About Me

I am also the author of 4 books, available on Amazon, and at many major outlets. I have been contributing writer for Combat Handgun Magazine and Women and Guns Magazine.

I was an instructor for many years, Recently retired.

Thank you for following along with me as this journey continues.

Safe Shooting!



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Thoughts, comments and insights for women who shoot and the men who love us!

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Latest Trip to a Gun Shop

I stopped into a Tactical / Gun store today looking for a new bag for my first aid kit and wandered by the counter in the back with a lovely assortment of Smith and Wessons.  I waited patiently while the clerk finished with the person he was helping, somewhat patiently while he did something with a rifle box, started losing patience when he walked out from behind the counter and came back with a man answering questions, then left again.  The other man who had been behind the counter the entire time typing into a computer finally looked up and asked if I had a question.  Really?  Me standing there for five minutes didn't give him a clue?

I asked about the M&Ps in the case, he informed me that I had to be LEO or Military to buy from that case.  I asked if Retired Military was adequate, it was.  Thought that might have given him a clue, or that I new they were M&Ps...nope.  He pointed to the 9mm, I mentioned I was intereseted in the .45.  He told me they had 40s.  Does this guy not shoot?  I told him I didn't want a .40, I was interested in the .45.  Shrug, he opened the slide door by the .45s and said I do have a compact model.  Ok, at this point I get lots of credit for not clocking him then and there.  I said no, I didn't need a compact model.  He tried to show me a tiny little polymer revolver, saying it could go in a pocket or a purse (ARGH!!) then when I commented that it would not be fun to shoot because it was so light he told me it would make a good backup gun.  I replied, not if I don't practice with it!

Bottom line, the prices were good, but the service was clueless!!

It is getting better, and if he had been a shooter, he probably would have gotten a clue by how I checked the pistol to be sure it was clear, and handled it...FRUSTRATING!

Be Safe!!



6 comments:

  1. I despise being treated that way. I won't shop Sportsman's Warehouse anymore because I got sick of being treated that way. I don't care if their prices are amazing because they can buy in mega-bulk, I'm not spending one dime at their gun counter. It's worth the extra money to me to go a shop that will listen to what I want instead of thinking they know what's best for me. Grrr... now I'm all fired up on your behalf!

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    1. thank you. I don't think I've ever been treated quite that badly. There are so many other shops who are so much better.

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    2. I despise being treated this way at a gun shop, and will refuse to do business with any shop that treats me this way - and I'll always ask to talk to the manager, so I can let him (and it's always a him, in these cases) know why I won't be back. Fortunately, these kind of experiences are fewer and farther between nowadays, but the clue-challenged are still out there.

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  2. I work at a gun range/store, and we are very welcoming to ladies in our store. And if a woman were ever treated in such a way here, my manager would definitely want to know. By the way, I am a female, and I bought my pistol here before working here. I am very grateful to have such a positive and respectful atmosphere to work in.

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    Replies
    1. I also bought my first gun from a female-friendly gun shop that I ended up working at.

      It means a lot to me to step into a friendly shop and the friendly ones tend to be the smaller ones, at least in my experience.

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  3. In response to the comments, I have forwarded a link to this blog to the General Retail Manager for the chain of stores. I included in that email a request to post the response. I will let you all know what happens!

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