Anyone heard from Gunnar ? Loosing patience

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Gunnar/Armco

My experience with Gunnar/Armco has been great. I've both bought guns from him as well as having had 1911 work done.

Anytime I've had to wait beyond the predicted time for a project to be completed [like getting a .40 S&W barrel fitted to my Colt Delta 10mm] has been well worth it.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
Wess1911 said:
Notchsguy,

Do you know the worst part ? I'm sure it's going to be a great gun. Gunnar does great work. I know when I'll have it it will be special. I only wish he would answer my requests for an update that's all.
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Gunnar is a good guy. read between the lines!!!!!!!!!!!
he should at least answer e-mails to people that he owes work to.
this is the age of caller ID. use your head, call from your freinds
house and he will answer if he thinks it's a new customer.hehehehehehe.
jb
 
With most gunsmiths you generally have two options: Good or fast.

Good AND fast isn't going to happen.

When a gunsmith gives me a finish date I automatically double the estimated time and add 6 weeks. This forumla is usually closer than the orginal estimate.

And if it's my gunsmith I'd rather have him at the bench than answering a bunch of whiny e-mails from other customers. :)
 
i dont like posting messages that bash a guy who is trying to run a business but.............. a friend of mine had a cz 9mm with a really bad mill job on the rear sight. I told him to send it to armco and that he would be able to make it look good. 8 months later he still had no word. called and was told that there was no way to make the old rear sight work and he would have to fabricate one. 6 months later after many #####ing calls his gun was returned with the ugliest rear sight (fitting in the slide mind you ) i have ever seen. my impression was that when he finnaly got around to actually doing anything with it he just pushed it out the door.
 
I've read all the posts in the thread, and I see that the basic complaint is NOT Gunnar's work, it's his customer relations!!!

When someone gives a time that the work will be done, the customer expects it to BE done at that time. 99% of customers will be OK with the company/gunsmith/whatever calling or e-mailing and telling the customer that there's been a delay (for whatever reason), and we'll have your work done by such-and-such a time. The 1% of customers that are jerks about not getting their work exactly when the company promised it, well, there's nothing you can do about them.

Also, a company/gunsmith/whatever, has to at least answer or return phone calls and e-mails!!! He may do the best work, but if he won't talk to anyone who calls with a legit question, do you honestly think the customer is going to go back to him?? Not in this world. It can take months to find a customer, and only seconds to lose one.

My 2 pennies on the subject.
 
only dealings I've had with the guy is a couple of emails regarding a Norc he worked on and his replies were fast and helpful.

I gotta wonder though, if there's that much work for a good smith and from some of the prices I've been quoted it seems like a decent income can be made, why aren't some of these guys training helpers?
 
I got to thinking about a business idea

I was thinking that a certain pistol smith and a certain ammunition commercial reloading business here in Alberta could get together, merge forces and become an business partners. :D

They both have the same business skill sets. Lots of promises and slooooooow follow through!:bangHead:

Wow, what a force they would be!:D They could probably come up with a master plan and take over the world in short order (2 weeks) or in reality, probably 18 to 36 months or so! LOL

Greg
 
albertacoyotecaller said:
I was thinking that a certain pistol smith and a certain ammunition commercial reloading business here in Alberta could get together, merge forces and become an business partners. :D

Greg
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I have dealt with that ammo supplier and definitely agree he is overwhelmed and needs some help. I did get my order, but it took a while. They have also been sitting on a big order of 124gr 9mm FMJ bullets since january, that makes it hard to meet commitments when the upstream suppliers are dry as well.

Max Owner said:
I'm guessing its a matter of the smaller shops being overwhelmed by phone calls, e-mails and people dropping by. Wanting to BS.

As for training helpers, I would guess that they are too busy to take the time to do that.

I annoyed as I have been with Armco, I think I understand.
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As a one man shop, it is easy to get buried in the administrative side of things and not get any work done in the process. I do sympathize, I work for myself and often will have a day where I run all day and then wonder what I managed to get accomplished.

It is easy to say they should take on an apprentice, but that is a tough thing to do. Ask anybody who has trained people while trying to run the shop and it is hard to find the right person, train them properly and keep everything running at the same time. Long term, it is good for the business and the trade, but it is tough getting through it all in one piece.

Mark
 
I suspect that find "staff" to help Gunnar out isn't as simple as one might think.. You need to find someone who meticulous, and willing to work for far less than the oil rigs offer.. Kinda need a 50+ year old who's semi retired and looking for a way to fill his day,, AND has a huge interest in firearms and the sport.. now, If I was semi-retired, and had a interest in firearms.. I'd be at the range every sunny day, and cleaning\loading on the rainy ones..
 
All my dealings with Gunnar have been fantastic. Granted, sometimes he is a little slow getting stuff out the door, but he has always been fantastic to deal with in my experience...
 
well yes Gunnar may be a little slow to get things done, but he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, he always has time to share his knowledge about firearms and has done more for the sport then 95% of the people on this forum. So if you want it done fast go to walmart handgun repairs, if you want it done right go to Gunnar. When he retires, trust me you will miss him.
 
mojoman said:
well yes Gunnar may be a little slow to get things done, but he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet, he always has time to share his knowledge about firearms and has done more for the sport then 95% of the people on this forum. So if you want it done fast go to walmart handgun repairs, if you want it done right go to Gunnar. When he retires, trust me you will miss him.
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FWIW Gunnar has a gunsmith working for him or he did a few months ago
when i was there
 
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