Antioch Armory must hate customers.

[r35]

I don't know which is more baffling; the number of gun stores that have ill mannered idiots that work behind the counter, or the folks who are quick to apologize for them and be critical of others for reporting a blatantly horrible experience.

In complete contrast - in Petaluma we have Sportsman's Arms and Independence Armory. Both are owned and staffed by intelligent, knowledgeable and friendly folks. They are both black rifle friendly also. They are also both on Calguns. I don't know how Petaluma got so lucky.

[a.tinkerer]

I've been there numerous times.
Every time I had a good experience - even though numerous times they just didn't have anything that I was looking for or needed.

There's nothing wrong with asking for a discount.
There's nothing wrong with the shop keeper saying no.
Expect the shop keeper to say no.
There are few gun shops or 'kitchen table ffl' vendors left in the SF Bay Area. The amount of market hasn't diminished as the shops have disappeared and the pressure from the BATFE and other "punk-a** tools of the man" has been steadily increasing.
In that balance, there's no good reason for a shop keeper to allow discount on gun purchases.
Why would they? They're not starving for business.

I spent about half of my adult life doing Point of Sale business, much of it in some sort of retail environment, some of it in the firearms industry.
Along that path I have refused the opportunity to purchase to a great many 'potential clients' who for whatever reason either rubbed me the wrong way, seemed like needy twits, or just plain didn't appear to be qualified to handle whatever it was that I was positioned to sell them.
Most of them were permanently branded with the 'loss of opportunity to purchase' from me or my counter.
In all that time, I did quite well with my business and client base.

My assumption is that the folks at Antioch have a similar position to keep at their counter, and know well and sound that there will be few or no FFL dealers coming up in their neighborhood or the SF Bay Area any time soon (or ever)

Pissing off about a ten dollar price difference?
That's your privilege - take it.
Spend your money where and when you can, hopefully it makes you happy.





Cheers
Tinker

[BillCA]

OK I get the labeling, Advertising issues but I don't see anywhere where it say the retail store has to sell you anything.

Also having this posted helps.
"We Have The Right to Refuse Service to Anyone"

Sure... but it is certainly much easier to correct the situation than it is to tell the customer to get out of your store. If you refuse service to the customer, you best refuse all service. Else you run the risk of being investigated for pricing violations or perhaps a discrimination charge. I've worked at the corporate level in the retail business for Fortune 500 companies. A lot of work goes into ensuring prices are correct or actually less than the tagged price.

Re: Offdeez's complaint about the large dog(s). If you don't like dogs, don't shop there. My local FFL has a pair of Labs leashed out front of his business and I usually make it a point to greet them. If you dislike animals that's your problem. Sometimes it makes the visit to a store more interesting. A Sacramento shop had a pair of bengal cats that would climb up on the stacked cartons of ammo just to get a little petting or attention.

[joedogboy]

-Dont mind me I just like staring at the wall near the glass case until you have absolutely nothing to do and for the heck of it you ask if i need help.

Pretty common in many gun shops these days - especially if there are other customers that they are either working with or having to keep an eye on. Even Big Five, which has a corporate culture and standardized customer service training will sometimes keep you waiting while the employees deal with other issues.

-50 to 100 dollar price mark ups compared to other places....okay....

When I recently purchased a Mini-30 at AA, it was $150 less than the asking price at the other nearby shop that had one (four shops didn't have one/weren't planning to get one any time soon, the fifth evidently marks up gun prices so that they can do a loud and showy "wheel & deal"/"haggle" with customers and maybe lower the price by $100 or so). Granted, I could have purchased a used one for less from the CalGuns sale forum, but would have had to drive several hours for the purchase, and then drive back again to pick it up.
Reloading components (dies, etc.) are a bit more than internet discounters, but that applies to most products, and reloading supplies (primer and powder) are reasonably priced, and usually available.

-Transfers only by appointment, DROS fee per gun, etc etc....really?

More and more, this is becoming the norm.

-Their 10 day wait is actually 10 days + 1, making it 11 days instead of the standard ten 24-hour periods from the moment the paperwork is done.

I have picked up firearms at AA 240 hours and fifteen minutes after my purchase (they were helping other customers, and I waited my turn, or it would have been 240 hours and two minutes). I just had to make sure that I didn't try top pick it up before the time when I purchased it.

-Yeah i asked for range/practice ammo like lead and wadcutters, and for the 50th time you gave me jacketed hollow points thinking Im an idiot.

Did they have lead and wadcutters in your caliber?
Did you just say "I'm going to the range and need some ammo?", or did you specify the exact ammo you wanted, and even point to the box? This works really well at AA, since they don't re-tag old product when the price goes up, so you might even be able to find the same ammo, from an older shipment, for a dollar or two less a box. When I noticed such a situation, they looked at all the boxes of that type to make sure I could get a few boxes of the "older", less expensive ammo.

But the guy who manages the long guns (i think his name is Brian, glasses) has always been helpful and informative, when I go in I usually try to go to him.

If you are talking about the guy I think you're talking about (the older guy who is a Navy vet), I have to agree. Perhaps the reason I have a better impression of the store than some others here is that he was the first one that I dealt with there (and first impressions do last), and we talk a bit every time I go in - even when another staff member is the one who deals with my transaction.

[Sinixstar]

Unfortunately your experience at AA is the norm. I've purchased three firearms and a safe from them, and still receive this BS. At the risk of outing myself the last straw came when I attempted to purchase 500 rounds of 223. They have the 500 rds packaged and sealed, and clearly labeled. I picked up the box on top and went to pay. Midway through the transaction the owner comes out, agitated, and says the box is full with 1000 rds despite the labeling. I didn't know. I bought the 500 at the listed price, but was ribbed by the staff and a customer for trying to pull a fast one. Well I left for good.

My suggestion is J&R at Livermore. They are standup people.

Clearly you're just a shady scoundrel trying to rip them off. What with thinking a box labeled as "500 rounds" contains "500 rounds". I mean jeeze, the nerve. Just runnin around all willy-nilly assuming things mean what they say.

Can you believe some people?

[DPC]

Some people just should not be in business. I look at it this way "Rudeness is a weak mans immitation of strength."

[Deadbolt]

So the OP made his first post to rant about a Vendor.
Good Start!

sure why not? its better then a SHTF post

[-hanko]

sure why not? its better then a SHTF post

Or a 'what should I buy?", "which lubricant is best?", or "my AR's safety won't work unless the hammer is cocked..." posts.

Not nearly as good as a "what gun works best for grizzly bears" post.

-hanko

[a.tinkerer]

'what should I buy?"

Buy Low, Sell High

"which lubricant is best?"

"my AR's safety won't work unless the hammer is cocked..."

Can't help you with that.

"what gun works best for grizzly bears"

Everyone knows grizzly bears don't use guns!







Cheers
Tinker