I've done my fare share of working behind a gun counter and I've had some great times, but there have been times when customers have nearly given me an aneurysm.
If you haven't worked behind a gun counter, here's a few things I've learned from being on the other side:
1. Just because I work here, doesn't mean I'm supposed to know everything about every firearm. Guys behind the counter get quizzed on everything multiple times a day. Some of us do our best to learn as much as we can, but there are literally several hundred different firearms and I cannot know everything about every one. Don't expect my coworker who cleans every IDPA event he competes in to teach you about waterfowl hunting. We're a mixed batch, and everyone has their specialty. If you want to get the knitty gritty, ask "who's the #1 guy you have on ...," it goes a LONG way. Which leads to #2.
2. Respect goes a long way. I'm 25 and sometimes I get harassed for my age by some old farts, but the 18 and 19 year old kids get worked over by customers. Everyone was born at a young age. You'd be surprised what some highschool kids know about reloading, or archery hunting.
There's no reason to be disrespectful to someone who is providing you a service. If you are waiting to be helped, it is not rude to let them know you are waiting, but don't be rude unless they are rude first. I understand, some guys at retail joints can have a shoe up their you know what, and they deserve to be punished. Give them a chance to help you, realize they're just human.
3. If you ask for my opinion, don't let your feelings get hurt when I give it to you. If you have your heart set on an 870, and ask my opinion, don't get pissed when I tell you I think every new 870 sucks because we send 1 in 3 back for jamming. If you tell me you want to shoot to 1,000 yards and I say it is impossible to be accurate at that range with the 100 dollar scope you want that has the green laser pointer attached to it, don't let it get your feelers. Which leads to #4
4. Don't expect to satisfy your champagne appetite with a soda-pop budget. I cringe just about every single time a guy wants to buy the nicest rifle he can get and has nothing left for optics, or better yet mounts. I'd sooner mount a Nightforce on a Ruger American than a Simmons to a Sako. I wouldn't be saying this if I hadn't done the latter. And lastly, #5:
5. Just because this is a place where guns are sold doesn't mean the safety rules go bye bye when you walk in. Treat EVERY SINGLE FREAKING WEAPON AS IF IT WERE LOADED. That's right, do not dry fire that weapon at anything you do not want to shoot. In my state there is a statute that says you can NEVER point a firearm at anyone even if you have no il-intention. You will receive one warning, and then I am taking the guns away from you. We have received weapons from the factory with rounds in the chamber. If I see that you are going to dry-fire a weapon in the direction of another human being, I will do everything necessary to prevent you from doing so- including immediate physical dis-armament or a corrective push. This is not a joke. It seems to usually be a problem with handguns. There have been 3 accidental discharges inside the location I work and two of them came INCHES from killing somebody.
Thanks for taking the time for reading my rant.
If you've been on my side of the counter, chime in. If you are a regular customer somewhere and have a complaint, or advice for employees of such establishments PLEASE chime in too.
If you haven't worked behind a gun counter, here's a few things I've learned from being on the other side:
1. Just because I work here, doesn't mean I'm supposed to know everything about every firearm. Guys behind the counter get quizzed on everything multiple times a day. Some of us do our best to learn as much as we can, but there are literally several hundred different firearms and I cannot know everything about every one. Don't expect my coworker who cleans every IDPA event he competes in to teach you about waterfowl hunting. We're a mixed batch, and everyone has their specialty. If you want to get the knitty gritty, ask "who's the #1 guy you have on ...," it goes a LONG way. Which leads to #2.
2. Respect goes a long way. I'm 25 and sometimes I get harassed for my age by some old farts, but the 18 and 19 year old kids get worked over by customers. Everyone was born at a young age. You'd be surprised what some highschool kids know about reloading, or archery hunting.
There's no reason to be disrespectful to someone who is providing you a service. If you are waiting to be helped, it is not rude to let them know you are waiting, but don't be rude unless they are rude first. I understand, some guys at retail joints can have a shoe up their you know what, and they deserve to be punished. Give them a chance to help you, realize they're just human.
3. If you ask for my opinion, don't let your feelings get hurt when I give it to you. If you have your heart set on an 870, and ask my opinion, don't get pissed when I tell you I think every new 870 sucks because we send 1 in 3 back for jamming. If you tell me you want to shoot to 1,000 yards and I say it is impossible to be accurate at that range with the 100 dollar scope you want that has the green laser pointer attached to it, don't let it get your feelers. Which leads to #4
4. Don't expect to satisfy your champagne appetite with a soda-pop budget. I cringe just about every single time a guy wants to buy the nicest rifle he can get and has nothing left for optics, or better yet mounts. I'd sooner mount a Nightforce on a Ruger American than a Simmons to a Sako. I wouldn't be saying this if I hadn't done the latter. And lastly, #5:
5. Just because this is a place where guns are sold doesn't mean the safety rules go bye bye when you walk in. Treat EVERY SINGLE FREAKING WEAPON AS IF IT WERE LOADED. That's right, do not dry fire that weapon at anything you do not want to shoot. In my state there is a statute that says you can NEVER point a firearm at anyone even if you have no il-intention. You will receive one warning, and then I am taking the guns away from you. We have received weapons from the factory with rounds in the chamber. If I see that you are going to dry-fire a weapon in the direction of another human being, I will do everything necessary to prevent you from doing so- including immediate physical dis-armament or a corrective push. This is not a joke. It seems to usually be a problem with handguns. There have been 3 accidental discharges inside the location I work and two of them came INCHES from killing somebody.
Thanks for taking the time for reading my rant.
If you've been on my side of the counter, chime in. If you are a regular customer somewhere and have a complaint, or advice for employees of such establishments PLEASE chime in too.