Mainstreet Range & Guns in Lilburn

[strider12]

Sadly, Main Street makes the majority of their money at gun shows. I have bought from them in the past (never again) and it is always an hours wait. I would venture to say they sell a couple hundred firearms in a weekend at a show, if not more.

Which begs the question why they would piss people off over $25.

But ego is king, and from what I've seen of their employees, it rules with them.

And this is why I now make the one hour, one way drive to Cherokee; no BS.

 

[a__l__a__n]

Make sure to report these issues to Bud's so they can be removed from the FFL list...

Already done.

 

[stasher1]

Thank you for being willing to respond here. Of course I'm concerned about the $25 but I'm also concerned about business practices that appear unethical to me.

What I was told in the store does not match what I learned after I left. Your employee came out of the back room to tell me there was a problem with the transfer because Buds had not charged me tax, so you were going to "have to" charge me $50 rather than the usual $25. You said you were charging $50 because Buds had not charged me sales tax, as required by law. But I now know that's not really the reason, because you were charging people $50 before that law was passed. You told me that you were doing this because you are under federal scrutiny as a gun business, and so you have to obey the law. But there is no law requiring you to do anything different in this situation from any other transfer. I went into the store expecting to pick up my gun for the conventional $25 but you raised the price on me "on the spot." That's just not right. At a minimum you should clearly advertise your prices so a customer will know before choosing you as the FFL dealer.

I'll offer you some free unsolicited advice. What you are doing here is bad business. You can't win at this. It's not going to drive more business to your store (quite the opposite in fact). People can buy wherever they want, and they can just use a different FFL. You would be a lot better off with a business model that faces real world facts. You have an advantage over online sellers in some areas: ammunition, for one. Shipping is a killer for online ammo purchases. And with a range, you have a great opportunity to sell ammo to customers. (Hey, people can't buy range time over the internet!) You could enhance those assets with events, contests, training, membership... lots of opportunities to build a business model in which you don't screw your customers. You could attempt to establish a long term relationship with the customer -- selling accessories, ammunition, maybe even that next firearm purchase -- instead of slapping him with an additional unexpected fee upon picking up the firearm.

This^^^


Word of mouth advertising can make or break a small business, and I believe Mainstreet Arms may have shot themselves in the foot (pun intended) over $25. Hope they enjoy that little bit of pocket change, because it'll cost them thousands in local sales.

 

[No2sc2]

I don't know if you guys know it or not but you CAN'T TAX A SERVICE. Tax is only collected if you buy a product, not for a haircut or happy ending massages.

 

[rdwrdw]

I was in the store today. Nice, knowledgeable and helpful staff. Decent inventory and prices were very fair. Glad to have them in the neighborhood. They have been very upfront with me on transfer prices and policies.

 

[No2sc2]

Why are they looking at what you paid for the gun, anyways? When I go to Cherokee, they could careless how much and if I paid tax. They even recommend doing the transfer for me if they can't get the gun for that price.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

$50 for a FFL transfer based on competition?!?!?! WTF???

LMAO, great business model

 

[sparked1]

$50 for a FFL transfer based on competition?!?!?! WTF???

LMAO, great business model

lol. If I pay $50 for a 2 minute phone call, there had better be a naughty girl on the other end talkin' dirty.

 

[stasher1]

lol. If I pay $50 for a 2 minute phone call, there had better be a naughty girl on the other end talkin' dirty.

Either way, someone's getting screwed.

 

[AirOpsMgr]

lol. If I pay $50 for a 2 minute phone call, there had better be a naughty girl on the other end talkin' dirty.

Shoot, for that kind of cash, there better be one in person, and doing alot more than talking!!!