Seeing (Red) Dots in Lincoln's City
In Lincoln's City
Trying to obtain a red-dot sight shouldn't leave one cross-eyed
intimately connected to our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. It was in Springfield that a young Lincoln set up his law practice in 1837, and Springfield where he came for his final rest after his assassination. The Lincoln Tomb and myriad historical sites here attest to Lincoln's place in the city history.
Today, Springfield, the state capital, is also a major retail hub for southcentral Illinois. On a recent trip through Springfield, I decided to see what it might offer in the way of a red dot-style sight. My pitch: I wanted to mount a red-dot on my trusty 12-gauge pump, for turkey hunting.
STORE A
Store A was located in a decidedly industrial area of southeastern Springfield, tucked in among a number of trucking concerns and building suppliers. The establishment was a retail firearms outlet and an indoor shooting range. The main counter sat just inside the front door, and the man behind the counter, whom I'll call Frank, instantly greeted me and asked how he could help.
Upon hearing my story, Frank directed me to the optics section and handed me a TruGlo sight. He showed me how to work the controls, and let me try it out. He asked my shotgun's model and make, and if it was drilled and tapped. I feigned ignorance on the second question (it isn't), thinking this would generate additional sales conversation.
It did.
Frank walked me over to another counter and showed me various mounting options for the TruGlo, starting with a saddle mount. Or he could drill and tap my shotgun for $50, he said, so a Weaver-type base could be attached, on which the TruGlo could then be mounted. Frank, though, advised against that.
"If the drilling and tapping isn't factory-done, our doing so will lessen the value of your shotgun," Frank explained.
When I inquired if he had any other sights on hand, Frank led me back to the original counter and showed me a model only half as expensive as the TruGlo. He didn't exactly bad-mouth this lesser-priced model, yet he stressed that he'd sold many TruGlos and had never heard a single complaint.
At my questioning, Frank went over the sight-mounting options one more time, told me he could install the saddle mount and sight at no charge, and gave me a firm handshake and the store's business card.
"Just bring in your shotgun and we'll take care of you," Frank promised.
STORE B
Store B was a military surplus and firearms establishment stocked with the camo and olive-drab gear, clothing and paraphernalia you'd expect from a military-surplus retailer. A clerk was on the phone with a customer, but nonetheless greeted me as I entered the store and said he'd be right with me. When I asked about a red-dot sight, he produced a single model and said, "I've only got this one," holding up a holographic sight.
The sight's battery wasn't working, and it took several minutes for him to locate a new battery and install it.
When I asked to see other models, he said he was waiting for a new shipment. If I wanted, he could call me when the new merchandise arrived.
"Do you have a card?" I asked. "I could just check back."
"You could," he said, "but then I'd have people calling me up all the time."
He was obviously unhappy with that possibility, so he wrote down my name and number, and promised to phone me.
STORE C
I found Store C within a huge shopping-mall complex. The store had a large selection of outdoors items, including camping and water-sports equipment, as well as a vast array of sports and outdoors clothing. The hunting and guns section was near the back of the store. The counters and gun racks were well-lit, and everything looked very clean and appealing.
The one clerk on duty was helping a customer in search of a new hunting knife. After a few minutes, the customer decided upon a knife, and left. My turn.
I told the clerk what I was looking for. He tapped his index finger onto the counter glass, pointing out two red-dot models.
"But neither will take the recoil of a shotgun," he said. He then asked about my shotgun. When I told him the model, he said my "best bet" was to buy a new shotgun and handed me a nice camo model with a $350 price tag. I remarked, with some irony, that this shotgun came with a nice red-dot sight, which, apparently, I had to buy a whole new shotgun to get.
"Just depends on how much money you want to spend," he said. "Up to you."
STORE D
Store D was a mega-retailer situated on the other side of the mall complex. I found the outdoors and hunting section with little difficulty, but couldn't find any sales help.
I finally hailed a passing clerk, and told him I had some questions about the optics.
"I'm in toys," the young man said. "But I'll get someone."
He disappeared. For good, it seemed. I did not see another store employee until I passed the cash registers on my way out.
How Did They Do?
STORE A:
Customer Service: ★★★★★ The counterman knew everything about making the red-dot work on my turkey-hunting rig; he even offered to attach a saddle mount and sight free of charge.
Product Knowledge: ★★★★ Suggested there was a problem with the lower-priced sight, but was vague as to what that problem might be. Certainly knew everything about the sights and mounting options, though.
Product Availability: ★★ Basically, the selection was limited to two sights.
STORE B:
Customer Service: ★★★ The clerk was helpful to a point, but didn't want me to bother him with annoying follow-up calls.
Product Knowledge: ★ Didn't really tell me anything about the sight itself-its range, light capabilities, etc. Mostly, he knew that more merchandise was due in later.
Product Availability: ★ Produced only one model, and that one didn't work (battery was dead).
STORE C:
Customer Service: ★★ While I appreciate a salesman trying to sell you up to a higher-priced option, suggesting that I buy a new shotgun when all I wanted was the sight was a turnoff.
Product Knowledge: ★ Wasn't able to determine if the salesman knew anything about red- dot sights, as his sole objective was to sell me a shotgun.
Product Availability: ★ The clerk pointed out a pair of red-dot models in the glass counter, but then said neither could handle the recoil of a shotgun.
STORE D:
Customer Service: No Stars There was none.
Product Knowledge: ★ I learned a few things, but only due to written product descriptions.
Product Availability: ★★ The products were all sealed in clamshell packaging, which prevented me from conducting a close examination-which I needed to do since I couldn't find a sales associate.
AND THE WINNER IS…
STORE A
The best counterman of the four, no question: He knew the sights, and patiently explained all the options more than once. Always helpful, never patronizing. If
I was buying for real, I would have left my shotgun with him, knowing he would install the sight as promised.
Bullet Express Indoor Shooting Range
4885 Industrial Drive
Springfield, IL 62703
217-585-0130
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