Montana Radio Shack offers free gun or pizza with satellite TV purchase
The owner of the Radio Shack in Hamilton, Montana, says only one customer has responded negatively to his promotion.
March 28th, 2011
02:44 PM ET

Montana Radio Shack offers free gun or pizza with satellite TV purchase

A Radio Shack owner in Montana has upped foot traffic at his Hamilton store by offering free guns for new satellite television subscribers, according to a local paper.

Fear not, those opposed to gun ownership and those who might fail background checks. You can have free pizza instead.

The sign says it all: “Protect yourself with Dish Network. Sign up now. Get free gun.” (The real marquee has no periods, so I took a little punctuative license.)

Owner Steve Strand told the Ravalli Republic that the promotion “really, really fits the Bitterroot Valley,” while manager Fabian Levy told the newspaper that the gimmick had “been really successful.”

Strand said the promotion, which began in October, has tripled his business and lured hundreds of people curious about the sign. Only one person who “didn’t understand how it works” has reacted negatively, he said.

“We have people literally stop in to take pictures of the sign,” Levy added.

Simply sign a contract, purchase certain equipment, set up an installation date and congratulations! You could be the proud owner of a Hi-Point .380-caliber handgun or a 20-gauge shotgun from Frontier Guns & Ammo, which is just north of town.

If you don’t want a gat or can’t pass the background check (which the Republic reports is also free with the satellite TV subscription), you can still have a $50 Pizza Hut gift card.

Strand told the newspaper that other Radio Shack owners in the state were too scared to follow his lead. Even Dish Network had its doubts but agreed to the idea after months of talks with Strand, the newspaper said.

“They've never had a gun promotion before, so they're a little nervous about it,” Strand said. “It's been an uphill battle with Dish.”

 Post by:
Filed under: Business • Montana • U.S.
soundoff (332 Responses)
  1. Mike

    A High-Point? They have all of the ergonomics of a toaster. Sorry, I wouldn't take one for free. But, I think the promotion is a fine idea.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:27 pm | Report abuse |
  2. SSampson

    OK – time for us to do the right thing and all jump into the grand canyon... I can no longer excuse myself simply because I disagree. OBVIOUSLY the sickness is spreadig and we need to stop it now...

    Since the GOP (and NRA buddies) like to be first, in ONE more goodwill gesture one might accept from us lefties.... They can go first....

    March 28, 2011 at 4:32 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Ethernet

    Thats the coolest idea i've every heard! Too bad I live in a diffrent state... :/

    March 28, 2011 at 4:32 pm | Report abuse |
  4. banasy

    Ta-ta, Jazz. Later!

    @Nick: extremely well put. Thanks!

    March 28, 2011 at 4:33 pm | Report abuse |
  5. cecilia

    TO Groovygober – I am not a libturd or a dumocrat – maybe you just cannot spell. And yes guns do scare a lot of Liberals because fools like you can buy a gun that can shoot 31 innocent people with whom you disagree and you don't even have to stop to reload. And who knows, you may get tired of posting your insults here and pick up your weapon and go hunting for Liberals.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike

      Guns don't kill people, people kill people. A car, or can of gasoline and a bic lighter, or rat poison could do a lot more damage than a gun. Wake up and live in reality.

      March 28, 2011 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Tom

    hell yeah cledus! lets go down der to dat dere radioshack n' get us sum sat-o-lite Tee-Vee n' a new gun so i can shoot my cousin who slept wit my daughter! ~Only in America. I'm glad I'm immigrating

    March 28, 2011 at 4:35 pm | Report abuse |
    • Denizen Kate

      Yes, do please go. And take at least one other person with you who thinks that all gun owners are red necks who practice incest. Moron.

      March 28, 2011 at 4:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • SDN

      @Denizen Kate. There are, no doubt, exceptions to the rule – and there is a good bit of data suggesting it is, in fact, a rule.

      March 28, 2011 at 4:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dennis

      Good bye. Adios. Don't come back.

      March 28, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Joe Dirt

    Every time it rains, you'll be tempted to shoot your TV for sure, now.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:38 pm | Report abuse |
  8. James

    What's next, buy a 50 inch TV get a free Couch with a built in toilet and a 3 month Subscription to the Batin channel ?

    March 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Pedro

    Can't wait for someone to hold up the radio shack with their free gun.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Tony

    Get TVDEVO.COM instead.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:45 pm | Report abuse |
  11. RocketScientist

    The dish only brings in Faux Noise, however.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:46 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Maestro

    @Pedro: That made me laugh, sick joke as it was.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
  13. AMP

    Completely uncalled for. They should have offred something better than this so people can learn from it. You don't want to encourage the people to kill someone. What a Shame no govt. officer has come forward to stop them! Need create a Civilized Society not Criminal one.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dennis

      A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

      March 28, 2011 at 4:59 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Peter Clemenza

    Leave the gun. Take the satellite dish....

    March 28, 2011 at 4:53 pm | Report abuse |
  15. SDN

    And I am a stickler for rules. I ALWAYS follow the rules.

    March 28, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Report abuse |
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
« Back to main