Martin B. Retting: Bad Experiences?

[Diabolus]

I just left MBR with nothing in hand, I went their for some .22LR ammo, M1A bore guide, Tetra grease, .308 SA battle packs, and some CLP.

They were out of .22LR, no M1A bore guides, no Tetra grease, the .308 SA ammo was too expensive, and they would only take cash for the CLP!

Every time I try to buy anything local, it is always a disappointment. I just bought everything online and saved a bundle.

[ohsmily]

Their customer service used to be crap unless you were one of the "good ole boys". However, they have become more professional over the last few years. Now, you can actually get the time of day in there without having to be one of their favored customers.

As far as having things in stock...? They are usually not out of what they carry; however, like most local stores, they simply can't stock everything that shooters want and have to make compromises and eliminate some specialty items.

[Diabolus]

I agree about them getting better; when I made my first gun purchase I felt as if they were doing me a favor!

ohsmily, where do you usually go shooting?

[Black Majik]

xyourlocalar15x in 3...2...1... :D

[marklbucla]

It seems that the higher up you go in seniority, the worse they got. I've said it before: If I saw their building on fire, I wouldn't even piss on it to help put it out.

I agree with the previous posters. Matt (I doubt he's there still) was a great guy and took the time to answer questions even though I told him that I wasn't quite ready to buy yet. Everyone else is a different story. About the only thing that's worth buying there are the Remington Reduced Recoil 00 Buck for $13.95/box and the 50 pack of Sluggers for $19.95.

Did I just say something positive for them? Crap. :(

I took my business to Turner's in Fountain Valley instead. Paperwork sometimes took a long while, but they always made things right and gave me little freebies like a box of ammo or a handgun case for the wait.

[marklbucla]

I'll say something else too...

With all the Walmart threads up right now, I can say that even they have better service than Rettings does. I find it hard to support local gunshops because a lot of them suck.

[Black Majik]

I find it hard to support local gunshops because a lot of them suck.

Biggest +1 here...

Well, I might as well post my experiences about MBR also.

Mine have been 50/50. Sometimes I go in there and I feel like I get the evil eye. I get the vibe that if I'm not 30+ yrs old, then I can't afford their firearms or their help.

There is one guy there that I met on the 1911forums. His name is Chris. Everytime I'm there we'll always talk about 1911s and stuff, and he'll bring out all the custom 1911s for me to fondle. Sometimes I'll stop by to chat with him if I'm in LA. Otherwise, if I know he's not working that day I wont even bother stepping foot in there.

Their prices are high, their used rack is usually fair however. Lots of rifles to fiddle with. Lots of eye candy. But CS is pretty much non-existant.

5 out of 10 for me

[marklbucla]

Sometimes I go in there and I feel like I get the evil eye. I get the vibe that if I'm not 30+ yrs old, then I can't afford their firearms or their help.

You're absolutely right. Even when I've shown definite interest, they act like my money's not green enough for them. Now, it's understandable when you've got a group of people to deal with and you look like the least likely to buy something. If you're the only one in the store, then there's absolutely no excuse to ignore you or give you dirty looks.

Black, don't you shoot at On Target in Laguna Niguel? I'm sure there are far better places to stop at between Culver City and the OC for gun stuff.

[Jeff Rambo]

I've never liked Retting. I get that same vibe when I go in as far as my money isn't good enough. I vowed never to go back about three years ago after a VERY bad experience there, but I had to break my promise 2 weeks ago because I needed an extra set of eyes and ears quickly for a trip and LAX Range was closed so I had to go to Retting. Went in, asked for what I wanted, and with the slight exception of looking at a CZ, I went out. Still caught attitude somehow. :-/

It seems like if you do not come in to their shop daily and spend money in the process, they could careless about you.

[marklbucla]

Big 5 is like 3 minutes away! They probably have better prices too!

[Cato]

I havent had any BAD experiences there. I've bought three firearms from them and have been treated very nicely. When I first got into firearms I lived just down the street from Retting. I've spent lots of time just looking at their stock and have noticed they put up with a lot of West LA a@@holes. The crowds are aweful though. Never go there on a weekend, the guys working there are under too much pressure. Often ammo deals are pretty good, even compared to Walmart. Sometimes they dont know what they got, so you have to point to it in the display case or in the case of ammo, carry the case to the register. Im pretty comfortable using the internet and FFL's so I wont be visiting them too much now.

[Black Majik]

You're absolutely right. Even when I've shown definite interest, they act like my money's not green enough for them. Now, it's understandable when you've got a group of people to deal with and you look like the least likely to buy something. If you're the only one in the store, then there's absolutely no excuse to ignore you or give you dirty looks.

Black, don't you shoot at On Target in Laguna Niguel? I'm sure there are far better places to stop at between Culver City and the OC for gun stuff.

Hey Mark,

You're absolutely right, I agree. I only go in there to chat with that one guy. If the others wont give me the time of day... I wont give them the time of day either... :)

And yes, I did used to shoot at On Target. Kruzr has converted me to shoot at The Firing Line in Huntington Beach. I think we're running out of good gunstores in OC. Turners is pretty blah, their process to buy a firearm is rediculous. And I pretty much refuse to purchase the high eye gouging prices from The Stockade and Fowlers. You thought MBR is bad... not ony do I get the evil eye from the employees I feel like they're secretly pointing a gun at me as I walk around the store. MBR rates as a 5 out of 10 for CS. Fowlers-Stockade rates a -5.

Oh yeah. While we're at it Evans shooting world. -100 for CS.

Ok, rant mode over. :D

[xYourLocalAR15x]

Blackmajik, I would of been all over this thread earlier but i was at WORK =(

Here's my experience.

Gf and I went in to purchase a 1911... Saw the kimbers first, then the SA, colt blah blah. Girlfriend really wanted to buy the kimber for me. We decide between the custom II and the custom II TLE... Well the dealers wording made it seem like the custom II i the same pistol the swat uses and he kept saying it is the SWAT model. Well it is except for the front checkering and night sights. And he also says it comes with TWO mags, TWO... I even asked him TWICE. So my girlfriend ends up buying it for me. I fill out the paper work etc. I check my papers and i have to wait 11 days for pick up. whatevers right? I ask for a new pistol and they said the display one is all they have, I ask for a discount because i dont want a pistol that everyone has been dry firing and slammmmming the rack over and over. They say "no" it's the same thing, it's never had a round in it. F'n prick... I go to pick up the pistol on the 11th day and I ask if they can throw in an extra mag... They say "no".. okay whatevers, what do i need 3 mag's for anyways. Well i get my pistol and there is only ONE mag in it. I ask why there is only one he says thats how they are. I explain that the dealer said there was supposed to be two and i even asked twice. He said, sorry only one. The SOB wouldnt even through in a 17 dollar mag, or even an 9 dollar box of ammo for the misinformation. It was pretty much "f*ck you" attitude. If i wasnt so happy for having a pistol, I would of caused a scene. This isnt the last complaint i have...Their prices are OFF THE WALL. The pistol was almost 150 dollars more than the local "SHOOTING RANGE" has it for. those a-holes charge 150 more and cannot even throw in a 9 dollar box of ammo. I walked out of there telling myself, NEVER again will i ever purchase anything from these M'fers.

Fast fwd 2-3 months. My father just bought my brother and I two 10 round mag's for our ar15's and a bore rod... Ends up that the 10 round mag is a NINE round mag. those son of a b*tches lied to my father. I was already ticked off that my dad gave his money to these a-holes, then to find out he was lied to... That just ticks me off.
I dont care about "support your local gun shop" I would love to see that place close down. The way they treated me and the way they lied to both me and my father... They even threw a fit when i took a picture of my girlfriend with a hat on with our camera phone.


I HATE that place, and i hope they close down... There's my rant. Cheap arse, lying sons of a b*Tches.

[marklbucla]

Penny wise and pound foolish they are.

They don't understand that we Calgunners have little self control when it comes to gun purchases. I mean seriously, how many of the guns that we own are "necessary"? They would have gotten so much business out of me if they would just take the time to give average, run of the mill service.

[WallySparx]

And yes, I did used to shoot at On Target. Kruzr has converted me to shoot at The Firing Line in Huntington Beach.
not to hijack the thread, but is there anything about the firing line experience that makes it worth the $18 per lane, as opposed to $14 at on-target?

[marklbucla]

If you're close enough, just to go Sharpshooters in torrance. It's like $8-9 IIRC. If you're interested in the firing line, just get a membership.

[AS45-70]

Ok i will play

I went to MBR for a Beneilli M1 s90 and before the transaction was complete i wanted to tear up the paperwork and tell him to GF himself, i didnt because i wanted the gun. I will never even buy ear plugs from them, the whole time i was the there they made me feel like they were doing me such a favor. I will not even step foot in there anymore.

As for Turners they have been hit and miss. One sale guy misled me as to the NM serial # on the SA 1911, i bought the gun only to find out its not a national match barrel ( my fault for not doing my HW really). They did throw in a box of ammo but i bought this gun as a base for a full Yost custom with plans to use the barrel. So i ended up having to buy a Kart NM .45 barrel for my custom which i didnt plan on spending. The counter guy was dead wrong, my fault for trusting him and not doing my own research until it was too late. A box of ammo imo was a kick in the sac.

Rich in FV has been very helpful but hes gone to a diff store now and i will probably try Ades from now on.

as4570