A Good Gunshop Story

[PennsyPlinker]

Greetings all

I read on a regular basis how much people seem to hate or have trouble with their local gunshops. I have always had good experiences with the two in our area, more so with one than the other, but mainly because I frequent it more often. But I wanted to relate a customer service story regarding a somewhat recent purchase.

Back in the beginning of March, I bought a Taurus PT145 Millenium Pro from the one shop. It was a very nice gun, and worked well, but I had a problem with the front sight, so I took it in to see what needed to be done to fix it. They told me it would go to the gunsmith. To make a long story a little shorter, the gunsmith is semi retired, and did not get to it. Somehow things got confused, and one partner thought it had been shipped off to Taurus to be fixed, while the other sent it off to the gunsmith again. It still did not get fixed. I called to check on its progress late last week, and at that point the owner offered to pick up a new gun of the same model over the weekend and swap it out. I stopped by this morning and he had not been able to accomplish that for whatever reason.

So, I am standing there wondering what to do next, and I spied a couple of other .45s in the case. I asked, "Since you were going to swap out a new one for mine with the broken sight, how about full credit towards one of these?"

"No problem, we'd be happy to!", was the response.

So now, instead of a Taurus PT 145 Millenium Pro, I am now preparing to go see how my brandy new Springfield XD 45 ACP goes bang at the range later on today. I got full credit for the Taurus, no charge for the paperwork, and a handful of ammo to stick into it to make sure everything goes bang the way it is supposed to. It is a little bit bigger than the Taurus, but I think I can get used to that.

But once again, I have to say I am happy to have two such gunshops within five miles of my home where I am treated well, people are friendly, and things get taken care of when they go wrong.

 

[30 cal slob]

glad to see your local shop treats you well.

i live in a state where one legal slip-up can land an FFL in jail. so, most of the dealers I have frequented are extremely knowledgeable of the law (what you can and cannot have as well as lawful use of deadly force). so it's rare that i get lousy advice from a local gun shop.

however, on the customer service end of things, we get treated like crap for the most part. lol.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Glad you have it so well. My local gunshop tried to $crew me over 2X in one day after I have spent OVER $8,000 in LESS than 2 years...

I will no longer go inside.

 

[glassman]

Gunshop Story

Glad to hear there is still such a thing as an honest business man. I read on this site and others all the time about the dissatisfaction with dealers and it makes me hesitant to buy at times. I ask a dealer if they stand behind what they sell before I make the puchase. I also seek out others who have used the store and ask questions. The other thing is that I stick with quality makers. I might pay a little more up front but it will usually work as expected without going to the smith for an F&B. Let us know how you like your new XD.

 

[Nil]

A big thumbs up to local businesses that know how to treat their customers. My local gun shop is quite good also.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Name of the shop, please?

 

[PennsyPlinker]

Dick, the shop is Eagle Arms in Breinigsville PA. I got to pull the bang switch a few times while on my way to the library today, but the biggest thing it told me is that I need to practice more! I don't know if that is good news or bad. If the target were a real bad guy, there would be nothing left of him, but the groupings I got were not what I have seen others reporting. Of course, it might mean that everyone else is a liar and I really am a great shot!

 

[davhina]

I could not decide between the .45xd and the taurus pt111 9mm.
So i bought both:
Both good guns and carry them according to what i am wearing.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Glad you have it so well. My local gunshop tried to $crew me over 2X in one day after I have spent OVER $8,000 in LESS than 2 years...

Mind sharing with us?

 

[cheygriz]

That's a wonderful story. I'm old enough to remember when 3 out of 4 did business that way. Too bad so many of them have gone the other way.

I traded with a dealer for 15 years who took good care of his customers. He sold the shop and retired. The new owner was a "modern" businessman. The shop went under in 6 months.

 

[Im283]

I have bought five guns since the calender year began. I bought the least expensive of them first back in February. I had asked about an extra magazine. I was told they would call when it came in ( a couple of weeks).
A few weeks went by and no call. One day shortly therafter I was going by the store and stopped to see what was up. Magically the mag was now in stock, I pointed out I recieved no call. Reaction was a lot of - who cares.
I said I still wanted it and asked for a small discount. Mind you I was just looking for a bone to be thrown my way. 5% to 10%. I was given a sound that rather sounded like the phhhhsstt sound. Like I was nuts or something. Like an idiot I bought it anyway. Okay, I am an idiot but just the same.
REhttp://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=272976 ) Now mind you this is after buying a pistol, overpriced gun shop ammo, and no call back on the mag.

I hope the guy who owns the shop, name starts with an "R", realizes since that day I have bought four more guns, from dealers other than himself. I am understanding that small shops cannot compete with large stores. I am aware and really do not mind spending a few extra dollars on an initial purchase to help the little guy (local mind you) out. But I hope he realizes that his not giving me a $1.80 (ten percent off a mag he should have phoned me about, and told me he would ) discount has cost him the profit on sales of two other pistols and two rifles, not to mention accessories. In my estimation near $300 in profit for his business.

Anyway I have vowed to never spend a penny at this place ever again.

I know this is not really the High Road, but others ought to be warned. To me warning others about poor shops is High Road.

A BIG nod to Gander Mtn, Pro Bass, and WD Sporting Goods (big thumbs up!)for giving service and pricing like a buyer appreciates.

 

[Revolver Justice]

Not going back to a store over a a couple of dollars is kind of petty. It is possible they forgot to call, alot happens in two weeks. I run into this all the time at my family's car dealership. Everybody that walks on the lot thinks they know the real price and I am trying to cheat them. They nit pick and waste lots of time when all that has to be done is tell me how much you want to spend and I will tell you the bottom dollar. It will save everybody from wasting time.

 

[4Shooters]

Not going back to a store over a a couple of dollars is kind of petty.

They nit pick and waste lots of time when all that has to be done is tell me how much you want to spend and I will tell you the bottom dollar. It will save everybody from wasting time.