Bill Jackson's Shop For Adventure — Local services in Pinellas Park

Ever since I first discovered Bill Jackson’s after moving to the Tampa Bay area a few years ago, I’ve always enjoyed finding reasons to visit and shop there. I agree with all of the other positive reviews about the neat/quirky ambiance, warm hospitality, wide selection, and the staff’s knowledge of their respective departments. It is certainly possible to save a few dollars by shopping around and especially online... but I’ve always felt that I’ve gotten my money’s worth (and then some) from the positive experiences and customer support associated with shopping in person here.

For those interested in safes and don’t mind some storytime, I’m happy to share my recent, very positive experience with purchasing one there:

My family and I had been contemplating such an investment for months. After much research online, we decided to just go check out the selection of safes that we’d typically see on display towards the front of the store and to learn more about them in person. One of the employees noticed our interest and directed us to the entire separate room of safes on the other side of the pool, which I honestly didn’t realize had become additional retail space sometime in the last few years. There, we met Doug (one of the owners and one of Bill Jackson’s sons) and Wiley (one of the shop’s cats). Doug even introduced Wiley to my daughter who was thrilled by the experience too, as shown in the attached photo.

Anyway, Doug took the time to find out what we were looking for in a safe, thoroughly explained things to consider when purchasing one, then showed us several different options. We really liked a specific model and color but didn’t commit to it at the time, mainly because we were anticipating remodeling the room the future safe would eventually go in and wanted to ensure that everything went as planned with it first. We happily accepted Doug’s business card and his offer to contact him with any questions in case we were still interested. As we gradually progressed with the remodel, I did end up periodically calling the shop and asking to speak to Doug for some questions on how to optimize the space for the prospective safe, all of which he helpfully answered.

Months later, after the remodel and some other projects were completed, we returned to check out the safe one more time and to hopefully purchase it. (Thankfully, the one we were most interested in was still available... and at the same price as before, despite the dramatic increases in safe pricing nationwide!) Doug readily remembered us and our situation, then assisted us with completing the purchase. He was even able to schedule us for delivery/installation a mere two days later, which he personally performed himself at our home.

I feel that he went above-and-beyond to ensure that the safe was perfectly transported, unloaded, positioned, balanced, bolted to our floor, and ultimately set up to our satisfaction. His attention to detail did not go unnoticed by us, and it is very obvious that he takes great pride in his work. Still, he was also fun to chat with and it was neat to get to know a little more about him, his family, and the business while he completed the job.

All in all, I would even go so far as to say that I felt like Doug treated us as if we were family and not just customers throughout the whole shopping, delivery, and installation process. Perhaps I’m just a cynical millennial who has become all too accustomed to contemporary, impersonal, and often mediocre shopping and service... but regardless, I can attest that Doug and the other folks at Bill Jackson’s are doing so much right with their “old-fashioned” way of doing business and excellent...

Interesting store with a good selection and some fair prices. However, my firearm purchase was frustrating. I was initially told that my LEOSA credential did not count as a concealed carry permit, meaning I had to make an unnecessary 1-hour, 20-minute (one way) trip back in three days to comply with Florida's silly waiting period. When I returned, I was then told that it actually did count, meaning the wait was unnecessary. Given that this is their area of expertise, I would have expected more accuracy regarding the legal requirements. Upon inspecting the firearm at home, I found rust, a crooked front sight, and a severely bent rear sight, which now requires me to go through the lengthy warranty process. I would have expected better quality control, as they are being paid to ensure they sell firearms in proper condition. The gun also had a loose handguard, which staff tightened at time of purchase and was loose again on pickup. This gun has been used essentially as a demo for some time, and it shows. I should have spoken up and asked for a different one, but I also would have appreciated it if they had proactively offered an alternative. As I was unaware they even had another until halfway through the 4473. Additionally, I was told the firearm would come with a specific magazine, only to be informed later that it wouldn’t. Overall, while nothing was outright egregious, these small issues added up to a frustrating experience. If you're looking to purchase a firearm, I’d recommend checking Gunbroker.com instead—it's typically cheaper, has better availability, and there’s a wide range of reputable sellers. While I doubt Bill Jackson’s offers $20 4473 transfers, there are plenty of other dealers around that will (Gunbroker has a...

It doesn’t get any better than Bill Jackson’s! Seriously, if they don’t have what you want, just ask. If they still can’t get it, you don’t need it from somewhere else because the customer service will not compare!

My particular rave is about the scuba section, (but everyone at this store is extremely friendly and eager to help). I don’t want to be too long winded, but here it goes anyway:

I bought my initial gear from them and scheduled an open water diver certification through them. I had to cancel the class and get my deposit back because i found something that was a little sooner on the calendar… “No problem sir, we hope to see you again.” Said Tiffany, with a smile. PSA: just take the class there. They know what they’re doing and the price can’t be beat. In fact, they’ve beaten amazons price on gear a couple times already.

They have seen me since then… over and over, buying gear and asking soooo many questions. We now all know each other by name. Ryan and Tiffany have handled warranty issues and helping with some advice that my (non Bill Jackson’s) instructor may not have gone over enough with me. Samantha, Gwen, and Jackson have all been a very crucial part of me finding the gear, fit, and answers I need. Samantha is great with nitrox tanks (don’t tell her i said that). Jackson is young and already has a good amount of experience and is more competent than the “older guys” at other (local) dive shops/service centers (my friend and I found out the hard way).

This place knows how to hire ‘em. They have a...