Trading rifle at WSS

[CanuckShooter]

I phoned WSS Edmonton quite afew years ago, wanted to know what they would give me for a used Browning BAR rifle on trade towards a new Sako...was told 60% of retail if the gun was in good shape.....a slight kick in the nuts I know...but wtf I wanted the Sako...so I drive all the way to Edmonton to visit family with the intent of bringing home a new Sako...and WSS won't even offer up the 60% of retail [would have been about 50% of Sako price] on trade...and I didn't have enough cash to suck it up and buy the Sako anyway.  SO I went shopping in Edmonton and ended up trading the Browning on a Tikka at another dealer.

WSS Edmonton can stuff it for life in my opinion.

[CanuckShooter]

I hear Cabelas is coming to Edmonton? And there is a BassPro in Calgary...why would you shop at WSS Edmonton when they treat you like that??

Anyone else have horror stories to tell about them?

[fallen1817]

No horror stories, unless you count me looking for a rifle, and when I would ask to handle one, he'd just hand it over, barrel first, POINTED STRAIGHT AT ME.  Now, I'm fairly new to firearms, and when i first tried shootin, 220swifty gave me a reminder to watch the muzzle direction.  When a guy that size gives you a reminder, you take it.  Especially because they were his guns, and I didn't wanna blast someone in the ass.

I am fairly timid when it comes to approaching employees (I hear they are supposed to approach me???).  I have rather limited knowledge on the subject of firearms, and get the sense that I'm an idiot when dealing with most stores.

I went in to WSS South Edmonton one day, and told the fellow that I was just lookin to get some ideas, and he said, well don't look too long, I have work to do (He was BS'ing with another staff member for 20 mins prior to that, while I walked around the store.  Not the way I like to be dealt with, but oh well.

[BBJ]

fallen1817 One thing Ive noticed about wholesale sports go there knowing what you want . Go to a lil maw and pop shop like P & D or Milarm , or Pheniox . With Cabela's coming im sure they will have a huge Gun area as they do in Winnipeg . Cant wait for that place to open .

[220swifty]

 Fallen1817,

  Next time you are in town, go see Dale at sportsman's den. His prices might not look that competitive, but GST is included in them. He also has time to deal with customers, he knows what keeps the store open.

[BruceW]

IMO You just have to keep where you're shopping in perspective.  In a small shop you're either dealing with the owner, or someone who has a vested interest in your potential sale.  The person you're dealing with also knows what they've go into what you're looking at, how long it's been on the shelf, and when the next order is due.
At a box store you're dealing with someone who has no idea of the store's cost of the product, or likely the ability to give you a discount on it.
To me it's like going into a walmart and expecting to deal on a tv.  Ain't gonna happen, and it's not the employee's fault.

I've never had a complaint about wholesale or basspro and have always found the staff helpfull, but personally I wouldn't try to trade in a gun there, either.

While I'm happy dealing at the local gunshops as well as the boxstores, I'm with JustinC, I do miss Russel's.  Whatever I couldn't find locally, they seemed to have in stock.

[fallen1817]

Fallen1817,

  Next time you are in town, go see Dale at sportsman's den. His prices might not look that competitive, but GST is included in them. He also has time to deal with customers, he knows what keeps the store open.

I don't know the folks by name over there, but when I lived down there they always treated me very well, as I spent alot of time just looking in there.  Great folks in there.

-Jeff

[Angus81]

Hey fallen, next time you're down try to hook up with me or 220 swifty, I'm sure if either of us are free we could introduce you to Dale. After bear season shuts down it should be pretty easy for me to find some time to go drool over guns.