Bad time at Collectors Firearm

[Bill]

I vowed to never return after being talked to as a moron. I was checking out , bough a belt, magazine, and flashlight about 160.00 worth and asked about the xd plastic holster's return policy. My salesperson called a manager over to explain they would not refund my money once it was used. The person went on say it would be like me taking home under ware, using it and asking for a refund. He also said how does he know if I would handle it gently or beat it up. WHAT ?

I was steaming at this time and said forget it and if I did not have a class tomorrow I would have just left the pile. He came by to see was there any problem and I told him I would not be back, and he asked why because he was a smarty and I was not going to be talked down too. Not in those words !!

I love this store, and like most of the sales persons, they are very helpful and I am sure many people come in just to try things then buy elsewhere for there prices are somewhat higher. That said I don't mind paying more if they have what I want and have it now. I can see the cost to stock just the Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown, and nighthawk are over 100k in that case alone.

Maybe they don't really need me

[nuparadigm]

I tried to return a holster there that I had used for no more than 15 minutes. They gave me the same patronizing treatment. I haven't been back since.

[badkarma56]

Dude, the only purpose conventional gun shops serve for me is "hands on" examination of a product (guns, holsters, cleaning rod, etc.). I generally always purchase from the web...for guns, I use Bud's Gun Shop; for tools/cleaning supplies, I'll use Brownell's or Sinclair; for mags/parts, I generally use CDNN; for gunleather, I use AKJ Concealco.

At most, what I'll actually buy from a brick and mortar store is a bag of patches or maybe a bottle of BreakFree CLP. The deals and the customer treatment are better on-line.

[nitrogen]

There are a few places up here in Dallas that have good customer service, but mostly I agree with you; most brick and mortar places are awful.

[Moonpie]

Collector's has always been one of those Love/Hate relationships with me.
Love the selection/Hate the prices.
I've had good service and smart alec service there.
Haven't actually purchased anything there in many years.
I go there infrequently these days because of the extortionist prices.

[KBCraig]

Sounds like someone needs some people skills if he's going to work in retail.

Here's how a savvy manager would reply: "Of course, we're happy to exchange or refund anything that's in as-new condition. And even if you wear it and then decide you're not happy with it, we'll give you the "used" value as credit on a trade-in!"

Same message sent. Very different message received.

[Skiprr]

Dude, the only purpose conventional gun shops serve for me is "hands on" examination of a product...

Yep; I can almost always find firearms, magazines, etc. at better prices online, but I do what I can to support my local gun store...because I don't want independent gun stores to go out of business. I almost never buy quantity items like factory ammo there, but if they have the firearm I want at a reasonable mark-up compared to what I find online, I'm absolutely willing to give them the extra mark-up.

My standing joke this year with my local store was that I intended to buy one gun a month. I've been keeping up with it, but may have to stop as of this month.

[drinks]

You really should be glad you do not live in Trinity.
The only "gun store", is a pawn shop, the owner is a semi retired LEO, he sits on a stool at the back counter, chain smokes, speaks in a mumble, prices all his stock at NRA like new or better, even when it looks as though it was drug through a gravel pit behind a wild horse then sprayed with salt water and left in the sun for a week.
A NEF 20ga ss, stock has paint on it, barrel has several rust spots, a good deep gouge on the butt, available new at Walmart for $105, $135 and out the door.
A Win. 67, drilled and tapped by a butcher, bolt handle torch bent, 10% or less finish and rust everywhere, $150.
Don't even ask if he takes trades, he offers 25%, at the most and can suddenly tell NRA poor at a glance, when the gun in question is actually in about 75% condition.
I have no choice but to go to Huntsville , Cleveland or Lufkin to deal with a decent shop.

[KRM45]

... I do what I can to support my local gun store...because I don't want independent gun stores to go out of business.

+1

I want to make sure that if I need something today there is a place to get it...[/b]

[mcub]

After so many camera stores where destroyed by accepting returns, I understand the no refund, but I don’t like the no exchange ideal. Especially in a store like Collectors that specializes in the re-sale of used products.

But they all are lousy; I was in Carters Country on I-10 a few days ago and heard the guy behind the counter actually tell the customer that he'd better off ordering his gun over the web and paying a transfer fee, than ordering it from "THIS PLACE". The man handed the gun back to the clerk and said something to the effect of thanks for the info and left.


It says a lot about a store when the staff openly tells customers to buy else where.

[shootthesheet]

I am one who wants to keep the independent guys around too. Problem is so many I deal with don't tell the truth when they know better. That isn't a salesman. That is a thief in my book. Between that and the arrogance at some of these places I have also moved to shopping online most of the time. I still look for good shops and have found a couple I hit when I can. I send them business too when someone asks me. I just think these other guys and gals are unprofessional when they push the sell over honesty and good conduct. Sure, they make one sell to the person but no follow-up sales. All because of their attitude. Thank God for the good people that actually know how to represent such an important right.

[Rugrash]

I've only bought one thing from Collector's (a used Springfield TRP Operator). I totally agree with the first poster how they are arrogant and overpriced on most everything in the store. The only reason I go in there is to drool over the Nighthawks and Wilsons. Now to the contrary I had a great store in the People's Republic of Maryland when I lived there a couple of years ago. Yeh yeh their prices were similar to Collectors, but the difference was the service. The owner's worked the shop along with people who actually had personalities, were knowledgeable and not at all condescending when you asked a question. I think I more than doubled my collection shopping there and thats where I also met a guy who was a 1911 smith. It's funny when I went by there over Labor Day weekend, their first question after "Hello" was "Do you have your CHL yet??" It's next to impossible to get one in MD.

Rug

[shipwreck]

I was interested in a Walther P99 about 1.5 years ago there - a green one USED, with no box, no extra backstraps, 2 10 round mags and no extra NOTHING. They wanted $599 for it and would not budge.

I went because they had listed it on Gunbroker 3x and itw ould not sell. yet, they would make no deal.

$599 is higher than U can get a new one for!

[flintknapper]

Sounds like someone needs some people skills if he's going to work in retail.

Here's how a savvy manager would reply: "Of course, we're happy to exchange or refund anything that's in as-new condition. And even if you wear it and then decide you're not happy with it, we'll give you the "used" value as credit on a trade-in!"

Same message sent. Very different message received.

Exactly!