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Author Topic: Buying new guns in Fairbanks  (Read 1649 times)

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Offline KP

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Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« on: March 10, 2010, 04:48:29 PM »
Can the retail stores in Fairbanks get any more difficult when it comes to buying a new rifle?

I'm looking for a new or used Tikka T3 Stainless 270 win (left hand). I don't expect anyone to have this gun on the shelf, but come on, I'm ready to PAY for a new one... right now!

#1 Sportsmans Warehouse: They seem to never have the time to show you what they've got on hand and WILL NOT order a rifle for you. Why not?
#2 Sentry Hardware: I go by there twice. Both times I leave my phone number and exactly what I want. I'm asked to come back the next business day. I did that and the owner/salesman/gun order dude wasn't there again, 3rd try!
#3 Walmart: I should have known better, I know. Anyway, the salesmen just smiled and had too many reasons to list about why he couldn't order guns. Then the number he gave to call back just rang and rang.
#4 Fred Meyer's (off Airport): I talked to a young salesman and I'm assured that this would be NO PROBLEM. So again, I leave my number and the exact rifle that I want. No phone call that I was promised. Finally I call them and I need to "come in person to make things easier". That's when the young lady said it will take a coule of weeks to see if that rifle is available thru their distributor.
#5 Fred Meyer's (off Steese): I went there today during lunch and I finally got it ordered.

You would think with the economy so bad that a retail store would jump all over an opportunity to sell a new rifle. What's the deal?

Thanks for listening to a grumpy dude,
KP
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Offline james

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2010, 04:14:24 AM »
Sounds like you need to find a dealer that will accept your orders and buy off gun broker.  Is this what you're getting?  http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=160598081
I bought a used Savage 116 SS .270 on that site and with the $15 fee of my dealer I have less than $375 in the rifle, Tasco scope and sling which came in a kolpin hard case. 
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Offline Rex in OTZ

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2010, 06:41:49 AM »
I'd check with some FAI gunsmith's one of them should know someboday that would have a FFL that could provide the services you require.
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2010, 03:06:36 PM »
KP, if you still have a problem I know someone that can help.  I've done business with this guy several times.  He is the guy Norm orders a lot of powder through.  In fact he is holding a gun I ordered before I left, I've got to go and get it.  He lives in the Birch Hill area, and has his shop there.  Rog

By the way flew back home Tuesday.  Ate something that did not agree with me on the trip home.  Spent the night hugging the procelin goddess.  So dehydrated and weak not able to do anything yesterday and today. 
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Offline KP

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2010, 06:53:49 PM »
There are only 2 gunsmiths in Fairbanks and I won't go back to Arctic Gun Works. The other gunsmith off 6th Street charges $30 to use as an FFL thru gunbroker.com. Really good guys, it just didn't work out. When you add their fee and shipping, the price is the same as a new rifle.

The problem is not finding someone with an FFL. I'm just surprised that when you want to buy something, the salesmen here seem to not really care. The loss of a sale doesn't seem to matter to anyone. 

It doesn't really matter anymore, I finally got the gun ordered at Fred Meyer's.
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Offline Dand

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2010, 10:39:48 PM »
Huh, I was going to suggest Arctic Gun Works but I see you don't like that option. My dealings with him have been limited but ok. I only bought components from him on site and later by mail.
Surely you can find someone. But remember these guys have over head and other costs too. $30 doesn't seem that outrageous to me. That's what I pay to my local dealer and I'm grateful for the service.  Good luck.
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Offline Sourdough

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2010, 06:51:25 AM »
I won't have anything to do with the guy at Arctic Gun Works.  He has the attitude that he knows better than you do on what you want.  I wanted one of my .35 Whelens and one of my 30-06s bored out to AI.  He refused to do it for me, saying I did not realize the minimal results I would get.  So I rented the dies and did it myself.  Very happy with the results, and got the increased velocity I was looking for.

There is only one gun smith in town I will deal with, Doug Albright.  He is the guy that worked at Guns Down Under before they closed.  Tom Victorino is the gun dealer I deal with here in Fairbanks.
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Where is old Joe when we really need him?  Alaska Independence    Calling Illegal Immigrants "Undocumented Aliens" is like calling Drug Dealers "Unlicensed Pharmacists"
What Is A Veteran?
A 'Veteran' -- whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve -- is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America,' for an amount of 'up to, and including his life.' That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact.

Offline Dand

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Re: Buying new guns in Fairbanks
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2010, 10:54:30 AM »
Yep I could see that Arctic was pretty opinionated when I visited his shop. He had some nice stuff. Strange he was so resistant to the AI for 35 W. My former boss has one and loves it. It smacks moose really well. Some guys forget the customer is always right.
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NRA Life

liberal Justice Hugo Black said, and I quote: "There are 'absolutes' in our Bill of Rights, and they were put there on purpose by men who knew what words meant and meant their prohibitions to be 'absolutes.'" End quote. From a recent article by Wayne LaPierre NRA
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