Excellent buying experience at Big 5

[Nathanael_Greene]

I'd like to share a recent very positive shopping experience I had at the Big 5 store in Wichita Falls, Texas.

I live in the D/FW area, where we don't have Big 5 stores. Last weekend, though, I was in Wichita Falls. While there, I found the Big 5 store and decided to drop in. For some time, I've been in the market for a Marlin 1894C rifle, and I'd read here that Big 5 carries them and often has them on sale. (For whatever reason, 1894C rifles are virtually unobtainable in D/FW.)

At the Big 5 store, I was very pleasantly surprised to find the rifle, and indeed, it was on sale, for $299.

That was nice enough--but what really made an impression on me was the quality of service.

The salesman who helped me, Mark, was not only helpful, he actually knew the entire procedure, and very quickly and efficiently completed the sale.

After many experiences with under-educated, indifferent-at-best sales staff at other chains, I was incredibly impressed with the service I received at Big 5.

If there are any guys in DFW who are looking for a rifle, the trip to Wichita Falls would be worth it.

 

[Ivy Mike]

The Big-5 near me is a very friendly and efficient seller of firearms.

I recently purchased a Mosin-Nagant from them. The sale was quick and the sales staff very helpful.

I'll be picking up an M44 from them if they ever get more.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

I bought an M-38 from the Big-5 here and when I came back to pick up it after the 10-day wait, it was on sale for $50 less than I paid for it. I remarked about this to the clerk, and he gave me a $50 refund without being asked. I was impressed, and continue doing business there.

Besides, it's the only place in my town where you can buy any shooting or hunting supplies.

 

[GhostRider-Nine]

Yeah well....then there was my experience last week. I went into the local Big 5 and walked up to the firearms counter. After waiting a few minutes someone calls over and asks if I need help, which I reply to with a yes. A sales girl comes over and I ask if they have any Winchester lever actions in .44 magnum. She rolls her eyes and tells me she has no idea what I just said. I told her to please get someone who could help me, and added with a smile that she might not want to step behind the firearms counter if she knows NOTHING about firearms. She leaves and a few minutes later the manager shows up. He procedes to tell me that I had no right to be so rude to the sales girl, and that maybe I should just leave. I told him exactly what happened, and that my friendly comment was made with a smile...and that if the girl took offence, it was probably because it was true, AND she had a VERY thin skin. Then I asked him if he wanted me to leave or buy a rifle. I ended up with the rifle.

 

[UnknownSailor]

It's a trick. Get an axe.

 

[George S.]

We have two Big 5 stores around here and both places have people at the firearms counter that are hunters and target shooters.

I bought a Mosin 91/30 last fall from one of the stores and it turned out that the store manager who waited on me was a collector of M-N's. He took out his entire supply of 91/30's for me to look at and helped me a bunch with a selection.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the other store to buy some Wolf 7.62x54R ammo and wound up spending about an hour shooting the breeze with the manager at that store.

It's really refreshing to have people like that at a retail sporting goods store who are happy to help. Now, if only the guy at Wally World would understand which end of a rifle to hand you when he takes it out of their display case....

 

[armoredman]

When I had Big 5 as a customer, the managers told me the milsurps are on a rotating sale policy - the same item will be on sale about every 3-4 weeks, provided they have them in stock. As for MNs, I can get them cheaper from Aztec, but the ones I saw at Big 5 weren't bad. I also echo that most managers I knew at Big 5 knew which end of the tube the bullet came out of....which is more than I can say for Wally World.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

What I like most about Big 5 is that they appear to trust their in-store managers to make command decisions to keep customers happy on the spot. No questions. No hassles. They can lower prices, make changes, provide refunds, etc. quickly and efficiently. I tend to find their sales staff pretty helpful in all departments. Much more so then I do in other retail chains.

Here in West LA, their gun guys are pretty good. There as a new gal behind the counter when I bought my Marlin .45Colt. She was stated up front that she was new on the DOJ computer system and asked if I could be patient or should she call a manager to speed things up. Glad she asked, but I told her to take her time while I fiddled with the rifle.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Here in Utah, the Big 5 stores that I have been to definitely don't seem like much of a gun place. The few rifles available felt like they had been crammed in the corner hid behind all the paintball supplies. No pistols at all.

Maybe I'll go back and give them another try or are they just more gun-oriented in other states?

 

[Omni04]

i havn't had much experience at all buying guns.... but it is really good of you to give praise to the store and staff.... working in retail for as long as i have, it is really good when the business is complemented...

and for the record, ive lived in South Bend, IN and Elizabethtown KY, and i have never heard of that store :/

 

[gunsmith]

you guys are lucky

the ones near SF bay area seem to only hire anti gun morons.