Hey guys,
I am a bit bent out of shape at a shop I have done a big amount of business with over the past few years. I am trying not to identify them though many of you will know who it is, please do not Wenzel them by using their name, I plan on doing that only if they respond poorly to the letter, I would rather give them a shot to fix it before totally bashing them.
Its a little long, but I thought it needed to be. Any and all comments welcome.
Dear Sir,
Why do customers choose your shop? I am now convinced you actually may not know. As a customer I thought I would give you a bit of insight as to why I have conducted business with you. I will also explain why I am very seriously considering never stepping foot into your shop again.
A few years ago my interest had peaked in reloading. Kids were out of the house, more spare time, lots more shooting for the dollar all were motivations, likely a fairly common situation for many customers. As you are aware, the choices one must make are almost endless. I talked with my friends and others online and found out about the endless debate of Dillon VS Lee etc. Wanting to see these differences in person I was very relieved to find a shop dedicated to reloading literally almost in my front yard!
I came to your shop and was greeted by a man, about 6’ tall, sandy hair, mid thirties who offered to help me within a few minutes. He asked me what I wanted to do etc. He first tried to get me to consider the Rock Chucker kit that comes with a lot of the stuff one needs at a very reasonable cost. (very long story short) After several trips in (perhaps as many as 5-7) it was finally settled. I remember the looks I got the last few trips like oh no here he comes again. After much heated debate with my best friend about his Lee I had selected the Dillon. He insisted I order it online through Brian Enos web space as they “have the best prices” however; I am not really built that way. I like brick and mortar where I can get the assistance your employee gave me, he earned my sale.
550rlb, scale, primer flip tray 45 dies, 9mm dies, conversion plates all Dillon, on his advice RCBS for the 30-30 dies with the Dillon conversion, RCBS lube kit, bullet hammer etc. Couple of pounds of powder, 3k various primers, bullets, a little rifle brass all for the first order. Since then perhaps 50k in 9mm and 50k in 45 components, powder and supplies, additional die plates and powder feeders, case trimmer etc. I have brought others curious about reloading to your shop. I have checked prices including on that initial purchase of equipment and often found a little better pricing on things online, but not enough to make a big enough difference. 5 bucks on a box of bullets only equals a penny a round, certainly not the end of the world and certainly not enough to take place of the service I have received.
So to speak, a few dollars more knowing I was helping to keep a traditional business running keeping local folks employed instead of a call center or computer order system where some guy I never met slaps in it a box and UPS drops it on my porch just was flat out worth it to me.
I do this with pretty much anything I buy. I am not a fan of big box stores at all. There is a lot of things available now online very cheap, the massive fulfillment centers whom have nothing to do with the company etc.
Today, after a lot of research, I made the trip to a very small gun shop near the Iowa border about 70 miles east of the western border of Missouri to buy 2 AR-15’s in a variety of components. Bare in mind, in all the trips I have made to your store I have never seen a single AR part, not even a charging handle. When the dealer I was at ran the 4473 I got the ever dreaded “delayed” until next Thursday pending any faster release etc, you know the drill, it is fairly common. The dealer asked if I wanted to have it shipped to an FFL instead of traveling six hours again next Friday to pick them up. I told him sure, it would be cheaper than running my v-8 jeep across and up state again.
I called your shop and identified myself and inquired as to the FFL fee. While I had never done such a transaction myself (cash and carry for me even when delayed once before at Nassau) I have observed hundreds of such transactions and discussions online. Some dealers charge no fee to their regular customers; others charge a minor fee of about 20 bucks which to me seems fair for about 15 minutes of paperwork. I was informed via the phone that not only would it be a 40 dollar charge, it would be 40 bucks for each lower (I picked up all the rest of the parts cash and carry. I was so struck by it; I asked the guy on the phone if this was for existing customers as I have been doing business with the shop for years. He told me “yes, and if you don’t like it you should have bought it from us” which REALLY startled me and I tried to clarify it and that it was 2 ar-15 lowers only not while rifles and you guys do not sell them. “Well you should have ordered them through us” and I could not think of what to say so I just hung up the phone and let the disappointment settle in.
I jumped online found a bunch of FFL dealers and started calling and I did indeed find one that for 15 each is going to do it for me. So after several years of loyalty to your shop, instead, some time this week I am going to a dealer I have never dealt with and have no affiliation with at all and pick up my lowers.
Why have I bothered telling you this? Well Saturday I had planned on once again visiting your shop to pick up Dillon dies, a conversion kit, powder measure kit (the one with the powder measure, plate, and stand) along with primers and the best powder and bullets your guys would recommend for a 20” stainless bull barrel AR in .223 and inquire as to loads or other items I might seek to have on hand.
So what do I want? Well I would like any reason you might offer that I should continue to support your business instead of just checking with cheaperthandirt.com, midway, and brianenos for what I need delivered directly to my door. I have completely lost the value that little extra I paid I thought was worth and I am going to pick up my stuff from strangers, I might as well just get to know them and order all my guns online from now on and take the cheapest way out and begin having components and such shipped as I do not see that my business was valued at all. Convince me I am wrong and just being skeptical because I just can not come up with any reason at all to come buy the stuff I need from you this weekend.
I am a bit bent out of shape at a shop I have done a big amount of business with over the past few years. I am trying not to identify them though many of you will know who it is, please do not Wenzel them by using their name, I plan on doing that only if they respond poorly to the letter, I would rather give them a shot to fix it before totally bashing them.
Its a little long, but I thought it needed to be. Any and all comments welcome.
Dear Sir,
Why do customers choose your shop? I am now convinced you actually may not know. As a customer I thought I would give you a bit of insight as to why I have conducted business with you. I will also explain why I am very seriously considering never stepping foot into your shop again.
A few years ago my interest had peaked in reloading. Kids were out of the house, more spare time, lots more shooting for the dollar all were motivations, likely a fairly common situation for many customers. As you are aware, the choices one must make are almost endless. I talked with my friends and others online and found out about the endless debate of Dillon VS Lee etc. Wanting to see these differences in person I was very relieved to find a shop dedicated to reloading literally almost in my front yard!
I came to your shop and was greeted by a man, about 6’ tall, sandy hair, mid thirties who offered to help me within a few minutes. He asked me what I wanted to do etc. He first tried to get me to consider the Rock Chucker kit that comes with a lot of the stuff one needs at a very reasonable cost. (very long story short) After several trips in (perhaps as many as 5-7) it was finally settled. I remember the looks I got the last few trips like oh no here he comes again. After much heated debate with my best friend about his Lee I had selected the Dillon. He insisted I order it online through Brian Enos web space as they “have the best prices” however; I am not really built that way. I like brick and mortar where I can get the assistance your employee gave me, he earned my sale.
550rlb, scale, primer flip tray 45 dies, 9mm dies, conversion plates all Dillon, on his advice RCBS for the 30-30 dies with the Dillon conversion, RCBS lube kit, bullet hammer etc. Couple of pounds of powder, 3k various primers, bullets, a little rifle brass all for the first order. Since then perhaps 50k in 9mm and 50k in 45 components, powder and supplies, additional die plates and powder feeders, case trimmer etc. I have brought others curious about reloading to your shop. I have checked prices including on that initial purchase of equipment and often found a little better pricing on things online, but not enough to make a big enough difference. 5 bucks on a box of bullets only equals a penny a round, certainly not the end of the world and certainly not enough to take place of the service I have received.
So to speak, a few dollars more knowing I was helping to keep a traditional business running keeping local folks employed instead of a call center or computer order system where some guy I never met slaps in it a box and UPS drops it on my porch just was flat out worth it to me.
I do this with pretty much anything I buy. I am not a fan of big box stores at all. There is a lot of things available now online very cheap, the massive fulfillment centers whom have nothing to do with the company etc.
Today, after a lot of research, I made the trip to a very small gun shop near the Iowa border about 70 miles east of the western border of Missouri to buy 2 AR-15’s in a variety of components. Bare in mind, in all the trips I have made to your store I have never seen a single AR part, not even a charging handle. When the dealer I was at ran the 4473 I got the ever dreaded “delayed” until next Thursday pending any faster release etc, you know the drill, it is fairly common. The dealer asked if I wanted to have it shipped to an FFL instead of traveling six hours again next Friday to pick them up. I told him sure, it would be cheaper than running my v-8 jeep across and up state again.
I called your shop and identified myself and inquired as to the FFL fee. While I had never done such a transaction myself (cash and carry for me even when delayed once before at Nassau) I have observed hundreds of such transactions and discussions online. Some dealers charge no fee to their regular customers; others charge a minor fee of about 20 bucks which to me seems fair for about 15 minutes of paperwork. I was informed via the phone that not only would it be a 40 dollar charge, it would be 40 bucks for each lower (I picked up all the rest of the parts cash and carry. I was so struck by it; I asked the guy on the phone if this was for existing customers as I have been doing business with the shop for years. He told me “yes, and if you don’t like it you should have bought it from us” which REALLY startled me and I tried to clarify it and that it was 2 ar-15 lowers only not while rifles and you guys do not sell them. “Well you should have ordered them through us” and I could not think of what to say so I just hung up the phone and let the disappointment settle in.
I jumped online found a bunch of FFL dealers and started calling and I did indeed find one that for 15 each is going to do it for me. So after several years of loyalty to your shop, instead, some time this week I am going to a dealer I have never dealt with and have no affiliation with at all and pick up my lowers.
Why have I bothered telling you this? Well Saturday I had planned on once again visiting your shop to pick up Dillon dies, a conversion kit, powder measure kit (the one with the powder measure, plate, and stand) along with primers and the best powder and bullets your guys would recommend for a 20” stainless bull barrel AR in .223 and inquire as to loads or other items I might seek to have on hand.
So what do I want? Well I would like any reason you might offer that I should continue to support your business instead of just checking with cheaperthandirt.com, midway, and brianenos for what I need delivered directly to my door. I have completely lost the value that little extra I paid I thought was worth and I am going to pick up my stuff from strangers, I might as well just get to know them and order all my guns online from now on and take the cheapest way out and begin having components and such shipped as I do not see that my business was valued at all. Convince me I am wrong and just being skeptical because I just can not come up with any reason at all to come buy the stuff I need from you this weekend.