I've lived in NH for many years and for 20 years visited Riley's and now Shooters.
Since Shooters opened Riley's has certainly had a change in their attitude towards customer service.
Before Shooters opened Riley had a "take it or leave it/ we're the largest gun store in NH attitude".
They had that "old gun" store feel about them, but they really low balled you if you sold a gun there and their prices on new /used guns were not great!
Heck the actual store had a run down feeling and their outside sign looked like it had not been updated or painted in 20 years.
Once Shooters opened the got 1) a new outside sign, 2) opened up the basement to sell ammo cans, gun cases and survival food, 3) opened up a back room to sell gun safes, 4) Expanded their areas to sell scope and reloading supplies. Maybe its just my impression but the people/owners at Riley's seem a bit more friendly and there seem to be an effort at customer service and satisfaction. They even have deals on guns and ammo now!
I have to give Riley's an "ata boy" for their improvements and they will definitely be on my "go to" list.
Shooters Outpost is a new store but the owners are old in the shooting business,,, they own Manchester Firing Range down by Manchester Airport.
The store is huge...lots of shiny new gun cases, new guns, tactical clothes, you can see that the owners pumped a ton of money into the place.
Large selection of pistols are behind cases, rifles locked in racks , you have to actually take a number to be served if you want to look at a gun.
Pitiful selection of used/surplus guns,, looks like their market is to new gun sales. They have a section for machine gun sales, sell reloading supplies and the usual magpul stuff. Ammo is market price not deals I've seen, but that may be just because of the panic...
The store is nice but it lacks a "soul" of its own.. it reminds me of the shopping experience you get going to the "Gap". New stuff, young people, a lot of flash...
Some of the things I didn't care for were 1) The Down stairs checkout staff.. young folks need a bit more training in customer attention. A number of times I've waited to ask a question or pay for a item and there were a number of people behind the counter that were just talking to each other and were oblivious to me being there looking for service. I had to ask then for help... I've seen this on a number of occasions.
It also may help them if they have a few people assigned to walk the floors and ask customers if they need any help or are looking for something. The place is big, they have two floors and lots of stuff. I've left on a number of occasions looking for something and giving up only to find out later it was in a different location in the store.
I also didn't/don't like their "Hide the Ammo" game they play... 2 months ago I went in looking for .223/5.56 ammo.
I looked on the shelfs and none was there. A minute later guy goes up to the ammo counter and the sales man hand over a plastic bulk ammo can of 5.56 (240 rounds) to a customer at a $215. I look over the counter and see they have about 6 "cans" on the floor.. not sure if they were selling it to "special" customers or not, but I went up to the salesman and asked if I could buy one too as I just saw him sell one to another guy. I was sold / bought one, but in the last 3 visits I've made to Shooters, I've looked behind the counter and always seen some "hidden 5.56 stock" there.. along with other calibers. I like the idea I was getting ammo others didn't know/ask about.. but I don't care for the practice. If they have and sell ammo to "special" friends they should do it in a better different way. If seemed a bit underhanded to me.
The above being said, Shooters is one place I will still visit but I don't see it as a place that will ever get a local old time gun store feeling. The staff needs to develop a real feel that this a gun store for long term gun people and not a "sell them quick", "welcome to the Gap", and "this is just my summer time job" attitude. I'll go there for the ammo deals but buy my guns from the small gun places with the better customer service and a place where I feel I am really appreciated as a customer...not as fast food number.