Originally Posted by
Asha'man
I've stopped into Prairie a couple of times since it's right by a buddy's shop, and since they're close to where I live I thought I'd give them a shot at becoming my "local". I had never had money or was looking for anything specific when I was in before, but had just checked it out. However, one Wednesday night I walked in right before closing time and the place was packed. Hung out for a bit and figured out that everyone was there to go shooting on some private land. Spoke to Ryan (post above mine) and he basically said that if I got some more face time and they got to know me a bit, I could be included on that. Didn't want just every Tom, Dick and Harry knowing about it, which made sense.
So a week or two later I stopped in looking for a scope for my new .308. I finally got the old dude (owner?) to acknowledge my presence, and he did so by poking me in the chest with his truck key and asking me if anyone had had a chance to be rude to me yet. I said, "Um, haha? No, but I'm looking for a scope." He turns around and grabs the 20" AR off the counter with a Leupold VX-L on it and we go outside and look through it. I told him it was a nice piece of glass but I knew what they cost and it was way out of my price range. He kinda shrugged that off and we went back inside, grabbed up a rifle (that one kid's, apparently) from behind the counter and went back outside. I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was like a Schmidt and Bender or something; high dollar glass, to be sure.
We went back inside and again I told him that was way out of what I was looking for. He launched into some spiel about how I shouldn't think of the price, and how lots of people are doing the layaway thing - "Just think, when you're done making payments on it, it's like it's free!" I reiterated once more that I was not looking to spend the cost of a good used car on a scope, but would be more interested in something in the $300-$500 range. Wasn't being a dick about it, but I wanted what I wanted and was giving him another chance to help me out. Apparently this was his cue to not spend any more time on me, as he walked away without a word and went into the back room. I figured maybe he was getting something more in my price range. When he came back out, he gestured to come over, so I did. So did another guy who had come in while we were looking at scopes. We looked at each other and asked which one he was talking to. The old dude pointed at the new guy and said "You", then he looked at me and said "Now I'm being rude to you" and went into his office with the other guy and closed the door. I was left standing there with a WTF look on my face, and no scope options. Did I mention that during the entire exchange, the old guy was about three inches from me and taking up most of my personal space, and he smelled funny to boot? Not a good experience by any stretch of the imagination. I won't be back.
BTW I would much rather drive to Loveland and patronize Jensen. They're not real friendly but they have good prices and a great selection, and have been helpful whenever I've asked for it, which is more than I can say for PA, and they're ten minutes away.
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