Is this illegal?? Targetmasters ...

[QQQ]

File a complaint with DOJ. They need to be schooled.

This.

[dwtt]

OP, your question has been answered. What Target Masters in Milpitas did was not in compliance with CA law. You can contact DOJ and ask them how to file a complaint.

By the way, if you and the seller are willing to drive all the way to Milpitas, and can meet during the weekday, I would suggest going to Rob Bent. I used him a long time ago when I was in the East Bay, driving down from the Berkeley area. I don't know if he's still active, but if he is, you can't go wrong with him. I'll let others fill in the story about this particular FFL's interactions with CA DOJ and a certain mahogany raging DOJ agent.

[BigPimping]

PPT is exempt from the roster. Not sure why the shop turned you away .

It's Target Masters!!!!! What more needs to be said!!!

[whipkiller]

Not $35 for a DROS, we make $10 and why would anyone expect us to take our time to do something for free when we could be helping other paying customers? Just sayin!

Pretty short-sighted business plan. How anybody in retail sales doesn't get this is beyond me!

Most businesses regularly spend THOUSANDS on marketing, advertising, media blasts, sign spinners, etc. hoping for one thing to happen. To get potential customers in the store!!
A PPT not only doesn't cost the business anything, we give you Ten dollars.

Now you've got two gun enthusiasts in your gun store. Pretty safe bet that they're probably both interested in the stuff you're trying to sell.

One of them is a gun enthusiast standing in a gun store, who now has a new gun, for which he will probably be buying ammo, magazines, holster(s), mag pouches, sights, cleaning supplies, grips, more ammo, cases, gun rugs, a weapon light, a new holster 'cuz now he has a light on it, more ammo, and maybe the compact version of the new gun 'cuz he liked his full size so much.

The other guy is a gun enthusiast standing in a gun store, (are you gettin' it yet?) who now has hundreds of dollars in his pocket and is likely looking at or can probably be very easily convinced to buy a new gun, for which he will probably be buying ammo, magazines, holster(s), mag pouches, sights, cleaning supplies, grips, more ammo, a weapon light, a new holster 'cuz now he has a light on it, more ammo, cases, gun rugs, and maybe the compact version of the new gun 'cuz he liked his full size so much.

And that is the point that you need to do your job, your real job in a retail establishment. Upsell. Cleaning supplies, mags, ammo, cases, "want us to put night sights on that for you, we're running a special".

Give them a great experience and they come back. I have bought BNIB guns from every LGS that has been a pleasant PPT experience. Many LGS, a PPT was the only means I knew you even existed. Poor service? Blow me off?
Ok, you just blew off a guy who will never set foot in your place again but who spends 1000's a year on BNIB guns, supplies, components and ammo.
Swift move.

Considering your inventory offerings are weak, that the majority of potential retail customers in this state consider you a pariah and will never walk into any LGS, if you were smart, you would try to attract PPT's. "Would you like a bottled water while you wait?"

You're a retailer. You sell widgets. Act like one. Or suffer as so many do, Squeaking out a marginal profit, compelled to pay your employees squat.

Very well put Uhlan1, maybe you should open a LGS.

Business 101: Customer Relations.

I'll echo it again since it's probably the single most important piece of advice gun stores and their employees could take away from this debate.

Give them a great experience and they come back.

Customer service in gun stores is infamous for being either very good or very frustrating and in some cases even downright insulting. (Y'know, treating customers like an inconvenience if they want to do a PPT.)

I did a PPT at Iron Sights in Oceanside a few years ago because the other guy lived in North County and had a tight schedule. It was a busy Saturday and while we were waiting the pretty young lady who was cheerfully handling our PPT offered us a bottle of cold water and even told us a couple of jokes.

Soon after this when I was shopping for my SP-01 I drove 45 minutes and passed at least 4 other LGS to buy it at Iron Sights because...

Wait for it...



Give them a great experience and they come back.

I actually consider PPT's and how the LGS handles it, to be a great yardstick for measuring the way an establishment treats their customers and whether or not I want to give them my future business.

You can see it as a great opportunity to build customer relations with two potential new and probable return customers who will come back and spend thousands buying lots of guns and accessories, and tell all their friends, and rave on the internet gun forums about the great experience they had at "_____ gun store",

Orrrr...


You can see it as an inconvenience, and piss and moan about how anyone could "expect us to take our time to do something for free when we could be helping other paying customers".

Just sayin'

[grantsucceeded]

Peter at MPArms in San Jose has appointments until 9 pm. Great guy. Chris at Digital Instincts in Sunnyvale has appts until 7 pm. Reeds in Santa Clara is open until 10 pm. I would call to make appt or check to confirm hours for ppt.

Just a reminder, reeds have new rules that you have to pick up yournppt within 24 hours after the waiting period. Otherwise u pay $100/ week. So I'll vote for Chris @ digital

[onelonehorseman]

[QUOTE=whipkiller;15840882]Pretty short-sighted business plan. How anybody in retail sales doesn't get this is beyond me!:facepalm

I didn't quote your entire post, due to its length, but I agree with every word 100%.

Very well said! Cheers and carry on.

[soopafly]

File a complaint with DOJ. They need to be schooled.

I can't believe any freedom loving American would even think about thinking this. The last thing I would suggest is MORE gov't intrusion.

Let the free market work, there are plenty of other gun shops more than happy to let you be their customer.

(BTW, public shaming on the web tends to work better than any gov't agency at keeping businesses in check )

[Yreka]

It's funny, because I know people who have had just as many crappy incidents at TM over the years as I have, but still insist on going there for some inexplicable reason, when they know there are alternative shops and a range in the area. It's as TM customers have some sort of stockholm syndrome and they can't help but go there. Maybe they think every shop in the area is just as crappy(they aren't, TM is the worst on every level).

I think its the hours ?? Only somewhat reasonable explanation I can think of.. They are open when others are closed.

Me personally, I would wait until the next day vs going to TM but if you are dealing on an item you really want with another person & the only time they can meet is late.... who knows.

[tamalpias]

I have always had good luck at targetmasters. It is possible with the new SSE law being banned they misinterpreted the law on PPT as well. I have done 3 PPT there and bought 2 new from them. I have also used their indoor range many times and find the place pretty nice to shoot minus it could use better lighting.

[tamalpias]

Oh and to only make $10 off a PPT that takes 45 minutes to complete I do feel sorry for any LGS that has to do them. Hence I always try to buy equal number of new vs used guns from any LGS.

[nedro]

I can answer that. Because it was Target Masters.

Or rather Target Disasters.

They will PPT over at Reed's but they have some f'd up storage fees now. I recommend Rodger's Relics.

I bought my Rem 700 at Bud's and had it DROSed at Rodgers Relics. Nice people and another recommendation for them.

As for Target Masters;
I called them to ask if they would order a Sig Sauer 1911 Tac-Pac for me. They said it was not on the roster and illegal in CA.
WRONG!
I called Annie's Guns in Fremont and picked one up 10 days later.
I'm really not sure they will do anything for anyone not buying a gun they stock.

[GunHo]

I can't believe any freedom loving American would even think about thinking this. The last thing I would suggest is MORE gov't intrusion.

Let the free market work, there are plenty of other gun shops more than happy to let you be their customer.

(BTW, public shaming on the web tends to work better than any gov't agency at keeping businesses in check )

Let me guess, you're either a regular at Target Master or know someone that works there. Really though, if you were in OP's position and went through all that trouble, I'd be livid. I didn't read all the post but unless they have a valid reason to deny the PPT, I would definitely file a complaint with DOJ.

[sl0re10]

Which is their right, but confuses the heck out of me. Why not just say "we don't wanna do it, its late", or "outside of company policy, sorry"?

Both more polite and still a refusal.

nope; not their right if it was a legal PPT.

[bountyhunter]

Ah yes, Target Masters. Likely they knew it is legal, didn't want to do it, so just bloody lied.

As others said: Digital Instincts, Reeds, Metal Dog and you'll have no issues.

Just be sure never to spend a dime in that dump and encourage anyone you know likewise.

They constantly have employee turnover and hire only min wage morons. Vote with your feet.

[mossy]

its target masters. don't expect much out of them. i was there the other day just to look around and price the mini -14's. some idiot shot and broke the target hanger, it was hilarious when they told him he would be paying for the repairs.