Shoddy products - Letters to the Editor

Shooting Industry, Nov, 2002

It seems that month after month I read only good things about the industry. But there is a problem. I took over a good-sized firearm retail store three months ago and have run into a lot of shoddy products. I had, in this month alone, 10 firearms with major problems--right from the factory. They were from major and small manufacturers. All but three were caught before they hit the sales floor, but the three that did get to customers have harmed my sales.

Customers don't want to hear you will send the gun back. They just want their money back now, even though the guns are special orders. One gun ran $1,500 with a case and extra clips.

I have more than a little experience in this business. I began working in a gun shop when I was 12 years old. I was the domestic sales manager for a large distributor, regional sales manager for Smith & Wesson, and spent nine years every weekend on the gun show merry-go-round in Florida.

I have never seen so many new guns in such bad shape. Have you heard of this from anyone else? My shop sells between four and seven defense-style guns a day, as we are the only shop within about 25 miles that stocks a large selection of products. I know with that many guns, you are bound to see some lemons, but this seems extreme.

Sorry. Just wanted to vent a little and not to a voicemail like you get at most of the manufactures. By the way, great magazine. I find I learn something every month that helps sales. Keep up the good work.

Tim Ellwood

Southern Firearms

Retail Store Manager

No, we haven't heard of this level of problems with firearms. Today's quality-control procedures are designed to prevent defective products from leaving the manufacturer. Not only are quality, properly-functioning products important to individual businesses, they are a reflection of the entire industry.

At this year's Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence awards presentation, we challenged the industry to answer "A Call To Excellence." More than fancy words, this is a pledge to look to excellence in all aspects of our businesses. This because, though we are all fiercely independent business people, we are judged, praised and berated as one.