GunsDirect @ Burbank, Ca = HIGHWAY ROBBERY. AVOID.

[knucklez]

Store information: http://www.yelp.com/biz/guns-direct-burbank
Why I decided to make this "review thread": http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=433680

I've been to GunsDirect a total of three times and I will only be back there one more time to pick up my brand new PPT'd Glock 17.

The first time I was at Guns Direct I was in the market for my first ever handgun. Having shot the p226r in .40 and 9mm I decided to pick up the Sig Mosquito so I can save money on ammunition and have the same "feel" of the p226. Not knowing ANYTHING about the value of handguns I went ahead and purchase a brand new Sig Sauer Mosquito @ GunsDirect for ~$455.00 OTD. I was extremely happy in the purchase until I found out they sold the SAME EXACT handgun at Turner's for ~$350.00 OTD.

At this point I was mad and disappointed in myself, I promised myself to do research before impulsively purchasing any handgun. I private messaged one of the workers at GunsDirect and expressed my thoughts and emotions about overpaying ~$100.00 for the handgun they sold me. The worker assured me that even though I overpaid $100 for the handgun that I would definitely be taken care of in the future.... this was not the case.

I went in for a second transaction today @ GunsDirect, this time it was for a PPT. I went into the store with the normal documents for a PPT: California Drivers Lience, HSC Card, Proof of Residency, and a receipt for a brand new gun lock less than 30 days old. Additionally, we gave Phil, the store owner, the firearm that was going to be PPT'd, a brand spankin new glock 17. Unfortunately Phil@Guns Direct did not accept my gun lock receipt, claiming that I had to bring physically bring in the lock in order to use my own. Living 30 minutes away from the GunsDirect I had no choice but to purchase one off them... They charged me a WHOPPING $20.00 for a gun lock. It honestly SUCKED because I went into the store thinking I was only going to pay $35.00 for a PPT but ended up paying $55.00.

Honestly, I don't know if they were taking advantage of me because they knew I was fairly new into the firearms community but this is the LAST STRAW for me at this store. It was convenient going to the store because it was fairly close by but I will never be visiting this store ever again besides picking up my Brand New Glock 17 10 days from now.... and the gun better be in brand new-mint condition because that is how I gave it to them.

If proof is needed, I will scan all my original receipts... Yes, I got ripped off silly at this store and definitely learned my lesson

TWO THUMBS DOWN FOR GUNS DIRECT @ BURBANK, CA. STAY AWAY FROM THIS STORE.

[knucklez]

Here is the conversation I had with one of the workers from GunsDirect about overpaying on the Sig Sauer Mosquito (please read from bottom to top):

No worries man. Trust me I went through the same thing the first time I purchased a gun. I bought a Glock 23 at Gun World for $599 which was on sale just 2 days later at Turners for $519. I was disappointed too until the day I shot my Glock for the first time, then I forgot all about it lol. We always take care of our repeat customers, so chances are next time you buy a gun you'll get a better discount. I will add you as one of my friends on calguns, so if you ever have any questions you can just PM me. As for the P220 let me know. I assure you this gun is in excellent condition, and it shoots great, I just find myself always shooting my Glock. lol
Kyle

Kyle, thanks for the info. I am quite disappointed I cannot get any kind of discount reimbursement but I am not mad, i guess everyones gotta eat, right? I will keep this experience in the back of my head forever as a reminder to do some research instead of purchasing impulsively I will not let this experience hinder our relationship and I will be coming back for more business in the future.

As for the p220, I will keep in touch. I am currently talking to another seller selling another at a very low rate however if that falls through your p220 is definitely next in line.

I won't be there Thursday but I'll be there all day Friday. Also, that is for a one week sale only, Turners has different sales every week. Their regular price is $349 and our price was $389. Like I said before, we can't match Turners prices because they get guns from manufacturers for cheaper than we can because they order guns for all of their locations, and we only have a small shop. If we charged what they charge in their ads we'd be out of business in a hurry. I guarantee you that we charge the lowest possible price we can. Most people choose us over Turners because the people that work at Turners usually won't give you the time of day unless you have cash in hand, ready to spend it. We like to spend time with our customers to help them choose the best gun. Also, I'm sure if you went down the street to Gun World they are probably selling the Mosquito for over $400. Again, I like everyone to be satisfied with their purchase but sales do happen sometimes, there is no way for us to predict it. If you want me to bring the P220 to work with me on Friday I will bring it so you can check it out.

Kyle

The Ad for Turners is on their homepage here:

http://www.turners.com/engage/displayads.php

As you can see on the lower portion of the ad, the exact same Mosquito I purchased off you guys last week is priced at $299.99. I even went into Turner's today to compare guns and it was exactly the same gun I purchased from you guys.

I'll be coming in either Thursday or Friday to pick up the mosquito, will you be working then? I will be going on a trip up North tonight so I won't be able to make it in til then. Thanks for the prompt reply, appreciate it VERY much!

Yeah man I remember you. I don't price the guns so you'd have to talk to phil or james. Just so you know tho we area direct Sig dealer we can only sell our guns at the minimum Sig will allow us to, otherwise they will cancel us as a dealer. Because turners is a large chain of stores they buy hundreds of mosquitoes at lower prices because they are getting so many. We are a small shop. We can talk more when you come in. Can you bring in anything to show what turners is selling it for? Last thing I want you to think is that we ripped you off. I will be there tomorrow if you want to discuss it.
Kyle

Kyle, you might remember me. I went in to purchase my first handgun at guns direct last monday and overpaid majorly for a sig mosquito. I know I paid in FULL cash already but is there anything you guys can do to make a customer happy? I walked out the store feeling like I overpaid a little only to find out I overpaid severely. Currently the mosquitos are priced @ $299.99 at Turners while Guns Direct was $399, a whole $100 difference. My total came out to $455!!!! I didn't want to make a new thread on calguns bashing about the huge price difference because of the awesome customer service you guys provided me with but i really feel cheated :\

As for the p220 i'll come check it out this week when I pick up my mosquito. I fell in love with one when I got to shoot it at the range last week. Let me know what you can do on the overpaid mosquito, if anything thanks.

[gti_20ae]

That $20 lock is a rip off, I wouldn't PPT there. Plus, I don't think you need the lock until you pick up the gun. You can bring the lock along with the receipt on the day you are picking up and it should still be fine.

[Blitzburgh]

Because YOU didn't do your homework and over paid, that's THEIR fault?

I think you are over reacting.

But of course, that's just MY opinion.

[Yugo]

you not paying attention to the price of the gun is not there fault. the gun lock=bent you over. Hope bit all works out live and learn.

[knucklez]

I'm not blaming them for anything, everyone's gotta eat in life, right? If I were really mad about overpaying for the gun I would've written up a review the day I found out I overpaid $100, but I didn't. I purchased a gun well above competitors prices and went back for another deal hoping it would be a smooth painless transaction, it wasn't so I'm just warning fellow calguns members about this store.

I honestly WISHED it did not have to come down to this, it's pretty convenient having a firearms store 20-30 min away... but i guess that won't happen for me with this store.

[GSwain]

I bought my RIA tactical there and thought they were a great store, the quoted me a price that I really liked, so i bit. Everything went smooth, came in with my locking case 10 days later, and left, happy. I will definately go there again. Small shops will not always have the best prices, but that is what it is.

Honest opinion, you leaped before you looked. Im sure next time you will find out what you should be paying for a gun before you decide to buy it, and when you go to pick it up, im sure you will show up with a lock. Lesson learned at least.

[pieeater]

Is the gun lock gold plated?

[Cali-Shooter]

Guns Direct Burbank = One of the Worst FFL's I have Ever Met and Dealt with.

Yes, the OP speaks the truth here about Guns Direct Burbank being horrible. At least the gun lock price rip-off is spot on, I have my very own testimony to share about that.

I ppt'd a Long gun thru Guns Direct, and it wasn't my first choice to meet up and PPT at this FFL, because I knew nothing about it. But it was the PPTing person (I was the buyer) that chose this place, so I had little options.

I went in, and the staff were pleasant and friendly, with the exception of a certain staff member who was asian and seemed like he was in charge of the store, he was a bit on the heavy-set side and had a receding hairline, he was all up in arms over me coming in and wanting to do a PPT, he exclaimed, "A Private Party TRANSFER?! That's the last one we'll do today! This one and NO MORE!" That didn't leave a good impression on me, and if I had a choice, I would have walked out right then and there.

So I PPT the Long gun and filled out a disclaimer saying that Guns Direct Burbank will not be held liable if the long gun that I PPT'd was put in an illegal configuration (Duh), the AR-15 that I was PPTing wasn't even in any condition that would make it so, it was a BB'd complete lower. They jotted down the model, make, and serial number of the long gun that I was getting transferred and everything. I felt like I was being treated like a 3 year old who didn't know jack squat.

So then I get rung up on the cash register, and I see that the PPT fee is the standard $35, and the gun lock price was $19.74 for a generic, red cable lock that is sold at most FFL's for $6.00 couting tax. I was taken aback that the whole transfer process fee for PPT was $54.74 total. I said nothing, paid the fee, and left to await the 10 day waiting period to pass.

The 10 days waiting period passed, and on the 13th day of the waiting period, I get a courtesy call from Guns Direct, warning me that if I don't pickup my 10-day-waiting-period-is-up firearm from the store, I will get charged $10 per every day that is passed past the end of the 4th day after the 10 day period is up and the gun is still not picked up from the store. Irked, I was fortunate enough to have the schedule to pickup the long gun of mine from the store the next day (the 4th day after the 10 days were up).

Here are some pictures from my irritating experience with GDB:





The red cable lock that you see there out of the package and on the receipt is the one that GDB sold me for $17.99 not counting tax, which would bring it to $19.74. The red cable lock next to it that is still in it's wrap is an identical one from Ammo Bros. Cerritos which they sold me for approximately $6.00 including tax. An insider that I know in AB even told me that the close to $20.00 that GDB charges for the same cable lock is an outright rip-off (those cable locks come in at a price of $3.00 before they are resold, he says).





Guns Direct Burbank, if you are reading this, I hope you know that you've been extremely successful in ruining a first-time customer's experience and trust in your store as a place for me to fulfill my firearms related needs and transfers. Go ahead and keep the ill-gotten $13.00 that you made off a bloated cable lock purchase, you won't get a cent out of me any longer. I hope more people can avoid businesses that don't look out for their customers like this place does. Apparently, we are all just pigeons waiting to be plucked of our feathers or sheep waiting to be sheared of our wool to them.

[knucklez]

Guns Direct Burbank, if you are reading this, I hope you know that you've been extremely successful in ruining a first-time customer's experience and trust in your store as a place for me to fulfill my firearms related needs and transfers. Go ahead and keep the ill-gotten $13.00 that you made off a bloated cable lock purchase, you won't get a cent out of me any longer. I hope more people can avoid businesses that don't look out for their customers like this place does. Apparently, we are all just pigeons waiting to be plucked of our feathers or sheep waiting to be sheared of our wool to them.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.





GSwain, please read the whole thread before replying. I think you are getting my story confused with a different situation.

pieeater, haha no. It was the exact same lock Cali-Shooter posted but in the color Blue.

Cali-Shooter, I had the exact same experience as you. The worker up front helping me out named Kyle was extremely polite and helpful but as soon as (the owner?) Phil, a bigger built bald asian man came out from back it was a whole different tense and awkward atmosphere. Whatever he said was the word so I didn't argue about paying $20 for a lock and additionally didn't want the PPT seller drive all over LA for a PPT. These guys definitely ruined my first time buying experience and I am sorry that you had to go them too. This is the whole reason why I am creating this thread, so no other member on this forum goes through this bullcrap

[ke6guj]

It is not highway robbery to sell items for MSRP.

A Sig Mosquito MSRPs for aroudn $390. Add tax and DROS and you get your $455. Just because Turners went out and made a deal to buy 50-100 of them at rock bottom price in order to get a good price to extend to their customers during a special SALE period does not mean that Guns Direct is a rip-off store.

[Cali-Shooter]

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.





GSwain, please read the whole thread before replying. I think you are getting my story confused with a different situation.

pieeater, haha no. It was the exact same lock Cali-Shooter posted but in the color Blue.

Cali-Shooter, I had the exact same experience as you. The worker up front helping me out named Kyle was extremely polite and helpful but as soon as (the owner?) Phil, a bigger built bald asian man came out from back it was a whole different tense and awkward atmosphere. Whatever he said was the word so I didn't argue about paying $20 for a lock and additionally didn't want the PPT seller drive all over LA for a PPT. These guys definitely ruined my first time buying experience and I am sorry that you had to go them too. This is the whole reason why I am creating this thread, so no other member on this forum goes through this bullcrap

Amen bro, good to see another fellow smart shopper that realizes the BS that some unsavory FFL's make their customers wade thru. It's bad enough that we 2A enthusiasts have to comply with our god-forsaken state laws, but when FFL's add their own non-sense to the mix, that's plain aggravating and ridiculous.
They (GDB) seriously don't give a hoot about their customers, it really shows in the leadership (Phil). The hispanic guy was super awesome and great to talk to and do business with, not the balding heavy-set man with a beer gut that usually has a scowl on his face and he seems to be in charge of everything there. No more of my business goes to them, and I highly recommend people in the SGV/Burbank area to go elsewhere, consider yourselves warned about the headaches that GDB causes.

[biloutkast]

My local shop carries the same lock and only charges $6.99. What a rip off.

[gti_20ae]

Is the gun lock gold plated?

The lock is gold plated with the word, " Next time go somewhere else for PPT" engraved on it. I won't buy anything from a store that will hassle me on PPT. They should learn a thing or two from place like Ammo Bros., T&S Armory, and Straight line Tactical. Those place never hassle me on PPT, so every time I stop by for a PPT, I will always buy something from them. I understand they only make $10 on PPT, so I will show my support by buying some ammo, powder, etc.

[G-forceJunkie]

The sig, thats your fault. The lock, they bent you over on that. I dont know where your located (fillout your profile) but Oak Tree has been a pleasure to do PPT's at. I've done 3 the last two month, twice they gave me that red lock for free (or a penny, i forget.)