Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

After reading the previous reviews about Sharpshooter's/Gilbert's - I had to throw in my two cents. I see many people have disassociated themselves with this shop based on past customer service - now I understand why. I have purchased several firearms here, joined the range, done transfers, etc. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly in person, with the occasional smart-ass quip. However, on the phone (and I've talked with them plenty doing business) I have yet to have a pleasant conversation without the snide comments and consistent smart ass remarks. I don't need that when I'm the customer, being treated as if this business is the only service provider of this type around - wrong answer - and I've collected for years with over a 1000 gun collection. I would not recommend joining this club, ok to peruse around in - but DEFINITELY not customer service oriented. Ammo prices are high as well as guns, GO ELSEWHERE. I've noticed they are consistent with their customer service and smart ass attitudes. This would be a great area to start a decent, customer oriented range - is there enough interest in the area? I certainly would be and will/would invest accordingly!

As a business plan, I'd like to see Blue Ridge Arsenal buy Sharpshooters and operate it as a second location....thus allowing members to shoot in more than one area.

Alternatively, as a business plan, perhaps one of the better gun stores (e.g., VA Arms or NoVA Armament) could take it over and operate it as a second location, but one with an attached range.

I have been shooting at Gilberts/Sharpshooters since Shooters in woodbridge burnt down and you assesment is dead on. What they need is a little competion. This would force them to learn a little customer service.

I went there once a few months ago for one of our shoot and greets. I would have to agree that they didn't seem to be very friendly. They actually made me feel a little bit uncomfortable about being there - so much so that I just went to the range and shot up some ammo - didn't even bother looking to see what kind of goodies they had in stock.

They do carry a few nice AR accessories there (I've bought some), but generally have not been impressed. When I lived 5mins away, I drove elsewhere to shoot. YMMV.

I actually got accused of working for them once before when making these comments, but here goes again...I've always been treated good there. The only exception is one time right after the election. The store was packed and you could hardly get in the door. The people behind the counter were haggard and beat so go figure. Yes the prices may be a little high but for me they are 10 minutes away and I have bought a couple of guns there. They have a decent consignment section of long guns that you can actually handle and play with. Several times I've spent 30-40 minutes with a sales person showing me guns...always friendly and professional. The range could be better but again its a matter of convenience. I will say that I've never had to wait for a lane and the RSOs have treated me well. The only time any of them has said anything "official" or terse was when they saw me raise a water bottle for a drink on the ranage...Indeed, there are better places but for me they are an hour away if traffic permits.

For the last 13 yrs, I have worked 5 min from them. I've been in there maybe 3 times, and have no desire to go in there again. I have never felt welcomed as a customer, rather I was nothing more than a bother for them, unless I was one of their friends - then they can chat forever without showing any interest in helping customers. They need to learn about customer service from Va Arms.

zephyp wrote:I actually got accused of working for them once before when making these comments, but here goes again...I've always been treated good there. The only exception is one time right after the election. The store was packed and you could hardly get in the door. The people behind the counter were haggard and beat so go figure. Yes the prices may be a little high but for me they are 10 minutes away and I have bought a couple of guns there. They have a decent consignment section of long guns that you can actually handle and play with. Several times I've spent 30-40 minutes with a sales person showing me guns...always friendly and professional. The range could be better but again its a matter of convenience. I will say that I've never had to wait for a lane and the RSOs have treated me well. The only time any of them has said anything "official" or terse was when they saw me raise a water bottle for a drink on the ranage...Indeed, there are better places but for me they are an hour away if traffic permits.

The customer service I have received varies greatly. When I was in there looking at AR parts, the older guy was very helpful, answered a bunch of questions and even let me try them out on his personal AR. I like that they are selling silencers now too. However, when I went back to actually buy the AR parts (few days later) a different guy helped me and he didn't know much of anything. Basically he couldn't help me unless I could point to it.

Not everyone working in a gun store or at a gun manufacture descends from John Moses Browning.

Guess I'm just lucky...

DK
It’s not take they treat customers bad, because like you I never have had issue getting a lane, but it’s the smart comments like with the commission on this sale I might be able to buy a hamburger for dinner. Shooters has been closed in Woodbridge for quite a while and I have run into several of the workers from there at gun shows who spend more time talking to me then the workers at gilberts do now. Good customer service is about doing more than the bare minimum.

Well I was just there this last Saturday with my son as we both have memberships there. I really don't talk to much with the guys behind the counter when I go there I just ask if there are lanes and fill out the forms and I am off shooting. I come out and check out and when they see that they don't get any money from me they have joked with me a couple of time as to how they can get some money out of me. I just laugh and tell them that is why I bought the platinum membership and you already got your sale. I bring my own targets and Ammo but was told this last Saturday that I can not shoot the RSW 9mm there anymore as it is steel core so it looks like it back to the WWB or Remington. Anyway I am neutral on the range as they have not been rude but not overly friendly either.

I myself would love to see shooters open back up has anyone heard anything about it?

I gave them another chance today. I needed a crush washer for the flash hider on an AR I recently pickedup. The older guy waiting on me was very matter of fact, not friendly, not ugly - which is not a problem with me.

The price on the crush washer was about $1 cheaper that if I had ordered it from Brownells, plus no shipping. I also noticed prices on their Wilson EMT 9mm mags were about $3 less than Va Arms - but I dont know if that is general price or member price.

Guess I will try and use them again since they are so close.

Taggure wrote:Well I was just there this last Saturday with my son as we both have memberships there. I really don't talk to much with the guys behind the counter when I go there I just ask if there are lanes and fill out the forms and I am off shooting. I come out and check out and when they see that they don't get any money from me they have joked with me a couple of time as to how they can get some money out of me. I just laugh and tell them that is why I bought the platinum membership and you already got your sale. I bring my own targets and Ammo but was told this last Saturday that I can not shoot the RSW 9mm there anymore as it is steel core so it looks like it back to the WWB or Remington. Anyway I am neutral on the range as they have not been rude but not overly friendly either.

Hold a magnet to them.

I doubt they are steel core ammo. RWS is part of RAUG which is a German/Swiss conglomerate. Their products usually are hard to find in the US, but are very good. RWS/RAUG ammo is like Lapua. The stuff being sold at Walmart is their cheapest sport line.

Is the ammo boxer or berdin primed?

I guess I'll get accused of working for 'em, too.

They're not glamorous, for sure, but they're not bad at all. The RO's have always been really cool to me and have been glad to give me (still a relative newbie compared to them) advice. I always bring my own targets and reloads, and I try to stay low-maintenance with 'em. DK knows I shoot there a lot, because when he and I went there, they said, "oh yeah, he's *always* here!" in a way that sounded like they were glad I was always there.

They've actually cut me a couple of favors here and there, probably because they see I'm serious about shooting. And they don't even get a lot of money out of me! Just the occasional purchase of guest passes, because I always bring my own targets and ammo.

Now, a couple of folks there can be a little gruff, sure. But I don't take it personally. I actually find their attitudes much nicer than those at Blue Ridge. Overall, they're pretty good, and I'll keep going.

The *one* major thing I'd ask of them is to put in an air handler to blow the smoke downrange. Not air-conditioning (that's pretty expensive), but just a high-volume, low-velocity air handler to help reduce lead styphnate (primer residue) exposure..

CowboyT wrote:I guess I'll get accused of working for 'em, too.

They're not glamorous, for sure, but they're not bad at all. The RO's have always been really cool to me and have been glad to give me (still a relative newbie compared to them) advice. I always bring my own targets and reloads, and I try to stay low-maintenance with 'em. DK knows I shoot there a lot, because when he and I went there, they said, "oh yeah, he's *always* here!" in a way that sounded like they were glad I was always there.

They've actually cut me a couple of favors here and there, probably because they see I'm serious about shooting. And they don't even get a lot of money out of me! Just the occasional purchase of guest passes, because I always bring my own targets and ammo.

Now, a couple of folks there can be a little gruff, sure. But I don't take it personally. I actually find their attitudes much nicer than those at Blue Ridge. Overall, they're pretty good, and I'll keep going.

The *one* major thing I'd ask of them is to put in an air handler to blow the smoke downrange. Not air-conditioning (that's pretty expensive), but just a high-volume, low-velocity air handler to help reduce lead styphnate (primer residue) exposure..

Gentlemen,
Forgive me for intruding but I need to weigh in here. My husband and I are new to the area. He is an avid collector with an impressive collection of about 500 guns - both sporting and tactical weaponry. We were looking for a shooting club to belong to and went to see Sharpshooters as it is convenient to where we live. I am new to the sport and also eager to learn to shoot and acquire and went to Sharpshooters with my husband a few months back. My husband spent about 15 minutes standing at the counter before someone gruffly asked him if he needed anything. He asked about the membership and some of the guns in the display case. The group of salesmen behind the counter provided short rather patronizing responses to his questions. Fellas, let me preface this with my husband is a military man - active duty- with 24 years of service - his passion is his gun collection and he spends hours and hours on gunbroker and most every other gun website out there, he is extremely knowledgeable and also rather humble about his expertise. Gentleman that he is, he was taken aback by how he was treated at Sharpshooters. I was floored as well. Not only that they did not take the time to serve him courteously- we were the only folks in the store!- but by the arrogance and the snide quips made in my direction as well. We returned a few other times for various reasons only to be treated the same way every time. We attend several gunshows a year and pay visits to the local gun shops in every town we visit. We have always been treated so well and have never had a bad experience. As for Sharpshooters, Im sorry, they need a wake up call. Their customers keep their doors open. I refuse to purchase anything there or refer them in any way. I may not look like the typical gun slinger but I put down big dough for my hunnys Christmas, Birthday and Fathers day presents. I wont give my business to companies who feel the customer matters only from time to time, or if you happen to be one of their buddies. Service counts.

Well Cowboy. You and I look like the lone wolves **whoooo howl** and maybe one more.

Reminds me of the time I had a real butthole for a boss. Everyone else really like him and thought he was a nice guy. Not to me though...no matter what I did I stayed in the dog house.

I'll stick with Sharpshooters unless they start treating me like that old boss did.

cmercfer wrote:

CowboyT wrote:I guess I'll get accused of working for 'em, too.

They're not glamorous, for sure, but they're not bad at all. The RO's have always been really cool to me and have been glad to give me (still a relative newbie compared to them) advice. I always bring my own targets and reloads, and I try to stay low-maintenance with 'em. DK knows I shoot there a lot, because when he and I went there, they said, "oh yeah, he's *always* here!" in a way that sounded like they were glad I was always there.

They've actually cut me a couple of favors here and there, probably because they see I'm serious about shooting. And they don't even get a lot of money out of me! Just the occasional purchase of guest passes, because I always bring my own targets and ammo.

Now, a couple of folks there can be a little gruff, sure. But I don't take it personally. I actually find their attitudes much nicer than those at Blue Ridge. Overall, they're pretty good, and I'll keep going.

The *one* major thing I'd ask of them is to put in an air handler to blow the smoke downrange. Not air-conditioning (that's pretty expensive), but just a high-volume, low-velocity air handler to help reduce lead styphnate (primer residue) exposure..

Gentlemen,
Forgive me for intruding but I need to weigh in here. My husband and I are new to the area. He is an avid collector with an impressive collection of about 500 guns - both sporting and tactical weaponry. We were looking for a shooting club to belong to and went to see Sharpshooters as it is convenient to where we live. I am new to the sport and also eager to learn to shoot and acquire and went to Sharpshooters with my husband a few months back. My husband spent about 15 minutes standing at the counter before someone gruffly asked him if he needed anything. He asked about the membership and some of the guns in the display case. The group of salesmen behind the counter provided short rather patronizing responses to his questions. Fellas, let me preface this with my husband is a military man - active duty- with 24 years of service - his passion is his gun collection and he spends hours and hours on gunbroker and most every other gun website out there, he is extremely knowledgeable and also rather humble about his expertise. Gentleman that he is, he was taken aback by how he was treated at Sharpshooters. I was floored as well. Not only that they did not take the time to serve him courteously- we were the only folks in the store!- but by the arrogance and the snide quips made in my direction as well. We returned a few other times for various reasons only to be treated the same way every time. We attend several gunshows a year and pay visits to the local gun shops in every town we visit. We have always been treated so well and have never had a bad experience. As for Sharpshooters, Im sorry, they need a wake up call. Their customers keep their doors open. I refuse to purchase anything there or refer them in any way. I may not look like the typical gun slinger but I put down big dough for my hunnys Christmas, Birthday and Fathers day presents. I wont give my business to companies who feel the customer matters only from time to time, or if you happen to be one of their buddies. Service counts.

It is a little bit of a drive, but try Guns and Ammo Warehouse out by Manassas (R28/234). One of the better gun shops in the area IMHO. As always, YMMV.

gunderwood wrote:

Taggure wrote:Well I was just there this last Saturday with my son as we both have memberships there. I really don't talk to much with the guys behind the counter when I go there I just ask if there are lanes and fill out the forms and I am off shooting. I come out and check out and when they see that they don't get any money from me they have joked with me a couple of time as to how they can get some money out of me. I just laugh and tell them that is why I bought the platinum membership and you already got your sale. I bring my own targets and Ammo but was told this last Saturday that I can not shoot the RSW 9mm there anymore as it is steel core so it looks like it back to the WWB or Remington. Anyway I am neutral on the range as they have not been rude but not overly friendly either.

Hold a magnet to them.

I doubt they are steel core ammo. RWS is part of RAUG which is a German/Swiss conglomerate. Their products usually are hard to find in the US, but are very good. RWS/RAUG ammo is like Lapua. The stuff being sold at Walmart is their cheapest sport line.

Is the ammo boxer or berdin primed?

Since steel core 9mm is forbidden from commercial importation (or domestic manufacture), yeah, it's pretty unlikely.

Diomed wrote:Since steel core 9mm is forbidden from commercial importation (or domestic manufacture), yeah, it's pretty unlikely.

Cite?