Marksman Indoor Range — Local services in Puyallup

I've been going to the Marksman for over 10 years (out of convenience), and I'm sad to say it has been going downhill for a while. As other reviewers have said, it is overpriced, the selection is small, and the service is horrendous. I highly recommend Mary's Pistols or Welcher's Gun Shop if you're shopping for pistols, as they are better on all accounts, except lacking a range.

The service is the biggest deal breaker. I have endured and witnessed them being rude and sarcastic, and have even seem them shouting at customers more than once. They have said things like "Don't you wish you could afford this?", and while price checking (to see how much they are gouging, yet again), I was told "Daydreaming again?". I've made it a point to ignore their snarky comments because I still utilize the range, but service like that is unacceptable.

Apart from that, they make everything a hassle, and for the most routine of processes I end up spending lots of time playing their games. For example, after handing over the range card they issued that I had been using routinely for a while, they decided it wasn't appropriately formatted, and made me get a new one. I had to take the time to answer their questions, hand over my ID, and wait for them to come up with a new one.

Yet another time, there was a payment issue on their end, and the employee got confrontational with me; he then proceeded to deny me service and left the register in irritation. I had to wait for the manager to come rectify the situation (which he did just fine, thankfully) while the other employee stood beside scowling and giving me dirty looks.

Nepotism is the only thing that gets good service from them. For the right people, the employees turn into complete suck-ups, and will ignore everyone else (including customers they were already serving) to show partiality to some people. I've been a long time patron and I don't get this treatment, so I don't know how much money one would have to spend to get this kind of service, but judging by the other reviews it costs more than it's worth.

I would not recommend this shop to any buyer, especially a new or first time owner; there are far better options with helpful service, better selection, and better prices, like Mary's or Welcher's. The indoor range is nice, but you still have to suffer the service and play their games to use it; I recommend it only to seasoned shooters with lots of patience, at...

This place has some of the worst customer service I have ever experienced. I inherited three firearms from a family member and had them transferred in from a different state. When I first asked about the transfer process I was basically only given a price, no specific about the process. When I was ready to begin the transfer, an employee just gave me some forms, wrote the price on them, and told me to go home and fill them out on my own. When I returned the next day, the same employee accused me of writing the price on the forms!! He claimed it wasn't his hand writing and he would not have written the price on the forms. Yeah right, I told him I stood there the day before and watched him do it. So, finally had the guns in transit, and upon arrival I received no notification. I had to find out from UPS that they had been delivered on a Friday, before noon. I called Friday evening and the employee on the phone couldn't even be bothered to check if they had actually arrived. He then proceeded to tell me that they never go into a weekend without processing received firearms, so I should get a call that evening. No one ever called me. I went in on Friday night and an employee verified they had been received, but then told me the lady who does the processing had gone home and that I should get a call the next day. Again, no one called me. I waited all Saturday and all Sunday (mind you they are open seven days a week) and still no call. Then I went in again on Monday and the employees acted like I was burdening them by asking about MY guns. Another employee then told me they don't have "office" staff on the weekends so no one had "processed" my guns. And a side note about the "processing," I asked three different employees what this "processing" involved, and all three said they had no idea what they do "upstairs." What kind of place are these people running?? I would highly suggest going somewhere else for any firearm needs. This place treats you like a piece of $h1t unless you're...

As far as Pierce County gun shops go, the Marksman is the proverbial diamond in the rough. Tucked behind a strip mall, the shop can look a bit unassuming from the outside. but once you walk in, it's evident the owner prides himself on a wide selection of pistols, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, cleaning supplies, holsters, and other accessories. Despite the current environment that has affected stores and suppliers nationwide, the Marksman tries to maintain a good amount of product.

I've been a customer there for years, and I honestly have to say the current sales staff is the best it's ever been. They know and greet me by name, and I reciprocate in kind. They have always been very friendly to me and are attentive to my needs, even if they know I'm there to just "kick the tires." When I do buy, they are quick and efficient with the paperwork and NICS check, and personally thank me for my business. Anyone who has been in there during the weekend understands how popular the range is, and when you're one of two indoor ranges in Pierce County, waiting is par for the course. As for the comments about them not answering the phone, their attention is paid to the customer in their store since that's where the sale is made. I've seen them answer the phones when they can, but anyone who has been in there (or any gun shop as of late) can vouch for how insane it can get. With a full staff attending to as many customers as they can, the phone has to take a backseat to make in person sales happen.

The range isn't high tech and there's no couch and coffee pot like other places, but it's the staff and selection that makes my visit worth it everytime I pull into the parking lot. Think of the Marksman as the taco bus of gun shops; it may look simple on the outside, but the product and service are what you remember at the end of the day. I will be a customer for many...