[Chef]

I'm friends with the local dealer, so he'll tell me up front if a particular gun has a problem, ie. bad ergonomics, poor accuracy, etc. I also prefer to handle a gun before I lay down the bucks. I once considered having a gun shipped to him, but he said he could get me one cheaper than paying shipping and transfer fees. He's lower than most big outfits(Sheel's, Sportsmen's Whse,etc.) And if he doesn't have it, he'll order it. HOWEVER, I still go to gun shows, looking for that deal of a lifetime!

 

[Mich Hunter]

The last 4 I purchased, I got on-line, Gunbroker to be specific. I do a lot of shopping around and seem to find outstanding deals that my local gun shop/smith can not meet. I do go into my local shop to get my FFL prior to buying the gun and ask if he can meet the price, but even with shipping & his FFL fees, he has not been able to. He did offer on my PT140 to give it to me at the price I found it on GB, but then he'd have to charge me tax on it, making it more expensive. So I paid him $25 to do the transfer for me. I do take guns into him to work on & I have used him to sell a few, so he probably makes more money that way than he would if I were to buy the guns from him.

 

[Marky B]

I shop online, but buy locally. Sometimes I drive up to J & G to get stuff. It's a couple of hours away, but it's a nice drive. www.jgsales.com

 

[flyandscuba]

I primarily buy via the internet -- especially on high priced items (no sales tax for out-of-state purchases). I'll visit the local shops and fondle things I'm interested in -- but I will always buy long distance and have it shipped in.

Many of my gun purchases are FTF deals (no paper trail that way).

Only rarely will I purchase a firearm from a shop's display cases -- it has to be something I've been looking for but not finding on-line (usually discontinued items) and it becomes a spontaneous buy.

If the local shops showed some loyalty to the customers - it might change my buying behaviors, but usually they come across as doing you a favor to even assist you in the store in my parts (staff are rarely knowledgable either).

 

[Doc S]

I'm with flyandscuba, I primarily buy on-line...

I would love to shop locally, but the prices + Taxes make it more cost effective in most cases to purchase from an out of state source.

I've been to some local gun shops "looking", only to be ignored or snickered at, because I was looking at something that wasn't $1,200.00.
At one place in particular, I was ignored so the guy behind the counter could talk to his girlfriend / wife without being disturbed. When I asked to see something in the display, he said "can't you see I'm on the phone?". I said, "sure, sorry to be a bother" and left the store...

I like buying at Gun Shows. Even though I pay taxes and the prices are not any better than I could get on-line, the dealers are more friendly/helpful. I don't get judged because I'm looking at a Taurus vs a Kimber...

God Bless,
Doc S

 

[Robby]

I love some shops that are more, sorry to say it this way, but, Cop Shops. Run by X cops, staffed by current cops wh o are off duty, ignoring you if you stand at the counter, answering questions very short, unless your looking for a gun in the display case. The place is dirty, merchandise is mixed up, over priced (by a lot), so much stuff in it, that you could look for hours to find the one item you need, or want, the find out that it is 25% more than you could buy it online.

It is also the closest range to where I live. So I just ordered my stuff today from MidwayUSA, because either I could not find it in their mess, or it was too darn expensive, or dirty.

 

[kingofwylietx]

You guys must have some aweful shops near you. The ones close to me are quite friendly & helpful.

I went to one in San Antonio, it was a nice sized place. The people were very helpful & friendly. I think it was family owned.

 

[Robby]

I will kind of modify my last post. There is a very nice new shop, with helpful people in it. Modern, clean, with a range in the basement that is so long you could sight in rifles. There is also the Pawn shop, gun shop, combo with nice guys clean shop, but limited accessories for firearms.

I guess I was kind of down on those guys I mentioned before. They give the CCW class, but they hold a class with a minimum of 40 people, and they have about a max of 10 or 12 lanes in the firing range, maybe less. I have not shot there. But as you have to practice shoot, clean your gun in front of them, then do your final qualification shoot, you could be standing around for hours with 40 people going thru there.

 

[Taur92AF]

Interesting thread !

I have purchased all my handguns locally.
I live in San Francisco. The guns n' politics crap here has changed alot.
For the worse.

I go to the local gun shows but over the past 2-3 years I have noticed that less gun shops participate. It is as if they realize that (south) San Francisco is a pain in the butt and not worth the trouble. The result is that you don't see much available stock, variety etc. The ammo sales are good though. (Cheaper than Dirt Co. etc.)

Not too long ago the jerks in the City politic tried to outlaw gun shows, as well as guns in general. Same old crap.

Anyway, I just bought a second 9mm semi. I had looked online but many sellers never commit to a concrete response about shipping to California. (go figure).
CDNN was more forthright. Calif. laws are too restrictive and it is not cost effective for them to ship to Calif.
Anyway, most local gun shops will charge $100 to process the gun plus the $25 test and reg fee (DROS) $25. Some charge an extra $10 for a test certificate. So factor in $150 extra on top of the online price and shipping.

I shopped most all local Bay Area gun shops. It is nice to handle the samples in order to decide.
Even used guns are high priced since the online purchases are firewalled.

So, by default I bought locally. No problem. I paid a premium but that is OK.
It helps the gun shops sustain.

side note, Oakland police had a gun buy back event last week. $250 for any gun. no questions. That is funny. Worthless feel-good excercise but it gives the opportunity to load off some junk gun and get more money for it in order to but a better model.
Several months ago I saw such a gun at a shop. Cheap. $125 or less.
If I had bought it, I could have sold it to the police and doubled my money toward a better gun !!
Sure beats the internet deal ! Hah.

 

[flounder22]

Depends on what the item is. Guns I have only bought local so far. Same with ammo. Equipment, knives, shooting accessories, and other stuff that is not available or is really hard to find, I do online.

Me too, the few gun shops we have here all kinda suck, I get holsters,belts and accessories online.

 

[sholiz]

We don't have a local gun shop anymore, so I go online, Gander Mountain (if I want to see/feel something - but it's an hour away), or just suck it up and try to find someone selling one locally.

 

[Robin48]

If you are ever near Memphis, check out Brighton Arms in Brighton Tennessee. They are great. Large firearm selection, tons of accessories. Great place, great people, nice new range.

 

[sbb]

I have purchased both locally and online. I recently purchased a new PT1911 SS from Bud's. The current deal includes shipping. Since our local and state sales taxes are over 8% combined, I saved a substantial amount by ordering online. My pistolsmith charges $20 for the FFL transfer. I can handle and talk pistols with the reps at several local shops but their prices with tax are so far out of line. I wish I could support the local vendor.

 

[threefortyduster]

I buy local only. Most of the local places here (lots of competition) are very competitive with online companies. After shipping is considered, I can normally get it from my local guy at the same price or cheaper as online. Not to mention, with a local guy or girl (I actually bought the taurus from Renee at A-1), you have more knowledge available while you are looking at them than what people online will ever give. A gun dealer will most times give you objective information, not leaning towards one brand or another, where people online like to justify their purchases.

Plus, I like having many many many gun dealers near me...keeps the neighborhood quiet.

 

[kingofwylietx]

We don't have a local gun shop anymore, so I go online, Gander Mountain (if I want to see/feel something - but it's an hour away), or just suck it up and try to find someone selling one locally.

This is a prime example of why it is good to support your local gun shop......assuming they are a competent and competitive shop.

 

[sholiz]

This is a prime example of why it is good to support your local gun shop......assuming they are a competent and competitive shop.

Owner had personal problems (alcohol and drug dependence), and their prices were usually around MSRP's. I don't consider it a loss.

 

[kingofwylietx]

In that case, it doesn't sound like a loss. That's why I said they should be competent and competitive. It doesn't sound like your shop was very good. I don't mind seeing poorly performing businesses going under......regardless of the industry they serve.

 

[paulrabe78]

In the past two years I've gone about 50/50. I don't have many shops around with a big selection of what I want. If the local guy was within 5-10% I would probably buy it from him.

 

[Stenulf]

Thankfully we've got a lot of local shops here in central NC, I like to look and touch before buying, just not possible buying online...

 

[paulrabe78]

I go to gun shows to do the "touching". I find what I want and if the price is right, I'll get it. If it's too high, I'll look online. www.budsgunshop.com has some great prices.