therifleshoppe?

[Alden]

Yeah, except they screw things up too, as mentioned.

On my last purchase, which I deliberated for a year and a half to order but did a few Christmas' ago when they confirmed the entire set was in stock, it still took six months to get (they finally admitted they were redoing the stocks as the others had been seasoned wrong and were warped too badly to send -- great). They had backordered the spare mainspring I ordered -- OK, it was a spare so who cares -- I was just happy to get the main set sent to my gunsmith who said the roughing-out fit was terrible workmanship. Remember, I ordered the lock ASSEMBLED and it wouldn't work -- the lock could not be cocked; the mainspring weight alone had to be cut in half and the stock had to be reshaped and some areas filled!

Eventually I asked them about the backordered mainspring. They said they shipped it implying it was when they shipped the original set. I told them it was backordered then and HADN'T! They checked for WEEKS and finally agreed. Still, weeks later when they finally shipped it they had me sign for it, showing picture proof of identity, confirming I personally rec'd it when it was shipped as though I had been lying to them. It would have been much easier for an illegal alien to stroll into a voting booth in a sanctuary city than get this part!

 

[Claude Mathis]

What this all comes down to is that we all know TRS usually takes a very long time to fill its orders-- that seems to be an established fact.

That my be a a gross generalization. I did not know that and I would guess that there are quite a few people who have never ordered from them (or heard of them) who would be expecting a much different level of service.

 

[kb466]

Yes, I wasn't really clear on who I was referring to. I was trying to make the point that those following this thread should be on notice that a TRS order might take a very long time. There's also a notice on the TRS website saying that their order might take a while. I can see that other uninformed persons placing orders might be in for an unpleasant surprise when they discover it might take months or years to receive their orders. Really, TRS should inform people up front as to how long their order might take, and then they can decide whether to go forward with the order or not,
Bill M.

 

[Alden]

Really, TRS should inform people up front as to how long their order might take, and then they can decide whether to go forward with the order or not,
Bill M.

KB, it wouldn't matter. Even when they do they are TERRIBLY off. Sometimes by many years (i.e. my 12-yr. incubating .69 Baker Rifle)! But, again, I don't think they're lying -- they're just really bad at running their business.

This is a common theme in custom work, right? I don't care who you ask, days are weeks which are months and those are quarters which are really years. Just the way it is (only TRS DOES have hit or miss quality controls in place and apparently goes through alot of bad employees too). Could be worse...

Some have apparently turned outright thief, as in John Buck, or are just shady enough to try to get away with what they think they can like the good ol' boy at TVM or guys importing into their garage and selling India-made guns on auction sites while lying about disclosing the origin to their victims.

 

[kb466]

As to TRS quality, I can only speak for my own experience, but the stuff I have ordered and received from TRS has all been high quality in my humble opinion-- including a parts set for a 1795 Springfield musket with assembled lock. Like I said, that has been my experience...
Bill M.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Mine as well, not that it makes any difference, there will always be naysayers. :surrender:

 

[rickystl]

Well, I tried to call TRS twice last week. First call I left a message that I wanted to place an order and left both my cell phone number and my 800 number from work. No return call after 3 days. Second phone call I got a recorded message: "mail box full - try again later". So yesterday, I sent an email with a list of items that I asked if any/all in stock I would like to place an order. We'll see if that works. :haha: I'll keep trying and let you guys know how long it takes to get a response. Rick. :hatsoff:

 

[kb466]

I'll be interested to hear what they say when you get hold of them-- particularly what they have in stock and ready to ship.
Bill M.

 

[rickystl]

I'll keep trying till I get a hold of them. We'll see how long it takes.

 

[Alden]

DON'T FORGET, alot of parts all those cherished custom gunmakers use to "build" things come from TRS (many as kits -- didn't know that!?) and they get served first. Sorry, that's just the way it is -- "cash is king" and it's found in larger, ongoing, repeat, business-2-business, not business-2-consumer, orders.

 

[Dean2]

I have NO experience with this vendor so I have no dog in this hunt. I will say however that after reading the last three pages you guys are either masochists of the first order or this place must sell some spectacularly rare and top quality stuff.

Only way I would deal with someone with this service record is if I could walk in, pay cash and walk out with my goods. Waiting up to 5 years for stuff you order just doesn't register with me as a viable business model.

That said, if you are willing to do it, more power to you. You are a far more patient man than I Gunga Din.

 

[Claude Mathis]

I have NO experience with this vendor so I have no dog in this hunt. I will say however that after reading the last three pages you guys are either masochists of the first order or this place must sell some spectacularly rare and top quality stuff.

I would not do business with anyone like that, no matter what they sold - I would simply do without. But, that's just me.

 

[rickystl]

Well, I finally received a call back yesterday about 4:00 from a nice lady. She mentioned she was out a few days from knee surgery and was trying to catch up with the phone calls. By coincidence, I had tried FAXING my parts request earlier that day, which she had not seen yet. So I told her to take a look at the list and verify whats "in stock" and call me back and I would give her a credit card. Hopefully, I'll hear something back today. We'll see. Rick. :hatsoff:

 

[Tinker2]

Ricky, good luck to you.

I talked to them Thursday, ordered some stuff from them that they had on hand and back-ordered some other things that may take a while.



William Alexander

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
I've built 8 guns using TRS parts. My experience with them has always been uneven but I always got the parts within 1 year. I don't doubt any of you that waited or are still waiting much longer. My comment is about quality. That too was uneven. For example, the Ferguson parts were excellent and needed no special treatment for flaws or poor fit. However, parts sets such as a wheellock, and early English lock, and an early Twigg lock with stock hardware all required a lot of effort to fix poor castings. I had to do some adroit welding to solve problems with parts that did not fit well due to casting flaws. I never order springs anymore because I found it took longer to clean up the cast springs than required to make my own. There is nothing wrong with those cast springs, just cleaning up the flashing and excess metal takes too long compared to making a superior spring from scratch. I still have a parts set for a Scottish steel pistol. The ribs or flutting on the barrel look like they were done by a drunk using a Dremel grinder. Fortunately, I managed to get my money back on that barrel (credit to my Visa acount). I use TRS ocassionally for special projects and I am never in a hurry when I do. I have the shop and skills that allow me to make do when TRS parts are flawed and need fixing. I feel for those who do not and expect a TRS parts set to be a kit like those by Chambers or TOW. They may luck out, but it is hit or miss and customer service and tech support from TRS is also hit or miss.

dave

 

[wulf]

Like I said at the beginning, I use the catalog
to see what it is supposed to look like an then
I make my own all from scratch. Much quicker and
don't cost me anything...
Wulf

 

[rickystl]

Well, just now re-faxed the list again and asked if there was any progress in finding out if any of my List was in stock. :haha: I mean, this isn't rocket science. :idunno: We'll keep trying. Watch them tell me there is nothing on my List that is in stock. Oh well.
I did receive a call Sunday evening from my collector friend in Atlanta. He still drives to TRS to get his parts. :rotf: 12 hours non-stop driving each way!!
He was recently there. Boy, did I get an earful. Don't have the courage yet to summarize here what he told me. Have to wait till the weekend. Rick. :hatsoff:

 

[Alden]

Ricky, I TOTALLY look forward to that summary!!! This is going to be good, I can tell already...

 

[Rick Boylan]

There needs to be a smilie of a guy eating popcorn so I can post it here. This is like a really slow moving action flick. :stir:

 

[Claude Mathis]

There needs to be a smilie of a guy eating popcorn so I can post it here. This is like a really slow moving action flick. :stir:

Done op: