There are a couple of sales staff there, particularly one you mention who ruin the experience. I've got a few mates who have had some dreadful experiences there recently.
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Yeah I'm cool with that. Needed to be said.
I appreciate all stores and they all have there ups and downs. There is nothing wrong with mentioning the ups or the downs. But if a retailer gives repeatedly bad service (not talking occasionally) then it deserves to be mentioned. That way the OP will have some knowledge prior to going in there.
Or just work it into a road trip down south, and go visit 'Custom Guns' in Invercargill. Great people. Greg's a fountain of knowledge.
Re: CHCH - Phil at H&F Towerjunction (not sure if he's still there) is great to deal with.
Agree with others ,James at rivers to rangers , rangiora
Gun City is the chain people used to love to Shun but maybe things are looking up.
They have the best range of stuff on the shelf if you know exactly what you want and walk in and buy it.
The other week I visited the Christchurch store, and found some bottles of Hoppes #9 , which have been hard to come by recently.
Paid for them, piled them on top of my stuffed full man-bag and out the door.
Back home: only one bot to be found. Did a quick search of the car - zilch. Only had one.
Phone back to Gun City and asked if I'd left one on the counter.
"Just a moment ..."
"Ok we've checked the security camera and you did put two in your bag."
Possibly dropped in the carpark, but that prompted me to look very carefully and I found the vagrant bottle that had rolled across the passenger seat, down by the door then back across to the other side almost invisible unless to a very determined search.
So, the counter staff were very professional and helpful.
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My mate wanted a VX5HD with Mil TMR reticle. H n F's website shows that it has them in stock, so he ordered it.
About a week later he went to pick it up after they told he it was ready. When he got there it was not a TMR, but a fire dot. He said he ordered a TMR, their response was that "it is the same thing". He insisted that it is no the same thing and he wants what he ordered.
Another week later, the actual one arrived, but it was obviously not new in the box and was a demo. There was no explanation nor discount for it not being new in the box. At that point he couldn't be bothered arguing and just took it.
Can't give you any recommendations on a shop as I haven't used Christchurch gun shops enough. Having worked in retail I can say any store will skew towards what they want to sell. The truth of the matter is there will be many rifles and scopes that will suit your goals. A good shop will offer you a few suitable options then probably push you towards whatever they want to sell (older, better profit, salesman's favorite). I'd definitely advice you to do some research first so you have some ideas on exactly what you want, then go and try some out.
Seriously RV you should think about a second hand gun. There's loads for sale complete with a scope. most likely sighted in and have ammo etc etc for far less than you will pay new. Some of them have only had a few rounds through them.
Think about it. That cash your saving will let you get some more gear if your just starting out. You will find that there is always something else that you will need ...........
@Shooters Supplies ChCh is my go to store in CHCH.
Had a bad experience with Shooters' Supplies quite recently. Bought a little Marlin 795 semi and the mag did not fit properly. We agreed a deduction of $50 for no mag - leaving me to go find one privately. Shortly thereafter I go back in and they tell me they now have a magazine for my new rifle. But now I have to pay not 50 but $100for it!! Seriously pissed me off - profiteering from a good customer they should have been actively helping with a recent purchase. That's the kind of ethic that drives away customers. Not recommended.
Can't say I've ever had bad customer service from them Mike.
The opposite in fact.
They have gone out of their way to help me with my requirements.
Everyone can have an off day though. We are only human
Maybe I just have my rose tibted glasses on, but I can't remember any bad words said about Adrian when he owned that shop.
He really was one of the good guys as well as being an interesting man to talk to.
For me it's Rivers to ranges, Shooters supplies or hunting and fishing tower junction.
had a really good run at hunting and fishing tower junction when I was after my new pack, was here for about an hour and a half trying different packs, weighting them down no stress at all. every other branch has been shit.
shooters supplies has steered me right on a few things around scopes and rifle setups, also chucked in a free chest rig when I bought my binos. good lads
Are Shooters Supplies under new ownership or something?
Last I knew, the ownership/partnership changed several years ago. Think it was ian foster. Got put onto him to get a good deal on a shotgun for the lad.
Dont really know the other dude but generally always found them helpful.
If anything has happened more recently I dont know.
Dont get in there much
Grant from Ballingers days and then H&F now retired...Real gentleman retired now. Would let me shoot Air rifles for free in their little shop tunnel range. I was 10 and that was 40 years ago. Stayed I. The industry for decades.
Gunworks Amanda and Rinelle good people. Hard working and honest.
Chloe at Gun City sold me a Beretta 694 and lovely to deal with sharing knowledge.
James at River to Ranges...humble guy and always welcoming.
Andy at Shooters Supplies back in the day a gentleman. Seem nice people in New store and his son is always helpful.
Richard Wilhelm has a lot of knowledge and tells it straight...always enjoyed our chats...strong morals would honour a deal or price even if prices lifted.
*Adrian Mayberry... his son Andy is a nice fella.
Shooters is a short walk from my work, been in a few times & they are really helpful friendly people.
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Unfortunately Richard Wilhelm of Wilhelm arms and optics has just announced he is selling off his remaining stock and retiring. He has/had a lot of reloading bits and pieces available at decent prices.
An excerpt from his retirement email below, with a section I have highlighted that shows what a good sort he is;
This difficult trading environment led me many months ago to not put in my usual size orders for primers and particularly reloading powders and this set me on the path towards retirement. It became apparent very early on with Covid that there was not enough stock arriving into the country to keep good working stocks on the shelves of all the shops. To put that into perspective, at one time, Steve, the ADI supplier remarked that I was the largest buyer of ADI powder in the South Island. My reason for not ordering was simply that almost all other shops I know of employ staff. If I did not take my usual share of stock, then I hoped that would mean the other shops had a little more to sell. Hopefully my efforts might just have saved the job for some soul in a hunting store somewhere in New Zealand.
That's Richard to a 'T'.