Strange experience at gun shop

[Rand McNally]

I've seen maybe one or two asshat sales people at Bills, and then not surprisingly, I never see them again.

I would talk with management and see if you can get to the bottom of it. Either its a miscommunication, or someone isn't cut out for sales and customer service. Either way, this isn't the type of service I've grown accustomed to at Bills, and I wouldn't let this soil the whole shop for you. If I ever received this type of sercive, anywhere, I wouldn't leave without talking to management.

I resemble that comment...no wait, resent... (J/K!)


Sounds like miscommunication. If that were the case, EVERY gun that comes through the door (on hip or in case) doesn't have documentation. And as far as I am aware, we still live in a state that doesn't require weapon registration...

[TH3180]

Is there any follow up on this?

[Spartan]

Taz: First thanks for supporting small biz. I dont care if it is Bill's, Gun stop, Frontiersman, Wolfsden, Harts Brothers, or other..... as long as its not GM or other big boxes!!
Imagine what the problem would be if you went to GM or other big box stores....... they'd probably want finger prints, stem cells and "DNA" samples..

[tazdevil]

Is there any follow up on this?

Have not had the time due to work/home/life issues. I will be calling on Friday to address further.

[peckerhead]

Ha ha not to pile on the anti-Bill's bandwagon, but I have found experiences like the OP's to be more the rule than the exception. Unfortunately, they're pretty much the only show in town (northern suburbs), so I get stuck dealing with them. If you like guns and like to shoot, you're going to pay more at Bill's than you would anywhere else (and get treated like cattle in the process).

OP, I wish you the very best of luck. Sounds like you'll need it.

[Stradawhovious]

I've noticed that in many cases where a customer complains about bad service at a retail shop, it's the attitude of the customer that drives the experience, not the attitude of the sales staff. To the OP, this is in no way a reflection of your original concern, since you come off as a very rational person, but just an observation in general of some of the folks that come through the door at Bills.

I've seen some of the arrogant, demeaning, pushy asshats that come through the door at Bills,and its not surprising that a customer needs to get "fired" every now and again. The old adage that "the customer is always right" is a bunch of ********, and anyone who has worked retail for more than 20 minutes can tell you that.

Not to say that there aren't some asshat sales folk too, they exist just as much as the asshat customer.

[peckerhead]

The only asshat thing I did was recently buy another gun there after I promised myself I wouldn't. It was vintage and I was pretty sure I wouldn't see another one like it, so I just held my nose and dealt with it. I won't go on about the experience, other than I was treated somewhat rudely and unprofessionally, and (privately) used my smartphone to look up answers to my questions as nobody at Bill's could answer them. I smiled, said please and thank you, handled the weapon carefully, and paid the asking price without complaint. I couldn't even get the manager to look up long enough to acknowledge me when I thanked him and wished him a great day on the way out.

I have also worked in retail, customer service-type positions, so I understand your point. But as a paying customer, it is not my job to "drive" the experience; that's what sales associates are there for. Ideally, I would expect to at least be treated with a little respect, to have at least a half-hearted attempt made to clear up questions I may have, and to be made to feel like my repeat business is desired. Over the years, I have learned NOT to expect these things from Bill's, through experience, and only purchase something there if I just can't be without it. Short of offering everyone there a free steak dinner for the privilege of allowing me to shop there, I'm not sure what would've changed the situation. Maybe you could explain it to me?

I have seen several anti-Bill's threads pop up here over the last few years, so I know my experience is not a unique one.

[Stradawhovious]

To this.. ^^^^

I'm not so sure I referenced you in my post, just making an observation base on my own, personal, past experiences. I don't know you from Adam, and am not qualified to speak about your conduct with salesfolk. Feel free to unbunch your panties.

[peckerhead]

Riiight, Mr. passive-aggressive.

[Stradawhovious]

Riiight, Mr. passive-aggressive.

You'd hear about it if I had something to say Mr. Name-caller.

[Seismic Sam]

Well, peckerhead was NOT the original poster, so we have two incidents here in about a week involving rude sales staff, with the first being a sales rep accusing a customer who bought a gun at HIS store of it possibly being stolen because he doesn't carry the Bill's receipt around with his carry permit. There's NO conceivable excuse for that under any circumstances. NONE!!! Second is a guy who I have met at the Gopher, and is about as confrontational as RET. So I doubt his attitude had anything to do with his treatment.

And so far, not one word from Bill's as far as followup after the better part of a week. How many people would an employee have to talk to to get to the bottom of this?? I could have done it within the vast labyrinth of 3M Health Care Tech Service in half an hour or less.

[Stradawhovious]

And so far, not one word from Bill's as far as followup after the better part of a week. How many people would an employee have to talk to to get to the bottom of this?? I could have done it within the vast labyrinth of 3M Health Care Tech Service in half an hour or less.

Seems to me that the offended party has not officially put in a complaint yet, other than on the intrawebz.

Is there any follow up on this?

Have not had the time due to work/home/life issues. I will be calling on Friday to address further.

It also seems that an employee of Bill's HAS addressed this, and is waiting for further information.

I wouldn't speculate until I find out exactly what happened here, but something sure doesn't sound right. I send in warranty work all the time, for guns we sold as well as ones we didn't. Factory never asks for a receipt and I don't either.

So what is it exactly that you want done here? You wan't Bill's to just randomly start firing employees out of principle?

[Squib Joe]

And so far, not one word from Bill's as far as followup after a week. How many people would an employee have to talk to to get to the bottom of this?? I could have done it within the vast labyrinthe of 3M Health Care Tech Service in half an hour or less.

a) Going straight to management or the owner works best, in my opinion, than posting on the interwebs. Luckily I happened to see this one, so yes I brought it to their attention and it is being actively looked into.

b) Criticism helps any business improve - Bill's has taken plenty of praise and criticism over the years, and it has without a doubt helped us grow. Everyone here welcomes it and we're all easy to reach.

b) Don't expect anyone to post a followup describing disciplinary action. I'm pretty sure 3M wouldn't do that either, right?

[mitchx3]

Seems to me that the offended party has not officially put in a complaint yet, other than on the intrawebz.

Dude, there is this new paradigm that came with the internet and matured with social networking where it doesn't work for companies to channel everyone into their black-hole "Contact Us" links. Broadcast messages have to receive more weight than 'Contact Us' messages. Joe's most recent post demonstrates that he (if not Bill's) gets that any response is better than ignoring stuff.

Next time you disagree with a politician you should send them a message about it. But don't tell anyone else about your misgivings, your misgivings might influence decisions.

[Stradawhovious]

Seems to me that the offended party has not officially put in a complaint yet, other than on the intrawebz.

Dude, there is this new paradigm that came with the internet and matured with social networking where it doesn't work for companies to channel everyone into their black-hole "Contact Us" links. Broadcast messages have to receive more weight than 'Contact Us' messages. Joe's most recent post demonstrates that he (if not Bill's) gets that any response is better than ignoring stuff.

Next time you disagree with a politician you should send them a message about it. But don't tell anyone else about your misgivings, your misgivings might influence decisions.

Nowhere did I say that the OP shouldn't voice his concern on the internet, but to think that your issue will get resolved by not also filing a complaint with the company (as you are alluding to) is idiocy. It's lucky that Joe happened into this complaint here so he could get the ball rolling, but it sounds like the OP was going to do the right thing and contact management anyways.