybe I don't look the part of someone who is interested in shooting. I don't wear flanel, I don't look like a gangbanger, and I'm not over the same of 40 with NRA stickers all over the rear winsheild of my 1/2 ton truck spruced up with 14 shotguns laying in a rack in plain sight. I am a normal looking guy. I think.
Not really sure what to think. If this is the normal deal I guess I'll just have to adapt. If it was a fluke, I may someday give them another chance, it wont be before I give other places a shot at making a better first impression though.
Any thoughts? At the time I didn't know whether or not to feel insulted that they didn't seem to want my buisness. It's like going to a car dealership and watching salesmen walk past you to help someone else... like they think you don't have the funds to buy a car. Instead of having a good time looking at guns, I had a bad time feeling like I wasted my time.
I would say they had a fair arrangement of firearms to sell. I don't recall how things were priced, but I was looking mostly at AR rifles. Most of those looked decently priced. I don't mean to sound like I am trying to bash on this establishment, but I feel like if someone does a great job they should be praised, and if they do a terrible job it's my job as a member to tell my story and ask questsions.
Again.. thoughts?
