Martin B Retting

[CBRKURT]

I don't understand how these guys stay in business. They are a very rude shop to deal with.

Yesterday I went in there with a guy that I was doing a PPT with. The shop closes at 6Pm and we got in there at 5:40PM I decided if we're already here it never hurts to ask if they still have time to do it. So I go up to the counter and ask if they have time to do a PPT. The guy( I think he's the owner) gets a huge attitude and says allllright let's see what you have.

So I give the guy my license and so does the buyer. As the buyer is filling out the form he messed up on one of the questions asking about citizenship. Since he messed up on the form the guy behind the counter says "Jesus you f'd this up 6 ways to Sunday" and hands him another form. The question came up if he was actually a citizen. It turns out he is Green Card holder. The counter guy asked him if he had his 90 days proof of residency. The buyer didn't know he had to bring that. He said he had bought a gun from Retting before and only had to show his registration.

The counter guy gets an attitude again and says if someone had done a sale to him using just his registration he would kick their a** and fire them and basically called the buyer a liar for saying he only used his registration. Then the guy says "If you were actually buying a gun from me I'd let you bring in the proof of residency when you picked up the gun, but since I only make $10 from this deal you need to bring it in up front" again this is all with a major attitude.

I'm thinking to myself you should be so happy to make $10 dollars from doing basically nothing. If this were Nevada I just would have sold the gun from my house and you would make nothing.

Any way I just wanted to tell of my bad experience going there and I will never go there again. I mean if the guy didn't want to do a PPT so late in the day he could have just said it's almost closing time so can we do it another day and that would have been fine. To treat your customers like Sh*t is just bad business.

Rant Over

[Jack_Bauer]

I'm not excusing the store's behavior towards you, but for $10 they actually do quite a bit of work.
They process the all the paperwork, perform back end record keeping that you don't see, they open themselves up to liability, ATF checks, DOJ checks, they're storing the firearm in their safe for at least 10 to up to 30 days, etc. If it was a "sign here and forget the rest" process, most shops wouldn't be so bitter about performing PPTs

[CBRKURT]

But still. It's $10 more than any out of state shop makes. They just need to be more respectful there. If he didn't want to do the PPT he could have just said so.

[aermotor]

Who cares what they make, they are a gun shop and legally required to do so. They could have said come back tomorrow but instead opted to act like children. Will avoid.

[ICONIC]

Martin B. Retting can be a great store or it can be a nightmare. I have had mixed expierences when I have shopped there. Most of the time they are not big fans of doing the PPT even though they are bound to by law. on the other hand they are willing to negotiate on prices a little and they have a great selection.

If you go in there prepared to buy and you have done your homework, you will have a smooth transaction. IF you want a shop where you can go in and shoot the S**t and hang out this is not the place.

[Ed_Hazard]

I'm not excusing the store's behavior towards you, but for $10 they actually do quite a bit of work.
They process the all the paperwork, perform back end record keeping that you don't see, they open themselves up to liability, ATF checks, DOJ checks, they're storing the firearm in their safe for at least 10 to up to 30 days, etc. If it was a "sign here and forget the rest" process, most shops wouldn't be so bitter about performing PPTs

Well if the requirements of their license is too much of a hassle then maybe be should sell used cars instead of guns. You want to be an FFL you need to comply by the regs of your license and that includes doing PPT's.

I miss the days when we had more home based FFL's who gave service with a smile.

[safaridave]

Perhaps, if Retting followed a better business model, they would realize that PPT's could be a great way to encourage repeat business.

"Man, that guy was so nice and professional, I would be willing to give them a shot at my next handgun/rifle/peashooter purchase."

Instead, they burn their bridges complaining about doing something they are legally required to do anyway. Instead, they spread FUD... in my case it was them telling me, and I quote- "the whole kalashnikov gas system design is banned in CA" and treat you as if they are God and you are a mere mortal.

As a result I do not think of them as a "go to" place for anything I need even though they are right down the street from me. I'll drive to the SFV or Burbank to be treated with a little more respect, thank you.

[CBRKURT]

They do have a very good selection there but with customer service like I will never ever give them any money unless they change their tune.

[Diabolus]

They do have a very good selection there but with customer service like I will never ever give them any money unless they change their tune.

This is true, the problem is the owner has the attitude, and the rank and file are following his lead.

It's an awesome store, but some of the employees are bitter about something. There are some really good guys there though and I have purchased a few firearms from them in the past.

[West coast]

I think Retting has a great selection of guns. YES the customer service SUCKS!!! I have shop there and it is a hit and miss with there customer service buying a gun.

[Full Clip]

I've bought 4-5 guns from them over the last 10 years and the customer service ranged from "great" to "all business."

[Tanner68]

Have you ever given a few moments consideration to what it is like to be on the other side of the counter at a store like MBR. Whether you are the owner, manager, or a salesman, I am sure there are plenty of sources of frustration and aggravation. Cut them some slack.

It is a great store, and I stop by whenever I am in the neighborhood and need a fix. Something always catches my interest that I hadn't seen on previous visits. The store is packed with guns in every nook and cranny.

[H20 Toie]

I have done a few ppt transfers there and purchased guns there also, its a busy place with a great selection,

Any time i have been in there is seems that there are at least two people doing ppt but it seems that people do the transfer and walk out.

How would you like to have a busy store and have to have couple people tied up all day doing stuff that costs you money. ( no way they make any money on transfers)
If people bought stuff and did the transfer that is one thing but i bet that doesn't happen often.

I understand being polite to customers but i also understand the frustrations of having to deal with politics, coming in 15min before they close i'm sure didn't help matters either.

I wouldn't hesitate to go there again for a ppt but i also would support them, i want them to be around.

Dan

[CBRKURT]

If he would have said it's too late to do the transfer I would have respected that. But to throw a fit like a child is wrong. All he had to say is come back tomorrow.

It's not our fault that California is screwed up and we have to go to a shop for a transfer. I'd rather sell it out of my house. If you don't like doing PPT in California go somewhere else and be a dealer.

[CBRKURT]

Have you ever given a few moments consideration to what it is like to be on the other side of the counter at a store like MBR. Whether you are the owner, manager, or a salesman, I am sure there are plenty of sources of frustration and aggravation. Cut them some slack.

It is a great store, and I stop by whenever I am in the neighborhood and need a fix. Something always catches my interest that I hadn't seen on previous visits. The store is packed with guns in every nook and cranny.

I go to Field Time and Rifle Gear in Orange County. Both of those places are always packed with people. I have never once gotten any attitude from either of those places. They are always respectful. So I will not cut people slack if they don't deserve it.

Had the guy been respectful to us I would have probably bought a gun from them in the future. They are two blocks away from my work so it would work out pretty good. Now I just have a bad taste in my mouth so I'll bring my money else where.