Alright here it is. I was looking to buy a Henry golden boy rifle and for giggles I decided to visit a couple of local gun shops and they had nothing in stock. I talked a friend into spending a day with me figuring it was going to be a quick trip and we could do other shopping afterwards. Then I hopped in my car and drove out to Sturbridge to visit a gun show that was happening that day and they also had nothing. So I scratched my head thinking what do I do. So I decided to take a trip to Cabela's since I was fairly close in Sturbridge. I drove to Cabela's and when I looked at the rifles they did indeed have the Henry rifle I wanted in stock. So I said I'll take it.
Now bear in mind I had no initial intention of going to Cabela's that day. It just so happened that I figured I'll check it out. I was with a friend that day. I'll tell the most important part, but I will save that so that you keep reading.
At Cabela's when I went to make the purchase they have this kiosk that does the same thing as a 4473 form. Fill it out on an ipad kiosk and then wait. I filled everything out and waited a couple of minutes to get my 'proceed' and then I have to go to a second customer service area to pay. Well it just so happened that when I went to Cabela's that day I was wearing pants that had no pockets, so I had my friend carrying my money for me. When I go to pay my friend handed me my money and the woman at the counter says this really loud "I can't do this, this is a straw purchase". Of course everyone is now staring at me like I'm the terminator looking for a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range. I told the woman, I have no pockets, what do you expect me to do walk around with cash in my hands? So they talked it over and told my friend what to do. She had to walk out of the store into the parking lot. Turn around and walk back into the store and buy a gift certificate and then hand me the gift certificate and then I could use the gift certificate to pay for the rifle. So they had a store security person watch her walk out and walk in and buy the gift certificate. I absolutely sh*t you not.
As an added insult they installed a trigger lock on the rifle and taped up the box tight. It was nuts. It's like I was a 'legal' criminal buying a gun. Needless to say I haven't been back to Cabela's since that time and would never reconsider going there. After it was all done I bought my poor friend a really nice lunch at a nearby restaurant apologizing profusely for the bad conduct of a minimum wage employee at Cabela's and we went home having spent the better part of an hour or two standing around doing nothing at a Cabelas. I would never buy a gun from Cabela's and will never make that mistake again.
On the plus side I do have my Henry and it's my favorite gun. I love shooting it.