Controversial question are gun shops good enough
- Thread starter TheGoatAssassin
- Start date
when the last fac runs out it won’t be the nanny state or the antis, it’ll be the gun trade and the NRA.
Go into a gun shop without an fac and ask how to get started - that’s who these people really are.
“join a club the directory is here, if you want to go stalking the local guy is”
it’s actually that simple, those two sentences would keep shooting alive.
What you’ll actually get is a tedious lecture on how difficult it is, and quite possibly another on the injustice of the pistol ban of nearly thirty years ago.
so embarrassing
Go into a gun shop without an fac and ask how to get started - that’s who these people really are.
“join a club the directory is here, if you want to go stalking the local guy is”
it’s actually that simple, those two sentences would keep shooting alive.
What you’ll actually get is a tedious lecture on how difficult it is, and quite possibly another on the injustice of the pistol ban of nearly thirty years ago.
so embarrassing
A Gunshop that one looks forward to visiting is a rare thing indeed in 2025!
I'm off to pick up a rifle from Harrogate when time permits and am reliably informed it's a pleasing emporium with a friendly proprietor.
We shall see so fingers
K
I'm off to pick up a rifle from Harrogate when time permits and am reliably informed it's a pleasing emporium with a friendly proprietor.
We shall see so fingers
K
Jagare
Well-Known Member
The owner of the ground I hunt on is looking to buy a new shotgun. So Thursday we are heading to, Torsbo Handels to have a moist moment or two looking through what they have in stock. They say they have 8000 guns in stock. Friday we're heading down to Lund to peruse another gun shop ,hopefully with more moist moments. Oh, happy days.
A trip to a swedish gunshop sounds worth while
I have a friend who has spent many years running a gun shop; his take is somewhat different. He says that many customers have no fixed ideas of what they require, especially when it comes to rifles and thermal gear. He says he is more than happy to spend time advising and sometimes that can be very time-consuming and doesn't (understandably) always result in a sale.
He thinks because the vast majority are passionate hobby shooters as opposed to professionals, who generally know exactly what they want, they are more than happy to spend a lot of time sorting out what they want. This in turn takes up much of the shop assistants' time and keeps others waiting, which can lead to frustration.
He thinks because the vast majority are passionate hobby shooters as opposed to professionals, who generally know exactly what they want, they are more than happy to spend a lot of time sorting out what they want. This in turn takes up much of the shop assistants' time and keeps others waiting, which can lead to frustration.
Then some get the knowledge from the shop assistant only to then walk out of the shop and buy the item online because it is a few pounds cheaper.
SimonDodsworth
Well-Known Member
I will only go to one gun shop as long as they are within driving distance. That is Forest Lodge Guns in Wragby. Their service is excellent; that have great stock; and they are usually cheaper than any online prices I see. Incidentally, they are a Tikka premium dealer so may be able to help you out. What they are not, is the most tech savvy. If you message them via FB they usually get back in a day or so. The best option is to pick up the phone 01673 858554Woe betide me to throw in a social hand grenade…… however I run a customer facing business and I have to make sure my customer service/ satisfaction is top notch or I wont get any work.
However, I feel that a large amount (NOT ALL) of gun shops this doesn't seem to be the main focus.
I’ve had varying examples of this, from gunsmiths taking three times as long to do works (simple service on a shotgun and a stock pad fitting) to even when I did get it back only half the job being done
Buying from a website online and the owner just simply not returning emails, messages, calls, voice mails or carrier pigeons.
Another gun-shop point blank lied to a close friend about sending a scope off for repair, only admitted that he hadn't, once the manufacturer was called and they said they had never received it.
Lastly, I’m in the market for a Tikka or Rem 700 .308 I must have messaged no less than 10 gun shops on gunstar & guntrader only 1 has responded.
All of the above are separate establishments.
I see a lot of gun shops closing up shop and my view is, is there any surprise with the quality of service. It might be me who is inherently unlucky.
Be interested to hear your replies
I've just started trying to buy my second rifle i fancied a Sako for a few years so got my variation done last year at renewal very easy and efficient thanks to FEO at West Mercia.
Phoned shop to check rifle i was looking at was in store went the next day forgot the bosses would be at the shooting show the person couldn't find the gun i had to,he knew nothing about Sakos so left my name to be contacted, I intended to pick the gun and moderator up that day.
Heard nothing from them for a week so put a message on Facebook about there crap service had a phone call 1 hour later but was unable to answer so they then responded by saying they had been trying to get hold of me on Facebook but unable to make of rubbish i know they never tried!!
I phoned back next day and got someone who knew what he was talking about success i thought told him exactly what I wanted full set up he was going to phone me back with a price, guess what no response again he even admitted they were quite at this time of year.
I bought my first rifle off them but they have got a lot bigger since so don't know how they stay in business when you give them 2 opportunities to do a deal.
Phoned shop to check rifle i was looking at was in store went the next day forgot the bosses would be at the shooting show the person couldn't find the gun i had to,he knew nothing about Sakos so left my name to be contacted, I intended to pick the gun and moderator up that day.
Heard nothing from them for a week so put a message on Facebook about there crap service had a phone call 1 hour later but was unable to answer so they then responded by saying they had been trying to get hold of me on Facebook but unable to make of rubbish i know they never tried!!
I phoned back next day and got someone who knew what he was talking about success i thought told him exactly what I wanted full set up he was going to phone me back with a price, guess what no response again he even admitted they were quite at this time of year.
I bought my first rifle off them but they have got a lot bigger since so don't know how they stay in business when you give them 2 opportunities to do a deal.
Koenig
Well-Known Member
I must admit I find some gunshop owners / staff’s attitudes baffling. I was after a specific albeit minor part recently - got a stiff ignoring in
my local RFD, and so wandered off out. Tried a regional RFD to be met with a tale of woe ending in a request for £30 to cover the effort (I was happy to pay for the part and postage) to stick said minor part in a Jiffy bag and post it. Yeah…….how about I’ll keep my money and you can keep (i) your tales of woe and (ii) minor item. Ohh…. and guess what what? I’ll not be troubling either of you in the future by attempting to actually put any business your way. I haven’t the time or inclination to put up with this sort of behaviour from
a business these days.
my local RFD, and so wandered off out. Tried a regional RFD to be met with a tale of woe ending in a request for £30 to cover the effort (I was happy to pay for the part and postage) to stick said minor part in a Jiffy bag and post it. Yeah…….how about I’ll keep my money and you can keep (i) your tales of woe and (ii) minor item. Ohh…. and guess what what? I’ll not be troubling either of you in the future by attempting to actually put any business your way. I haven’t the time or inclination to put up with this sort of behaviour from
a business these days.
tackb
Well-Known Member
i'm not convinced that would work , some people have terrible experiences with a gunshop while others swear by them
I am lucky locally as I get most of my stuff through the Beaters Lodge at Castlethorpe. Not the largest shop but the customer service is fantastic with the attiude that he doesnt want a one off customer but someone who will come back time after time.
Also I went into Emmett and Stone a while back to get a moderator and they could not have been more helpful I would definatly go back if I was in the area again.
Some shops though I have been in and you get that piano in the saloon stopping playing vibe as soon as you walk in the door it doesnt make for a nice purchasing experience.
Also I went into Emmett and Stone a while back to get a moderator and they could not have been more helpful I would definatly go back if I was in the area again.
Some shops though I have been in and you get that piano in the saloon stopping playing vibe as soon as you walk in the door it doesnt make for a nice purchasing experience.
Tackb said "I'm not convinced that would work , some people have terrible experiences with a gunshop while others swear by them"
I agree with that...I've stood in a famous gunshop/gunsmiths for nearly half an hour with a guy munching a sandwich watching me through a glass partition.....I left when I saw him wiping his mouth and getting off his chair.
Just for balance, I've heard glowing reports about the same place among some serious shooters.
I think feedback/reviews would still be useful. It would be a baseline, and people could make up their own mind after that first visit.
D
I agree with that...I've stood in a famous gunshop/gunsmiths for nearly half an hour with a guy munching a sandwich watching me through a glass partition.....I left when I saw him wiping his mouth and getting off his chair.
Just for balance, I've heard glowing reports about the same place among some serious shooters.
I think feedback/reviews would still be useful. It would be a baseline, and people could make up their own mind after that first visit.
D
The problem is that it is human nature that people will be more likely to post negative reviews, or surprisingly positive reviews, but not to post for service in the range between adequate and as good as you might expect, which hopefully is the large majority of transactions. You're not going to have a real baseline or a very fair directory unless you either compel everyone to review every visit, or the dealer to be able to post the number of transactions. Clearly 10 complaints is much worse about a business with 500 transactions, than one with 200,000 transactions. I wonder whether a misleading or inaccurate baseline is much help. Regardless, there are already several sets of reviews and ratings for gunshops anyway - most obviously on google.
Would that be a shop a long way north of the border as I don't rate them that much but a lot swear by them
Do a decade or more dealing with the General public and you need a thick skin . That's the simple truth of the matter ! Oh and we are all the general public when your in someone else's business . Remember to apologise when you end up in that situation
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