Loudoun Guns

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Pure drivel, if you ask me. They're in business to sell things, not hand hold silly people just browsing. Customers are not 'guests' to be entertained by the hired help; they should know what they want and go and get it--it's not rocket science. If the desired item cannot be located or if you have a question about the item, by all means ask somebody. But keep in mind they are salesmen/women, they may or may NOT use the item; they probably don't know much more than is printed on the side of the container.
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And, for those of you that know everything and never need any help from anyone, I'll take a moment to inform you that customer service is important. I work in a retail store and I DO know the products that I sell. I AM there to answer questions and do so every day. We are in business because a lot of folks are tired of shopping at the box stores where customer service is non-existant and questions are never answered. For those of you that hate the sales people in stores, we eventually figure out who you are and usually walk the other way when you come in. You see, we don't like talking to you, either.

As for friendly gun shops, I usually shop at a store where almost everyone there knows my name and says hello to me. They don't hound me, but they are there if I need them. They have received many thousands of dollars from me over the last couple of years. On the other hand, there is another shop down the road where I have never purchased anything. Everytime I go in there they act as if I am a second class citizen because I am not law enforcement and am not dressed as a Mall Ninja. I guess they don't need my money. The store I shop at is always busy, the other not so much.
 
"they should know what they want and go and get it"

Jeez, you don't know anything about successful retail sales, do you? All it takes, at a minimum, is a friendly, "Hi, can I help you find anything?"

Sheesh.

John
 
Virginia Arms Company is located in Manassas on Route 28. I think just about everyone agrees it's the best gun shop in the Washington, DC area. They mostly sell handguns, ARs, shotguns and they also have cosignment guns. Although, if you're interested in a large selection of hunting rifles or double barrel shotguns it's not the place to go.
 
I prefer to be left alone when I'm shopping. I'm not there to be interrogated by some salesman that wants to make his commission, and I'm not there to buy what some stranger thinks is going to be best for me. I make my own decisions about what I buy, so if I dislike it, I have no one to blame but myself.

If there's going to be questions asked, it's going to be me asking the questions about the product I'm looking at. I've got to browse the inventory before I have any questions to ask anyway, and if I can't be left alone enough to do that, then I'm wasting my time.
 
Four shops in the broad No. VA area show the spectrum of attitudes towards customer service.

Dominion Arms in Manassas - they don't jump to help you, one guy doesn't like answering a lot of questions. They other can be very talkative. Not much in stock - odd place. Part gun shop, part army-navy store, part check-cashing business.

I've been to Loudon Guns in Leesburg a number of times - yes, they don't hop up to serve you, but when you have a question, they have been more than accomodating. Like many shops, they seem to get a lot more browsers than serious shoppers, so I can kind of see their attitude. OK priced hardware, rather pricey accessories.

Blue Ridge Arsenal in Chantilly - you generally get a tired "can I help you" (one salesman there poses it more of a challenge). They do try to help if you've got some real questions. Hardwar seems to be priced a bit on the high side, but their accessories are more competitively priced.

Virginia Arms in Manassas consistently has a can-do happy-to-see-ya attitude. Very friendly, very helpful, very knowledgable. Great prices across the board too. Top notch.
 
RBernie - Not so much forgot about, as mentally blocked them out. Some like them, but I've not had good experiences there - inattentive staff, rather high prices (black powder almost 3x the price as elsewhere tore it with me last time I was there). On the other hand, some of my friends give them fairly high marks. YMMV...
 
Here is something everyone needs to know who has a retail business; customers receiving a good experience tell about 3-4 people about it, customers receiving a bad experience tell 8-10 people about it. Being pleasent and helpful is a no brainer.

If I had a retail business and one of my salesman came across as unfriendly or not helpful it would be his last day on the job, you can't be unfriendly or not helpful at McDonalds and keep your job.
 
I left a Land Rover dealer with cash in hand and bought a new car at the Honda dealer down the road for this exact same reason. If you want my business you at least need to acknowledge me in your establishment.

-MW
 
+100 for VA Arms in Manassas.

Yeah they don't sell hunting rifles or sporting double barrel shotguns but they don't mind and will be happy to do transfers for you OR you can stop in or call and ask Bernie to see what he can get from his distributors. If you are looking for a high end shotgun like a Blaser, Perazzi, or Krieghoff, you need to have it transferred in from somewhere else. But most of the regular Beretta and Benelli sporting shotguns he can probably order for you. I have transferred a ton of sporting clays guns through them and for $20 a transfer, it is a real bargain compared to the other shops that charge $50 and up.

In addtition I bought a few handguns and tactical rifles/shotguns from them as well. Their prices are really good too. NIB Glock 17 goes for $535 last time I checked at their store last week IIRC. Some of the other local shops are selling this gun for over $600.

sorry to sound like a commercial for them but after visiting all of the area shops in the noVA area (when I first relocated to VA), VA Arms gets top spot in my book, hence why I spent over $6K at that store within the last year and a half.

another option is Bruce Furr, in Vienna, VA. He is a home based FFL and is a Sig and Glock dealer IIRC. He does stock some EBRs here and there. His transfer fee was $30 last time I did a transfer with him (last Oct.). My only gripe is that he charges you some sort of shipping fee on any gun he sells. It's like a few bucks. I don't know why he charges this but overall his prices seem fair. He also stocks mags and accessories. Google Furr Supply Company to get his contact info.
 
Another thing to consider here is that not everyone who walks into a gun store looking for a gun knows something about them. A lot of first time gun buyers would probably appreciate a salesperson helping them out, and it would behoove a business to at least ask people wandering around if they need help.
 
of course this opinion will always emerge in a thread like this. I suppose he should have walked straight to the counter and thanked them profusely for allowing him to spend his money in the store? Perhaps brought them some coffee so that they would, maybe, offer some help?
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lmao. +1
 
I did not read all responses so if this has been said my apologies.

I have been in the customer service business in one form or another for many years and one thing has always remained true. "If I don't take care of my customer someone else will". I did not say it first but it does ring true. In that type of situation (face to face as apposed to a call center) the associates should always be scanning for people that need help. One thing I always brought to any job that might have direct contact with the public is if any eye contact is made, then that associate must approach said customer in a helpful way.
 
I'm a casual plinker who is returning to shooting after nearly 20 years away from the sport. Anyway, I had an afternoon off work one day and decided to check out a well known shop nearby. Since I just left the office I was fully yuppie-fied in khakis and a golf shirt. When I walked through the door it was like those scenes from the movies when an out-of-place stranger enters a bar and the music instantly stops and the whole place glares at the stranger with a "what the hell are you doing here" look on their faces. Classic.
They did ask me if I needed help but they had this look of disdain on their face.
 
One thing I always brought to any job that might have direct contact with the public is if any eye contact is made, then that associate must approach said customer in a helpful way.
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A lot of customer service folks like yourself must be teaching this theory also. There is simply no other way to explain the way some salesclerks, waiters, etc avoid eye contact at all costs.
 
I like Rondoggie's cell phone trick,I only have a tracphone,and that's only for road trips/emergencies,but if I were in the store and had a cell phone,I would SO try that trick!
 
Gilbert's is great but I am turned off by their range member/non-member pricing on guns. However, two big thumbs up on their range.
 
VA Arms is probably where I will do all my purchases while I am living in NoVA. This store has to be one of the friendliest, cleanest, and efficient stores I have ever been to (short of one store I went to in Christiansburg, Miller's Gun Shop(?)). Bernie and his sales associates really go above and beyond to get your business, two big thumbs up for Bernie's store.
 
Sounds like the La-Z-Boy store that I went to. I left and bought two chairs someplace else.

I saw 3 employees standing around talking to each other and having a good time and not one of them approached me in 27 minutes. The store was virtually empty except for myself and my Mom.

Finally I approached them and asked "Is there anyone in the store that can help me?" When I got an attitude from the one that opened her mouth. I said I told here never mind I'll go someplace that appreciates our patronage.

I thought they worked on commission. Apparently these people were just drawing a paycheck to stand around and socialize.

This really makes you wonder if some stores really wants to stay in business.
 
Low prices win my business. If I need help with something in their store, I'll let them know.
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This is a valid consideration, but sometimes the *quality* help you receive is factored into the price of the gun. Sometimes it isn't. But there is certainly nothing wrong with looking for low prices and good customer service. Or at least low prices and a clerk who doesn't make the customer feel like a bum.
 
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