PieterCoetzee
Professional
Three weeks ago a customer bought a used shotgun. It was one of the cheaper AR style guns in OK condition; but definitely used and priced accordingly (sub $200). I dont recall how long he inspected it but he held it before deciding to buy it and carried it out of the shop and presumably had it at his car on the drive and then home since he bought it.
Today he called wanting to return it because it smelled like cigarettes. He said he didnt smoke and neither did anyone in his home so the smell must have come from the shotgun before he bought it. I do recall we gave it a general inspection and wiped it down before putting it on display and it had been in the shop for close to a month before he bought it with no one noticing that it smelled like anything other than a gun.
I asked why he didnt notice the smell when he bought it, and said he had clearly handled it in the shop and when he took it home. He said it must be the HEAT that made it smell??? So I asked if he had shot it.
He wouldnt say whether he had shot it or not BUT did say he hadnt cleaned it. I asked why he hadnt cleaned it and he said because he was allergic to nicotine and didnt want to touch it. When I pointed out that he DID touch it he became upset. I suggested maybe he try rubber gloves and a mask but he insisted he wanted to return it.
I was more suspicious when he refused to clean it and suggested he try spraying it with Windex of Lysol or Simple Green; then try cleaning it; but he refused saying he didnt want it and that we should take it back. I offered to clean it for him but said he couldnt just return it; however we would sell it for him (on consignment); but he refused and hung up when I said i was checking with another employee to see if they had any idea. I even called him back and offered to clean it again but he refused.
.He didnt seem like a bad kid (20 something) when he bought it; but I just couldnt get over the fact that he hadnt noticed or reported a smell when he bought it AND that he wouldnt even try to clean it. Ive dealt with a lot of surplus guns and gear over the years and I never would have thought to return something weeks after I bought it without at least trying to clean it.
IDK maybe its a generational thing?
Today he called wanting to return it because it smelled like cigarettes. He said he didnt smoke and neither did anyone in his home so the smell must have come from the shotgun before he bought it. I do recall we gave it a general inspection and wiped it down before putting it on display and it had been in the shop for close to a month before he bought it with no one noticing that it smelled like anything other than a gun.
I asked why he didnt notice the smell when he bought it, and said he had clearly handled it in the shop and when he took it home. He said it must be the HEAT that made it smell??? So I asked if he had shot it.
He wouldnt say whether he had shot it or not BUT did say he hadnt cleaned it. I asked why he hadnt cleaned it and he said because he was allergic to nicotine and didnt want to touch it. When I pointed out that he DID touch it he became upset. I suggested maybe he try rubber gloves and a mask but he insisted he wanted to return it.
I was more suspicious when he refused to clean it and suggested he try spraying it with Windex of Lysol or Simple Green; then try cleaning it; but he refused saying he didnt want it and that we should take it back. I offered to clean it for him but said he couldnt just return it; however we would sell it for him (on consignment); but he refused and hung up when I said i was checking with another employee to see if they had any idea. I even called him back and offered to clean it again but he refused.
.He didnt seem like a bad kid (20 something) when he bought it; but I just couldnt get over the fact that he hadnt noticed or reported a smell when he bought it AND that he wouldnt even try to clean it. Ive dealt with a lot of surplus guns and gear over the years and I never would have thought to return something weeks after I bought it without at least trying to clean it.
IDK maybe its a generational thing?
