Bottom line ....its a matter of personal preference. If you dont like it go elsewhere. There are plenty of other places out there that are reputable and will treat you like you should be treated. Dont let anybody try to convice you to go someplace you didnt feel welcomed. Try another place. Where are you located?

My experience was also similar. No acknowledgement of me entering the store, blank stare, etc.

 

I think the place is OK if you know exactly what you want and they have it in store.

I would not call it novice-friendly.

also mixed experiences there..and their prices are usually high, but fair

I walked in to pick up a gun some time ago  and the fellow at the counter didn't even look up from his newspaper-all he said was "NICS taking ten days" and went back to his reading

however-they are almost always well stocked with a good selection and they actually respond to emails- a big plus

I think one of the problems that gun store owners may not often realize is that here in NJ buying a handgun is a 2x or maybe 3x a year experience-after enduring incredible hassles and waiting-and we walk into the store filled with excitement-however-for them we are just another customer in a long day

also mixed experiences there..and their prices are usually high, but fair

I walked in to pick up a gun some time ago  and the fellow at the counter didn't even look up from his newspaper-all he said was "NICS taking ten days" and went back to his reading

however-they are almost always well stocked with a good selection and they actually respond to emails- a big plus

I think one of the problems that gun store owners may not often realize is that here in NJ buying a handgun is a 2x or maybe 3x a year experience-after enduring incredible hassles and waiting-and we walk into the store filled with excitement-however-for them we are just another customer in a long day

2 or 3 times a year only. I would go mad

+1 for Lou's Gun Shop in Raritan NJ.  Great service and a no nonsense approach from Chris and Marshall.  Excellent selection and fair pricing.  Check them out on 91 W. Somerset St.  

2 or 3 times a year only. I would go mad

replace the word year with week for BLF

replace the word year with week for BLF

lol..those days are coming to an end soon. Twins will require a resdistibution of income

lol..those days are coming to an end soon. Twins will require a resdistibution of income

got ya Joe. I know the feeling ..i have twins and a 6yr old..and I am trying to slowly work in some firearms purchasing..best of luck pal

lol..those days are coming to an end soon. Twins will require a resdistibution of income

 

Yeah, you'll have to buy two of everything now...

I think I'll actually take you up on that. I make it a point to support local gun shops and Lou's is right by my job.

FWIW, I've never had a bad experience at any New Jersey gun shop/ffl that I've dealt with (Ramsey Outdoors, Meltzers, Efinger, OMG Customs [great place btw], Bullet Hole, Shore Shot, Lincoln Park True Value, etc), despite all the horror stories that you hear. In fact, bullet hole is my go to range and I stop in at Efinger all the time just check out their stock and talk guns with the older guys who work there.

So I just stopped in to Lou's on my lunch break.

I dealt with Chris, who showed me the guns I was looking for and explained a bunch of stuff about them. He also pulled out some other comparable guns so I could get a feel for the differences.

While we were talking, he asked if I had anything against 1911s (I don't, but never shot one). He offered to show me some of theirs and again was very knowledgeable and informative.

And all this after I told him that I don't have any P2Ps at the moment.

 

Also, pretty good inventory.

 

Overall a great experience. I wouldn't hesitate to go back and give them my business.

So I just stopped in to Lou's on my lunch break.

I dealt with Chris, who showed me the guns I was looking for and explained a bunch of stuff about them. He also pulled out some other comparable guns so I could get a feel for the differences.

While we were talking, he asked if I had anything against 1911s (I don't, but never shot one). He offered to show me some of theirs and again was very knowledgeable and informative.

And all this after I told him that I don't have any P2Ps at the moment.

 

Also, pretty good inventory.

 

Overall a great experience. I wouldn't hesitate to go back and give them my business.

Thanks for the heads up lol. What made you stop in?

Thanks for the heads up lol. What made you stop in?

I was going to the quick chek across the street and just decided to head in.

Wow Have to stop in now to see the show for myself !!! In the market for a High end shotgun would like to see what they Know?

Lou's is great. I have worked with Chris, Marshall and the owner. They enjoy what they do, know firearms and will go the extra mile.Their Inventory and prices are very good.  They are willing to special order and help you build a firearm that is right for you. For example, I I rarely use a bolt action rifle but they helped me put together a great set up and saved me a bunch of cash because of their kmowledgeable recommendations. They even took the time to bore sight my rifle after putting the scope and rings on it. I keep going back and they always earn my repeat business.

 

While at Lou's I see them treat customers with respect even if you are still early in the buying process and buying an inexpensive item.  The store gets busy and sometimes you need to be patient...it is  worth the wait. I highly recommend them. 

That's a typical experience for any gun store for me. Really any type of store now a days.

 

 

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Mach16lt, on 15 Jun 2013 - 5:00 PM, said:

Had one of the weirdest buying experiences this past week or so with Lou's Firearm's in Raritan.

 

Firstly, I'd like to start by saying that my experience may not be the same as everyone's, so please just take this with grain of salt. From the information that I was able to find about this shop, they had great reviews, especially for "novice" shooters. That combined with a large 1911 selection and proximity to home is why I chose to check out the shop.

 

That being said, I had a very odd experience from the moment I walked in the door.

 

When I walked into the shop for the first time, I wasnt greeted or even aknowledged by any of the 3 employes behind the counters... Granted, I guess I walked in during their lunch, because all of them had food spread out on their counters. So I stood in the middle of the store with these three guys just staring at me for a few awkward seconds, and introduced myself as someone who had called earlier interested in checking out their slection of 1911's.

 

At this point, one of the guys behind the counter just stared at me a few seconds more and then told me, rather dismissively, that what I was looking for was in the room I had already passed through.

 

By this point, I was already feeling pretty unwelcomed, so I thought I would just look at some guns through the glass and leave. However, one of the other associates, Chris, was kind enough to come over and really help me understand the different models and price ranges they had. He was great. He must have taken almost a dozen guns in and out of the case to let me take a look.

 

After about 20 mintues of talking, I felt confident that the model I wanted to buy was the Kimber TLE custom II. Again, Chris was great, absolutely no pressure in trying to close the deal, but I probably wouldnt of minded if he did. It was just weird that I had to ask all the questions. So I filled out my paperwork, bought some accessories and left knowing it would be about a week until my NICs came through.

 

A week later I called to check on my purchase. And after I had pleasantly greeted whoever it was on the phone, I expalined when I had purchased the gun, and why I was calling... I was met with about a 5 second pause... And after that, a pretty disdainful "So are you gonna give me a name?". I obliged, he said "It's in" and then I heard a rather abrupt "click"...

 

So the thing that bothers me most about this whole experience is when I went to go pick the gun up...

 

When I entered the store, I was met with the same exact blank stare from 3 guys behind the different counters. No greeting.. No aknowledgement... When I spoke to one of the guys behind the counter and told him I was there to pickup my firearm, he responded rather gruffly with "Name..." (I'm assuming this is who I spoke to on the phone)

 

He checked the list, found my box, handed it to me, and turned away to continue doing whatever it was he was doing before I had interupted him. And I walked out.

 

Now I understand some places have their regulars... and I really appreciate it when I find a business that I can frequent... But I dont know how this place expects people to become loyal customer to their store, when buying a $1200 peice of hardware doesnt even earn you a "Good afternoon" or a "Hey there, how can I help" when I come in to pick it up. There were other people who they seemed familiar with when they walked in, and they greeted them just fine. Me? I guess I pissed in somebody's cheerios.

 

Ultimately, I'm happy with the product I bought and the price I paid for it. But that wont convince me to come back to Lou's.

 

 

 

I've experienced this before, not in gun shops but in other retail areas.   I just walk right out and never go back.

 

I live in Bridgewater and have been thinking of popping in and seeing what they are all about, maybe I wont.  I don't have the disposition to be treated like crap.

I had a similar experience when i went there a couple years back to buy some parts for my AR build i was doing at the time. Nothing but blank "what do you want"stares. I ended up leaving and headed over to Bullseye in Woodbridge.

I had a similar experience when i went there a couple years back to buy some parts for my AR build i was doing at the time. Nothing but blank "what do you want"stares. I ended up leaving and headed over to Bullseye in Woodbridge.

Quite some distance from Raritan to Woodbridge.  What`s Bullseye. I ve never heard of them.

I've been to lou's twice. First time I didn't even know it was there but saw it when I was making a local delivery so I popped in. I had no intention on buying anything but I struck up a conversation and left with good impressions. Second time I was with my girlfriend and looking for a specific ar part which they happened to be sold out of at the time. I figured we could browse while he looked up if he could get the part for me. The man behind the counter noticed my girlfriend eyeing up a purple sig compact they had and even after she told him she doesn't have her fpid yet continued to show her the gun and how it worked. We both left again without buying anything but I wouldn't hesitate to give them my business

 

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Quite some distance from Raritan to Woodbridge.  What`s Bullseye. I ve never heard of them.

http://njgunforums.com/forum/index.php/forum/134-bullseye-tactical-supply/