I guess you haven't been into Eurochasse, talk about a verbal beat down. Years ago after a long struggle getting my business going I had sold just about all I owned. After I got it going and moved out of my mothers basement I felt I deserved a 21, they had what I wanted, trap grade, vent rib, monte carlo stocked. At that time the best ride I had was a work van, so my lady friend and I took the ride up there. I had my binky of cash in my pocket, all while explaining to her why I deserved that gun, the chances I took, the lows, almost lost it all...... Well we had a good ol time on the way up, but when we got there I was about to wet my pants. "I mean that" I walked in "GREETINGS do you have a bathroom" sorry no public rest room. OK thanks Pal.
I will bad mouth that shop til they day they close.

Now go to G&H, Safari Oufitters, British Sporting Arms, they will let you handle anything in those shops just ask.

Stop bragging, your butt is not that big :rotf:

My Dad used to say "I don't generally sit this high... it's just my wallet." It was a very tongue-in-cheek comment because he never had much in his wallet.... or anywhere else.

Never judge a book by it's cover or a potential client by appearances. I think some of this "attitude" is fostered by the gunning community themselves. Look at the adds in DGJ, Shooting Sportsman for the hunting opportunities. Orvis Endorsed, Beretta Trident endorsed ect. A Quail hunt is $1200 per day plus taxes and tips and gormet food. I would love to do a Plantation style Quail hunt but I don't need to eat artsy fartsy food just give me good birds and some fried chicken, a burger fries and a cold beer or Old #7 and I'm good.

I was once told many years ago by the owner of a upscale retail store that a double gun should have two triggers and if I couldn't shoot two triggers than I should just use an 870:eek: When we would go north I always made a point to stop in and look over the guns, I even had put a couple of Repo's on consignment there. I always bought something be it shells, a book ect. the owner would call me single trigger and never gave me any respect. I went in once for the specific purpose of buying an AYA #1 20ga (single trigger) I had seen and he (the owner) was to busy BSing with someone else. I waited about 10min and my presence was never acknowledged so I left and haven't been back.

I am really disappointed that only one poster has named the establishments where they were treated badly. Even Boxbirder told us about someone we already knew was not a "friendly face". Nothing new in his post. However, he did remind me of my friend Bill Wise's visit to the first New York Vintagers. I believe he made that trip with his son, Ben. That may have been the year Ben won the hammer gun championship. It was great to see Bill wheeling through the tents, renewing old friendships and making new friends. I don't know why Boxbirder had a bad time at the Vintagers. I have never had a bad time at the Vintagers, and I have never worn anything but shorts and six inch work boots.

By the way, Bill Wise's website is still active, telling about the history of surfing and bikinis in Delaware and Maryland and the Wise contribution. Bill and Rosalie brought the first bikini patterns to the East Coast from Hawaii and sewed bikinis and sold Hobie Alter's surfboards out of their shop on the Delaware beach, even after Bill's accident. Check out billwisesurfs.com

I still wear Birdwell Beach Britches when I am forced to sit on the beach.

Fieldsport, Traverse City, MI

I have bought some of my best keeper guns at deflated prices from dealers who have treated me badly. I'm sure Richard has had similar experiences.

The dealer at the Vintagers was New England Arms? out of NH?? I believe he went belly up a few years later. He treated me like a putz when I asked to look at a 21 32" duck Magnum. Then gave me a line like do you know what the costs is on it. Today none of it really matters to me.

The thing I think about more is old Bill, he set me up with quite a few guns over the years. So much that he would give me a call and the deal was already in motion. One of the coolest guns he found for me was a Greener Pigeon gun in Australia, he called and then emailed I had just hooked up the first Blackberry that was offered to the public. Bill's email was the first I ever got on a handheld. I called that gunshop "McDonalds" i believe there out of business, gave them a CC and had to wait about 6 months to get that gun in. Bill turned me onto several Linder's also. But the thing we always spoke about was surfing, shaping boards and his idol the Duke. Yes that was the year Ben won the Hammer gun, Andy Duffy was the SxS winner with the Galazan RBL.

Ben and I still cross paths at some of the pigeon shoots here and there. We mostly talk about the wise old owl, Bill was one of a kind and this post makes me think of him. It also makes me think when I complain about things in life I should reflect on Bill a little more. I'll raise that bottle of Mountain Dew for DA MAN.