Pete123

  BigK, If you'll pm me with what you are looking for and what you do really well I may be able to help.     My customers are tech leaders, so I keep up with the job market for tech leader jobs for when they need a job and techie positions for when they are hiring.  It's an easy way to build relationships and no one has to pay a recruiter fee with me because I'm not a recruiter.

Monkey,   Thanks for sharing about the C&R license - I think I'll get on if they are easy.

Opinions on this thread are all over the board....and....they are all correct.  Companies generally provide service to the extent demanded by the market they serve.   There are folks on this thread who see no issue with S.O.G.'s business practices.  There are enough customers who think it is fine, or are willing to put up with it, that S.O.G. doesn't have to change.   There are other customers, like me, who won't accept it.  The only way I'll purchase from them again is if I can't find an item anywhere else.     The longer I live, the more I see that we all have valuable skills to are a perfect fit for some jobs and the kiss of death for others.   I would not be a very good accountant as I'm not good with numbers and spreadsheets.  On the other hand, I've made a very good living by providing exceptional customer service and support.     Clearly I have a passion for happy customers, thus I'm not willing to accept bad service myself.   A couple of points from the thread.     *It is not a correct statement that S.O.G. can't control email after they hit the send button.  I have personally fixed this for my business. *It is also correct that the 3% charge for using a credit card is what it costs them.   *I certainly have no issue with the order being placed on hold due to my lack of understanding about the law.   It's kind of like, 'It's not what you say, it's how you say it"  I expect to know the good, the bad and the ugly up front.  I expect communication if there is a problem.    It is completely with S.O.G's power to deliver this if they want to.   I don't have the right to expect them to change - only to decide what I'll accept in dealing with them. 

I have a new gun coated in cosmoline.  I'll be happy to share if I ever figure out how to remove it. :pleased:

What if you and some of your colleagues struck out on your own and started an MSP (Managed services provider)?  I think you are in Oak Ridge.  Claris Networks started over in Knoxville and grew to about 200 people before they sold the company.   I have a friend who did this and he gets techie work off website while he builds his business.  Can you install routers?  Comcast doesn't provide managed routers on their fiber product.  You can bet their sales reps have folks like you that can handle router installation and configuration, wireless access point installation, etc...

    This is good input - thanks.

Guys,   I’ve had a bad experience with Ohio Guns and wanted to let you know what I found.  I became very excited about the un-issued SKS guns based on the excitement from TOG.   I went with Ohio Guns (their full name is Southern Ohio Guns) because the price was a little lower and they committed to provide the owners manual, oil can, sling and other things.   So, I placed my order.  I expected it to arrive and it didn’t, so I went and logged into their website and saw that it was on hold due to not having FFL info.  I hadn’t included that because the SKS is a C&R gun, which I thought, incorrectly, that they can ship to your home.   I wasn’t miffed about the hold, but rather the lack of notification.  I called them twice, though the guy who answered the phone transferred me into a black hole before I could get half of a sentence out of my mouth.   So, my FFL folks sent their info.  I log back in and see that the price had gone up.  Thinking it was an error, I made the second of the calls listed above, and called about five minutes before they closed and couldn’t get anyone on the phone.   So, I googled reviews and primarily found bad ones.  By now I was pissed and emailed them to cancel the order.   So, Lisa, their customer service person who really should be providing customer service for the cable company, calls me.  The gun had already shipped.  I decided to keep it based on TGO excitement, but told her that I would never purchase from them again.  She asked why and I explained the things I’ve shared so far.   Lisa, who should be providing customer service for the cable company, went on to explain how everything that upset me was my fault.     It turned out that the price increase was for paying via credit card, though I was never informed about this.  Of course that was my fault because the order wouldn’t have gone through unless I checked that I agreed with the terms and conditions.  So, the reason their price was less is because they publish the cash price, yet don’t post  it where you will see it.   It turned out that they had sent an email that the order was on hold.  Of course, that was my fault because I’m responsible for checking the spam and trash folders to ensure I get their emails.  While the order confirmation emails came to my inbox, the other ones went to spam.  In looking at them, there was a note that they went to spam because Ohio Gun sends out so much spam.     Most likely they don’t send spam.   However, companies that desire repeat customers look into it complaints, such as not getting emails, to find the problem and fix it.  In this case, it would involve them contacting Google to see why their valid business emails are being flagged as spam.    Sadly, companies that blame their customers for not being happy with them would never think to take action to do anything to improve customer experience.   I’m fairly introverted and buy almost everything other than milk, eggs and frozen goods via the Internet. It is very, very rare that I have negative experiences with web commerce companies.  There is simply too much competition for them to thrive with poor customer service.     I’ve been especially pleased with the service from firearms related providers.     So, for whatever it’s worth, you now know my experience.   On the positive side, they shipped everything they said they would.  The gun is coated in cosmoline, so I haven’t done a thorough exam.   As best I can tell, it is a beautiful, unissued SKS.     The gun had a note from their shipping person asking for feedback on anything I wasn't happy with.  They have a 30 day no questions asked returns policy.     This leads me to believe that ownership wants happy customers, yet has delegated customer satisfaction to folks who should be providing customer service for the cable company.    

Thanks Dats82.  I'm not a big recoil fan and what you described is a good idea to reduce that.   Jonathan,  You mentioned moving to the .308.  I'm trying to standardize on 5.56 and .308 for rifles.  I think the 270 may have a flatter trajectory, though I expect the 308 be fine for me.  I just picked up 500 rounds of quality 308 for $300 plus $31 shipping.   On pistols I'm trying to standardize on 9mm and .45

Will you be ok with the trigger on an American?  I tested on and was fine with it.  I read several articles slamming the trigger on the M77.  They went on to say that the American has a better trigger than the M77, though not as good as some others.   I'm really funny about triggers, though as mentioned, I was fine with it.  I read a lot of really positive comments about the Americans.   I could have purchased a left hand (I'm left handed) M77 with a nice walnut stock that was on sale for the same price I paid for the savage.  After reading what people had to say about the trigger and the difficulty of adjusting it I knew I would rather the Savage trigger.   Another thing I think about when buying a gun is whether it's important enough to me to spurge on a really nice one.   One of these days I'll get a bolt action with a gorgeous wood stock.  I just bought one with a wood stock, though at this point I don't have the money or desire to get a really nice one.  

  I figured Weatherby would be too expensive and didn't consider them.  The Vanguard seems to be on a lot of the best of lists.    Heck, you already have a Savage, so why not give the Vanguard a try?

Dolomite,   Thanks for taking time to educate Durvell and the rest of us - great post.

There isn't any way I could imagine the risk of owning an illegal machine gun would pay off.  While I don't personally feel this way, I imagine our legal system treats illegal machine gun ownership as a very serious crime, ensuring jail time and making you un-employable when you get out.   I also like what Dave said about how much it costs to shoot one.  If I could legally buy an AR without paying extra that could switch to three shot bursts I would get it.     I've always said I wanted to shoot a machine gun.  Now, they rent them at Nashville Armory.  I could splurge one day and rent one, yet I just don't find myself interested.

Fine looking gun, great shooting and 6,k rounds of .22 LR.  What's not to love?

I have a pair of poly safety glasses, like the kind kids use in Chemistry class or manufacturing companies ask guests to wear and am able to wear them over my regular glasses.  It isn't perfect, though works pretty well.

Good to know about CTD....I've bought a couple of things from them as I didn't know.  PMAGS at $80 are outrageous.  When H&K VP9 mags were $200 on ebay, I sold an extra I had for what I paid for it, which was $50 or $60, to a TGO member. 

  Hey,  What's a picture of my girlfriend doing in your signature?  :devil:

I'm not able to understand where he is coming from.....he's a little Michael Moorish.     It really bothers me that the American public turned on our soldiers back then.  We all are familiar with returning soldiers being spit on, etc.....   I don't ever remember hearing anyone make negative comments about Vietnam War soldiers.  It's like he sees like some people did during the war, though he was only 5-6 years old when it ends.   I'm sorry, D-Bag of the year award for this guy.

I missed the target and someone needs to do something to make this right!   (The liberal / Obama excuse)

M&P for me.

Best of luck....you are in my thoughts

All I can say is to take the 15 days.  My ex-wife got half of my business.  While I was out busting my chops building the business, she was taking the dog to the chiropractor and hanging out with her boy friend.   The only reason I didn't have to pay alimony on top of half of the business is because of the boy friend.   Take the 15 days Josten, believe me, take the fifteen days.

Well, I got it ordered with a wood stock.  That Mossberg looks sharp with the laminate stock, though I know I'll be happier with this one.   I try to support TGO folks and had placed my order before seeing Hozzie's rifle, though I'm not sure I'm a good enough shot to take advantage of the scope he has on there.   I appreciate everyone's input.

Great input.     That Ruger is sweet, though busts the budget for me.  I'm not sure I can shoot to the potential of the Savage, much less the Ruger.

I love Clod Stomper's humor.  Having been divorced twice and losing half of my last company to the ex, who spent her days taking the dog to the chiropractor and hanging out with her boyfriend while I was busting my chops, I totally get the "life sentence" statement.     I'm in total agreement - take the 15 days!  

I'm going to purchase a bolt action .308.   It will mainly be used for shooting at the range for fun and not for competition.    The most important considerations are a good trigger and accuracy and reasonable pricing.  Based on what I've read in reviews, there is no need to get an expensive rifle as entry level priced ones meet my needs.   The two rifles that are catching my attention most are:   Savage 19700 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP Bolt 308 Win 22" LH Nikon Scope Syn Stk Blk   and the:   Mossberg 27911 Patriot Bolt 308 Win 22" 5+1 Laminate Gray Stk Silver Marinecote   Based on Internet research, the Savage is consistently listed as one of the highest quality bolt actions and has been for years.  I can get a left handed model and I'm left handed.   The Mossberg Patriot is new.  The model I'm looking at comes with a laminate stock which looks nice.  Reviews on this gun are good, though the model hasn't stood the test of time as it came out last year.  This gun isn't available in a left handed model.   Your input would be appreciated.