Family Firearms Sales in COS

[J]

Hi my name is Chad, the owner of Family Firearms Sales. I saw the post and wanted to add some facts to it since the OP put the brief conversation we had in a negative light. OP messaged me and commented that he liked the gun we had listed on GunBroker and that GrabAGun was selling them new for $893 + $8 shipping. I replied and stated that dealer cost on that gun is $890 new and MSRP is $1,179. Our gently used gun was listed for $931.95 + shipping.

In light of our cost on a new one - $40 over dealer cost for a like new pre-owned one isn't that bad and $250 less than MSRP. While I understand that some dealer is selling them new for under cost (I guess they got a really good deal from Springfield or just trying to dump them, IDK), I don't have that kind of leeway to sell items for $3 over cost and expect to stay in business. Our pre-owned items are a direct reflection of what we gave the previous owner for the trade. We probably give more on trades than any store in town.

So I find it unfair in the light the OP put us in and I wanted to add some facts. Unless you have ran a retail business before, you know that brick and mortar has a lot more costs that have to be covered. Heck just liability insurance and rent is nearly $30,000 a year. I know when I was just running things out of my home, I made more money at the end of the day than I do at the store. Without rent, insurance, lights, employees, theft, etc. I could sell for less and make more. My point is, it's not greed, it's staying in business. The margins on firearms are generally around 20% in retail. Walmart makes on average 32%. Not sure why everyone is hateful on retail gun stores when margins barely cover expenses and a little for the owner after everything is paid.

Anyway, I wanted to clarify things and add some more info to the post. It's hard to find good staff and we are all human - I always recommend if someone thinks they can do better than my current team - send me a resume explaining how and I'll consider hiring you next opening! :-) It took me 2 years of going through people to find a decent team. Nobody is perfect, but finding good, consistent people is very hard.

Anyway, come visit and find out for yourself. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the selection, prices and team we have! I appreciate your business and look forward to any constructive criticism that I can fix and make things better!

Thanks, Chad

I'm not taking sides here... But that was a well thought out post. Just make sure to weigh the realities of business against realities of the market. Many a biz has gone under when they forget about the rest of the market. Nothing against you, or your prices, just brotherly advice given my experience.

I'd like to guarantee you that I can, could and would do better than your current team. But I admittedly think a LOT of myself, just barely on the right side of "unhealthy". I also have to rib and jest at you a bit as a new commercial user.