BUYER BEWARE WHEN BUYING FROM MOBILE SHOOTING CENTER.
I purchased a gun from Ryne at Mobile Shooting Center in Mobile, AL on 1-3-12. He was an excellent salesman and very helpful. They are located close to my house and have a decent selection and I knew which gun I wanted.
However, I will NEVER purchase anything from them ever again and here is why:
I purchased a Walther PPS 9mm at full retail $649.00 and chose Mobile Shooting Center because they are a local business, have a convenient location (for me), and I could handle the gun I wanted in person. I paid $150.00 more for my PPS instead of ordering online (http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/49846) and having to wait. I was told by Ryne that the gun was new. It would be too late when I discovered this was not true. The gun was test fired 2-15-10, almost two years ago. It was significantly older then a "new" gun.
As a novice making my first gun purchase, I had no idea that the gun I was buying was far from brand new and I had no idea I couldn't trust Mobile Shooting Center. I also did not know that since my "new" gun was manufactured Walther had began manufacturing the PPS with a slide lock tab that is imperative in its correct (non-failure prone) operation as a concealed carry weapon. The gun I purchased from Mobile Shooting Center has an obsolete slide lock and is known to fail (http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/pps/16700-check-your-slide-stop.html). I purchased the gun for the sole purpose of protection and need it to function perfectly in the event of a life threatening situation. Unfortunately my "new" gun's serial number and my detailed inspection revealed it did not possess the new slide lock tab. I discovered all of this 5 hours after purchasing my gun and called Mobile Shooting Center minutes after they opened the next morning. I spoke to a young lady (not Ashley but a younger girl) who was very quick to tell me in no way can I return the gun for a different gun or anything of that nature as my gun was now considered "used" after I "walked out the door with it". She said that if I needed the gun mailed to Smith & Wesson for any work done to it (retro fit for the slide lock tab) that they would mail the gun for me but there was nothing else she could do for me. She was very clear, quick, and to the point and offered no further customer service (speak with a manager or owner, etc.).
It gets worse for me though. After more research I discovered Smith & Wesson requires the slide lock spring to fail (break) or suffer inoperable malfunction BEFORE they will retro fit it with a new one as it is officially not a recall, but rather a "known issue". The slide lock is going to fail/malfunction I am just not going to know when. Once it fails, I can call Smith & Wesson, have them mail me a shipping label, ship the gun, pay for the part, pay for the labor to install it (as it may be out of warranty due to it's age--it's already 2 years old) and wait 3 weeks to a few months (I am not exaggerating) for its return. This is IF Smith & Wesson does not decide to re-install another old inventory slide lock spring (they are trying to use old inventory before installing the new slide lock tab).
As it is now, I cannot depend on my "new" Walther PPS 9 mm as a primary concealed carry weapon. It simply may not function as intended.
I gave Mobile Shooting Center $759.98 for my gun ($649.00+48.68 tax), three boxes of 9 mm ammo, and a 9mm cleaning kit. I intended to purchase a new Glock 17, 19, or 22 for home (not CCW) this week (1-9-12) from them, as well as future guns, ammo, and accessories. I will be purchasing elsewhere from now on and intend to tell as many potential customers my experience with Mobile Shooting Center. I should have done more extensive research but I failed. It cost me time and money, but I hope my experience will help educate others so they can make wise gun purchases. Sorry for the ridiculously long, detailed rant! And thanks for reading!
P.S. I am selling my PPS at a local gun show and have decided a Glock 26 will be my concealed carry weapon...purchased from a reputable online discount gun dealer. :-) read more
