Gun store commandos,
I went into my local gun store today to see if they could get a pistol I have been looking at online, going to try and give them some business he types the product gun number into his phone Nope can't get it and I'm not sure why you would want one, I could try and order it from sig but that will take 5 months to get.
I have bench tested all those models and the plastic grip compared to the aluminum grip is only a quarter ounce difference and the recoil is greater blah blah blah !! I just turned and headed for the door while he continued his expert advice.

All of our gun stores around here are the same exact way and one by one they go out of business.

I visited some gun stores in Scottsdale AZ. and the atmosphere is just a 180 from anything we have here, people greet you and are willing to help and wan't your business.

"I know more than you!" Ron Swanson voice

Many stores reach a point where they only want to sell you what they have. If they have something readily available they will rationalize their in-stock product is "close enough" they figure the majority of customers will be satisfied as they aren't adept enough for any differences to be significant.

However, the customer is always right in matters of taste. If a customer wants to spend their greenbacks with you, YOU ORDER THE GOSH DARN THING AND TAKE THEIR MONEY! Even if what you have is "close enough". Or you can say you aren't accepting orders and direct them to order online. At least then the store can get the FFL $$$, and possibly sell you some accessories to knock off the transfer fee.

Have you checked the ‘grab a gun’ site? Better and easier than Gunbroker. They cast a wide net to find what you’re looking for.

....went into my local gun store today to see if they could get a pistol I have been looking at online, going to try and give them some business

he types the product gun number into his phone Nope can't get it and I'm not sure why you would want one, would you like a glock? I could try and order it from sig but that will take 5 months to get, you know I can get you a Glock today....

I have bench tested all those models, the Glocks point and shoot better and the plastic grip compared to the aluminum grip is only a quarter ounce difference, you sure you don't need a Glock...

Stores have a hard time ordering specific guns. Not an excuse, but it's true. Unless the shop is huge, wholesalers offer guns, you don't call and specify guns. The rep will call and run down a list of what they will sell you. Wholesalers also prefer to sell online, usually thru a storefront. I've had the experience where I order a gun from XYZ, and it comes in from ABC. Wholesalers make more per sale off an internet sale, because it's retail pricing. Some specific manufacturers sell direct (sort of) but have restrictions such as "you must buy 24 of these." Bud's can handle 24. Joe's Gun Emporium cannot. To really ice the cake, I've seen these manufacturers sell the 24 handguns for, say, 659 each wholesale. Two weeks later, you see the same gun on sale at Rural King for 489. The rep will pretty much tell you "tough shit" when you complain. After all, they had to cut prices to maintain sales. The internet and other factors are killing off the shops.

I'm lucky that the 4 or 5 fun stores near me aren't commando type (I hate those type of stores). I'd rather buy from them than online, but man do they make it tough. I'm not buying custom or high-end, and my buying habits are mostly commodity items (e.g. S&W M&P 15-22 is a S&W M&P 15-22 everywhere you go so price and customer service are my shopping drivers).

I bought a S&W M&P 15-22 online with a case and 3 mags for $100 cheaper than the FFL I used sells the same gun with 1 mag and no case. I'll buy online every time with that much delta.

Even though I was there to pick-up the S&W M&P 15-22, I spent time shopping around as I was interested in looking through a PA prism optic (I have astigmatism and heard good things) for an AR pistol. After the FFL transaction, the FFL resumed to his smart phone addiction and I couldn't get his attentions so I had to get somebody else's attention to open the case 6' from the FFL guy. They only had 3x magnification in stock, and quoted me $100 over PA's website price to order a 1x for me. No thanks.

The other FFL I like he at least tries to sell me something complimentary to my FFL acquisition (e.g. mags or ammo) and it's at a fair price so I usually buy.