07/07/08

Great place for firearms purchases, friendly and knowledgable.

by dragknt

This place is great! They have the selection of a big gun store with the lowest prices I've seen anywhere (even comparable to most internet specials!), very clean and well-organized layout, friendly KNOWLEDGABLE staff.

When I went in they were VERY busy and a bit understaffed (they said they were two people down from their usual staffing due to illness and vacation), but when they got to me they made me feel like I was their only customer. The selection rivals other much larger gun-only stores (such as Shoot Straight) but the prices marked on the tags were about $200 cheaper, on average. (yes, two-hundred-dollars-cheaper!) I went in looking for a weapon that I was sure they wouldn't have. Shoot Straight had it for $540 and no one else in the area had one in stock at all. Shoot Straight told me the absolute lowest they could go on it was $450, and I walked into University Gun & Pawn and they had TWO of them, consecutive serial numbers, with the tagged price of $365, and the owner/manager let it go for $350 without arguing or haggling or making me feel like I was taking food off his table.

While waiting a few minutes for my background check to clear, the staff member helping me made very friendly conversation, and proved to be one of the most knowledgable and least-oppinionated firearms salesmen I've ever met (which is certainly saying something! If you've ever shopped for a firearm before, you'll know the type, 'gunstore commandos', 99% bias and bandwagon, 1% knowledge...definitely none of that here! Most times I find myself being the one educating the salesperson, but this guy was by far more knowledgable than I am!).

The overall environment was a friendly, almost family-run-style business. I would definitely buy from them again, and I'm pretty sure I'll check there first from now on!

• Pros: Price, environment, knowledgable staff, selection
• Cons: Location (USF west area)