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Thought long and hard about posting this, but I ultimately felt that this would be constructive info for my fellow Calgunners and maybe even for the folks at the shop...
Over the past few months, I've been into several shops throughout the East Bay, Sacramento, the San Joaquin Valley, etc. This one really sticks out.
J&R in Livermore.
I've been in, 3 times.
First Visit: Just wandering around, mainly window shopping for general accessory items. No big deal. Was greeted cordially, staff was friendly, got my questions answered, they let me handle a pistol or two. Went on my way, as the items I was looking for, weren't in stock at the time. Overall, good experience, though.
Second Visit: Met up with a fellow Calgunner, for a PPT. (I was the buyer). Prior to our meet-up, he had told me that he'd been into J&R, done PPT's there in the past and liked them well enough. My previous experience had been positive, so I agreed.
The shop person who actually helped me, turned out to be "less than friendly". It seemed like they were rushing through everything, failed to explain the safe affidavit to me (I had asked) and charged me for a lock. It's the lock part of this that has me annoyed. They didn't ask if I had one (which I did, thought I needed it upon pickup, oops)... they didn't ask my permission to add it to the transaction, they didn't tell me they were adding it to the transaction and they didn't tell me what the price of the lock was. Yes, I know the laws, but they should have been a bit more informative. Yes I understand that they do this all the time and this was my first CA PPT, but customer service shouldn't be sacrificed.
Third Visit: The PPT pickup. I had the misfortune of being "helped' by the same shop person, from my second visit. Again, with the rushing, unfriendliness and so forth. While they were back getting my gun, another shop person asked me if I needed help. I told them I was being helped and we talked for a few seconds. This other person was friendly, welcoming and even smiled. When the first person brought my gun back out, I was sort of leaning over the counter, trying to read the ammo boxes & prices. I told them I was having a tough time seeing the price tags. They just stood in front of me and started finalizing the transaction. We got all finished up and they failed to follow up with me, about the ammo. So I left with my gun and got my ammo elsewhere.
To be fair... Every other person I've talked to in that shop has been great. Informative, helpful, cordial, etc. The place is small-medium size and their selection of all products is okay.
To be fair even further... Maybe I scared this person. I'm a big, intimidating-looking guy. I've discovered throughout my adult life, that the sight of me, scares some people. With that in mind, I always try to walk and talk quietly, I try to smile and in a non-verbal way, let folks know that even though I look like one... I'm not actually a Viking, there to raid their village. I believe that I conducted myself in a cordial, non-threatening manner, during all my visits to J&R.
Maybe this person is fed up with their job. Maybe they just don't want to be there. Maybe their mommy didn't spank them. Maybe dealers just get grouchy about doing PPT's. I don't know. Suffice to say, that I might go back to J&R, in the future, I'm not completely writing them off. I will do my best to avoid this person, however.
Over the past few months, I've been into several shops throughout the East Bay, Sacramento, the San Joaquin Valley, etc. This one really sticks out.
J&R in Livermore.
I've been in, 3 times.
First Visit: Just wandering around, mainly window shopping for general accessory items. No big deal. Was greeted cordially, staff was friendly, got my questions answered, they let me handle a pistol or two. Went on my way, as the items I was looking for, weren't in stock at the time. Overall, good experience, though.
Second Visit: Met up with a fellow Calgunner, for a PPT. (I was the buyer). Prior to our meet-up, he had told me that he'd been into J&R, done PPT's there in the past and liked them well enough. My previous experience had been positive, so I agreed.
The shop person who actually helped me, turned out to be "less than friendly". It seemed like they were rushing through everything, failed to explain the safe affidavit to me (I had asked) and charged me for a lock. It's the lock part of this that has me annoyed. They didn't ask if I had one (which I did, thought I needed it upon pickup, oops)... they didn't ask my permission to add it to the transaction, they didn't tell me they were adding it to the transaction and they didn't tell me what the price of the lock was. Yes, I know the laws, but they should have been a bit more informative. Yes I understand that they do this all the time and this was my first CA PPT, but customer service shouldn't be sacrificed.
Third Visit: The PPT pickup. I had the misfortune of being "helped' by the same shop person, from my second visit. Again, with the rushing, unfriendliness and so forth. While they were back getting my gun, another shop person asked me if I needed help. I told them I was being helped and we talked for a few seconds. This other person was friendly, welcoming and even smiled. When the first person brought my gun back out, I was sort of leaning over the counter, trying to read the ammo boxes & prices. I told them I was having a tough time seeing the price tags. They just stood in front of me and started finalizing the transaction. We got all finished up and they failed to follow up with me, about the ammo. So I left with my gun and got my ammo elsewhere.
To be fair... Every other person I've talked to in that shop has been great. Informative, helpful, cordial, etc. The place is small-medium size and their selection of all products is okay.
To be fair even further... Maybe I scared this person. I'm a big, intimidating-looking guy. I've discovered throughout my adult life, that the sight of me, scares some people. With that in mind, I always try to walk and talk quietly, I try to smile and in a non-verbal way, let folks know that even though I look like one... I'm not actually a Viking, there to raid their village. I believe that I conducted myself in a cordial, non-threatening manner, during all my visits to J&R.
Maybe this person is fed up with their job. Maybe they just don't want to be there. Maybe their mommy didn't spank them. Maybe dealers just get grouchy about doing PPT's. I don't know. Suffice to say, that I might go back to J&R, in the future, I'm not completely writing them off. I will do my best to avoid this person, however.
Dont sweat it dude. People tend to look at me funny also. I mean I only drag my knuckles on the ground cause my sleeve length is longer than my inseam. besides the wooden club in one hand and the cave woman in the other tend to get heavy after a day of hunting mammoth.
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