Green Top Sporting Goods

[Micro]

You fellas must be visiting a different Green Top than I visit. I've been driving 76 miles from Newport News for about 20 years now buying my guns and supplies from them. I've never failed to get the best price at Green Top. AFAIK, not only do they match prices, they beat them. Only on a few occassions have I found a gun elsewhere for the same price, but never for less. It's the best stocked outdoor sporting store I've visited in this state (though I had a fondness for Hassett's in Waynesboro when it was still open). And while I agree there are a couple of turd-holes behind the counter, the majority of the counter help are at the very least helpful, and usually knowledgeable to boot.

[allingeneral]

Hi micro - welcome aboard!

Please take a moment to stop by the new members forum so everyone can give you an official welcome! http://vagunforum.net/new-members

[communicator7]

I always shop at Green Top. I know many of the employees and they are very knowledgeable and super friendly. They do have a great selection of supplies and good prices. That's why they've been in business so long. I trust their opinions.

[Reverenddel]

To be honest, the newbie sales people have a bit of an attitude. The older guys are more friendly, and helpful.

As to the "No Handguns on Sunday", that was Cecil's decision because they couldn't fully staff on Sundays, and they also used to CLOSE early on Sundays. Since Thalhimer bought the place, it's changed. Including some higher prices due to them getting rid of the wholesale division.

Dunno if they're no longer the "Official" distributor for a couple of firearms companies.

(shrugs) I buy from whomever gives me a good price, and fair service. Call me a "gunwhore". I don't care.

As to BassPro, and Gander? Never buying a weapon from them. I WILL go to Gander for inexpensive clothing, and camping gear. BassPro is WAY overpriced on gear! I suspect to pay for that extravagant shop of theirs!.

If Greentop could move from the OLD building, and got a FULL SIZED shop, I suspect they would carry camping gear as well. Maybe if Gander goes out of business. Never know.

[allingeneral]

haha "Gunwhore"

[zephyp]

I'm a gun whore!!!

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[Chipmunk6]

If Greentop could move from the OLD building,

They have moved from the 'old' bldg, the
BBQ place next door was the original GT bldg. 'Back in the day'

Chipmunk6

[TDubya]

Greentop is the only game in town if you want to buy a Colt. Bob Moates way down in the Southside might have a 1 or 2.

I have had all sorts of experiences at Greentop. If I am looking for firearms and ammo I usually look for one of the older guys and only 2 of the younger guys. I have learned who are the jack-asses I want to stay away from. I got a lecture from one knucklehead that worked there about how open-carrying at the state capitol on MLK day was a terrible idea and that I should stay as far away from that place as possible if I was carrying a gun.

Their fishing department are the best guys in the business bar-none and are good at customer service.

The store is outdated and is a burden to shop there unless it's before noon Tues-Thursday. You will constantly bump into people because the isles are too narrow for the traffic they have.

The prices fluctuate and they have a good selection on everything, but 10mm which the last few times I stopped by was nill.

Degoff's is allright, but their hunting rifles and shotguns are no deal, neither is their hunting ammo, in fact it's over-priced. I would trust the guys at Degoff's to do some gunsmithing that didn't require machining.

That's just how I see it.

[Diomed]

I've never bought a gun from Green Top, and probably never will. I'm cheap, and I can get anything they can get via the internets for less money - even including the cost of the transfer. Ammo, they can't even compare, but then I seldom buy in less than case lots and often of brands they don't stock and maybe haven't even heard of.

All GT's good for in my experience is secondary stuff like targets and cleaning supplies. I need to go get some more bore solvent, actually. And handling before buying, though you can do that at a half-decent gun show too.

Their sales staff has gotten better though, I'll give them credit for that. Five years ago they were the archetypal "gun store snobs/douchebags". They're fairly helpful of late.

[tylern69]

HI all of you good people in Va.that like to get a great gun at a great price.I have been going to GREEN TOP for YEARS!!! get all my guns there.this past year got the HR .20 ga slug gun with scope.1 bad ass gun with a great price.reg 369.99 on sale 319.00 and got 2 deer with the 2 3/4 KO slug.look.every one has a bad day all over the usa.the people that work there see 100s of people a day.dont you have bad days so do they.its hard to be nice all the time.they have to look at every one at all time and do the job.iam a X securty person.worked in Md.Dc.i know how they feel.so you go to green top and start out being nice they willl do the same.and look at this.its tax time.so most people have money now.so guns my go up some or not.look around.you see a gun at gander at one price.they will meet that price ok.they want the money.think before moving.you shoot at the frist deer?No!the buck is always last.every one here,take care ok.I will see you at Green top.if not your loss. Ty over and out.

[nnixon6]

Sorry tyler69, being "nice" and and good customer service in retail IS an everyday requirement.
Everyone understand that everyone can have a bad day but in retail customer service you just have to suck it up for 8 hours and smile.
Be crabby and bitchy on your break.
I've had numerous similar unpleasant experiences with Greentop and while I may go to browse, I will never go to buy.
The selection is poor, the store is uncomfortable, their people are unfriendly but their prices are high!
Peace.

[OleMan]

I have heard some of the problems and complaints about Green Top since it was sold a few years ago. Since I have bought several firearms and accessories from them since the 1980s, my approach is to follow the sidebar link "Meet the Pros" and choose one of the long term sales associates I have dealt with before. I only buy new firearms and they always seem to be competitive with on-line outlets. They are reasonable/nice to repeat customers.

I probably would not try to order tactical equipment from them - they just don't specialize in it.

A couple of the sales folks have warned me off non-firearm items where I can get better quality or price elsewhere. I don't buy much ammo there, since the web-based outlets, including our own All In General, are lower in price than brick and mortar stores.

Overall, I have found them to be better than most of the gun shops in central VA.

[Jakeiscrazy]

I prefer driving 20mins out to Green Top then to go to most of my local gunshops.

The closest to me is Bob's Sporting Goods. I couple times the employees have been helpful there but %90 of the time when I walk into Bob's I just see an older gentlemen sitting in a chair glaring at me. He doesn't say "Hello" or "How can I help you." he just glares. Any when you ask him something he looks this you just place to weight of the world on his shoulders and now he has to deal with troublesome me in his shop. Not to mention there section and limited and tied down.

Then then is Southern Police Supply. I went in there looking for a baton holster. After the employee rung my purchase up he pulled me aside and proceeded to tried and convince me that it was illegal to carry a baton. I told him no it's not and began to pull out the exact law regarding concealed weapons out of my wallet and then he said something to the effect of(this was sometime ago I forgot his exact wording) "If a cop thinks it's illegal then it's illegal." and someone was recently beat with one so "they're on the lookout". I told him I didn't care and I left and won't be returning.

I always go shooting at Dominion and their staff is always nice but there selection is lacking.

Town Police Supply I still haven't been to, I'll get to it some day.

Green Top I have always enjoyed going to. Almost always an employee is kind enough to stop and ask if I need help with anything, even if they are slammed with customers. My favorite part is that all of their guns are free on the rack. Completely free to pickup and heft the weight of and check the length of pull. Some of the bolt actions are zip tried and generally the triggers are zip tied to but I love the fact I can pick them up. There selection is pretty impressive and there prices aren't out there. So for now my favorite gun shop is Green Top. Subject to change of course..........

[Baer45]

I think many of us in Richmond take Grééntops for granted. If I hear about another person driving a Sububan to Norfolk to save $20.00 on an AR, I think I will loose it! I think the prices in Grééntops are fine when you consider how knowledgable most of the employees are, they don't hesitate to fix something that broke...there is no way they can compete with Gun Shows and the internet but if you have a problem with a gun, they are there to take cre of the problem...with all the anti gunners out there I don't mind that I might be spending a little more to keep them in business..just think wht life would be,like without Grééntops!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Reverenddel]

Also keep in mind, YOU CAN MAKE AN OFFER ON A GUN!

GunShops are like car dealers! The prices are ARTIFICIALLY inflated, because they KNOW someone is gonna come in, and "low ball" them. I got the same price on my S/A XD Tactical .45 that was the LOWEST price in the gun show, or online...

Greentop has since changed yet again. Charles Thalhimer has passed, and now a BOARD runs G/T, and if you know anything about a "Board" running something? They're gonna eek out EVERY SINGLE CENT they can before growing tired of it, and tossing it to the side.

I like Green Top, I have bought guns there, probably will again. One thing you CAN say about Green Top? I needed a special order item, bought it, didn't need it, or use it, and they LET ME RETURN IT! No other shop I have dealt with does that...

I am warming up to Gander, and Dances for "possible" gun purchases if they have what I want... but I usually end up in Green Top, or getting Gary, of "Gary's Guns, and Transfers" to handle it...

[clayinva]

For those who may live outside the Richmond area GT has now moved to the old Gander Mountain store which went out of business. Big improvement in the physical space.

For customer service, check out the retail portion of Colonial Shooting Academy on W. Broad. Not as big a selection but they seem reasonably priced and very helpful; at least the young guy I talked with was.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Reverenddel]

CSA literally "headhunted" every one of the best employees from the surrounding gun shops. You have top notch shooting facilities, and they will order ANYTHING you want for you, AND they have "shooters" that have been in "sandboxes", and will flat out say "That does not work in the field very well".

Green Top's new store (Gander's old) is VERY nice! with room to WALK around comfortable like... Best part? You don't have to ask anyone to fetch you things, they don't have much warehouse space, so EVERYTHING is out on the floor for the most part!

Prices are good on some guns, but ammo, and gear? They're about 15-30% higher...

[Palladin]

Yup on the higher part... a friend of mine picked up a new Ruger SR9 from Crossroads Gun Shop for $65 less than what GT was selling their used ones for.