Posted: 3/4/2010 7:40:34 AM EDT
I overheard a few guys talking at the last gun show how Garys is over priced and ha rd to deal with. I have always been treated fine there. What have you guys heard?
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Prices vary, on some things their retail price is pretty good others its not so much. Some of the staff is pretty good to talk with and some of them post here from time to time. They seem to have the best supply of parts and guns in SF from what ive seen. This pretty much sums it up. They will deal on pricing...how much depends on the demand and the mark up, unlike Scheels. They offer lay away, unlike Scheels. They will order what you want, unlike Scheels. They don't care if soccer moms or Fudds are offended by the inventory, unlike Scheels. |
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Prices vary, on some things their retail price is pretty good others its not so much. Some of the staff is pretty good to talk with and some of them post here from time to time. They seem to have the best supply of parts and guns in SF from what ive seen. They're really the only place to get parts aren't they? |
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Trust me, I had a massive rant about Gary's, it would have made my pops proud. Alas I decided to take the higher road. Plus I didn't want everyones eyes to explode from the amount of obscenities that were spilling forth from my hands.
Just remember people, they are salespeople, not your friends. When I enter Gary's I shut off my ears and brain, or the things I hear will drop my IQ significantly. Good inventory, typical gun shop employees. That is the last thing I will say about the matter. Jon |
| I bought a used XD sub compact there. I have no complaints. Just like anystore they are in business to make money. They may be over priced on some things but so is just about every other store I have visited. Sure I can go online and find something for $20 bucks less after transfer but at that point who cares. I say support your local businesses. Gander Mountain in Fargo had Benelli SBEII on sale for 1249.99 last year and before I threw down I called my local Benelli dealer. He couldn't come close but I would have given him the money if he could have been within $50. |
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I dont think they are that badly overpriced. I mostly just use the range when I go there. Speaking of which, are they still doing the indoor USPSA? yeah, they did the indoors IPSC style league again this year. I think it's over now or maybe there is one more week. Jon Thanks for your restraint. It is appreciated. |
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I think they have gotten better but some of the prices make me shake my head. Ive bought a few handguns and my first can from them(all at full retail).
The things that get me are the $30 30rd mags and things of that nature. They are nice to have around if I ever need a off part quick for a build(one of those that would cost more to ship in than the item is worth). So in summary they are ok but I havent seen any smokin deals or anything |
| I prefer to go visit with Gordy at Dakota Police and Shooting Supply on Minnesota, it definately isnt a big selection or a nice shop, but he has good prices and is willing to work with you. Ive bought a K31 and a ton of ammo from him, not to mention my family has bought numerous others from him. He is a great guy to work with, I would check with him first. |
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I prefer to go visit with Gordy at Dakota Police and Shooting Supply on Minnesota, it definately isnt a big selection or a nice shop, but he has good prices and is willing to work with you. Ive bought a K31 and a ton of ammo from him, not to mention my family has bought numerous others from him. He is a great guy to work with, I would check with him first. Oh, I forgot about Dakota Police and Shooting Supply. I need to stop in there sometime. I met Gordy at the gun show. Very nice guy and he had some great deals. |
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Dakota Police is not out of business. Gordy is just really hard to get a hold of. He does the gun sales as a side business so you have to call and set up an appointment. His office is just a little room on the basement of a building on Minnesota ave. It is around 28th street I think. Enterprise rent a car used to be in the building. It is across the street from O'Riely auto parts. Gordy is a good guy, it is just a bear to meet up with him. |
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Dakota Police is not out of business. Gordy is just really hard to get a hold of. He does the gun sales as a side business so you have to call and set up an appointment. His office is just a little room on the basement of a building on Minnesota ave. It is around 28th street I think. Enterprise rent a car used to be in the building. It is across the street from O'Riely auto parts. Gordy is a good guy, it is just a bear to meet up with him. Thanks for the info. Ill have to look him up sometime.
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Quoted: Quoted: Dakota Police is not out of business. Gordy is just really hard to get a hold of. He does the gun sales as a side business so you have to call and set up an appointment. His office is just a little room on the basement of a building on Minnesota ave. It is around 28th street I think. Enterprise rent a car used to be in the building. It is across the street from O'Riely auto parts. Gordy is a good guy, it is just a bear to meet up with him. Thanks for the info. Ill have to look him up sometime. Google Street View Head down the driveway on the South side and go in the door North of the garage door. (I just did this because technology is cool, not because I thought you couldn't find it  ) |
| Saturdays are the best to catch him if I remember correctly, he drives a blue tahoe or surburban and a pickup with a topper, so go down the ramp and if it is there, he is open. Just bear in mind, it is nothing like scheels or garys in presentation, but the prices are right and he is good to work with, he is former LEO and former arng I believe, so a lot of his business comes from word of mouth with the police dept and guard and being at all the gun shows. |
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On Sunday I was finishing my SPR build and realized I didnt have a barrel nut needed for my Troy FF rail. I called Gary's to see if they were open and asked if they had a ar15 barrel nut(to which I got a long pause on the phone like he had no idea). He said I could come in and they would check for me since no gunsmiths were in. So I drove in and got there to find it packed(was S&W Demo days). I waited patiently and one of the guys asked me if I needed help. I told him I had called and what I was looking for. He said he had to hand me off to a ar15 savvy guy. When I got him he went in back for no more than 30 seconds and came back with nothing and told me to come back on a weekday when the gunsmiths are around.
Not a huge deal but a total lack of effort. I realize its probably full of shit back there but Id imagine its labeled in some format. I even showed him a picture on my phone what it looks like when he came back but he still said to come back during the week. So I wandered around a bit after that to blow off steam from the 30 minutes in the car I just waisted and the additional 30 minutes back home and noticed the Trijicon Accupoint scope on display which Ive been considering for my SPR. I took a look at it and noticed they had the exact model I had wanted and it was priced at $800(Im sure full retail) still it would be nice to just buy it and not wait. BUT a quick replay in my head of the awesome service I just got on a $10 barrel nut made me walk right out the door. That kind of shit pretty much sums up what I get from them every time I stop in. Also for whatever reason there are a small hand full of people who know anything about the ar15. I could see if it was some exotic rifle but they carry alot of them and I sure sold a ton of them during the great Obama panic Anyways I called back today to see if a gunsmith could find one. He did at $20 which is double what they run online. Id happily pay $5 more or so just for convenience but $10 is a bit much. So I ordered one from Brownells along with $100 in magpul stuff. In addition to the new accupoint I plan on ordering soon(maybe even a nightforce) they lost about $900 in business and I have no intention of even bothering with them in the future |
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Stretch,
You're experience pretty much sums it up. What I apparently failed to communicate in my previous post was that when dealing with GGS, you need to know and understand what you are dealing with. They are a gun shop with the typical gun shop BS. More often than not, a customer typically ends up educating the guy behind the counter and wastes a lot of time in the process. GGS is better than some and worse than others. As far the immediate SF area goes, they are about all we have....thank God for the internet. Some of the guys that work there are worthless, some of the guys there I actually would consider friends and don't hold their present employment against them. Quoted:
On Sunday I was finishing my SPR build and realized I didnt have a barrel nut needed for my Troy FF rail. I called Gary's to see if they were open and asked if they had a ar15 barrel nut(to which I got a long pause on the phone like he had no idea). He said I could come in and they would check for me since no gunsmiths were in. So I drove in and got there to find it packed(was S&W Demo days). I waited patiently and one of the guys asked me if I needed help. I told him I had called and what I was looking for. He said he had to hand me off to a ar15 savvy guy. When I got him he went in back for no more than 30 seconds and came back with nothing and told me to come back on a weekday when the gunsmiths are around. Not a huge deal but a total lack of effort. I realize its probably full of shit back there but Id imagine its labeled in some format. I even showed him a picture on my phone what it looks like when he came back but he still said to come back during the week. So I wandered around a bit after that to blow off steam from the 30 minutes in the car I just waisted and the additional 30 minutes back home and noticed the Trijicon Accupoint scope on display which Ive been considering for my SPR. I took a look at it and noticed they had the exact model I had wanted and it was priced at $800(Im sure full retail) still it would be nice to just buy it and not wait. BUT a quick replay in my head of the awesome service I just got on a $10 barrel nut made me walk right out the door. That kind of shit pretty much sums up what I get from them every time I stop in. Also for whatever reason there are a small hand full of people who know anything about the ar15. I could see if it was some exotic rifle but they carry alot of them and I sure sold a ton of them during the great Obama panic Anyways I called back today to see if a gunsmith could find one. He did at $20 which is double what they run online. Id happily pay $5 more or so just for convenience but $10 is a bit much. So I ordered one from Brownells along with $100 in magpul stuff. In addition to the new accupoint I plan on ordering soon(maybe even a nightforce) they lost about $900 in business and I have no intention of even bothering with them in the future |
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Yep I agree with your take 100%. I know alot of SF shooters too who think the same way which is unfortunate. They could really clean up if they offered more reasonable prices/better educated staff/more customer service but instead they seem to prefer to do the opposite. Ive noticed they try and be more helpful lately but thats about where it stops. After asking if they can help they are pretty much worthless
Its really a bummer Sportsmans went under. I loved their prices and the selection was good too until the end. I dont care much for Cabelas pricing but at least their overall service and support is good. |
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Thats true with most stores, some good employees some not so good. Its the know it alls that piss me off, Cabelas in Rapid has a few of them at the gun counter. "you have to have a gunsmith install that magpul stuff......"
Once you learn who to ask for your ok. |
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Its really a bummer Sportsmans went under. I loved their prices and the selection was good too until the end. I dont care much for Cabelas pricing but at least their overall service and support is good. Ain't that the truth. I loved that store, I bought a lot of stuff there and they kept the local competition's prices in check to some degree. |
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stretch415, sorry for your troubles at GGS. Gary's has some good, knowledgeable people. They need days off too. You need to ask for them by name and bypass the counter people.
A couple of employees like you mention have turned me away before as well. When I go in and see something I need to deal on, I ask for the owner, Steve or pass until next trip to SF. Two of the gunsmiths in the shop are VERY good smith's and pleasant to deal with as well. They have assembled many top shelf USPSA handguns for me from SVI frame kits. If you were in Pierre looking for a barrel nut, I could have hooked you up! |
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Its really a bummer Sportsmans went under. I loved their prices and the selection was good too until the end. I dont care much for Cabelas pricing but at least their overall service and support is good. Ain't that the truth. I loved that store, I bought a lot of stuff there and they kept the local competition's prices in check to some degree. It really was about the best store ever. I spent thousands of dollars and bought 5 guns along with all of my duck/goose/pheasant hunting gear. I bought alot of fishing and camping gear too. They pretty much knew me by name. Their prices were also nicely between retail and internet prices with some internet pricing even sneaking in. Trying to find that pricing logic anywhere else in town know and youll come up empty handed. Im supposed to go shooting with a Doctor my wife works with one of these weeks at Gary's. Other than the range though I just cant see giving them any more of my money |
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stretch415, sorry for your troubles at GGS. Gary's has some good, knowledgeable people. They need days off too. You need to ask for them by name and bypass the counter people. A couple of employees like you mention have turned me away before as well. When I go in and see something I need to deal on, I ask for the owner, Steve or pass until next trip to SF. Two of the gunsmiths in the shop are VERY good smith's and pleasant to deal with as well. They have assembled many top shelf USPSA handguns for me from SVI frame kits. If you were in Pierre looking for a barrel nut, I could have hooked you up! To be honest I have yet to really find a guy who knows alot about ARs and accessories(and ive talked to most that Ive seen work). I always hit the first counter guy who just waves in another guy who doesnt know alot more than the first. Thats not even saying that my questions are pretty simple. Its not like I ask for the new Magpul item thats nobodys heard of yet unless your in the loop. Most have to do with basic models or basic parts My rants is pretty much over. All Im saying is that Ive bought Suppressors/Pistols/Rifles/Shotguns/Optics/Holsters/Ammo/etc from Garys in the past and I will be doing not of that from now on. The unfortunate part for them is that Ive talked to alot of other locals about their service and they all say the same. Some sound like they were long time customers prior to the ownership change over(Im not real familiar with this as Ive only been in SD for 6 yrs or so). Others only required one visit for being turned off. Ive found its much easier to transfer in exactly what I want and pay way less. Brandon at SD Silencers has been more than helpful with cans and all the accessories and ammo can be shipped in too. Im all for supporting local small businesses but some just cant make the cut. |
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To be honest I have yet to really find a guy who knows alot about ARs and accessories(and ive talked to most that Ive seen work). I always hit the first counter guy who just waves in another guy who doesnt know alot more than the first. Thats not even saying that my questions are pretty simple. Its not like I ask for the new Magpul item thats nobodys heard of yet unless your in the loop. Most have to do with basic models or basic parts My rants is pretty much over. All Im saying is that Ive bought Suppressors/Pistols/Rifles/Shotguns/Optics/Holsters/Ammo/etc from Garys in the past and I will be doing not of that from now on. The unfortunate part for them is that Ive talked to alot of other locals about their service and they all say the same. Some sound like they were long time customers prior to the ownership change over(Im not real familiar with this as Ive only been in SD for 6 yrs or so). Others only required one visit for being turned off. Ive found its much easier to transfer in exactly what I want and pay way less. Brandon at SD Silencers has been more than helpful with cans and all the accessories and ammo can be shipped in too. Im all for supporting local small businesses but some just cant make the cut. There is one, unfortunately, he doesn't work the counter anymore. |
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No lie about Sportsmans warehouse. Spent a lot of money there. Bought my 14' jon boat there. That was a great day! They did keep the other two in check somewhat and had a great selection of outdoor gear.
Good directions to Gordys place. He wasn't around but I know where he is now. Without a doubt there are people at Garys and Scheels that I do not like. Dale at Scheels has been good to deal with. Duane at Garys is ok and so is Steve. I hold my tongue though because I prefer to conduct myself with a certain level of respect. Couple of those guys................. |
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No lie about Sportsmans warehouse. Spent a lot of money there. Bought my 14' jon boat there. That was a great day! They did keep the other two in check somewhat and had a great selection of outdoor gear. Good directions to Gordys place. He wasn't around but I know where he is now. Without a doubt there are people at Garys and Scheels that I do not like. Dale at Scheels has been good to deal with. Duane at Garys is ok and so is Steve. I hold my tongue though because I prefer to conduct myself with a certain level of respect. Couple of those guys................. Did you end up selling it? I bought a used 14" jon boat from a guy who was serving and had bought it from Sportsmans |