Old Dog
Member
Fraud and deception are criminal offenses and should be prosecuted.
Yes, and I think that is what many of us have experienced. Some of my experiences:
"Oh, no, this pistol comes with only one magazine." (This was where I had to go home, dredge up a recent gun rag article -- and even manufacturer's ads --noting the pistol is sold with TWO magazines.
"Oh, no, I have to sell you this one, it's store policy." (When I politely request that I want to buy a new pistol in the box, NOT the one that's sat in the display case for six months, shows substantial wear on the barrel, has had the slide slammed home on an empty chamber AND been dry-fired hundreds of times by moronic customers and stupid, bored gunshop employees).
The old bait-and-swap. Closing the deal on a new model Springfield Armory Mil-Spec (3-dot sights, wood grips, etc.), the gunshop clerk brings out an older model SA GI model (tiny issue sights, plastic grips, etc.) in a cardboard box ... "Sorry," I say, "THAT's the gun I want," pointing to the display model under the counter ... "Not this one you've had hanging around since 1992." "Oh, no, it's the same gun," the clerk says ... This actually happened to me in a certain San Diego gunshop a previous poster says is the best shop in that city ...
The "Don't call us; we'll call you." Gunshops and gunsmiths who dodge your calls or make excuses why the work isn't completed yet or your order isn't in already ... for weeks on end ... They won't call YOU to let you know why it's taking so long, and you have to hire private detectives just to get these jokers on the phone so you can hear the excuses ...
"I've been busy and haven't gotten around to it yet" ... from the gunsmith in another SoCal store, who took TWO WEEKS just to replace some sights in a 1911 ... (after initially promising a reasonable one-day turnaround ... should'a done it myself, just didn't have a staking tool then).
Being quoted one price for a desired firearm over the phone; driving 60 miles to the gunshop with $1000 in the wallet -- and then having the clerk in the store say, "I don't know who told you that, this is what we're selling it for" -- $150 more than the price I was quoted over the phone ...
The "Ignore him -- he doesn't look like he's gonna buy a gun today" syndrome. This is when one peruses the offerings under the counter for twenty minutes, with no offers of help from the three clerks behind the other counter who can't be interrupted during the intense discussion about their escapades at the tavern the previous night ...
So, not to keep ragging on gunshops -- up here in Washington state, I've had pretty much nothing but positive experiences and friendly customer service ... can't always say the same for my California experiences ...
The big thing is, friendly and efficient customer service -- at least for me -- can overcome high prices. I'll always pay the higher price for a gun if the shop consistently treats me (and other customers when I'm there) with respect, when the staff is knowledgeable, friendly and will occasionally go the extra mile to take care of customers ...
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