Controversial question are gun shops good enough
- Thread starter TheGoatAssassin
- Start date
My son is Hampshire local gun shop is the only one between Southampton and Portsmouth, you can work it out for yourselves, he asked them for Norma oryx 243 100 g ?
Shop- there not available various excuses
Son - they are I bought some in Hungerford, when up there
Shop- we can,t get them
Son - get them off them and I will pay the difference, get 10 boxes
Shop - not worth it mate
Son - never mind we will get our 270, 243, 12g and 22 from up there then.
Not sure how difficult it is to transfer between shops over there but it must be possible, over here we profit share between stores regularly.
Shop- there not available various excuses
Son - they are I bought some in Hungerford, when up there
Shop- we can,t get them
Son - get them off them and I will pay the difference, get 10 boxes
Shop - not worth it mate
Son - never mind we will get our 270, 243, 12g and 22 from up there then.
Not sure how difficult it is to transfer between shops over there but it must be possible, over here we profit share between stores regularly.
If your son is dealing with Portsmouth Gun Centre, then no surprises by the attitude.
He could try Firing Solutions, Blue Fieldsports, or TGS Outdoor (Botley Gun Centre) as all hold decent ammo stocks at acceptable prices. TGS can be a little difficult at times, but in a different league to Portsmouth Gun Centre, who have a lousy reputation!
Nimrod1960
Well-Known Member
I imagine its a tough sector to be in, low volumes ( in part due to legislative restrictions) and apart from clothing not great margins.
Having said that they often don’t do them selves any favours.
I recall calling into Ladds having phoned the day before to look at a SH Sauer 202 as my first rifle.
Got there, they showed little interest in serving me, I had told them it was my first ticket, clearly excited (an open goal for a retailer). When said rifle was located and handed over for inspection I was told it might have been wrongly priced. Apart from that it was honking dirty. When I pointed this out the reaction was a look from a callow youth as if I was being impertinent. Almost joking I asked if they knew its history and had it been looked after, was told by callow youth it had. I showed him the stinking bolt face, said “you really think so, how can you tell under all that crap?” turned and left.
They lost the sale of the rifle, a quality scope, mounts, a sling, a slip, ammo and the kids Ladds gilet I would have bought for my grandson.
I might have even bought a .22LR scope sling etc from them as I did when all my business went to R&B in Ross.
Having said that they often don’t do them selves any favours.
I recall calling into Ladds having phoned the day before to look at a SH Sauer 202 as my first rifle.
Got there, they showed little interest in serving me, I had told them it was my first ticket, clearly excited (an open goal for a retailer). When said rifle was located and handed over for inspection I was told it might have been wrongly priced. Apart from that it was honking dirty. When I pointed this out the reaction was a look from a callow youth as if I was being impertinent. Almost joking I asked if they knew its history and had it been looked after, was told by callow youth it had. I showed him the stinking bolt face, said “you really think so, how can you tell under all that crap?” turned and left.
They lost the sale of the rifle, a quality scope, mounts, a sling, a slip, ammo and the kids Ladds gilet I would have bought for my grandson.
I might have even bought a .22LR scope sling etc from them as I did when all my business went to R&B in Ross.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I note, posted elsewhere, that Walkers of Trowell closed for good in May this year.
tackb
Well-Known Member
two i won't use , i will give up shooting before another penny of mine goes to them - both ironically involved with moderators either selling or manufacturing , absolute wallopers both of them !
not wildcat i hasten to add , i used them and found them excellent
look at the discussions in here and how they go sometimes then imagine putting these people together in the flesh in one place ! it's amazing there isn't more punch ups in gunshops
not wildcat i hasten to add , i used them and found them excellent
look at the discussions in here and how they go sometimes then imagine putting these people together in the flesh in one place ! it's amazing there isn't more punch ups in gunshops
Shootgun
Well-Known Member
One of them sold me the rifle parts !two i won't use , i will give up shooting before another penny of mine goes to them - both ironically involved with moderators either selling or manufacturing , absolute wallopers both of them !
not wildcat i hasten to add , i used them and found them excellent
look at the discussions in here and how they go sometimes then imagine putting these people together in the flesh in one place ! it's amazing there isn't more punch ups in gunshops
I always like to use local gun shops where I can. Not so much a service issue as most are good on that side near me. However very limited stock being carried and deeper knowledge on hunting is often what I find missing. If you want to bash clays and plink pellets they are pretty much setup. Rifle wise and stalking/reloading accessories are largely non-existent I find. Also lots of accessories and kit are often lacking. However that’s probably down to lack of consistent demand and the challenges of licensing whereas they can sell shotguns, cartridges and air rifles every day.
No not Steve at Portsmouth gun centre,
I have a few fairly local to me. One I pointblank refuse to use as the owner is a bellend of the highest order, one almost never has anything I need and is a nightmare to escape from if you're not in the mood for extended conversation, and one makes you feel about as welcome as a fart in a spacequite. Of course, I also have the option of travelling slightly further afield should I wish to be patronised and told what I should be buying/doing/thinking 
Instead I venture either a long way south, or a long way north
Instead I venture either a long way south, or a long way north
Horrible feeling I know both!I have a few fairly local to me. One I pointblank refuse to use as the owner is a bellend of the highest order, one almost never has anything I need and is a nightmare to escape from if you're not in the mood for extended conversation, and one makes you feel about as welcome as a fart in a spacequite. Of course, I also have the option of travelling slightly further afield should I wish to be patronised and told what I should be buying/doing/thinking
Instead I venture either a long way south, or a long way north
This is exactly my point. Granted very hard slow market, but so many sales opportunities missed by crap service. Lets be honest their margins and profit is more in the accessories.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Somewhere in Fife presumably!
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Trust me, I wouldn’tDont even go there
it's amazing there isn't more punch ups in gunshops
A gunsmith, during what should have been merely a polite disagreement, did in fact lay his hands on me in his workshop recently. I'm in the process of having the law sort it out. And the mess he made of the job. I'll name him (very publicly) once I've checked it won't cause a problem with any litigation but anyone in the north east of England considering using the services of an RFD they don't already know should private message me for a recommendation.
More generally, gunshops in this country are dreadful. Proportionately far worse than other sorts of shops. Never been shoved in one before though.
Oh wow thats a stretch to far… literally
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
Oh no! I've been in one at least in France where the service and attitude is awful. Armurerie de la Bourse in Paris. The best service was in Gastinne Rennette also in Paris. I went in to the latter just before it closed for good (so about 1999) and asked for an ejector spring for a Manufrance shotgun made in 1924. The reply was a simple "Oui Monseur. 12 ou 16?" (Yes Sir, 12 bore or 16 bore?). And off the man went down into the basement and two minutes later emerged with a set. Faure LePage, also now gone, were also good. But both Gastinne and Faure were old school French "best" gunmakers and so schooled in proper customer service. But Armurerie de la Bourse were awful.
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