Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I emailed BRA about this because I wondered if there were more to the story or to give BRA the chance to make it right with the OP if things worked out the way he said, this is their response.

I read the forum complaint. He did buy a used Glock 22 from Blue Ridge Arsenal. He had a problem with the recoil spring and we repaired it. If my armorer would have known he bought the Glock from Blue Ridge Arsenal he would not have been charged. There wasn't any communication between the salesperson and the armorer.

-Earl

OP, contact Earl who replied to my email and see if you can get a refund for the part you had to buy for your troubles. I think that would be more than fair and of course see if they'll trade you for the firearm you want. I doubt he would do that but it's worth a shot to ask.

I should add though that the Glock, even used, is a much better gun than the XD.

Yes, the Glock is heads and shoulders better than the XD.

I think that company sould post in this thread and take care of the OP's issue for him. I would think that if they don't post in the thread w/ a solution or take care of the OP's issues with some sort of parts refund, then they would loose the business of many.

I spend $10-15k a year on high end firearms as do many. Poor customer service on a easily googled forum is not something I'd want if I were a business.

I'm not going back. I posted my review based on my interaction. I appreciate someone trying to reach out to blue ridge for me, but the bad taste is already there. I will be trying sterling arsenal in the future since I have heard so many good reviews.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

There is a phrase in business.

"Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3000"- Pete Blackshaw.

And an internet forum allows that more, and more.

I live in Richmond, but now know "Do not go to Blue Ridge Arsenal." How's that going to translate for their sales? ... think about it.

I'm going to be the odd man out here. I've only been a member up there for three months but have shot there a lot. I've also spent more than a little time window shopping guns and have invariably found the staff polite, knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful. Sure, every business is bound to have a wholly avoidable bad moment now and then, but it tends to skew things out of perspective when lots who weren't party to the bungled transaction use the ease of the internet to up the "ain't it awful" ante. I plan to continue going there.

For what it is worth just last month I had a great customer service experience with them.

Before leaving Florida I purchased a competitively priced (should have been my tip off) .22 Astra Constable at a gun show. When I tried to shoot it the slide would lock back even though there was more ammo in the magazine.

The BRA gunsmith discovered that the prior owner installed the slide stop spring incorrectly when assembling it and fixed it without charging me. Actually all he wanted was a cup of coffee which I happily went out to purchase for him.

Will I go back there again? You bet I will.

I have always had good experiences with the staff there. Always friendly and polite. I recently signed up for a range membership since I like them quite a bit.

As a sales rep and a customer I can see this both ways. A business is a business, but it is also true that putting forth the added effort to ensure the customer is satisfied with a product that was purchased from your establish goes a very long way with customer retention. AND if you have the means and resources to do so (i.e. on site gunsmith and parts), when it comes to customer satisfation, what does it really cost that business to simply replace the part for the customer. Something as simple as that is the same as if someone buys the part in your store, I half expect the installment to be done free of charge.

Unfortunately customer service is what it is, good help is hard to find and you just cannot force people to always have good attitudes. Standing behind that counter all day long, and as someone pointed out earlier, having guns pointed at you all day and dealing with even a handful of unsavory people that come through the door, it can be difficult for that sales rep to take a step back and treat the next customer unbaisly.

I haven't been to BRA myself, but I haven't heard anything yet that would indefinitely deter me from going there. For the OP if that is the only bad experience you've had there, I wouldn't necessarily cut them off just yet. I have seen and heard worse of other establishments in the area. However if you are looking for another shop and shoot, might I recommend SharpShooters?