Dick's wouldn't let me cycle the action of the Mossberg 30-30

[Bullet Bob]

I don't have an opinion on the store's policy, but here's something I could see:

You work the action; the next guy says, I want to buy one that doesn't have marks on it from the action being worked. It's hard to satisfy us.

 

[lance22]

Dick's is anti-handgun, and I'm surprised they sell guns at all. Do yourself a favor and never patronize their store again. I wouldn't doubt it if they donate to the Brady Campaign with the money you spend there.

If they won't let you work the action on a gun, it just goes to show that they aren't interested in customer service. Why don't you go somewhere where they WANT to sell you a gun?

 

[FCFC]

Dick's is anti-handgun, and I'm surprised they sell guns at all. Do yourself a favor and never patronize their store again. I wouldn't doubt it if they donate to the Brady Campaign with the money you spend there.

If they won't let you work the action on a gun, it just goes to show that they aren't interested in customer service. Why don't you go somewhere where they WANT to sell you a gun?

I heard that Sarah Brady owns 50.1% of DKS.
Hidden, in a trust. But you can check if you don't believe me.

 

[ImARugerFan]

I shop there all the time, they usually have the best ammo prices around, but I don't bother with guns there. If they won't order me a gun I want, what's the point of even selling guns? Kind of like why even bother having a gun on the shelf if you're not going to let anyone cycle the action.

 

[MiddleAgedKen]

Not only is the customer service horrible and knowledge totally absent, you end up hurting local business and giving your money to outfits who will dump you and all other shooters in a heartbeat if it suits the upper management.

These are pretty compelling arguments. I quit buying ammunition at Wally World for the same reasons (also, because my time is worth more than the few dollars I save there).

 

[cracked butt]

Cabela's isn't a box, it's a way of life ;-)

Yes, but even there your not guaranteed to get a knowledgeable or even non-surly salesperson.

Last year when I was in Cabela's to inspect and buy a Swedish mauser, I looked the gun over and told the salesperson that I'd buy it if the bore looks good. He started to tell me that I could stick a piece of paper in the action when I pulled the bolt and handed it to him and told him to hold it for a minute. I could sense that he was getting very angry because I pulled the bolt out of the action and I told him "unless I find a reason not to, I'm buying this gun today- do you want to sell it?" e wasn't very happy with me, but he went along with it.

The bore was pristine and I bought it. I can't figure out what his source of indignation was- if you were to bring a used gun into the store to sell to them, they will carefully inspect it and check the barrel with a borescope before quoting a price. A person buying from them doesn't have such an advantage.

 

[HB]

I've never really had much of a problem with Dick's. I bought a Remmington 870 there a few years back for a good price and the employees were relatively helpful

Although I did go in there on day, ask if they had any 7.62x39. The guy simply replied that "that is a military caliber, We don't sell military calibers" I almost fell down laughing. At least I didn't point out that 9mm, .38, .45, .223, .308, .30-06, .45-70, 12 gauge... were all used by the military in the past. A few weeks later they did have some cheap 7.62x39

I think they are OK. They have a pretty wide selection of guns for a box store and have hard to find ammo (slugs, steel shot etc), well, at least it's not at Wally World. They have strange practices, and they are OK for the average hunter

HB

 

[MAKster]

To those saying don't buy at the chains there often is no choice. Most small gun stores have stopped stocking the big sellers like Remington 870 Express, Mossberg 500, Ruger 10/22, and Marlin 336. Because the chain stores buy in large volume they usually sell these models retail for less than what the gun stores can buy them for wholesale.

 

[Noxx]

Big 5 - at least the ones in my area of CA - puts trigger locks on all their guns. Doesn't really matter to me most of the time, but it drives me nuts that when looking at a Mosin I can't inspect the bore (or decock the bolt before handing the gun back, because they sure don't know how to)

I feel the same way. I don't want to out my local big5 manager for violating policy, but at one of my stores they remove the trigger locks once I explained to them the removal of the bolt for bore inspection. I routinely inspect their inventory for Tula's in good shape and snap them up when I see them.

 

[BAT1]

Every time I go in one of those Boxes, I visualize govt regulators, insurance cos, and politicians lining the entrance way handing you a buggy. Always get to cycle stuff at the local shop. What you need is personal service, man. You could try some at the range, with some friends, then get the discount. Smile for the camera.

 

[Sistema1927]

Wow, like I couldn't see the direction that this thread was going to take...

 

[Mp7]

Vote with your feet.

 

[lordgroom]

I asked an employee at Dick's to remove the block restrciting the action from being cycled and he removed it. There was no problem. Some time there is little choice in buying ammunition/ guns. In my state, many of the small shops are gone.

 

[CountGlockula]

Their house, their rules.

 

[M203Sniper]

I asked an employee at Dick's to remove the block restrciting the action from being cycled and he removed it. There was no problem. Some time there is little choice in buying ammunition/ guns. In my state, many of the small shops are gone.

but this is Arizona. Throw a rock you'll hit a gunstore.


Where are you in NJ? IIRC there are still good places to shop small on 23 in Butler, in Passaic/Saddlebrook and Rariton TWP.

 

[misANTHrope]

Dick's is anti-handgun, huh? Makes you wonder why they sell all that handgun ammo, doesn't it?

As for the OP... sounds bizarre to me. How are you supposed to check the chamber of the gun like you're supposed to do if you can't cycle the action? I don't recall us ever putting zip-ties on lever guns when I worked for Yankee Sporting Goods.

 

[roscoe]

Does anyone have an address where I could write a letter? If I could find one, I figure they should know they just lost a sale.

 

[mbt2001]

Yes, but even there your not guaranteed to get a knowledgeable or even non-surly salesperson.

Do you honestly expect to get one?? All of you who have the above point are a little optimistic eh?

Do you not see a pattern here? Do ANY larger store offer knowledgeable, professional sales folks?? Not really. Do you want to know why? Because folks like you didn't like being pressured, wanted to pay less for each item, yada yada yada... You have made the "box stores" what they are and now you hate them for it...

Jeez.

To all you folks who want to write a letter, propose some solutions. IF YOU DO, then perhaps you might change things. Just writing and saying "I WILL NEVER SHOP THERE AGAIN" is bunk, because you will and you know you will.

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc.
Public Company, Headquarters Location
300 Industry Dr., RIDC Park W, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
phone: (412)809-0100 , fax: (412)809-0724
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com

Go easy on Dick's they are slugging it out up there in Yankee land. We need to support stores that sell guns not try to run them out of the business. I used to shop at a "mom and pop" gun shop, the owner had a heart attack and died. Guess what? NO shop no more... Big Box stores don't have that happen.

 

[W.E.G.]

This thread is seriously drifting toward thread lock.

There is only one appropriate conclusion as to a "company policy" that disallows the customer to fully inspect the product, including "working the action."

That conclusion is, the business and the staff have no idea how to properly sell firearms. No more, no less.

It disappoints me that there are those who would accept this sort of thing by chirping, "Their business, their rules..."

All the seller needs to do is, carefully remove the locking device, and demonstrate to the customer the correct method of inspecting, and "working" the action. A gentle reminder to "go easy" on somebody's new gun is as far as a salesman should intrude.

 

[vtoddball]

No offense, but that's their store policy...if you don't like it, don't shop there.

When someone mentions in passing that the sun is too hot, are you equally helpful by telling them they should should move to Canada? Talk about an overreaction. :banghead:

 

[Claude Clay]

Dick's philosophy is to sell HUNTING equipment. if a rifle does not fit into their neat little pigeon hole they will neither stock it or order it. thusly i have been told by a store executive i meet last year at my club.

 

[FCFC]

There is only one appropriate conclusion as to a "company policy" that disallows the customer to fully inspect the product, including "working the action."

That conclusion is, the business and the staff have no idea how to properly sell firearms. No more, no less.

Interesting conclusion.

How many guns does Dick's sell, anyway? The answer of "zero" would strongly support your conclusion. Else,...

 

[berettaprofessor]

Interesting observation about the sales clerk and the bolt removal at Cabelas. The Cabelas near me removed the bolts from all their guns. Makes it hard for a leftie to look for left-handed actions and they've lost a sale or two when I've run out of time to look.

 

[AmishFury]

I have never bought a rifle without cycling the action. It seemed strange, but they would not budge. Oh well, they lost a sale.

hope you let them know they lost the sale when you left