doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Professional Lookers

Myself and some other dealers have come to the conclusion that there are a group of people (a couple on this BBS that we know of. Even though we dealers are competitors, we still are friends, we know who calls all around on making inquiries, but not buy) that they are professional lookers. They email you about a gun, generally the email is this: I am very interested in that gun, do you still have it?

You reply that you do, and that's all you ever hear from them. Nothing.


I have made mention this scenario to my wife, hoping she could explain this.

Her reply was this: They like to ask about guns so they can tell their friends that they are looking at this gun from this dealer and checking about this other one from this other dealer, and maybe interested in this other gun that they saw and so on and so on.
This of course this is impressive to their friends and makes them feel that they are in the game. But they never do anything more that look.

John Boyd

Judging from the present balance in my 'gun money account', I am considering joining the Professional Lookers Association myself. Is there a national headquarters?...Geo

I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't similar for actual sales. Some may need a whole bunch more time invested than others. It's probably just part of doing business. Bar talk with the buddies feels better, but it probably can't do a whole lot to decrease the tire kickers.

Well....I gotta say...if the most you have to outlay is a 'yes I do' then you're getting off pretty lucky.

Yes, George I understand there is a chapter. Not sure how to join. I understand it's more of a national chapter, not local.


John

Times are so rough that if you guys were to ever enact a "just lookin" fee, I'd have no choice other than to forfeit my membership in the "Professional Lookers" club. Although I'm careful never to harass a seller with emails and calls unless I truly do intend to be a buyer, I really appreciate those website listings that do allow folks like to be a "looker".

I hear your frustration John.
When I go fishing, I am also frustrated when I do not catch every fish that chooses to strike.

FWIW, a peddler only has so much time. And, many other duties beyond glad handing tire kickers. The traditional approach is to ask poignant, clarifying questions, so as to determine if the prospect (having been transformed from "lead" by virtue of their having actually contacted you) is comfortable buying soon.
If they cannot say yes to any of the qualifiers, you have your answer. For today. Maybe not for tomorrow or next week.

All that said, people that have long term successful businesses have to invest in creating future customers. When dealers K-mart their wares (ie the many on GB) they are only interested in transactions, and create no longer term value.

So, when qualifying, be careful to not be off putting. Allow for a conduit to future business. A way out without losing face. Keep a "desires list", and when those items become available, get on your e-mail lists.
It's the cultivation that takes all the time.

I do not expect to land every fish. I expect a strong ratio of strikes/hook sets.

B i t c h, b i t c h, b i t c h...
JR

My wife says that she enjoys shopping,
buying, not so much

She is quite frugal and enjoys finding the things on sale
and sometime she buys.

Mike

Have the Spanish makers from the top Spanish houses priced themselves off the market. Or have the Spanish gunmakers abandoned the low end market to the Turks a little too early?