When I really think about it I realize that my thoughts about the store are like a roller coaster. I bought my first "bigger than a .22 rifle" from them, my first handgun, etc. I remember when I first got into guns what a cool experience it was to go into the store and just see all of the guns sitting there. Walking between the safes there to the back with rifles going out on both sides, handguns in the counters to the left, knives to the right. I loved that store. They had AR rifles!!! That was so cool, I remember going in there when I was ready to buy my first AR (the single most exciting gun purchase I ever made. :mrgreen: Damn near makes me giggle when I think about how excited I was when I brought it home.) and Kim was so helpful even though I let her know I was just looking until I had enough money. Telling me about the difference between A2 and flattops, etc. I was still in shock that you could buy a rifle that looked that cool LOL. I bought my first G29 from them, and they were the only people in CO who had it AFAIK. Holsters, night sights - everything that nobody else had THEY DID!

I have had so many good experiences there that I have kept going back. But every 3rd visit or so lately I get so irritated that I swear off going back. Sometimes I feel like I am trespassing in there the way that they treat me. Personally I have never asked for a discount or a freebie or anything - I want to see private gunstores continue because 1) they have cooler stuff and 2) they are fundamental to keeping "black guns" on the market IMHO. Walmart doesn't sell them and when Sportsmans Warehouse gets bigger they probably won't either.

All I want is to be treated like a customer (go figure). Maybe I have been spoiled by Timberline out here but a private gun store should be someplace you can go and feel welcome - like a club or something. Maybe that is stupid but when I walk into Timberline they know my name, we talk about guns (right now it is the FS 2000 that I am pestering them about :P ) and even though I don't buy a gun every time they don't make me feel like a thief or an idiot. If I ask them a question they don't know the answer to they say so. And I know their prices are higher than I could get online but I don't care - I want that "legacy" to continue. They take the time to break down the guns (even if I say I don't want to buy it - sometimes even if I am not interested :mrgreen: ) and show me simply because they like guns. I love that! They don't have as much as SS, but if I want it they will order it.

If Jeff does read this I don't know what I would say to him really. It is possible that his store is just so big that it can't have that feeling, I don't know. I do know that when I was going to school in Boulder that I would tell my gun friends up there about the store, and how cool it was - like it was an urban legend or something. They would never believe me that there was a store like that. :mrgreen: Personally I would really hate to see the store go out of business, but unless my experiences have been unique I don't see how it won't happen totally or in some fashion - i.e. moving to a smaller store. I have had a lot of good experiences there - but the bad SO far outshadows it at times that I can't do it anymore. In a few months my little brother is going to turn 18 and I want to take him gun shopping - giving him the money to buy a rifle of his choosing as his gift. But I can't do that at SS - because there is a good potential that while he is looking one of the staff assholes (definitely NOT everyone there, but two for sure IMO) will tear him down because he thinks he is ubertactical or some nonsense. And that ability, that place where you can go and look at things and ask stupid questions and not be made to feel anything but welcome is the ONLY reason to pay higher prices.

I don't know really. I guess I have an "emotional attachment" of sorts to the store so I care for it in a way. But the bad sticks more than the good.