Tomball Pawn & Jewelry — Attraction in Tomball

Well I walked into Tomball Pawn and purchased a Ruger GP100 and had a very smooth experience. No complaints for my initial purchase! I then proceeded to Email them the following week inquiring about the Ruger LCP in which I received no response at all! Three weeks later I renegotiated my decision and went with the Ruger SR9 compact, Great pistol by the way! This is the bad experience, I bought it brand new and noticed that the 17rd. extended magazine was not together with the box. I then questioned if they had it which they did not. I was told that they would order it for me since it is supposed to come with the pistol and by the end of my transaction (ALL SALES ARE FINAL AT THIS POINT) I asked for a receipt for the 17rd. extended magazine so they have reference that they owe me this part and was told I would get a receipt when I came back in to pay for it. Miss-communication? maybe...All in all, I like the shop and many people mention them for purchasing firearms, BUT this transaction left a bad feeling.

The next day, after my buddy saw my new SR9c, we took a ride over to purchase a black one they had (I had already bought the stainless) and they stated they had already sold it. I then asked about the 17rd. clip they were supposed to inquire about price for, and they said "We said we would call you on Monday" To make a long story short, THEY LIED!!! All around took me for an idiot and basically ripped me off. I am not upset about having to pay extra for the magazine and adapter, however just really read the body language of the guy who decided it would be OK to rip a GREAT customer off and also wouldn't make eye contact with me. Really a pathetic attempt to make an extra couple of bucks. If I really wanted to push the issue I could have spoken with the owner and tried to clarify matters but arguing in a gun store where some of the personnel are holding a barely concealed pistol in their pants pocket wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend my day. For this reason, I took my friend over to Academy right across the road and gave him the extra 10 bucks to buy the SR9 at Academy, (since they claimed the compact wasn't in stock anymore and all they had was the full size at Tomball Pawn). Not only did they lose a 440.00 purchase but I was also going to buy the Smith and Wesson M&P 15 .22 (520.00) which I am now going to purchase at Academy. So, inevitably, just handing me the 40 dollar difference for the extended rd. magazine, cost them about 1000.00 bucks in revenue for the day! GREAT JOB TOMBALL PAWN...Go back and take a course in business! Lesson number one! The customer is always right, and in this case, I was, as it states in the dag on owner's manual that it comes with a 17rd. extended clip!

Conclusion: I would probably stop back in to make a purchase in the distant future, BUT I would definitely check everything out before I pull out my payment method! And I will never show those kids behind the counter any respect for handgun knowledge again, as it is obvious they only know a little about the market and cannot contest to my only 3+ months of studying and learning about handguns. I'll admit I am very studious when it comes to anything and would never walk into any new hobby blind, but 3 months of reading and checking reviews and such and I'm supposed to be the rookie and I knew more about logistics, model numbers, recalls and equipment facts than they did!

They will get one star for inventory and another star for the fact that once I get over the fact that they pulled a fast one, I can see myself heading back in to make another purchase. My only advice would be to just do your own homework and DO NOT ask for their opinion, as they're knowledge of the trade is awful, make sure you are getting what you are supposed to get and you should have a...

I went in several times and they didn't have too much attitude about me being a "looky-lou". I looked at a used spotting scope that I decided against. I looked at some ACOGs, but decided against them. They did have a Tavor in stock, which is a bit rare. I already bought one online and paid $25 for my customer to do a FFL transfer, but it was interesting to see that they had one too. They were about $200 cheaper on the Tavor than another shop. Then I was convinced I wanted a Daniel Defense M4V5. They had the V5. I held it on two different occasions. I mentioned I didn't think I wanted the V7. Turned out they had the V7 too. When I got to hold both at the same time, I went with the V7. I could have saved a net $100 by buying online and using my customer's FFL, but when I thought about the mistake I would have made if not for Tomball Pawn having these in stock, I figured that was worth $100 "consulting fee" and bought it from them. I think the guy's name was Ryan that helped me. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. If you get attitude in there, it might just be your particular guy. If they don't answer the phone, it might be because they're busy helping someone else. I own a business and it's hard sometimes when you're dead for an hour and then you get a call, call waiting, and two customers at the register at the same time. Cut them a little slack on that. As for the high FFL transfer fee, I can say that 1) they'd rather you buy from them than make a few bucks on doing paperwork so that's rational, and 2) if you don't like it, there are MANY places still doing $25 FFL transfers. But if they give you service and help you with a decision, please respect that and either tip them for the consultation or pay the extra few bucks and buy it from them. Don't be "that guy" that spends an hour using their expertise and then punks them by buying from some stranger online selling from their apartment in some pinko state like NY. And as for "discounts", realize that they don't make a whole lot on guns. I have access to wholesale price lists and I can tell you that even on a $1800 Tavor, they only have about 15% markup. And if you pay with a credit card that costs them 3%, they're down to about 12% net markup to pay rent, employees, etc. On shotguns, Academy sell some near wholesale cost (and shotgun ammo below cost) while Bass Pro is about $100 over cost. Point is, they're not even making a day's wage for a single employee on some $400 gun. And you want a discount? Maybe your employer should say "if I pay you cash, will you take less?" Will Academy give you a discount if you pay cash? No? Then why would you expect TPJ to? As for trade in value, realize that they have no reason to buy your used Kimber for more than they offered. By your own admission, it was used. If wholesale on the gun is $700-$800 or whatever it might be, why would they give you new prices on a used gun? Maybe they don't have a fast market in higher end used handguns? And if you could sell it for more privately, then do so. List it on gunbroker or go to MHS to sell on consignment...

Well, went in with the girlfriend to look at some guns. They started off helpful, and the woman behind the counter was nice and made us feel welcome which is why its even 2 stars. The macho men in there should take some customer service tips from her.

I asked one of the guys there to see a handgun and I was asked if it was for me or my girlfriend... I simply said for myself and asked why? His response was "because I need to know" in a rude smug way with no further explanation. in all fairness she does look underage, but we are both 25 and if it was for her I certainly wouldn't be the one handling it.

Then we both seemed to be getting eyeballed by the other two gentlemen there. It was really odd to say the least. We were polite and cordial as we left but we left with a bad taste in our mouth.

In response to owner:

Jeff, Thank you for replying, but you must have not read my entire post thoroughly or cannot comprehend what I was saying... the 2 stars has nothing to do with verifying our age.

your employee did not I.D either of us to ensure we were 21 for that matter but instead gave no explanation as to why he was asking if it was for me or her. If age was the issue, he could have said so, and we would've gladly showed him both our ID's showing we were well over 21.

instead when I asked "why" he said "because I need to know" (rudely) and nothing more. The 2 stars is due to the blatent rudeness and uncomfortable feeling we both were given by the employees and possibly you included.

Do not misconstrue my post into something it is not. It is not 2 stars because he verified our age (because he did not) it is due to being made uncomfortable as a...