Antioch Armory must hate customers.

[battleship]

Since being on calguns i have heard nothing good about A.A. always a bad report. J&J armory in livermore always gets good reviews and ive always had a good experience with them. In fact even though this place is way out of my way to go to, i will always pic it to do PPT even if its on a Sunday.
It seems like this is the only service industry that thinks its still in the dark ages. Starbucks employees give better service, shoe salesmen are far more attentitive. For Christ sake even the DMV treat you better.
And please dont anyone run to there defence with they have to many idiots asking stupid questions or wasting there time, what service industry doesn't have this, yet they are trained to deal with the worst of customers like they are the best of customers. Im glad this newb brings this common problem up in his first blog it says allot about what we have to put up with when walking into a gun store. Whats worse is he wasn't just window shopping but had cash in hand i guess money doesn't talk in some gun stores.
Thanks for sharing your experience.

[joedogboy]

My own experience with Antioch Armory goes from mediocre to really good.

Since I live in Contra Costa County, my choices for B&M gun stores include Old West in El Cerrito (a bit of a drive, but I grew up there and my folks are still in town, so I stop in every now and then), Canyon Sports in Martinez, Antioch Armory (through the terrible traffic on hwy 4), and Diablo Gun Works (if you count a place that tiny hole in the wall, with almost no product as a gun STORE, rather than as a gunsmith shop). Then there are Big 5 Sports and Sports Authority (for a limited selection of long guns and ammo).

The only place that has given me good customer service the first time they saw me was Big 5 (both in Concord and Walnut Creek). Sports Authority (Concord) and Big 5 (El Cerrito) both can take a long time to get an employee to come to the gun counter to help you.

I generally get pretty good service at Old West - but they remember me as a customer from waaaaay back. I've had okay service from some people at Canyon Sports, and mediocre service from others. I've had mediocre service from some of the guys at Antioch Armory, and great service from others.

It seems like some of the staff at Antioch are semi-volunteers. One guy, who doesn't know a lot about many of their products, is always friendly and eager to help - I could see some people complaining about this, but here is a guy who is friendly, helpful, and does his best. Another is knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful, now that he's seen me a few times and knows that I am a "real customer" (my term). A couple of the other guys are distracted and harder to get help from - but seem to work well with other types of customers. It also took me a few trips to get used to the big dogs that they have roaming the store. While I can see that it is not everybody's cup of tea, it is a gun store, not a Starbucks.

AA has a decent selection, not only of guns and ammo, but also reloading supplies and shooting gear. While they aren't as inexpensive as online stores, very few B&M retailers can afford to be (different business models, and different operating costs), especially in high rent areas like the SF Bay Area.

It seems that you have two complaints - the first is slow service, the second is that they wouldn't haggle with you over a price.

Regarding the service, this could easily be a valid complaint, at least to your expectations. Did you get eye contact or a head nod while you were browsing? Customers should be acknowledged in some way shortly after they enter the store - how long it takes and what kind of greeting will differ depending on the staff member, and different customers have different expectations.

Regarding the haggling, get over yourself. If there's a marked price, and you try to haggle, but the salesperson stands by the marked price, you have no valid complaint. If you want to wheel and deal, go to Canyon Sports, where they seem to really enjoy it. They seem to ramp up their gun prices specifically to allow room for that. If you enjoy haggling, you should find it entertaining. If you prefer to be able to shop a listed price, go somewhere else. This is also why I will probably never buy a gun from them, although I will pick up ammo or gear from them if the marked price is right.

In many businesses, people who demand reduced prices are seen as "non-customers", who are there to waste employees time. Successful businesspeople know that sometimes it is better to "fire" a customer rather than allow them to waste your employees' time.

[unusedusername]

Antioch Armory really needs to clean their store...

They have a bunch of garbage (mostly old computer junk) sitting on the shelves in the customer area Its nassssty in there!

[norcal77]

In situations like yours I turn the tables.

If I'm not pressed for time I'll play the newb role and not even discuss price and make them show me all kinds of stuff before I casually walk out..I always like to leave on a high note..but that's just me

Just play the eager role and let them think you are clueless...I had a 'salesman' thinking he had $4K in sales before I casually walked out and drove off one time.

If he would have let me get the two boxes of ammo I wanted when I walked in instead of making me wait 5 minutes while he was on the phone.....I would have been on my way.

An eye for an eye...it's a great saying to live by.

[battleship]

Oh man, norcal77 i would like to tag along and see you in action.

[GTKTony]

The employee was front and center sitting with his feet up! As for haggling, I just asked if they would match Diablo Valley's price. I wasn't trying to low ball them. I've been in there in the past as the "newb". I didn't mention those times, because I wasn't familiar with the etiquite at the time. I thought rude and hurried was the norm.

[NoPantsDavid]

Wow I have had nothing But the best services from them I have bought 4 guns this year and had a gun sent out for replacement/repair that they took care of for me . my first deal with them was a ppt for 2 guns and they did with no problems. I like shopping there and will continue to do so .

[joedogboy]

As for haggling, I just asked if they would match Diablo Valley's price. I wasn't trying to low ball them.

You claim that you weren't actually haggling (which is another term for saying you were trying to negotiate the price) over the price of a gun when you were haggling over the price of a gun. Gee, I guess it all depends what the meaning of "is" is.

You tried to negotiate a better price and they stood by their marked price, so now you are calling them names.

If the gun was cheaper elsewhere, why didn't you just buy it at the other place - end of story?

If the one gas station in town charges two cents more per gallon, do you go on the internet and bad-mouth them because they won't match the price at a station in a neighboring town?

[Lazy eye]

You claim that you weren't actually haggling (which is another term for saying you were trying to negotiate the price) over the price of a gun when you were haggling over the price of a gun. Gee, I guess it all depends what the meaning of "is" is.

You tried to negotiate a better price and they stood by their marked price, so now you are calling them names.

If the gun was cheaper elsewhere, why didn't you just buy it at the other place - end of story?

If the one gas station in town charges two cents more per gallon, do you go on the internet and bad-mouth them because they won't match the price at a station in a neighboring town?

It's not haggling, it's price matching. Haggling is a completely different thing. It's a back and forth between the buyer and the seller. I used to work retail, and price matching is common. Had he stood there after and asked for no sales tax, or to throw in some ammo or a discount on a holster, that would have been haggling. As it is, he said he had the cash for the full price transaction, and was just asking. I would be offended too if an employee, not the owner, that had been looking at me and ignoring me while on the phone with a private call decided to say no without bothering to talk to me directly.

In other words, get off your high horse and go somewhere else.

[BillCA]

You claim that you weren't actually haggling (which is another term for saying you were trying to negotiate the price) over the price of a gun when you were haggling over the price of a gun. Gee, I guess it all depends what the meaning of "is" is.
:
If the one gas station in town charges two cents more per gallon, do you go on the internet and bad-mouth them because they won't match the price at a station in a neighboring town?

Actually, if there isn't a sign posted that says they'll meet or beat anyone's prices, it does not hurt to ask. I don't consider that haggling. I consider that asking about their policies and promotions.

As to the OP's issue, I've BTDT and found various ways to extract a little satisfaction. I was in an autobody shop to pick up a repaired car. One of their staff was in the same "feet-up" position on the phone. After 10 minutes I was steamed, but another guy helped finish the paperwork and get me on my way. As I was about to leave, in the presence of 3 of his coworkers I got his attention off the phone and said "Do you actually do any work here? Or are you paid to just be ornamental?" I could hear the others laughing as I got in my car.

I've also picked up a lot of pricey items in poor service gun shop and taken them to the counter to get attention. Start with an expensive holster. Add a few boxes of ammo. Plop down a spotting scope and maybe a hunting jacket. Throw in a cleaning kit for fun and then pull out your wallet. When the guy finally gets off the phone and says "Will that be all for you?" ... say "No, I just wanted to see how much it would take to get you off your FAT A** to tend to a customer." Then walk directly out of the store. Best done when there are other workers in the store or the manager.

[B.D.Dubloon]

You claim that you weren't actually haggling (which is another term for saying you were trying to negotiate the price) over the price of a gun when you were haggling over the price of a gun. Gee, I guess it all depends what the meaning of "is" is.

You tried to negotiate a better price and they stood by their marked price, so now you are calling them names.

If the gun was cheaper elsewhere, why didn't you just buy it at the other place - end of story?

If the one gas station in town charges two cents more per gallon, do you go on the internet and bad-mouth them because they won't match the price at a station in a neighboring town?

That's not the basis of the OP's complaint.

[kmullins]

This is exactly why I try to keep my interaction with brick and mortar firearms sales establishments to a minimum. I've found that the Internet has far more of a selection and the prices are much better...

I find situations like this to be EXTREMELY irritating to say the least so I just avoid them altogether the best I can.

[joedogboy]

It's not haggling, it's price matching. Haggling is a completely different thing. It's a back and forth between the buyer and the seller. I used to work retail, and price matching is common. Had he stood there after and asked for no sales tax, or to throw in some ammo or a discount on a holster, that would have been haggling. As it is, he said he had the cash for the full price transaction, and was just asking. I would be offended too if an employee, not the owner, that had been looking at me and ignoring me while on the phone with a private call decided to say no without bothering to talk to me directly.

In other words, get off your high horse and go somewhere else.

Any bargain hunting where you seek to get a better deal than the listed price is haggling.

Can I get ten dollars off this because I SAY that another shop has one for ten dollars less than you are asking?

Can I get this for ten dollars less if I can show you that it is ten dollars less on the internet?

Can you eat the sales tax on this?

Can you eat the DROS and paperwork fees on this?

Will you throw in a box of ammo?

Can I get it for ten dollars less than the marked price?

"Price matching" is generally understood to apply to a price that a competitor advertises. If the retailer doesn't claim to offer price matching, and you ask for it, you are haggling.

Not that there's anything wrong with haggling, but complaining because a retailer stood by their listed price, rather than haggling, is a little bit silly. Might even make a good Monty Python sketch.

Wonderful hospitality lazyeye. I point out that asking for a discount is haggling, and you tell me to leave the site.

[joedogboy]

That's not the basis of the OP's complaint.

The OP had two complaints. One was that he had to wait for service, the other was that they wouldn't lower a listed price when he asked them to.

When the shotgun customer was done the other employee finally came over. I asked him if he could sell me the .40 for $545. That is the price Diablo Valley Gun Works was selling it for. The employee went to ask the owner, but as he was waiting the rude phone employee walked up and bumped him and shook his head no. He walked back and told me they couldn't, so I left pledging I will not support Antioch Armory EVER AGAIN!

From the OP, it seems that the store's refusal to lower the price by $10 was the factor that really caused him to be angry, write them off, and post here.

[510dat]

What's wrong with haggling?