Posted: 12/22/2009 8:25:18 AM EDT
| Did it go out of business or move?? A coworker swears the building is empty, I tried to call yesterday and didn't get an answer. Anyone in the know?? |
| I had figured Hoover Tactical was likely to drain away most of what ever business they still had....not celebrating their demise if that is the case, just saying the firearms market is only so large in any area and can only support so many shops....HTF appears more in tune with what the self defense market wants and Mark's caters better to the Fud segment in that area, not sure there was room for something as non-descript as GS anymore, especially at a higher price point... |
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The Gun Cellar is still a favorite. I was in there two days ago and their prices are still better than anyone else in the area on guns and ammo. Besides, I have always liked the gang at the Gun Cellar, especially when Tom isn't there.
I always get a fair deal and then some... If they went out o business, it was in the last 48 hours. I doubt even the guys at Hoover Tactical would want to see a long stadning member in the gun community go under... YMMV |
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Quoted:
I was in there two days ago and their prices are still better than anyone else in the area on guns and ammo. Besides, I have always liked the gang at the Gun Cellar, especially when Tom isn't there. I always get a fair deal and then some... I have always thought their prices were high, period. Southeastern Guns always seemed to be the low price, although the people running it were unpleasant. After my brother got screwed on the very high FFL fee (based on value of transferred weapon -WTF!!)' which they did not disclose to him over the phone, I stopped going there. Simmons has good prices and great people. Even Marks had better pricing when I compared, at least on common guns. And the Gun Cellar is a confused mess as a retail experience. |
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Quoted:
Still open, I just spoke to them on the phone I got them on the phone after I posted this but didn't have time until now to post again. Maybe they were just closed when he went by there?? I argued with him at first, but then nobody answered when I called so I wasn't so sure. Sorry my post mislead anybody. |
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I also hate to see any gun dealer go out of business. BUT, I have been in the Gun Cellar at least 20 times over the past few years and they have never said, Hello, Kiss
My Ass, Glad you are here, Good bye, or anything else to me. I think their prices are high so I have the priviledge to go any where I want. |
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Yes, the GC is currently open. It is a bit cluttered in there but the layout is simple. As you enter, the pistols are in the display cases and go from small caliber to larger caliber counterclockwise. Shotguns, assault rifles and most of the ammo are all behind the main counter. And as far as the friendliness of the workers, they are under new management and are in the process of gaining new customer base and recovering old ones. Let's just say the old owner could be a grumpy old bastard, but he was ill for a while.
Each one of these stores have their ups and downs and each one has competitive prices depending on what you are looking for. I'd say Marks has a better outdoorsman selection and have high end retail. Hoover Tactical specifies in assault rifles, pistols and LE stuff. The store is new, therefor clean and easy to maneuver, yet they have very little for a hunter or collector. Southeastern has a good mix of firearms and edged weapons, and their prices are hard to beat on some items, but they are unpleasant and customer service lacks. The Gun Cellar also has a mix of these items from hunting to tactical and war collectibles and typically have the harder to find ammo in stock and sell in bulk when available. Also, if you ask, the Gun Cellar will do minor gunsmithing and customizing to your firearms and will work with you on price on most of their stuff. |
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I was in there the first week of December and picked up three (looked brand new) Chip McCormick 1911 power mags for $10 a pop. The new people in there seemed to be much friendlier and even said hello and offered to help several times during my visit.
YMMV I guess. |
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Quoted:
I also hate to see any gun dealer go out of business. BUT, I have been in the Gun Cellar at least 20 times over the past few years and they have never said, Hello, Kiss My Ass, Glad you are here, Good bye, or anything else to me. I think their prices are high so I have the priviledge to go any where I want. thats pretty much me as well. i haven't set foot in that store in 2-3 years. won't go to SE again either after the run around they gave me buying a can. |
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The"long haired dude" is Chip. He is a bit Eorish but has a ton of knowledge and I consider him a good friend. Amy is very nice and has a mix of knowledge and a personal touch that the GC needed sorely. I never could get Tom to be anything but "business" and some people are just like that.
I didn't let it deter me from finding what I wanted and developiong a friendship with the other staff to the point where I feel I get a reasonable price and they make a reasonable profit. Each of us need to remember that these stores have to make money to pay for the inventory we like to fondle and oggle, the light bill and I am sure the insurance is astronomical; not to mention the every day threat of some loser or gang banger deciding he wants a new gun and doesn't want to pay for it. I've been to SE, Marks, and Simmons and most of the other guns stores and Pawn shops in the B'Ham area. Each has it's own personality and inventory items of note...for instance, I would go to SE if I was looking for reputable tactical gadgets e.g. red dots because they have a better selection and knowledge than most. I was at Mark's one time and asked the guy behind the counter to see the "Aimpoint" that was on a very small shelf over their small selection of tactical weapons...it took him three tries to figure out which one was the aimpoint (NOT MARK). Yet, I bought a used Swarovski 10X Tactical scope (.308 BDC turret/reticle) there a few years back from the used box and got a great deal-a steal really. I try to support them all as we need them as much as they need us. |
| The Gun Cellar is my first choice for gunshops around here. I've been a customer for well over 10 years. I watched Amy and David grow up working in the store. Always got along well with Tom. Tom always greeted me by name. Amy and Chip do now. Always felt like I was getting a good deal. Always got a fair trade. |
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i think a BIG part of their problem stems from about 10 years or so ago. Tom really began to not give 2 shits about customers if they were not regulars. you couldn't do a trade unless he was there and if a regular came in or the phone rang you might as well have not even been in the shop. i know i spent over an hour waiting on him to get off the phone several times because he was too busy talking to friends on the phone to deal with customers. That happened more than once.
NEVER got a deal in that shop even after a few thousand dollars worth of purchases. After tom began staying out of the shop it got so bad a few times with bad sales people i finally just stopped going. SE guns employees were pretty much the same but at least the prices were 10-15% cheaper. I will say the few times i went in to look around when amy took over things were at least getting slightly better. Tom just left a bad enough taste in my mouth i won't buy there anymore. to many other shops where i can get the same price or better. for the record i hope amy DOES get things back on track in there and turn the store around. We need all the shops we can get. |