Miller's Ace Hardware 208 Centre Drive, Stephens City, VA 22655

"I have been shopping at this store for small firearm parts, and have also purchased two handguns and all of my ammo from them. I am hesitant to return I've spent the past 6 months saving up to build my dream upper receiver. I've been slowly buying all the high-end parts I wanted, waiting for them to go on sale. Recently, I acquired everything I needed, except for my muzzle device. While I'm pretty handy with my own work, I'm a little hesitant to do any barrel or gas block work due to the meticulous nature of it. So, I decided to take my box of parts, including my Aero Precision Enhanced upper and handguard, to Miller's for assembly. However, my experience with the guys at the gun counter was not very welcoming. The tall red-headed gentleman who was helping me opened the SEALED BAG of my $350 FN CHF barrel and started complaining about how much oil they packed it in, as if he didn't know that is how barrels are packed. He then insisted that the barrel had been fired in the past. Then made a comment that he had never seen an upper receiver with the "front extension thingy" on it. This should have been a red flag that made me walk out the door considering THEY ARE THE #1 AERO PRECISION DEALER IN VIRGINIA AND HAVE 10 ENHANCED UPPERS HANGING ON THEIR WALL!! The red-haired gentleman then began to try and lecture me and imply that they could not assemble my upper because the barrel length was 14.7 inches. He pretty much implied that they would have to affix a muzzle device before I could take the upper back from them. This is also alarming because they do not know the law, considering they had 10 plus AERO PRECISION UPPERS ON THEIR WALL WITH SUB 16 INCH BARRELS!! Unless the upper is mated to a lower with a stock, there is no law against it. This was red flag number 3 for me at this point. The individual who was working on my upper seemed friendly and polite, but was in a hurry, which should have been a warning. He used pliers in front of me to remove my dust cover and ended up scratching my brand new, clean FDE upper. He then took the rest to the back bench to complete the work. I offered to come back later or on Tuesday to give them time, but they insisted it would only take a minute. Later, he returned and could not locate his torque wrench to tighten the handguard torex screws. I asked him how he had torqued the barrel or gas block if he couldn't find his torque wrench???? He replied that it was "fine" and "tight." He continued to strip the screws on my handguard in front of me since his torex bits were damaged. I asked him to stop and informed him that I could finish it at home just to stop the damage that was occurring. I paid for the service and was about to leave when he told me that he had to "tap" my gas block because the FN barrel was tight. I looked at him in surprise, and he responded, "It's okay, it's lined up. I'm just curious how it will cycle." I am not sure what to say. After leaving the place and inspecting the upper, I found many etchings along the barrel and the gas block. Even though I am not a gunsmith, I know that you need to heat the gas block with a torch to slide it on, and not hit it with a hammer. Moreover, I did not bring them a cheap barrel box of parts. The parts I brought were considered Mid/High End - BCM gas block, FN Barrel, Aero Gas Tube. I was not in a hurry or rushing them. I wonder why they did it this way. Why, why, why? I am now questioning whether the rifle will explode in my face when I take it to the range. I will have to pay out of pocket to have the gas block and barrel inspected for damage at Stonewall. I regret not doing the work myself. I am more disappointed with myself than with the person who did it. I trusted them to have more knowledge and expertise, but it turned out to be untrue." Hopefully I can rectify this with the manager next week, I just want the damaged parts replaced. And hope they can take more pride in their work. I work In the automotive service industry, this experience would no be tolerated. Most notably the lack of knowledge of the one employee."

"Convenient to me here in Stephens City, but really to everyone south of Winchester. A top-shelf small hardware store with big selection. They have every department you might need and Lots of seasoned staff to help find things or even shoot the breeze, lol. Far and away my favorite place to gear up"

"Been going here for over ten years. After a bad experience with an older employee who was rude and disrespectful, I did not go back for nearly 3 years. Decided to try it again and am extremely satisfied. Staff is very helpful, great selection of products, and the rental equipment is top notch."

"Had another company come out in September and clean my pellet stove, I mentioned I’d been having trouble with it igniting, they replied they don’t repair my brand, just clean it. Called Ace as they sell Harman’s and they came out and fixed the issue and cleaned it again. The difference in Ace’s cleaning job is phenomenal and even cleaned the space around the stove. Looks almost new for an over 10 year old unit. Austin was very friendly and stayed to make sure it lit and ran well for a few minutes. Thanks!"

"GUN DEPARTMENT IS A REAL CLUSTER $@&! I drop off a handgun on 9/30/23 to have a complete spring set installed and test fired afterwards. I was given a quote of $100 plus $15 more to test fire the weapon. This is for a half hour job that I can personally do. When can I expect to get the gun back I ask? I am told from a week and a half to two weeks but no definite ready date. I say, OK and leave the gun while getting a receipt. During the drop off process a few bells went off which I ignored to my chagrin: Bell#1 When I asked the sales associate filling out the work order to make sure the gun is test fired before I get it back, he was befuddled. I told him I assume your gunsmith will test fire the gun to ensure his work is correct? The sales associate replied "no, but he will do it for a fee I guess. " I tell the sales associate if he had ever heard of the hard fast rule; never trust a weapon you haven’t personally test fired? He replied no. I then ask why would I then trust your gunsmith’s work if he doesn’t test fire the weapon before he gives it back to me? Sales Associate’s answer, "I don’t know." With that answer, Bell #2 goes off; what kind of gunsmith are they dealing with? Its now 10/17/23 and I haven’t heard a thing from the gun shop or the gunsmith that my gun is ready. I decide an in-person visit is necessary to find out the status of my gun. No one knows what the status is except to say the gun is not in the store. I explain my displeasure as to the lack of knowledge regarding the status of my gun and the legal repercussions if my gun is lost. I made it clear I wanted their gunsmith contacted that day to find out the status of my gun and to call me before COB 10/17/23, to let me know what they found out. While I was conversing with the sales associate, another customer got behind me taking this all in. Bell#3: When the store associate goes away to find someone to help him answer my questions, the customer asks me if I had pawned my gun and wanted it back. I replied no, I left it for modification work. The customer replied “you could have fooled me, you sure this isn’t a pawn shop?” No call back on 10/17/23 as requested. I call the shop the morning of 10/18/23 to pursue the matter further. I find out that the gunsmith was in the shop earlier that morning. My gun is not in the shop. When I press for a more informative status, I am told the gunsmith will try to get to it when he can. Nobody can tell me when that day will be. Okay, it is 19 days later, no gun and no work done on it with only a lackadaisical promise of ‘’ he’ll get to it when he can” to perform a 30-minute job and test firing? Bell #4 goes off. They simply do not care about my business!!! I clearly tell the store associate to get my gun, case, and parts back to his shop for pick up for the morning of 10/19/23. I picked up my gun before 12 noon on 10/19/23. One sales associate disappears while another just sits behind the register on his cell phone ignoring me. I announce I am there to pick up my gun. Again, sales associate doesn’t know what or where my gun is. He has to go find out. I can see my property on the shelf in the back room. Its not tagged, its just sitting on the shelf. No one knows why the gun wasn’t worked on, no one cares to find out why the gun wasn’t worked on, and no one even offer’s an apology. Nobody in the place cares period. For anyone who is thinking about buying, trading, or having gunsmithing done on their weapon(s) at this establishment, take into consideration the following; - Sales/job knowledge and professionalism is lacking. - No communication. - You cannot get a firm commitment as to when the work you need done will get done. This says a lot about a business. In short, NO ACCOUNTABILITY. With guns, you better always be accountable! - But most of all it says they don’t care about your business. In summary, ask yourself reader, is this the place you want to leave your high dollar piece, a family heirloom, a collectable, or the gun your life may depend on in a split second?"