Unwelcomed Suprise at Adventure Outdoors

[libertysteeth]

I don't know anything about AO. I do however agree with the surcharge. I don't agree with it if it wasn't disclosed cleary though. I agree with the charge because that is actually a small businesses way to keep prices lower. When the credit companies handling fee comes out of your pocket for almost every transaction it will add up. Alot of businesses will just raise their prices to make up for it. So everyone pays whether they pay cash, check, or card. In that circumstance people who are not using the credit service are paying for the people that do. The 3% often doesn't cover the full cost of the fee either. It's just an average. Having discretion also we often waive the fee for regular customers. I have tried some of the companies that charge less in the past. The problem is that they often end up costing more and or their processing is unreliable. One company's system was down more than it was operational. Another wanted to hold your money.

 

[sovietak474u]

I don't know anything about AO. I do however agree with the surcharge. I don't agree with it if it wasn't disclosed cleary though. I agree with the charge because that is actually a small businesses way to keep prices lower. When the credit companies handling fee comes out of your pocket for almost every transaction it will add up. Alot of businesses will just raise their prices to make up for it. So everyone pays whether they pay cash, check, or card. In that circumstance people who are not using the credit service are paying for the people that do. The 3% often doesn't cover the full cost of the fee either. It's just an average. Having discretion also we often waive the fee for regular customers. I have tried some of the companies that charge less in the past. The problem is that they often end up costing more and or their processing is unreliable. One company's system was down more than it was operational. Another wanted to hold your money.

They are not keeping anything lower. They are just passing the fee on to you. Does McDonalds add that fee? Nope. Neither do many fine retailers unless its a super low amount. Then I could see. Anything over $300 bucks and that 3% will have me walking out the door.

 

[PolarBearsLie]

Regardless of the fee, after picking a firearm out, the guy takes twenty minutes to get a 4473, then 30 to find the box in the back of the warehouse, then escorts you to the counter, then you fill out more paperwork, then a supervisor checks the 4473, then when you leave yet another guy checks your receipt upon exit..and finally..

 

[libertysteeth]

They are not keeping anything lower. They are just passing the fee on to you. Does McDonalds add that fee? Nope. Neither do many fine retailers unless its a super low amount. Then I could see. Anything over $300 bucks and that 3% will have me walking out the door.

I agree with you also if they aren't doing it to keep the prices lower. I probably didn't make that clear. McDonald's and other fine retailer's aren't paying 2.65% for card swipe and 3.27% for punch in(which you use for phoned in payments). They have the volume to negotiate lower rates and also factor that into the price. They aren't doing it out of kindness. We are a truck shop. Many of our trusted customers are on "credit" and we will happily let them mail a check in if all they have is a card. I know other small folks too that have very good prices and charge the fee to keep the prices they want to charge without losing money to a 3rd party processor. Not saying that applys to this adventure outdoors place. Never been there. But you know maybe I'm wrong. It could just be a perception issue and people would be just as happy if I raised all my prices by a certain percent to cover it. I just thought it seemed more honest to only charge those that use the 3rd party service.

 

[Rock Man]

$12....If money is that tight you probably shouldn't be making impulse purchases of guns in the first place."

Wow. Why does this image come to mind?

 

[sovietak474u]

$12....If money is that tight you probably shouldn't be making impulse purchases of guns in the first place."

Wow. Why does this image come to mind?

View attachment 1751129

That’s some thing people with no finance experience say. Just finance it they say. It’s only 10 a month. Yeah that’s $120 dollars a year . That adds up. I’m not going to pay more just because . I work hard for every cent so I’m not about to get had all because someone wants to pass off their business expenses on me.

I’ll be happy to dump some fees of mine off on anyone here who will take them. Anyone ?

 

[sovietak474u]

I agree with you also if they aren't doing it to keep the prices lower. I probably didn't make that clear. McDonald's and other fine retailer's aren't paying 2.65% for card swipe and 3.27% for punch in(which you use for phoned in payments). They have the volume to negotiate lower rates and also factor that into the price. They aren't doing it out of kindness. We are a truck shop. Many of our trusted customers are on "credit" and we will happily let them mail a check in if all they have is a card. I know other small folks too that have very good prices and charge the fee to keep the prices they want to charge without losing money to a 3rd party processor. Not saying that applys to this adventure outdoors place. Never been there. But you know maybe I'm wrong. It could just be a perception issue and people would be just as happy if I raised all my prices by a certain percent to cover it. I just thought it seemed more honest to only charge those that use the 3rd party service.

I totally get your point of view too. I do. I’ve always believed that passing fees off on people , taking a religious public opinion, taking a political public opinion always leads to some sort of lost revenue . It’s guaranteed that someone will shop elsewhere due to one or all. I like to remain neutral and take everyone’s money

 

[Rock Man]

There are signs all over the walls stating the prices are marked for cash and there’s a 3% upcharge for a card

Well, that would certainly seem to 'let the store off the hook'. That said...I just looked at the online sales flyer(s) and although that disclaimer does appear...it's at the bottom...in the fine print. "Fine" as in small.

I don't know if the signs posted in the store are any more noticeable but there's a reason "the fine print" has a pejorative connotation; it's usually viewed as a somewhat sneaky attempt to hide something the consumer would want to know up front.

Like the OP said, though; it is always incumbent on the buyer to read the fine print and ask the right questions.

Like "You guys gonna stick me with an 'expended ammo environmental impact study fee' if I buy this gun, there Jethro; or is this the 'out the door' price?"

 

[linebacker]

I went to AO once. I bought a police trade in Glock that was on sale years ago. From the time I picked it out until the time that I walked out the door was about an hour, partially due to the customer in front of me at the checkout. They treated the customer in front of me like he was a total dumbass and it was totally uncalled for. Like me, it was his first time buying a weapon there and didn't know their process of checking out, etc. They could have and should have handled it differently but chose not to.
From some of the AO employees, I saw arrogance, ignorance and lack of respect for their customers. The way they do business make work for them, but it doesn't work for me. I'll never go back.

 

[norbel718]

Not sure what folks are upset about. It's not a 3% 'fee', it's a 3% cash discount. And BTW, a personal check is 'considered cash' there, since I guess there are no processing fees associated with them.

And when you fill out your 4473 there is a second form that you have to check and sign that says the price is the 'cash' price and that they will add 3% for credit. And I also believe there signs to that effect posted around the place, but I'm not sure on that.

As a few folks have mentioned, in stores without this policy you are paying for that fee no matter what you use to pay with. It's also really common to see a CC fee tacked on. Back when I used to have an Amex it was bumped up to 5% sometimes.

I'm not sure what AO is charging for the PC Carbine (the PC9 was the old 90's version), but 3% would be like $12. Is that really a deal breaker? If money is that tight you probably shouldn't be making impulse purchases of guns in the first place.

I signed this "second form", I must admit I did not read it after the clerk stated to "check all the boxes yes" and sign it.
I also, must admit Adventure has quite a long check out process & I was getting inpatient.