Greta's Guns, Simi Valley SoCal

[tedster]

I met up with a buyer for my Henry Lever Action rifle. He came up from Long Beach, myself came from Ventura.

A few minutes early I walked into the store around 11:30 am Monday. Plenty of guys behind the counter seemingly busy. At least one was very exicted to open UPS packages. The UPS truck was still at the back side of the store. "Be right with you" says the guy who was elbow deep unpacking packages.

I stepped aside, over to the other flank of the L-shape counter (which btw didn't display much of anything). Nobody worked on this side so I put my rifle case on the counter.
A guy came over with his gold chain hanging out, "how can I help you?" "I have a private party transfer", I replied. He looks flustered. Then asks "do you have somebody coming?" I say "yes, should be here any moment". He walks away.

Next thing I know they guy who was busy unpacking UPS deliveries stands in front of me and tells me: "we can't do rifle PPTs. We don't have space to store them". Now I was flustered. I repeated his statement. He was rude and unapologetic, so I figured he was non-negotiable on the matter.
I confirmed one more time that what I was hearing was correct, he said something about "that's for everybody else" and walked away with a half-azz "I apologize".

Luckily, the buyer was flexible and we completed the transfer at a different location.

I left a 1-star review for the store for the lack of service and rude demeanor. Of course, the owner replied. It's on Yelp, if anybody wants to read it.

I recommend to call before going there for a PPT.

 

[Unbend]

You should add this under the FFL Reviews section https://caguns.net/ffls/

 

[tedster]

That's a possibility. However, I did not intend to write a review for those guys, neither do I have the full scope of their business to make an evaluation that would qualify for review standard.

It's a personal matter to me and a 1-time incident, since I will not visit that store again.
Which is a bummer, I have bought several firearms from Greta's (under the previous owner) over the course of the past 20 years.

It happens to be, in April this year I bought another consignment rifle from them. This also turned into a botched experience.
The price was average but the rifle seemed nice enough. I proceeded with DROS paper work, when I got to the transaction date which should have been that day, sales guy says "no wait" turns over the tag on the gun, we can't DROS it right now because it's on police hold, cannot be release for sale until 7 days out.

Great! I told him that's not going to work because I am not coming back twice.
Guess what he said: " no problem, you just complete and sign all the paper work. We feel in the transaction date on xxx and run the background check.
I followed up via phone on the day they would run the background check, the paper work could not be found, until 3 days later.

I know I should have jumped that moving train before I agreed to the delay. But, by then I was sold on the gun, so I caved.

Greta's used to be a reputable gun store, lots of consignment selection and a good variety of new hand- and long guns.
Not any more. It seems they specialize on tricked out custom builds. The accessory section is well stocked, specially all the "dot" sights that everybody wants on the guns nowadays. Not my cup of tea.

It's a privilege to have an FFL license in CA. To do PPTs is a commonly accepted responsibility for FFLs to fulfill.
If you don't have room to "safely" store a customer rifle (that's their word, not mine) during the mandatory waiting period, you probably should run a gun store.

It's my opinion. I know it won't concern anybody until it happens to them. To get the rude attitude in you face, "go and take a hike with your PPT".

My 2 cents. Take it or leave it.

 

[Yetiultimate]

I had a similar experience at this shop on my last PPT, although it was for a pistol! I guess they haven't fixed their shelving problem, but fortunately there is a more helpful shop about 1 mile west (Baron Tactical)

 

[Unbend]

TBH, it sounds like your experience still warrants that as a review. It doesn't have to cover every aspect of their business, just what you interacted with.
Of course, entirely up to you either way.

 

[PlinkyDinky]

Boo, hiss!

Real classy response from the owner. I note that he hasn't yet uploaded the video to instagram or youtube like he said he would; be interesting if he ever does, but I'm not gonna hold my breath, nor expect it to exonerate him & his staff like he claims it will.

 

[Shellbackitup]

Woof, I read their other most recent review as well, where they released a customer's firearm to a different person. Noted for future PPTs

 

[Shellbackitup]

The owner's responses to bad reviews on Yelp is very telling of the service I would now expect to receive from here when/if something goes wrong. Mistakes happen, but taking accountability is how you keep and win customers.

 

[KingRansom]

I've probably done a couple dozen transactions over a 15 or 20 year period with Greta's and I've never had an issue. Mike and Cody have been two of the most accommodating people that I have ever dealt with. Part of it may be that they absolutely love my dog. Maybe next time go adopt a dog real quick and then do your PPT, should solve all problems

 

[WhatupGod44]

I’ve done two PPTs at Greta’s, the first time was terrible and the second time wasn’t redeeming enough to warrant a return. There just seemed to be a general indifference and poor communication on behalf of the employees. The first time I was just selling a gun, and we were there for well over 2 hours. Half the time was spent with them doing the paperwork, which should never take more than an hour for a single gun PPT.

 

[Gawernator]

I met up with a buyer for my Henry Lever Action rifle. He came up from Long Beach, myself came from Ventura.

A few minutes early I walked into the store around 11:30 am Monday. Plenty of guys behind the counter seemingly busy. At least one was very exicted to open UPS packages. The UPS truck was still at the back side of the store. "Be right with you" says the guy who was elbow deep unpacking packages.

I stepped aside, over to the other flank of the L-shape counter (which btw didn't display much of anything). Nobody worked on this side so I put my rifle case on the counter.
A guy came over with his gold chain hanging out, "how can I help you?" "I have a private party transfer", I replied. He looks flustered. Then asks "do you have somebody coming?" I say "yes, should be here any moment". He walks away.

Next thing I know they guy who was busy unpacking UPS deliveries stands in front of me and tells me: "we can't do rifle PPTs. We don't have space to store them". Now I was flustered. I repeated his statement. He was rude and unapologetic, so I figured he was non-negotiable on the matter.
I confirmed one more time that what I was hearing was correct, he said something about "that's for everybody else" and walked away with a half-azz "I apologize".

Luckily, the buyer was flexible and we completed the transfer at a different location.

I left a 1-star review for the store for the lack of service and rude demeanor. Of course, the owner replied. It's on Yelp, if anybody wants to read it.

I recommend to call before going there for a PPT.

Leave reviews on their google store, some people still use Yelp I guess but these days Google is far more used. They have kind of a lot of 1 star reviews

 

[Spork]

Leave reviews on their google store, some people still use Yelp I guess but these days Google is far more used. They have kind of a lot of 1 star reviews

This, especially if you use google as your search engine these are usually the first results you see. Yelp usually hides their stuff behind a login or app popup so you have to do a little more work to see those, so somebody quickly searching might miss those.

 

[RickD427]

I did a lot of business with Greta's before I fled the state upon retirement. No PPTs, but they were very helpful handling dealer transfers of firearms purchased out of state. They were very knowlegable on the regs and everything went smoothly.

I'm pretty sure that Greta has passed on by now, but she did a pretty good job of keeping the staff in line, even though they kinda treated her like a dog.

 

[kemasa]

I'm pretty sure that Greta has passed on by now, but she did a pretty good job of keeping the staff in line, even though they kinda treated her like a dog.

That is funny, but it seems that you might not know the actual history. Greta, the dog, was named after the business, due it part it seems to have a reason for the name of the shop being Greta's so as to avoid admitting that the name was Greta's because that was the name of the woman who Chris bought the shop from, but he didn't want to admit that.

He also didn't want to admit that when he moved that he didn't own the property, even though he claimed he did. A former customer who was a real estate agent and who didn't like him much decided to look into it and then let others know the truth.

What is interesting is all the stories over the years I have heard about that place. I only went in once, but that is because I was completely ignored. Other customers told me interesting things, as well as the story from a person who had previously worked with Chris, which explained a lot of things. Needless to say, with all that I have heard, I would never go there, except if I could check to records to confirm what I was told, but that would be better for a BATF IOI. As the old line goes, the names change, but the people remain the same.

 

[KingRansom]

While I 100% support Greta's guns and have had nothing but great experiences there and encourage people to still support their business, those of you that are looking for a fantastic FFL that's in and around Ventura county, you may want to consider Camarillo gun store. Awesome people, things get done very quickly, and probably the best selection of pistols and rifles of any LGS

 

[hamdaddy]

Agree with KingRanson. While I have no experience with Greta's(do have a friend that is very pro Greta's) Camarillo Gun Store was great to deal with

 

[Gawernator]

This, especially if you use google as your search engine these are usually the first results you see. Yelp usually hides their stuff behind a login or app popup so you have to do a little more work to see those, so somebody quickly searching might miss those.

Yeah I don't think anyone under 30 still uses Yelp

 

[Spork]

Yeah I don't think anyone under 30 still uses Yelp

To be fair sometimes when there is a small enough business that google won't have a page for, I have to resort to Yelp or the Facebook. But I am also exactly 30 so don't know if that helps prove the point lol.

 

[tedster]

While I 100% support Greta's guns and have had nothing but great experiences there and encourage people to still support their business, those of you that are looking for a fantastic FFL that's in and around Ventura county, you may want to consider Camarillo gun store. Awesome people, things get done very quickly, and probably the best selection of pistols and rifles of any LGS

Camarillo Gun Store is the standard out in Ventura County now. Rightly so. They have expanded dramatically in the past few years and deliver exceptional customer service. Less then 10 days ago I bought a HK P2000 from them, nice condition. I commented: I owe you a sale for all the time you spent on me when I was looking thru your inventory.

At Greta's it seems they are doing a lot of "accessorizing" AR systems. I can imagine lot's of folks are up for that. Not withstanding the fact that ARs remain heavily regulated, limited and restricted. Once an AR, always an AR. No matter how you accessorize it.

Greta's inventory is more than underwhelming. The same AR style rifles on the rack, certainly not too many. Consignment hand- and long guns are just a few and certainly nothing that drives a lot of interest. Then, there is this rack in middle of the room, with old, old junk rifles. That rack's been there already 20 years ago. Rifles are so old, they have missing parts or may potentially even be unsafe to shoot.

The guy could have just replied with a sincere apology, I may have taken down the 1-star review. Instead he is BSing even more accusing me of lying etc.
Let him upload the surveillance footage without my consent. He may regret that even more.

Yelp is what comes up first. I checked Google, nothing there. Too convoluted.
I don't need Greta's. Mind you, I just recently purchased from them. Between Camarillo Gun Store and Turner's in Oxnard I can get anything I want, even if I have to special order it. Which I recently did for a Single Shot Henry in .308. Great stick!