Guy at Cabela's today.

[Lunchbox]

this thread is so weird cause it pops up as im reading through brian enos forums of these gun shop humor stories. so awesome. i think non-members can read em. 25 pages of pure gold. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... opic=84089

I was just reading this yesterday, it's awesome!

It was an interesting read, but my forehead hurts from all of the face palming.

[White Horseradish]

I've read that thread. Snorted coffee out my nose a few times.

My personal funniest stories seem to happen at ranges rather than gunshops, though.

[Rem700]

I have a lot to learn about guns as I've only been shooting for a few years. That said, the only "gun guys" I've met who know more than me work at Bill's.

I really enjoy listening to the guy who regularly works in the footwear section get behind the counter and explain ballistics. Lest you think I badger these poor fellows, I generally just listen in and hold my tongue (until I'm in the safety and relative anonymity of teh Internetz ).

Does Bills sell shoes?
Walked out the door about ten years ago after going in looking for Expanding Full Metal Jacket and being told there no such thing.
Also heard employee John explaining to a customer that a pistol griped Mossberg was the ideal home defense gun

[XDM45]

My 2 cents worth........

1) I've heard that Tauruses are cra*pola, but I've only HEARD that from several different sources, I've never tried one or owned one, so I'm reserving any judgment until I get to fire and use several of them for awhile. I don't know if it's true or just hearsay that is being spread about Tauruses. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. I don't know.

2) If you want someone knowledgeable about weapons, talk to someone who grew up with them or find a weapons expert from the military (aka special forces, marine recon, rangers, etc) Barring finding such an aforementioned person, how about just simply watching people at the range to figure out who is a regular, how they act, shoot, etc. Words are nice, but actions are better - regardless of the source and subject.

I'll also add that yes, there may be knowledgeable people working in a gun store, but the people who are true geniuses or exceptionally knowledgeable (and experienced) usually don't work at them anymore than someone who is equally knowledgeable and experienced with computers works at Best Buy/Geek Squad.

[arizona98tj]

The Cabela's in Glendale, AZ (a couple miles down the road from where I live) has nice enough employees and their shelves are usually well stocked. I've had nothing but pleasant experiences spending more than enough money there. Cashing in a XX% off coupon on an item that is on sale doesn't require much assistance.

That being said, I don't go there to get advice or help me make decisions. It isn't difficult to know more than the sales person you are dealing with. I've experienced the same situation at car dealerships...up to and including the folks that work the dealership parts counter. Ask a Jeep salesman for the proper solution for rear drive shaft vibrations after lifting a JK. Huh? Ask the sales associate in Walmart about the difference in contrast ratios for those two computer monitors sitting on their shelf. Huh? Did you know that there are two different brake rotor part numbers for a Jeep TJ....depending on the model year? Hell....I've found major auto parts chains that didn't even know there was two different brake motors available, let along have the correct part number listed in their computer.

In my opinion....few store employees are as in to their "work" as much as we enthusiasts (for lack of a better term) are in to those things we participate in during our free time. And FWIW, it isn't like the bad information is limited to big box stores....you can find plenty of it on the interweb too.

[Erik_Pakieser]

Always remember - the guy working a the gun counter very well may have been working at Best Buy last week.

[SparkyJeff]

this thread is so weird cause it pops up as im reading through brian enos forums of these gun shop humor stories. so awesome. i think non-members can read em. 25 pages of pure gold. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... opic=84089

Thank you for that link, I need to find some napkins. I'm glad my keyboard is waterproof.
Post 117 did it.

[user293]

this thread is so weird cause it pops up as im reading through brian enos forums of these gun shop humor stories. so awesome. i think non-members can read em. 25 pages of pure gold. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... opic=84089

Thank you for that link, I need to find some napkins. I'm glad my keyboard is waterproof.
Post 117 did it.

It made my effen day its so awesome

[2in2out]

My wife and I patronize the Cabela's in Owatonna at least once a month. We have been to the gun counter, the fish tanks, bargain cave, "Dr. Stransky's Office" (the restrooms), and every place in between. Once in a while we leave disappointed or without finding what we were looking for, but not too often. I have been given a BS answer or two over the years, but I have never, EVER had an experience like the OP's, and if I ever do, Cabela's will hear me yelling all the way to Sidney, NE.

Btw - Dr. Stransky has a bench in his honor that's just outside the restrooms, and that's why I call it his office. He delivered me, and as a kid I paid many visits to his real office, so I reserve the right to do that. I didn't mean any disrespect by that comment and hope nobody was offended.

[JKalsbeck1961]

OK, I'm new to the whole shooting game. The one thing I seem to see is that like any product, some guns are better than others and you typically get what you pay for. But I also see "gun guys" who have their biases and will never buy or recommend "manufacturer x" for any myriad of reasons. But the reason I seldom hear is from their own personal experience. Or, if it is, it's so limited that you could not reasonably make an informed judgement - "I shot one once and couldn't hit anything with it." Or they "have a friend who owned one and hated it". And as much as i like Bill's I've heard both of those lines of reason there as well.

And when it comes to BS answers, I realize that no one can know everything (no matter how much they tell you they do) about a product, please do me a favor - just TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW! I'll understand if you need to ask someone who has more knowledge or experience. In fact, you'll get much more respect from me if you do just that.

Sometimes a department a person works in is just too big for that person to know the ins and outs of everything sold. Just get help. Please.
That said, it's also up to the store to provide adequate training on various products so that they don't put their employees in the position of looking stupid or being embarrassed by not knowing the answer.

[AndrewGrant]

Agreed. Funny thing is that there was a Taurus TCP in the gun counter glass and on the gun it clearly says "MADE IN THE USA". You would think an employee wants to know the products they sell and make commission on.

I work in the building materials dept of a home improvement store and we are forced to do training on a computer in our own time so we know our stuff. They also encourage us to walk around and read packages and installation guides while working. It totally increases my ability to sell. If Cabelas just made their employees look at what they can sell instead of immediately taking the guy to the Glock section i think they would have more of my respect.

[WelcomeD]

I'm not trying to defend anyone or anything at cabelas. But I do know someone in my family that works there. Not in gun department yet. They do give you the option to learn the items on your own. They give you the acces to to learn but its up to you wheather or not you do its your choice. I agree some of the gun counter guys are arragont pricks and I know a couple that prob won't be there to long and can't wait untill they are gone.

Sent from my LG-C800 using Tapatalk 2

[Keith]

this thread is so weird cause it pops up as im reading through brian enos forums of these gun shop humor stories. so awesome. i think non-members can read em. 25 pages of pure gold. http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... opic=84089

Thank you for that link, I need to find some napkins. I'm glad my keyboard is waterproof.
Post 117 did it.

It made my effen day its so awesome

I forgot about that thread.

[XDM45]

Always remember - the guy working a the gun counter very well may have been working at Best Buy last week.

Good point.

I guess in an odd way, I have all my bases covered when it comes to computers. If I can't fix a computer, I can always just shoot it and then give it last rites (since I'm ULC-ordained).

(GRIN)

[GARAGE DWELLER]

Always remember - the guy working a the gun counter very well may have been working at Best Buy last week.

I suppose that explains the 10 counter people and one guy doing the background checks. I don't get over there to often (Owatonna) and first time buying from there. I didn't care for the 25 min wait just to get to the counter for the first time for ID. Oh well they had what I wanted for a good price.