Randall Rausch at ar15barrels.com....?

[J23]

Does he frequent this board?

I sent him an email regarding a barrel that I seen on his website that I want, which he states is in stock, then I noticed that the site was last updated in 2005.

I couldnt find a number on his site, so I sent him an email and got an automated response basically stating that he doesnt answer emails.

Im a little confused, the guys over on the ar15.com boards warship this guy like he is the next messiah, yet his site containing 'in stock' items hasnt been updated since 2005 and he doesnt answer emails, and has no telephone number [that I can find.]

Im a little skeptical.

Anyone have any experiences with him? He has a reputation of putting out quality work, I guess if you can get ahold of him.

Anyone...?

 

[harmonic]

I just checked his website. He offers no contact phone number and offers this disclaimer:

I work a regular day job just like almost everyone else does.
I do my gunsmithing work in the evenings and on the weekends.
Please send email to: randall at ar15barrels.com (replace "at" with @)
I usually answer emails within 3 days unless I am otherwise involved in having a personal life...

Too many caveats. It's your money, but if it were me I'd find somebody who has less of an attitude. (Read the rest of his disclaimer.)

BTW, just because arfcom says a thing doesn't make it so. That place is strange.

 

[J23]

Harmonic...

That was kind of my thought, specifically regarding the word "attitude" but I didnt want to just come out and say it, feeling maybe I was just frustrated, but now that I read it again, I believe you are right, for someone who is trying to attract business, he sure isnt customer-friendly. I believe Im going to take my money elsewhere.

Thanks.

 

[taliv]

he posts on m4carbine.net, or used to, in the technical forum

 

[R.W.Dale]

ar15barrels.com and http://www.switchbarrel.com/ are pretty much business vapourware

send them money at your own risk

BTW, just because arfcom says a thing doesn't make it so. That place is strange.

That's an understatement, I think the entire population over there is comprised of first time gun owners

 

[machinisttx]

That's an understatement, I think the entire population over there is comprised of first time gun owners

O rly? There are a few windowlickers over there, but I'm far from a first time gunowner...and the same goes for nearly all the individuals I've met(in person) via ar15.com.

BTW, I haven't seen anyone there trash talk this forum. Perhaps you could extend the same courtesy?

 

[battlecry]

Rausch worked my AR barrel about two years ago. Cut/recrown/tread/fit a Cooley comp. Job was well done and price reasonable. Would do it again if he is not backed up with work. I can wait for months for a holster from Milt Sparks, not so for a barrel.

 

[J23]

It's not so much the wait... I know with panic buying, the Christmas holidays and the hunting seasons slow things down a bit in the firearms manufacturing business... that isnt really my issue. To reiterate...

I dont care for the fact that the gentleman has a website, and promotes his work on two different forums now that I have found, yet makes it nearly impossible to contact him for work. I compare his attitude to that of large cooporations which use the 'telephone tree' technique... moving your round and round in circles, getting nowhere, when it would JUST BE EASIER TO SPEAK WITH A HUMAN BEING. No one I know uses 'snail mail' anymore, you cant call the guy, and when you try to email him, he sends an auto-reply pretty much suggesting (with, as it has been pointed out, attitude) that he doesnt really care to read his email. Wow, thats some customer service. So what if you have an issue with the work when you receive the product? Too bad? ...or wait three weeks for his snail mail reply? ...or blindly mail your item to him [as he suggests by leaving his shipping address of all things on his contact page] and hope for the best, nevermind if you want to make sure he received the item.

The more I think about it, I cant imagine anyone running a business that ridiculously, and actually getting work. Wow. :banghead:

It seems that his excuse revolves around the fact that he has a life, along with another job. If you dont have time to do it correctly, then dont operate a business. Again, Im not complaining about the turn around [not that I know how long it actually is, considering I cant ask without sending a postcard,] my issue is with his (lack of) customer service.

 

[45Badger]

It's not so much the wait... I know with panic buying, the Christmas holidays and the hunting seasons slow things down a bit in the firearms manufacturing business... that isnt really my issue. To reiterate...

I dont care for the fact that the gentleman has a website, and promotes his work on two different forums now that I have found, yet makes it nearly impossible to contact him for work. I compare his attitude to that of large cooporations which use the 'telephone tree' technique... moving your round and round in circles, getting nowhere, when it would JUST BE EASIER TO SPEAK WITH A HUMAN BEING. No one I know uses 'snail mail' anymore, you cant call the guy, and when you try to email him, he sends an auto-reply pretty much suggesting (with, as it has been pointed out, attitude) that he doesnt really care to read his email. Wow, thats some customer service. So what if you have an issue with the work when you receive the product? Too bad? ...or wait three weeks for his snail mail reply? ...or blindly mail your item to him [as he suggests by leaving his shipping address of all things on his contact page] and hope for the best, nevermind if you want to make sure he received the item.

The more I think about it, I cant imagine anyone running a business that ridiculously, and actually getting work. Wow.

It seems that his excuse revolves around the fact that he has a life, along with another job. If you dont have time to do it correctly, then dont operate a business. Again, Im not complaining about the turn around [not that I know how long it actually is, considering I cant ask without sending a postcard,] my issue is with his (lack of) customer service.

Sounds like you have a problem with his business model. Sounds like it works for him. The man does good work, and is not in business to please "you". He is in business to make money and please himself. He is not making excuses. He is candidly stating facts and values about his life (kid's soccer game may be more important to him than returning your email).

Why waste the energy bashing his business/attitude? Has he done you any harm? Do you really think it will change anything? Take your business to someone who does good work in a way that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. You'll be happy, and so will Mr Rausch. Merry Christmas!

 

[mudriver]

Randall is a thief

He has $850 of mine for 4 years and won't return calls etc. He is a thief. Might as well give your money to a televangelist

 

[J23]

Mudriver's post is a classic example of what Im talking about, if indeed the information is correct.

and again with 45badger, the point is missed...

I DONT CARE WHAT HIS TURN AROUND TIME IS... I KNOW HE HAS A LIFE AND LIFE CAN KEEP YOU BUSY... BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN A RESPECTABLE BUSINESS, AT LEAST HAVE A CONTACT NUMBER OR USEABLE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR COMMUNICATIONS, EVEN IF IT TAKES A FEW DAYS TO GET BACK TO SOMEONE - WE ARE GOING ON 2009 - GET REAL.

IF HE IS TOO BUSY TO RUN THE BUSINESS THEN HE SHOULD STOP WHINING ABOUT IT AND QUIT-CLOSE HIS DOORS; AND QUIT WASTING PEOPLE'S TIME. AS YOU STATED 45BADGER, THERE ARE MANY OTHER BUSINESS' OUT THERE WHO WANT TO SELL YOU SOMETHING AND MAKE THE CUSTOMER HAPPY--WHICH BY THE WAY SHOULD BE THE PREMISE OF ANY BUSINESS, RIGHT UP THERE WITH MAKING MONEY, OR YOU PROBABLY WONT MAKE MUCH.

Mudriver, if you're post is accurate, I am not sure why you are waiting to pursue legal action. Just from the initial outward appearance from the information you provided in your post... I would say his actions border on 'Fraudulant Schemes,' or a similar crime.

 

[harmonic]

J23, follow your instincts. This guy gives no definitive contact information and makes it impossible to check up on your order other than via email. Plus he's given himself several "outs" for nonperformance.

And mudriver's experience is the icing on the cake.

You might get his product at a cheaper price, but do you want to go through the headaches of dealing with a part timer?

Surely you can find a reputable gunsmith to accomplish what you need.

JMO.

 

[jbech123]

Sounds like you have a problem with his business model. Sounds like it works for him. The man does good work, and is not in business to please "you". He is in business to make money and please himself. He is not making excuses. He is candidly stating facts and values about his life (kid's soccer game may be more important to him than returning your email).

he can certainly have whatever attitude he wants, and as you mentioned, it works for him so why should he change it. However especially in this economy, if someone is gonna get hundreds of dollars from me, it certainly won't be someone that is next to impossible to contact. At this point, anyone who sends the guy money when there is virtually no way to get in contact with him deserves to get screwed. So I guess we will both be happy, I will take my money to someone that might actually return a call or email, and he won't have to bother with the whole pesky "customer service" thing. Merry Christmas.

Something like this is what I need to avoid:

He has $850 of mine for 4 years and won't return calls etc. He is a thief. Might as well give your money to a televangelist

$850 is a good chunk of change. While I make a nice living, family obligations do put a limit on my disposable income, so letting him have that much money, and having no way to contact him, definitely tells me stay away.

 

[redleg500]

I asked Mr. Rausch for a copy of my receipt from my purchase of an AR15 Upper. His response was:

I don't have access to my old accounting records.
I no longer sell anything nor do I have an accounting system that could generate a receipt.


He can't pick up a pen and piece of paper to write a receipt? On top of that, he is now ignoring follow up emails to that regard. This goes all the way back to the original purchase when I had trouble with the upper as it was nothing more than a single shot as the case would get stuck every single time. He is response to my inquiries bordered on the incredulous that he could not have made a mistake and that it was somehow my fault. I had two different armorers, one from the local SF team and one from the local SEAL team look at it and both came to the same conclusion that the build was defective. Only after that, did Rausch begrudgingly take it back and fix it. I know this thread is old but the same problems are still occurring

 

[Al Thompson]

Thread is almost 6 years old, suspect the issue is moot by now.