poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050 
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Mar 5, 2017 11:05:15 GMT -5
I think this group understands that I am a cheap so and so. I found a sale that was less than fun, however. One of my closest local shops held a 20% off sale. Everything. Storewide. The thing that took the joy out of it is that it is an inventory reduction preceding the owner's retirement and the store's closing. There are other sources around, but this is one of the old, wood floored gun shops that has things like a bargain table (my first stop...) the owner-an old friend, and customers who knew each other by name and reputation. The doors aren't going to slam shut, but we can see the closing coming. Soon, in bricks and mortar all that will be left is pegboard and shrink wrap filled places operating like box stores. I guess it's just an evolution, but no one can make me like it ! (So, I *did* pick up some odds and ends...) Sorry to be gloomy !
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 5, 2017 12:43:00 GMT -5
I sympathize with you! Unfortunately been there twice one I dealt with from '48. Yes my father was with me!  |
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Mar 5, 2017 15:08:11 GMT -5
In the past three years we lost two local "mom & pop" gun stores. One was due to retirement and his kids had no interest in continuing. The political environment made it difficult for him to find a buyer and he just liquidated the business. The second one was just down the street from a new Turner's Outdoor store and within 6 months of them moving in it was the end of the little guy.
Say, Bob . . . maybe you should buy the business and semi retire as the owner of a gun shop.
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bob
Member
I'm too old to be nice but never too old to learn!
Posts: 1,457
Location: Northern California
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Post by bob on Mar 5, 2017 15:39:52 GMT -5
Larry, I don't play well with ignorant customers which would doom me!  |
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poohzilla
Member
Give me a place to stand and a long-enough lever, and I will invariably break the lever.
Posts: 1,050
Location: New Hamster
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Post by poohzilla on Mar 5, 2017 18:50:45 GMT -5
I have trouble enough dealing with some of the idiots behind the counter in some places !
BTW-this one is tough for me-I've known the owner for fifty years-he was my jr high and high school phys ed teacher. To this day, if there's an audience, I announce that he made me the physical specimen I am today. (He usually remarks that he wasn't given a lot to work with...) Anyway, it's amazing what you can learn in such a place-some of it actually has some validity ! 
Hey-Where's Hacker ?
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gws
Member
Posts: 969
Location: NW New Mexico
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Post by gws on Mar 5, 2017 19:31:33 GMT -5
Maybe he took the weekend off and went to gunsite.  We can hope.....don't want to hear he's sick. I went through favorite gunshop closure first in the 70's. Then in the 80's. Then in 2010. And always the choices get smaller. My turn to retire soon, I hope, but mine's a construction company. Time just causes us humans to flat get tired.....I don't blame them. Tuned 67 in Dec. myself. I've been sick since Dec. 28th.....flu, bronchitis, the wife too. We can't seem to get over it. And work has been a bitch. But I finaled out a million dollar building Friday, so last nite I decided to "celebrate" a little by reloading. Only 20 .40S&W. Geeze. You'd think I'd never done it before. Everything went wrong. I think it was due to dust inside my progressive (or my brain)......had to take the shell plate off and clean & relube (New Mexico winters are hard on machines dust-wise) Finally got the job done (20 rounds, big deal).....and promptly headed my easy chair......brother. Sad day indeed.  I actually thought about selling everything......surely spring is coming to talk me out of it......................... |
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SnapShot
Member
Jeep & Mocha "Remembering Patches, always"
Posts: 699
Location: Finally free from the Republic of Kalifornia!
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Post by SnapShot on Mar 5, 2017 20:54:53 GMT -5
I understand the part about "don't play well with others". It seems the older I get the less patience I have for stupid people. They say there is a trap in the human brain that catches the things we think and should not say . . . mine is broken.
The real down side to owning a gun shop is all the cool things you want to keep for yourself. I worked one summer, many years ago, for a local gun shop in Thousand Oaks, California. The idea was to make some extra money. Unfortunately every payday I had to write them a check for all the stuff I bought while at work. Finally got to the point that I could not afford to work there any longer.
It is sad to loose all the knowledge of small shop owners in gun shops, hardware stores, even drug stores.
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Post by hacker54 on Mar 5, 2017 21:49:06 GMT -5
Pooh,
First off I'm still kicking. I understand the sadness in the LGS going out. I do like shopping at the LGSs as the people that work for them have way more knowledge firearms and ammo. Also knowledge of reloading. The local boys beat the big box stores in this regard. Well I do hope the local shop here in my town stays around for quite awhile. This place is being ran by the 3rd. generation. Yes I have dealt with the original owner then his son and now the grandson. This place has the better pricing compared to the other shops in the area.
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We can hope.....don't want to hear he's sick.
I actually thought about selling everything......surely spring is coming to talk me out of it.........................
My daughter came from Missouri, my son and grand son, my wife and I had a nice dinner of grilled "porter house" pork chops, corn on the cobb, my son, G'son and I share 10/5. G'son is 4 minutes early though @ 10/4.
Pooh I hope you find to right house . 
