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Bite my tongue?
Unread 03-07-2018, 09:38 AM   #1
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Mark Kircher
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Default Bite my tongue?

I recently went through an extensive and expensive gun repair with an outfit well known to those on this site. It was not without a significant amount of pain. Repairs were not done as promised. Ultimately I was disappointed.

I have shared my experience with numerous friends and other gun repair owners that I know and see or exchange emails/texts with. I keep thinking about the responses and similar stories I have heard about the same Gunshop. It is obviously troubling me (as I wish I had known them previously). So I am reaching out for feedback/thoughts on what I have learned.

I was "scolded" (this is a strong word - it was all in pleasant conversation but I heard their point) by two repair specialists for not calling out the bad experience on this or other forums. When reporting on my experience I chose to refrain from commentary - just posted the end product - skipping over the long painful saga and uncomfortable feeling I had with the end result.

The point being made by my friends (the repair specialists are indeed my friends) was that by not reporting accurately on my experience I had actually mislead all those who may choose to move forward with a similar repair at the Gunshop in question. I think that is why I am bothered as I think they are correct. I should have said something.

So..... should I have said something? Thoughts please.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 10:07 AM   #2
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WOW....I have been going through the same thing ...And I have the same dilemma Mark....These people do wonderful work but the communication and broken promises have been frustrating....to say the least....

and I should add also that things still aren't right and it has been a very long time.......
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Unread 03-07-2018, 10:25 AM   #3
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I think an important part of being part of a group like the PGCA is to share knowledge. Knowledge is power. And I for one would like to know the experiences our members have had with any gun related service providers. Both good and more importantly bad. That is just my thoughts.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 11:15 AM   #4
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There is a FAQ link at www.parkerguns.org that has a "Need a gunsmith" FAQ in its list that points off to a forum discussion about gunsmiths used and recommended by the forum members. If you are going to make recommendations for or against, I would ask that they be made on that forum thread so both positive & negative (respectful & accurate) information is shared. It would help us all to know how to find the best for our needs.

Thank you.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 11:15 AM   #5
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I have been scolded before and been basically told that because I am in the business that I am not to have an opinion or god forbid voice it. But... these are my thoughts on the topic.

I personally perform my work with as much pride as possible and I don't even take in jobs that I am not comfortable with or where I would not want my name attached to it.
For example, I am leery to even install a recoil pad or checker a stock on a gun that has been butchered up or poorly restocked or refinished. Because then, before you know it the story takes a life of its own and my checkering job turns into me having stocked the gun. I don't want my name attached to anything that I would not be proud of in its entirety.

That being said, I would be afraid to put out any work that was sub-par with the fear of people talking about it. And, I would fully expect people to talk about it. And, I would ask that if anyone was not happy with any work that I performed that they at least let ME know about it.

Anyway, with some of the experiences and horror stories I have had and heard about others in the business, it would really open some eyes if people told their tales and maybe prevented others from dealing with the same grief.

Unfortunately many others do not feel the same way, which I do not understand. They just want to sit back and let others learn the hard way I guess.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 11:16 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Lewis View Post
There is a FAQ link at www.parkerguns.org that has a "Need a gunsmith" FAQ in its list that points off to a forum discussion about gunsmiths used and recommended by the forum members. If you are going to make recommendations for or against, I would ask that they be made on that forum thread so both positive & negative (respectful & accurate) information is shared. It would help us all to know how to find the best for our needs.

Thank you.
Yet in that thread, you ask not to share negative experiences. Only positive ones.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 11:18 AM   #7
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That may change, depending on how this thread progresses. When I started that thread, I had the same concerns as those that started this thread.
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Unread 03-07-2018, 11:49 AM   #8
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If it was Sears, Macy's, your car dealer or your roofer or plumber would you withhold his name?
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Unread 03-07-2018, 12:02 PM   #9
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This one is indeed a quandary and a tough one to wrestle with on moral grounds and maybe even a challenge to someones faith and sense of justice, hence there might not be a right or wrong answer but more of what do you think or feel. It is definitely a strong philosophical debate that will challenge most of the gray matter on any forum, maybe this one even more so and mind always justifies the heart. If the offense happened to a Parker then this is the right place to vent and some of the boys on here will be ready to form a posse to extract some vigilante justice, and it might be warranted. Not familiar with pictures you posted or your plight and maybe that guy should not work on anymore Parkers. It is still a buyer beware world.

My view is that any comment I make on a forum should be the same comment I would be willing to yell to the crowd from a street corner. In essence that is what a forum virtually functions as and maybe that should be your guide. BTW I am no attorney but whatever you do or say could come back to haunt you, just saying. I remind my kids all the time they don't need facebook or twitter and all that stuff because what ever you post on line is out there almost for eternity and they should be mindful. Its a different world than what we all grew up in, and it definitely is not any kinder just faster and never forgets or forgives.

Last edited by Todd Poer; 03-07-2018 at 12:23 PM..
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Unread 03-07-2018, 12:06 PM   #10
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That is what is wrong with the "gentleman's response" policy. You care more about hurting the feelings or embarrassment of the gunsmiths, and care less if a fellow PGCA member falls into the same trap. If I have a bad encounter with a smith and give him a reasonable amount of time, without added expense, to correct it and they don't, I will surely let everyone know who they are, by name.

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