Tried to buy a gun at Academy-will NEVER make that mistake again

[jag312]

I never knew that a middle name was necessary to buy a gun. According to my California Driver's License, my birth certificate, and my US Passport, I ain't got one. My parents never gave me a middle name. I always knew I lead a deprived childhood (my parents wouldn't buy me a Ferrari), but I see now that my parents also plotted to deprive me of my Second Amendment rights.

 

[35Rem]

No one notes that Gary's middle initial is F? I think it's funny!

What's the old saying? You can have it 2 of 3 ways: good, fast, and cheap.
Your deal was good and cheap. Shouldn't expect fast, too.

These huge chains have to triple check all the forms. The ATF looks at them hard because of the volume of sales and they can't afford for a store to lose its license.
And, yes, getting irate is grounds for refusal to proceed

 

[MOONDAWG]

WOW Caj , sorry to hear of your bad experience. The Academy Sports nearest me has you processed in out in about 5 minutes if there's no long lines from a panic buying day.

The only policy of their's that frost my ***** is that you have to walk all the way to the front of the store and pay the $5 back ground check (then bring them the receipt) before they give you the gun. What I do to cut down on an necessary trip (if I know they have what I want to buy now) is stop at he cashier on the way in and pay the $5 "BEFORE" I head to the gun counter.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Man, I miss the days when you could just walk into a gun store, pick out a firearm, pay for it, and walk out...

 

[CoMF]

Reading experiences like these leaves me wondering if these are, in fact, calculated attempts on the retailers' parts to discourage customers from purchasing a firearm.

On second thought, scratch that. Never attribute to conspiracy that which could be just as easily explained by stupidity.

 

[Frank46]

I bought my Colt LE6920 at wally world about two years ago. The guy at the register gave me the feeling that he didn't want to fill out the 4473. All sorts of excuses and this dragged on for 3 hours. Finally they send in this young woman and 20 minutes later it was done. Then the manager walks the gun out to the truck. So Caj, you ain't alone dealing with untrained salespeople. Frank

 

[fdw]

One reason I don't buy there is they won't let me dry fire the weapon I'm considering purchasing. Maybe that is company policy?

There was a retired LEO who used to work at the one I go to, real nice guy and he'd let me dry fire. No longer works there.

 

[CCantu357]

Sorry you had such a bad experience at Academy, Caj. While I certainly do not have any stock them or whatnot, Academy is one of the few chains I do like. They are a more regional chain down here and are usually way more pro-gun than most chains (i.e, Dick's, etc.). From what you said about the manager saying "tempted to decline you", it sounds like the employees at that location are the problem; a call or letter to main officie in Texas might help. From what I gather, I doubt they would condone that sort of customer service.

That being said, in Baton Rouge we have two Academy locations. One near me that serves both the rural areas and the older north part of the city that is more urban and blue collar. The other is newer and serves the uppity side of town. While the one near me has less of a selection, the gun counter crew is much more polite and and willling to help. Almost like an old-school LGS. The bigger, nicer location I avoid as the gun counter is usually manned by people that rarely want to help or chat, let alone make a sale. Guess it all depends on who you are dealing with.

P.S.
If the fellas selling a 1000 dollar bolt gun want to stuff the piece into the box without removing the bolt first, perhaps they should be transfered to checkout counter.

 

[bobandmikako]

The two Academy stores around here are okay. In general, their prices are reasonable - especially when compared to other big stores in the area like Bass Pro or Gander Mountain. Both stores generally have two people working the counter, and one of them usually knows nothing about guns, but that doesn't bother me. I only need them to show me the gun. I don't need information from them. Both stores also have two layers of paperwork review and have to walk you from the gun counter to the front cashier to the door. I've never had it take more than an extra 10 minutes over my local gun store though. I don't buy from Academy that often, but every once in a while, they'll have something at a decent price and I don't want to wait for my LGS to order it. I won't buy from Bass Pro or Gander Mountain due to irritating experiences at both stores and insulting prices.

 

[BigCityChief]

Should have said just like Harry "S." Truman.
Would have totally blown their little minds.

You are correct, but Truman never put a period after the "S".[emoji2]

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

As a general rule I like Academy And I was still gonna buy the gun....up until the point when the manager said "I'm tempted to deny you". THAT was what really set me off He's mad because I'm pissed at the customer service???
As far as the no middle name goes...the draft board had my middle name listed as F(IO) I got tired of telling the people when I filled out the 4473 that no it wasn't "Fio" but F initial only that it eventually became F(initial only). I guess my name is what started me on my contrarian streak like trying to pass $2 bills and dollar coins at the local stop and robs
Experiences like this are a main reason why my family prefers that I shop alone

 

[Gamecock]

Man, I miss the days when you could just walk into a gun store, pick out a firearm, pay for it, and walk out...

I miss the days when you could walk into a hardware store and buy a gun.

 

[Gamecock]

Caj, maybe NICS told Academy to detain. They dragged it out waiting for DHS/FBI/Sheriff to show up. You got out just in time!

 

[bearman49709]

No one notes that Gary's middle initial is F? I think it's funny!

What's the old saying? You can have it 2 of 3 ways: good, fast, and cheap.
Your deal was good and cheap. Shouldn't expect fast, too.

These huge chains have to triple check all the forms. The ATF looks at them hard because of the volume of sales and they can't afford for a store to lose its license.
And, yes, getting irate is grounds for refusal to proceed

I don't think he was upset that they "triple check all the forms" it was the fact the kid stopped eight times to do other things and wouldn't put the box on the counter so he could check it.
Then when he did he had the bolt still in the gun and then tried to force the bolt out.

 

[wbraswell]

Sounds like they hired that guy from Gander. I would have done the same, Caj. This is an example of why I love it here, a bunch of well meaning, cantankerous *******s just like me.

 

[Comrad]

As a general rule I like Academy And I was still gonna buy the gun....up until the point when the manager said "I'm tempted to deny you". THAT was what really set me off He's mad because I'm pissed at the customer service???
As far as the no middle name goes...the draft board had my middle name listed as F(IO) I got tired of telling the people when I filled out the 4473 that no it wasn't "Fio" but F initial only that it eventually became F(initial only). I guess my name is what started me on my contrarian streak like trying to pass $2 bills and dollar coins at the local stop and robs
Experiences like this are a main reason why my family prefers that I shop alone

Ok, so now I have George Throrogood in my head for the rest of the day.

I shop alone, yeah with nobody else...

You know when I shop alone, I prefer to be by myself...

 

[Rocksprings]

You know your in trouble when the salesman calls you DUDE.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Funny part about it was the piece of paper that had proceed printed under my name. My name was printed out first and last only-no middle initial and no "Jr."
And the above poster is correct-what pissed me off was the kid turning away from his task to do other things and the manager bowing up because I was pissed at the shoddy customer service.
But you know it's all good-on my walk today down the boat launch road in the middle of the cane fields a 20 something kid passed me coming back from the launch obviously out for an early morning scout/hunt on a four wheeler with his dog on the back and cased gun across the handle bars drinking a can of coke. A friendly waive and smile from both of us and I realized that I really like living in the boonies.

 

[doublesharp]

Good job but I doubt they got the message. I tend to walk with my feet when I'm treated poorly and now I'm going to go off topic but it's a pretty good story, I think.

Couple years ago, actually it was 11/12/2013 I'd made a deal to buy a 2011 Honda Pilot from a major Louisville auto dealer. I wont mention names but the initials are Sam Swope Infiniti.

I had a trade-in, the details were worked out the day before and I had an appt on said date at 11am to buy the car. I arrive at 10:55, my saleslady had everything in order. I had my official bank check and expected to be gone in a few minutes. At 11:30 I'm still waiting for the finance guy to finish with another customer. I start talking to a guy in the waiting area who was obviously dissatisfied and who was there when I arrived. He was waiting to drop off a check to the same finance guy and was wasting his day off.

That was enough to set me off. I created a minor scene when I insisted on my trade in keys back but I got them. I'd kept my license plate and had my own screwdriver. The salesgirl was pleading for patience but the game was over and now I was doing my best to teach the finance guy a lesson about a bird in the hand and the value of money. I drove off leaving a handful of employees watching me leave (but no finance guy).

I was nearly home when the finance guy calls all sorry and what can I doish. Offered to deliver the car to my house and knock off $300. I refused, and lectured him a bit on a lesson I'd learned early on in life, when someone is trying to give you money, take it, or GTFM in fruit peddler shorthand. I kinda felt bad for the salesgirl but I was ready, willing and able to hold up my end of the deal but the finance guy was probably trying to sell an extended warranty or finance a deadbeat while letting a livewire with cash in hand slip off the hook.

I bought another 2011 Pilot a couple days later and made a little better deal from a Honda dealer on a certified vehicle that has been trouble free to date.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

$599 looks like a $200 savings. If I really wanted the rifle I could put up with some nonsense. On the other hand... if I wasn't really pumped up about getting the rifle i'd have walked too. Sometimes things work out for the best.