We have many prolific forum poster's and hunting author's that go around assuming their statements are true and accurate and they often deal in assumptions and not facts.  Most are really just attacks because of past personal issues. However to be fair, many deal in this sort of journalism on the net .

One such writer proclaimed that I had a beef with a well known gun manufacturer outside of the USA. That part was true after many years of dealing with them on so-so terms. He went on to explain, that I would just rather throw the baby out with the bath water than to make parts available to the public and so on. Not his exact words but close.

This is where you have to think hard in this article. First, let me remind you that I am an independent business funded solely on my own accord. No manufacturer pays me or sponsors me and I answer to no one as I'm not on anyones payroll. Next, follow the information trail. If a gun company does not supply spare parts in any volume to support it's wares. And if the distributor, and resellers do not offer any spares or support and they are the ones profiting from said sales. Why is it my sole obligation to support their products and the cost's of designing fixes and keeping inventories and not theirs.

After all my business is a support oriented affair that provides products I feel I can market and profit from somewhat. In airguns many items are not profitable so it has to be a hobby or you like a product and you feel the need to expand whats available in the after market arena. So why is it fair to attack an independent for not offering spares for everything made. Shouldn't that hostility be taken out on those that supply said product and profit from it?

What is your criteria then for not making products?

Thats pretty simple. If the volume is so low and sales are so poor, why get involved? Then most  "do it yourself" types have limited experience. They can replace a spring or seal often easily. But they see one or two guns. To spot serious design flaws you need experience and you need to see many guns to see If it's a widespread issue or just an issue on your gun. I have learned that you do not make spares for problem guns. If a gun has a huge breech chamfer. over sized barrel with no choke, then it's suicide to sell spares for it.

People will come to you for wear items that this type of gun destroys quickly. You may think you are helping the cause but most people are OK with factory part failures and accept it. But when aftermarket parts fail they come after you like its your fault. If you don't fix the underlying issue that causes the parts failures then the gun will always be worthless and If you sell parts for it, your guilty.

Then the average consumer thinks that you will be loved for making parts that enhance or repair a rogue gun. Not so. Actually the first thing you do is irritate the manufacturer of the gun and all of the resellers down the line. Even though they did nothing to correct the issue, your on their turf and even though you took care of their problems your the enemy.

Then you get a poster on a forum being nice to you and he claims this $700 gun is good but unless A and B are corrected with this guys parts the gun will not be great and fraught with issues. Then everyone involved in the marketing of said guns now hates you and wants to come after you with lies and distortions only to preserve their good name. The nice poster doesn't understand that after  his post, you were not rewarded but attacked instead.

Then anon posters and the like are allowed to post attacks on you and any involved to save market share. Often the forum is closed to all except customers who login and are required to sign their life away to post. Then it's allowed to be viewed worldwide. But since your a dealer and not in the clique you can not answer negative attacks that are left up because it fits with the forum owners agenda. Lets face it, they want to sell guns. Even though you never crossed them your the enemy.

They cringe when a guy goes on and brags about a tuner or parts supplier and the gun needed this and that done before it was viable. Sure I can see where they grow sick and tired of hearing some guys name who made their BB gun now as good or better than sliced bread. That said, the attacks, abuse, and outright lies should not be tolerated by anyone. Sure it's easier for them to attack the guy with integrity that tries to correct the issues to make people happier with their guns. Instead they should hold the manufacturer responsible for being derelict in their duties. They should try to resolve all issues up and down the supply chain. But they don't. After all you do not have to be a gunsmith to sell guns, I understand that. but you should make your concerns known and often until the situation is resolved.

However it's easiest to allow a hired gun to blast away on your forum and then play good cop, bad cop. In the end this activity gets the consumer one thing. Everyone involved drops all support for the product because the BS. is just not worth it. The consumer loses and the gun dealer see's the gun become obsolete because without parts or accessories, who needs it.

Jim Maccari