Gentlemen (and Ladies, too, of course, if any be present):
Tom Watson informs me that my new R9s is on its way to my local gun dealer, and that it should be here tomorrow or Friday. Many of you have done business with Tom, and know what a class act that is, but for the newer guys, I being one of whom, I thought I would relate my experience.
Tom has a great Web site, and sells a number of different kinds of handguns, including on the best-looking SAA's I've seen. I had bought a Rohrbaugh knife from him earlier in the year, and the experience was most pleasant, so I e-mailed him one day last week about a new Rohrbaugh. He replied to say it would have to come from the factory, as he was sold out of 9mm's, but that it should be in by the end of the week. I went to my local dealer, with whom I do all of my business, and made the arrangements. I sent Tom a cashier's check, and we are in business. If you don't want, don't ask.
My thought is, any of us who want a new Pup, really should contact Tom first. The Rohrbaughs are so few and so sought-after that no one is going to get much of a discount locally, or anywhere else, for that matter, and if one has a local dealer with whom he does his business, they should make the transfer for him without skinning him alive. For instance, my dealer has a regular charge of $100 for such a transfer. After I reminded them that I do all of my business there, and have bought several guns from them in the last 12 months, they lowered it to $50. That’s still a lot, in my opinion, but showed at least a measure of good faith. I would think anyone might have a similar experienced with his local dealer.
Another fact is, Tom is a factory-authorized Rohrbaugh dealer, and as such, can get a pistol within a few days, as my own situation illustrates. My local dealer sells Rohrbaughs, but gets them through a distributor, and it takes them months to get one in. I’d rather do business with someone who can call Marie up and get one on its way the next day, and if he needs to, get one of the brothers on the phone. We’re a small, close-knit brotherhood here, bound together by these terrific little pistols, and those guys in Deer Park know it. They respond to the guys who know them and have been close to them from the beginning, like Tom Watson, and for newcomers like me, it’s a good feeling.
All of you fellows on the forum have been helpful and informative, and those with whom I've done some business, yankee2500 and Meco and The Irish Guard, have just been great. I cannot recommend you highly enough, for the high quality products you make and sell, and for being the kind of standup gentlemen with whom one wishes to be associated.
Kindest regards,
4mallard
