297chrisc Posted June 19, 2009 Report Share Posted June 19, 2009 (edited) After initial problems after their move from Paignton to Exeter (understandable with the amount of stock they had to move!) I think things have improved. I have ordered from them many times, only ever a few minor problems, but overall a good service. If they just iron out a few creases they will be the best by far. Edited June 19, 2009 by 297chrisc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveH Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) Post like this always draw out those with bad experiences. But some shops have a lot of dissatisfied customers........ The Sportsman are a bucket shop, pure and simple. I only use them when it's a real bargain or they have something I can only get from them. I then drastically lower my expectations. Sometimes they live up to those expectations :blink: . My last two experiences: I asked them to transfer a shotgun described as "it has a couple of marks" to my local RFD. The gun was a shot-out P.O.S (you could see daylight between the barrels and action) with rust marks coming out of the lettering on the action. They advertised some gun oil at ridiculously low prices. Fortunately I chose to buy both aerosol and pump versions. The pump bottle was missing its cap and most of the oil was outside the bottle....... At least the aerosol was intact. I'll still go back for more I suppose, next time I spot a "genuine bargain", but I really should know better. Edited July 5, 2009 by DaveH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Delivered when they said they would and all wrapped up etc. But we ordered a BSA gun safe. They sent an INFAC one. (Also has coffee/tea rings on the top) We kept it but it wasn't what was ordered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's well worth going into the Dorchester shop just to see the lovley Emma. I have had no problems with them so far, having bought two guns and other kit from them. Prices were competative, amd Emma gets me all hot too. I'll second that fella- long blond hair and long legs to match- they do a cracking all day breakfast too in the cafe alawys up for a deal I had £50 knocked of the price of a leupold scope as they mislaid the box- bargain I thought- who needs a box anyhow highly recomended on a personal level- have never ordered on-line though as its only 40 mins from my home- not felt as welcomed in the Exeter shop though, which is a tad closer to me Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's well worth going into the Dorchester shop just to see the lovley Emma. I have had no problems with them so far, having bought two guns and other kit from them. Prices were competative, amd Emma gets me all hot too. I'll second that fella- long blond hair and long legs to match- they do a cracking all day breakfast too in the cafe always up for a deal I had £50 knocked of the price of a leupold scope as they mislaid the box- bargain I thought- who needs a box anyhow highly recomended on a personal level- have never ordered on-line though as its only 40 mins from my home- not felt as welcomed in the Exeter shop though, which is a tad closer to me Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's well worth going into the Dorchester shop just to see the lovley Emma. I have had no problems with them so far, having bought two guns and other kit from them. Prices were competative, amd Emma gets me all hot too. I'll second that fella- long blond hair and long legs to match- they do a cracking all day breakfast too in the cafe always up for a deal there -I had £50 knocked of the price of a leupold scope as they mislaid the box- bargain I thought- who needs a box anyhow highly recomended on a personal level- have never ordered on-line though as its only 40 mins from my home- not felt as welcomed in the Exeter shop though, which is a tad closer to me Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's well worth going into the Dorchester shop just to see the lovley Emma. I have had no problems with them so far, having bought two guns and other kit from them. Prices were competative, amd Emma gets me all hot too. I'll second that fella- long blond hair and long legs to match- they do a cracking all day breakfast too in the cafe alawys up for a deal I had £50 knocked of the price of a leupold scope as they mislaid the box- bargain I thought- who needs a box anyhow highly recomended on a personal level- have never ordered on-line though as its only 40 mins from my home- not felt as welcomed in the Exeter shop though which is a tad closer to me Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 It's well worth going into the Dorchester shop just to see the lovley Emma. I have had no problems with them so far, having bought two guns and other kit from them. Prices were competative, amd Emma gets me all hot too. I'll second that fella- long blond hair and long legs to match- they do a cracking all day breakfast too in the cafe alawys up for a deal I had £50 knocked of the price of a leupold scope as they mislaid the box- bargain I thought- who needs a box anyhow highly recomended on a personal level- have never ordered on-line though as its only 40 mins from my home- not felt as welcomed in the Exeter shop though, which is a tad closer to me Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdboy Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 I buy all my kit from there as the other shops around here dont come close in terms of price and service! An example of this was when i bought my .22 and .17 HMR, i priced up the cost for both including mods for with them then popped to the heavitree shop to price them up there. The heavitree shop wanted £150 more for both rifles. I told them its was cheaper at the sportsman but being a family business i would rather give them the cash and what deal could they do, i was told to **** off back to the sportsman then!!!! Ive since bought 2 shotguns and 2 centrefire rifles as well as loads of bits and bobs and spent loads of money, i refuse to even go into the heavitree shop ever again and most of the people i shoot with have done the same! Royal This is interesting, because i also live near Exeter and find the Sportsman service very good in person. Never ordered online. Brian is one of the most knowledgeable center firers ive met and his advice is spot on. The shop in Heavitree is also great, and a traditional family gun shop that in my opinion have always been competitive (even moreso since Sportsman opened up 2 miles away !). What i find is that their part exchange prices are excellent, or if you want cash for a gun, iw i offered my Air Arms .22 air rifle to both, Sportman offered £140 max, and Heavitree shop paid me £225. Very good deal. Both excellent shops but online sounds dodgy ! BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sqwelchy Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 Iv been to sportsman gun centre a few times this month,their very very snobbing. They like to turn their nose's up at ya. Only good thing is there is a very sexy secretary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancs Lad Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Oh we are due a trip down there at some stage.....Cant wait now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 You can't say people only talk about their good experiences. I'll talk about all of mine..... Out of 4 mail order purchases I've made, only one has turned up complete. The last order was when I bought my hornet (got to be pushing 4 months or more) and I still haven't got everything I paid for! I went to their shop in person and wanted to look at a 6.5x55. I wanted a Tikka but they insisted Tikka were no good, inaccurate and I should buy a Steyr (they're the importer I think, funny that!). I also visited their Litts store. I phoned in advance for the .375H&H rounds and loading kit. Was told they had everything I wanted in stock. When I got there, no loaded rounds. No non expanding bullets apart from £1 per head Tungsten solids. No shell holder. No cleaning kit. To make matters worse they said they couldn't sell me the box of 25 solid heads as I only had 20 to buy on my FAC. They're non expanding components, I didn't even need the FAC to buy the bloody things! All in all a complete joke. They under cut local dealers and people order from them and put up with the poor service. From now on if a camo net is £20 at the sportsman and £50 in my local shop I'm still buying local. They're the worst dealer of anything that I've ever encountered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.