John Nichols
Inactive
I am posting this here at the request of a fellow instructor who saw it on an email list and thought those here should be warned as well.
My recent experience indicates caution is called for when dealing with an organization called "Firearms Academy of Seattle", managed by a Marty Hayes.
To establish my credentials (not AT ALL to brag): I have taken over a dozen firearms training courses over the last 20 years from varied top-flite trainers (Jeff Cooper, Chuck Taylor, NRA Law-Enforcement Instructor courses, etc). I teach firearms techniques from pistol to smg and have brought in nationally-known instructors into my area to teach as well.
Bottom line: I know very well how this game is played, from standpoint of student and of
instructor.
The Problem: I contracted with Firearms Academy of Seattle to attend a Tactical Rifle/Shotgun course and sent in my deposit.
Four (!) days prior to the course, I received a phone call saying the course is simply canceled due to "scheduling problems". The official story is that Hayes and the instructor "miscommunicated on the dates".
Actually FAS changed the course date and failed to confirm that the instuctor had understood the change. FAS left it unconfirmed until four days before the course.
That's not a mistake. That is negligence.
This was no act of God, nor of the instructor not showing up. It was unprofessional, boneheaded negligence in the FAS organization
Additionally, Firearms Academy of Seattle COULD have held the course one week later, as was originally scheduled. This would have significantly lessened the impact of their negligence. FAS chose not to do so.
Such an elemental blunder at such a late date and such indifference to paying students are _absolutely_ inexcusable in my opinion and in my experience. A PROFESSIONAL CHECKS SIGNIFICANT DETAILS WELL IN ADVANCE. REPEATEDLY! That is what a professional is PAID FOR! Also I find the shrug and "Gee whiz, we're sorry." attitude professionally insulting.
Firearms Academy of Seattle offered NO amends for their reneging on their training commitment - not so much as a free coke. I will not go into the preparations (travel, equipment, etc) required for my attending the course, but they were significant. Their refunding my deposit does not EVEN NEARLY square things!
Had I tried to pull a similar last-minute persian carpet story on THEM about a "scheduling error" Firearms Academy of Seattle would have (rightly) kept my deposit. Should you decide to attend a FAS course, I recommend you require FAS send YOU a performance deposit.
Apologies don't feed the bulldog. If I tried to run my business in such a cursory manner, I would be on the sidewalk rather soon.
Some may have had other experiences with FAS. Others still may say that "everyone makes mistakes." (although this was no mere mistake!) Nevertheless I will not consider taking another class from Firearms Academy of Seattle. In my actual experience, they are simply not to be relied upon.
I do not post this in anger, but in professional disgust. Things like this give the whole training industry, of which I am a part, a bad name.
You will probably see an orgy of flames following this post, probably from FAS employees and hangers-on questioning my character, my qualifications my veracity and probably my spelling. Nonetheless, the facts remain: Firearms Academy of Seattle is simply NOT TO BE RELIED UPON!
Take heed or not as you choose. You have been warned.
Cordially,
John Nichols
My recent experience indicates caution is called for when dealing with an organization called "Firearms Academy of Seattle", managed by a Marty Hayes.
To establish my credentials (not AT ALL to brag): I have taken over a dozen firearms training courses over the last 20 years from varied top-flite trainers (Jeff Cooper, Chuck Taylor, NRA Law-Enforcement Instructor courses, etc). I teach firearms techniques from pistol to smg and have brought in nationally-known instructors into my area to teach as well.
Bottom line: I know very well how this game is played, from standpoint of student and of
instructor.
The Problem: I contracted with Firearms Academy of Seattle to attend a Tactical Rifle/Shotgun course and sent in my deposit.
Four (!) days prior to the course, I received a phone call saying the course is simply canceled due to "scheduling problems". The official story is that Hayes and the instructor "miscommunicated on the dates".
Actually FAS changed the course date and failed to confirm that the instuctor had understood the change. FAS left it unconfirmed until four days before the course.
That's not a mistake. That is negligence.
This was no act of God, nor of the instructor not showing up. It was unprofessional, boneheaded negligence in the FAS organization
Additionally, Firearms Academy of Seattle COULD have held the course one week later, as was originally scheduled. This would have significantly lessened the impact of their negligence. FAS chose not to do so.
Such an elemental blunder at such a late date and such indifference to paying students are _absolutely_ inexcusable in my opinion and in my experience. A PROFESSIONAL CHECKS SIGNIFICANT DETAILS WELL IN ADVANCE. REPEATEDLY! That is what a professional is PAID FOR! Also I find the shrug and "Gee whiz, we're sorry." attitude professionally insulting.
Firearms Academy of Seattle offered NO amends for their reneging on their training commitment - not so much as a free coke. I will not go into the preparations (travel, equipment, etc) required for my attending the course, but they were significant. Their refunding my deposit does not EVEN NEARLY square things!
Had I tried to pull a similar last-minute persian carpet story on THEM about a "scheduling error" Firearms Academy of Seattle would have (rightly) kept my deposit. Should you decide to attend a FAS course, I recommend you require FAS send YOU a performance deposit.
Apologies don't feed the bulldog. If I tried to run my business in such a cursory manner, I would be on the sidewalk rather soon.
Some may have had other experiences with FAS. Others still may say that "everyone makes mistakes." (although this was no mere mistake!) Nevertheless I will not consider taking another class from Firearms Academy of Seattle. In my actual experience, they are simply not to be relied upon.
I do not post this in anger, but in professional disgust. Things like this give the whole training industry, of which I am a part, a bad name.
You will probably see an orgy of flames following this post, probably from FAS employees and hangers-on questioning my character, my qualifications my veracity and probably my spelling. Nonetheless, the facts remain: Firearms Academy of Seattle is simply NOT TO BE RELIED UPON!
Take heed or not as you choose. You have been warned.
Cordially,
John Nichols
).
However, this incident does not relate to API to my knowledge.