Are Online Retailers Killing Local Gun Stores? Should We Care?

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Dr. HK

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My store regularly has prices cheaper than what people transfer guns in for. They don’t even ask or look. They just buy online and have it shipped. We can see ther invoice and they end up paying more than if they would have just walked in and bought the one on the shelf. That’s not always the case but it sure is a lot of times.
Curious what gun store? I have never found prices lower than online.
 

Dr. HK

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myself if I am buying used I like Sooner State Pawn, FTF. If I buy new I 98% of the time buy online. Though I keep my eyes on something I want and when I see it at a price too good to pass up I purchase it.

Many B&M shops are usually $50+ higher than online. Then you tack on tax.
 

doctorjj

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Curious what gun store? I have never found prices lower than online.
Doc’s Gun Store in Pryor. Obviously I can’t guarantee that we will be cheaper on any particular gun as I don’t have time to chase down the cheapest price on every gun out there. And sometimes the big boys simply can buy cheaper than we can. I know we have minimal markup and you can actually talk to someone who knows something and can handle the gun before you buy. And you can walk out the same day. If that service isn’t worth $10 extra, if that’s what it even was, then I guess I can’t help you guys out. I do know that a lot of the time I see the invoice that someone paid and I just laugh because we could have sold it cheaper. We just take our transfer fee and move along.
 

lasher

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this entire topic is a hoot. most the posters claiming to support local stores over online is super funny coming from this crowd. i offered an unfired DW here at more than 500 less than Bud's runs them with all the discounts applied and never got a nibble. one PM asking if it was a blem. so stop the BS'ing and just admit you look for the lowest price available, regardless where it might be...but will still pass on it if you can't chisel a few more discounted bucks. quit your day jobs and start stand up comedy
 

doctorjj

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this entire topic is a hoot. most the posters claiming to support local stores over online is super funny coming from this crowd. i offered an unfired DW here at more than 500 less than Bud's runs them with all the discounts applied and never got a nibble. one PM asking if it was a blem. so stop the BS'ing and just admit you look for the lowest price available, regardless where it might be...but will still pass on it if you can't chisel a few more discounted bucks. quit your day jobs and start stand up comedy
Owning a store and seeing this is certainly comical. For instance, Triple 7 powder, Walmart here sells it for $29.99. We don’t get a single customer until they run out. We are selling it for $19.99 and ha e for several years. You have the 2 extremes. One’s who gripe because you charge $5 more than Bud’s on a gun and they aren’t willing to give one extra cent. And the other group that swears they support local business but pay more at Walmart because they probably just assume it’s cheaper.
 

Gun Poor Pop

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Lasher.Hmmmm.So let me make sure that I am understanding you correctly. You are claiming that the fact that you didn’t generate any interest in a private sale means that ..... this crowd.... does not support local gun stores? If that is your position..... quit your day job and start fortune telling.
.
 

Uncle TK

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Owning a store and seeing this is certainly comical. For instance, Triple 7 powder, Walmart here sells it for $29.99. We don’t get a single customer until they run out. We are selling it for $19.99 and ha e for several years. You have the 2 extremes. One’s who gripe because you charge $5 more than Bud’s on a gun and they aren’t willing to give one extra cent. And the other group that swears they support local business but pay more at Walmart because they probably just assume it’s cheaper.

If you go to Walmart ever thing is market with the price! Some local Gun Stores do not mark prices where the buyer can see it.
The local gun store also needs a WEB site with prices (Not Call For Best Price)
 

harley128

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If you go to Walmart ever thing is market with the price! Some local Gun Stores do not mark prices where the buyer can see it.
The local gun store also needs a WEB site with prices (Not Call For Best Price)
All of which(Web Site) contributes to cost, which then contributes to raising the price........
 

Uncle TK

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All of which(Web Site) contributes to cost, which then contributes to raising the price........

In Post #48 Triple 7 powder $19.99 vs Walmat $29.99 if prices are posted on a Web site then more customers would drop by the shop.
Which would generate more sells.
A web site increases sales if prices are close.
 

Glocktogo

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If you go to Walmart ever thing is market with the price! Some local Gun Stores do not mark prices where the buyer can see it.
The local gun store also needs a WEB site with prices (Not Call For Best Price)

That's because WM follows MAP policies. If a local seller is selling something for below MAP price, they can't publish that price without potentially losing their dealer/distributor authorization. When you see "Call for Price", that usually means they're selling it for less, not more.
 

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