Ellett Bros. demanding pics of Gun Dealers stores!

5/22/03 | Richard Brengman

[Richard-SIA]

Ellett Brothers, one of the largest firearm distribution companies in the U.S., has suddenly instituted a new policy for all firearms dealers who do business in any state which borders Kalifiornia!

They are calling all licensed dealers who have accounts with them and DEMANDING that the dealers send them pics of the inside and out side of their stores. They are allowing dealers thirty days to provide them with the pics.

There is NO federal law requireing anything like this, I do not know if they came up with this on their own, or in response to some effort of Kali. to export enforcement of their unconstitutional polices beyond the state borders.

I think Kali. forbids FFL's to operate from their home, most other states do not, or leave it up to the counties to decide. Kali. bans so called "Assault Weapons" and stores may not display them. Kali. bans so called "High Capacity" magazines, and they may not be displayed or sold. Kali has several other insane "laws" on their books, far too many for anyone not under their direct influence to keep track of.

I do have a real storefront, I do not operate out of my home, but this does not prevent my being offended at this sort of liberal nonsense emanating from a company that should know better!

I would like to know the real reasons behind this nonsense, but I know the answer will not be forthcoming unless Ellett Bros. gets a lot of heat.

Maybe some of you could call them and ask? The phone # is 1-800-845-3711 http://www.ellettbrothers.com probably has an e-mail link.

[Rodney King]

Not to defend them, but I am sure that the real reason is fear of lawsuits.

[Roughneck]

I'd tell them to kiss the butt of my gun...

[norton]

Out of curiosity...
does no one else provide the level of service/quality/value that Ellett Bros gives you?
I'd be hard pressed not to go in search of an alternative supplier if I were sufficiently offended.
Good lesson for them as well.

PS: It's worked to some degree on dentists, banks, insurance agencies, and, as I remember, the Smith & Wesson of yore.

Oh yeah - and France!

[steplock]

When I ran my own computer network/Telecom business in Houston, there were many of the major suppliers who insisted on pictures, etc. Some even visited to check out the neighborhood.

They wanted to maintain an image - if you wanted to resell their products, you followed their rules.

It's the same with automobiles, and many other industries. Probably should be applied with pseudo-gun dealers.

I do NOT believe in GUN OWNER REGISTRATION!!

[.38sw]

I think Kali. forbids FFL's to operate from their home

That's not the case, although the legislature attempted last year to pass a law to make it illegal for an FFL to work out of his home. There are insane laws aplenty in Calbania.

[Vic3O3]

ping

[gcruse]

I do have a real storefront, I do not operate out of my home,

           Good for you.  You're a capitalist...

 but this does not prevent my being offended

         ....but not very conservative one.  Boo hoo.

[Highest Authority]

Send them a satellite picture of your store for the outside and, for the inside, do what the "modern" cameramen (oops, I mean "photo journalists) do, shoot the inside picture so close to the wall that you only see the atoms in the paint! Then, tell them to stuff their products up their Henry Waxman!!!!!!

[Richard-SIA]

But ONLY for dealers who have stores in states bordering Kali?

Seems fishy to me, if it were universal for ALL dealers it would still offend me, but would not seem quite so suspicious.

As soon as a company starts setting different requirements for their customers based on their state of residence, buying levels, race, political affiliations, etc. I start getting offended, and in this case it HAS to have something to do with Kali., which is doubly offensive.

Kali. liberals like to pretend that they set the agenda for the entire country, that they are the only ones who really know what the agenda and policies for the nation should be.
I am very suspiciouse of ANYTHING smells of Kali. finding another way to project their influence beyond their own borders.

[Hodar]

When I ran my own computer network/Telecom business in Houston, there were many of the major suppliers who insisted on pictures, etc. Some even visited to check out the neighborhood.

They wanted to maintain an image - if you wanted to resell their products, you followed their rules.

Exactly right. Same thing with Higher End (Yamaha, Sunfire, Denon, Alpine, ect) stereo/video stores. These and many other brands have an 'image' they have built, and this image would be hurt by a WalMart type of store. If they deliver a product superior to their peers, they are looking to set themselves apart. If they have nothing better than their peers, then walk away.

[ninenot]

You beat me to it. California's AG could have written to all the distributors and implied that the distributor BETTER be able to document that the California retailer they are shipping to has a "real store."

A legal action from an AG's office generally costs a lot of money, as the State can pursue it until Hell freezes over.

Pictures are worth 1000 words....

[taxed2death]

BFD. If you want to become a Yoshimura performance exhaust dealer, you have to send in a picture of your storefront along with a dealer app...

[Richard-SIA]

They are probaly the largest ditributor in the country, with a vast array of products.
Their catalog resembles the phone book of a large city.
You would think this would mean they would have some of the best prices as well, but that is not the case.
Even though they list nearly everything their firearms inventory of items in stock is not that great.

I do very little business with them, I only use them when no one else has an item a customer wants me to order.

After this nonsense I may cease dealing with them at all. It may depend on the explanation for the sudden and selective policy shift.

[jim35]

[BFD. If you want to become a Yoshimura performance exhaust dealer, you have to send in a picture of your storefront along with a dealer app...]

It may have escaped your attention that there is not a constitutionally protected right to keep and bear performance exhausts, and that your life is hardly likely to depend on such a product.

[Richard-SIA]

Huh?

What, conservatives have no problem with companies selectively pursueing new policies based on your state of residence?

Conservatives have no problem with following Kali's lead?

Guess I did not get the memo!

[Redcloak]

I would guess the same thing. For the cost of stamps, they can have proof that they're dealing with legitimate dealers along the borders of a state with laws that promote blackmarket activities; In particular, a state that's run itself into bankruptcy and is looking for ways to squeeze people and businesses for cash. It's only a matter of time before Lockyer, who just happens to want to be governor, sues them for selling to blackmarket dealers along the borders. They can then whip out the pics and tell Billy-boy to go pound sand.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Is Jays Sales Co of Des Moines, IA still in business ?

[gcruse]

Be careful, you might offend me, and you know how awful that is.

[Richard-SIA]

I guess my original post was not clear.

This policy is ONLY for dealers in states which BORDER on Kali.

It is not being applied to dealers IN Kali.

Why are they suddenly making demands that clearly have SOMETHING to do with Kali, from dealers who ARE NOT in Kali?