My brother and I went to the range and I was looking forward to putting some more rounds through my SP-01 Compact (since that's what we're calling it). I've had mine since 12/16. I've only put 100 rounds through it so far. When we got to the range I debated on whether or not to put night sights on it, since that's really the only thing I didn't like about the pistol. I talked myself into it and went to the gunsmith. The guy who put sights on my matte stainless 75B was busy but there were other smiths there (didn't recognize any of them). The one who came out took my order and sent me to the cashier to pay for them. My first warning was when the cashier had to walk back to show him how to put in the work order (they waited 15 minutes for him to do it) so that they could ring it up...
After finally paying, I went and hung out at the counter. I saw two guys working on a slide that I guessed was mine. Warning number two... (was someone in training - on MY gun?!!)
I looked around the store with my brother for about 20 mins and went back to check on it. Shouldn't take this long... I see one guy using a punch, trying to move the sight, while the other one held it. Shortly after, one of them comes out and grabs the first aid box. I asked him if he hurt himself while scratching my new gun. He assured me that the gun was fine, that he'd punctured his finger with the punch, is all. And I waited... I looked in and saw the smith using a paint pen on what I assumed was my slide. I told my brother that I was about to be upset, that I'm sure they scratched my slide... The gunsmith finally came out with my gun and I asked him why I saw him using a paint pen on my gun and if he scratched my NEW gun? He said that he scratched the front sight and he covered it up. I was alright with that. Then he came back with my gun... (I don't have pics right now but I'll post some later.) STILL a scratch on the sight... the paint pen was used on my slide, around 3/4" worth of paint and he missed some of the scratch, PLUS the finish was marred where he tightened the vise but didn't have enough of a buffer to protect the finish. I looked at him and back at the gun, told him I didn't appreciate his scratching my NEW gun and lying about it (once again, I emphasized this for him), told him to get my old sights and my pistol rug and that I expect scratches on my guns occasionally but they'd better come from ME. I left it at that and went to find the owner. This is a 4 month new range (and my favorite in my area, so I was doubly disappointed).
Most of the guys there know me now, and one of them came over to me and mentioned that I didn't look happy. I told him that their smith scratched my new gun and lied about it. He immediately went to get the owner. The owner came out, introduced himself again (we met the week before), asked to look at the gun and for me to point out or name the smith who did it. I told him I didn't know the guy's name and hadn't seen him before that day. He went to talk to all of the smiths and called me back there after he was done. He asked how they could fix it. I told him that I definitely did not want cerakote, I wanted them to send it to CZ USA and get it refinished. He said that would take too long and he didn't find that acceptable. He asked for the model number. I gave it to him and he got right on the computer and ordered a new one.
It was now too late to shoot, so we packed up to leave. The owner (jokingly) asked me where I was going with his gun. I told him I was holding it for collateral until he got mine. They told me that they will call me when it gets here and that my next range visit will be complimentary.
I was very upset about the whole thing, but I kept my cool and let them resolve it. They resolved it so well that when I pick up the gun I'm going to get a membership. (It's very convenient to my home, it's a first class range in our area, ALL of the staff and other shooters I've met are very nice, and they're big on gun safety from the customers.)
The sights look like they're going to be great - on the new gun (installed by the smith that I know and trust).
