Vance Outdoors — Attraction in Clinton Township

A few days ago, I left the below review for Vance’s on Cleveland Avenue. Since then, Taylor, their Firearms Lead, directly reached-out to me via email. Taylor essentially asked if they could be given a second chance. Today, I happily obliged. My above “stars” and subsequent review are thus now amended.

My visit to Vance’s today was quick and painless. Taylor understood my plight, and a new tripod is being shipped to my house, free of charge. This is how things should have originally been handled with a defective product sold under the banner of Vance’s.

Thank you, Taylor, for being a man of integrity and understanding. Your customer service vastly made up for what I experienced earlier at the Cleveland Avenue location of Vance’s. Here’s to your presence, influence, and leadership continuing to grow at this location.

With respect, Tyler

EARLIER REVIEW: Just got home from Vance’s on Cleveland Avenue. Never again will I shop this location.

Charles was my assistant manager, who told me he would “take care of” me with the issue I had with one of their products - a Vanguard tripod. Days earlier, I spent well over $1,250 on a new firearm, sight, ammo, and the Vanguard tripod. While hunting just this past Thursday, I had the Vanguard on my pack. While I didn’t need it while in the stand, I took it with me just in case. After the hunt, I went to put my bag in the truck, and the tripod head was missing. My buddies and I then took an hour to search for the missing head, to no avail. Apparently the head either wasn’t attached correctly when manufactured, or it was loose with a faulty screw thread where the tripod head attaches to the rest of the tripod. My buddies told me I should drive from the far west side of Columbus to the Cleveland Avenue location of Vance’s and show them what happened, and they were sure the guys there would treat me right. This did not happen.

At Vance’s this evening, the head manager refused to even come to the front and talk with me, after Charles went back twice on my behalf to tell him my situation. Instead of allowing a return of a clearly defective product which was stocked and sold under their roof, I was told I should take the issue up with Vanguard. Instead of helping with a simple issue, they chose to make it harder on a customer who is not their typical clientele at that location.

Rest assured that I will never shop at Vance’s again after this experience, after wasting my time of a one-hour drive, and wasting gas, after this experience. The head manager there apparently enjoys propagating poor customer service to people who spend their time and high dollar amounts, over a simple $80 tripod issue that most definitely should have been returned/exchanged. You, Mr. Manager, should be ashamed of yourself for so poorly representing the company.

Tonight, it was proven to me why other outfitters in the area such as Blackwing are FAR SUPERIOR to a low-cost, low-service gig like Vance’s.

You’ve lost a well-paying customer for life, over such a small and...

Update- DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

Website says walk-ins ok except for firearms. Thats a lie. Online inventory inaccurate. If you order online you must pay,, make a reservation to pick-up, then be told that was out of stock but you get a refund in 5 to 7 days. Why waste your time on anything that doesn't require a ffl transfer ( and then your probably going to get better service elsewhere too ) because there's no guarantee your going to get it AND your money is tied up for a week just to find out you have to go elsewhere. And guess what, the items I was after are still listed on the website as available as I sit here in the parking lot with my credit receipt which should be back in my account in a week. Sad. Very sad. Used to be so over the top. Even with the current situation this is just plain unacceptable. This is why Amazon is thriving and brick and mortar is dying. Cheaper than dirt at least is honest when saying if something is in stock and available when overcharging me. Think I'm finally done.

What a shame. This place used to be great. Unfortunately they can't keep up with technology. Went to buy 4 different kinds of ammo and three different magazines. NONE of the ammo and one of the magazines were in stock. However I was told order online and this won't happen - WRONG. I've done that twice only to wait with an appointment 2 1/2 hours while walk-ins were filtered in ahead of me just to be told I'd be issued a refund because, you guessed it , my items were out of stock. By the time someone figures out a IT professional needs to be hired it my be to late. I will suggest people buy ammo and supplies online, and firearms bought online and shipped to FFLs such as AimHi, LEPD, Buckeye Armory ( yes its small but good ) or about anyone else that cares about customer service. If you want to know why brick and mortar is losing to the internet, just visit this formerly fine store. Its not covid or protesting thats beating them. Its their rush to grab a buck before they even know what they're doing. The salespeople are nonexistent, they can only hand you a pre-ordered stack of stuff. No time for anything else. Well at least I saved nearly $300 for now. And I will only have to open the door to...

I had a great experience at both Vance Outdoors locations. I was worried about the crowd after reading reviews -- reports of long waits and a shady neighborhood. I came by after work on Friday 9/9/2016 and had no problems whatsoever. I had assumed wearing my "business attire" would leave me feeling uncomfortable in comparison to the other reported customers, but there were really people of all kinds in there and no one would feel alienated in the least. I was lucky and received help from Adam. He was beyond knowledgeable in all aspects of the process while looking at concealed carry guns and the accessories that come along with it. He went behind the counter to grab things for me, came out to the sales floor to show me things, and answered every single dumb question I had. I stopped by their shooting range the next day, figured out which one was best for me, and went straight back to the Cleveland Ave. location to make my purchase off of the information he gave me and what I shot afterwards. Scott took me through the purchasing process and was a great guy as well. Adam was even there, remembered me, and checked in on me a couple times while I was there to make sure everything was going well and offered to answer any additional questions I had though he also gave Scott all the credit in the world for being knowledgeable as well. It was an amazing experience and the atmosphere was just fine. Their prices and specials are the best around too. There is a special going on through the month that for less than the price of the gun only at other places, you received an extra mag, fifty HP bullets, and a small key-lock "safe" I will be keeping in the car. This review is so long it's becoming a novel, but that's good enough. Excuse any typos and grammar mistakes -- I'm off to the range with the free 1 hour pass to their shooting range...