We all know a few shops, the overpriced ones, the ones who were more than willing to gouge people on 22LR. Or the old saying 'you have it its junk, they have it its gold'.
Was over at a friends for the holiday, he works at a gunshop, telling me how cool his boss is. They were doing a black friday sale. Have decided I simply cant learn to like Glock. So was looking to get rid of my G23 for another 40cal. But something I can get a barrel for in 357 SIG. He tells have just what I want, a S&W M&P compact in 40, been there a while, so could make me a good deal. So sure I'll swing by. I know not all shops are this way, where the only fair deal is where they have screwed you over. It was a chance to get rid of a gun they can't move for one they can move easy. Many love glocks, I have tried just can't. The S&W has the ambi slide release, fits the hand good. And the 2 guns are pretty much the same price. Wasn't like it was just a used G23 traded for a new gun. I still have the box and everything that came with it, 3 extra mags, a conversion barrel to 357. Full length guide rod, spare springs, had put aftermarket trigger parts in it, but still had all the factory stuff. A paddle holster and mag carrier. None going to do me any good I get rid of my only glock. Oh he explained he has to make money, I never ask for anything but a fair deal. Not one who stands there and beats them up for extras. He went thru the spiel about his cost blah blah blah, as if I have no idea how a business works. And would guess if the 2 pistols retail for the same price, the dealer price is going to be really close. The exact same holster may be $40 over on his wall, but out of the package is only $5. Didn't matter about it had all the extra parts people generally go buy, and NOBODY will want the extra caliber.
So being a black friday sale, plus best friend of his employee. He would do me a favor of taking my gun and all the extra stuff, all I needed was another $120, and I got the other pistol with...well the way it comes from the supplier. His price on the M&P was $552 before taxes and transfer, stopped at my LGS last night, where Im just a shmuck off the street, no sale going on. Same pistol, $540 out the door. And will very likely trade me.
Some may say I was expecting to much. But the same shop had a used SIG556 on the wall. Looked like a cool rifle $1200. Well only thing I have is my HK33 I could trade, not like I need another 5.56 semi auto. Its not a century built gun, but MKE under license by H&K since HK doesn't even make them anymore. So a factory built rifle. Only imported for 2 yrs, so not exactly alot of them running around. Those who keep up would know they are not easy to find and are not cheap. Plus I have a pile of magazines, again not cheap, the factory ones are close to $100 ea. Well hes gotta make money, so my $1400 rifle, plus $300 in mags, $500 cash and I could have his $1200 rifle. He acted like he could only realistically put that HK in the rack for $1000, what the book said, the mags had no value.
I wonder if part of it is simple prejudice, not skin color. But there are some who only like certain things, anything else is not worth having. He asked what the knob up by the front sight was..um the cocking handle, so extensive knowledge of the rifle. They sell lots of AR-15s, some in the rack, parts, plus assemble custom ones. Yea a pmag for an AR is $10 so not much of a deal breaker, for a HK33 their a big deal. Him and my friend are all things AR, very traditional, he owns glocks, thats it. A Rem 700 as what else you gonna buy? Hes also the same friend who pretty much refuses to use cast bullets in anything. Had his boss not been there probably would have traded me the pistol.