A bit disappointed with AIM, should I complain

[offthepaper]

A few weeks ago I ordered a Mosin 91/30 hex from AIM. While on the phone with them (we had a 10 minute chat), I explained to them I have a MN hex collection. I have all the years mfg in the '30's, and that I would like to get some thing made in the '20's. The person told me that would not be a problem, but took my cell phone # just in case. He assured me he would be able to send me one in the period I requested, but would deffinatly contact me if there were to be a problem. I also told him I was not interested if it were counter-bored. I agreed to pay the handpick fee ($10). The rifle was a bit longer in shipping than he told me, but hey, everyone is behind in shipping, so no big deal.
Now I have made multiple purchases from AIM before and have always been very pleased with what I have recieved. I recieved no call to say there was any problem with my order.
Well, today I finally had the Brown toy truck stop at my house and I opened the box to find a 1931 MN that while not counterbored, has a sewer pipe barrel with considerable pitting. The wood is nice enough, no gouges or splits.
But I am disappointed that I didn't get what I ordered, or payed the handpick fee for. The shipping invoice clearly says "handpick, 1920's mfg, not counterbored". It also says on the invoice that return shipping must be paid by the buyer if returned, plus a 3% if a CC was used for the purchase (it was). Now I know that the MN's are cheap priced rifles, but I don't have a lot of $$ these days, so they are really the only ones I can afford to collect right now. I'm not looking to be a turdhead about this, but should I call and complain? Honestly, I was going to buy from J&G, whom I've also bought several MN's from and been extremely pleased with the customer service, but I just wanted to spread the buisness around a little.
My thoughts right now are to call them and tell them I did not get what I ordered, but rather than pay another shipping fee to return this one and the return fee also, ask them to credit me the handpick fee, and send me another one from the 1920's and ask them to pick up the shipping charge on that. Does that sound reasonable, or should I just call J&G to order the one I want.

 

[rondog]

Give it a try, can't hurt. But be nice on the phone!

 

[TehK1w1]

I would call them up and politely tell them that you did not get what you paid for and were told you would get, and try to work out a way to exchange it.

 

[mongo4567]

They are really good folks, I have always been happy with them. In fact, I've never needed to return anything. I'm sure they will make it right.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Ditto, AIM's good folks,talk to 'em, they should treat you right.

 

[chestnut ridge]

Returns are a waste of time and money. If you reorder the 1920's rifle that
you wanted the first time; with no hand pick fee this time; you would be ahead of the game.
The 1931 might clean up; will probably shoot good any way; and is
desirable itself.

 

[benzy2]

I would call them and see what they will do. I doubt I would send it back but it would depend on what they say. The problem becomes how big of a percentage shipping is in the price of the rifle. I mean you might as well keep it. I would see if they were willing to make the next one right and go from there.

 

[Hoppy590]

chances are they didnt have alot of mid 20's non counter bored barrels, so they grabed the best of those. and its still crap.

you put too many criteria in your request. if you want to be specific in your rifle, shop in person or on a rifle by rifle basis. NOT these big stores offering 70$ rifles

 

[marktx]

In my estimation you are asking for quite a bit, the MN is the most cheap ass surplus rifle there is right now. I don't recall ever seeing a definition of "hand pick" on AIM's site but a couple others I frequent usually say something like "best of five" not something like searching for a particular year. Sounds like the AIM salesperson probably over-promised to deal with a "high maintenance" type customer. Bad on them for that.

My experience with AIM has been great. Most recently they had DSA FALs on the web site last weekend for a reasonable price. Called first thing Monday morning and the sales guy answered my questions and took my order but warned me that it might be a couple weeks before my order was able to be shipped. Turned out he must have been lying about possible shipping delays because it arrived on Thursday

If you are looking for specific year MN then you are probably going to have to buy from a collector type dealer that isn't offering blowout prices.

 

[Hoppy590]

In my estimation you are asking for quite a bit, the MN is the most cheap ass surplus rifle there is right now. I don't recall ever seeing a definition of "hand pick" on AIM's site but a couple others I frequent usually say something like "best of five" not something like searching for a particular year.

thats pretty much what i think, "hand pick" of a rifle made from 1930-150 is going to be a good specimen.

"handpick" of a 1935 rifle made at Tula, owned by a guy named Yuri, and used to kill a german named Hans is going to yield much fewer results, and thus, many less "good " rifles for you to receive.

simply put. too many criteria, too small a sample population

 

[benzy2]

There are two points here. First was that they said they would get you one. If they couldn't find it they should have called back as they said they would. Don't promise what you can't provide. I would much rather hear it up front but oh well. The second part is if you asked for hand picked how can in his own words a sewer pipe for a barrel be the best picked of the hand pick? So its wrong and junk. At least give me one or the other.

 

[Flyboy73]

Had AIM said they can request a 20's date, but no guarantees, I would side with AIM. Had they said that he might not have ordered in the first place.

So in this case I think AIM should pay to have the gun shipped back, send a new one or refund the money.

If they cant guarantee a specific year, just say so. Or at least call him.

There is a possibility that they sent the wrong gun. Call and find out.


Its good customer service.

Brion

 

[Starship1st]

I do not pay for the hand pick option. AIM seems to be out of the mosins on their web site for the past two weeks? You may not be able to do an exchange? Best of luck.

 

[viking72]

M91/30 production began in 1930.
finding a 20's production M91/30 from AIM would be unlikely at best.
See http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM9130S.htm

Later,
Doug

 

[jws527]

M91/30 production began in 1930.
finding a 20's production M91/30 from AIM would be unlikely at best.
See http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM9130S.htm

Later,
Doug

As I understand it, some rifles were made from recycled receivers taken from earlier variants. However: given the production numbers of various types through the years, they're bound to be uncommon.

 

[Speedo66]

They made an agreement to sell you a specific product, if they did not, they owe it to you to make it right.

I think asking them for a call tag to pick it up at their expense is within reason.

I'm aware it's a low priced item, but that's not the point. Sometimes a business has to take a loss on one item to keep a customer happy and guarantee repeat sales.

 

[Kurt_D]

Dude, PM or e-mail Bryan @ AIM over on AR15.com. Tell him what happened and he'll take care of you.

For my Tantal issue they sent a return label and refunded the purchase price, minus orginal shipping which was $12. I can understand that as it's pretty standard.

 

[offthepaper]

My Lord...

Guys, let me expand on my original post.
As I stated, we had a 10 minute, very polite chat, when I told him about my collection of hex's. When I asked for the specific years of production (the 20's) he said he could do that. He even left the phone for a minute and came back and told me "no problem".
And as I also stated, I KNOW THEY ARE CHEAP ASS RIFLES (this really isn't a news flash to me), but again, times are tough, and it's the only FA's I'm able to collect right now. I'm also not asking for one that Yuri made a 273.3 yd head shot on a german on a rainy day just before noon on the seventh day of the seventh month.
I called the store to inquire about a specific date range, they assured me they could and would send me one. They took my cell phone #, just in case of any problems (my cell # appers on the invoice). If I wasn't interested in a specific date period, I would have ordered online and accepted whatever arrived.
As for the "rare" 20's model. My buddy from our local gun/rod club ordered a MN from J&G last summer when they were advertising Mosins for $59 and recieved a nice 1928 MN. Like I also stated, I would have ordered from J&G , but decided to see if AIM had them available (which they said they did), I was just trying to spread the business around a little. I've ordered from both dealers in the past with no problms from either. Just trying to support the C&R dealers.
I'm going to keep the rifle I recieved, I've already started to clean the cosmo off of it. My post was simply a question if I should contact them about the rifle I recieved. I'm not all fired up about it, nor am I trying to get into a pi$$ing contest about it. I'm going to contact them again politly and ask if they still could fill my order request. If not, I'll call J&G.
My thanks to my THR brothers who were supportive.

 

[Hoppy590]

i will stick to my original post. youd be justified in returning it, but not being pissed they didnt hold up to what they SAID theyd do. people answering phones are just people answering phones. they will tell you waht ever you want to hear if it gets them off the line and back to either other work or doing nothing.

it sucks, but its life.

 

[Gunfighter123]

The shipping invoice clearly says "handpick, 1920's mfg, not counterbored".

If that is what you ordered and you have written proof of it --- It should be no problem to get a refund or replacement.

 

[kirkcdl]

It sounds like the person you talked to on the phone was relying on a co-worker that he shouldn't have relied on...

 

[Matrix187]

I ordered magazines, and one didn't have the floor plate. They gladly shipped me a brand new magazine fast. I've only experienced good service from them.