Commandos - Garden City

[Jeff]

I purchased a KWA AEG from Commandos in Garden City today. I'm starting a new review because it was a different location than the one previously reviewed, and I believe it may be staffed/supplied differently than other locations.

Given the concerns expressed by others, my first step was to confirm that Commandos was an authorized seller of KWA products. I'm assuming they are given that KWA has Commandos identified on their website.

I then wanted to make sure I was getting a new product. I telephoned the store in advance to make sure they knew I didn't want the one off the wall. I'm not sure why this mattered to me (other than it seemed to bother others, so I decided to avoid it if possible). I'm satisfied I bought a new, unmolested, KWA AEG.

I wanted to avoid overpaying. I don't mind paying a bit more to a local retailer, but I don't like feeling as if I was taken advantage of either. As it turns out, the gun was $20 more at Commandos than the best Internet price I could find. Their website had a $20 off coupon (that I printed and brought with me) so I'm satisfied the gun was a fair deal. I also bought a box of 6 of the KWA midcap pmags. I paid $6 more than the best Internet price I could find, but an extra dollar-per-mag didn't offend me. They gave me a deal on some BBs given the magnitude of the sale. All in, the price I was charged was fair.

Service is trickier to grade. The store was tended by one person. He was a nice, attentive guy. He was not an airsoft expert. I knew what I wanted, so this wasn't a problem for me.

Based on service, product availability, and price, I give Commandos a solid B (you need to give me a great deal, or wow me with industry knowledge to get an A).

Jeff

[thedeisel]

I went to the gratiot location not too long ago for green gas (under warranty) and then a propane adapter. The second time Sam was there, and he kept talking about buying PT North and South. The store has positively changed significantly. No more hookas and a lot more fair priced stock.

Sam is a great guy, and a great airsofter. I am giving both visits an A because the prices were +/-$1 of retail, and it was 3 minutes away. The first time his father(?) was there and he didn't seem to know a lot about things. I knew that I wanted a curtain can of GG, and so no issues. Sam was there the second time. LOTS of guns and gear! I really do have high hopes for his new field and possible stores... I can tell he has tons of potential.

I know it's not the same store, but I thought it would be okay to submit it here, showing a positive change.

[Tank]

I had a similar experience with this location when I purchased an Echo 1 E90 from them. If I didn't know what I wanted, or had no experience in airsoft the guy running the store might not have been very helpful. He kept throwing out what the gun chronos at with .12g BBs. Who cares! But he was nice enough, and attentive, and also got a new gun out when I purchased.

I know the owner of the Commando's chain didn't have the best of time on this forum. I don't recall if he text typed or not, but I do remember that he didn't take criticism very well. It's a shame, since they do actually carry some decent guns, and have multiple in stock.

[gonzo342]

I just went the other day and purchased a high cap Sig mag, and it was ~$20. I do notice that they do not have a lot of green gas mags. I keep trying to find one for a KJW 229 but they dont have any. I realy do like the place, Sam is very nice if you know what you want.

I do notice that once in a while when I go there a bunch of kids will show up and say.

" we needz new guns cuz the police came and took ourz, cuz we were playin at da local parkand we gots in troubble"

Then one of the guys there will try to sell them somethig Very cheep.

I do try to teach them on a little airsoft "know how" but the kids just blow me off. The Staff dont really seem to mind the help tho.

[Tank]

My experience that I've had at both his stores, was a little strange, when I mentioned MiA to his customers. They always act like they've never heard of MiA, which we all know isn't true. I've never called them out on it though, I figured it would be poor form. I just cringe every time I see someone buying an airsoft gun at their store and are obviously not playing at airsoft fields. I can't, consciously, just stand there and not say anything about organized airsoft. If not for their safety, then for my ability to continue to play without ridiculous laws being enforced.

[gonzo342]

Oh God I know what you mean tank, I was one of those little s***'s but I found MiA. Now when my friends want to go play airsoft at the local park (non airsoft/pb) I tell them what places they can go play at and what not. I try to eduimicate people but it does not seem to help.

[jasonadams]

I purchased a Well MB13 for my son two weeks ago. He opened it for his birthday and decided to go sight it in and set the hopup. The gun had definite issues with accuracy. About every fifth shot it would go about one or two feet wide. This at about 50 feet. You could see a mark where the pellets were hitting the orange safety cap on the end of the barrel. So....I took it back. It's about a 50 minute drive round trip. The owner took it out the back door, pointed it from his hip and shot about 7 pellets. He said, "I pointed it that way and they went that way". So I suppose he thinks that accuracy means if I aim north and the pellet goes north, the accuracy is good then!! After 5 minutes of heated argument, he finally says he will send it to the other shop to be looked at. He calls the next day that I can pick it up. I pick it up, we take it home, and find when taking it out that the safety is broken. I call back up. The owner says 'It's just three screws on the bottom, you can open it and tighten the safety screw". I asked him if he was going to warranty the gun if anything else was wrong or blame me for braking something. He says "fine, bring back I will do". So, I drive up again. He isn't there, they will send it back to the other shop to fix it, I can pick it up again in two days. Three days later, today, I get a call that it is ready. I go to pick it up (another 50 minute drive, sigh). I get there and look at the gun, the safety is still flopping around and will not hold a detente in either direction. I show it to him, he cycles it back and forth and says "what's wrong"? I contain my rage and walk behind the counter and flip safety back and forth on the wall model. "See how it's supposed to work, how this one stays where you put it"? When you look at the wall model, you can see it's straight too, mine is obviously bent. Probably dropped. I am guessing my "new one" that he exchanged earlier may not be "new", but some other person's return. First he asks me "what did you do to it". Now I am pissed. I tell him "YOU GUYS JUST FIXED THIS, THE SAFETY, THAT IS WHY I AM IN THE STORE RIGHT NOW, PICKING UP MY FIXED GUN". He get's on the phone and tells the person on the other end, "yeah, this guys says there is something wrong with the safety still". Then tells me the guy had tightened the screw but it must have gotten loose again and I can leave it to be fixed again or bring it back in a week. I say, "you know it takes me almost an hour to get here and back home, this is my FOURTH trip up here. He says "you know my daughter's bike I had to take back 3 times to get it fixed right". I give a crap. If the guy even acted ashamed of blaming me for the bad product he is giving me, or at least showed some kind of remorse or regret I could probably live with this. But this guy is a brick, he thinks he is doing me a favor by having me travel back and forth 6 times. I will probably take it back one more time when he calls, I feel like charlie brown and that this guy is lucy holding the football. Anybody know a good airsoft gunsmith on the west side of detroit?

[UAD Airsoft]

Ats Jason is good along with a guy at joes army navy (I believe)

Good luck with getting your gun fixed