I get a 'kick' out it!

D

dialin' in

Guest
Running a small gun smithing shop it's not unusual to get a call or a comment from a customer asking "if ya' get a real good deal on a Remington 700 Short Action, let me know, I'm lookin' for one!". I've learned to 'let it go' as they must not understand that "real good deals" on items that are in demand are few and far between! And, by seeing what comes through my doors that was "a real good deal", those "real good deals" can have some serious problems and you can spend more than the difference correcting them! No one wants to spend more than necessary for the object of their desires, but,,,,,,,,I don't see common sense taking over the populace any time, soon. "You should sell me that barrel at your cost, you'll get to install it! I'll give you (fill in any number less than whole sale cost) for that trigger,, I can install and adjust it myself. Can/will you sell me that McMillian stock cheaper then (insert any on line retailer here, one that does no gun smithing/custom work). It goes on and on! The best for my blood pressure is to chuckle and go on!
 
i do retail sales, and a bunch at gun shows, but it is a business, not some guy getting rid of stuff he does not want.
while i have a few items i can deal on, most of my stuff is fixed price.
when someone comes up and offers me less than the marked price, i look at the price and add the same as he took off...increase above listed price...say it right to thier face.
i mention that negotiating price means it can go up not just down, or we can sell for the listed price....

mike in co
 
I dont know about now a days but....
In times past whole guns, mainly used, were always a point of negotiation or as it used to be called "horse trading".
However when it comes to new parts and services from the professional I dont try to dicker with them on their price. I mean you dont call Sinclair's and try to get them to sell you a particular item below their price, nor would you go into Academy or any other store and try to negotiate with them. But Pawn Shops, Gun Shows, and Gun Smiths used items have always been a point of negotiation. Again not new and not services.
When I was running businesses and had to do quotes my price was my price. I was fair with my price and it didnt do any good to try to ask for a better price however it was done by many in the same trade as I was in. Therefore I dont try to get the price down from a man who is trying to make his living performing service or selling a product.
I suppose with the exception of Automobiles....
 
dialin' in said:
Running a small gun smithing shop it's not unusual to get a call or a comment from a customer asking "if ya' get a real good deal on a Remington 700 Short Action, let me know, I'm lookin' for one!". I've learned to 'let it go' as they must not understand that "real good deals" on items that are in demand are few and far between! And, by seeing what comes through my doors that was "a real good deal", those "real good deals" can have some serious problems and you can spend more than the difference correcting them! No one wants to spend more than necessary for the object of their desires, but,,,,,,,,I don't see common sense taking over the populace any time, soon. "You should sell me that barrel at your cost, you'll get to install it! I'll give you (fill in any number less than whole sale cost) for that trigger,, I can install and adjust it myself. Can/will you sell me that McMillian stock cheaper then (insert any on line retailer here, one that does no gun smithing/custom work). It goes on and on! The best for my blood pressure is to chuckle and go on!
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Regarding used items and many new its called good ol fashioned horse trading. It's at least as old as our country( maybe older ) and part of the American way. Are you a Democrat or a Communist? :)
 
glp said:
Regarding used items and many new its called good ol fashioned horse trading. It's at least as old as our country( maybe older ) and part of the American way. Are you a Democrat or a Communist? :)
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I am a capitalist and expect to make a profit!
 
no but u r are close..is obama your brother ?/
you know the party that provides on the backs of workers ??
your comments are entirely uncalled for.
mike in co
glp said:
Regarding used items and many new its called good ol fashioned horse trading. It's at least as old as our country( maybe older ) and part of the American way. Are you a Democrat or a Communist? :)
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Unless the person that wants me to look for a bargain is my employer, I will not waste the time and effort.
 
Al, correct me if I'm wrong but, I'll bet you have had about every angle played there is to get you to do the work at less than minimum wage with materials the customer bought cheap and use all your tools?
 
Ohh absolutely! I've owned my own business for 25yrs and worked in three gunstores before that.... I just handle the situation differently now than I did 20yrs ago ;)
 
i have no problem with a fellow who has higher prices, i know how much he is making, because i know my costs..and sell for less.

martin zuck said:
Anonymous quote," I have no quarrel with the fellow who has lower prices, he knows what is material and labor are worth! "
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Most all have missed the point! Any business that sells any item for what that business paid for it won't be around long. If I some how come up with a Remington 700 SA for, say, $325 and go to GunBroker, several gun shops, or pawn shops and see that none are being sold for less then $400, why on earth would I re-sell it for $350 (or less!)? I'm not talkng about hagglin' over the price of a Marlin model 60. Try calling you favorite barrel maker, you know, the one you only buy one or maybe two barrel blanks from, and order a barrel and then tell them you want the "quanitity price" on that because you're going to send them an action and have them install the barrel. Anyone, who prices items higher than the "market will bear", will have those items a long time. I have several new barrel blanks in the shop. I just received an 'order confirmation' for another that I ordered. Lead time was stated as 13-14 weeks. Why would I agree to sell one of those, that I have in the shop, for less than the makers retail price, just so I could install it? I've got more barrel work than I can keep up with, now! It's been a long, hot summer here. Have your A/C quit and call your A/C repair man. He'll find the problem. Try haggling over the price of his parts and labor. Remington SAs don't stay "on the shelf" long, any where. They are "in demand", just like that A/C man and his parts are when it's 100 deg.+. I don't mark my prices on anything, higher than anyone else. But, why would I sell them for less than true market value (true market value being the average price over the industry)? Why would anyone, when it's 105 deg. and going to be 107 deg. tomorrow, haggle with the A/C repair man for a 'discount' on his parts so he can do the labor! There's nothing in the Constitution that says anything about 'horse trading'.
 
Opinons are a wonderful thing..... like another part of the human anatomy.......facts are quanity speaks......when I sold rem 700`s...K-Mart and Farm&Fleet could sell them for less than I could buy them for.Now Wal-Mart and others sell rems.for what they sold for 30 years ago....smaller shops can`t get the lot prices.
Who here pays sticker price for a new automobile....????.....
bill larson
 
When it comes to Gunsmithing we ALL KNOW prices are all over the place. Since we are are working class we price shop on everything we purchase, rebarrelling a rifle -EX: 700 Remington can cost anywhere from $85.00 to 500.00 as some smith's do NOT include trueing the action as part of a build yet others do.

My gunsmith ,who shot his way in the Benchrest HOF with rifles chambered in his own shop charges FAR less for a action "Blue Print" and chambering , than most do for Bedding a rifle. I have been dealing with him for 30 years and have shot some groups that is way beyond my capabilities. I once asked him why Labor prices where "All over the Place?" his reply was " It is just what you figure your time is worth"

Jim
 
I couldn't agree more with Dial'in and Al. I also work part time in the hunting dept. of one of our national hunting & fishing stores and their policy is no haggling on prices. It is what it is. They do often match other's verifiable retail prices (from brick & morter outfits), but that isn't too often. I believe that many have been culturized to asking with every purchase - 'is this the best that you can do?' In fact, there are motivational speakers with a cottage industry of promoting this culture to their followers. When asked, 'is this the best that you can do?', the polite answer is just to say 'Yes" and offer an explanation only if the customer persists. Don
 
i love that phrase...."'is this the best that you can do?'....
because my typical reply is then 5 to 10 dollars more. i learned this while selling cars.
for those that do not know, you show on the lot and sell in the showroom...no pricing on the lot.
customers would walk up the the window sticker and say 'is this the best that you can do?'"....and i would reply after looking at the numbers with a figure aprox $500 higher.
the would look at me with wonder in thier eyes....
i would reply...you know i am a commissioned salesman, the more you pay the more i make, it "is the best I can do"... and them back to selling.
same today...when a customer ask at a gun show, if it is the best i can do..i up the price..."yep that is the best for me."...
there is nothing wrong with asking. some people have high prices and can come down, i price for the market..and do not go down in price.

mike in co

ddkearney said:
I couldn't agree more with Dial'in and Al. I also work part time in the hunting dept. of one of our national hunting & fishing stores and their policy is no haggling on prices. It is what it is. They do often match other's verifiable retail prices (from brick & morter outfits), but that isn't too often. I believe that many have been culturized to asking with every purchase - 'is this the best that you can do?' In fact, there are motivational speakers with a cottage industry of promoting this culture to their followers. When asked, 'is this the best that you can do?', the polite answer is just to say 'Yes" and offer an explanation only if the customer persists. Don
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mike in co said:
i love that phrase...."'is this the best that you can do?'....
because my typical reply is then 5 to 10 dollars more. i learned this while selling cars.
for those that do not know, you show on the lot and sell in the showroom...no pricing on the lot.
customers would walk up the the window sticker and say 'is this the best that you can do?'"....and i would reply after looking at the numbers with a figure aprox $500 higher.
the would look at me with wonder in thier eyes....
i would reply...you know i am a commissioned salesman, the more you pay the more i make, it "is the best I can do"... and them back to selling.
same today...when a customer ask at a gun show, if it is the best i can do..i up the price..."yep that is the best for me."...
there is nothing wrong with asking. some people have high prices and can come down, i price for the market..and do not go down in price.

mike in co
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Ahhh! That explains the lack of shootin' money...
 
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