Martin B. Retting experience

[smle-man]

So I went to Martin B. Retting in Culver City for the first time in decades to do a PPT. I arrived a half hour early so I decided to go into the store and kill some time while waiting.

I was immediately greeted in a friendly and helpful manner inquiring what I could be assisted with. When I told the guy why I was there, he politely requested to examine my revolver to confirm it was unloaded, commented 'nice revolver', returned it to me and invited me to let any of the clerks know when the OP arrived. In the next half hour I was asked three more times if I needed anything. Politely, no pushiness or attitude.

The store itself it like a museum with its large number of C&R and antique type arms and accouterments for sale.

My buyer showed up exactly on time, I signaled to a clerk that we were ready and we were immediately ushered over to a young man who was doing PPTs with a new employee as his trainee. The process took about 35 minutes and it was handled professionally and as quickly as could be expected.

I have been reading complaints about the shop recently and I've got to say that either I was the luckiest guy in Culver City today or there was something more to the incidents that prompted others to complain about the store.

If they weren't an hour drive from my house I could see me being a regular there!

[Garv]

Do you have a pony tail?

I would say it is hit or miss there with noticeable room for improvement.

I will go there, but it is far from my first choice.

Glad you had a good experience.

[smle-man]

No pony tail but I saw folks of both sexes and several different ethnic and racial types young to old being well treated. Maybe it was a good day in Culver city.

[wireless]

There out of state FFL charge is ridiculous, but otherwise I've had a really good experience with them. They sent me a copy of my DROS via email when oak tree told me they couldn't PPT my AR pistol because it didn't say "ar pistol". Saved me $30 on gas and 3+hours easily.

[edgerly779]

I have done a couple deais there on both sides buyer/seller. When busy takes time. Never had a bad experience. I did business with them when I had an ffl in 1981.

[meno377]

My own experiences with MBR has been hit and miss. I believe it depends on who serves you. I had one salesman who was first class. Didn't tell me any stories, wasn't distracted by others, and recognizes that time is money.

Another time I had an encounter with another salesman who IMO wasted over an hour and a half when the transaction could have taken 15 minutes tops. Always distracted by others in the store and didn't seem to have the capability of multitasking.

[GM4spd]

Glad you had a good experience. I've only done two PPTs there but worked
out ok. Pete

[heidad01]

OP, count your blessings, that myut have been an odd day. Also, you do not know in what condition the gun will be when the seller picks it up. Guns left at MBR during the 10 days wait have a tendency to magically get scrspes and scratches.

[hollowpoint67]

OP, count your blessings, that myut have been an odd day. Also, you do not know in what condition the gun will be when the seller picks it up. Guns left at MBR during the 10 days wait have a tendency to magically get scrspes and scratches.

There a source on this?

[Eatmyshade]

Purchased a G19 at martin b redding around three weeks ago. No one approached me the first time so I had to ask for help but the guy was really helpful and knowledgeable. When I went to pick up the handgun up I was greeted and was asked if I needed help. So YMMY

Still a great store... Huge selection!! If it wasn't an hr drive I would definitely go again to see their used gun selection.

[MarikinaMan]

This is my local store. Most of the time, they are real busy. Besides that and selling at slightly higher prices than other stores for new guns and ammo, I've got nothing I can complain about.

If could be better, but compared to what in West LA? Attitude I can take. Never been disrespected there. When I do get someone, they are usually top notch.

[Dimitri A.]

I remember walking in there for the first time about 15 years ago and thinking to myself "man these guys have a really bad attitude." I remember hearing stories, and reading some negative reviews. That being said, this has been my go to place for the past nearly 4 years whenever I am staying at my girlfriends place in West LA. Every time I have gone in there, service has been great. I have purchased a couple of pistols here, and can't begin to count the number of PPT's. Service has always been very good.

That being said, I agree that the service can suck when they are very busy; the place becomes a little chaotic. They really need to invest in one of those "number macines".

[sean5063]

I remember walking in there for the first time about 15 years ago and thinking to myself "man these guys have a really bad attitude." I remember hearing stories, and reading some negative reviews. That being said, this has been my go to place for the past nearly 4 years whenever I am staying at my girlfriends place in West LA. Every time I have gone in there, service has been great. I have purchased a couple of pistols here, and can't begin to count the number of PPT's. Service has always been very good.

That being said, I agree that the service can suck when they are very busy. They can become very unorganized. They really need to invest in one of those "number macines".

How about they invest in a pen and paper where customers can write their name down. Cross out names when they call your name.

Everytime I've been there, I felt like I needed to compete and get someone to help me before others walked in the door. Store is not bad, but is too busy to not have any system for customers being helped in order

[Mail Clerk]

not a bad place

Pretty much they've all had good attitudes except when they had bad days they've had tendencies to carry it out to the store and take it out on customers.

I really wish they would have a gun smith on site. The last time I was there the gunsmith was gone. No reason given just gone.

They have a good variety of pistols/rifles for sale to satisfy every ones sport nitch. You'll pay top dollar for what you want as some items hard to get.....they can!!! Except for BIG 5 there's no where else to go locally so the whole area is sewn up.

My final review is that if you want it that bad you'll go through what ever it takes to get it.


Mail Clerk

[Garv]

There a source on this?

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=15645536&highlight=scratch#post15645536

post 52

......They damaged an expensive gun that I ppt-ed there and absolutlety refused to aknowlege that a perfect gun with no mark on it left in their care was damaged there. I know this because the gun was brand new and pristine without a mark when i left (I would not have bought it if it had a mark) and had a nasty scratch on it when picked up.


Only one I recall so take it for what it is.