Carters Country - All Charges Dropped!

[boomstick]

http://WWW.carterscountry.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; in this weeks ad in the upper right corner where Bill makes his weekly comments...

[surprise_i'm_armed]

boomstick:

OK, I read the man's comments.

Please fill in the rest of us on what happened.

I'm sure that many others besides myself don't know what the back story is.

TIA/SIA

[boomstick]

They were being investigated in reference to straw buyers. A google search should find some news articles that reference it.

[i8godzilla]

Seems they cooperated with the ATF.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 05963.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[alvins]

i guess that is good for those who like to shop in their stores. I for one refuse to shop in their pasadena store.

[geoelectro]

i guess that is good for those who like to shop in their stores. I for one refuse to shop in their pasadena store.

I been in there a few times and every time I was unimpressed with the experience. I thought it was just me.

Geoelectro

[WildBill]

I have shopped there [Pasadena] once. Other than being a little crowded and having to wait to handle a couple of guns, I had no complaints. While waiting, I had a good talk with an HPD officer about Sig versus H&K handguns.

[rmr1923]

i guess that is good for those who like to shop in their stores. I for one refuse to shop in their pasadena store.

I been in there a few times and every time I was unimpressed with the experience. I thought it was just me.

Geoelectro

i went into their store on the west side of Houston (I-10 @ Campbell) when i was first getting into handguns. just wanted to find something that would be good for target practice and keeping in my truck when i travel. i encountered what i suppose i would consider a "gun snob" behind the counter, the salesman actually told me i needed to go home and learn more about guns and come back. i knew how to operate and use a handgun, just had some questions about specific brands/models that i wasn't real familiar with at the time so i figured a salesman would be willing to answer those questions but apparently not. i've never spent a dime there, nor will i ever.

[esxmarkc]

Well I made the mistake of calling them up and asking if they take trades or buy used guns. "Sure buddy bring it on in so we can get a look at it"

I had a Dan Wesson Arms .357 FLAWLESS condition (less than 100 rnds) WITH the barrel tool and gap tool (which I understand are hard to find). These guns go anywhere from $300 to $375 on the web in various conditions. Mine was grade A. I also had a Ruger MKII in grade A condition but had a bazillion rounds through it.

I had the original receipts for both guns BTW - the .357 was originally from Carter's and the Ruger from Baker's.

I Packed it all up and drove out there. Found the guy and handed over my weapons and he drags them off to his office and after 30 minutes comes back with a written offer on a post-it note:

$35 for the Dan Wesson .357
$125 for the Ruger MK II
$160 for both

I think my response was "Take your hands off of my guns". I was totally embarrassed. I re-cased my firearms and left immediately. After researching the prices, the guy at Shooters station out in Conroe offered $475 cash both guns and I was a happy camper. I declined the cash offer and and instead handed him another couple hundred bucks and walked out with a brand new XDM and some other goodies.

I told my bother that story and he response was: "Heck, any Northside Pawn Shop would have given you $300 for the .357 alone as long as it was shiny."

As I have stated before I have a pretty respectable "recreational" budget of which they will never see another dime of. Especially after I found out how much of a hassle and how expensive their range time is - they charge by the gun not the shooter.

-- End Rant --

Those are just my experience/observations. Both my brothers love the place. But then again they don't shoot as much or buy near as much as I do.

[Purplehood]

I like their selection, but not the service. They are diva's behind the counter. (Houston West I-10 location)

[esxmarkc]

"Gun Counter Divas"

You sir, have just invented the next reality TV show blockbuster.

[FL450]

Information I have from someone close to the source ( I wont desclose that). In a nut shell Mr Carter was ask to cooperate in catching straw purchaser (He was ask to sell to them by the BATF so they could track then). He cooporated and the BATF tried to charge him with selling to straw purchasers. Theory is the BATF had their own internal agenda of growth and recognition and used Carter to achieve this.
BTW, he was not the only gun store in the houston area that this happend to but he had the financial means to fight for what was right instead of accepting a plea deal for somthing that he was innocent for.
He might be a frugal man but he is an honest man that would not participate in illegal activity's, This is only my opinion formed from the times I have been around Mr Carter personally over the years.

[WildBill]

Try to remember: "It's not personal. It's business."

Don Lucchesi from The Godfather

[alvins]

accually i should add i do enjoy shooting at their north houston range and their store staff seem to be alot better their.


i did once have the guy at the pasadena store tell me they did like a million dollars in sales and that i should go to the gun show if i want to haggle.
well good for them. where i work people GIVE us millions:)

i guess cartercounty bashing can stop now. heheh

[Papacub]

I won't get into the fact that in the 90's Bill Carter was very vocal and very anti-Gun Show!
I have no use for Carters!