North Shore Firearms

I purchased my second handgun here. They seemed rushed and a little put out by my questions. No time for education when there is stuff to sell.
When I eventually purchased the (overpriced) gun they did not take me through its operation and how to field-​strip it like a reputable shop would. No box to lock the pistol in. I did get a cable lock though.
Overall I think the experience was poor. With all the other local and better options I won’t go back there.

They made good on my SIG p238 purchase and went to bat against sig CS. All was a good deal in the end right before turkey day too! Its hard not to like the father/​son team

After reading these horrible reviews, I felt I had to post my opinion. I have been in this shop 3 or 4 times and have never experienced anything close to the negative experience some have posted. I visited on tax free weekend to make a purchase. Not super crowded but a constant flow. I am inexperienced on the purchase I made and saw a used item online. I’m thinking no way it will be there. Guy asks what site I saw it and it was in the shop. Answered every question as did a second guy. Also overheard them helping another customer, who seemed inexperienced and they were very helpful to him. I have no clue how those bad reviews came about but I disagree wholeheartedly. these reviews need to be taken with a grain if salt. I almost passed on a recommended restaurant because of horrible reviews and glad I ignored them for the same reasons as this buisness

Never had a problem in this place. Most of the staff seem to know what they’re talking about. Prices are around the same as everybody else and they will talk with you on some of the items which is nice.

place kinda stinks but the whole gun buying business in Mass stinks altogether
unfriendly staff and expensive prices
really bizarre stuff going on here, had some weird experiences
i would recommend going up to NH/​Maine or northeast arms instead
i only visit this place as a last resort when I am in dire need of ammo
not sure how this place is still in business, im guessing they cater to the fudds

I’ve been going to this shop since they opened. I go in often because it’s near my home and my gun club is across the street. Though I’ve only bought four weapons there, I pretty much have them show me something different out of the case half the time I’m there. Which leaves me at a loss to explain the other comments on this board saying their service is poor. I’m always having them show me something and barely ever buy anything. And they’re always happy to show me. Maybe because I only do so when they’re not otherwise busy showing something to someone who’s more likely to buy? I don’t know.
They have special ordered small, inexpensive items for me before with no trouble. And they are not a «small» shop. There is another half of the shop most people may not be aware of. They are also one of the few places I’ve ever seen that stock «snap caps»; which I personally find important for practicing trigger fall off and showing others how to safety check a weapon with a round actually in it.
It would be nice if they had a larger selection of used guns. At any given time there are maybe about 20 pistols and 40 long guns. But when it comes to new stock, they have a full selection of the best of everything. Their selection of accessories, especially holsters, is extremely wide as well.
Plus they have complimentary coffee and popcorn. That’s always nice.

I got my LTC a while back and was excited to purchase my first handgun. I wanted to find a local gun shop to buy a gun, some ammo and some accessories. Northshore firearms is a decent enough little shop (I waited several months and have visited several other shops and purchased several other guns since-​I waited so I could give a fair review).
I went on a weekday afternoon and there wasn’t too many people in the shop. There were several staff working. It wasn’t too difficult to get someone to show me a couple different handguns, I will say he seemed a little put out that I wanted to check out five or so guns before I decided on a Glock with 3 preban hi-​cap mags. I spend $ 700 on the gun and mags and another hundred or so on ammo. I wasn’t thrilled about the service seeing as I only wanted about 15 minutes of time to spend almost $ 800 but I chalked it up to the fact that maybe this is how all gun shops treat uninformed «newbies».
They rang me up, did NOT provide me with a lock for the gun, in fact tied the shopping bag in a knot and made a joke that it’s «locked up now.»
Upon arriving home I realized that my 3 preban hi-​cap mags all said «law enforcement only (LEO) on them. I’ll admit I felt a little rushed at the shop and looked at several handguns and some of the magazines stated «LEO only» and others did not. The salesperson (not either of the owners) at one point looked at a magazine with one of the guns, saw it said «LEO» and said, «oooops, you can’t have that one.» At the time I was uninformed and actually just trusting that they knew what they were talking about and would be doing the right thing (I’ll admit NOW, much more my responsibility, I was new to the whole process.
I am not law enforcement. Two days later I brought the magazines to the shop hoping to swap them with some other magazines that were legal for me to possess, assuming this was an honest mistake. The father and son (owners) were the only other people in the shop (that I saw) when I arrived. I explained my concern and instead of trying to explain their position to me they were immediately on the defensive with questions like, «who told you that you couldn’t have these?» And even better, «who is ever going to see them and who would ever say something?» Also, «I have the same magazines and use them all the time.»
I disagreed that it was ok for me to have these magazines and that I still thought it was illegal for me to own them. They insisted that it WAS ok for me to have these and that «their supplier wouldn’t never send them something that wasn’t compliant or legal to sell.»
Of course I looked at my receipt and it only had the Glock and ammo listed on it. No mention of magazines anywhere. The father also said, «how do we even know you got these here?»
I’m not going to argue the laws here, I feel I wasn’t treated fairly, they are not legal, I had to surrender them to the police and purchase magazines that are legal. 3 NON-​LEO preban hi– cap mags I estimate would be anywhere between $ 150-​$ 200 (for 3) based on what I’ve seen. I don’t know if them selling the magazines to me was a mistake or not, but they had the chance to make it right and chose not to in a condescending unfriendly way.
I wouldn’t do business here again and would NOT recommend anyone else either. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Staff is definitely rude, prices on most items extremely high. The store now seems to cater to police and law enforcement almost exclusively. They support and profit from the Massachusetts police state 100%.

Went in looking for a specific item. Didn’t have it. Can you get it? They’re on order. Any idea when they’ll be in? When they ship them. Do you know how many you’re getting? Whatever they send us. Can I give you my name and you can call me when they come in? We don’t do that anymore, it’s too much trouble. Ok, let’s have a look at something there in the case. Clerk turns without a word and walks away.
I wasn’t an indecisive shopper with no idea what I wanted. I didn’t ask an hours worth of questions with both of us knowing I wasn’t going to buy anything. It wasn’t some crazy weekend morning, there was one other customer in the shop and he was being helped by another clerk. I had cash in my pocket. I knew the item I wanted could require a little effort to get but there were two other things on my list as options. This guy had no interest in assisting me. When he turned and walked away without a word so did I with my money and all my future business.

Let me start off by saying their website is the most unprofessional page I have ever been to. Looks like something I made in high school to pass the class but really wasn’t concerned with getting a good grade. The workers there are so condescending that it is sickening. They have the most idiotic approach to customer service. They act like the customers are bothering them. One of the guys working there convinced me that he knew absolutely nothing about guns when he kept forwarding my questions to another employee. On another occasion I was trying to purchase ammo and one of the younger guys said all they had was hunting ammo. I was interested in purchasing it but he just kept walking away. It was the most ridiculous situation I have ever been in while shopping. It is almost like they don’t want to make any money so they ignore or be rude to their customers so they will leave. A while back I was conversing with the older guy there about my time in the Army and how I was stationed in Korea. He then started off with an onslaught of some of the most racist comments I have ever heard in my life. So its hard for me to believe that they didn’t racially profile that young gentleman that they called the cops on.
In conclusion, I dont think the owners or employees of this business have any idea what they are doing. They lack the essential customer service attitudes, knowledge, and business prowess that would help their business stay afloat. I will not be surprised if that store closes within a year. The only thing they have going for them is their location. If someone was to open a gun store down the street and have common sense they would put North Shore Firearms out of business.
Now in the instance that someone from North Shore Firearms reads this review I am sorry for all the big words. I am sure you can look them up in a dictionary to help you understand that I was very displeased every time I left the store. All in all I think I am more disappointed in myself for returning there as frequently as I did. Shame on me.

Below average. Couple of the salesman are okay but others are ignorant and have egos, biased with questions and very limited knowledge. Ammo prices only consistency is that it’s high. Decent selection and organized but used firearms are the prices of new elsewhere. You bring up other shops and they only talk negative and have excuses not to match prices.
What got me bent out of shape even more is when I brought my wife in with me who shoots. We browsed in different directions and they immediately where hitting on her and at times disrespectful, meanwhile have wives at home I’m sure, we of course just left. Save your time and money go to four seasons or collectors gallery. There’s a reason this place is empty on a Sunday when they’re the only store open
As for the whole ratting out the buyer asking Qs about the AR I’m not sure. But I can say some employees brag about having non MA compliant firearms or Gen4 Glocks. but who knows.

I purchased my first handgun in their shop and the gentleman that helped me was very patient, explained everything to me and didn’t pressure me to do anything. I know the reviews aren’t that good here, but maybe they read them and took em to heart because all I can say is there is no doubt I’ll be back for all my firearm needs. I highly recommend N. Shore Firearms.

Great customer service and prices, will definitely be going back.

Steer clear of this place. I was in there checking out some firearms and looked at the owner and he looked back and ‘readjusted’ the Glock he was carry on his waistband.
Geez, give me a break Wyatt Earp.
Don’t ask me why he did it except I assume paranoia. I dress professional, am always friendly and courteous, and am a law abiding citizen.
This in my mind confirms why they ratted out that other person to the law for asking questions about firearms. Paranoia and possible ego problems.
Regardless that you are a law abiding citizen if you walk into this place you are taking a risk with your freedom based on their actions.
My advice is to go to Four Seasons Firearms in Woburn. You can Google there name and get there address. Much friendlier, more professional, and **better prices**.
Again, steer clear of this place.

This place does not support the right to bear arms.
Evidently they don’t believe in freedom of speech in the form of simple questions as well. Asking a couple questions that most ask when new to gun ownership is cause to call the local police department.
Either that, or they are racist, because I am sure that other people have asked about silencers before, especially considering they are legal in 40 states.

Great service Good Guys! Bought a handgun here a while back made a hell of a ride to do it they took real good care of me made sure the gun was ready when I arrived. Good selection as well!

This shop has a good selection of accessories, and seems to have a large stock of long guns. They can’t seem to keep ammunition in stock, and while there is an ammo shortage, many other local shops have been at least partially stocked.
One thing that helps set this shop apart from the rest is their fairly large supply of reloading supplies.

I am mystified by the bad experiences others seem to have had. I have always found the folks there to be very helpful. My only complaint comes from their telling me that they were out of the reloading powder I was after, but that it would be in soon. I went back and the powder order had indeed arrived, but the one I was after was not in the order. They claimed the vendor screwed up the order, and I have to take their word for it.
Otherwise, they have been great, taking several FFL transfers without issue. The prices are reasonable (for a MA shop anyway), and the selection decent. Unfortunately, like everyone else, they have been cleaned out of anything «black», rifle-​wise, and ammo is limited to 2 boxes a day (all calibers). Thank God I reload, and stocked up the minute the Wizard of O was elected the first time. — JR

I’ve had a gun in my hand in one way shape or form since I have been able to safely operate one– hell, I still have my original FID issued at age 15 that indicates its good for life unless revoked (another big FU from Massachusetts)
Needless to say I’ve been in my fair share of gun shops. If I have the time I’ll still drive to Kittery. However as I don’t always have the time, and because I sometimes need to ensure I’m buying MA compliant, this is my new gun store.
Relative to EVERY other store in MA the people here are friendly, eager to please and understand that they are in a customer service industry (the horror!). I’ve purchased guns, ammo and other multiple trips. Experience was the same on each visit. Please don’t change North Shore!

I live on the North Shore and had had some mixed experiences with my usual gun shop which is 20 minutes from my house, so decided to take in North Shore Firearms, which is maybe 5 minutes from my house. Left thinking the extra 15 minute drive is worth it.
First the positives: good selection of firearms and accessories as well as some clothing. Great location on Route 114, easy to get in and out.
I grabbed a couple of accessories for one of my Sigs, and went to the counter where four men were standing by the register, pretty much just staring into space. I tried to make eye contact with any one of them to ask a question about whether what I chose would fit my Sig, and the closer I got to the counter, the more they seem to sense a question was coming, and they all turned away to the point that I’d have to ring Big Ben to get their attention. It was really unbelievable how much they wanted to avoid doing ANYTHING with a customer.
So I had a choice: clear my throat loudly and ask, «Could someone please help me with a question?», or put the stuff back and walk out.
Since I am of the mindset that it’s stupid to have customers chase employees to spend money, I did the latter. Won’t be back.