Optics Planet?

[Big_Dogg]

Anyone order from these guys before?

I guess am wondering if they are just one of those online mega stores that lists every item imaginable on their website, but doesn't actually stock anything?

I ask because I placed an order back in February. Every item I ordered, which were listed on the website with no mention of being out of stock, ended up being out of stock. So I get an email saying my entire order is out of stock, but everything will be back in stock within 7-10 business days. Fair enough...so I wait.

Fast forward to now. I call them to see what the deal is with the order, and they tell me that not only is everything STILL out of stock, despite the email saying everything would be back in stock in 10 business days at the latest, but the best estimate they can give me for when they might be back in stock is mid-late April. Um...OK. We're not talking rare, obscure parts here either, its very common stuff like hogue grips.
Is this how they normally operate?

 

[Olympus]

I've looked on Optics Planet before but found that SWFA.com usually has better prices so that's where I bought from.

 

[rcmodel]

That hasn't been my experiance with them.
I have ordered an Eotech sight, then later, parts for a Surefire light & batterys, then some other scope stuff again last year.

All three orders were shipped complete before the ink on the labels got dry.

So, I don't know what to tell you.

rc

 

[swinokur]

3 experiences. 2 good 1 bad. Ordered 2 galco holsters. both shipped quickly. Ordered a Surefire X300 light, got order confirmation saying order received. 2 days later got email saying it was out of stock. Back in stock 7-10 days.Cancelled the order. No reason any vendor cannot tell you availability before you order.

Their prices are ok but not great. I won't deal any longer with a vendor who cannot tell me availability before I buy.

 

[Bonesinium]

They are hit or miss. After ordering from them multiple times without a problem, my last order (a while back) had a couple things end up being out of stock. I received everything else quickly as usual though. I actually forgot I still had some stuff on backorder until this thread. Sounds like time to cancel.

 

[Haxby]

Do your research online, then place your order by phone and ask about availability of each item. I've done this with them, and they have been very efficient.
Or order from someone that makes that information easy to find.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have ordered from them multiple times and have gotten my order in about 3 days all of the times except once. That time, they notified me of the back order. I got the item a couple of weeks later.

 

[TXdefender]

Just got my night sights in for my GP100 from Optics Planet. Ordered on Thursday so came on time this is my first time dealing with them.

Night sights on a GP100 are awsome by the way!

 

[Sky]

Yes call them before placing the order! You get to talk to a real live person..They are like everyone else with vendors. They place orders and vendors say their order will be delivered on such an such date...Date comes and goes with no delivery from vendor.

I have had honest responses from them on several different orders. I did have to wait on a popular red dot but everyone was sold out of them on the Internet.

Supplier was slammed with back orders. Optics Planet got 165 in and was sold out in three days.

I agree they should post if a product is in stock but when I called they had to call the ware house and check if the item was there; if I remember correctly.

 

[SandroM]

The comments here are about right. The overwhelming majority of orders ship within 48 hours, but ultimately you're going to be a lot more likely to hear about the minority that don't because the expectation is that you order today and it'll ship today (and that's what the expectation should be!) We're working on the enterprise software to better manage inventory levels, along with setting up better forecasting, but the volume of stuff that moves in and out of warehouse each day is incredible right now. There are products where hundreds come in each week, and we go from fully supplied, to out of stock, to fully supplied 3-4 times in any given week. Our website, unfortunately, doesn't publish in real time due to its size, which means when we post something we have to use estimates from vendors, and once something is up it is extremely difficult to take it down without causing major functionality problems. It's a big project here and the situation will definitely improve

As people have mentioned, we have real, live Americans here answering the phones and responding to live chat who will be more than happy to see if a product is in-stock and ready to ship for you or not. Feel free to open up live chat or give us a call and our customer service team will check with the warehouse on the stock availability of any item, and if it is out of stock they can let you know about comparable items that are in-stock if you want.

Alessandro M.
OpticsPlanet
http://www.opticsplanet.com

EDIT: As far as not actually stocking anything, 50,000 sq. ft of warehouse space and the UPS trucks loaded with pallets everyday disagree

 

[Odd Job]

Two good experiences, ordered from the UK with a credit card. One scope and one reflex red dot.
Stuff was sent rapidly (as far as rapid goes for an international order). It was well packed and the customer service via email was good.

 

[runfrumu]

I've twice ordered from them the past week. I ordered a blackhawk chest pouch from the march 8, and they say they will notify you when it ships. I received confirmation on shipping just 2 days ago on the 16th but the item actually shipped the 11th, and will arrive today. I also ordered some blackhawk knee pads on the 9th but havent heard anything about them.

I think they drop ship alot of their stuff so they are at the mercy of whoever drop ships for them on the particular item as to whether it is in stock or not.

They usually have cheaper prices when doing a google shopping search so thats why I ordered through them.

 

[stork]

I have only ordered from them once. I January I ordered a spotting scope, received it in about 3 days. Excellent service and quick, I'll be ordering more from them.

FWIW

 

[dho3]

I've looked on Optics Planet before but found that SWFA.com usually has better prices so that's where I bought from.

I have never ordered from Optics Planet, but I have from SWFA. They do not tell you if an item is in stock. On two occasions, again common items, after waiting prolonged periods of time, I find out the item is not in stock and end up waiting weeks and weeks for something I could have ordered from Midway, Natchez or multiple other places, knowing if it is in stock or not by their website. I believe on both occasions I was ordering something else and figured why not get this item there. On one, both items were delayed. They do not even send an e-mail. I know I could have called and ordered, but ordering by the internet is so convenient and you would figure that the items that I ordered were in stock. Prices, you can always find a lower price elsewhere, always. Bought a closeout Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9 scope at Midway for 300 that SWFA wanted 389 or so. It was limited offer, but you can always find these deals. Would I try Optics Planet? Maybe if their prices were competetive with what I can find by searching the net with price finders. For me, it is worth spending 30 minutes searching the internet to save 100 bucks on an item. Another example. I just bought a pair of Minox BD 10x44 BP binoculars, which are discontinued, but still sold. Eagle Optics wants 429 for them and I got them for 249 from CameraLand. No you will not find them on their website, you have to look for them. Free shipping too. I work too hard for my money not to spend the extra time looking for the deals on good quality products. And no Chinese by the way. Sorry for the rant.

 

[dho3]

Actually the Minox binoculars are on their website now, bnib for 229 and open box demo for 199. They are a steal at that price.

 

[SleazyRider]

I found their website very informative and honest when it came to reviews on optics and other equipment, and their service to be second to none. I've purchased perhaps 3 scopes from them over the years, and would most definitely buy from them again. Just my experience.

 

[R120]

I've placed multiple orders with Optics Planet... They may not always have the absolute lowest price, but I've received exceptional customer service on the rare occasion I've needed their help.

For myself, willing to pay a tad more knowing there's a great customer service organization standing behind their sales.

 

[Guns and more]

Anyone order from these guys before?

I guess am wondering if they are just one of those online mega stores that lists every item imaginable on their website, but doesn't actually stock anything?

I think you hit it on the head.
I ordered once, and got exactly the same story.
Should ship tomorrow, oops; backordered, should ship in a week; oops, should be in stock in a month.

I got my money back and said "Never again."

 

[buckmeister2]

They are a drop-shipper. that is the only way they can get prices down to what they are. If they are out of something, try another vendor because it often will be the same situation. Some of the best known, most popular sites are largely drop-ship companies.

 

[Grunt Medic TXARNG]

Thanks, Alessandro.

I just got in an order from them this week - ordered just over 3 weeks ago, so something was out of stock. But they had the very best prices on some of the Blackhawk gear I was after - specifically the ACU pattern MBITR radio pouch I was after, so I'm satisfied.

 

[arcticap]

I ordered a Sightron scope that was out of stock and it was drop shipped right from Sightron and I received it in about one week. That didn't bother me.
And the item didn't need to get shipped more than once from the main supplier.

 

[forkliftfred]

I just placed My first order with them 2 weeks ago. Today I got My second e-mail stating all three items are temporarily out of stock and would be 7-10 working days. Mine were also nothing unusual. I'm gona cancel the order and get it from amazon, You just helped with My decision, Thanks.

 

[ObsidianOne]

I just ordered a Blackhawk SERPA holster from them off of eBay. Got it to me in a reasonable amount of time. Though they do have some negative feedback it seems for people buying things that are in stock and then tell them the item is backordered.

 

[LiquidTension]

I've only dealt with them once but I didn't have any problems.

 

[toivo]

I've had mostly good experiences but one not-so-good. The product-selection interface can be very confusing. Searching a holster by make and model, for example, gives you a page for that holster, but you still have to select your make and model from a dropdown menu: not exactly intuitive when you searched by make and model in the first place. The gist is that I got the wrong holster. I then returned it and got the wrong one again, since the product description just said 2" barrel, not 2" barrel revolver. Sorry, but in this day and age, isn't semi-auto the default handgun?

If you are in any doubt about what product you are ordering, call during regular business hours when you can talk to a product specialist, not just an order-taker. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle and a lot of return shipping costs, because return shipping is on your dime.