Gun Shop help

[bobsguns]

Am I the only one who thinks gun shop help has dropped off tremendously in the last 5-6 years? Now it seems they're more mouth breathers than guys who love & know guns.

I was in a LGS this week, trying to buy rings for a Remington Nylon 66 & a 4X scope. Counter help pointed to a ring set & said "These are all we have." I told him, "No, you have a set of Leupold rings right there. Let me see those." I knew his inventory better than he did & I was there only 5 minutes.

The Leupold set were split from 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock instead of 3 to 9, I told him FOUR times the scope needed to be inserted FIRST so I could see if the front bell cleared the rear iron sight. Once the rings were on, they can't be spread enough to ease the scope in. 

Instead he ignored all FOUR requests from me & proceeded to slide the front ring on & finger tighten the clamp. He then stood up like he was proud of his accomplishment & looked at me. I asked him "Now, HOW do I get the scope on in order to check the rear sight clearance?" He had a deer in the headlight look. 

I packed up my rifle & scope & left the store, buying nothing.

Yes, I know good help is hard to find. Yes, I know covid, covid, covid. Yes, I know a store can only hire those whom apply. But holy crap, is this the level that gun shops have had to sink to these days for hired help? I also mention this is a pretty good sized store & this guy was the only sales staff on the floor. No clue if others were in the back, had a day off or what. I wonder why they can't get some crotchety old retired guys in there to "humbug" their way through the day. Used to work in the old days.  

Or am I becoming a crotchety old man because the help ignored my request four times?

[gary_boom]

That is the world we live in. Nobody wants anybody telling them what to do. 

[felinesNfreedom]

The old guys at our gun counter know jack sh t. We've lost about everyone that actually knew anything over the last year or so. I my self usually stay away from the counter and do other things while I am there. you can only listen to people talk about how great the trash gun is for so long.

[Sleep profit]

As people tell me its a different time now so much has changed  I want to go back    not much improvement from what i have seen    love the rem 66    i have one great shooter

[Grayfox54]

It ain't just gun shops. They're everywhere! 

[E4 No More]

56 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

It ain't just gun shops. They're everywhere! 

No kidding. Can't even go through a drive through without some kid showing lack of appreciation for having a job, nor an ability to say thank you or you're welcome.

[Ronald_55]

I have worked in retail before and some places consider retail to be retail. If you can sell jeans at Old Navy, you can sell guns too, right? Plus I find less and less staff of any retail to be knowledgeable about their stock. Some are good enough to look it up for you, but many won't even go that far. 

My brother-in-law has a auto mechanics degree and used to work at Wal-mart while in school for his welding degree. In their infinite wisdom they assigned him to ...... toys. 

[Quavodus]

I find that the small gun shops have knowledgeable people a lot of times but, bigger chain stores, it's hit or miss.