Why is Uncle Paul's so flaky? *Update: Paul assured that he will take care of it*

[nn3453]

Went there to pick up my gun today. It is a 2 hour round trip for me. Store was closed. Not the first time either. This has already happened to me twice in the past. Once during the shop move and another time when Paul unexpectedly closed shop and was traveling.

Here is a request guys. You know you have customers that have to drive quite a bit in peak traffic. It might be too much to call people who you are expecting and let them know, but how about changing the greeting on your voice mail if you are going to close the shop during your announced business hours?

How is it that this happens so frequently? Just because far away customers are at your mercy does not mean that you should treat their time like dirt.

Every hour I lose on my job I lose money. I work 70-80 hours a week and have no free time so every wasted trip costs me dearly.

thanks.

[Z ME FLY]

Did you call beforehand?

[nn3453]

Did you call beforehand?

Yep. No one picked up but that is normal for them. The voice message said "our business hours are ... if no one picks up we are busy" or something like that.

Gotta find another FFL.

[Z ME FLY]

Yep. No one picked up but that is normal for them. The voice message said "our business hours are ... if no one picks up we are busy" or something like that.

Gotta find another FFL.

Aww that sucks... Yeah find another FFL.. I thought maybe you didn't call before and found out when you got there. You are right they should at least say something on the voicemail.

[Greg-Dawg®]

I'd keep calling until a live human being answers, AND THEN drive out to their store.

[ETD1010]

Guys, the DOJ didn't receive a fax we sent them THREE weeks ago, and just took us off the centralized list. It wasn't us being "flaky" We have to close the doors until they relist us, which has to be done my MAIL now. I'm an EXTREMELY sorry for this. It is ALWAYS a good idea to call first when traveling long distances because things like this happen (also happened when we moved shop, but that was an ATF hangup, not DOJ).

We also do our best to answer the phones, but as everyone knows right now, things have been hectic at EVERY gun shop. Just like we can't control the weather, we can't control the amount of people with just the two or three of us behind the counter.

As for calling all of our customers who may come in that day, I have NO way of knowing when people are going to be in to pick up their weapons. Some come on the 11th day.. some on the 20th. There are too many files to go through to find every single one that has a possible pickup.

Again, I apologize for this inconvenience. I will do my best to ensure that we make it right for you. ammo, a holster. Let me know, k?

EDIT: Wait, I just read our voice mail said nothing about us being closed. I changed that on our VOIP voicemail account yesterday. I'll recheck, as it seems it didn't work.

[Amacias805]

yeah. i remember when they were gonna do there move, i had called him and talked to him about doing a transfer for me, he was actually gonna have me come into the store (as oppose to just fax him) so i go during the weekend only to find out there doing the move, and wont be ready for a week or so.... they need to fix they're answer machine or hire more help

[tenpercentfirearms]

As a fellow gun shop owner, it simply isn't feasible to contact all of your customers regarding DROS. I guess it is possible, but not easy at all. Then again, I guess if I only have 20 DROSes in process, that isn't that many calls. I guess it depends on your volume.

I always change my phone message and website if we are going to be closed and it isn't an emergency. I think Uncle Paul just learned the value of this.

I say give them a second chance. Your bringing this up was a valuable lesson for them and I think they will work hard to take this into consideration in the future.

[B.D.Dubloon]

I say give them a second chance. Your bringing this up was a valuable lesson for them and I think they will work hard to take this into consideration in the future.

Definitely, I'd say that UP's (assuming ETD1010 represents them) has handled it very well. After seeing this response I would definitely shop there if it were near me. They should call J&J Armory and teach them a thing or two about customer interaction. +10000 to Uncle Paul's.

[ETD1010]

I say give them a second chance. Your bringing this up was a valuable lesson for them and I think they will work hard to take this into consideration in the future.

Yes it was. We do our best, but I'm still inclined to make mistakes. Everyday is a lesson learned.

[gn3hz3ku1*]

Yes it was. We do our best, but I'm still inclined to make mistakes. Everyday is a lesson learned.

We appreciate you coming on the board and taking responsibility. Also offering the OP something for his hassle is a class act!

[nn3453]

EDIT: Wait, I just read our voice mail said nothing about us being closed. I changed that on our VOIP voicemail account yesterday. I'll recheck, as it seems it didn't work.

That is all I ask for.

Thank you Paul/Eric and everyone else. You guys have some of the best customer service in the business, but the way information about store hours is handled could be better.

Also, it might be worthwhile to setup a mailing list (especially for regulars) so you can fire off an announcement and forget. You don't have to read emails or respond to folks, just use it to announce if the shop is closed, deals, etc.

It is a gun store, not a hospital. I don't think people are upset when you have to close the store unexpectedly. Only when they don't know about it.

Can you please post to Calguns when the shop is open again?

thanks again for talking the time to respond.

[Jpach]

Uncle Paul FTW! He actually comes here to answer and wants to make things right with the OP. THAT is good stuff. I almost came to you Uncle Paul for a transfer but the seller FFL was retarded and sent it to the wrong FFL and not you. Hopefully I can stroll by the shop soon and see what you got!

[Z ME FLY]

Wow that's for stepping up!! That's how it should be done

[tenpercentfirearms]

That is all I ask for.

Thank you Paul/Eric and everyone else. You guys have some of the best customer service in the business, but the way information about store hours is handled could be better.

Also, it might be worthwhile to setup a mailing list (especially for regulars) so you can fire off an announcement and forget. You don't have to read emails or respond to folks, just use it to announce if the shop is closed, deals, etc.

It is a gun store, not a hospital. I don't think people are upset when you have to close the store unexpectedly. Only when they don't know about it.

Can you please post to Calguns when the shop is open again?

thanks again for talking the time to respond.

You might want to consider changing the thread title. I am not saying cover anything up, but make it accurately reflect your experience here. Even put an "*edit: problem resolved in this thread, no longer flakes!" at the end or something so that way the people who just fly through and don't bother to open the thread won't assume UP is worthless.

[gn3hz3ku1*]

You might want to consider changing the thread title. I am not saying cover anything up, but make it accurately reflect your experience here. Even put an "*edit: problem resolved in this thread, no longer flakes!" at the end or something so that way the people who just fly through and don't bother to open the thread won't assume UP is worthless.

+1 wes is always on the dot!

[ETD1010]

That is all I ask for.

Thank you Paul/Eric and everyone else. You guys have some of the best customer service in the business, but the way information about store hours is handled could be better.

Also, it might be worthwhile to setup a mailing list (especially for regulars) so you can fire off an announcement and forget. You don't have to read emails or respond to folks, just use it to announce if the shop is closed, deals, etc.

It is a gun store, not a hospital. I don't think people are upset when you have to close the store unexpectedly. Only when they don't know about it.

Can you please post to Calguns when the shop is open again?

thanks again for talking the time to respond.

Thank you for your understanding. I'll PM you when we get back up and running. On a side note, I'm Paul's Partner (Eric). Either way, we both do our best to make things right. :)

[thedrickel]

Hey, any store named Uncle Paul Sex Change is OK in my book. :)

[OlderThanDirt]

I'm still pissed that you guys opened your store one block east of Telephone Road instead of on the west side. Now I have to drive an entire block out of my way to stop in on my way home from work.;)

[tenpercentfirearms]

Hey, any store named Uncle Paul Sex Change is OK in my book. :)

WTF? I ride a yellow scooter, wear Crocs, and shoot a pink rifle. However, no sex changes for me. Uncle Paul's Sex Exchange would be better off for me. But hey, whatever floats your boat you freak!

[ETD1010]

lol.. he's talking about our old website. It used to be www.UnclePaulsexchange.com... so.. uncle.. paul...s..exchange... get it? :p


BTW-- WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING!! :D :D

[saki302]

Haha- you guys are a class act- a bit far off the path for me, but I'll definitely drop by when I'm in the area.

-Dave

[tenpercentfirearms]

lol.. he's talking about our old website. It used to be www.UnclePaulsexchange.com... so.. uncle.. paul...s..exchange... get it? :p


BTW-- WE'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING!! :D :D

LOL. I am still laughing. LOL some more. Now I get it. LOL again.

We have a local Thai place with really good food called "The Asian Experience". The owner told me to check out his website one day.

Actually, I just checked and theasianexperience and taftasianexperience are both available. Just don't drop "the".