Dick's Sporting Goods

[Timbob1]

I don't have a LTC in Mass., but do go to Dicks in Seekonk every once in a while to look at scopes, slings, etc.
I have found that most of the staff is just simply not there. When I do find one, they either cannot anwser my questions, which are pretty simple, or they have to retreive the "old guy" to anwser them for me.

Dicks in Warwick RI is about the same. Every once in a long while I go to buy ammo, which of course the eighteen year old behind the counter has no clue of what I'm talking about unless it's "9mm".

 

[Scrivener]

I expected more professionalism from a large department store, let alone the paperwork with my SS# and other information is missing currently...

WHY would you give your SSN for a firearms purchase?

It is not required and is not a guarantee of NICS expediency.

 

[MassMark]

WHY would you give your SSN for a firearms purchase?

It is not required and is not a guarantee of NICS expediency.

Exactly - I've not used my SSN ever...

I don't know if the DSG in Pittsfield is just different, but we are very regimented about paperwork. All forms are laid out in order on the counter, the process is explained to the customer and in the case of a denial or delay, the paperwork is immediately filed - no exceptions. At least in my store, the regs are strict and enforced...

 

[BR636]

Dicks at the silver city gallaria isn't to bad,they have one guy that competent.as far as cashiers though,one asked for my f.i.d. when i went to ring out a scope! she must have thought since it went on a firearm you needed a permit! I told her that it wasn'nt needed,but she wasn't sure.so i showed her my l.t.c. and she didn't know what it was! I eventually got out with my scope.

Every time I've been to the Dicks in the gallaria the salespeople in the firearms section have been competent but rude. I try not to go there to much but they have good sales and its convenient.


Brian

 

[delgrifith]

Does Dick's usually post their ammo sales online or do you just have to drop in the store?

 

[6hold]

Does Dick's usually post their ammo sales online or do you just have to drop in the store?

Yes they email you their ad Sundays after you give them your email add. at their web site. They don't have sales every week but most weeks they do.

 

[JonJ]

Does Dick's usually post their ammo sales online or do you just have to drop in the store?

Check your Sunday newspaper for a flyer or check the online flyer on the DSG web page.

 

[Vintovka]

I stopped by Dick's in Millbury yesterday while the girls were off at the nearby PestMart. Surprisingly enough, there was a kid behind the gun counter, so I asked to check out the low-end O/U shotguns which were on sale (a Spartan/IZH and a Brazilian Stoeger). Given my impulsive nature and love for Russian guns, I decided that I'd buy the Spartan if it came with choke tubes. The guy went to the back room to find out whether it came with tubes, so I browsed for 5 minutes. When he reported that it does, I said "ok, I'll take it". He went back to mill around for the necessary paperwork, while I browsed (increasingly frustrated) some more. Finally, he comes back and says "I'm sorry, but we don't have any state forms. My manager will put in an order, and you can come back when they're in". At that point, of course, I was ticked off -- not only are they so sloppy as to hold a gun sale without having the means to actually sell any guns, they also "dicked" me around (pardon the pun) by not notifying the sales kid in advance. As it turns out, I even had some FA10 forms in my car, but at that point, there was no way I was going to give those guys a sale.

 

[MassMark]

Wow Chris! That's amazing - I would have been ready to blow my stack, (and I'm a patient guy). I'm no DSG apologist - I work there part time. The Pittsfield store, (likely as others), is understaffed and there's people covering departments, (not just the lodge), who have no idea what they are doing. I suppose that in some circumstances, I am one of those people as well. I know much about kayaks, canoes, camping gear, guns and accessories - I know very, very little about fishing gear. The difference is training is available, but most employees are not motivated enough or simply do mot have the time to train. Pittsfield is far from a perfect store, but paperwork is nearly obsessive here. I can't fathom running out of FA-10's - someone's head would roll....

 

[Len-2A Training]

Aren't they computerized? If they are on the MIRCS system, they fill it out on the computer and it prints on blank paper.

Maybe they ran out of typewriter ribbon?

 

[Scrivener]

This would have been a dealer sale.

That means FEDERAL forms; i.e., a 4473. That may have been the form Dick's was "out of."

Idiots.

 

[Garys]

This would have been a dealer sale.

That means FEDERAL forms; i.e., a 4473. That may have been the form Dick's was "out of."

Idiots.

No, I don't think that they are ever out of Idiots!

 

[JonJ]

Aren't they computerized? If they are on the MIRCS system, they fill it out on the computer and it prints on blank paper.

Maybe they ran out of typewriter ribbon?

I bought a 10/22 from Dick's in the spring and they used a FA-10. No MIRCS.

 

[jdubois]

I bought a 10/22 from Dick's in the spring and they used a FA-10. No MIRCS.

+1. I bought a 10/22 from the Dick's in Leominster earlier this year and they used a paper FA-10.

 

[Mr Weebles]

In Mass they're supposed to use both the 4473 and the FA-10 for a dealer sale.

You get a copy of the FA-10.

If they ONLY used an FA-10 and didn't use the 4473 they're gonna be in deep shit during their next BATFE inspection.

 

[theGringo]

If they ONLY used an FA-10 and didn't use the 4473 they're gonna be in deep shit during their next BATFE inspection.

Ssssssshhh!

 

[Scrivener]

No, I don't think that they are ever out of Idiots!

On either side of the counter!

 

[Garys]

On either side of the counter!

Soooo, you must go there a lot, huh?

 

[Vintovka]

This would have been a dealer sale.

That means FEDERAL forms; i.e., a 4473. That may have been the form Dick's was "out of."

Idiots.

Scriv, are you saying that an FA-10 is not required in a dealer sale? If not, then why have I received a copy of one in every dealer purchase I've made from a dealer going back for, I dunno, years? I've always understood that in MA it is the responsibility of the seller to record the disposition of the firearm. Per a quote from Chief Glidden: "The legal requirement for in-state transfers is on the seller not the buyer. Therefore, the seller is required to send in the FA10."

The guy said he was out of the "state form". You may be right... maybe there was an idiot involved, maybe not. I didn't ask.

On either side of the counter!

<cough>

 

[theGringo]

The guy said he was out of the "state form". You may be right... maybe there was an idiot involved, maybe not. I didn't ask.

You should ALWAYS begin any transaction with the question, "Are you an idiot?" It can save a lot of anguish later.

 

[matt]

I stopped by Dick's in Millbury yesterday while the girls were off at the nearby PestMart. Surprisingly enough, there was a kid behind the gun counter, so I asked to check out the low-end O/U shotguns which were on sale (a Spartan/IZH and a Brazilian Stoeger). Given my impulsive nature and love for Russian guns, I decided that I'd buy the Spartan if it came with choke tubes. The guy went to the back room to find out whether it came with tubes, so I browsed for 5 minutes. When he reported that it does, I said "ok, I'll take it". He went back to mill around for the necessary paperwork, while I browsed (increasingly frustrated) some more. Finally, he comes back and says "I'm sorry, but we don't have any state forms. My manager will put in an order, and you can come back when they're in". At that point, of course, I was ticked off -- not only are they so sloppy as to hold a gun sale without having the means to actually sell any guns, they also "dicked" me around (pardon the pun) by not notifying the sales kid in advance. As it turns out, I even had some FA10 forms in my car, but at that point, there was no way I was going to give those guys a sale.

You don't keep FA10's in your vehicle "just in case"? or am I the only one?

 

[Vintovka]

You should ALWAYS begin any transaction with the question, "Are you an idiot?" It can save a lot of anguish later.

ROFL!

 

[Vintovka]

You don't keep FA10's in your vehicle "just in case"? or am I the only one?

Nah - I actually try to keep a copy of my C&R in my car "just in case". Alas, the C&R results in my needing to keep picking up more FA10s.

 

[jdubois]

Scriv, are you saying that an FA-10 is not required in a dealer sale?

No, I think what he was suggesting is that since MIRCS came into being in 2004, dealers don't need paper FA-10 forms any longer, because the data is electronically and instantly sent to the state, and then the computer prints out a copy for you. But Dick's clearly isn't using MIRCS for some reason.

 

[Scrivener]

Scriv, are you saying that an FA-10 is not required in a dealer sale?

Not at all.

Dealer sales require a 4473; dealer sales in MA also require an FA-10. Dick's could have been out of either or both.

And the Clearasil Kid behind the counter probably doesn't know the difference.

 

[MassMark]

No, I think what he was suggesting is that since MIRCS came into being in 2004, dealers don't need paper FA-10 forms any longer, because the data is electronically and instantly sent to the state, and then the computer prints out a copy for you. But Dick's clearly isn't using MIRCS for some reason.

I'm only there part time, so I don't know why they are not on MIRCS now, but I do know that I cleared out a spot for the system, so it's coming. If it cuts down on my paperwork time and more importantly the paperwork time of the customer, I will be a happy camper. Right now a customer purchasing a gun can expect to spend nearly an hour - more if it's busy.

As for idiots on both sides of the counter, I cannot speak for other DSG locations, but with a couple of exceptions, the lodge staff at DSG in Pittsfield are experienced hunters, fishers, kayakers, hikers, campers, shooters. The problem is, none of us are full time and don't want to be....To be honest, if DSG could pay me what I'm worth and leave me alone in the lodge, I'd work there full-time. I actually enjoy working there surprisingly. Lets face it - Dicks Sporting Goods is corporate big box America - especially since they went public. However, I really enjoy helping people and never thought I'd enjoy a retail job in a trillion years. I may be an exception rather than a rule I suppose and therein may lay the problem - people just aren't invested in what they do sometimes - part time or not....

 

[bishop375]

However, I really enjoy helping people and never thought I'd enjoy a retail job in a trillion years. I may be an exception rather than a rule I suppose and therein may lay the problem - people just aren't invested in what they do sometimes - part time or not....

This is likely due to the fact that you're in Pittsfield. In my experience people there are generally nicer and more relaxed than this far east. I've got a few friends out there, so my wife and I drive that way a couple times a year to visit.

Now I've got a hankering for Old Forge wings.

OT, I've had a mix of experiences at the DSG in Danvers. I had better experiences when it was Galyan's. I will say this- the good help I've gotten there is generally better than the help anywhere else.

 

[vellnueve]

I bought a Henry AR-7 .22 at the Framingham store the other day, after fondling it a bit a few days earlier. They gave me a discount because it was a little scratched up, and then I used my $60 reward certificate. Final price, $80, for something that I've always had a nagging itch to pick up.

Their firearms guys were friendly, knowledgeable, and informative. The transaction was the 4473, FA-10, and a store form that was basically a waiver, and they had to have the manager sign off as well, but all in all, a good experience. I will buy from them again if they have something that interests me for the right price.

He also said that they'll be getting MIRCS soon.

 

[TonyDedo]

I’ve had bad experience after bad experience at Dick’s (primarily the Saugus and Natick locations). The only reason I go there is for cheap plinking ammo, and because they’re open on Sunday. But my experience last Sunday probably ranks #2 among my worst trips to Dick’s. Here’s the review I wrote for Yelp:

This Dick's is like any sporting goods box store - it stocks a few good products, most everything is reasonable priced, and it's understaffed by mostly poorly trained drones (I’ve heard there are a few exceptions, but I’ve yet to meet one). But you get what you pay for, and I shop here for the value.

All that I ask is that when I go to Dick's on Wednesday, it's the same Dick's with the same policies as the one I shopped at on Monday, and it remains the same when I go back on Friday. But I'll be damned if their policies regarding gun and ammunition sales doesn't change day to day. My last trip to Dick's proved they change person to person.

I went to Dick's in Saugus with a group of Yelpers, with the intention of picking up some ammo on our way to the range. Once I reached the ammo counter, I asked to buy ammunition from the nearest clerk I could find, who was stocking shelves a dozen aisles away. Five minutes later, when he finally reached the ammo counter he refused to sell me ammo because, while I had the proper license, the people I was shopping with did not.

I asked for a manager. Ten minutes later, I explained the situation to a manager who was a walking, talking definition of "wishy-washy." He didn't know what to make of the situation, and insisted he had to call Loss Prevention. He disappears.

Twenty minutes later a third employee walks behind the ammo counter and asks if he can help me. I explain the situation, show him my license, and he proceeds to insist that I'm okay, and gets me what I need.

As he's pulling ammo off the shelf, the manager returns and a debate ensued between the two (right in front of me) as to whether or not I had attempted to commit a crime and whether I should be allowed to make the purchase or banned from the store forever.

In the end I was 'allowed' to make the purchase, after it was made clear that they were making an 'exception.' I was escorted to the front register, where I had to present my license again and pay (which took about 15 minutes because the employee behind the register couldn't figure out how to ring up the purchase) before I was allowed to touch the ammo.

Last time I was there I was with another unlicensed individual, who was allowed to pick the ammo she wanted, carry it to the register, and pay for it herself - all I had to do was show my license and walk out the door with the bag.

It's sad that I, an average Joe, knows the laws regarding selling guns and ammunition far better than any Dick's employee I've ever met, yet they're the ones in the business of selling guns and ammunition.

I've been charged case price for a single box, box price for an entire case, and given a whole slew of bad, even flat out dangerous advice by the staff at Dick's. Once I ran into a down-home racists at the Dick's in Natick (check out my review there). But I'll be damned if their prices aren't some of the cheapest around.

Still, there's a lot to be said for your local Mom & Pop sporting goods store...

 

[Skeet732]

Just my .02 but I buy some ammo at Dicks and WalMart, nothing else. Shotguns, sidearms, rifles I reallly want to but at a gunstore where the guy has proven he knows what he is selling. The big boxes are only good on price, the staff doesn't know jack about anything