islandgun Posted March 7, 2015 Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 Ive been E-mailing quite a few gun dealers around Britain looking to buy another gun. I'm polite and friendly but have been amazed and annoyed at the number who haven't replied, one or two ive tried twice. What do others do when they dont get answer ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mighty Prawn Posted March 7, 2015 Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 IMHO a fair few RFD's are older gents and at least two I've spoken to have a website, with an email, and no idea or inclination to use it but that only excuses a few, some just don't care if they aren't going to take money off you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted March 7, 2015 Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 I had the same experience last year, emailed a couple of dealers and got no reply, both of them have a significant web presence so must expect to have to use email to communicate. I ended up buying elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 One RFD I use only responds to emails when their son is in the shop!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superspark Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 Put simply, it's their loss. Ive also had this when looking to buy a new ranger. It took several months for some garages to follow up with a phone call in which I replied" your too late as have purchased elsewhere.". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deker Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 If you're getting the email address off a web site I'd check when it was last updated with active content as some of these shops may have been duped by a web site company promising extra business but then not being told what they need to do (check emails, update stock etc), Always worth a quick call if they've been helpful previously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted March 9, 2015 Report Share Posted March 9, 2015 Some emails end up in junk box. Some rfd's don't look at emails until someone come in that knows how to use and open email. Some are busy or forget. I always follow up a few days later with a phone call if I have not heard anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 9, 2015 Report Share Posted March 9, 2015 A couple of RFD's I know who were already busy anyhow, have website/email addresses simply because a few years ago someone told them that that is what they needed if in business. Some images were uploaded by some young thing with the nous, but since then the RFD's themselves don't have either the time nor the inclination to upload nor constantly update ever changing stock details regarding guns etc, nor do they intend to employ someone to do the job, so the website/email addresses are there merely as contact details, but most would be more than likely to answer a phone than an email. One told me some time ago that he'd never get 'owt done' and it wasnt his idea of fun being 'tucked away int back' at a computer screen all day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sako7mm Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 We are well on the way to becoming a country full of internet savvy kids who can't communicate properly. Just pick the phone up and speak. It really isn't that difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted March 11, 2015 Report Share Posted March 11, 2015 Shooters aren't exactly the type of thing you would buy hitting the "Buy it now" button. Having said that there are very few who keep their stock up to date and reply to e-mails. Generally the gun trade let's itself down on the Internet. Mind you they get all sorts of freak enquiries. Chris Potter guns in Kent is by far the best I've come across. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liamey Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Always vote with your feet. If they can't be bothered getting back it won't take long for them to go out of business. Manners cost nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxy bingo Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 send them another email saying if they cant be bothered to answer your email you cant be bothered to give them your money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Older RFD's working alone could just be forgiven but I've found the same lack of basic business nous and curtesy from some major importers ! I mean plumbers communicate via e-mail so how on earth gun dealers think they can skip this line of contact is beyond me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonny thomas Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Clubs are the same my son wanted to get into field target shooting (air rifle) didn't get a single email back So I returned to clay shooting and he started hasn't looked back I not really of the club mentality anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 This has been covered before, traditional gun shops don't tend to be all that IT savvy. If you are really interested in what they have why don't you pick up the phone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pothunter Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 This has been covered before, traditional gun shops don't tend to be all that IT savvy. If you are really interested in what they have why don't you pick up the phone? If they're interested in doing their job properly, why don't they answer their emails? "Not that IT savvy" is no excuse and damages the whole trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 This has been covered before, traditional gun shops don't tend to be all that IT savvy. If you are really interested in what they have why don't you pick up the phone? I have phoned and emailed a couple and emailed several others to ask for a photo or more info to be sent to my email address (no photo with their add) but no reply They put the adds on sites like guntrader and gunstar which you reply too using the email facility on the site, Ive come to the conclusion that the guns I'm looking at are at the budget end and the dealers cant be bothered to answer, I answer all emails sent to me asap relating to my business, Gunwatch is Emai based ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 This has been covered before, traditional gun shops don't tend to be all that IT savvy. If you are really interested in what they have why don't you pick up the phone? E-mails are better in many instances than phone calls that's why. You can explain your exact requirements in detail giving sets of measurements and data if needed and hope that it gets passed onto the relevant person instead of being handed from pillar to post as often happens with phone enquiries. You can also of course supply pics via e-mail which can be a great aid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 The dealers that I emailed were not folks with a very simple web presence, they had sophisticated websites with a full online catalogue of their guns and actually process online sales. I emailed a couple, followed up with them and no response. It was just an enquiry about a gun they had in stock, asking for a little bit more information and the possibility of pictures, but no response, twice, so I walked on by. Like IG I suspect that as I was asking about a cheapish gun then it wasn't worth their time. I am more than happy to pick up the phone and chat to people, but sometimes it suits my purposes better occasionally to drop an email in between doing other things, I might not have either the time to make a call at that point or be able to. On the flip side to that I have had fantastic email service from both Derek Lee and Avalon guns, both ended up in a purchase, so it can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted March 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 The dealers that I emailed were not folks with a very simple web presence, they had sophisticated websites with a full online catalogue of their guns and actually process online sales. I emailed a couple, followed up with them and no response. It was just an enquiry about a gun they had in stock, asking for a little bit more information and the possibility of pictures, but no response, twice, so I walked on by. Like IG I suspect that as I was asking about a cheapish gun then it wasn't worth their time. I am more than happy to pick up the phone and chat to people, but sometimes it suits my purposes better occasionally to drop an email in between doing other things, I might not have either the time to make a call at that point or be able to. On the flip side to that I have had fantastic email service from both Derek Lee and Avalon guns, both ended up in a purchase, so it can be done. I have been tempted to state that "I would like to buy the Holland and Holland and would they prefer cash or cheque" to the people who ignored me and see how quick their response was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 If you will start your subject line with "I want a pump-action zombie basher a bit cheap" expect them to ignore you Have you asked Wabbitbosher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I have been tempted to state that "I would like to buy the Holland and Holland and would they prefer cash or cheque" to the people who ignored me and see how quick their response was Oh I think you should do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 If they're interested in doing their job properly, why don't they answer their emails? "Not that IT savvy" is no excuse and damages the whole trade. My point was there are guns shops and gun shops. My local one is run by two young blokes, they have Facebook presence twitter feeds, email shots etc etc. If I wanted to email them I would expect them to read it and reply. The other end of the scale would be the older generation of traditional who have had this forced on them and would rather someone popped in for a cup of tea or quick phone call if they couldn't make it. I am not making excuses for them, just pointing out the facts. As a slight aside, there was a great email that Minsterley received from a potential customer with his list of demands of what he expected from them, used to be pinned to the wall in their cafe years ago, it was unintentionally hilarious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 My point was there are guns shops and gun shops. My local one is run by two young blokes, they have Facebook presence twitter feeds, email shots etc etc. If I wanted to email them I would expect them to read it and reply. The other end of the scale would be the older generation of traditional who have had this forced on them and would rather someone popped in for a cup of tea or quick phone call if they couldn't make it. I am not making excuses for them, just pointing out the facts. As a slight aside, there was a great email that Minsterley received from a potential customer with his list of demands of what he expected from them, used to be pinned to the wall in their cafe years ago, it was unintentionally hilarious. I can partly agree with that, the chap who owns my local gun shop would never use email as it is just not his thing, but then he doesn't advertise an email address either, no website, just a phone number in the phone book. When he retires the shop will be lost which is a shame, but thankfully he is likely to retire before he goes out of business with no trade as enough people know him, however his trade is dwindling all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo180 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Far too many tyre kickers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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