The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I don't know if this is peculiar to the Midlands but when I ring gun-shops for advice or stock details the experience can be very hit-or-miss (pun alert). It can range from an uninformed halfwit who makes me feel as if I've rung Halford's or somesuch by mistake to a terse, arrogant ogre with the sales skills and demeanor of a honey badger.
If I'm lucky I might get the owner for a good result.
I wonder if it is due to the demise of gundealers so we are now in a beggars/choosers scenario?
Or maybe it's just me.

Its not just the Midlands , there are pockets of this all over the country .

I suppose it could be said that we get the gundealers that we deserve .

Well ooman, if you're looking for good service in the Midlands we can 'ighly recommend Norman Clark's emporium in Rugby. Norman (and his son, Peter ?) are always willing to offer good advice and are prepared to spend as much time with you as necessary, no matter how little you're spending. On several occasions they have advised us to buy a cheaper product than the one we enquired about, explaining exactly why it was better / more suitable for our needs. Equally, when they have suggested a more expensive choice they have always explained exactly why.

We've had similar good service from Mik at Dolphin Guns too, and don't forget The Shooting Shed if you're in that parish !

Again, Norman Clarkes in rugby were invaluable for me when I started reloading. Fantastic gunsmith too.

I can name two main importers in the UK that display a sense of your being part of a Twilight Zone episode as soon as the phone is answered

One has staff so laid back & so completely uninterested in doing their jobs that Jamaicans apply for work exchange placements there = you'd accomplish more & end up with a greater sense of satisfaction if you spent your entire working career being paid 3d a day shovelling fog for 20 hours per shift

I've also had brilliant experiences with Norman Clarke.

I tend to find that hobby-type stores tend to be set up by people who enjoy the hobby rather than business persons who see a gap in the market that needs filling. Whilst this is sometimes a good thing in that it can bring with it some knowledge, you also tend to get some interesting attitudes and personalities come into the mix. It isn't just shooting, you get it in all sorts of hobbies.

You also get some absolutely fantastic stores and shops that you'd happily drive a few of hours to get to because you know they have top quality service.

It can sometimes be quite difficult to find someone who knows what they're talking about when it comes to your particular niche, within the niche world of shooting. Praise Jeebers for the interwebs!

The gist of one conversation with a midland gundealer:

"Hi, you sell GSG 1911 LBP's?"
"Yes"
"I'm looking for a mini red dot sight with a slide mount/dovetail adaptor to fit to one for practical pistol shooting"
"You need the Tactical GSG 1911"
"I've already got a pistol, not the tactical version"
"You need the mount that you can attach a sight to"
"I need a mini red dot with mount that fits to the dovetail/slide slot where the back sight is located"
"I wouldn't advise that"
"But to fit the mount you are probably referring to I would need to attach a weaver rail under the barrel and I don't want to do that"
"We do the Hawke Reflex sight"
"But that sight is much bigger than the Shield or Docter sights and only attaches to a weaver rail and I haven't got and don't intend to fit a weaver rail"
"We could get a weaver rail fitted for you"
"Oh, my other phone is ringing, I'll get back to you thanks for your help"

Currently dealing with 3.
Two are awful, one seems fine.

That matches my experience over the last 11 years.
Went into to one of the 2 awful ones today to spend my money and walked feeling I should have apologised for being there and interrupting him.

I use to help a part time dealer at trade shows 3 long and awful days 3 times a year. How anyone can put up the public 5 or 6 days a week I do not understand.