Order from Rifle Shoppe issues, need advise

[armourer eric]

Greetng,

I am sorry that my first post here is of a negative nature, but I am at my wit's end and am in need of advise. I am in English Civil War living history in Southern CA, and after months of saving, purchased a 528 matchlock kit from The Rifle Shop on June 1. As of a conversation on 1 October, my order was ready to be shipped the next day, since that time none of my phone calls or emails have been answered. I am a professional armour maker in San Diego and expect to have no problem assembling the kit, I am aware that they are a very reputable outfit but what should I do at this point?

Eric Joseph

 

[Wes/Tex]

Sadly, your situation is not unusual. I don't know what to say outside of the fact that some shipments have taken as much as a year, which certainly isn't any help for you, but is all I can throw out. Good luck. :curse:

 

[Dave Poss]

Call them from another phone (They may have caller I.D. and be ignoring you). If an answering machine picks up...give an alias and tell them you wish to place an order but have a question- to please call you back. 9 times out of 10, you'll get a call back. To keep from pi**ing them off, tell them that the name used is a friend and he's not there right now but "while I have you on the phone.....". This has worked for me on occasion. Not with this company, but another. Hope this helps...a good test for your acting skills! eace:

P.S. It's not REALLY a lie if you squint and rationalize!

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

Welcome to the forum! ::

Sorry, I know your situation is frustrating. I've never dealt with The Rifle Shoppe before, but this was a topic of discussion several months ago. TRS seems to have a reputation for this sort of thing.

I hope it works out for you.

 

[fusilierlx]

I am currently in the same situation only worse. I have orders for two complete matchlocks pending. TRS charged my credit card for the full amount back in May and June. I have received fewer than 50% of the parts.

I had one phone call from them a couple months ago promising shipment of all parts the following Monday. No parts, no word, no answer to my emails.

A gunmaker in PA worked for 3 1/2 years to build me a French 1728 musket. Eventually he had to give up on the project due to TRS's failure to ship parts.

This fellow has had a lot of experience with TRS and what burns him is that getting parts from them seems to depend a lot on who you are. He claimed to know of several cases where parts ordered by one person, who had been waiting months, were shipped instead to someone higher on the food chain who ordered later.

What irks me is that they claim to be Christian. I guess when you have a virtual monopoly you do as you please.

JSA

 

[Henry]

Phone first , ask if they have the parts
on the shelf , it worked for me.
If they say they do not have them in inventory
think of another project .

Plan B : Phone to Track of ze Wolf
they some time have Rifle shoppe parts
in inventory .

Henry

 

>getting parts from them seems to depend a lot on who you are

That explains why I did not get my wheellock parts in 5 years..

I abandoned the project, after beeing told repeatedly about once a year that the parts would be sent "soon". Now I am on a snaplock project, they had promised that the set would be available in 3 months. A call a few weeks ago brought the statement that shipment would be the next week. That cheered me up a lot, but after reading this I hope that it is not just part of the pattern.

Robert

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

fusilierlx,
Glad to have you on board! :thumbsup:

 

[LSU TIGER]

I'm undergoing a similar problem. I sent a set of castings back to TRS for assembly. That was 2 years ago! In the mean time, I've gotten pretty good at lock assembly and want the castings back.

I sent the second email today and if I don't get a response in a week, it's registered mail time. If I get nothing from that, I can file a suit in small claims court. I know that $100.00 is a pretty small amount, but it's the principal of the issue. :nono: :m2c:

 

[LSU TIGER]

I got a response from TRS. He said it will go out Monday. If I don't see it by Thursday, I'll send a regidtered letter.

 

[armourer eric]

This fellow has had a lot of experience with TRS and what burns him is that getting parts from them seems to depend a lot on who you are. He claimed to know of several cases where parts ordered by one person, who had been waiting months, were shipped instead to someone higher on the food chain who ordered later.



JSA

If Iever find any evidence of that, it would be a big mistake on their part, so far, I've not pulled any weight on them, but I am one of the biggest sellers of self made jousting equipment on ebay and I do have substantial contacts on the internet.

I am glad that someone was able to reach them.

Eric

 

[Stumpkiller]

What irks me is that they claim to be Christian.

What part of the past 2,000 years did you miss? The only difference between a Christian and a Heathen in most dealings is that the Christian expects to be forgiven for transgressions after the fact and recognizes no earthly judgement.

Don't confuse "Christian" with "Christ like".

 

[Slowpoke]

TRS is like every other supplier of muzzleloader parts out there when it comes to preferential treatment of it's customers. There's a heirarchy and well know makers WILL recieve items before "you" will.
I know this for a fact. I needed a "part" (not from TRS) for a project, and to be honest I needed it quickly. I called a supplier and they said it would be 6-7 months. I called a gunbuilder buddy of mine, he made a call, and I had it in my hands in 8 days. This should not come as a shock to anyone, it's just like anything else. It's who you know.

SP

 

[benvenuto]

This makes discouraging reading!

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

This makes discouraging reading!

On the contrary, it makes for enlightening reading...

 

[LSU TIGER]

I'll tell you how I dealt with TRS. I sent a Pistor lock kit to them to assemble. I was told it would be 6 months. OK, no big deal. Two YEARS later I hadn't heard a word, so I emailed asking for it's return. No response. A mnoth later, I emailed again and got a response that it would go out "Monday." After 10 days, I emailed saying that if it wasn't in the mail in 2 business days and I had a tracking number, I'd file in small claims court. I got it back yesterday.

 

[Slowpoke]

Sorry it had to come to that but sometimes you have to shove back.

SP

 

[SquirrelsaurusR]

With all the horror stories I've heard, I don't think I'll ever be doing business with those guys. At one point a couple of years ago, I considered buying parts from them to build a musket. Good thing I didn't, I'd probably still be waiting.

It's amazing they're able to remain in business with such a bad record for service.

 

[Slowpoke]

This is no excuse... but they their a small shop that do HIGHLY specialized reproductions. You can't just call up anyone and get that part reproduced or lock copied. Anyway, I'm surprised how they stay in business. You treat your customers like they do and they will soon start letting out their dirty laundry, one barrel company is getting to be that way now.

SP

 

[Bri in Chi]

I am about to start my 3rd TRS project, an English dog lock pistol. Just finishing a snaphaunce lock, and made a wheel lock last year. They are slow, but the do eventually ship the stuff. I just try to plan ahead. Lately, I have been getting responses from emails, but for a long time they didn't seem to ever pick up the phone. So perhaps things are improving.
I have a few technical building questions. Is this the right forum to ask them?
Hard to find anyone who even knows how to say "snaphaunce."