The single worst experience I've EVER had with a gun store. I took in my mosin nagant to have a sight mount put on since I didn't have the tools to remove the silver soldering from the pins myself. Two pins. I needed just two pins punched. After that, you slide the mount on, tighten and bam, you're flippin' done. We're talking maybe, MAYBE an hours work. When I dropped it off they said they'd call me in about a week. Understandable, since their gunsmith lived a little bit out of the area.
It's been almost three months now and I still don't have my nagant back. All but two of my calls were ignored and ALL of my messages have been ignored. The first time they picked up (miracle) they told me, "It'll be in this week or the next", and I was given the excuse that their gunsmith had broken his leg. That was a month and a half ago. I dunno about you, but I can sit in a chair and use a torch and pin punch with a broken leg.
On top of that, their selection is horrible, and they price gouge like I breath air. I suppose they figure they can bump prices since they're the only gun store in Oak Ridge... Because if you're the only business, it's totally a free pass to be a scumbag. If you're in the East TN area and you want to go look at guns, ammo, and other firearm related stuff, go to Frontier Firearms in Kingston; great staff (that will actually keep in contact with you), MUCH bigger selection, and they don't charge an arm and a leg. Or you could try Allen's Guns and Leather in Lenoir, even better prices, but not quite the selection Frontier has. Long story short, don't give Austins your business, they're only going to bend you or your wallet or both over and do horrible things to it/you. If it's taking them this long just to punch two pins and slide a scope mount on, I don't think they deserve business. One star is too kind for these SOBs.
UPDATE: Finally got a hold of them last week (another friggin' miracle). They told me to come in today to pick it up. I asked how much it would be and they tried to charge me for a scope mount, when I brought my own in. I went over today at the time they told me to and, OH MY I'M SO BLEEDING SHOCKED... The store was closed and empty as always.There wasn't even any guns in the store. The mailbox hadn't been checked, so I know I didn't miss them. Went back an hour later just to double check since their closed sign said back at three, and still nothing. I will be reporting my gun STOLEN at the end of the week, and I'll be leaveing a message that says as much next time I call.
UPDATE 2: Got my gun back. Four days short of three full months, I finally got it back. For the first time they actually responded to one of my messages; I think it had something to do with the fact we threatened to report the gun stolen if I didn't get it back by the end of this week. Apparently, that's what it takes to get, "The Good People of Austin's" to return your call. They reveled my nagant to me and said they'd "taken the mount off" after I told them over the phone that I, "wasn't going to pay". What they failed to hear was, "for a scope mount I already bought" right after that. The bolt was rusted, but thankfully I'm not an incompetent boob like everyone at Austins, and I had it cleaned, buffed, and oiled back to shape pretty much five minutes after I got home. They claimed they'd "refinished" the sight because they scratched it getting the pins out. They wiped oil on it and nothing more. I'm pretty sure they thought I wouldn't notice, because I'm young and female (and obviously therefore cannot know anything about firearms, despite owning many). Actual inspection reveals the soldering was never removed, and I have doubts the gun ever even made it to a gunsmith. I'm so glad they did that though, since it means they didn't get any of my money, and I can now take my business to someone I WANT to pay. The owner then got on me for leaving "nasty" messages. If they don't want nasty messages, I'd recommend they try responding to the first 2 and a half months worth of nice, polite messages. Worst customer service ever. Worst prices ever. Worst store location ever. Worst business management ever. If this doesn't convince you to avoid this place like the plague, I don't know what would.
AVOID AUSTIN'S AT ALL COSTS: They're so proud of their Rights, so I'm using my Freedom of Speech to spread the truth about this store. read more