[Sovietsky Soyuz]

I don't know what it is about gun shops like this, but it seems that I have been in several where the people behind the counters act like you are BOTHERING them, and they are total jerks, and without exception there always seems to be a group of their "cronies" hanging around shooting the bull........but they don't seem too interested in selling anything. It is a wonder how some of them manage to stay in business....Granted, I have worked many gun shows myself, and the "tirekickers" do at times get to be quite annoying, BUT.....you never know which one of those people is walking around with a wad of money burning a hole in his/her pocket, just waiting to buy something. Sometimes you'd be surprised......therefore I think it prudent to treat all of them the way you'd want to be treated. Sometimes the "tirekicker" doesn't buy anything, but lo and behold he comes back with one of his buddies to your table and sure enough, that buddy buys something from you because you were nice enough to answer all the "dumb" questions that were asked of you by the "tirekicker". Grin and bear it, sometimes it pays off, LOL......besides, there is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to guns, especially from a novice. Sometimes you find a neophyte who is a "fence sitter" and you never know, you might just get a convert who will jump over to our side. I've seen it happen. I try to be as helpful as I can because of this. I want people to have a good impression of gunowners, Lord knows we need all the help we can get!

Sorry I got off on a tangent here, LOL......It just seems like rude treatment seems to be the norm rather than the exception nowadays when it comes to guns shops and gun show vendors...........

[James Cox]

Originally Posted by Solesurvivor

Gun shop owners are like every one else. Some are decent, knowledgable people, and willing to work out a fair deal. Others are not decent, know less about guns than my daughter, and out to rip off people as much as they can. I've been to guns shops around the country. I always found the smaller shops located away from major cities to be the best. They may not have the selection, but the do have decency and stand behind their product. The bigger guys try to oversell you on your needs, and are more likely to be ***** wipes because they are only intersted in making an easy score. IE... selling a fully loaded Noveske with Beta mags, and enough accessories to choke the local SWAT team. Owners CAN be the worst of the lot. I have had one here PHX try to upsell me from a Stag AR he had on sale for $725 (only one in stock, and probably advertised to bring in customers) to a loaded LMT with a fully loaded rail,optics, lazers, etc.. for darn near $3500. When I insisted on the Stag, he told me that it actually was sold but they had not taken it off display. The rest of my visits there for my other needs, I was basically ignored. It's better to find a good reliable FFL and order your products from the net, in my opinion. I get most of my stuff on line any more, just to avoid those types of situations.

Which shop were you at if you don't mind me asking?

[blownhemi]

Originally Posted by bbeach

The worst part about this for Steve and EDI Plus Gun Shop is that my neighbor that accompanied me, his wife works for a competing gun shop across town and she now knows the way in which we were treated. Do you think she'll ever recommend someone go to his shop? The kicker is that I work for one of the two largest outdoor retailers in the Country (I'm sure if you shop at either of them and you put two and two together with the location you can figure out which one!) and unfortunately for Steve and EDI I come into contact with more than my fare share of hunters, shooters and outdoor enthusiasts and therefore will have the opportunity to tell this story to many a potential customer.

I've gotta ask. You say your buddy's wife works for a gunshop? Why didn't you just go there? Surely you'd get a better deal and better service in a shop where you know the people that work there.

Then you mention you work for a large outdoors retailer. Do you sell guns there? if so why would you go to another shop?

Poor treatment in gun stores is not unheard of but your story needs a little more explaining I think.

[aaronrkelly]

I suspect Steve MAY have knew your neighbors wife worked at the other gun store and you were casing his place.

Not condoning his behavior, just shedding some light on a possible reason.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by BOGE

So a complete stranger tells you that your wife is cheating on you. Do you....

A. Pimp slap the stranger

B. Shoot your wife

C. Gather more info

All of the above???

[Zodiac]

Listen, give up the grief!!!! If the gun shop owner was a salesman, he would be selling cars, where he would be making a hell of a lot more money! He probably is "in charge" because his dad is out for lunch! So instead of getting pi__ed off, work him. Learn what makes him be your friend (this could be your hang up) work him to be your friend and get that gun at a great deal! Take your emotions out of the purchase and you will have the upper hand to get what you want!

OR

Maybe he just sized you up right and you were there to just jerk him off!!!

What do you think???????

[moccw]

what a prick, you shouldnt be treated like that, especially if you are a customer looking to purchase somthing. I live in MO but up farther north, right by Columbia. I hope you can find a better gun shop, I wouldnt ever go back to that one!!!!!

[1slo10]

I would but go early when they first open maby his friends want be there and deal with him one on one then I would buy a new handgun a p22 mag and then say well if you would have not acted like that the other day I would have bought it then or maby more later on but I will never shop here again if I'm going to be treated like Sh**. with poor customer service.

[Glk2021]

I thought the only jerks were in the Bullet Stop in Wichita. That place is just as bad or worst. I used to go there for years but after the current owner bought it, it has gone down hill. The people that work there are rude at best. I spent 20 minutes in there looking at guns in the cases and reloading supplies and the "help" saw me but never asked to help or even cared I was there. I've spent alot of money in that place but never again. The last time I bought a gun from them, they could have cared less. When I finally got someone to wait on me and told them I wanted to buy a gun the reply was," let's see if you can pass a background check", then after it went through he says, "how many more can we sell you". I paid my money and left, never to return. They are not good for the gun industry and salesman there not. I know several people that justed to be long time customers that will never return as well. Good thing Gander Mountian came to town.

[ArodJohns]

Originally Posted by BOGE

So a complete stranger tells you that your wife is cheating on you. Do you....

A. Pimp slap the stranger

B. Shoot your wife

C. Gather more info

Been there, done that. I even have the T-shirt.


I gathered more info, and then promptly vacated the side of the state to avoid any violent out bursts.

[4095fanatic]

I posted on my Missouri board, I'll see if I can get some answers.

[gladiator]

I bet you never see the Anti-Gun people like the Brady Bunch act like this STEVE fellow , this is an example why us gunowners are losing an the anti-Gun people are winning because they stick together and there are no steve's around the Brady Bunch.

[Rally Vincent]

Rude slobs in a gunshop? No kiddin....

[bbeach]

hey blownhemi

My buddys wife's shop isn't open on Saturdays and he didn't have any Walther stuff. I wasn't in the gun shop to buy a Walther - as I had just bought a P22 Friday evening. I was merely looking for extra magazines but knew from the phone call that Steve didn't have them in stock. Really we just wanted to check out his store and see what he had since it was close to our homes and we could shop there when we needed things - ammo -etc.

Yes I work for a large outdoor retailer (Well I work for their corporate office) but in this particular case they were overpriced on the P22 and they didn't have any accessories or extra magazines either.

Hope that explains my situation better.

And AaronKelly there's really no way Steve could have known my neighbor or put him together with his wife from the competing gun store. And even if he did we weren't in there being threatening. I was honestly in there seeing what he had for future purchases.

This evening I spoke with a coworker who's lived in the Springfield area all his life and he knew Steve right off the bat and has also had similar dealings with him and his rudeness.

[sparky241]

Originally Posted by BOGE

So a complete stranger tells you that your wife is cheating on you. Do you....

A. Pimp slap the stranger

B. Shoot your wife

C. Gather more info

D all of the above J/k

[Bert.40]

Was that shop in the Ozarks? Did you hear Dueling Banjos in the background; or a pig squealing?

Stay away from that store!!

Trust No One

[bbeach]

Nixa... no dueling banjos just aholes...

[jonusmcg]

Personally, I hate dealing with 90% of the gun shops. The guys that work there are stuck up and think that they are better than you and know everything. little do they know that I have 8 years in the Marine Corps and MUCH shooting experience, probably MORE than them! Like when they tell me that Glocks are crap, and I ask them "oh yeah? and thats based off of what knowledge that you have of what tactical response situations?" Oh thats right, YOU'RE A FR**CKIN' CIVILIAN! Don't worry about those guys. They think they can talk down to everyone because they are allowed to carry guns in the store. My advice, pay no mind to the idiots behind the counter.

[Jeff82]

Couple quick bad stories:

Jims' Pawn & Gun in Fayet-nam: Had absolutely horrible help behind the counter in the '80's and when I tried them again in the '90's. They were running mouth know-it-all's and you'd be lucky to even get a word out. Before you could finish a question they'd tell you what you really needed or wanted. Haven't been back since.

Went into a well-known gun shop just the other day here in Tidewater, VA. The sales dude immediately started bad mouthing the gun and manufacturer I asked about but without anything to back it up. After handling the gun I left. Went to the gun show Saturday (in the same town) and bought that gun from a dealer who was interested in selling one. At a significantly lower price I might add!

Good story: Want to deal with someone who is great? Ed's Gun Shop in Vass NC. I've known him since I drove a Pepsi truck (early 1990's) when his store was still in Southern Pines. He's always been one to listen to you then help you out. Good prices too.

[Solesurvivor]

Originally Posted by James Cox

Which shop were you at if you don't mind me asking?

Shooter's Vault on Greenway. I've always heard good things about them, but I've not had a great experience with them. Won't be coming back to them.

[blownhemi]

Originally Posted by bbeach

hey blownhemi

My buddys wife's shop isn't open on Saturdays and he didn't have any Walther stuff. I wasn't in the gun shop to buy a Walther - as I had just bought a P22 Friday evening. I was merely looking for extra magazines but knew from the phone call that Steve didn't have them in stock. Really we just wanted to check out his store and see what he had since it was close to our homes and we could shop there when we needed things - ammo -etc.

Yes I work for a large outdoor retailer (Well I work for their corporate office) but in this particular case they were overpriced on the P22 and they didn't have any accessories or extra magazines either.

Hope that explains my situation better.

And AaronKelly there's really no way Steve could have known my neighbor or put him together with his wife from the competing gun store. And even if he did we weren't in there being threatening. I was honestly in there seeing what he had for future purchases.

This evening I spoke with a coworker who's lived in the Springfield area all his life and he knew Steve right off the bat and has also had similar dealings with him and his rudeness.

Fair enough - sounds likes the guy is a real ******. It just sounded strage to be shopping elsewhere.

[AWDTerror]

This is nothing new, steve has always been like this.

He is a genius who know's it with a ego bigger than his shop, I haven't gone in there in years due to the fact that he never changes his stock, and his attitude, but i always stop by DG's gunsmithing next door.

[H&K .45 AUTO]

I dunno if they are still there... But, last time I was in Springfield (around 2005?) I went in a shop near BassPro called "Gunslinger's"... Good folks, decent prices, I'd go back.

Also, if ya' come to Kansas City there are lots of good folks to deal with. My favorite is Denny's Guns in North Kansas City. I also like going to Bob's Gun Rack on 3rd Street in Lee's Summit MO. Good folks at both shops who actually care about what their customers think and treat you accordingly. Also... American Firearms in Grandview on Blue Ridge Blvd. is another good one.

I'm an LEO in the KC metro area and have many friends at the Olathe Police Dept. How long ago did your dad retire? ... Or, is he still with them?

At any rate... I wouldn't go back to that shop either.

[James Cox]

Originally Posted by Solesurvivor

Shooter's Vault on Greenway. I've always heard good things about them, but I've not had a great experience with them. Won't be coming back to them.

That's interesting, I started working there about a month ago. Do you remember the guys' name? I'm not the typical gunstore guy, I'm a southern guy. Swing back by some time and chat with me, I can promise you I won't try to pull a umteenthousand percent upsell or ignore you altogether. Money says it was Joe...

[4095fanatic]

Most people I know who went there say it was Steve. To quote:



This person got Steved.

I visited Steve's Guns (now EDI) once, years ago when he was still in Springfield. I immediately vowed I would never return, and I never have.

And I never will. If someone wants to pay me $300 to walk into that shop and spend a few minutes there, I'll do it. But for any amount less, you can have it.

How Steve stays in business, I have no idea. Nor do I care. Obviously he makes enough of a living for his tastes. He obviously doesn't want my business. Which is fine by me, because he'll never get it.

--------------------------------------------------------
We all know the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld... Well, Steve is usually called (behind his back) the "Gun Nazi"
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This is nothing new, steve has always been like this.

He is a genius who know's it with a ego bigger than his shop, I haven't gone in there in years due to the fact that he never changes his stock, and his attitude, but i always stop by DG's gunsmithing next door.

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If you want anything firearms-related in Springfield, go by 417 Guns. In my (admittedly brief) experience, 417 Guns is run by real and decent human beings, and they'll treat you right.