Weird experience with Buds Gun Shop

[spelsh]

ngnrd,

That didn't seem like a very high road response. The OP was a concerned, and I don't think any part of his/her post was 'whining to hear your own voice' as you so eloquently put it.

 

[Onward Allusion]

ngnrd
I don't get it. If you don't like their business practices, return it for a refund and quit doing business with them. Otherwise, you're just whining to hear your own voice.

I really don't think the OP was whining. What Bud's shop did was unusual. Hopefully, it is not a preview of coming attractions relating to all purchases.

 

[Fremmer]

I don't think anybody knows what's going on. That includes the OP, his FFL, and everybody else. They might have been trying to verify something like they were shipping the right gun to the right person. Or there could be a million other reasons. Why don't you just call them and ask instead of all of this speculating and implying that Buds is somehow profiling you because of your name?

 

[sansone]

Going out on a limb here, but it wouldn't have anything to do with Bud's trying to protect themselves from Bloomberg's assault on out-of-state Gun Shops, would it? You did say that you are in NY.

Just a guess, and I could be all wrong, but with the number of folks who won't ship to CA buyers at all, and Bloomberg's antics in NY, it's starting to walk like a duck to me...

I'd be more concerned with the machinations by your state (and perhaps soon, our fed.gov, especially since we have a "new" anti-gun head of the BATFE) than I would be with Bud's trying to stay out of the shadow of doubt.

I'm also thinking this way

 

[macadore]

I think I will write to Bud's and inquire. Has anybody else purchased from them recently? Could this be some new policy they're implementing?

I bought a Draco last week on line. It arrived on Friday. I just filled out the paperwork and took it shooting. I think the difference is because you live in New York and I live in Texas. JMO

 

[nyrifleman]

I e-mailed Bud's yesterday to inquire. I haven't received a response yet, but I wouldn't expect to on a weekend. I'll let you know when I hear back.

I'm sorry if it seems like I came on here to unfairly demonize Bud's without giving them any chance or opportunity to explain themselves. I didn't. I had a strange experience -- one that didn't raise just my eyebrows, but also those of my FFL dealer, who's done hundreds if not thousands of transfers through his career -- and I wanted to a) make sure that I was not being paranoid before I started contacting anyone, b) find out if anybody has had a similar experience, c) tell the community about it in case someone does down the road. Since people largely seem to agree with my own thoughts on this subject, I've decided to go ahead and contact Bud's and, hopefully, they'll provide a satisfactory answer.

 

[rogertc1]

"My FFL dealer called me up Thursday to say it had arrived, and also proceeded to inform me that, apparently, Buds had called him before sending out the package to find out more about me"
When I order i talk to a Buds rep direct. Did you not order thru Buds?

How do you know if what your FFL is saying is true? Unless he is family or very good friend.

Buds has a phone number.

 

[Vyacheslav]

if bud heard my name his first call would have been strait to the police

 

[Husker_Fan]

Gun owners always seem touchy about probing questions like this, but I don't usually see it that way when they come from a dealer. Bud's is a business and the OP is a repeat customer. You'd be surprised at the types of questions marketing people think are relevant to their efforts to make non-customers into customers and customers into repeat customers.

 

[hnk45acp]

It probably has more to do with your location than your name. I can't even get a holster shipped to me in NYC b/c no one wants to deal with the possibility of Goonbergs agents

 

[ngnrd]

ngnrd,

That didn't seem like a very high road response.

You're right. I apologize if I offended the OP.

 

[KJS]

I remember an article earlier this year that turned a .22 bolt action rifle with a scope into a "sniper rifle" when they described it. Squirrels and other small woodland critters had better watch out for a sniper like that.

Isn't the Cold War over such that we no longer need to fear men named Yuri or Boris?

 

[stonecutter2]

My suspicion is some kind of recent fraud, maybe with someone with a similar name. Whether that be credit card fraud, or a problem customer, who knows. Seems odd enough to call them out on, though.

Good luck w/the conversation with Bud's. I had a good transaction with them, and would buy from them again - but I've also read some of their customer service responses to inquiries online. Over the top kind of responses - but who knows, might just be one side of the story. All I know is I found some not so great reviews of their business practices, but my transaction went totally smooth (shipping took a little while, but i was in no rush).

Be polite and direct, don't accuse. Usual high road stuff.

Don't let it get you too upset, life's too short.

 

[BBQLS1]

You're not a terrrorist are you?







I kid! I kid! Really, I'm not sure how I would feel. I might would contact them about it.

 

[danprkr]

Gotta go with spelsh on that response to ngnrd!

 

[ngnrd]

Gotta go with spelsh on that response to ngnrd!

Please see post #35.

 

[SSN Vet]

Bloomburg has been after Buds for some time.... using sneaky tactics....

be glad they'll ship to NY at all, as many won't

and they don't have to.

 

[duns]

nyrifleman, any response yet from Bud's?

 

[Hanzo581]

You think maybe your FFL is trying to turn you against Buds so you'll start buying guns from him instead?

;-)

 

[Shadow 7D]

I would contact buds, really don't see much of a problem

(unless they have had a bad experience with a guy having the same or similar name) and then who can blame them, after all would you choose to do business with a horrible customer.

All they have to do, is collect your FFL's information, and make sure they will accept the package.

 

[nyrifleman]

Sorry about being a little late to post. I received a response from Bud's on Sunday, but was busy with stuff and didn't get around to posting it.

According to Bud's, they did contact my dealer, but it had nothing to do with me personally. They were interested in finding out if he wanted to become a preferred dealer. Though the person who responded to me was not the person who called.

*shrug*

I'll question my dealer some more. I doubt he wants to steer me away from online shopping, as transfers are probably 60-70% of all his business. And generally, he's a very nice, very friendly guy who's well known in the area. I don't believe he would make something like that up for financial gain. I can believe (and this is what I'm currently leaning towards) that he might've taken a few innocuous comments and read more into them than he should've. It makes sense that they would bring me, a repeat customer, up in a discussion about making him a preferred dealer.

In general, I think I over-reacted. My apologies to Buds and the people on here for raising empty alarms. Do you think it would make it fair if I concluded this thread with a glowing endorsement of Buds? Their prices have always been great, shipping fast, and their website is always up-to-date with whether an item is in stock or not -- and I hate, more than anything, when I'm told that an item listed as "in stock" is actually back-ordered with an expected delivery time of 4 months (which I've encountered a couple of times in my online shopping experiences)... I WILL buy from them again (and again and again).

 

[cesarv]

I guess its resolved.

 

[cesarv]

Much ado over nothing..

Only people who never get stereotyped think stereotyping is ok.

I'd be pissed. I think (if you allow me) the best course of action is sending them that letter that you already talked about. I would base my future purchases and business with them after their response.

 

[mnrivrat]

Buds had called him before sending out the package to find out more about me. My FFL dealer told them he'd known me a while, dealt with me several times, that I was local and my parents ran a local business. This was good enough for them and they proceeded to send the gun.

According to Bud's, they did contact my dealer, but it had nothing to do with me personally.

I think it is what it is, and that explaination falls short of putting any light on it. However, it's not something to loose sleep over .

 

[Bovice]

STAWP WHEYNING!!!!!!!

he got the gun, what else matters?