El Paso Saddlery let me down

[mike45]

I ordered an El Paso Snap Off for my compact M&P .40 last December. Delivery time was about 5 or 6 weeks longer than they told me, but that's no big deal. I have used their holsters for several years and they are excellent. I have the same holster for a Glock 19 and it works well for my needs.

The M&P holster finally arrived a few weeks ago. When I inserted the pistol in the holster I was surprised to see the barrel/frame were 3/4 inch from the edge of the holster.

At first I thought I made a mistake and did not specify the compact, but I checked the paperwork and it said barrel length 3 1/2 inch. This was made for the full size 4 1/4 inch gun.

I sent an e-mail then a snail mail letter which included my cell phone number. No reply.

 

[jack the toad]

Some time back I ordered an EPS pancake for a 4" S&W M500. When I got it the gun fit but not very well. They said at the time they hadn't had many orders for 500's so I don't know if they were working out the bugs or what.
Anyway, I called and they took care it quickly.
The replacement holster still fits very well. Since you've emailed, try calling.
Unless things have changed at EPS, they should take care of it. Not any consolation but if they don't, at least you can use it for a full size.
Good luck

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It is still a nice-looking rig, but that is not the point. You asked for it to be made a certain way and they didn't, with an extra wait time to boot. I would call them.

 

[strangelittleman]

I ordered a M1917 holster for a Ruger New Vaquero back in Oct.2nd 2007. I was told it would be 6-8 weeks... I still haven't recieved it.
I've called them repeatedly since Jan.10th and received the same answer over and over,"it'll ship next week" yeah right buddy! I last called them Fri, received the same reply....
I'll never do any business with those POS's again.
I've had their excellent products in the past, but I've never been treated this way from any business.....
My next step is the Better Business Bureau & the fraud section of my credit card company.....

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Stories like this seem to be all too common in the custom holster business. Sometimes artisans and craftsmen are not very good businessmen.

At the least, they should take a lesson from makers like Milt Sparks or UBG and A - be up front about the wait time, and B - not charge your card until the order has been made and ready to ship, or the order comes up in their queue and is ready to be started on, respectively.

 

[mike45]

I don't mind so much when they charge the full amount up front. I know there are many dead beats out there. The longer than stated wait is tolerable considering I ordered just before Christmas and the SHOT show.

I was not happy because I sent a concise letter explaining the problem with a copy of the invoice and pictures of the holster and I get nothing from the company.

I'll stop at their booth at the NRA convvention in Louisville next month and voice my disappointment.

Mike

 

[rdrancher]

Well fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on which side you're on), this is exactly what gives the "new guys" business.

Shop around, there's a ton of craftsmen out there that will still treat you like a wanted customer.

rd

 

[jlbraun]

Rudy Lozano at Black Hills Leather is an upstanding guy to have holsters made. There was a minor problem with one he made for me and he snapped to it.

 

[blackcash88]

At least you didn't get boned by Crossbreed.

 

[19-3Ben]

Stories like this seem to be all too common in the custom holster business. Sometimes artisans and craftsmen are not very good businessmen.

I've never had a peep of trouble from AKJ Concealco. If anything, I get the holster sooner than the expected wait time, and Andy Johnson (the owner) has always gone of of his way to be good to me. I have 2 of his holsters from 2 years ago, one year ago, and now have another 2 on order that I expect in about 3 weeks.

 

[the naked prophet]

I could easily see how the original mistake happened. If you said the holster was to be for a S&W M&P .40, they may not have even looked at the barrel length, because all M&P pistols have the same length - it's the M&Pc with shorter barrels.

However, that doesn't absolve them of not responding to the issue.

 

[Mad Magyar]

I've called them repeatedly since Jan.10th and received the same answer over and over,"it'll ship next week" yeah right buddy! I last called them Fri, received the same reply....
I'll never do any business with those POS's again.
I've had their excellent products in the past, but I've never been treated this way from any business.....

This is not the El Paso Saddlery in terms of ownership that Skeeter Skelton & some of the ol'timers raved about...Personally, I think they have gone the way of "cheap".
I only wish I would have taken a pic of the shoulder-rig I received for my N-frame revolver....I called it a Juarez or Hong Kong special....Cheap-hard cowhide, cheap plastic snaps for adjustment, no metal at all; it was a piece of dung...No comparison to a Galco or Safariland that I presently have for the shoulder. I finally took it apart & with the assistance of my bootmaker, made a hip-holster out of it...

 

[blackcash88]

Wow, sounds like something Crossbreed would put out.

 

[Diamondback]

This is not the El Paso Saddlery in terms of ownership that Skeeter Skelton & some of the ol'timers raved about...Personally, I think they have gone the way of "cheap".
I only wish I would have taken a pic of the shoulder-rig I received for my N-frame revolver....I called it a Juarez or Hong Kong special....Cheap-hard cowhide, cheap plastic snaps for adjustment, no metal at all; it was a piece of dung...No comparison to a Galco or Safariland that I presently have for the shoulder. I finally took it apart & with the assistance of my bootmaker, made a hip-holster out of it...

I've bought a few of their OWB Street Combat 88's over the past several years and my experience was very favorable. I'm sorry to hear some of you fellas have not gotten a quality product or been treated "right" by El Paso. I hate to see anyone pay good, hard earned money and not get the value they deserve.

- regards

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've bought a few of their OWB Street Combat 88's over the past several years and my experience was very favorable.

Agreed, I also had one (but 12 years ago) and it was as good as anyone's.

 

[rcmodel]

Bobby McNellis, the owner, died unexpectedly in 2003, and El Paso is now run by his son Ryan, who went to work there after graduating from Law School.

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/border/october_1021DB/index.html

I see they are selling EL Paso Saddelry holsters in the "Cheaper Then Dirt" catalog now!
***!

With that said, my buddy just got a Threepersons for a 5 1/2" SAA Colt about three weeks ago. It took almost two months, but the quality is every bit as good as it has ever been.

rcmodel

 

[pmw]

Things looking up at El Paso Saddlery!

Ordered a Tom Threeperson's before finding this post. However, I received a beauty and it only took about 2 weeks! Will be ordering a belt to go with it tomorrow.

 

[X-Rap]

The last I ordered was a full floral carved shoulder holster with initials for my dad, I think they had a wait time when I ordered online and I wanted it by Christmas so I added a note to the order. They made a personal reply and said they would do their best and it showed up in plenty of time for Chrismas. That was 3 winters ago. The product was well up to their past standards and I won't hesitate buying again. I have a few of their others for myself and they are top notch leather.

 

[minutemen1776]

I ordered one of El Paso's "Tanker" holsters about a year and a half ago. It was done in a few weeks and was top-notch in terms of quality.

Coincidentally, I just placed an order with Black Hills Leather since someone on THR had mentioned their pre-Christmas sale and they had a design I was interested in for my Security Six. Does anyone know the typical turnaround time at Black Hills Leather?

 

[texagun]

When I inserted the pistol in the holster I was surprised to see the barrel/frame were 3/4 inch from the edge of the holster.

I know it's an old thread, but wanted to add, if you're talking about the bottom of the holster, that's the way they fit. I have several of their holsters. The last one I bought was for a 4 3/4" Ruger Vaquero and the holster was 3/4" longer than the barrel. They are designed that way to protect the barrel and crown and to keep crud out of it.