[Manedwolf]

They've got a rather amazing price on the Kahr CW-9s of $374, but are "out of stock, accepting orders".

Is this the sort of place that WILL ship in a few weeks, or just tie up your money for months with backorders?

They also say 5-10 days on an email response asking about that (!)

[wbond]

I just ordered an out of stock Firestorm .380.

I can say they answered my email within 1 business day about another question on another topic. That sounds promising.

[P95Carry]

I have heard one or two folks say bad about them but I can only go on my own experience and they have done good.

Over time I have had all six of my CT grips thru them - their prices are close to lowest and delivery was always first class.

No complaints from me.:)

[Manedwolf]

Hmm. Tempting. :)

That price, and also $250-something on the Kel-Tec Sub 2000 folding carbines, also out of stock.

[wbond]

This relates directly to your question about Impact Guns. I relate this to guns I personally like and buy. However, the info about where I buy will relate to everyone.

I'm fond of CZ-83s and Makarovs, for which http://www.Makarov.com is an excellent place. Sometimes http://www.GunsAmerica.com is also good. The thing with Guns of American is that I never know who I'm dealing with. So far I've been lucky each time. There may be other excellent places for those too.

I'm also fond of Firestorms and Bersas. My favorite place to buy these is either of my local gun stores, if they have them in stock. They often stock two tone Bersa .380, but rarely other finishes of Bersa. Never other models of Bersa. They never carry Firestorm (my favorites). They can order Bersas and Firestorms in any model, but they are often very slow to get Firestorms.

Therefore, I give my local store the business whenever they can help me in a timely manner. As for price, if the local store already has it in stock, then it's usually cheapest locally. If they have to order it, it usually costs about $15 more locally than if I bought online (after considering shipping and FFL transfer fee). I'd rather give the local gun store the business, if it is less money (in stock) or cost $15 more (if they order). However, I'm not willing to wait more than 2 weeks. If they can't promise to get it done within 2 weeks, then I'm going to check online.

My favorite online gun store is http://www.thegunsource.com because they carry Bersas and many other models at very good prices and their customer service is excellent, including their phone answering and email response. Also, they carry more Bersa models and parts than anyone else. They have models of Bersa and Taurus that no else has or can get. These guys are the best for Bersa and for certain other brands as well. Unfortunately, these guys do NOT carry Firestorm (my personal favorite brand along with Ruger and Taurus).

That brings me to http://www.impactguns.com/store/ for Firestorms because these guys carry them at the best prices available for Firestorms. Firestorms are sometimes not easy to find at any price. These guys have them for excellent prices. They also have excellent prices on Bersas, Taurus, and many others.

Unfortunately, Impact Guns often is hard to call due to busy signal. When I do get through I am sometimes on hold a long time. Other times they're OK. Same with their email response. Sometimes prompt, other times several business days.

Bottom Line: Impact Guns offers good prices on brands and models you cannot find elsewhere. They seem honest and will do right by you eventually, but don't expect prompt service.

That's why I suggest going to http://www.thegunsource.com first (fast, reliable, honest, pleasure to deal with). If they don't have what you want, then check out GunBroker.com (crapshoot) and ImpactGuns.com (slow, reliable, honest, aggravating to deal with due to slowness of customer service)

Both TheGunSource.com and ImpactGuns.com often offer things that are out of stock. ImpactGuns.com is notorious for this. However, they both inform you of availability before you order. With GunsAmerica.com you just never know what to expect, though I've been lucky so far and had all good experiences.

Bottom Line: I wholeheartedly recommend your local gun store first, then TheGunSource.com. Both will be excellent if they have or can get what you want in a reasonable time. I recommend GunsAmerica.com and ImpactGuns.com with some reservations, but I'd still buy from them again.

[Mizzle187]

Both! Ive had guns on order for two months that I ended up cancelling and got myh money back in full and Ive had guns ship in days. The one that took 2 months was a Walther P99 AS. This gun was no longer being imported by S&W and it took me telling them this for them to find out. Would I order from them again? Yes and I have since. They are very slow on emails but thats understandable with the amount of buisness they do!

[xsnydx]

I've only bought accessories from them, but their service was fine, even if a bit slow. I'd definitely buy from them again.

[Double Naught Spy]

I tried buying an Alexander Arms Beowulf upper from them sometime back. The web site showed they were in stock. I called to place my order and was told they were not in stock and that they were not accepting orders at that time. I asked if they were expecting new inventory and they said they were. When I asked "When?" they told me I just needed to check the web site. I explained that my whole reason for calling that day was because I had checked the web site and the web site says they have the uppers in stock. I was then somewhat impolitely told that this is how they handled things.

I don't know what sort of company they really are, but the sadly and somewhat stereotypical gunshop type of double talk and lack of friendly help for a person trying to purchase a product (as opposed to called with questions about the product) pretty well killed any sort of possibility for repeat business or attempted new business. As it turns out, they are not usually the cheapest supplier on the net for most of their products anyway.

[candr44]

I haven't bought anything from them and won't. Why would you want to buy something from a company when they don't even have it to sell. You might as well give your money to me because I don't have it either but I may get around to getting it, if ever. In the mean time your money will be in my account [ along with all the other people I sucker ] earning interest for me.

Take a look at their web sight and look at all the things they advertise that are not in stock. Its a lot and never seems to be in stock no matter how long you check it. Its dishonest false advertising and a sighn that the company is probably unethical. Companies like this are a pet peeve with me.

[Dollar An Hour]

Take a look at their web sight and look at all the things they advertise that are not in stock. Its a lot and never seems to be in stock no matter how long you check it. Its dishonest false advertising and a sighn that the company is probably unethical.

I agree that the impact guns website is pretty confusing. On the same page they'll have a gun two times, with different pricing, and one will say "out of stock, accepting orders", the other one doesn't say "out of stock" and will let you add to cart as if it's really in stock. :confused:

Also under the contact us section I noticed they say it'll be 5-10 business days before they'll get back to you. :rolleyes: So much for speedy internet service. :p

[The_Shootist]

Only bought AK mags from them - they seem to have a line periodically on unissued Bulgy AK mags. Beautiful mags (once you clean the cosmo off of them :D ) with great fit/finish/feeding.

They deliver the goods like they say, just a bit on the slow side.

[OCJ]

I ordered a galco holster from them over the summer. I called to check availability, they had one in stock and I had it in my mailbox within the week. I was pleased.

[Cortland]

I tried buy a machinegun from them about a year ago. I e-mailed and phoned several times and never could get anyone to respond to me. I ended up buying from someone else. Funny way to run a business.

[gogetumnow]

I've bought a few things from them, albeit at the physical store. The owner seems pretty knowledgable about all things firearms. However, the few times I've been there it's always some kid behind the counter helping me that usually isn't that knowledgable or that polite for that matter.

I don't know why they list all that out of stock stuff. I think they ought to list the stuff they have. The out of stock stuff is just selling promises. JMO.

I did purchase my first class 3 through them, and they were very helpful with all the forms and process so I gotta give them credit there. Like I say this was in person, not sure how well everything would've gone trying to do this online or remotely.

[KIDGLOCK]

We had a fellow looking for a G21 here . He didnt like the price .SO he drives to SLC to Impact guns, buys it there transfers here WY.
Glocks come with 2 mags from the factory, Impact CHARGED him for the 2nd mag.
Charged him shipping, as well they should.
We carged him a transfer fee, as well we should.
We stayed open a little late BUT he got a speeding ticket getting here, $100.
Sent his brother to pick it up yea right thats going to happen.

The final tally was $200 more than if he bought it here, and took it home the same day.

Its the bait and switch on the mag charge. I went to Impact and looked at some Glocks and asked about the extra mag , They said they only come with one BS!
They have a nice store BUT I dont like to be treated like a thief when I walk around there, being followed, asked forty times if I need help.
Prices are to high.

Just my .02

[PX15]

I bought a surplus Walther P1 from Impact Guns 2 years ago.

The pistol arrived in "as new" condition, with a cleaning kit, used holster (looked new), and a 2nd new magazine which it wasn't even suppose to have. I think the price was only $199 and I consider the Walther P1 purchase the best firearms deal I've ever made.

My only deal with Impact Guns was excellent, and I would not hesitate for a second to give them more business if they had something I wanted.

I will say that if the ad specified "not in stock" I would take that in consideration. I'd rather a company tell me up front that something was "not in stock" before I ordered it.

I too have seen the duplicate ads where the same firearm is being advertised on the same page for a different price and that cracks me up. I think whoever is in charge of proof reading the various ad's needs a wake up call..

But, for my one dealing with Impact Gun I have absolutely no complaints...

JMOFO

JP :)

[wbond]

I said Impact Guns often lists things they don't have in stock, but they do inform you of this before you order. That is true and I stand by this.

However, let me add that Impact Guns does not charge my account until they ship. That's good, except it means I've got to keep my checking account balance up so my debit card doesn't bounce.

Let me also add that my local gun store and all other stores were also out of stock on the gun I wanted. I would have had to wait a month or more from any local or online source. However, Impact Guns could get it for $15 less money (considering shipping), but I decided for $15 I'd support my local store.

However, I'd order from Impact Guns in the future, if they had what I wanted and my local store didn't.

[Third_Rail]

When I bought an NAA blackpowder "Companion", they were out of stock, backordered. I had it in my hand about a month later, but they told me that it would take that long. I'd believe them when they say they'll get you what you order.

[Manedwolf]

Well, I placed an order with The Gun Source on March 25th. All I've gotten is one email saying "Your order has been placed in our system!"

If I enter the tracking number, I get "Your order has been placed in our system!" ...nothing about expected availability, any of that. It's now April 3rd.

A little customer service feedback WOULD be nice for $300+ purchases. :scrutiny:

[karz10]

Well, hate to bring a year old thread back to life, but it seems it's relevant. I was quick to post when I thought they had a good deal, so I feel justified in posting when I've had a problem.

I had been watching a couple guns on their site daily, as I made some comparisons locally. Then one day, Thursday 2/8, I saw this one gun was on sale by about $30, and it was already a lower price than local, but after shipping and FFL, it would have put the package at about $90+ less expensive than local, enough to justify ordering online. So, I submitted an order, faxed in the FFL info, etc.

Site said that either it would ship in 48 hrs, and get an email, or I'd be notified within 24 hrs of a backorder via email. I got the order receipt via email, so no troubles getting email from them. Since it was in the evening, I rushed to submit the order as soon as I saw it was on sale, but called to follow up the next day, made sure they got the order, and also added some mags to the order. No one said anything about the thing being out of stock at the time of order, or the next day when I called, which was a Friday. Site still shows as in stock.

So FFWD to Monday, no shipping email yet, no back order email yet. So it's been 4 days, or 96 hrs (not 24, not 48), since I submitted the order, and I send an email (their preferred method for fastest response to check status on an order), and I notice it's now listed as 'out of stock / accepting orders' but I had no confirmation either way at that time.

But here it is an additional 2 days later, or 6 days from the order submission, and no response, no shipping confirmation, no backorder confirmation, no response from customer service, nothing. So today I called during business hours, and was told that someone purchased the last item right before I submitted my order, and an auto email should have gone out to that effect. I explained to her that this did not happen, and all she could do was apologize.

As someone above said, they have not charged my account, and won't until it ships, and since I ordered in the sale period, I still get the sales price, and I have the option to cancel the order at any time, but it's likely going to be 6-8 weeks before I see anything if I wait for them...

So, I left it as is for now, I guess I'll keep looking around, go to the gun shows coming up, and see if I can get as good of a deal, and cancel the order with them if I do. Otherwise, I guess I'll have that ace in the hole w/ that sale price being shipped *someday* if I don't find a better deal between now and then.

The thing is though, they force you to check a box when you order, of whether 'backorder' is ok or not. Not wanting to lose the deal if it was a short delay, I elected to check that backorder was ok, not desirable, but ok, since they were supposed to notify me of any backorders within 24 hrs, I could make a decision at least as to whether I'd keep the order. But I wonder if they really processed the orders first come first serve, or if they filled the backorder NOT ok orders first, and then put anyone on the backorder list that was 'willing' to be there.

I'm not accusing them of anything, I'm just saying it makes me wonder, why else would they not do what they said they would do, why would they not know when I called in the following day that my order would not be filled, unless there was gray area on who was getting what, i.e. still figuring out who would get shipped and who wouldn't. I don't know, I'm pissed about the way they handled it, if they would have sent an email w/in 24hrs saying it was backordered, and gave me the option to keep or cancel, then they would have fulfilled their commitment to me, and that would be that, but lingering it out for a week w/ no response is not acceptable business practices, IMO.

I dunno, I'll post an outcome on this later....

Karz

[imprezagm4]

karz your story is pretty dang typical of what I have read about impactguns... i would never order anything from them.

[karz10]

Well, this thread was specifically about them, which is why I chose to post here. I had read this thread before purchasing, somewhere along the way of my research, but it even has some positive feedback.

In viewing some other mutli-online-vendor threads, I've seen other people recommend them, w/ the occasional reference to the backorder issue. But I figured, since I had been watching this particular piece for a few weeks, and was going to the site EVERY day that week, and noticed the sale THE DAY it went on sale, that it would minimize the chances of this exact thing happening.

I understand you sell what you have til you run out, and I can understand it can take a day or so to update a website (I know as a big company you expect more, but as a small business, I know it's a lot to keep up with), but not sending the backorder email as promised, not telling the customer the next day that he's on backorder when he calls, not responding to customer emails for 2-4 days, is not easily excused IMO. I just left the owner a voice mail. We'll see.

Karz

EDIT: Later same day as above... Got a returned call from someone (I have his name/ext #, just not sure the title) from Impact saying they were sorry for the mix up, overwhelming sale, yadda yadda... I explained briefly that my biggest point of contention was not the fact that they sold out, or that it would have to be backordered, but the lack of communication, even when I called to follow up on the order, etc., he didn't seem to need to hear too much more of it, and said they were working on getting a new one shipped in special for my case, and would be in contact in the coming days to resolve it. I'll post outcome later. Thanks for listening... Karz

EDIT: 2 days later, I called because I saw a shipment notification saying they sent the 2 extra mags, and checked my CC statement, was charged the full $9 shipping for the two mags, instead of the $3 shipping I would have been charged if it had all shipped together. I dialed the person who returned my earlier call, at first he didn't remember me, said he would charge me $6 less dollars on the shipping of the HG, and to check back w/ him in about 4 weeks if I hadn't heard from him, which is why I asked if he remembered me, explained who I was again, and said "oh are you the guy XXXX talked to? oh, well it should be here in a few days, if you don't hear from me by the end of next week, give me a call" (which it's Friday today, so that would be one week from today) I explained that I needed to know one way or another by next week, so I could be prepared for an upcoming CCW class...will post follow up

[Carphunter]

I've ordered some AA grendel dies and something else from them. The web site said it was in stock...but I called to be sure. The person who answered the phone said he thought they were sold out...but physically checked the store inventory and found a set and got it shipped off to me.

No hassles, etc.

I've considered buying guns they've had...but at buying time, their prices didn't beat what I was getting elsewhere...so haven't bought a gun from them yet.

You know....we all could write up a big guide to online retailers about what they need to be doing to provide service....my general biggest gripe about smaller firearms/accessories shops is that they aren't johnny-on-the-spot with getting out tracking numbers. My biggest gripe about bigger shops is the useless search engine at Brownells....it does not respond by default the way you'd expect it to. I think we're all getting used to Google and what I believe is a Boolean AND search (so if the search don't see my terms...i don't get results). With Brownells, you'll get a list of unrelated stuff that it "guesses" is close to your search.

[SNEAKS]

Avoid impactguns.com at all cost. Check out what I have to say in the rate a retail buisness section with a search. They have the worst customer service.:barf: :barf: :barf: :mad: :mad: :mad: :fire: :fire: :fire: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[BsChoy]

I have to disagree with the last poster...although I have never bought a firearm from them I recently ordered an M7X holster for my g21. After not getting any notification via email as wether or not it was in stock/shipping. I emailed and requested the order cancelled. I got a cal about 1/2 hour later and it was them telling me it is in stock and they were shipping it immediatley. Well 5 business days later it arrives and it was discounted 6.00 off the already low no shipping price. They will get repeat business.

[karz10]

Ok, so I was supposed to follow up with them at the end of the week (a few days from now) if I hadn't heard anything.

Well, hopefully I won't have to do that, as I just got an email saying they were shipping the HG to my FFL today. I already received the mags, but they shipped to an address I'm not at right now, so have to pick them up later.

I'll post once all is well, but it seems it's moving in the right direction. I don't like hassles any more than the next guy, but it's not a perfect world, and I have to give someone a chance, at least once, to resolve any issues.

Karz

[mljdeckard]

I was actually in the store yesterday, it was more of the same. Kids working the floor you want to check to make sure they are old enough to carry, and guys giving out opinion as fact.

The owners are knowledgeable enough, but they never actually interact with customers.

The internet business is run out of the back of the store.

[Bobhwry]

They never have anything in stock!! Very frustrating! Why advertise if you don't have inventory???

[SCW]

I was actually in the store yesterday, it was more of the same. Kids working the floor you want to check to make sure they are old enough to carry, and guys giving out opinion as fact.

The owners are knowledgeable enough, but they never actually interact with customers.

The internet business is run out of the back of the store.

I was in the other location two days ago. High prices, no-return policy on holsters and other goods and more of a cheap pawn shop atmosphere surrounded by lots of fully auto weapons. Not my kind of shop by any stretch.

Several years ago I purchased a bunch of stuff from the Ogden shop and had a better experience, once I finally talked to someone with a clue (from the back room). They are more of an arm-chair tactical enthusiast shop with a lot of chubs browsing who look like their last dynamic entry was into Burger King. No offense to any chubby arm-chair tactical heros out there... :D

[mljdeckard]

I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting the SLC store.

I guess what you find is, it's not necessary to pay $20 for actual skilled experienced staff when there are plenty of 20 something kids who are thrilled to death to get paid $8 an hour to work in a place that smells like cordite.

[karz10]

So to follow up, my FFL received the shipment Thursday night, and we hooked up today (Sunday) to pick it up and do the ppwk. As far as I can tell, they got everything right. While it upset me to initally learn that the item was backordered, a few days later than I should have been notified, and while first level support was very polite, they did not offer a solution other than wait an indefinite amount of time, or cancel the order...

However, once I voiced my concern to a higher level, I did receive a prompt response, a promise to resolve the issue, and while it took a few more days, they did make good on that promise and ship the item. So, at the end of the day, my FFL had received the item right at 2 weeks from the day I originally ordered it, so if they had shipped it std within 48 hours I probably would have had it in 5-8 days from time of order, so considering the snafu, I still got it within 2 weeks, at the sale price I ordered it.

So, while I would have been excited to not have had any problems, at least it worked out, some kudos to them, since some companies just don't even try to make it right. If they had a good deal on something, or hard to find item, I might order from them again, but I would further scrutinize the availability and probably order over the phone, instead of clicking, or follow up the clicking w/ a phone call to specifically confirm availability, to potentially avoid the issue I had.

For anyone that's interested, here's the thread about the new acquisition:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=258255

Thanks,

Karz