r/canadaguns • u/shooptydoop • 1d ago
Buy recommendations Any actual good experiences with FOC?
As the title states, has anyone actually had any good experiences with Firearms Outlet Canada? Getting back into the sport after several years of hiatus. I’ve been to their old store and had a pretty piss poor interaction with them. They act like everything you ask is a chore and it’s a privilege to be buying from them.
Thought I would try them again since they’re 5 min from my folks place. Called to ask to price match a $30 difference on a rifle and was told they only price match Ontario stores. Then I asked if I pick it up can I get a few bucks off from shipping savings since they offer free shipping over $500 (yes my order was over $500) and was also told no.
Naturally I ordered my rifle from another reputable shop online.
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u/Hot_Cheesecake_905 1d ago edited 1d ago
In-store and pickup, the service is satisfactory.
However, they sold me a defective shotgun and referred me to the warranty instead of addressing the issue. It was a cheap clone shotgun.
Other stores might have handled the situation differently or not, but I’m hesitant to purchase another firearm from them due to this experience.
On the positive side, occasionally cheap ammo, lots of accessories, and they have a 3% discount program.
G4C has friendly staff. Tenda is good to me. Rangeview is OK, but they let me know they’re going cash and debit only shortly, with a CC processing fee in the next few weeks.
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u/shooptydoop 1d ago
If it was within a short time frame they should have just helped with an exchange. It’s not like it was restricted or anything. I think the issue is most people I’ve seen have “ok” experiences at best.
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u/Norwest_Shooter on 23h ago
I bought a revolver from them that was a lemon and they’re like “come by the store and we’ll have a look”. And I’m like I don’t live in the GTA and they could not get me off the phone fast enough. “Ohyoudon’tlivenearbyyouhavetoopenupawarrantyclaimwiththedistributorokaybye”.
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u/groggygirl 11h ago
I second G4C. They were busy the last time I was there, and yet the guy spent 20 minutes with me talking about budget target ammo options and which ones he recommended as giving you best bang for your buck.
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u/theawesomedude646 1d ago
i don't think i'm ordering from them again. i bought a mosin in cosmoline from their website for like $700+ like 2 years ago and it arrived with a dark and pitted bore, half an extractor peened into the bolt head, and issues with rimlock.
i spotted a pris-fucking-teen hex receiver mosin on CGN for about the same price a few months ago. goddamnit.
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u/scoreles 20h ago
I buy from them a lot, they messed up a a 300 dollar ammo purchase and they let me keep the wrong stuff and sent me the right stuff, really easy to deal with
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u/tmwildwood-3617 1d ago
Limited...but positive experiences for me. I thought that I was well served, everything was done at my pace, once cut me an unsolicited deal on after I was torn between this and that. Didn't mind me handling/checking out various guns that I was not buying that day.
Good enough for me that I'll definitely buy from them again.
To each their own though.
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u/NotTheParaMagician 1d ago
Ordered online 5 or 6 times as they had something I was looking for that was out of stock everywhere else I looked, never had any issues. Reasonable ship dates, similar prices as other businesses. Never been in store, so can't comment on that.
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u/Ov3rReadKn1ght0wl 14h ago
I've had pleasantly unremarkable experiences with them but do still try to keep them as a last resort retailer. Their bad reputation is well earned.
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u/905jay 13h ago
Can't speak for anyone else there, but Mitch is a great guy. Personally I found them very helpful, and they took the time to explain pros and cons to me of what I'm looking at, and didn't come across as judgy.
I wanted something specific, he took me behind the counter and googled it, found it at a competitor and recommended them because he also had a good experience at the competitor.
The genuine help and customer service was nice, considering I was (am) a noob, and he could have easily brushed me off.
I also like the folks at Ganon Sports too, if that helps at all
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u/hockeyfanatic777 1d ago
To be fair, you were asking for discounts where there aren’t any.
I’ve ordered from them about 4-6 times and had nothing but pleasant experiences. They’ve even gone above and beyond a couple times.
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u/shooptydoop 1d ago
I’ve never had issues price matching between stores. And I think just taking off the shipping costs from my order was a reasonable ask since shipping a rifle is still $10-$20.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn 1d ago
How is it that cheap? I just shipped a marlin and it was 72 and change
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u/shooptydoop 1d ago
I’m being generous and they usually have business accounts with better rates.
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u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn 1d ago
Im a business lol
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u/shooptydoop 1d ago
Hahaha then I really don’t know why they wouldn’t do a $30 price match if I picked it up in store instead of shipping it for free to me.
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u/Piper7865 1d ago
I got a SKS from them back in the winter , I did decide to interac e-transfer them instead of using my CC but that added on maybe a small extra chunk of waiting for that to clear when buying from them, Other than that I got what I ordered and like within 3 or 4 business days max I think?
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u/Zealousideal-Hat5814 1d ago
Only ever purchased ammo some mods and 2 rifles from them. But it was all online. Everything came properly packaged and got enough emails to know where everything is… so from that aspect they are great.
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u/AssignmentPutrid3197 1d ago
I've had about 4 online orders including a few rifles being shipped. About 5 purchases in store. Never had a single issue and several times got really good deals. I found the staff in store not terribly personable but thats pretty common for gun stores.
I still watch my credit card statements like a hawk after what was reported on here a few years ago though
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u/Siberjon 1d ago
I have order from them several times, both online and by phone. Always had good service, but they are a little slow to ship.
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u/NeruLight 1d ago
Only bought one gun from them but they were cracking jokes and quite friendly when I went in.
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u/isanthrope_may 23h ago
I have bought two long guns and four loads of bulk ammo over the span of five years - zero complaints. I get what I ordered in a few days, no issues with payment, no issues at all. They even sent me a free sticker! I might be the unicorn here, but I would trust them.
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u/Norwest_Shooter on 23h ago
I’ve never had an online experience with them where I’d say everything was 100% good (this was pre-website breach when I was still shopping there). The one time I visited in person the guy at the counter was trying to act all cool and knowledgeable. I wanted to buy a box of 10mm among other things and he said that it doesn’t make sense for anyone to buy because it’s “not legal for IPSC”. He kept yapping on and I’m like, so are you going to get me the 10mm? “Oh you actually wanted that?” Uh, yeah…
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u/NoGrapefruit1213 22h ago
I’ve made many orders online as I’m in Sask spent thousands of dollars there and will continue to support always friendly and quick to respond to any questions orders make it to me within a week and are well packed. No complaints here
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u/Equivalent-Shoe-1652 22h ago
I've had only good experiences with them. Have ordered off them like 3 or 4 times now. My understanding is there was a credit card issue in the past. I just use the 3rd party payment system.
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u/AioliMindless 14h ago
I had it where they messed up an order I called in to report it and after a quick call then shipped the correction at no charge to me
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u/NavyShooter_NS 1h ago
I did an online order a few weeks ago - everything showed up as expected, got a tracking number fairly quickly after the order, I'm pleased with them so far.
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u/Remote_Mistake6291 1d ago
I have never had a bad experience shopping there. I am always treated great.
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u/Neat_Imagination2503 1d ago
I’ve never had a bad experience honestly and over the last 5 years I’ve spent probably $30k ish
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u/Perfect-Emphasis-211 6h ago
My bank account had WAY too much money in it, but thankfully after buying a cheap Turkish break action for $150, the employee made sure to empty thousands out my account so I didn’t need to worry about having good credit.
Best customer service ever. They even made sure not to let me know about the ongoing issues so I didn’t have to go through all the effort of protecting my account proactively.
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u/preferablyoutside 1d ago
So let’s follow this through, you called in and were informed of store policy on price matching, then were told that their shipping price which is likely dictated by Canada Post or UPS Is the price, and now are mad?
Yeah big loss in a customer for FOC it sounds like, doubtful they’ll be able to keep the lights on this quarter without you….
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u/shooptydoop 1d ago
Not mad. And no, I asked if I could take the cost of shipping off of the rifle if I picked up in store. So it would cost the store the same amount in the end if I chose to get it shipped versus not.
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u/preferablyoutside 1d ago
Takes time out of day to post on Reddit about how feelings were hurt by dealing with a small business and bitching about their existence, yet is not “mad”.
That’s a full Redditor
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u/SKS1953 1d ago
They were rude to me as well when I was there. But people seem to like ordering online from them though.