Walked into Collectors Firearms in Houston...

[Hoosier Daddy]

I walked in there once, looked around and saw some neat things, but obviously I can't afford to be a collector.

[LucasBU06]

Agreed. To me it's more of a firearm museum than anything else. I don't go very often, but when I do its always been pleasant. Totally different business model than the big box stores. Some of the guns they have in there I'd be lying if I said I knew even existed. Probably has something to do with the prices on their rare guns.

[TDDude]

First time I went there was 11 or so years ago. I spent around $225.00 on a Tucker holster and a Galco tapered gun belt. Yes, Tucker used to be sold in stores and they had him custom make me a Texas Heritage and even put in belt loops so I could wear it OWB. Maybe that makes it a "collectors piece"?? badum ching!!

The salesman I worked with spent about an hour with me just to make sure I got what I wanted. Even though I spent MSRP on this stuff, the salesman earned it and was very knowledgeable about his products.

I went back about a year later because the kydex clips on my Tucker broke. It's a common problem and I simply wanted parts.

They didn't carry kydex clips. That didn't bother me so much but then the holster "manager" told me that they didn't carry Tucker holsters and that they had NEVER carried Tucker holsters implying that I was lying or stupid. He then turned his back on me and walked back to his hole. I was somewhat shocked and I left.

11 years ago I was some newbe who didn't know squat about carrying and didn't even have a CHL yet. Fast forward to now..... I’m an NRA Rifle and Pistol instructor with RSO rating and a CHL instructor. I teach private lessons. I work with minors, adults, senior citizens, Boy Scouts, and Venture Crews. I shoot IDPA. I hunt and even occasionally guide hunts. I've gotten countless people started shooting and a week doesn't go by when someone doesn't ask me what to get or more importantly where to get it.

I don't put Collectors down. I simply just don't EVER mention them.

And of course, the several thousands I've spent on firearms and accessories since then and in the future didn't and won't ever go anywhere near that store.

[bwdilli]

I bought an AAC Ti-Rant 45 from them earlier this year. Searched all over trying to find someone who'd beat their price. Everyone else wanted MSRP. Some even wanted an additional fee for filling out the necessary paper work on top of MSRP. I had been on the fence for over a year and the pricing never changed after Sandy Hook.

Yes they are high on some things, but others they aren't. It's also nice to deal with someone who knows what they are talking about. Good service is worth paying for.

[saltydog452]

The place is like a museum where, if your pockets are deep enough, the artifacts are available.

They hqave some really neat, out of print, (expensive) books too.

salty

[ddurkof]

I live near Collectors and go in there maybe two or three times a year. My son found a XDS that he traded his Kimber for. He didn't get a wonderful trade, but he was happy. The salesman "David" spent a good deal of time with him and never seemed put out. They do seem to get the evil black rifles in stock frequently.

They are high on the prices, but taking the time value of money for their inventory to turn over and make money, their prices are not outlandish.

They have some people who are less than good when it comes to customer service, but they have always have been reasonably nice to me.

[Vol Texan]

I went in there once last year, looking for a replacement for my Glock 36 as an EDC. I know a lot of folks don't mind the action of the Glock but I didn't like the idea of carrying one in the chamber. It's not that I was worried about it firing while in the holster, but since I have to unholster and reholster so often during the day (picking up my daughter at school, etc.), I was worried that the trigger could be accidentally pulled (caught in my shirt tail, perhaps), and I'd have no knowledge that it was about to fire.

I spoke with the salesman, told him what I wanted:

• DA/SA (so I could feel the hammer and get a tactile response that the trigger was pulling)
• No Safety (I have nerve damage in my thumb, so I can't feel to put it on or off in an emergency situation)

The salesman was helpful and very friendly, and let me try a few good pieces, and he called another guy (one of their senior folks - obviously very knowledgeable on guns) over for more advice. The guy asked, "why don't you want to carry the Glock?" I explained my reasons, and he proceeded to lecture me on how the Glock IS a double action - the first action is my finger on the trigger, and then the second action is pulling it. I tried to explain to him again why I wanted DA/SA, with an exposed hammer, and he berated me, and told me I didn't know what I was talking about.

I know about the trigger safety, and I've heard it before - I'm not posting this to open that discussion - but I rapidly grew tired of this gentleman berating me for something that I'd already decided. I didn't care about how safe HE felt it was, I cared that (a) I know that I have to re-holster often, and (b) I might not always see the tail of my shirt if it was about to be caught in the trigger guard while being re-holstered (I'm not a skinny guy).

Needless to say, I'm done with Collector's. I found exactly what I was looking for at Defensive and Concealed Guns. The folks there were very helpful, and it was closer to my house.

[Topbuilder]

"Needless to say, I'm done with Collector's. I found exactly what I was looking for at Defensive and Concealed Guns. The folks there were very helpful, and it was closer to my house."

Do tell! What was the one to fit your criteria?
I would have recomended the PO1.

[Vol Texan]

Do tell! What was the one to fit your criteria?
I would have recomended the PO1.

They introduced me to the SigSauer 2022. It is SA/DA (with the external hammer), no safety (other than me), and a heckuva lot more room in the mag than my Glock 36 carried. I have a Mec-Gar +2 extension on the magazine, so I carry 17 in the mag + one in the chute. It holds more IN the gun than my Glock had in the gun and the 2nd mag combined (and I still carry a 2nd one, out of habit).

Sure, I stepped down from a .45 to a 9mm, but I'm comfortable with the tradeoff of ammo count vs ammo size.

[ffemt300]

The last time I almost walked into Collectors was in 1999. I got to the door, saw a "No Loaded Guns In Store" sign next to the door and saw through the window that every employee was open carrying. I have not come close to darkening their door since. It wasn't an official 30.06 type sign, but their elitist attitude just flat out made me mad.

I went into the Cigar Shop next door, which I believe is the largest Cigar Shop in Houston, and spent my money there :).

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I was in there friday. Saw the sign as well. But under that it said that CHLs are exempt. And i did see employees openly carrying as well. The sign didnt bother me, just walked on in.

[dinolord]

definitely a cool place to check out.
have tried to work a couple deals there and they just wouldn't make it worth it.
also came off as very 'sucks to be you if you don't want to spend your money here' attitude. a couple of the guys are super knowledgeable there...helped me a lot on one of the guns i own. the same guys also pretty much told me i was stupid for owning one of the guns i owned about a month later. offered me $100 cash or 150 trade-in...sold it for 350 in a matter of 4 hours when i posted it the next day.

[Redneck_Buddha]

definitely a cool place to check out.
have tried to work a couple deals there and they just wouldn't make it worth it.
also came off as very 'sucks to be you if you don't want to spend your money here' attitude. a couple of the guys are super knowledgeable there...helped me a lot on one of the guns i own. the same guys also pretty much told me i was stupid for owning one of the guns i owned about a month later. offered me $100 cash or 150 trade-in...sold it for 350 in a matter of 4 hours when i posted it the next day.

Definite pawn shop mentality there. Ugh.

[Baytown_Cajun]

I walked in once, then walked out when the smugness started. Why would business owners want staff to convince customers they are ignorant and not worthy to shop there ?

[TexasCajun]

And that, my friends, is how the free market economy works. They provide the goods &/or service, we decide if it's worth paying for. As far as the signage, that's fairly common with most gun shops that deal is used or trade-ins. Most folks prefer to handle unloaded firearms when evaluating/inspecting them. As a gun store, you'd have to assume that they'd be well versed in the state's firearms laws & if they were truly trying to exclude chl, they would post a 30.06.