AFAIK, Wes is one of the owners, the others are semi retired. Epps has many problems inc being in too small a location ( township wont let them expand) & high employee turn over after some longtime folks retired. It was even more of a zoo before the gun room came into existence.
A bad experience at Epps
- Thread starter Claven2
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Midland, ON
It seems I am hearing more and more bad about Epps. Sounds like there have been some policy changes there. I have been there in person and was totally unimpressed. Not only were their staff lounging around and chatting with each other in groups of 3-5 but the store is a mess for the most part. I actually went there for a stock for the 10/22 and a new rifle scope for the Savage. Not one person would talk to me or ever look at me as I waited. Even the cashier was put out that I dared want to cash out and interrupt his 'important' conversation with other employees.
Looks like I will keep my business with Trombley's in Orillia. They were awesome when I got my 10/22. Originally got a Rem 597, shot it and found out that the barrel hold down lug was broken. Called them the next morning and they swapped it out for my 10/22. Initially it was to go to factory repair. They decided that customer service was a better thing than worrying about the factory return. Locally to me I have Epps, Trombley's, and Wolf's Den so I am pretty lucky. Questar is close too but given the bad juju about them and Epps I think my options are written in the sand.
Looks like I will keep my business with Trombley's in Orillia. They were awesome when I got my 10/22. Originally got a Rem 597, shot it and found out that the barrel hold down lug was broken. Called them the next morning and they swapped it out for my 10/22. Initially it was to go to factory repair. They decided that customer service was a better thing than worrying about the factory return. Locally to me I have Epps, Trombley's, and Wolf's Den so I am pretty lucky. Questar is close too but given the bad juju about them and Epps I think my options are written in the sand.
I gotta laugh at some of the recurring comment's in this thread.
"Epp's is messy" "Epp's store is a disaster" - well duh. It's an old building and it is literally jammed to the rafters with inventory. So what do you want? Epp's to have the products you are looking for in stock, or wide, bright isles? I'll take controlled chaos with the gun stuff I'm looking for in stock over the Walmart look any day. For those that beg to differ - well, there's always Walmart for your hunting and firearms needs. Have fun with that.
"They were rude on the phone" "They treated me like an idiot when I called" - fair enough, but understand this: The place is crazy busy almost from the minute they open the doors until the lights go out. If you have never been there, it almost defies description on some days. Unless you have worked retail in a similiar environment, you could never understand the way a pace like that can shatter your nerves. It's easy to misconstrue a frazzled employee's voice and phone manner as being rude. Of course there is also the distinct possibilty that you are indeed an idiot. If you are calling about a gun that is on thier website and you want some more info, then for chrissakes take note of the stock number because that is the first thing that they will ask you for. They literally have thousands of guns on hand and if you call up and say "Hi, I'm calling about the Remington 870 I saw on your website" and you don't have the stock number, well then let's just say that you sure aren't Mensa material.
"They ignored me when I was there" "The employee's were more interested in talking almongst themselve's" - First of all, if you walk down the ramp and into the gunroom and it's slow enough that the guy's have time to chat and joke with eachother, that is a rare occasion indeed. If you find it annoying that fellow employee's are engaging is a little fun banter, then get a life. Do you expect them to just stand there at the counter in silence, waiting for the next customer like robots? Don't expect them to fall all over in a rush to serve you either, nobody likes agressive sales people. Not to mention many people go down into that gunroom just to look, lot's don't even have PAL's, they are just curious. The gunroom guys see people walk in, browse around and leave everyday without uttering a word or even making eye contact. So if you do want service, here's what you do. Politely engage a counter person in conversation so they know that you are there for a reason. If you just stand there with your mouth shut and your hands in your pockets like a spare prick at a wedding, well then of course nobody is going to dance with you. If you don't know exactly what you are talking about or looking for, there is no need to be embarassed so don't try and fake it or act the expert just tell them that you are not sure - politely ask. You weren't born knowing this stuff and if the guy serving you doesn't have your answer, someone there will. Again if you are looking for a specific gun that you saw online, have the stock number. Most importantly maintain a positive attitude, going to the gun store is supposed to be fun. If you prefer to show up with just attitude, then expect the same in return. Mutual respect and good manners seem to have gone by the wayside over the years, if you treat the kid at McDonalds like a peon, then you deserve the spitball that will inevitably wind up in your Big Mac. One last thing. They do have a "take a number" system going in the gunroom, so when it's busy take a number and eventually you'll get your turn, but expect that it will probably take a while.
"Epp's is messy" "Epp's store is a disaster" - well duh. It's an old building and it is literally jammed to the rafters with inventory. So what do you want? Epp's to have the products you are looking for in stock, or wide, bright isles? I'll take controlled chaos with the gun stuff I'm looking for in stock over the Walmart look any day. For those that beg to differ - well, there's always Walmart for your hunting and firearms needs. Have fun with that.
"They were rude on the phone" "They treated me like an idiot when I called" - fair enough, but understand this: The place is crazy busy almost from the minute they open the doors until the lights go out. If you have never been there, it almost defies description on some days. Unless you have worked retail in a similiar environment, you could never understand the way a pace like that can shatter your nerves. It's easy to misconstrue a frazzled employee's voice and phone manner as being rude. Of course there is also the distinct possibilty that you are indeed an idiot. If you are calling about a gun that is on thier website and you want some more info, then for chrissakes take note of the stock number because that is the first thing that they will ask you for. They literally have thousands of guns on hand and if you call up and say "Hi, I'm calling about the Remington 870 I saw on your website" and you don't have the stock number, well then let's just say that you sure aren't Mensa material.
"They ignored me when I was there" "The employee's were more interested in talking almongst themselve's" - First of all, if you walk down the ramp and into the gunroom and it's slow enough that the guy's have time to chat and joke with eachother, that is a rare occasion indeed. If you find it annoying that fellow employee's are engaging is a little fun banter, then get a life. Do you expect them to just stand there at the counter in silence, waiting for the next customer like robots? Don't expect them to fall all over in a rush to serve you either, nobody likes agressive sales people. Not to mention many people go down into that gunroom just to look, lot's don't even have PAL's, they are just curious. The gunroom guys see people walk in, browse around and leave everyday without uttering a word or even making eye contact. So if you do want service, here's what you do. Politely engage a counter person in conversation so they know that you are there for a reason. If you just stand there with your mouth shut and your hands in your pockets like a spare prick at a wedding, well then of course nobody is going to dance with you. If you don't know exactly what you are talking about or looking for, there is no need to be embarassed so don't try and fake it or act the expert just tell them that you are not sure - politely ask. You weren't born knowing this stuff and if the guy serving you doesn't have your answer, someone there will. Again if you are looking for a specific gun that you saw online, have the stock number. Most importantly maintain a positive attitude, going to the gun store is supposed to be fun. If you prefer to show up with just attitude, then expect the same in return. Mutual respect and good manners seem to have gone by the wayside over the years, if you treat the kid at McDonalds like a peon, then you deserve the spitball that will inevitably wind up in your Big Mac. One last thing. They do have a "take a number" system going in the gunroom, so when it's busy take a number and eventually you'll get your turn, but expect that it will probably take a while.
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Harrier .45
Regular
- Location
- Ontario, north of Toronto
Perfectly well said.
That sucks, Claven. I hope they sort it out.
The one purchase I had from Epps was online via email. It went quite well, actually. The person took pics of a brand new Beretta M9 and emailed them to me. No issues there.
FYI, they are not the only site sponsor to have that same "policy". I bought a BNIB Wilson Combat 45 for just shy of $3400 to my door. Stamped in red on my receipt was this " FINAL SALE - All manufacturers defects must be dealt with thru distributor warranty" and on the register receipt "All firearm sales are final. warranty issues must be dealt with thru manufacturer or distributor" Needless to say, this kinda shocked me, especially given what I had just spent, and I had never seen this before on their website. The gun was just fine, but what would I have done if it was not ok?
The one purchase I had from Epps was online via email. It went quite well, actually. The person took pics of a brand new Beretta M9 and emailed them to me. No issues there.
FYI, they are not the only site sponsor to have that same "policy". I bought a BNIB Wilson Combat 45 for just shy of $3400 to my door. Stamped in red on my receipt was this " FINAL SALE - All manufacturers defects must be dealt with thru distributor warranty" and on the register receipt "All firearm sales are final. warranty issues must be dealt with thru manufacturer or distributor" Needless to say, this kinda shocked me, especially given what I had just spent, and I had never seen this before on their website. The gun was just fine, but what would I have done if it was not ok?
It's a Place of business for no reason what so ever should they treat you like that PERIOD! If your calling or there in person to inquire about something a customer is a customer. Also you say there very busy but several people have stated there more interests in chatting with them selves, I don't know abOut you but when I'm at work I get payed to work, not stand around and talk, specialy when the client I'm doing work for is there waiting.
As a new RPAL, I have completely relied on CGN to get me up to speed and to make my firearm purchases (followed up with Google and YouTube). I've spent a lot of money with 3 other CGN sponsors with positive experiences and expect all sponsors to go the extra mile to make us happy since most of us can't physically visit each store.
Good on all of you for exposing EPPS as a place to NOT BUY from.
Send it back, collect from Master Card.
Good on all of you for exposing EPPS as a place to NOT BUY from.
Send it back, collect from Master Card.
I agree completely. For all the #####ing that people do about gagnons I always shop there because of their great service. I don't care if the prices are a few dollars more. They are reliable.
I have no doubt once it gets to Wes that you will be taken care of. While I like and support the store very much, and feel that the majority of staff are top notch, I will say they have one persistent bed wetter working for them, and I would guess you ended up speaking to him! I have been a customer for many many years , and it is a complete mystery to me why they haven't fired that dummy! Best of luck!
2CentTactical
CGN Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Epps didn't bother to call my friend when the paperwork came in for his pistol. He called them several times and they said oh no its not in yet call the CFO. He called the CFO and when he finally got a hold of them they were like we sent it in the same day they called. I had a rifle on preorder on the same day they said it would be a week. When I was calling around because I wanted to see if another store might have it the other store ended up getting one just fine. Epps ended up saying it would be 6 months. I like the store it has a ton of stuff however someone is asleep on the switch in the gun room.
Yeah, I had a bad experience at Epps.
It cost me $1400.00 and change and I had to wait 7 business day for my parcel that I paid to have shipped arrive at my door...
I'm certainly far from Mensa material and lived to tell about it.
Tight Groups,
Rob
It cost me $1400.00 and change and I had to wait 7 business day for my parcel that I paid to have shipped arrive at my door...
I'm certainly far from Mensa material and lived to tell about it.
Tight Groups,
Rob
BigBeaverBoomStix
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Toronto North
I'm pretty sure I know exactly which store you're referring too, because I got the exact same receipt, a sort of you're SOL if there's anything wrong with your purchase - I was shocked because CGN'ers generally gave this store high marks for professional service.
I bought a precision rifle, had them mount a brand new Leopold scope, and when I received it I noticed a nick in the paint showing the silver metal below. Clearly this was damage caused during the mounting or while handling and passed onto me. I e-mailed, made my case, and they said - despite their receipt's terms, "It's our fault send it back for exchange" I told them not to worry about it, stuff happens, but appreciated that they were prepared to make good, it's tiny scratch, no biggie, but when you spend $1600+ you expect professional service. I'll definitely go back, and next time ask them to double check for scratches - which don't bother me, but I want a discount if that's the case.
Still I also wonder about the receipt terms, what happens when a brand new firearm has a manufacturer defect? Their store policy is that you're out of luck - does make one reconsider.
- Location
- Smithers, B.C.
Caveat Emptor. They are old men with a well known shop that sells firearms. Maybe you should have gone tried and true milsurp, not new-pro-crap, eh? 
Fortunately for all concerned, caveat emptor is not the law. God help Epps or any other retailer if consumers couldn't buy with SOME confidence. Making anything other than the smallest purchases would involve lengthy inspections. You think the gun room staff is busy now?
Sellers must provide what they contract for. Buyers must provide what they contract for. It is called rule of law and it is the price we pay for living in a society which operates on voluntary trade, not theft and the law of the jungle.
Sellers must provide what they contract for. Buyers must provide what they contract for. It is called rule of law and it is the price we pay for living in a society which operates on voluntary trade, not theft and the law of the jungle.
Caveat Emptor. They are old men with a well known shop that sells firearms. Maybe you should have gone tried and true milsurp, not new-pro-crap, eh?
Not kidding at all. If I buy a product and the retailer states the warranty is with the manufacturer, I contact the manufacturer. I may state my displeasure with the retailer while on the phone with manufactuer.
FWIW, Chiappa is indeed in Italy but they have 2 Canadian Distributors, one is Toronto and the other in BC.
So I take it that "No" you have not bothered to contact either of the distributors.
Whining here doesn't seem to be getting your rifle fixed?
You might try contacting North Sylva or European Arms Distributor (both are listed as Chiappa distributors) to see if either of them will fix you up.
I can't wait to here about the used Toyota you bought from a Ford dealer that won't honor the Toyota warranty.
Not sure why I bother responding to comments like this.
First of all, the WARRANTY is through the stocking dealer. THEY deal with the distributor. Secondly, I did contact North Sylva and guess what? They didn't return my call or e-mail because I'm NOT ONE OF THEIR DEALERS. Next up, this rifle was imported by North Sylva. EAD isn't going to back a product they did not import.
AND THE BEST PART: This is NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE!!!!!!! A defective product right out of the box is non-performance of a sales Contract with the DEALER. Warranty is when a product fails IN USE due to defects in the product. In other words, the consumer cannot return it as a new item, but is entitled to corrective action.
And I appreciate your attempt to paint me as a perennial complainer. Yes, I post all the time on here with incredulous and un-backed superfluous claims against board sponsors.
I'm sure you can post several links to posts of mine demonstrating this behaviour to back your claims about my character.
- Status
