Cannot get the gun I want locally

Iron_Marshal · Post by **Iron_Marshal** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:06 am

I have been VERY patient with a local gun store and I have waited a month for them to get a MArlin 1894SS. I understand supply and demand but I DEMAND the rifle NOW. The store owner is a friend of mine and I work with him at the police department. He runs the sporting goods store on the side. I really wanted to buy from HIM...just to throw the business his way. Am I being overly crabby when I say I am FED UP? I can find the rifle ALL DAY long on the internet and at prices that are competitive with his pricing, but he is only willing to buy from a few distributors who are currently out of stock and the rifle is apparently on backorder FOREVER.

So, I called around and found a store over an hour away that has one in stock. I told them Saturday evening to hold it for me to look at Monday and I will be going first thing in the morning to do so.

I could have ordered from Wal-Mart weeks ago but I wanted to keep my sales "local." Now, with the price of gas being what it is, I have to drive to Timbucktu to buy my rifle.

Has anyone else experienced a "shortage" of this rifle?

Joe Reilly · Post by **Joe Reilly** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:08 am

Will your buddy transfer the gun from an internet auction for you?

Post by **Old Savage** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:10 am

He he is a small operation he may not have too much choice who he can order from.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:13 am

Ah, the challenges of friendship. If he IS a friend, he'll understand.

Iron_Marshal · Post by **Iron_Marshal** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:15 am

Joe, he would do the transfer ...and at a reasonable $20.00

But, by the time I pay for shipping and the transfer fee I am looking to pay MORE than the $579.00 I found it for at the other store. Even Wal-Mart doesn't have it for cheaper.

Yes, he is a small shop, but after waiting a month you think the guy would offer to cut me a better deal at least or go the extra mile and find the gun for me and not just say, "Sorry...can't get it for you." Heck, I can find them all day long online and I don't own a gun store. I shouldn't have to go the extra mile. He should please the customer.

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:21 am

I don't know if it will make you feel any better but none of my distributor have them either.

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 12:36 am

Griff wrote:Ah, the challenges of friendship. If he IS a friend, he'll understand.

+1

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:34 am

which is cheaper, driving for an hour, TWO WAYS, or shipping charges?

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:40 am

Which is cheaper, getting the rifle at a price you like or losing your friend?

Look, have your friend do the transfer to throw the business his way. Get him used to it. As a small dealer he's not going to be able to get the high demand guns all the time. He's got to learn to use other means and to advertise that he'll do it cheaply. That's how the business is run (and it seems dumb to me, too).

Many times dealers have told me their distributors (with whom they have agreements) can't get an item. I ask who the distributors are and go to other dealers with different distributors or buy it off one of the internet points of connection. I spread all my business around to all my friends and they know it. Most people understand about finding the best price but one can overdo the cheap thing.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:52 am

Hobie wrote:Which is cheaper, getting the rifle at a price you like or losing your friend?

+1

Do you really need it immediately? Is it worth risking the hard feelings to have it now, versus in a couple-few weeks?

Buffboy · Post by **Buffboy** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:09 am

He will understand if you do not order from him if he's truly your friend but I'd probably wait till he can get it. I've run into the same problem with the 1894s from Marlin. They make runs of the firearm then let distributors shelves run dry before making another run. Good business sense for them I suppose but it always seems they are scarce this time of year.

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 7:58 am

seperate the friendship from the business. Order the rifle in and have him transfer it. He will make nearly as much money on the deal and friendship is in tact. He, being a friend would understand that he can't get it and that you are making an effort to help out his business.

colo native · Post by **colo native** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:07 am

didn't marlin sell to rem, maybe that could be the problem, no

jengel · Post by **jengel** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:24 am

We are just starting a new gun shop here and it has taken about two months to get credit apps to different distributors and companies that we want to do business with. I have called around to 5 major distributors about the new Remington R-15 and nobody has them. I have looked on the internet and there they are on GunBroker.com. Oh well, I guess that the friend of mine that wants one will have to wait a little bit. That's the way it goes.

Texican · Post by **Texican** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:20 am

I have a friend that is also a small time (so far) FFL dealer - his transfer price is $20-25. I have ordered new from him, but for the receive-and-transfer deals I generally tip him an extra $10 bucks or so. I tip my gunsmith too, (more than $10). Sometimes I just show up with a bag of rawhide for the dogs. This keeps the friendships strong, shows appreciation, recognizes the business interests of the friend, and ensures I receive a bit more consideration when I next inquire. I also pay in cash, because it's tangible, immediate and considerate - it carries weight. Business gets done and both parties are happy. It's just neighborly.

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:59 pm

Way to many folks go into the gun business because they like guns and have no notion of how to run a business. They are clueless as to how to treat and handle customers.

A couple of years back, I wanted a Remington 700 VS LH in .308. Now this is not an item you will find in stock anywhere. I went to four local gunstore to ask for a price and availability. One said it was too much trouble to call around. Three more said they would get me a price and availability and took my name and phone number. Three weeks later none of them had contacted me.

I called my gun dealer in my former community, 120 miles away and he took the information and called me back in less than a half hour with price and said he could have it there in five days. I gave him the green light and he called me when it came in and I drove the 120 miles to pick it up.

About six months later, I wanted a new Colt Govt. Model and went to yet another local dealer. He told me they only bought from Davidson and look it up on the computor and say they were out of stock and could not tell me where they could get one.

Again, I called my old gun dealer and in seven days I had the new Colt Govt. Model. Again I drove 120 miles to get the pistol.

I have no idea why these folks don't or won't hunt a gun up. Maybe these large dealers make them sight some sort of exclulsive agreement.. who knows?

While I support local gun store and will even pay more to use them, I will give my money to the folks who take care of me. No customer service...no business.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:14 pm

I don't know how they are now but when I had my FFL I used to deal with RSR. IIRC they handle Marlin. Give them a call and see if they have them. If need be you could get a copy of your friend's signed FFL and mail it along with a Money order to get what you want. Just to show him how easy it is. After the first time they be glad to ship COD and maybe open an account.

This page one from RSR

1 2 3 4 Next of 4
Results of Search for Marlin
Click Item # for Details Sort by Clicking the Underlined Column Headings.
RSR Item #
Description
MAR1894 MARLIN 1894 44MAG 20" LVR BL
MAR1894C MARLIN 1894C 38/357 LEVER 18.5" BLUE
MAR1894CB357 MARLIN 1894 COWBOY 357MAG OCT 20"
MAR1894CB44 MARLIN 1894 COWBOY 44MAG OCT 20"
MAR1894CB45 MARLIN 1894 COWBOY 45LC OCT 20"
MAR1894CL MARLIN 1894CL 32/20 LEVER 22" BLUE
MAR1894SS MARLIN 1894 44MAG LEVER 20" STNLS
MAR1895 MARLIN 1895 45-70 LEVER 22" BLUE
MAR1895CB MARLIN 1895 COWBOY 45-70 26" LVR BL
MAR1895G MARLIN 1895G 45-70 18.5" LVR BL
MAR1895GS MARLIN 1895GS 45-70 18.5" LVR STS
MAR1895M MARLIN 1895M 450 MAG 18.5" LVR BL
MAR1895MXLR MARLIN 1895MXLR 450MAR 24" 4RD STS
MAR1895XLR MARLIN 1895XLR 45-70 24" 4RD STS LAM
MAR308MX MARLIN 308ME 22" LVR BL WLNT
MAR308MXLR MARLIN 308ME 24" LVR STS LAM
MAR336C30 MARLIN 336C 30/30 LEVER 20" BLUE
MAR336C35 MARLIN 336C 35REM 20" LEVER BLUE
MAR336SS MARLIN 336SS 30/30 LEVER 20 " STNLS
MAR336W MARLIN 336W 30/30 LEVER 20" BLUE

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:20 pm

I believe the dealers are tied pretty tight to their distributors. I think the relationship the dealer has with the distributor, and the distributor with the manufacturer, has a big effect on whether your dealer can get what you want. I ordered an 1894c back in early December and got it late February. The dealer I got it from said Marlins production runs in each caliber per year are pretty small in number. Around here in Indiana, new Marlins in 44mag are hard to come by, but Pumas are easy to find. The dealers I've talked to say they don't have any idea when they will be able to get a pistol caliber Marlin in. I know Marlin doesn't crank out tens of thousands of these a day. Yet there are new ones listed on Gunbroker for around $500, so get one there if you demand a rifle now.