A new way to screw gunstore customers!

[mbradst]

A shop in my area is notorious for being expensive. They charge an arm and a leg for all of their guns, reloading supplies, etc. They charge $18.50/hour to shoot on their indoor rang. I only go there if I am really hard up for stuff. They have a great archery pro-shop with decent prices, but that is about it. I just looked at their website and saw this:


Handgun Cleaning

Check out our new gun cleaning station. We have everything there you need to clean your gun. The cost is $15 per gun.

New to gun cleaning? Or need help? For a total of $25 per gun, one of our staff will assist you..

[Brass Nazi]

For $25 there hands better be doing more than cleaning guns.

I have never seen someone request a shop to clean their gun but if asked I would expect the shop to do it for free. It would be a great way to gain loyalty.

[4eyes]

Looks like a gender specific service. Bet that outfit will top up headlight fluid in her auto at an extra charge.

[jawjaboy]

Looks like somebody been in da tonic water tonight.

[mbradst]

there are pictures of the cleaning station on this page:

http://clelands.com/intermediateinstruction.htm

[Brass Nazi]

there are pictures of the cleaning station on this page:

http://clelands.com/intermediateinstruction.htm


Oh my, you can use there cheap arse gunslick kit for $15:yikes:

How about a $730 Super Blackhawk http://clelands.com/guns&things.htm

[Bush Pilot]

A shop in my area is notorious for being expensive. They charge an arm and a leg for all of their guns, reloading supplies, etc. They charge $18.50/hour to shoot on their indoor rang. I only go there if I am really hard up for stuff. They have a great archery pro-shop with decent prices, but that is about it. I just looked at their website and saw this:


Handgun Cleaning

Check out our new gun cleaning station. We have everything there you need to clean your gun. The cost is $15 per gun.

New to gun cleaning? Or need help? For a total of $25 per gun, one of our staff will assist you..

So, what did you drop, $75.00 to clean your guns or did you opt to have the rocket scientists behind the counter do it for $50.00 more? I'll bet they have suckered plenty of people in to cleaning their guns.

[eazylivin]

I gotta cleaning station here at the house.... it's really nice and all to. I just call mine a kitchen table.

[creophus]

The whole idea seems lame. Now if they would clean the gun for you for that price, that wouldn't be such a bad deal.

[CZ93X62]

I'll spend the money on bacon, thank you.

I had a similar occurrence today at the local toy store, over the price of short-poured 1# ingots of alleged WW metal. Freakin' buccaneer store owner, he needs to stay in the office and let his counter folks (who know their stuff) do the business they're paid to conduct.

[Bush Pilot]

How do these guys stay in business?

[eaglefrq]

Where I live, there is only 1 indoor range and they charge $8 for 30 min. The only other ranges are private clubs that very high priced. The next closest range is about 45 min away.

They do have good service though. Even though I bought my Ameriglo's online, they installed them for free. They are also a Glock LE dealer, so I picked up my Glock 26 for $430 new.

[mbradst]

I would not mind paying 8 bucks for 30 minutes. Thhis place charges 15 per half hour and 18.50 per hour. They also make you shoot a mag/cylinder full at 21 ft at a paper plate. You have to get almost all of them on the plate or they give you a sales pitch for their overpriced shooting classes. If you decline, they ask you to leave without a refund. I saw it happen twice in one day. You also have to do that once a year. They also try to tell you that if your brass touches the ground it is theirs. I told the RSO to suck it when he told me to stop sweeping up my brass. They have a trash can there that is for ALL of the brass. I have not been shooting there in a few years.

The first thing that soured me on them was when I bought some primers. They were marked 29.99 and rang up 36.99. The owner told me that they were in the process of repricing everything and when I asked for the price on the box, she accused me of pulling a tag off the box leaving the cheaper price. She then told me to take it or leave it. I left it.

[creophus]

The first thing that soured me on them was when I bought some primers. They were marked 29.99 and rang up 36.99. The owner told me that they were in the process of repricing everything and when I asked for the price on the box, she accused me of pulling a tag off the box leaving the cheaper price. She then told me to take it or leave it. I left it.
Wow that's horrible! I'd have left it also.

[JW6108]

They also make you shoot a mag/cylinder full at 21 ft at a paper plate. You have to get almost all of them on the plate or they give you a sales pitch for their overpriced shooting classes. If you decline, they ask you to leave without a refund. I saw it happen twice in one day. You also have to do that once a year. They also try to tell you that if your brass touches the ground it is theirs. I told the RSO to suck it when he told me to stop sweeping up my brass. They have a trash can there that is for ALL of the brass. I have not been shooting there in a few years.

The first thing that soured me on them was when I bought some primers. They were marked 29.99 and rang up 36.99. The owner told me that they were in the process of repricing everything and when I asked for the price on the box, she accused me of pulling a tag off the box leaving the cheaper price. She then told me to take it or leave it. I left it.

I didn't think much about it on your initial post, but DAY-UM that is a shakedown, pure and simple. First trip I hear the "brass-claim" song, they will get told to pound sand.:hereyago:

[BigSlick]

I can almost see charging for cleaning a gun. A couple places in DFW do it for $30 per gun. It seems high to us because it ain't hard to do. But, if you just bought your first gun, cain't field strip it, let alone detail strip it, having someone do it for you for a few bucks might make sense (I guess).

The local shop nearest to me says they used to do it for free and people would bring in all kinda old crap, or come by 2-3 times a month for a freebie and buy their stuff elsewhere cause it was .50 cents cheaper.

I can understand not wanting to have someone on staff to give out free work full time.

The range part of it, gotta shoot a plate at 21 ft ain't too hard to do. Gettin a sales pitch and then asked to leave is pure crap.

If MY brass hit the floor MY brass is going OUT THE DOOR with ME. Anyone who has a problem with that can KMA. There is a range up north of DFW a ways has the same policy, Gotta shoot factory only, slow fire, not from a holster, brass hits the floor it's theirs. $300/yr to be able to shoot there, $15 per person on one lane (max of 3) if you're a Member, $25 per/hr per lane if not. But, Members get a 'discount' on firearms and ammo, both of which are marked at full suggested retail. The discount is 5% on guns, 2% on ammo.

I cain't believe for the life of me why people even walk in the place, but they're always packed. All the counter yahoos are uber ninja tacticool that know everything about everything. You can tell when they got a newbie in their sights, they're grinnin like a lion fixin ta devour a kill, real friendly, tryin ta keep from laughin cause they know they're screwin someone for serious bucks.

I seen a fella an his girl payin one time I was in their lookin for stuff on their junk/sale table. Two of em for an hour of shooting, just over $400 for ammo and gun rental and range time. I almost couldn't believe my ears when I heard da counter guy sayin if they come back an join he a give em a free box of ammo if they buy a gun next time.

All the brass they collect goes to the local gunshop (owned by a brother of the range owner) and the prices are astronomical, as in $35/100 for crap 9mm range brass, higher for anything else.

I went there shootin with a lady friend about 5-6 years ago, and learned about their brass policy. Range master came out an ask me what da hell I thought I was doing pickin up brass. I told him my brass is goin home with me so back da hell off an play dat crap on some newbie fool. He bowed up and say he a call da law and have me charged with stealin. I say call em mofo, right now, lets do it, then I got PO'ed.

He was just a pissy lil punk, so as I was tellin da owner how I felt, I told him I left da brass, they can keep it, it had dozens of loads on it anyway and I hope if some idiot buy dat brass and reload it they got a good lawyer cause they a most likely get sued when someone get injured from a KB. Then all a sudden he wanna know which brass was mine. I say I don't remember now, have a great day BYE.

Being profitable is one thing, being an arrogant ripoff is another.

[io_joe]

Damn, do they have a tub of vaseline at the door?

I used to shoot there weekly in 1990-91 when I was a poor undergrad at BGSU. They weren't cheap, but not that bad. I recall it was a little shop with an ok range next to the state trooper outpost. Has it changed since it is now an outdoor world?

[mbradst]

Damn, do they have a tub of vaseline at the door?

I used to shoot there weekly in 1990-91 when I was a poor undergrad at BGSU. They weren't cheap, but not that bad. I recall it was a little shop with an ok range next to the state trooper outpost. Has it changed since it is now an outdoor world?

It is the same place. From what I hear it used to be different when the real owner ran the place. His wife runs it now and she is a real peach. If you want a real laugh, call and ask them about doing a handgun transfer. They charge a higher fee than anyone in the area, and make you pay sales tax on the purchase price of the gun. I think they may have some other kind of fees for transfers as well. I do all my transfers now with a guy in BG that only charges me 10 dollars and change.


I have met a few of the Clelands that run the archery shop there and they seem to be good guys. Prices are decent for range time and working on your bow.

[eaglefrq]

That's crazy about the brass. The only time I've ever had to leave brass at a range was when it bounced forward of the firing line which only makes sense.

It's amazing what you hear when you go into gun stores. I went into one in WA and was looking for a 9mm and the guy behind the counter only wanted to show me a 40 cal. He told me a 9mm won't stop anyone and the smallest round for SD is the 40. After the 3rd time, I told him when he pays for the gun I will get a 40, but as long as I'm paying for it, then show me a 9mm. He got upset at that point, so I told him tough and walked over and started talking with another salesman.

I don't mind your opinions, but don't try and force your beliefs on me.

[Pitmaster]

That's crazy about the brass. The only time I've ever had to leave brass at a range was when it bounced forward of the firing line which only makes sense.

It's amazing what you hear when you go into gun stores. I went into one in WA and was looking for a 9mm and the guy behind the counter only wanted to show me a 40 cal. He told me a 9mm won't stop anyone and the smallest round for SD is the 40. After the 3rd time, I told him when he pays for the gun I will get a 40, but as long as I'm paying for it, then show me a 9mm. He got upset at that point, so I told him tough and walked over and started talking with another salesman.

I don't mind your opinions, but don't try and force your beliefs on me.

I would have walked out of the store. They don't need my business.

When I first started looking around I went to a local gun shop. The owner said "here's what you need" and pulled out of his pocket a loaded Kel-Tec or something in .380, opened his hand, and pointed the gun at me. I mumbled something about wanting a 9mm and walked out. I'm sure he doesn't carry an unloaded pistol in his pocket. Never been back.

[creophus]

Real sad stories I'm hearing here fellas!

[Rollis]

I, am lucky thatthe dealer I, had was vey good, and over the years we became good friends. His much younger widow and my wife are good friends, she an annoying pain in my butt. My other dealer is also a good friend. I will have him do a deep clean on a gun, that my be going up for sale.

[BoltNut]

Real live update from TAMPA, FL on the gun cleaning issue:

One of the lawyers who participated in the pirate invasion the other day with his buddy's borrowed .357, wanted to get the gun cleaned before returning it to him. He called me to ask of some ranges locally where he could get it cleaned. I gave him 4 places to call...here are the results...


...CHEAPEST "Basic Cleaning" available = $55.00...

...MOST EXPENSIVE "Deep Cleaning" available so far = $75.00...

We in da wrong bidniz, methinks!!! :-O

He's askin' his buddy if he can have me do it for them for MUCH cheaper! If I could only get the rules for makin' blanks that they shoot AND get the cleaning buisness afterwards...I'd be a rich, rich, man (maybe even hire Creo as my bidniz pardner)...seriously!!!

[creophus]

Real live update from TAMPA, FL on the gun cleaning issue:

One of the lawyers who participated in the pirate invasion the other day with his buddy's borrowed .357, wanted to get the gun cleaned before returning it to him. He called me to ask of some ranges locally where he could get it cleaned. I gave him 4 places to call...here are the results...


...CHEAPEST "Basic Cleaning" available = $55.00...

...MOST EXPENSIVE "Deep Cleaning" available so far = $75.00...

We in da wrong bidniz, methinks!!! :-O

He's askin' his buddy if he can have me do it for them for MUCH cheaper! If I could only get the rules for makin' blanks that they shoot AND get the cleaning buisness afterwards...I'd be a rich, rich, man (maybe even hire Creo as my bidniz pardner)...seriously!!!
Wow that's crazy expensive!! So what's a "deep cleaning"? If it ain't ultra sonic I wouldn't even bother!

[CZ93X62]

Creo would work for bacon, I'll bet.

[creophus]

Creo would work for bacon, I'll bet.
Only Applewood smoked bacon!

[Pitmaster]

Deep cleaning means letting the the cleaning solution soak an extra 5 minutes before hitting it with a toothbrush.

[creophus]

Deep cleaning means letting the the cleaning solution soak an extra 5 minutes before hitting it with a toothbrush.
You could be right. I was thinking deep cleaning meant, actually cleaning the gun and basic cleaning meant they only said they cleaned the gun.

[CZ93X62]

Only Applewood smoked bacon!

I'm holding out for the black pepper version. It makes an awesome BLT.

[Pitmaster]

You could be right. I was thinking deep cleaning meant, actually cleaning the gun and basic cleaning meant they only said they cleaned the gun.

Or they wipe the external and internal that can be see with a t-shirt and a fat finger. Lube is extra.

[creophus]

Or they wipe the external and internal that can be see with a t-shirt and a fat finger. Lube is extra.
Hhhhmmm...I was thinking a reloading business would be lucrative, but now that BoltNut has mentioned it maybe gunsmithing and cleaning would be a better move.

[BoltNut]

Makin' blanks and cleanin' guns...THAT is our future retirement program, dude!

[creophus]

Makin' blanks and cleanin' guns...THAT is our future retirement program, dude!
Eh...I'm a little uneasy about the whole "makin' blanks" thing. :/

[BoltNut]

At .$0.45 a piece and up...your uneasy feeling should pass with the first order of several thousand...just sayin'... ;-)

[creophus]

At .$0.45 a piece and up...your uneasy feeling should pass with the first order of several thousand...just sayin'... ;-)
Ok, feeling better now. Did you ever get one of these things for me to investigate????

[BoltNut]

A couple, in fact...remind me and I'll give ya one to dissect. ;-)

Oh BTW...Dude also said that a bunch of the "pirates" on the ship carry "blanks" for their shotguns too!!! They are paying even more per round for those, and not many people use them because of the extreme costs being charged to them.

[creophus]

A couple, in fact...remind me and I'll give ya one to dissect. ;-)

Oh BTW...Dude also said that a bunch of the "pirates" on the ship carry "blanks" for their shotguns too!!! They are paying even more per round for those, and not many people use them because of the extreme costs being charged to them.
Oh yeah??!! Shotgun blanks huh? Please bring a couple of these things to church tomorrow night. I'm wondering if they're just primers under a wax plug or a powder charge under a crimped case mouth, etc.

[Brass Nazi]

I once paid a Smith to thoroughly strip, clean, and lube a Browning BAR Safari. He stripped it down nearly complete and even stoned a few surfaces to smooth things out and remove burrs. The price? $20.

[creophus]

I once paid a Smith to thoroughly strip, clean, and lube a Browning BAR Safari. He stripped it down nearly complete and even stoned a few surfaces to smooth things out and remove burrs. The price? $20.
Wow. That's old school.

[Brass Nazi]

Wow. That's old school.

Old school smith. Mom and pop place with pop having 30 years of experience. He isn't Fred Yost but does damn good work for honest money.

BTW that was about 2 years ago.

[BoltNut]

THAT is a much more honest business practice, right there!