Rogerborg

Hah, I also got an email asking me to contact them about a negative (factual) review that I'd left at their chosen review site. They don't need to fix their communication, they just need to get their stocking sorted out and send out orders in a timely fashion. Then they wouldn't need to communicate. I'll light a candle for you.

They don't process orders over the weekend, so close of play today is when I'd expect to them dispatch. Even if it goes out tomorrow you should still get it by next weekend. Despite my bad experience, I wouldn't actually expect them to stuff up your order. <SuBo-fingers-crossed.png>

Dropped into Lidl, came out with a £13 roller holdall. 68L, 73cm x 30cm x 31cm, fits a short M4 or folded stock-open G36C and loads of gear, with several side pockets. No more humping a gun bag and a holdall full of accoutrements like an animal for this borg. https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?articleId=14517

Heh, I spotted that while you were replying. I'd be tempted to give them a chance for that difference in price. The reason I was particularly hacked off is that I was specifically after one for the next weekend, but by the time it was sorted, I'd already lost two weekend's worth of play. If you're not in a hurry, it'd be a rational gamble. You're not going to lose your money even if they do mess it up. Buy it, buy it, buy it.

It's the same company, the .co.uk is just an English / £ default front end. I know, they're soooooo cheap that it's hard to resist. And you'll probably be OK, I imagine that they get the majority of their orders correct and on time. This 'un? https://gunfire.pl/product-eng-1152191226-JG080-carbine-replica.html Sooooooo cheap. The note of caution is the "very small quantity of stock". It's literally the last one (you can't order 2), which may mean you get the returned one, or the shop soiled one, or the one that they don't actually have.

As an aside, it's a great argument in favour of using PayPal. That would have taken a lot longer to sort out if it had been a credit or debit card purchase.

Final closure, the money is now back in my account and available to spend after 10 working days. Never a word of explanation or apology for the failure to dispatch, to respond, or to cancel the order before PayPal got involved. They could have retained me as a potential customer with a 30 second email. I guess that's literally not worth their time. So noted.

Eh, it'll all come out in the wash eventually (still not back in my bank account yet to be spent elsewhere though). It's disappointing as I've had one order from them with no problems, and they are very cheap, but I rather suspect that they're just swamped. I'm actually OK with delay, stuff happens, but it's going completely silent that triggers my claim / chargeback response. What I'd particularly warn about is the hazard of ordering something that's showing as low stock, as I suspect that's when they're going to find that they've miscounted or that the last one on the shelf is actually pink and shop soiled.

Oh hai, guess who still hasn't received a refund despite the order clearly claiming that it's been refunded to my PayPal? [UPDATE] Aaand, finally refunded. That brings this sorry tale to a close. Careful now.

And on the Seventh Working Day, Roger did rest, as GunFire, without a word of apology or acknowledgement, have finally cancelled the order and (they say) "[PayPal] Return has been made." Well, let's see how long that takes to bubble up back through PayPal and my bank account. It took seconds to go their way, it doesn't seem to be so snappy coming back. Bah, it's too late to make a TaiwanGun order and receive it by next weekend now.

It is weird. I mean, they did initiate communication about the order, albeit belatedly, but have now gone into total stealth mode apart from automated acknowledgements - so yes, they are receiving the emails, to the address that they asked me to send them to. Not even responding to contact via PayPal is bizarre though, as it's a shoe in for them to lose the case and ultimately, if they lose enough, to be charged higher fees or even lose the ability to take PayPal at all. They must know this, so I can only assume that they're so swamped with orders that they can literally afford to just sod some of them off AND take the ding from lost PayPal claims. Or maybe they've been eaten by badgers.

Working day 6, no dispatch, no change to the order, and still no response at all from GunFire for 4 working days either directly or through PayPal. I have now escalated it to a PayPal claim. It didn't have to go this way. Why did they make it go this way?

Eh, given that there's minimal chance that it will be delivered by next weekend now, I've requested a refund instead. Given their lack of responses to date, I've tried to contact them via a PayPal dispute as well. Let's see how it works out, but I am the opposite of gruntled about GunFire at the moment and - depending on if or how they resolve this - could only recommend staying well away from them despite the cheap prices.

Working day 5, no response, no update to the order. I'll be opening a PayPal dispute on Monday. I knew, I just knew I should have gone with TaiwanGun. 😒

Aaand another working day, another no confirmation of my response or of dispatch. I guess TaiwanGun gets my business from now on. It's worth a few more £££ to actually get sent what you ordered in the same week that you order it. Who do GunFire think they are - a British company?

But, but, "Milspec".

And on working day three, Roger did receive this message. And lo, Roger did weep, then ask for part FMA-09-003821, which is functionally identical to FMA-09-003828, and he did wish that they had spake to him yesterday, or verily hath just substituted it and sendeth the order on that day. And there was much lamenting. Well, it happens, and it's no biggie in the end. Pretty clear communication as well.

Ex-two tone, removed it with sandpaper or something too solventy? Or that could be the "dirty" part. How would you know, those are the only pictures he's chosen to provide. Probably not practical, but how funny (and useful) would it be to automatically link to the lowest priced retailer selling each item? It might wake some sellers up from their delusional dreams.

Well, damn. Ordered Sunday night, expected dispatch was shown as Tuesday, which would have given it a fair shake of arriving by Friday. It's now the end of Tuesday, two full working days after ordering, and the order is still showing as in progress, with no dispatch information. I'd stick with TaiwanGun if I were you, chaps.

Get in, she's soon to be single.

Anyone got any horror or great success stories to share from the past couple of weeks? GunFire are coming out about £25 cheaper than TaiwanGun for the same order (or to be more precise, I can add a tri-shotty to the GF order for a couple of £££ extra) but I'd really like the delivery before next weekend. What do we reckon? I'll be ordering first thing Monday morning either way. [EDIT] Ordered from GunFire, such cheapness, many bargains. Taking one for the team here, I'll let you know if and when it shows up.

I'd wondered. While I can't be doing with Novritsch turning his channel(s) into one continuous shill for his own branded tat, at least he did put some effort into creating the SSG24. Trying to flip £100+ profit on one just because there is (or was) a waiting list is bare scalping, and I hope this seller takes a well deserved bath on it. The "*final price drop*" did make me chuckle. What's he going to do if it doesn't sell at that price? Throw it on the barbecue?

What is it with SSG24 owners? Brand new price is (($435 + 3.2% duty) + $55 shipping) + 20% VAT = $605 = £451 to your door. "*final price drop*" for a pre-licked one is £600, excluding delivery. It does come with the all important Novritsch sling though...

With respect, that's an automated stock system and a fortuitous delivery. I tend to judge retailers on how they respond when things go wrong, because that's when it will really matter.

Looks like I was lucky to get an order through from them in mid April. Such a shame, I hope it works out for everyone.