Big 5 worst experience ever!

[Dirt-Racer]

Hell fellow calguners! First let me say that I am posting this under my boyfriends account

Today we both went into a big 5 sporting goods here in southern california. We decided on buying a mossberg 500 combo kit with the 18.5" and 28" barrels. We thought it would be the best beginner shotgun since neither of us owned one. We thought we could use it at the outdoor range and then change the barrel and try it out on trap or skeet shooting. My boyfriend has 6 guns ranging for .22s, to handguns, to ar-15s. and well myself I have none. So while deciding on the shotgun to buy I asked my boyfriend if I could buy it as well as DROS it. I thought it would be a cool feeling to have a gun of my own and well he never had an interest in shotguns anyways. Well anyways during the process the assistant manager of the store decides he does not what to sell me the gun and that he will only sell it to my boyfriend! My heart immediately sunk... I did not understand why he did not what to sell it to me. He pretty much judged me for being a woman and accused me of buying a firearm for my boyfriend. My boyfriend began to DROS process but once he saw how sad I was he canceled it and told me we'll go somewhere else.

Never have I ever felt so discriminated against for being a woman. I'm sorry for venting this but I needed fellow gunners to hear this story and well I know my boyfriend is on this site 24/7. I guess theres nothing else I can do but go somewhere else.. And well call the manager tomorrow, but still I dont think big 5 deserves me as a customer ever again.

My mom went through same situation as you, she's in her 60's living alone and wanted something for home defence and so i goes with her to big5 and suggested her a shotgun and so when it came to doing dros i had to leave her to go shopping at another store, next thing i gets a call from her saying that if she wanted the gun, it would have to be done under my name.

I was like "WTF", so i goes in there and ask them what the hell is going on and told them its for the ole lady's piece of mind since she lives alone and wants HD gun, needless to say i told them to go eff themselves, and so that was that.

And yes, i would say thats descrimination, since she went and bought something online and did the dros at this womans gun shop no problem.

[4Defense]

Send a complaint to Big 5 Corporate headquarters in El Segundo. It is on their website. They are very responsive and will fix this.

Why? Because the employee felt there was a potential straw purchase.

Damn ugly American that make the rest of us look bad . Complain, whine, bi..h, whine , b..h, complain!

[TheExpertish]

Why? Because the employee felt there was a potential straw purchase.

Damn ugly American that make the rest of us look bad . Complain, whine, bi..h, whine , b..h, complain!

Really? Right. Because women don't use sporting shotguns; not to mention that Big 5 employees have the training and experience to know what a straw purchase might look like. He probably just heard it on the news and thought, "Hey, I sell guns. I can do my part to help prevent crime". They barely know how to sell guns. This is the same company that does not trust it's own employees to be able to tell what time it is, and not hand over a purchased firearm early. Hence the mandatory 11 day wait.

[Fot]

I'm always skeptical of stories like this from member with less then 20 posts..

[4Defense]

Really? Right. Because women don't use sporting shotguns; not to mention that Big 5 employees have the training and experience to know what a straw purchase might look like. He probably just heard it on the news and thought, "Hey, I sell guns. I can do my part to help prevent crime". They barely know how to sell guns. This is the same company that does not trust it's own employees to be able to tell what time it is, and not hand over a purchased firearm early. Hence the mandatory 11 day wait.

Were you there at the scene when all that happened? The tone of voice, the conversation between the couple, the body language. Are you just another Calguns Tuesday night armchair quarterback?

It's not the whole story!

Business must be really slow in order for you to bash another firearm dealer. Now that's a new low!

[TheExpertish]

Were you there at the scene when all that happened? The tone of voice, the conversation between the couple, the body language. Are you just another Calguns Tuesday night armchair quarterback?

It's not the whole story!

Business must be really slow in order for you to bash another firearm dealer. Now that's a new low!

Okay, in retrospect I will scale back my criticism a bit. You are correct. I was not there, and there could have been a valid reason for the assistant manager to not want to go through with the sale. I suppose we should give them the benefit of the doubt in wanting to uphold the laws for the benefit of us legal gun purchasers. Maybe I am letting my poor opinion of Big 5 get the better of me. However, I will bash any firearm dealer I feel is not doing the community a proper service, and Big 5 is a leading culprit. Their customer service, employee knowledge, friendliness, and willingness to help leaves MUCH to be desired. This is the case with 3 of the 4 stores within my area that I visit. Next time I walk in and cease to be stranded at the counter for less than 15 minutes without a "hi, boo, or kiss my *****", I'll reconsider my opinion.

[kwansao]

Every single time I go into Big5 it's "the worst experience ever" !!

Last time I went in to buy some ammo the guy behind the firearms counter looked like he wanted to gouge my eyes out with a spoon for wasting his time by asking questions. God Forbid!

But really that's the last time.. The only way I'll buy anything there is maybe some bulk .22 ammo, patches or a cleaning brush. No more!

[jonjonkills101]

same here...went once to just ask for prices on a specific rifle, manager had that stupid "bad mood" attitude and half-assed helping me, and never called back when he "couldn't find the price". damn i thought it was only my big 5. big 5 needs to change up their hiring process haha

[laika]

Well, I know a lot of guys post here in the ladies forum, and that is fine. However as an older woman:

My local Big 5 is very respectful and helpful. If they have a nice rifle and they see me walk through the door they tell me. If I am looking for something nice they rip open boxes from the back to let me choose. They know they have limited knowledge on some issues but they also can give me clues (one guy opened up a mauser a few years ago and it was a sniper complete with scope and mount).

I'm not your typical gunbuyer, being an older overweight woman, but they take care of me fine. And when I can't get what I want from them I go online.

[TheExpertish]

Well, I know a lot of guys post here in the ladies forum, and that is fine. However as an older woman:

My local Big 5 is very respectful and helpful. If they have a nice rifle and they see me walk through the door they tell me. If I am looking for something nice they rip open boxes from the back to let me choose. They know they have limited knowledge on some issues but they also can give me clues (one guy opened up a mauser a few years ago and it was a sniper complete with scope and mount).

I'm not your typical gunbuyer, being an older overweight woman, but they take care of me fine. And when I can't get what I want from them I go online.

I am glad you have a good store you can go to. At least when I went to the Oceanside store last night I got a "hi", and one employee let me see the guns I wanted to see, but he didn't have a clue.

Even as a guy I don't think I'm being uppity just because I know more than the associates. I've said before I don't mind knowing more than a salesperson. I would just like the time of day at the very least.

[onequickshift]

Honestly I've never run into a problem at ANY of the big5s I've purchased from with regards to being denied.

I've gone to MANY in SO CAL, post the address please. I find this hard to believe, cause I've gone with my ex, my brothers, and other male friends, never given flack for it. Whats the address? I want to try to buy there.

Please, post the address.

[VytamenC Tactical]

Yes I want to say that he was trying to prevent a straw purchase. However he was not and he allowed us no option to prove it otherwise. I dont see what would have given him the impression that the gun was not for me besides the fact that I am a girl. I probably know more about guns then him! Makes me change my view on how guys look at women who take an interest in guns..

you own no guns yet you know more about guns than he does????

are you refering to the big 5 manager that wouldnt sell you the shotgun or your boyfriend that owns a few guns

[movie zombie]

Honestly I've never run into a problem at ANY of the big5s I've purchased from with regards to being denied. I've gone to MANY in SO CAL, post the address please. I find this hard to believe, cause I've gone with my ex, my brothers, and other male friends, never given flack for it. Whats the address? I want to try to buy there. Please, post the address.

you go, girl!

[secret.asian.man]

go to turners, they should be able to match the item and price, if they are not already better.

[laika]

We all wish Turners was statewide; some of us have Big 5 instead, not also.

But I still say the Big 5 in Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Pismo really try. I've had bad experiences in auto parts stores here but not at big 5 so I think I would know.

Guess we're running out of milsurps from them, though, so it won't be so much fun to visit them anymore