consumer thoughts about gun shops

[Snoopy47]

So yesterday I tried to transfer a PPT (I was the buyer) at Reeds in Santa Clara, and ended up waiting an hour there, and had to walk out the door.

So anyway. It has to be understood while a policy might make economic sense that PPT's get pushed to the back of the line so long as there is anyone else in the store, that logic presumes the PPT folks don't do any other business there. So now I wont.

I mean...... like really? I've bought several firearms in the past, buy ammo, and reloading components, and even a few pistol bags, one long gun bag, cleaning supplies, etc.....

So what ended up happening is the other set of folks in front of us doing a PPT went to Metal Dog Tactical in San Jose. So we followed them out the door. I've never been there. Never knew about them. So now I do. They truely are more of a black gun, tactical type store, but they were the fastest DROS process I've ever done. The guy there clearly knew how to fill out a DROS transfer.

Also, I've always had in the back of my mind to build an AR15 one day. When ever I get around to it Metal Dog Tactial is the place I'm going to go to get hooked up.

When I go to pick up my 10/22 I'll be in the market for a new soft case rifle bag that holds two rifles. I probably would have gotten one at Reeds, but since I wont be there when I pick up my 10/22 I'll just get it at the new store that I found.

Remember gun shop onwers, if you presume I don't do any other business at your shop and keep pushing me to the back of the line then I wont do any other business.

[Occams Rasor]

Yea, I don't get it either. The Government is driving (forcing) customers to their door and they are saying: "Pi$$ off, we can't be bothered to provide you service."
If only Amazon could figure out a way to do PPTs on line. There would be no reason to go to a big box store again.

[uhlan1]

Huh, sorry to hear Reed's changed their policy. Used to be 1st come, first served.
FFL's supported moving PPT's into their establishments for the retailer's sacred foot traffic. They get it, then treat said foot traffic like dung.
I'm with OP, treat me like crap on a PPT and I will never spend a dime in your establishment again, and I drop a ton of dimes.
Short-sighted and stupid.

[emtmark]

I like metal dog they have done well every time I've been in. Reeds? Meh only if I have too, lot of wasted time.

[bigbearbear]

I am sad to read that Reed's level of customer service has gone south, especially those looking to do PPT there. I did a PPT there last year with my colleague and it was a breeze, I guess things have changed recently.

I bought my 1st firearm from Reeds, a Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm. Unfortunately, Reed does not carry clay shooting shotguns so I've since not bought anything there but I've always thought of them as my "go to" gun shop.

Guess I should check out Metal Dog Tactical if I want a tactical shotgun later.

[retiredAFcop]

Reed's may have nice stuff on the shelves, but they treat people poorly.

Eventually, the market is going to correct that problem.

[Merc1138]

Seems that Reed's is getting a little ridiculous about PPT's. Crap storage fees, at one point I recall someone complaining that they couldn't hand over money in the store, now sending PPTs to the back of the line?

Fortunately there are a dozen other shops in the area, unfortunately the only other indoor range with decent hours is worse than Reed's with regard to service for just about anything(the 10th st. range in SJ has some really limited hours).

[Snoopy47]

I'm not going to make a scene at a gun shop. It really twisted me the wrong way to see them help folks that only looked and touched without even buying anything. HEY, remember me, remember the lady I brought in that bought a Les Baer, remember the rifle I bought a few months ago? Remember all the Bear Creek Bullets and Powder I buy? Remember the weekly lane rentals?

It would have even helped a lot just to have been handed the paperwork for us to get started.

The reason I like indoor ranges is because it allows me to retract my target without having to wait for a cold range ever 15 minutes. That's about the only reason I even bother with indoor ranges.

[Brush Guard]

I hear ya, yes it’s nice to be able to pull your target whenever you like. But in general, I don’t like the indoor experience for many reasons.

If health allows, I recommend shooting outside, regardless of the weather. Embrace the elements. Use the cold as an excuse to use your best winter outfit and practice. Enjoy melting in the summer heat, hydrate and learn from the experience.

Knowing that I can’t retrieve my target whenever I want, I make the best of it by placing multiple smaller targets on the center line of the target and use a binocular or spotting scope to view groups.

Different strokes for different folks, but I would rather shoot outdoors in below zero temp or over 100 degrees before shooting indoors.

[GeorgeGeorgerson]

Yeah, Reed's lost me as a potential customer the same way. It took over an hour and a half for the seller and I to just decide to leave. My favorite part was when the fellow behind the counter had the PPT forms ready for us, started walking towards us, saw another person approaching the counter and asked him what he could do for him. The other customer looked at us, told the employee that we were there first, and the employee just replied, "Yeah, but they're doing a PPT". This happened 3 times.

[twotacocombo]

I rarely go retail shopping anymore. I get as much as I can off of Amazon, because I'm cheap, lazy, and generally don't like being rammed with carts by strangers. When I do have to venture out in the real world, service takes precedent over all else.

I had been going to the only LGS in town for over a decade, and it was a decent little shop. They expanded into a larger space, spruced up the joint, and somewhere along the line picked up an attitude. The day they couldn't even be bothered to tell me when they expected a shipment of lowers is the day I started calling around. I found another shop in town I never even knew existed, made a call, and they were more than happy to order one for me that day. I stopped by that afternoon to get it paid for, and haven't bought anything from another place since.

The store is nothing fancy, there's not a whole lot in stock at any given time, but the people behind the counter are great. If you want something, they'll get it ordered for you. I've done two PPTs in there now, and they took care of them quickly and with a smile. I don't go in there that often, but every time i do, someone strikes up a conversation as if i were a regular. These guys know how to do service, which really sets them apart from the others when the whole industry is facing the same inventory problems at one time or another. My old shop looks nicer and has more crap hanging on the walls, but I don't have to live there and most of that stuff can be found cheaper online. When I have to buy some hardware that requires paperwork, I'd actually rather pay more to get it from a place that treats people decently rather than a shop that acts like they can't be bothered to take your money.

tl;dr
Take care of your customers, or somebody else will.

[bountyhunter]

Huh, sorry to hear Reed's changed their policy. Used to be 1st come, first served.

Still is, but the point is they have one person doing a process that takes about 30 minutes and don't care if you are the second or third person who waits an hour or two. Targetmasters was the same way.

[bountyhunter]

Yeah, Reed's lost me as a potential customer the same way. It took over an hour and a half for the seller and I to just decide to leave. My favorite part was when the fellow behind the counter had the PPT forms ready for us, started walking towards us, saw another person approaching the counter and asked him what he could do for him. The other customer looked at us, told the employee that we were there first, and the employee just replied, "Yeah, but they're doing a PPT". This happened 3 times.

WOW...... what a douche.

[billped]

I've been a long time customer of Reeds for PPTs and range-time. Reading about this pisses me off and I will likely chat with them about it.

No good story? I'm gone.

[Merc1138]

Still is, but the point is they have one person doing a process that takes about 30 minutes and don't care if you are the second or third person who waits an hour or two. Targetmasters was the same way.

What process takes 30 minutes? A PPT takes 10-15 minutes tops, any more than that(like targetmasters and their extra paperwork) means the shop is doing it wrong.