Pawn Shop Einstein!

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pyscodog

Active member
Burning up some vacation this week and thought I might pawn shop hop today. One shop in particular deals in CZ's and usually a few varmint rifles. So I make the trip. The owner usually helps me but was busy so this Bill Hickok kook alike helps me. Last time I was in there, he ranted and rave politics. I told him I was here to look at guns not talk politics. This time, there was a Savage Tactical in 25-06. I ask to look at it and he started in with why would anyone want a 25-06? I just kept my mouth shut. Then he added, what will a 25-06 do that a 270 won't do better? Jeese! I said, well better bullet selection. His comment was why do you need more than one bullet to choose from. I said I had better things to do than talk to you and left!!! What a dumb a$$!
 
Not much of a salesman was he? I once went into a shop and found a .270 Winchester rifle that I took a shine to. I had the money in my hands, but the owner of the shop began to argue how puny the .270 Winchester was as compared with the 7mm Weatherby Magnum. He kept trying to shove this Weatherby MK V in my face and even after several times I had told him I wasn't interested in the MK V and to ring up the .270 so I could get going - this guy actually literally refused to sell me the .270 and told me I wouldn't be happy unless I bought the Weatherby! I happily walked out of the store and drove fifteen miles up the road where I bought a .270 from another gunshop. Geezzz...
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Ive never game much credit to gun shop "guys" or pawn shop people for that matter. They always try to act like they are the "go to" source for firearm information. Well, ive never really listened to them much and I've been in gunshops all my life, but over the last couple years as I've become more knowledgeable in the long range area and just over all gun knowledge in general ive began to pay closer attention to what they are rambling about and man, are they full of [beeep]!! I guess for the average Joe that comes in with a very limited amount, if any, of firearms and shooting knowledge they probably seem very smart and can [beeep] there way through a sale, but to me, now, they just look and sound like complete morons.
Two weeks ago I had the "shop gunsmith" tell me that it took alot of specialized tools and equipment to remove a barrel nut from a AR15. Now, keep in mind this is the guy that stays in the back room actually doing the work on firearms!!! Are you kidding me?? He further told me that they were not equipped with the right tools and equipment to do any type of work on AR platforms. This is a gun shop that's been in business for over 30 years in this town!! I mean really?? A receiver block and a AR wrench will cover most jobs. I have both of these items at home so apparently according to him I must have some "specialized" equipment.

This is just one of the many occasions that I've been beaten to death with ignorance by people who are "supposed" to be knowledgable in the firearms field.
 
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Myself, I feel dumber after I leave them places. I really think they have something hanging over the door to suck out any intelligence you have when you walk in.
 
I agree with you guys but I also disagree. I work behind the gun counter at a sporting goods store. I try to stay up on all the new stuff. I buy just about any Rifle/Handloader magazine I can find. Im not much on pistols so I always refer the customer to one of our other guys who is knowledgeable with pistols. When a customer comes in and does not know what they are looking for or what they want, I show them all possible options. I explain all the benefits or down falls of each option. I dont push one model/caliber/cartridge on someone. If one of my customers do not leave the store with a new firearm, I hope they leave with a little knowledge that I could provide. On the other hand, we do have a couple guys who should not work at the gun counter. I have no idea how they got hired in the first place. One of our guys told a customer that the barrel of a rifle has to be warm/hot before it will start shooting good because when the barrel heats up the rifling grabs the bullet better. What an idiot! I snoop around the other gun stores/pawn shops around town and have had idiots help me out too. So not all of us are idiots. I sell the customer the product that they want. If its something that is truely a piece of junk I try to steer them in a different direction or maybe to spend a few more bucks to get better quality. I never refuse to sell them something because of the way I feel about the product.
 
If I really wanted that 25-06, I might have totally agreed with him...I mean who would want one of those...probably not worth much..huh...well you see where I`m goin with this?
 
I have gotten a good deal on a 30-30 at a pawn shop once, and was with a friend another time that picked up a .22WMR at a decent price. I think if your gonna buy at a pawn shop you need to remember that many times they buy things for a small fraction of what it was worth. IME sometimes they really want to sell and are willing to DEAL other times not.
I asked a owner once to look at a some Starrett Micrometers, he said they been sitting a long time how about $60 for all 3 ....umm OK!
 
I got a better one than that, though not involving a fire arm.

I went to a local motorcycle shop looking for a new rear tire for my dirtbike.. I asked the counter guy what tires he had.. He said," What kind of bike is this for?" Me: "A KTM" He, "We don't have KTM tires here.." Me "bye"
 
My experience with pawn shops here is they want more for old beat up pieces of scat than I could go buy new. Then they get angry when you point it out. I no longer waste my time in pawn shops in my town.
 
Zilla, I have rode bikes all my life, recently sold a cr125, not to hijack the thread but do you find it crazy hard to find parts for ktms?
 
My dad and I were out and about two years ago on a mission to find a cheap but decent .243 to hunt coyotes with. One guy was supposed to get one for me but it was towards the end of the year and his supplier didnt have any in stock and wouldnt for atleast a month. Ok, no problem. We drove a few miles and stopped into another gun shop. Walked in and told the guy what I wanted and asked if he had any in stock. He told me that gun was a piece of junk and he wouldnt even think about carrying it in his shop. He then tried to show me some other guns that were in the $1200 range and told me if I wanted a real gun this is what I should bye. I told him I wasnt interested and turned around and walked out. Havent been back since.
 
What really burns me is when the guy behind the counter acts like my wife is 3 years old when she wants to look at something. I finally told a guy at cabelas that my wife probally knew more about firearms then he did when he kept telling her there wasn't a caliber 300 savage just savage rifles in 300 win mag. I told him to do some reading.
 
Originally Posted By: OmnivoreMy experience with pawn shops here is they want more for old beat up pieces of scat than I could go buy new. Then they get angry when you point it out. I no longer waste my time in pawn shops in my town.

Totally agree. 1970s Remington 870 in fair to poor condition for $400. Ummm, yeah.

Also, they seem to resent any implication that they could possibly lower the price by even a dime. It's as if they pawned it for exactly the price they have on it so they'll lose money if they bring it down a nickle! Be real, everyone knows on a pawn they're giving out no more than half the used retail price of the item or less, but they seem to resent the fact that everyone's in on their big secret.

Occasionally there is a reasonable deal to be made, but I suspect it's more to do with good timing than anything. If day after tomorrow's payday for the employees and Mr. Bigpawn needs to move some stock, then he suddenly gets realistic on price. . .

Grouse
 
Originally Posted By: zillaI got a better one than that, though not involving a fire arm.

I went to a local motorcycle shop looking for a new rear tire for my dirtbike.. I asked the counter guy what tires he had.. He said," What kind of bike is this for?" Me: "A KTM" He, "We don't have KTM tires here.." Me "bye"

You have to careful with them KTMs, Yamaha or Suzuki tires wont work. LOL. ed
 
Originally Posted By: getfoxyZilla, I have rode bikes all my life, recently sold a cr125, not to hijack the thread but do you find it crazy hard to find parts for ktms?

No, never have and I have been ridin em since 84..
 
Must just be round here.. Buddy has a ktm sxf 250, closest dealer is 1 hour away and they always have trouble, along with a couple other places. Just wondering
 
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