How important is vendor integrity to you ?

[The-Reaver]

You take care of me. I take care of you.

SGAmmo.com took huge care of me. I ordered 250 rounds of 12 gauge and an 40mm ammo can from them. 69 bucks. Sure it took a week & a half two weeks to get here, but I got an email every single day on the orders progress.
They also didn't charge two separate shipping charges. They put the 250 rounds in the ammo can and shipped as one. Try that with cheaperthandirt.com or other places that I hold in less regard. Shipping was also flat rate. I mean like 15 bucks total for shipping.

Awesome company. So as a consumer I treat businesses or " Vendors " as good as they treat me. Though I cannot advertise for them. I spread my story. Costumer service speaks for itself.

Midway is another company that took awesome care of me. I had a complaint. Within 15 minutes I got a response " Send us your address and we will have a paid shipping container sent to you, just box it up and send it back. We will replace it free of charge "

That's shipping included.

Awesome company.

 

[RCArms.com]

But when using a local shop for transfer...thats right on one's way home from work...and the online vendor has the rifle priced competitively (as in $100 less the local in many cases) and the shop only charges a $20 transfer fee.....that equation doesn't even begin to make sense. Sure, transfers aren't always the cheapest route for everyone, but for a lot of people, its FAR more cost conscious that buying locally. If I "need help" or am looking for advice from a local shop, their prices become more justifiable. However, that is rarely the scneario with me. By the time I've made a decision to buy, I know what I want, and what I'd be willing to pay for it. If the local guys can't compete, so be it. I'll pay for the added service when thats what I need, but paying a premium to the local guy when he/she has done nothing for me the online retailer couldnt do....ring me up and hand me a gun, more or less....paying extra doesn't make a lot of sense to me, and it certainly isn't worth an additional $50 bucks outta my pocket just so I can feel good about supporting the little guy. I don't subsidize businesses out of the good of my heart...I have a limited income, and I do my best to spend my discretionary spending in a way that returns me the most value per dollar.

You are 100% correct

 

[RCArms.com]

I would assume most people would drive the same distance and use the same gas even if they were buying locally. You have to drive to either buy or pick up shipped item.

As far as the transfer fee goes, remember you do not typically pay tax on online payments so they cancel each other in most cases.

For me an online transfer cost $25. A $400 gun would cost $28 in tax

You are 100% correct

 

[nofishbob]

I do my transfers with local FFLs who do not have traditional storefront businesses.

They have low overhead and welcome my transfer business with excellent customer service and low rates.

I do not need advice, instruction, or help with resolving problems with my firearms purchases. I am not a child who needs to be led.

If every traditional gun shop went out of business, I would be sad for the people who lost their livelihoods, but it would not effect my firearms purchasing at all.

Why should I pay for services I do not need?

With no offense intended,

Bob

 

[RCArms.com]

I do my transfers with local FFLs who do not have traditional storefront businesses.

They have low overhead and welcome my transfer business with excellent customer service and low rates.

I do not need advice, instruction, or help with resolving problems with my firearms purchases. I am not a child who needs to be led.

If every traditional gun shop went out of business, I would be sad for the people who lost their livelihoods, but it would not effect my firearms purchasing at all.

Why should I pay for services I do not need?

With no offense intended,

Bob

You are 100% correct

 

[JohnBT]

"Why should I pay for services I do not need?"

You never go into a gun shop and look at new guns? Ever? That's a service. What about used guns? Ever go in and look at those?


I worry the most about vendor integrity when a lot of money is involved. For instance, I wouldn't have sent $2500 to Top Gun Supply for a Swiss Army surplus P-210 - sight unseen, no pics - if it wasn't for his perfect reputation. As it turned out, the gun was better than promised.

John

 

[Bubba613]

For most people price is the bottom line, whatever they say.
Those are WalMart customers and they need to shop at WalMart.
LGS customers get tremendously more value dealing with a good LGS than a WM customer gets from dealing with WM. Thus they are not being nice, giving charity, or any other hint of altruism. They deal with the LGS because it is n their best interest.

 

[jmorris]

Very important. I did thousands of dollars of business with Midway USA before they strung me along for 8 months on a backorder only to change the price to what I could have picked up the product locally 8 months prior. An unanswered email to management, made it the last time I had dealings with them. Screw me once, its your fault. Screw me twice its mine.

 

[Ryanxia]

I'm lucky in that my LGS has about the same prices as I see online so I don't save much if anything by not ordering from him. In fact he doesn't charge for transfers even if you do want to buy online. He just asks to have the opportunity to see if he can get it for you for cheaper.

Places like Bud's that have a picture for one thing and sell something else are just kind of shady in my opinion. I'll stick to local if I can and I've never had to call him out on anything, except to tell him he needs to charge me MORE for something.

 

[Snag]

How valuable is price in your eyes ? : Would you take a good deal from the "devil" so to speak ?

Price is a consideration for sure, but not my number one priority. I would not take a good deal from the devil.

Do you care about how a business treats all of their customers, or just you ?

I care about how a business treats everyone. Consistency in a business, any kind of business, is one thing that will keep people coming back.

What would you do if you caught a vendor in a real lie ? Would you care, or is that just part of doing business ?

I would be angry. They would know I was angry, and so would everyone else I thought might care.

Do you prefer a vendor who is active in your "community" so to speak, and supports it not only with great products, but with knowledge and integrity....or do you just want the rock bottom lowest price, no matter what ?

I'll take a fair price and killer service over rock bottom prices and no service every time. I live in a really small community, in a really rural area. If I can get what I'm after from someone local, providing they are one of those individuals with outstanding customer service, I will before going out of town or online.