Firearm Record Book

[grant1265]

While i'm finishing out my basement and gunroom, I decided that I should make a firearm record book to keep track of my rapidly growing collection and also in case of fire or burglary. This will be kept in a liberty fire resistant safe in a steel lined room with a steel door and a deadbolt lock. I have a few three ring binders for this. Any ideas from people that have done this themselves or some pointers on information I should include.

 

[Rembrandt]

Picked up these at a gun show years ago.....worked well until the collection grew too large, now use NM Gun Collectors software, allows the addition of photos and other information. http://www.nmcollector.net/nmguncollector/

 

[22-rimfire]

I record manufacturer, model number, serial number, date purchased, purchase price, seller, whether or not purchased from a FFL dealer, box, papers, etc. I also record if I have mounted a scope and the approximate cost of the scope and rings. This is done on a spread sheet. I save multiple copies, hard copy or two, and have backups and so forth in different locations in case of fire.

 

[dwood4215]

Stay away from NMcollector

I had purchased this program, and when I updated my Java it quit working. This is a software problem, and when I wrote to this person I was treated very rudely. here is the email thread of both sides.


me - I ran this program once and now that I had to update my java for work
 problems I get a message that I need to install java and that I am not
 connected to the internet, which I am. I paid money to have a program that 
works.



His Reply: How much value does your last sentence really add to the conversation?

 You told me it worked then you changed your system and now it doesn't work. 
How am I supposed to have any control over what you do to your system that
 causes it to no longer work?

All I can offer you is this page for some ideas:
http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/Mac/ 

Hopefully that helps. Otherwise you might consider paying somebody to help
 you figure out what you did to your mac that caused a previously working
 program to stop working. I am not able to help you with that. 

Clay

My response: The only thing I did was updated my Java. I have worked in the IT business for 30 years, and have been teaching it for 10. You need to make sure that your program works with the new versions of Java. The last sentence lets you know that I am frustrated with your program when I bought it I also had the same problem and other problems. It took two days to get it working. Your attitude also does not help this situation. I am a customer and am giving this type of statement from you.



His reply: Go away - you bother me.

I informed him that I would post his responses, and this was his reply.

Go ahead, make my day!

I will quote you (demonstrating your attitude and incompentence) in my
responses to your posts. *I have searches that tell me when anyone posts
anything about me or my software in any forms so I will easily find and
respond to your posts.

Nobody likes to deal with a jerk. *For an IT professional you are a bit
ignorant as well. *I posted the information you need. *Try to follow it.

Clay



This is not a reputable business, or person. STAY AWAY.

 

[Carne Frio]

They have free software for inventorying your personal property.
Some let you use photos of the items, too. I think you can even
do it in Excel. Here is a link to one with a good review from CNET.

http://www.whatyouown.org/

You can copy your completed inventory to a cd and store it offsite.

 

[Cluster Bomb]

I don't remember where ive seen it but either on this or hipoints forums that someone was working on a firearm database program. If you have a large collection this might be of value to you.

there are many ways you can catalog your inventory. My fave is using Mysql database with php. That way i can program it to retrive "value" or prices on my guns, Images from me and or internet. and results for accessories from amazon and such. and i can add or subtract from anywhere from the internet and it is stored on a server some place where the host is (hostgator). but that may be too complicated for some.

simple spread sheeting works as well. You can save it online as well as on your computer and even print it out. that way you have a tripple backup. If you store it online be sure its reputable.

 

[rcmodel]

I have used an Excel spreadsheet forever.
Well, O.K., not forever, but since Windows v2.0 was my operating system & Excel v2.0 was my spreadsheet software.

I keep weekly HD backups, plus a copy on CD disk at my sons house, and a hardcopy print-out & a flash-drive copy in the safe.

Info on the spread sheet:
COUNT = How many guns
RECORDED TO = Bought from FFL dealer or private purchase.
MAKE/MODEL
SERIAL #
CAL. OR GA.
BARREL LENGTH
CAPACITY
FINISH
BOUGHT FROM
PURCHASE DATE
PRICE PAID
CURRENT REPLACEMENT COST
ACCESSORIES
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

rc

 

[lowerunit411]

i use the excel spreadsheet as well. so far so good.

 

[sig228]

I use an excel spreadsheet with all my details (model number, serial number purchase price, etc.) that I print to an adobe PDF file. Behind that as part of the PDF file are scanned copies of my purchase documents along with photos of each firearm. I also have my firearms insurance policy as part of this PDF. I password protect the file and keep it in three places: USB key on my keychain, on my computer (backed up with Carbonite) and in the "cloud". (You can get a free 5G cloud drive on amazon). The USB key that I use is

http://www.google.com/products/cata...a=X&ei=cybATuDSLpG5tge_2J2fBg&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAg

About as close to a real "key" as you can get. I'm not worried about security if I lose my keys, the Adobe encryption is about as good as it gets. Security on Amazon's cloud drive is a non issue for me also (besides, the file is password protected)

Also on the "key" are my other important documents such as my home car and life insurance policies. Of course, my wife knows the password as do my grown children.

The only drawback is that you need to own a full version of Adobe or some other PDF making software. The freebee "reader" will not allow you to add pages and photos, etc.

Obsessive? Yeah, maybe, but they are MY guns.

Oh, yeah, I also keep a "paper" notebook, LOL....

 

[nmGunCollector]

NM Collector Software Support Issue

I had purchased this program, and when I updated my Java it quit working. This is a software problem, and when I wrote to this person I was treated very rudely. here is the email thread of both sides.


me - I ran this program once and now that I had to update my java for work
 problems I get a message that I need to install java and that I am not
 connected to the internet, which I am. I paid money to have a program that 
works.



His Reply: How much value does your last sentence really add to the conversation?

 You told me it worked then you changed your system and now it doesn't work. 
How am I supposed to have any control over what you do to your system that
 causes it to no longer work?

All I can offer you is this page for some ideas:
http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/Mac/ 

Hopefully that helps. Otherwise you might consider paying somebody to help
 you figure out what you did to your mac that caused a previously working
 program to stop working. I am not able to help you with that. 

Clay

My response: The only thing I did was updated my Java. I have worked in the IT business for 30 years, and have been teaching it for 10. You need to make sure that your program works with the new versions of Java. The last sentence lets you know that I am frustrated with your program when I bought it I also had the same problem and other problems. It took two days to get it working. Your attitude also does not help this situation. I am a customer and am giving this type of statement from you.



His reply: Go away - you bother me.

I informed him that I would post his responses, and this was his reply.

Go ahead, make my day!

I will quote you (demonstrating your attitude and incompentence) in my
responses to your posts. *I have searches that tell me when anyone posts
anything about me or my software in any forms so I will easily find and
respond to your posts.

Nobody likes to deal with a jerk. *For an IT professional you are a bit
ignorant as well. *I posted the information you need. *Try to follow it.

Clay



This is not a reputable business, or person. STAY AWAY.

What he posted is not quite the full context of the messages. :banghead: However, in keeping with proper email etiquette, I will not forward his messages unless he gives me permission. If anyone can get his permission (in writing so I can see it) I will forward the full transcripts of the messages to anyone who is interested - or even post them to this forum. As it is now he told me not to contact him again so I won't.

This guy is a very difficult person to deal with. I have had to deal with him in the past. I was frustrated with him right off of the bat this time because of our history and because of his accusatory attitude in this email so I was a bit sarcastic with him.

Despite his accusations, NM Collector Software works fine with the latest version of Java (currently 1.6.29) on Mac, Windows, and Linux. I provided him with a url on how to make sure Java is set up properly on a Mac. However, he is so fixated on his diagnosis of the problem as being that NM Collector Software will not run on the latest version of Java that he is unable to see past that strong conviction of his.

With a purchase price of only $19.95 for a lifetime subscription ($49.95 delivered on a custom USB flash drive), there is only so much time I can spend dealing with difficult people like him. Other software companies sell their support at a hefty sum, often hundreds of dollars an hour. Perhaps this guy is used to dealing with those companies. If he was paying me $200.00 an hour to deal with him I would have been much nicer to him.

I have gladly gone out of my way to help other people who are nice to me even if it means helping them figure out what is wrong with their computer configuration. I have permission from them to provide their names as references to anybody who asks. If you want my support at least be nice to me about it. That is how the vast majority of people have been.

I'll bet there are even people on this forum who are happy with the software, happy with my support, and, despite the false accusations from dwood4215, are successfully running it even on the latest version of Java. I would love to hear from some of you all if you read this message.

Thanks for the band width.

Sincerely,

Clay
[email protected]

 

[dwood4215]

no false accusations

I posted the entire email thread up to when I posted this. The only change made to my system was a Java update, which is a Beta Java. I have three identical systems and the software would work on my two backups, but these are not the ones I needed it to work on. I am only difficult when I have problems that do not get resolved. I wish this gentleman the best, and he can post my emails any time he wishes. They are the same ones that I posted.

 

[dwood4215]

reply to nmcollector

Yes, I can be a difficult customer when I purchase a product that does not work as advertised, or that has difficult to get running. As a business person you need to be able to deal with this type of customer and all customers with professionalism. I have been a business owner and service manager for many years and would never talk to one of my customers in this fashion.

That being said I am also one of the first to praise a company for their customer service and products. When the software was working I was impressed with the features that it had and would have been glad to be able to continue to use it. Since it will no longer work on my primary system I have had to go back to other ways of keeping my inventory.

I am sorry that we had to go to this point and I am not going any further. I do not play these games, but do believe people should know about a companies customer service. The Java I uploaded was the Beta of 7 for your information, so you can check your code before it is released. This I hope will assist you in not having issues with other customers. I had to use the beta version for a new conferencing software that I have to beta test for my work.

 

[nmGunCollector]

NM Collector Software DOES run on Java 7

The Java I uploaded was the Beta of 7 for your information, so you can check your code before it is released. This I hope will assist you in not having issues with other customers. I had to use the beta version for a new conferencing software that I have to beta test for my work.

I will try to be as nice as I can about this. You have just proven my point. With your 30 years of IT experience you did not think it was relevant to tell me that you are using an incomplete Beta version of java 7? Perhaps, in your original email to me, instead of saying "I paid money to have a program that 
works," perhaps it would have been more productive to say "I am using a beta version of Java 7 for the Mac."

Would this be the Beta Java 7 for the Development community that clearly states that many required Mac OSX features (including the app launcher) are not yet available? As an IT professional don't you think that is a relevant piece of information to consider before falsely accusing the application that needs those features of being at fault?

For your information, NM Collector Software does run under Java 7 on Windows and Linux. As already noted, the port of Java 7 to the Mac is not yet complete. I am sure once that port is complete it will run fine under Java 7 on the Mac as well.

This is why you are so hard to work with. You claim to be an IT professional with 30 years of experience but you leave out relevant information that any IT professional would recognise is important to share, send me on wild goose chases (which I refused to go on this time) and then accuse my product of being at fault. I have a history of this kind of treatment from you. That is why, after you would not take my advice, I refused to go on your wild goose chase and told you to go away.

I rest my case.

Clay

 

[writerinmo]

For when your computer dies:

http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/cr-bound-book/13211599

You don't have to be a C&R holder, just a good way to keep track of your firearms as long as you have less than 344 of them...

 

[chevyman097]

Meh i know its off topic seeing as this isnt a review thread. But its enough evidence to make me not want your software. Dare i be a hindrance to the almighty creator NmGuncollector.....if only all program designers were free of these buggers called customers that are not computer geniuses...darn

 

[Davek1977]

With a purchase price of only $19.95 for a lifetime subscription ($49.95 delivered on a custom USB flash drive), there is only so much time I can spend dealing with difficult people like him.

or......maybe you shouldn't market a product you aren't willing to provide support for. Put it on the market for free....there's a ton of free software out there, and people generally don't expect much in the way of support on free products. However, you are making a profit on this, and its your duty to provide service to your customers, even if some of them are annoying in your view. If you wont/can't provide support for your products (or get over past grudges, as it seems) no one should be buying your product..esp. when a common spreadsheet serves the same purpose for most people intelligent enough to use one

 

[Flopsweat]

...

The only change made to my system was a Java update, which is a Beta Java.

...

Wait, you're running a BETA version of Java and complaining that his software won't run on it? You may have worked in IT for a few decades, but it must not have been in a techincal position. You cannot possibly expect him to support that. This really ruins your credibility.

 

[northark147]

I just use notebook paper and photos, a copy hidden in my gun room, and another in my safe deposit box.

As for this software customer service debate. I'll side with the developer on this one as it appears these two do have a history. I have even seen MO Bullets tell someone good riddance, and have fun with the bullets he likes so much from company x on this forum, and I think most of us can agree he has excellent customer service. At some point if someone keeps being difficult it is better to go on with bettering your product and helping other customers, than to keep dealing with the same old crap. I suppose he could just ignore the guy, but I fell it is better to tell someone to go away, and tell them why you are doing so.

 

[BeerSleeper]

Yes, I can be a difficult customer when I purchase a product that does not work as advertised, or that has difficult to get running. As a business person you need to be able to deal with this type of customer and all customers with professionalism.

No, he doesn't. Being a business person does not mean one *has* to take abuse from a rude and unreasonable customer. I will tolerate a certain amount of rude and unreasonable behavior from a customer, but beyond that point, I will ask them to leave, and take both their business and their rude behavior with them.

I have been a business owner and service manager for many years and would never talk to one of my customers in this fashion.

You have dealt with irate, unreasonable customers, and yet you would still be willing to be one? My dealings with rude customers only encourage me to be more polite when I am the one asking for someone's assistance.

He was rude to you, but he was justified. As I read your transcript, you were rude first. You were the one, asking for help, but you couldn't say please, or come off polite in anyway, and finished with a gripe about "what I paid for didn't work" in what looks like your first communication. Before he's even made his first attempt to help you, you're already griping. It is very easy to describe symptoms of a problem without just griping about the fact that it doesn't work. List the relevant symptoms, include versions of supporting software (java), and finish with a "would you please help me?"

If you have paid for a software license, that includes support, you should get it, but when you put beta software software on a system, you assume personal responsibility for supporting that system. Beta software breaks things all the time, a competent IT Pro knows this.

I

 

[Sav .250]

What ever form of record keeping you end up with.....get pictures. Especially the serial number if possible. Pictures show detail..

 

[SleazyRider]

When in doubt about customer service, ask yourself "What would L.L. Bean do?" I think I know. And it has worked for him.

 

[ultradoc]

I use ATF Publication 3312.8 and have pictures of the serial number and picture of the firearm. I have duplicates of all pics and paperwork and keep them in seperate areas of my living quarters.

 

[nmGunCollector]

Free Gun Collection Inventory Database Software

maybe you shouldn't market a product you aren't willing to provide support for. ....

I do support it. Most people are quite happy with my support - but then again most people are very considerate and respectful when they ask for help and aren't "IT Professionals" trying to prove their worth. The vast majority of the time I am helping them resolve problems with their computer configuration - something above and beyond supporting just my software.

However, in hindsight, I should have taken "the high road" and treated him more "Christ-like" but I really do not respond well to threats (thus, the "Go ahead, make my day response"). BTW, we have been watching Dirty Harry movies lately - which probably partially explains my less than "Christ-like" attitude towards this particular customer.



There are not too many problems with my software. In fact, Brownells sells the USB flash drive version of it http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=32292/Product/GUN-COLLECTOR-SOFTWARE (they insist on calling it gun collecting software even though it handles much more) and has never returned a USB to me. When I asked them what they do when they get complaints or returns they told me they get no complaints or returns.

Put it on the market for free....

Here you go:

This is not a for sale post. The software is fully functional and completely free without strings attached.

Many of you may know of my NM Gun Collector Software. For many years it was a leader in the gun collecting software industry and offered for sale by Aim and Brownells. For a while, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) even used to deliver a brochure of it with every rifle they shipped. When Microsoft changed their deployment standards with the release of Windows Vista they broke the standard installation of NM Gun Collector Software and required changes in the very structure of the program in order to fix the broken installation process.

I figured out a work around so NM Gun Collector Software can still be installed on Vista and Windows 7 but this change in Microsoft policy caused me to abandon the Microsoft development platform and move on to java where I created a whole new collection software for any collection and any platform (but that is another story and another product – which does have a free version but is not the topic of this post). When I released the new software I stopped offering NM Gun Collector Software for sale.

Now I have decided to make this same full blown NM Gun Collector Software Inventory Database Program available to the gun collecting community for free. Please follow the INSTALLATION Instructions and you will be fine.

Thank you,

Clay Pryor

 

[nmGunCollector]

Positive Feedback for NM Collector Software

I do support it. Most people are quite happy with my support ...

As a result of all of the commotion over this one disgruntled customer and how I treated him, I started a guestbook for feedback. There are a few people who have taken the time to provide positive feedback on NM Collector Software so far. Please take a look or even leave a comment yourself.

Thanks!

Clay Pryor

 

[bob barker]

I had purchased this program, and when I updated my Java it quit working. This is a software problem, and when I wrote to this person I was treated very rudely. here is the email thread of both sides.


me - I ran this program once and now that I had to update my java for work
 problems I get a message that I need to install java and that I am not
 connected to the internet, which I am. I paid money to have a program that 
works.



His Reply: How much value does your last sentence really add to the conversation?

 You told me it worked then you changed your system and now it doesn't work. 
How am I supposed to have any control over what you do to your system that
 causes it to no longer work?

All I can offer you is this page for some ideas:
http://www.nmcollectorsoftware.com/Mac/ 

Hopefully that helps. Otherwise you might consider paying somebody to help
 you figure out what you did to your mac that caused a previously working
 program to stop working. I am not able to help you with that. 

Clay

My response: The only thing I did was updated my Java. I have worked in the IT business for 30 years, and have been teaching it for 10. You need to make sure that your program works with the new versions of Java. The last sentence lets you know that I am frustrated with your program when I bought it I also had the same problem and other problems. It took two days to get it working. Your attitude also does not help this situation. I am a customer and am giving this type of statement from you.



His reply: Go away - you bother me.

I informed him that I would post his responses, and this was his reply.

Go ahead, make my day!

I will quote you (demonstrating your attitude and incompentence) in my
responses to your posts. *I have searches that tell me when anyone posts
anything about me or my software in any forms so I will easily find and
respond to your posts.

Nobody likes to deal with a jerk. *For an IT professional you are a bit
ignorant as well. *I posted the information you need. *Try to follow it.

Clay



This is not a reputable business, or person. STAY AWAY.

Thanks for the review of this product, I was searching for reviews of the software and this thread came up. I'll pass.