Shooter's Choice — Local services in Cheswold

1/11/16 Review Update: After my experience the other day with an employee at Shooter's Choice, I called the manager, Mike, on Monday. I explained what had happened over the weekend. He was truly apologetic and asked what he could do to make things better and win back our business. We discussed a few things I thought would help improve customer service. He agreed with the suggestions. He spoke to the employee and stated that the owner would also talk with them, and make customer service a priority. He offered several things to encourage our business, which we appreciated, that was not our goal. We went back to the store, renewed our membership. I have been in a couple of times since and they were very positive experiences. If someone has had a negative experience, I would suggest talking to the manager or owner. They are very interested and serious about improving the customer service and the experience of shooting. I was glad I spoke to the manager and not just write a review and let it go. I've changed my review from a 1 star review to a 4 star and may even go to 5, depending on how things continue.

I went to Shooter's Choice yesterday. I was interested in a membership, so I could start shooting again and teach my mom how to shot. My significant other was with me at the time. Please allow me to deviate for a second, I've been shooting for several years, and started at Shooter's Choice. The staff were friendly and always very helpful. We took our conceal class there and never had any trouble getting a family membership. I loved shooting on Thursday evenings, it's the best. SO we went in yesterday to get a family membership my significant other is over 65. Initially the sales person was helpful, not overly friendly, but it was busy, OK. My S.O. ask for a senior membership and the addition of a family member. This is were went south. He signed my S.O. up for the Senior membership and then asked to see my license so he could put me in the computer, we are not married but have been together 18 years and for all practical purposes, live together. The guy then, rudely said, "oh you have a different last name, are you two married" we told him no we were partners and he rudely said we couldn't do a family membership. You have to be married. He asked if we wanted to continue and do separate memberships, my S.O. said not right now. I which point he deleted the transaction, handed him the slip and quit speaking to us. My S.O. said sorry it didn't work out and he was totally ignored. If I can find another indoor shooting range to teach my mom how to shoot, I'll go there. From now on, I'll travel to PA. and use the shooting range up there. Oh by the way, I've purchased over 7 handguns from this store and today was the first time I walked out...

The employees are rude and disrespectful, the range is NOT well-maintained, and they obviously don't care about safety if they are letting individuals under the influence use the range! Will not be going back!

My boyfriend and I visited Shooter's Choice yesterday and will not be back again! We haven't been there in probably over a year and thought we would try it again since we live in Middletown and our usual place, Target Master, is a bit of a drive. We walk in, two guys open our case to inspect the guns. Then one of them throws a magnet on a box of ammo and they just stare at us... After they look at us like we are idiots for about 10 seconds, they tell us we can't shoot steel bullets there. We didn't know this, obviously. Where we normally go, you can't shoot aluminum bullets but you can shoot these at Shooter's Choice. So you'd better call and make sure the bullets you bring are the right kind. So they take 3 boxes of our ammo and tell them we will get them back when we are done. (We had to ask for them when we finished, otherwise they either would have let us forget about them or they forgot about them..) So we go into the range, which is freezing because it's March and apparently they are too cheap to heat the range. The target holder they give you only clips the top of your target. So the whole time we are shooting, there were gusts of air coming in from the ceiling and blowing the target back.

When we finished and were paying the guy says "Aah, you shot my target holder!" and starts circling the new bullet holes in it with a red pen. There were already a bunch of bullet holes circled in red when we got the holder, so I ask the guy why he is doing that? His response is, "if you shoot the target holder, then I can charge you for it". So they give you a used target holder that's already shot up and because you add new bullet holes to it, they charge you for a used holder! At Target Master, each time you go, you get a NEW large cardboard cut out that you tape the target too AND it doesn't blow all over the place while you're shooting!

And lastly, while we were finishing paying, two guys came in wanting to shoot in one of the lanes and was talking to one of the employees about the guns he bought there. They wreaked of weed! Not one of the employees said to them they couldn't shoot high. And you can't say maybe they didn't know that smell because anyone who has gone to high school knows what that smell is!

The employees are rude and disrespectful, the range is NOT well-maintained, and they obviously don't care about safety if they are letting individuals under the influence use the range! Will not...

Have been patronizing this business for over ten years as they are my local gun store and range. My biggest gripe is the lack of customer service/ service recovery skills. Your customers are your bread and butter, they should be treated with respect and courtesy. There have been several occasions when I’ve been in the store (either for a firearm or accessories) and had simple questions that were answered with short/ rude responses. There was one occasion in particular when a man and his daughter were next to me trying to inquire about their first firearm purchase. Their goal was home defense as well as something they could plink with, they were particularly interested in an AR-15 platform. The sales associate was approached by them and he did little in the way of explaining the different firearms that could meet their needs let alone going through the basics of the AR-15 they were interested in. They were new to guns but interested and eager to learn. I took some time myself to explain the functions of the AR and other platforms that might suit their needs. They were appreciative but verbalized how put-off they were by the atmosphere of the store and the lack of customer service they received. I’ve had less than stellar experiences in the store before this, but this took the cake. Also it’s 2018, everyone has and uses cell phones for a wide variety of purposes such as checking prices of products on the internet. You might consider changing this policy as it seems to be a bone of contention for a lot of your patrons. Everyone in Dover knows what the inside of the store looks like and if they wanted to take pictures without your knowledge, they could with no problem. Instead of refusing to enter the 21st century, you might consider using your customer’s cell phone usage to your advantage to bring in more business. Oh and one more thing, the rule on steel ammo seems a bit pointless. I could understand not wanting someone to use a high powered rifle with a steel core due to damaging your steel backing plates but 9mm, 223.... come on, that will barely scratch a hardened steel plate. If your goal is to get people to buy ammo from you, then get competitive with the prices and buy in serious bulk. Step your game up. Sooner or later you will have a competitor that will sweep away all your business if you...