BGO Discussion Forum

I was in a local gun shop this week and although service was good from the lady helping me, the other workers constantly watched me the whole time I was there. They must have thought I was going to rob them. I was dress casual and unarmed/unloaded trying to follow the store policy. I had the feeling that if I had made the wrong gesture they would have shot me. Very uneasy. Then on top of that, they must think African Americans don't know s^&$ about guns and when you open your mouth they are surprise you can distinguish between different bullet weights, gun model numbers, holster styles , quality guns vs cheap guns etc. Sometimes its sickening that your approached as if your an idiot. If a person isn't gun knowledgeable they can really be made out to be a fool, and they will sale you something that will get you hurt; like a holster that the attendant knows doesn't properly fit a gun or you ask for standard Jhp and they hand you plus p Jhp and if you don't know the difference you wonder why the gun kicks so hard and you end up getting rid of a good gun. I've seen salesman telling our people all types of bulls%%^ . I was once in a store and the salesman was trying to sale a lady a 25acp after the lady told him she needed a decent self-defense weapon. I intervened and just told the lady in a semi don't go below 380acp and in a revolver don't go below 38 spl. She ended up getting a 38spl. I'm not a gun expert by far but It helps for our people to deal with people they can trust or bring someone knowledgeable when buying guns. Sorry for the rant guys but I had to get that off my chest.

Greetings Bros and sisters,I thought that I was the only one that felt that way when I go into a gunshop and everyone just stop and stare at you Some white people due tend to think that blk folks dont know nothing about guns. Same thing with some of the gun shows that I attend.Some of the sellers when you walk up to the table act like you are invisible and then I will bounce and go some where else.There is a store in Va called SharpShooters and they were known for that but they have as of late been friendly I guess due to different people behind the counter.I try to ignore that stuff but it can be very annoying especially when you want to see a gun and you feel that they are ignoring you or wait on everybody else but you.I have also seen salesman try to sale junk to blk buyers or try to get them to buy down as if they dont have money to buy a decent gun. There was one salesman who tried to sale a guy a Lorcin but he was trying to buy a FNH .45.There is one store that I will give kudos to is Dawsons on Rt.1 in Va.They are a great group of people that treat all people the same regardless of color.

I went to a gun store out here in Kalifornistan, and just about lost my doggone mind. It really did seem as though if you were Black and didn't say anything (just perused the case), no one spoke to you. Not even a "Can I help you?" That place has since closed down. Apparently a few other off-duty officers of color went in there and just wanted to be quiet, so they were effectively ignored. Too bad.

Other places I've been since then have been waaaay more friendly. I know this isn't the topic, but when posed with an intelligent question, they seem to light up and tell you ALL of the business. Just 2 weeks ago, I walked into a local shop here (while OCing), and helped explain to another customer some facts about tactical lights and guns. The White people thanked me.

This type of treatment comes with the course. I only shop places where people know me, or deal directly with personal sales. I like dealing directly with individuals because I only approach someone that has exactly what I want. It boils my blood to see a salesmen trying to push cheap .22's, .25's, and .32's on folks looking for a decent HD handgun.

Especially when those "folks" are women. I don't know how many times I've had a woman or some other relatively small person pick up and fire (after safety classes) a .45 semi-auto WITHOUT telling them what caliber it was. I am sure that none of you would be surprised to know how well each person did at that particular time, give or take a few aiming issues. From there, we walked down the line of calibers, but I have to be honest and say I didn't show them anything less than a 9mm.

Oh man...all of you are so on point. I have had different experiences at different shops. But I do find that when you start talking and they see that you have some knowledge, they do tend to warm up.
But, that's no different than any other aspect of society. Think about it, you can't be average Joe Citizen, for us respect isn't given without having to prove yourself in some way. Why should a gun shop be any different?
And on the subject of women, they are always trying to push a .380 or less. My favorite are the small revolvers with the pink handles. WTF is that????
When I first went gun shopping, some clown tried to sell me an air lite revolver. I looked at him like..."Really?" I haven't been back since.
I have a good rapport with the three shops that I frequent. But one of the shops stands out, they obviously recognized an opportunity in a market that does not favor Blacks who are interested in purchasing firearms. The rapport they initiate with customers is totally different than the other shops. They have sales people that will educate and work with potential customers. They also hire Blacks to work sales and facilitate training classes.

Live and learn. Even though I'll go into just about any shop, I spend money at who respects me.

I glad this topic came up. It is just ugly in upstate south carolina.Went to one store couldn't get service so ordered a kimber had it sent to the same store hoping i would get a chance to make a point.When I went to pick it up they said we have one in the store.I said yes I know but when I came in no one would wait on me.My wife went with me one day and ask is it always like this.But the wost was a guy from a town near me all deals done by email.Went pick it up and I thought he was going to die .emailed him about this other gun never did here back.

agreed...

All the more reason for us to band together and help our people out. Unfortunately, in Charlotte, the most popular gun shops are the same way, and they are full of misinformation. One in particular is located in West Charlotte, and I would recommend not going there at all, not even to window shop.

Fortunatley, I found a place called Arrington's which is where the local fuzz buys all their gear, and they are very friendly. I bought my Glock 19 from them and got a really sweet deal when they told me about joining the GSSF. They definitely earned my loyalty because they saved me $100 bucks on a new Glock, and it came with 3 mags. (It's all funny to me now because a few weeks later I met this guy bragging about the Glock 19 he bought at a gun show that came with 2 mags, and he paid way more than I did.) Places like Arrington's that deal with Law Enforcement or other professional entities are going to be more professional towards all people in general.

From the other side of the counter:
I have been swept so much I almost don't flinch or duck anymore. I ask people what they want, offer my opinion, and go from there. Have learned to never, ever stereotype: The brother who drives trucks who has purchased three mega revolvers (S&W .500, Raging Bull etc), petite, white female college student that was raised shooting 1911's. The nurse with the .40 XDm.... Have even had a forum moderator from the ATL drop by with GaConcealedcarry.org cards . Bottom line is I treat people like I want to be treated and wouldn't spend a dime where I was mistreated or ignored.

The Range that I go to, the guys there are very friendly, they don't have much of a selection in the cases but will go out there way to get you what you want at the best price possible. The Old Dude there who is everything anti-liberal, anti-moderate in any form but will have a 1/2 hour conversation with me about guns and anything new in the gun industry. He even gave me his 1911 out his holster to shoot to see if I was ready to upgrade calibers. I'm sorry that I didn't get my most recent purchase from him since I found it at a major retailer on sale.

The Gun Shop closest to my home I get a mixed response. I've been in there 3 time and there is always a couple of guys that are helpful, (after I get the double-take look when I walk in) but there are a couple guys that are stand-off-ish and watch me out the corner of my eye. Soon as I open my mouth and speak gun language, things are a lot warmer.(at least with the friendly folks.) The last guy I spoke to there, I got his name because of the mutual respect he had for me as a customer and person. I called looking for him when I was ready to by my XD, he wasn't in but the person that answered the phone was one folks that I knew in his mind that thought I was there to rob the store or case the place.

I not going to buy anything from anyone let alone allow them to get commission If I'm not worth the time of day standing in the store. The way I do is when I go looking to buy or window shop, I tell the clerk what I'm looking for, what caliber and what amount of grain in the bullet I would like to see the weapon function at in the beginning. If the clerk shows me a weapon or talks to me about anything other than what I specified, I know he wasn't listening or want to treat me as I'm stupid and I don't stay at the counter.

My wife and I have the agreement that just like buying a car, she will not go gun shopping without me. She can handle shooting up to .40 caliber handgun without any problem and I don't want anyone selling her anything below 9mm.

I also find this to be the case. Another factor I think is the number of tire kickers that are in a gun shop at any given time. Some times the sales clerks have to have some indication that your serious and knowledgeable about the products before they conclude that your not in the store just to fantasize about stuff that you can't buy and/or kill time.

I really only shop in person at one place, so maybe my opinion would be different if I tried more shops. Yet I've never needed to, so what more can I say?

I only have two shops within the immediate area. Both are pricey. One I go to as a last resort. Reason is because while looking for reloading gear I thought I had walked into a KKK convention hall. Prices are one issue, having to listen to that crap is another.
This area is largely white and it's in these areas (as been my experiance) that racism breeds. Not to say every mother's son here is racist, but if it exists in any quantity it usually exists in an area where white is the major color code. Many of these types have never seen the outside of their county, except maybe for a stint in the service. I guess it can go both ways regardless of color.

It was an interesting overnight trip when my partner and I would pick up or drop off a prisioner in a white town. (She's black). Sometimes one or the other of us would ask if they knew us after we had had enough of the "looks".
But it went the other way too. I ratted out a black inmate to her after he called her the "n" word behind her back a few times. Did that more than once.

I, as a vetren, know black folk can shoot. I've trained a few myself. Those guys I heard in the shop that day would probrably piss their pants if they knew I post here.

They might would just piss on you if they got a hold to you...