Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I went to Green Top today to have buy some Trijicon night sights for my Glocks. I asked one clerk in particular to install them. But he was busy with another customer. So one of the fellows behind the counter recommended another guy (name withheld) who was supposed to be a "Glock armorer." This was a guy in a white Glock polo shirt. OK, I figured a Glock armorer should be able to handle it.

He went ahead and installed my sights. I picked up my Glock 21 to discover that he assembled it incorrectly. He slid the slide onto the front rails, but overtop of the rear rails. I was incredulous. I asked him if he was really a Glock armorer. He then asked me if this was my first Glock, as if all Glock owners have assembled their pistols incorrectly - no big deal. Well, it's not my first Glock. And I have have never assembled my Glock incorrectly.

I put my guns in the truck and went back in to do some more shopping. I decided to see if they had a Ruger GP-100 3" revolver in stock. I stood at the counter. Despite the fact I was standing there, no one asked me if I needed help. The same guy that put the sites on my Glock was there, leaning against the counter. I had to ask him if he could help me. I asked him if GT had the Ruger in stock. He stated Ruger didn't make any such pistol. I assured him they did. He insisted they didn't. I again told him they did and asked him to look. He stated he would check Ruger's website since he knew they wouldn't have any such gun in stock. He did, then stated "that's a new model." I told him it's an old model, so old in fact that Ruger has discontinued the blued model and only offers it now in stainless. He then stated they didn't have any and never carried them. I stated that was odd, since I distinctly remember buying one there some years ago, and trading it in again on a different pistol. He just shrugged.

This is the first time I've ever shopped at Green Top and dealt with someone who truly struck me as lazy. Too lazy to help, too lazy to look, too lazy to care.

I looked for Donnie for a few minutes to let him know of my experience but no one knew where he was. So I spoke to the other gun manager and told him about my experience. I know I'm not their best customer, but I do drive 76 miles one-way to give them my business, and managed to drop several hundred dollars in there today. I expected better. And I told him this guy's attitude is completely out of character for Green Top.

Wow. Doesnt sound like he was particularly lazy - just a complete idiot.

There is one guy there I will not let wait on me. If he's the only one available, I'll wait.

Sounds like the same guy though.

As I have stated, some of the newbies have an attitude, I usually deal with the old guys... They're much friendlier. (shrugs) Lots of changes since "Bear" sold the place to Thalhimer.

I dunno if that's the reason, or not.

Their high prices and screwed up attitudes are the reason I shop at DeGoffs. Much better service.

Sorry to hear about your experience. I hope at least your sights were installed correctly.

I have never understood the business ethic of most gun shops. You would expect to be upheld as a customer, being that you have selected Their shop to spend your money. I have found it to be more often that not, at Green Top, I have to wait to be assisted while three or more employees stand around and chat. This blows me away. I can assure you that the owners, managers, and anyone directly benefitting from sales would Strongly Disagree with such behavior. And this may be a side note, but Ive also found that gun shop folks always have a strong opinion tending to be defensively biased. Again, as a potential customer, I cant see where disagreeing with me is going to increase your chances of a sale. I can appreciate objectivity and I can accept your opinion if it is offered or presented in a plesant manner and in a way that would offer me better alternatives, but so many guys are jerks about it. In my opinion, these folks just dont get it. If they were my employees, you wouldnt last long. You dont deserve to be a gun store clerk, you jerk!

rant over.

why would anyone drop "several hundred dollars" in a place where the clerks are jerks?

Until recently I lived just a few minutes from Green Top and have purchased several firearms from them. Unfortunately your story is par for the course. They are so busy they seem to have an attitude that we need them more than they need us. I've never not had to almost beg for help. Once I had a clerk argue with me when I told him the grip on a handgun wasn't comfortable for me. In his opinion comfort shouldn't be a factor (wtf?!)...

I was in there just this weekend and it was shoulder to shoulder standing room. After five minutes I decided it would be better to return when they weren't so busy. As I left I heard one clerk proclaim that they have more foot traffic than any gun store in the richmond area.... Maybe he thinks that's why they can be jerks...

GS78 wrote:why would anyone drop "several hundred dollars" in a place where the clerks are jerks?

Most gun store owners realize they are far and few between. Some even realize most of us are willing to drive a little to get a good deal and good service. Too bad they arent all ran by folks with decent business ethics and customer relations.

I have been a customer at Greentop's for several years, I only shop there when I am in the Richmond area so that is maybe 6 times a year. I only made one weapon purchase there and that was a Beretta 92FS with M9 markings, a pistol that is not very common. The price was right on line with any other dealer's 92FS, not a particular bargain, not a ripoff either. My most recent purchases there have been reloading supplies, primers and pistol bullets mostly. The primer prices were in $30-45 range for 1000, which is not unreasonable compared to anybody else. A big plus for them is they will let you buy them 1000 at a time instead of limiting them to 200. I have been using 124 grain 9MM Hornady XTPs Greentop's price $16.99, MSRP $22.24 and 185 grain .45 XTPs Greentop's price $20.99, MSRP $28.20. Bass Pro and Gander Mountain can't compare to those. Degoffs has the 9MM, but for $1.00 more a box of 100 bullets. My little bit of research has them being the lowest in the Richmond area for the reloading components I use. I prefer to be able to walk in and touch stuff, buy it and take it home rather than order it off the internet.

I have talked to several of their sales clerks and appreciated when one of the younger ones said "I am not sure" on answering some of my questions and researched them a little, instead of feeding me a line of "fertilizer". Perhaps, we should be more specific as to which clerks you don't want to wait on you, especially the ones full of the "$#!+" or just not willing to help people, especially someone not willing to look up an item to see if they have one in inventory. I don't always hold it against a clerk for not running up to me and asking "Can I help you?", I can always ask for assistance when I need it. Most of the time I visit there it is crowded. even in the middle of the day during the workweek.

I have not had any Gunsmithing work done there, so I can't really speak to their abilities to provide those services. I use Trapper's Triange (TTI) about 2 miles north of there (next to White Oak Equipment). He is an excellent gunsmith specializing in ARs, Garands, M1As and M1911s.