doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Galazan: Love-Hate Relationship

Nailed it, everything flows downhill. I've seen it time and time again. There's a Plumbing Supply Company here in NY, Best plumbing. Everyone there you will talk to is customer oriented, friendly and helpful. I have the opportunity to do work for the current owners, they are the same way. I also had a chance to work for the current owners father many years ago. He started the company and was the same way. It comes down from the top.

I will say however, when I went to CSM it was over 13 years ago, I don't remember seeing Lou there, I dealt with another gentleman, Dick Perret. He was a perfect gentleman. He had the opportunity to introduce me to Tony, who was perfectly rude.

Back in 1985 I was backpacking through Europe, didn't even own a gun but was planning on getting one for hunting. At the time I had read an article about the guns of James Purdey and Sons. So i made my way over to Audley Street, walked in to look around and was promptly greeted, relieved of my backpack and shown around for about 20 minutes or so. I don't remember who it was that took care of me but he was a true gentleman, not at all condescending and answered all my questions. This for a backpacking American in denims.

I knew enough to know I was out of my price range but as I was leaving I was naive enough to ask him what his opinion was of the Browning BPS pump gun I was thinking of getting.

Without missing a beat, not a hint of a smirk, he said to me, "That's the gun made by Miroku of Japan for Browning? It's a fine weapon and will serve you well until you're ready to come back and have us make you a gun."

I still hope to take him up on that offer some day.

A good customer and friend once told me "this is supposed to be fun, if it stops being fun, I will find something else to do." That just hit home with me.

I've called CSMC twice and received polite and courteous correspondance. At the recent DSC show, the CSMC booth was manned by a late 30's looking guy who seemed irritated by my precense there, like I had intereupted his social agenda. Went down to Holland's booth to buy a hat, and received all the attention I wanted, nothing more, nothing less. The sign of exemplary customer service. I do beleive it is a skilled position and very important.

Now let me think.....who's name would you say carries more prestigue??

I bought an RBL 12 from them last year. It was delivered right on time and was out-of-the-box perfect, and I couldn't be happier with it. I spent alot of time looking at all my options and bought it with both eyes wide open, especially given the fact that CSMC is first and foremost a profit-making enterprise, and not some nostalgic relic of a firm.

I will take one of them nostalgic relic guns any day over an RBL.

Just after the RBL 20g. was offered for sale Chuck H came East and we took a trip to visit the factory. We were welcomed by Lou who was very gracious and he introduced us to Tony. Tony gave us more than an hour tour of the new factory and the new machines. He was very friendly and took a lot of time showing us around and how some of the machines worked. We took all the pics we wanted. I could not believe how much time he spent with us. I can only say good things about CSM based on a wonderful experience.

My Dad sold Packards, Auburn, Cord & Dusenberg cars during the 1920's. On his business card he had printed: "The Customer is not always right, but he is always the Customer" I never forgot that, Tony shouldn't either.

George

It's pretty clear from what I have read that Tony is a bi-polar manic depressive schizophrenic*. You just gotta catch him on the good days.

*I'm not a doctor but I play one in my toolshed.

In keeping with the title of this thread here's my two cents... Many of their products are not available anyplace else, I love my RBL, and I like buying American products. That said, my Parker replacement barrels are a total piece of s**t and their customer service is as bad as it gets, just insulting and pathetic... love/hate indeed.

"1) They follow his example."You got that right, GregSY.

In another life, as a reporter often working with militaries around the world, I was invariably correct in my speculation about the character of the man at the top from the performance of guys down the line.

With navies, particularly, I can't remember being wrong. Coming up the brow, before stepping aboard, sailors' facial expressions of another nosey landlubber for company were a good line on the captain.

It applies to civvy life, too.

Recoil Rob,
funny thing is....I had the exact same experience at Purdey's......a real class act that has stood the test of time, even for a young Yank backpacking about.
Steve

As to CSM.....I order online usually, much easier that way.