New Hunting shop Dublin

dany1234

Hi Lads
I was on my way to Finglas yesterday and saw a new shop opened in there on the main street beside Power City. It is called Sportsman.ie and got in and your man said he only opened about a week ago.

He had lots of clothing from Deerhunter and Percussion at very good prices and big collection of bush crafting knives that you can customize yourself.
I asked about ammunition and said he just applied for permission and hopes that he will get it soon.

He was very friendly and got a 5% discount just for buying few things from him. Said that his stock it's not yet complete as still waiting fro stuff from suppliers.

He also said if i send more lads and say my name he will give them a 5% discount as well.
His site is here.
I just thought i just share this with you as his shop looked a bit more organized and friendly than what i have encountered from the hunting shops in Dublin.

Sorry mods if this is not in the right forum.

clivej

Any firearms there?

gunny123

clivej wrote: »

Any firearms there?

I could only imagine trying to get a dealers licence for a shop in Finglas would not be for the faint hearted.

dany1234

clivej wrote: »

Any firearms there?

He said the licence is pending. He should get it I said as the place is an old Bank building.

Springwell

Cheap?

Percussion Marly jacket €80 at Decathlon...same jacket is €126 on his website

Bad_alibi

Springwell wrote: »

Cheap?

Percussion Marly jacket €80 at Decathlon...same jacket is €126 on his website

What are you trying to imply that's pretty much standard operating procedure for all Irish gun shops.

robertpatterson

gunny123 wrote: »

I could only imagine trying to get a dealers licence for a shop in Finglas would not be for the faint hearted.

I dont see why not, watts had one not too far away and had another one on the quays, theres one in temple bar and there used to be one in pearse st
Once the security procedures are in place it should be treated in the same manner as anywhere else

gunny123

I lived in finglas years ago, and know some of the wildlife living there, i wouldn't fancy trying to run a gunshop with them knocking around.

Springwell

Bad_alibi wrote: »

What are you trying to imply that's pretty much standard operating procedure for all Irish gun shops.

I'm not implying anything I'm simply stating the prices aren't exactly cheap or "very good" as you put it.

Bad_alibi

Springwell wrote: »

I'm not implying anything I'm simply stating the prices aren't exactly cheap or "very good" as you put it.

You missed my point I'm agreeing with you. Dealers down here frequently stick an extra 20-100% on an item that ordered online.

tikkahunter

There used to be a gun dealers 40 years ago across the road from it , it is in the old NIB building so i would say that there is a fairly decent safe / vault in it.

dany1234

Yes he does have two walk in vaults in there. I'd say they're pretty big.

garrettod

gunny123 wrote: »

I lived in finglas years ago, and know some of the wildlife living there, i wouldn't fancy trying to run a gunshop with them knocking around.

I would have thought that in this day and age, the "wildlife" wouldn't be too interested in a gunshop, given the type of stuff they seem to be able to get through other sources.

Half-cocked

I lived in Finglas for a few years, it was one of the least problematic districts for renewing firearms certs. FO was a decent chap that knew the difference between legit gun owners and crims.

gunny123

Half-cocked wrote: »

FO was a decent chap that knew the difference between legit gun owners and crims.

Pity there aren't more like him.

dodderangler

Is it bigger than the one in Tallaght? As for clothing better off ordering online. Every fishing and hunting shop I've been in in Ireland the clothing prices are all the same. Cheap Shiite that rips and expensive Shiite that will cost arm and a leg. Online is nearly half the price sometimes of same gear. Especially in the bids

gunny123

dodderangler wrote: »

Online is nearly half the price sometimes of same gear. Especially in the bids

Yeah, but go to your local gunshop and ask them what they are paying in rent, rates, insurance, security, vat, etc etc, and then do the same for someone operating online, probably out of a garden shed and under the radar of the taxman.

garrettod

Hi,

I popped in for a look around earlier today. Decent selection of blades and accessories for doing your own knives which I liked, coupled with other bits 'n' bobs including a few basic bows and catapults for example.

The guy seemed fairly helpful, offering to order in anything I was after that wasn't there, he took some time to check stuff on the web for me which was good and appreciated. He's a shooter himself so actually enjoyed chatting about hunting and had a level of knowledge that I doubt you'd get on Ebay too often.

Reasonable selection of Jack Pyke stuff, along with Deerhunter and Percussion as mentioned above. Again, if the size or colour in a jacket, trousers or bag ec. wasn't there, he would get it in and reckoned delivery would be fairly quick (usually a few days).

No update on licence to stock ammunition. He told us that he applied circa 3 months ago, but has no assurances as to exactly when he'll get a final decision (and hopefully the licence). Obviously would be good if he got soon, so he could stock up for Christmas.

I'm pretty sure it's a former bank building, which has one if not two walk in safes, so clearly he's taken that premises for good reason.

Hopefully he'll do well enough as the more shops we have the better - competition helps bring down prices, also it would be nice to see more stuff available over the counter instead of having to get it shipped in from the UK etc.

Cass

In defense, which is odd as i'm normally critical, of the shop it's not just this one.

Since the pound has taken a beating price have dropped considerably. However i've seen in most all clothes shops a worrying trend. They are not applying the proper exchange rate.

While doing a little Christmas shopping i noticed this difference. A jacket with a price tag of £30 was being sold with a tag of €55. Now the exchange rate says this should be €35, but somewhere along the line some stuck €55 tag on it and thought no one would either notice or care.

I won't name shops but they range from the massive stores to the small shops. I also read a report in the new some weeks back where some suppliers had implemented a 10-15% increase in price for no other reason than to offset the drop in the strength of the pound.

So when you buy online you could be buying, as said above, from someone working from home, shed, etc. with no overheads, staff, etc. Or simply from someone that has bought in bulk and is not applying this "Brexit taxation".

garrettod wrote: »

No update on licence to stock ammunition. He told us that he applied circa 3 months ago, but has no assurances as to exactly when he'll get a final decision (and hopefully the licence).

He'll be waiting.

A friend has recently gone down this road. Got the final sign off some 4 months ago, and now is waiting o the actual license. As it comes from the Ministers office (as all RFD licenses do) and not the local district station he could be waiting a while longer.

garrettod

Cass wrote: »

.....He'll be waiting.

A friend has recently gone down this road. Got the final sign off some 4 months ago, and now is waiting o the actual license. As it comes from the Ministers office (as all RFD licenses do) and not the local district station he could be waiting a while longer.

Cass,

Point well made about the shops not passing on the benefits of the weaker sterling. The shooting magazines in Easons have been a prime example for decades and that is just one of many retailers we could all name and shame. Where possible, we all need to avoid doing business with such retailers (but I know this is not always possible, in which case go for plan B and give them hell about the matter when in their shops).

As for the licence to sell ammo, thats disgraceful. It's anti competitive and also, discouraging new entrants, complete with new employment etc. Maybe time to get the "great" Enda who supports business (apparently) on Francis' back a little over this issue

Cass

garrettod wrote: »

Cass,

Point well made about the shops not passing on the benefits of the weaker sterling.

Had it today again. Not shooting or hunting related, but was out shopping for the young lad. There is a certain item he wanted and i'm finding it almost impossible to get. Eventually found it in a shop in Dundrum. The price in the UK is £65, and here the label said £75. I thought an extra £10 (€12) won't break the bank. When i got to the till the lady said €109.

So the ten pound mark up, from the exact same store in the UK, was not enough they tried to milk another €20 on top of that too. So in total i'm paying an extra €32. But that is todays exchange rate.

Or look at it this way. At the moment €100 is £84. Back before June the same €100 would only have gotten you £72. So the €109 they wanted would equate to £91.54 today, but back then it would have only got you £78.48. So instead of marking the item up to £91 with no justification, they have left it at the original price of £75, but used the pre Brexit exchange rate.

Magic.

Same crap happening in supermarkets. It was in the news. Suppliers want to increase the cost, across the board, of their items (food stuffs too) by 10-15%. Tesco was one of the Supermarkets to refuse and so you'll notice they no longer stock certain items.

The shooting magazines in Easons have been a prime example for decades and that is just one of many retailers we could all name and shame.

Not just Easons. This has been a bone of contention with me for some time. A magazine says £2. You get to the till and are asked for €4. No matter the exchange rate it never came to €4. When i asked i was told it's duty and VAT on paper/ink. I asked how as the UK and Ireland are in the EU (open borders, free trade, and all those others lies were told). Of course i get the sheep stare or rabbit in headlights if that analogy works better.

Where possible, we all need to avoid doing business with such retailers (but I know this is not always possible, in which case go for plan B and give them hell about the matter when in their shops).

Unfotunately not. When it's as widespread as it is. But you're dead on. not expecting much of a response from any of the name tags, but it helps to vent.

As for the licence to sell ammo, thats disgraceful. It's anti competitive and also, discouraging new entrants, complete with new employment etc. Maybe time to get the "great" Enda who supports business (apparently) on Francis' back a little over this issue

With all checks done you'd wonder why it takes so long to simply sign off considering it is probably not even her signing it (autopen or some such device).

As for Enda, well he is a bit busy ignoring the homeless crisis and donating money to art centres in America to be dealing with anything. Bless him, it's not easy being the 3rd highest paid leader in the EU (even though out of the 28 members states we are ranked 20th in terms of population).

gunny123

Don't get me started on enda and the rest, my blood pressure was at an all time high when they wanted to blow 8 million on buying and housing mary robinsons load of rubbish, sorry state papers in mayo.

There are people living in tents in parks all around dublin, its like new yorks central park during the great depression.

Anyway, i think the reason prices are higher here, for basically everything, is economies of scale, there are less than 5 million people in the republic, but over 65 million in the uk, it costs the same to handle and distribute goods here, but you don't sell anything like as much.

Cass

gunny123 wrote: »

Don't get me started on enda and the rest,

Nor me.

Anyway, i think the reason prices are higher here, for basically everything, is economies of scale, there are less than 5 million people in the republic, but over 65 million in the uk, it costs the same to handle and distribute goods here, but you don't sell anything like as much.

See i don't buy that (excuse the pun) for a second.

Stores that are in the UK and here buy form the same suppliers, ship from the same suppliers, etc. The prices are very close if not the exact same. On the tags the items have the same price as the UK.

If you go back to pre June times the price on the tag in Sterling was pretty much what the price tag in Euro said it was (IOW the exchange rate was pretty much spot on).

Now it's not.

For smaller stores and especially hunting/shooting shops i've heard all arguments about waiting times (for guns) staff costs, rates, running costs, etc, etc. I don't dismiss them, but at the same time when, like above, and to get back on topic you have the exact same item with a 57.5% markup what possible answer can you give.

Even look at the shops within Ireland. We import pretty much all our goods. Yet one shop has it for "X" price while the others can be "X" plus 10%, 15% and some "X" minus 10%. Not on sale, just regular prices. Its why we alwyas say to shop around.

Here is the biggest kicker. Irish websites are crap. They truly are. If the last two weeks of Christmas shopping have thought me anything its that. Items i want cannot be found even after 3 hours of Google searches. I go to the shop and they have rails full of the items i want.

A lot of UK and EU stores have much better websites making shopping a much more pleasant experience. And online i can buy the item i want at the price it is in the UK with the CURRENT exchange rate.

The item i was talking about above. I can order it from the UK, with shipping, and have it here standing me €84.39. So from the exact same shop i can save €25 without having to spend €30 on fuel to get to the "Big Smoke".

gunny123

Well parcel motel is your friend, i buy a lot of tools from the uk and even with the carriage costs, they usually work out far cheaper than here. Irish retailers are very poor at the whole online advertising/marketing thing, which really is a pity, oddly its the smaller dealers who seem better at it, Pat Carley in wexford for instance has a good website, and he's a one man band.

Cass

gunny123 wrote: »

......... Pat Carley in wexford for instance has a good website, and he's a one man band.

My point exactly.

He seems cheaper than most for the exact same product. He is not Cabelas, Brownells, etc. so you cannot say he is bulk buying.

Plus most dealers import form the same main supplier. On ammo, etc. So why is it one price in one place and a much higher price in another. Sure costs come into play, but sometimes, as i see it, it's for the "quick buck". IOW i'll get what i can from them until they cop on.

Every dealer i've ever spoken to has told me the mark up on cartridges is tiny. Selling pallets of the stuff won't make you a hundredaire let alone a millionaire. Yet i've seen 25% mark ups on certain brands of cartridges in different dealers. Same brand, same size, etc.

garrettod

Rip off Ireland !
... it's that simple and will continue, as long as we all permit it to continue.

Cass,
One last thing on this item you were after for your son.... I hope you bought it from a different UK retailer, rather than just the UK version of the one trying to rip you off here in Ireland ? That way, the completely lose the business and whatever profit they might otherwise have earned on the sale.

Gunny,
Parcel Motel is excellent - although sadly they are overwhelmed at the moment, so struggling to keep up. They sent a private mini bus out to our place recently, loaded up with parcels and sent many locals text messages telling us when the bus would be there so we could come and collect our goodies... worked just fine and was great to see them using a bit of cop on, to try and clear the backlog.

DPD are trying to offer a variation of the service, but they deliver to nominated shops across the country (i.e. some Spar Shops, I think). Poor old An Post are also trying to get in on the action and while cheaper, you can only collect from a Post Office (so restricted opening hours / collection times and risk of having to stand in a queue).

Anyway, I think we can all take credit for taking this thread completely off topic (sorry !), so perhaps if Cass or one of the other lads has a moment they might do the needful and cut the unrelated posts out (maybe start a new thread entitled online shopping or something ?) ? Thanks.

Cass

garrettod wrote: »

Cass,
One last thing on this item you were after for your son.... I hope you bought it from a different UK retailer, rather than just the UK version of the one trying to rip you off here in Ireland ? That way, the completely lose the business and whatever profit they might otherwise have earned on the sale.

Bought him something else completely, from a different shop. Something he wanted a little more, but was more expensive, however i'd sooner spend more (probably stupid) an item that is correctly priced than hand over money for old rope.

garrettod

Cass wrote: »

...however i'd sooner spend more (probably stupid) an item that is correctly priced than hand over money for old rope.

Agree.

garrettod

Hi,

Has anyone heard if that chap Robert got his dealers licence for his shop in Finglas ?

... I've not had reason to be near Finglas for quite some time and just took a quick look on his website, but no sign of firearms or ammo for same (sadly).

gunny123

garrettod wrote: »

Hi,

Has anyone heard if that chap Robert got his dealers licence for his shop in Finglas ?

... I've not had reason to be near Finglas for quite some time and just took a quick look on his website, but no sign of firearms or ammo for same (sadly).

It would be good to have a gunshop in Dublin, pity its not a bit more central, but i suppose running a gunshop in junkie central is out of the question now.

blackpearl

gunny123 wrote: »

It would be good to have a gunshop in Dublin, pity its not a bit more central, but i suppose running a gunshop in junkie central is out of the question now.

Their are a lot of decent people living in Finglas who hunt and fish, less of the junkie central if you dont mind.

Captainaxiom

blackpearl wrote: »

Their are a lot of decent people living in Finglas who hunt and fish, less of the junkie central if you dont mind.

I took him to mean a central shop in the city centre which is now junkie central.

gunny123

blackpearl wrote: »

Their are a lot of decent people living in Finglas who hunt and fish, less of the junkie central if you dont mind.

Where did i mention Finglas ? Maybe READ the post before typing, if you don't mind :rolleyes:.

blackpearl

gunny123 wrote: »

Where did i mention Finglas ? Maybe READ the post before typing, if you don't mind :rolleyes:.

where is finglas sorry it must be in kerry.

garrettod

If at first you don't succeed, try...........

garrettod wrote: »

Hi,

Has anyone heard if that chap Robert got his dealers licence for his shop in Finglas ?

... I've not had reason to be near Finglas for quite some time and just took a quick look on his website, but no sign of firearms or ammo for same (sadly).

dany1234

garrettod wrote: »

If at first you don't succeed, try...........

He didn't get the licence yet. I was speaking with him the other day and he said that he didn't gwt any sign of the super for a long time now.

tikkahunter

Go by it 2 or 3 times a week , havnt even seen anybody in it when i pass . His prices on his website are standard and he carries pretty much what most other shops have or you can get cheaper online. Cant really see it lasting .

garrettod

Thanks for the update guys,

It's a very sad situation in general to see someone try and start up a new business, then be left swinging for months and months on end to get a licence to sell permitted firearms and ammo.

The bloke has clearly put some decent money into the business (based on the stock I saw, the premises etc.), he would probably create a few jobs and for us, bring a bit more competition (which ultimately does help bring prices down, even if it doesn't feel like that sometimes) .. not to mention help grow interest in our sports.

You'd like to think that on the back of a rough recession that the government would be trying to encourage him and lads like him setting up SMEs, rather than leaving him swinging like this for circa 6 months now.... (obviously it's an entirely different story if he's been refused the licence but thats something I don't think we can find out so have to take his word for it).

Good old Ireland, will it ever bloomin' change ?

Esel

I was in the area today so I dropped for a look around and spoke to the owner. He said he's expecting to be inspected for his RFD very soon (next week hopefully).

He has a very comprehensive stock of rucksacks, clothing, boots, knives, sights, fishing gear, archery, etc. Saw a nice lightweight full ghillie suit including gun sleeve and was very impressed at the price - €45!

gavindublin

The local shops around him are objecting.they don't want guns available for a potiential robbery.
My opinion is that an RFD license is a non Runner in that location.

Esel

gavindublin wrote: »

The local shops around him are objecting.they don't want guns available for a potiential robbery.
My opinion is that an RFD license is a non Runner in that location.

That's the flakiest reason for an objection that I have ever heard.

gavindublin

And even worse is it will hold ground as a valid objection.

tikkahunter

gavindublin wrote: »

The local shops around him are objecting.they don't want guns available for a potiential robbery.
My opinion is that an RFD license is a non Runner in that location.

When i lived at home it is just around the corner from the shop , i had a 9mm pistol , 2 shotguns a .22 rilfe and a .223 never had any issue licensing them , 3 drug dealers lived on my road and many criminals , i had more hassle when i moved out and got my own house in a posher area. :)

gunny123

tikkahunter wrote: »

When i lived at home it is just around the corner from the shop , i had a 9mm pistol , 2 shotguns a .22 rilfe and a .223 never had any issue licensing them , 3 drug dealers lived on my road and many criminals , i had more hassle when i moved out and got my own house in a posher area. :)

Yeah, but you didn't have a sign over the door saying guns and ammo inside.

garrettod

gunny123 wrote: »

Yeah, but you didn't have a sign over the door saying guns and ammo inside.

My guess is that the sign would be the exact same as it is at the moment, so might be interesting to find out if there have been any attempted break ins to date etc. (I take your point btw, just giving both sides of the arguement)

gavindublin wrote: »

The local shops around him are objecting.they don't want guns available for a potiential robbery.
My opinion is that an RFD license is a non Runner in that location.

Maybe someone needs to sit the retailers down and explain to them that the criminals have far easier access to higher calibre firearms coming in from abroad, so they don't actually need to go breaking into well secured firearms dealers to swipe low calibre hunting or target guns, along with a few air rifles

If thats true about the local retailers objecting, then the owner needs to invite them into his premises, given them the guided tour (reminding them it's a former bank building so solid, good safes etc.) and then bring up some stats on how many dealers have had firearms stolen from them in the last 5-10 years etc. Past and present, there are plenty of examples of other licenced dealers in retail locations and trading away as normal as any other business.

From a practical point of view, someone trying to steal firearms from that premises would have a major problem with traffic if trying to get away in a hurry, as that road in front of the shop nearly always seems to be jammers (although granted, llate at night you'd get onto the dual carraigeway fairly quickly .. .but then there's the shops security to get past etc.).

I've not been up there for quite a while tbh, but from what I can recall there's a bit of a private car park around the back of the building with a rear door entrance, so it would be easy to call the shop and mention you were bringing a firearm in and needed acces through the back, rather than march across the street from the carpark at the church in full view etc. It's a former bank building, so I'd expect it's very secure.

garrettod

Hi,

Anyone know the latest on this one ?

I don't see any mention of firearms or ammo on his website, but have not been up to the shop for a few months now.

harry Bailey esq

robertpatterson wrote: »

I dont see why not, watts had one not too far away and had another one on the quays, theres one in temple bar and there used to be one in pearse st
Once the security procedures are in place it should be treated in the same manner as anywhere else

I remember fondly going into johnny watts in Glasnevin. We used to go in for fishing tackle as kids and we'd be fascinated by the guns on display. The old guy working there would always give us the time of day and explain the differences between them all, peppered with highly dubious but highly entertaining hunting stories of his own. A lovely chap, I'll be awake all night now trying to remember his name.

harry Bailey esq

gunny123 wrote: »

I could only imagine trying to get a dealers licence for a shop in Finglas would not be for the faint hearted.

Why would that be?

yubabill1

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

I remember fondly going into johnny watts in Glasnevin. We used to go in for fishing tackle as kids and we'd be fascinated by the guns on display. The old guy working there would always give us the time of day and explain the differences between them all, peppered with highly dubious but highly entertaining hunting stories of his own. A lovely chap, I'll be awake all night now trying to remember his name.

Most times I was there it was Johnny himself. Thirty-odd years ago, now though.

His brother on the quays had a better setup imho. Very professional, great gunsmithing service, often sorted a problem for me on the spot within minutes. (I'll have to ignore the bother he got into later, something the customer would never have imagined).

And if you want the best all-round shop, I've yet to see something better than Garnett & Keegan's - really olde world shooting and fishing. You felt special entering that shop, even if you never even bought anything. Nostalgia now, though.

cookimonster

Watts on the quays, ABC tackle off Caple St, Rorys' in Temple Bar and then up to Garnet and Keegans' ......... ahhh the nostalgia of it all, those where the days.......

J.R.

cookimonster wrote: »

Watts on the quays, ABC tackle off Caple St, Rorys' in Temple Bar and then up to Garnet and Keegans' ......... ahhh the nostalgia of it all, those where the days.......

Remember them all - loved that walk around...there was also a cutlery shop up the street in Parliament-street who did some very nice knives.