[fal_shooter]

I really hate to do this but I am tired of being ignored and lied to. I told Lois in my last two emails that I would do this if she did not answer my numerous emails and she still ignored me. So since she obviously wants this made public I have to make good on my promise. If I still do not get this resolve by posting here I will post this warning about CenterFireSystems on every gunboard I can find.

This has been going on for almost 3 months.

I ordered 9 kits (1 MAK 90, 2 AMD 65s and 6 MAD 63s) from them Mid August and I was supposed to receive new/excellent mag pouches and cleaning stuff on 8 of the kits (a $30 dollar value). I received 2 pouches and that's it. I have emailed Lois numerous times and when she bothered to answer my email she said it was their mistake that they were'n shipped and she would get the stuff shipped out right away. NOTHING. On one email she had been sick and would take care of it asap. NOTHING. Now she does not even answer my email. I have a number of emails where she admits that she owes me the stuff but now she doesn't even bother to lie to me anymore. I spent over $1,000 with that company and that stuff was part of the deal I made with her. You would think that a company that "cares" about it's customers would take better care of them. STILL NOTHING AND I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED AN EXPLANATION WHY THEY HAVE REFUSED TO SHIP WHAT THEY OWE ME.

Now before someone ask if I tried to call her the answer is no. I work in a high security building during the hours they are open and I cannot place this type of call during work hours. Another reason is I don't trust her anymore because she has lied to me too many times so I want all communications in writing. I know she may now try to claim they were not part of the deal but I have it in writing several emails where she said they were.

If they are not going to honor their commitments they should at the very least give me a reason why they are so willing to throw away a customer over something so petty. If they are not going to honor their commitments they should not make the commitments.

 

[compinnov]

Very sorry to here that, IMHO I have had nothing but perfect from centerfire. Fast shipping and excellent service. I usually go through Tara, but I have delt with Lois also. Just saying, when you get a chance, call them. They will help you I'm sure. Great people!!!!! :thumbup1:
John

 

[fal_shooter]

My story was the same as yours until this happened. I'm not saying I will never buy from them again but I will not buy anything or recommend them to anyone until this is resolved.

Calling will not help. If they will lie in writting they will lie on the phone. The only difference on the phone you can't prove what they said. If you don't believe me just ask Bill Clinton. His entire time in the White House he only sent one email as a test and he had someone else type it.

 

[Sangrun Hunter]

As a rule most sites don't condone public complaints of this type as they attract flamers and what not.

I have to say I'm surprised about this issue as I have always gotten good response from Lois on matters of buying stuff from her.

Maybe certified mail?

 

[chuck1]

Sorry to hear about the problems.
I lost faith in Lois and centerfire after all those bad polish underfolder kits they sold. I called 3 times and left messages to get a RA# and never heard back from her.
She was quick to call back when I left a message about buying a couple kits but wasn't very responsive about wanting to take them back.
I ended up parting the really bad kit out after never having my call returned and I won't buy from them again.

 

[yosuthnmasa]

HMM, very interesting. I too had an issue with the Polish underfolders. Luckily I got her on the phone, and that same day I had the kit shipped out with an RA number. Easy as pie. However, I have had problems in the past with getting phone calls returned. Generally, I will get the call returned even if it is 2-3 days later.

I know its none of my business and I don't know the whole story, but you mentioned that she has been sick. Is there a possibility that she is still sick and out of the office and that is why she isn't returning the emails?

 

[Grendeljaeger]

Well, I hate to hear this, as I have had only excellent dealings with Lois, but maybe by bringing it here you can get it resolved. I hope you get your stuff. It is how businesses handle problems that can make or break a reputation.

 

[fal_shooter]

Well she emailed me back after I posted this and said she "forgot" to respond to my numerous emails. She did not say anything about fixing the problem. I will wait for a day or two to see if she "remembers" to fix the problem before I post on any other sites. If she does "remember" to fix the problem I will be sure to post the results.

 

[hcpookie]

I have to say I'm surprised about this issue as I have always gotten good response from Lois on matters of buying stuff from her.

Same here.

Based on the overwhelming number of "positive" responses, I'm sure it was probably a fluke. In fact, FWIW, this is the first time I've seen any complaint at all.

 

[fal_shooter]

As a rule most sites don't condone public complaints of this type as they attract flamers and what not.

I have to say I'm surprised about this issue as I have always gotten good response from Lois on matters of buying stuff from her.

Maybe certified mail?

If you are not supposed to post this type of public complaint then why do they call this section "Product and Company Reviews"? I am reviewing a Company and my experience with them and if necessary I can document every claim I made. I had a similar issue with JoeKen recently and they resolved it to my satisfaction so much so that I just ordered 10 74 mags from them. I don't hold a grudge once the issue is resolved. I made a similar rule with my kids I would not "loan" them any more money until they paid back the first "loan". If Lois resolves this issue to my satisfaction then I will order from them again. If not I will keep posting fair and accurate information about their business practices until I am no longer amused. Either way I will get satisfaction.

 

[Sangrun Hunter]

If you are not supposed to post this type of public complaint then why do they call this section "Product and Company Reviews"? I am reviewing a Company and my experience with them and if necessary I can document every claim I made. I had a similar issue with JoeKen recently and they resolved it to my satisfaction so much so that I just ordered 10 74 mags from them. I don't hold a grudge once the issue is resolved. I made a similar rule with my kids I would not "loan" them any more money until they paid back the first "loan". If Lois resolves this issue to my satisfaction then I will order from them again. If not I will keep posting fair and accurate information about their business practices until I am no longer amused. Either way I will get satisfaction.

Whoa, there Falshooter.

I didn't delete you post and maybe I didn't make myself clear either.

The post is still up, but I was making an observation about these types of post getting out of hand.

One other point is posting a complaint like this on a forum often results in bad results for the parties trying to resolve the iussue.

JoeKen is, well JoeKen..... :thumbup1:

 

[fal_shooter]

And in fairness JoeKen did resolve the issue and I have since ordered from him again. I believe nothing can be as bad for me as being totally ignored. I did send them two emails stating that I would go public if they did not reply so they had every chance to resove this quietly but they ignored my request. It's really interesting that I have spent thousands over the internet and the only times I have been stiffed is by companies. I have never been stiffed by an individual in the gun community. I know they will get this resolved at some point when they are tired of loosing sales. The changes in JoeKen for example have been for the good. The reason they were forced to change was the public discussion of their problems. Now I think they are well on the road to being a good, competitive company. I hope the same thing happens to CenterFireSystems. Nothing is ever resolved if you don't talk about it. Thanks for keeping the post active.

 

[sksguy]

My Centerfire catalog only shows the mag pouches and cleaning kit thrown in with the AMD 65 kits....Mike

 

[fal_shooter]

I questioned that at the time of purchase and Lois told me they were running a special on them and they were including them in the 63 and 65 kits. They were a "condition of purchase" when I ordered. I have several emails from Lois since saying she was going to send them to me. SHE HAS NOT SENT ANYTHING TO DATE. The last email I got from her was on the first day that I published here and her EXCUSE # 15 was she FORGOT TO SEND THEM. Well she STILL HAS NOT SENT ANYTHING AND IS NOT ANSWERING EMAIL so I guess she forgot that she remembered that she forgot again. I will shortly start publishing on every gun board I can find warning others about how they do business. She has ALWAYS said they owe them to me and she still has not sent them and it has been several months. In my book now the are just another CRAP COMPANY. It's not the kits that are the issue it's the STUPID way they are IGNORING resolving this issue. At one point she could have gotten away with a simple "sorry but I was wrong" but I will not except that now. I have in writing what they say the value of the kit is and how many they owe me. I will shortly present the to the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU to have them resolve it.

 

[yosuthnmasa]

I will call Lois if you want me to so this can be corrected, I'm sure that this is an oversite on her part. I you want you can PM me with the details and I'll see what can be done. I talked to her on the 5th and rec. my order today and she always tells me what is a good buy and what she can do to help me. I know she is trying her best to keep up but she gets over 100 calls a day and I know many more e-mails, and the e-mails could be being handled by passing them along to the shipping dept. and thinking they will be taken care of so as I stated I'll make the call if you so wish.
I deal with alot of co. and as far as I'm concered this is one of the best, as is Tapco,SOG and many more that escape me at this moment as there are co. I will not deal with that I won't mention on the forum. I hope I can help.

Did you ever find anything out Cephus?

 

[fal_shooter]

Sorry I saw your original offer but I didn't think it would be necessary to bother you with it. Since they continue to ignore me I will give you any information you would like. Do you want me to send you a copy of the original email where she promised to send the stuff or some of the other emails where she said she "forgot to do it" and "would do it immediately first thing in the morning" or some of the emails where she said she "was off work that day" or where she just "forgot"?

I'm really not trying to get something for nothing. She said that stuff would be included with my order and in all the emails since she has never said she told me the wrong thing and could not keep her promise. If she was wrong about it she could have avoided this whole matter by just telling me she made a mistake. My issue is being lied to and being ignored.

 

[snazi]

I was getting ready to order another AMD-65 kit and was going to use Centerfire Systems. I choose another company that had the same product at the same price. Customer service is very important to me. I nixed my receiver blank order from ACE for the reason that they didn't answer my email requesting additional information. Thanks for posting this thread, and thanks to the board owners for providing this service.

 

[Sangrun Hunter]

snazi,

Ace did me okay when we all ordered the new blanks earlier this year and I ordered from them before. Sorry to hear they didn't answer the e-mail and I'm not sure about Lois either as dealings with her have been good in the past.

Just my .02

 

[hcpookie]

I nixed my receiver blank order from ACE for the reason that they didn't answer my email requesting additional information.

The guy that owns ACE got called to active duty several months ago, and is therefore not as fast to respond to things as he would like to be.

FWIW, keep in mind that many many companies still operate with the "6 to 8 weeks for delivery" mindset. Many of us (myself included) are spoiled with push-button ordering that the 'net has made so handy. I've tried to adopt the mindset that unless I need it yesterday, I can wait. Even for gun parts Heck, I am always surprised when I get packages before the CC posts the transaction. Still can't figure that one out!

You know I just realized something too... the fact that so many people are volunteering to chime in and say nice things about vendors, and that these bad issues fall under the ocassional "crack in the sidewalk" category, that says something about the company. May be something to consider. I know I would recommend both Ace and Lois to anyone who asks.

"Shit Happens". FWIW.

hth,
- Jerry

 

[snazi]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll give them a try on my next order. Didn't know the guy was in the military. Being a vet myself I know how it affects your life. I just figured that Ace didn't care when a month went by without a reply. Probably just fell through a crack.