Dealer Deception (lengthy)

[Colt]

I just had a questionable experience with an out-of-state gun dealer, and I'm interested to hear the opinions on whether or not I handled it correctly.

On a Tuesday, I found a gun I'd been looking for listed for sale on the gunshop's website. The place seemed reputable, I googled their name, found no complaints; I searched THR, found nothing at all. The price was fair, and they claimed the gun was "in stock."

I called the store directly, and asked if they had the gun in-hand. "Yes, I have it right here" was the response. "They're hard to find it seems," I said. "Well you can stop looking" was the reply.

I had my local guy send his FFL, and I paid for the gun with a credit card (not extra fee) over the phone. I called 2 days later to confirm the FFL had arrived. "Yes, it's right here." and he read me the FFL's name and address. "We have everything we need." This is Thursday.

On Fiday, I figured my local guy would call me to arrange a time to pick up the gun. No call. I get home from work to find a message on my machine. "We couldn't process your CC payment, please give us a call." Ok, I give them a call. He reads me the CC number, a couple of numbers are transposed, so we straighten them out.

Monday, no gun. But when I get home, there's another message. "Sorry, the card was declined." This is my daily-use card, I use it for everything, and I'm nowhere near the limit. I call them, and to keep things simple, I agree to use another card. I give the info and wait for it to go through. (I insist on waiting.) It goes through. Next day I check my account online, and sure enough, my card's been charged. (Tuesday)

Wednesday, no gun. Thursday, no gun. Friday, no gun. I call down to see what's the hold up. "We just haven't gotten around to shipping it, yet. 'He' might get it out today." I politely tell them that I paid 4 days ago, and that I'd like it shipped today." I call back at 6 pm. "He couldn't get it out."

So I cancel my order over the phone, giving them my CC information again. As of today, there is no refund on my account. (Once the refund is made, I will report the card lost. I don't trust these people with my information.)

This gun is hard to find right now. I figure they didn't have it, but wanted to make the sale, and thought they could get it soon. When it didn't come in as expected, they started "having problems" with my credit card numbers in an attempt to stall me. This is not a one-man shop, and they admitted that UPS came directly to their shop on a daily basis, so "no time to ship it" simply doesn't fly. I can't think of any reason they didn't send me the gun other than having lied about having it to begin with. I stopped short of asking the guy for the serial number. I felt that doing so would have turned things hostile, and made getting a refund more difficult.

Did I do the right thing, or was I just too impatient?

 

[Gump]

Call the cc company NOW to cancel the payment.

 

[Lupinus]

Call your CC company directly if it isn't put back by the end of the day. Don't wait for the idiots to maybe do it.

What was the name of the store?

 

[f4t9r]

I do not think you were to impatient
They had enough time to ship the gun and you gave them a few days to make it right. Its to bad they may have lied to you and sounds like they were not very helpful when you called.
with the info you gave I would say you did the right thing

 

[Sawdust]

You were not impatient.

Turn it around - let's say they shipped the gun out right away after you gave them your first CC number, and the next day they go to charge it and find that they can't because they've got those numbers transposed.

So, they call you back. The first time you tell them you left the card at work and will get it tomorrow and call them. Next day comes and you don't call, so they call you. You tell them you haven't got around to going back to your work to get the card...

How long do you think that the shop would put-up with *your* procrastinating? Not long I bet before they start taking action against you.

Now, please post the name of the shop so that your fellow gunners can be warned.

Sawdust

 

[Spot77]

I think you did exactly the right thing.

And Kudos for NOT printing the name of the store until others weigh in with possible alternative actions to the situation.


Now when the story has its conclusion......

 

[Standing Wolf]

The only things I'd have done differently are:

1. I wouldn't have waited so long before cancelling the credit card transaction.

2. I'd have posted the name and location of the store so others can avoid being ripped off, too.

 

[standles]

What gun was it that was difficult to find ??

Steven

 

[Colt]

Now, please post the name of the shop so that your fellow gunners can be warned.

What gun was it that was difficult to find ??

I will be more than happy to post the name of the shop and the gun I was looking for after the CC charges have been refunded.

I will follow up on this thread.

Thanks to all for their input.

 

[Ala Dan]

As a firearms sales rep for a reputable company, I'd say you were more than
patient. Beleive me, that kind'a customer service would never fly in our shop;
as some sales person would be out the door on their bottom to put it nicely.
Sounds as if the dealer never had the gun in the first place; and they knew
it was a hard item too obtain~!

 

[NineseveN]

I am with those thinking that you were reasonable. I would have asked for the serial number though just for my own clarity.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Another vote for calling the credit card company to have the charge removed. But the fine print of your agreement probably requires written notice, so be sure to follow up the call with a letter.

You might also check the card company's (Visa or Mastercard) rules, and perhaps the FTC as well. They aren't supposed to charge your card until they ship the item, but I don't know if that's in the card rules or if it's in Federal regulations.

 

[ulflyer]

I've bought several used guns from dealers and private individuals from out of state and I always ask for the serial nr of the gun as soon as we make the deal. Oftentimes the seller will send me a pic of the gun showing the serial nr.

 

[Geno]

Gentleman & professional

You were fine...they were wrong.

I always request the serial number.

Post the name, address and tele"phony" of this "business".

Doc2005

 

[berettashotgun]

I've never had a problem with any transfer from an out of state shop or individual. I have had UPS tear the crap out of my sons birthday present and refuse to fix. The serial number thing is standard practice for me, and although you show restraint on "name-calling"; the fact remains that your experience with that shop leads to the term "buyer-beware." Please drop the name and city/state of this fine bidness.

 

[Colt]

Refund Received

The charge has been refunded to my credit card. The gun shop did not require extra prompting from me; they made the refund as promised. I have cancelled the card and requested a replacement.

Let me reiterate that my original post is factually accurate. That being said, the gun dealer may have been completely honest with me on his end. He may have had the gun in-hand on my original call, he may taken down my card # wrong, the "corrected number" may have been declined even though I had ample space on the card, and he and all the others in his shop may have been too busy to send my gun for 4 days after I was charged, even after I requested twice on Friday that it be sent out.

Then again, they may be a shop full of shysters, trying to sell guns that they don't actually have in stock while stalling customers until they manage to get them in.

That being said, the store is Florida Gun Exchange. (http://www.floridagunexchange.com )This has been my sole experience with the store, and I have not found any other reviews of the store online.

In the end, I cancelled the order because I did not want them to profit while providing such poor service. Even if they were being completely honest with me, they deserved to lose the sale.

The gun I was trying to buy (and through no small coincidence have since bought via THR's For Sale threads) is a Colt Gunsite CCO. Not an extremely exotic piece, but for some reason difficult to find in-stock right now.

 

[BlkHawk73]

Ahhh yes. I've heard of this place before a few times and none of it was too favorable. It's on my "never do business with" list. Don't feel too bad, you're not the first this palce has screwed from what I've read elsewhere.


Now, how about letting us in on what you're having difficulty finding. Surely someone here can help you on your search.

 

[spacemanspiff]

colt, i'm not sure if its a good deal, since i dont know much about the colt gunsites, but if you want one for $1,249 delivered send me a PM.

 

[Valkman]

My only experience with a out-of-state dealer has been Wildalaska, and he must have spoiled me because he always sent the gun the next day and I had it that night. This happened with several deals, so to me there is no exuse for what this dealer did.

Good for you for warning the rest of us.

 

[blackdragon]

My gun exchange??

That is my local shop; while I honestly have not been there is a while, they *used* to be excellent, prices could not be beat and excellent service. I have spent literally thousands there, and never had a single problem. They are (well, maybe were) easily the best in town.

Makes me sad to hear that.

I know that they had a gun show, well, one of the previous weekends, and they pack up a ton of inventory for each one...and they are not staff heavy either, 3 ppl was the most I have ever seen there. (Not making excuses for em, just tellin' what I know..)

Keith

 

[Sir Aardvark]

I will sell gun accessories and knives that I have to order from my wholesalers - but I am up front about it and in no way try to deceive my customers.

I would call the credit card company - for my Master Card you must make 3 attempts with the merchant to fix the problem before they will open a claim for a charge-back.

 

[Jim K]

Well, I guess I am in the minority, and I am not defending that dealer, but I think you were just a bit impatient.

You might have expected them to ship the day they processed your card, but you said the card finally went through OK on Tuesday, and you expected that your dealer would receve the gun on Wednesday? Sorry, no teleportation yet that I know of, and no way to send a gun by e-mail.

I don't know where you are, but even first class mail takes 2-3 days from just about anywhere outside the immediate area to get to me, so I think expecting next day service on a package is a bit much.

(Just from curiosity, I would like to know how Wildalaska can ship a gun during the day and Valkman can have it that night. Those dogsleds must be darned fast!)

Jim

 

[Colt]

I don't know where you are, but even first class mail takes 2-3 days from just about anywhere outside the immediate area to get to me, so I think expecting next day service on a package is a bit much.

I paid for Next Day Air. That is why I expected a call the next day from my FFL. Being that I paid for Next Day Air, their holding the gun for 4 days represents even worse customer service.

Even if they used Priority, they should have sent it out the day my card was charged or the day after. Instead they held it for 4 days and then told me "He couldn't get it out."