Fed up of Tech delays. (Last update...)

[Prisce]

Have been looking at mills and lathes a lot lately.

ITH airsoft services is looking like a possibility.

You’d have liked the company I was at today... they were machining the front sights of a NATO machinegun that I’m not allowed to name....

The machinery in this place was incredible, wish I knew what half it did.

They don't have to take the work if they don't want it and think it would be difficult. They did, so you assume they'll put in the effort and give me what I ask for. 

See there’s where you went wrong.

You assumed.*sarcasm*

Working in a service industry, I can honestly say you would not believe what some people say they will do and what they actually do. 

They take on work because its work and money to be made, but put it off for days and weeks because they can make more money elsewhere. 

I see it everyday.

 

[ImTriggerHappy]

You’d have liked the company I was at today... they were machining the front sights of a NATO machinegun that I’m not allowed to name....

The machinery in this place was incredible, wish I knew what half it did.

Modern machinery is a souless thing. Done plenty of firearms type stuff including a barrel stabilizer/locking rig for a gun firing armour piercing shells.

Somewhere out there on a test range is a gun firing rounds that will go through a tank that is relying on the mounts I made making sure everything goes to the same spot everytime.

Their neighbours are fucked

They don't have to take the work if they don't want it and think it would be difficult. They did, so you assume they'll put in the effort and give me what I ask for. 

Main problem is most so called airsoft techs would be stretched by technic lego. Very few are actually worth paying. If I couldn't figure out a problem on an airsoft gun within half an hour I would book in for an MRI.

Airsoft guns are very simple.

 

[clumpyedge]

What annoys me more than unmentioned delays is no comms at all as said in previous threads. Some retailers who offer tech work wont even reply to messages it seems unless it has a high price tag along with it or they just aren't interested!

I've messaged techs before about work and never even had a reply! I understand that the more sought after tech people have a heavy work load but there's something to be said for prioritization of work if you cant reply to mails and messages (and this isn't just me that's had this issue apparently) Yes everyone has a life outside of work but don't offer services when you cant get the bare essentials right or have someone that can answer simple things for you day to day.

Really it comes down to - if I've paid you to do a job and there's an agreement in place as to when that should be completed and it isn't there's not many excuses that should cover why it hasn't.

 

[RMDavis]

Did I read this correctly? 

One of your guns has been away for upgrade/repair for over a year!? ?

That is mental!

 

[Steveocee]

I don't think that is particularly right to blame me for what I wanted. If the techs say they can do it and take my money then the onus is on them to provide me with the service I have paid for. I paid around £200 for the SL8 to be worked on and I already provided 90% of the parts. I knew they charged a lot more then other techs, but I wanted it to be perfect and what I received, wasn't. 

Please don't take my statement as being critical of you directly. Sounds like you're going the hard way around learning what I'd say a lot of "seasoned" airsofters learn in time that eventually you begin to love the simplicity of taking a TIF out the box and using it standard.

Another lesson to learn is that you agree a time scale, you stick to that time scale and hold the stores to it. 1 Year is a stupidly long time to wait and I'd doubt they have it any more.

When I used to run a cycling department in a "well known retail outlet" repairs and upgrades were prioritised on time they were due to be collected. I never had a cycle lying around for months on end, if it needed parts then parts were ordered and customer expectations adjusted.

 

[TheFull9]

Over a year is utterly insane, you need to be badgering whoever these people/companies are and definitely name and shame them because I wouldn't want to send any work their way.  I sent off a GBBR to this bloke a couple of years back - https://www.facebook.com/Paradigmrifleworks/ - was told something like 6 weeks, around 7-8 months later (having paid the full amount before posting off the gun) after dozens of messages, dozens of e-mails, ringing the guy one time per day and not once having the phone answered etc I just turned up on his doorstep and politely asked where my gun was.  Had it back a few weeks later.  He claimed a serious illness in the family around the 3-4 month point, I said ok, I waited months more and said don't even worry about finishing the work simply take 20 minutes to go down the PO and return my property, hell I'd even come and collect it myself in person, still total silence... nah.

After a year I'd absolutely be going to the place in person and asking to see my property, even if it were a long drive and time was tight.  Sounds like you've already been more than patient, don't let these people off the hook.

 

[Solly4568]

or alternatively, send them some of this until they decide to give it back?

https://www.sendshit.co.uk/

but yeah a year is way to long for upgrades 

 

[Adolf Hamster]

i must admit i'm not sure i'd accept anything beyond a couple of months for work done unless it was agreed up front.

the rare time i'm employing my local tech's services it's normally a case of same day, but then it's both of us working to figure out what the problem is and normally i have a fair idea before going (perfect example is bugfixing the ascu2 where we needed to try a bunch of different cutoff levers to get one with the right lift to trigger the system properly)

think about it like this- would you accept your car being in the garage for that long? how about a washing machine? or a computer?

 

[clumpyedge]

Over a year is utterly insane, you need to be badgering whoever these people/companies are and definitely name and shame them because I wouldn't want to send any work their way.  I sent off a GBBR to this bloke a couple of years back - https://www.facebook.com/Paradigmrifleworks/ - was told something like 6 weeks, around 7-8 months later (having paid the full amount before posting off the gun) after dozens of messages, dozens of e-mails, ringing the guy one time per day and not once having the phone answered etc I just turned up on his doorstep and politely asked where my gun was.  Had it back a few weeks later.  He claimed a serious illness in the family around the 3-4 month point, I said ok, I waited months more and said don't even worry about finishing the work simply take 20 minutes to go down the PO and return my property, hell I'd even come and collect it myself in person, still total silence... nah.

After a year I'd absolutely be going to the place in person and asking to see my property, even if it were a long drive and time was tight.  Sounds like you've already been more than patient, don't let these people off the hook.

Ive personally never had to wait any longer than 2-3 weeks which with my playing schedule worked out nicely and even had phone calls to ask if I wanted added work done etc. with the exception of a certain gun type that has a longer lead time with a well known tech which is well known so again not an issue on the wait. A team mate of mine had the complete opposite experience with a well known tech who came out with every excuse under the sun for not doing or completing the work but having added their personal account on social media as well we found out he was just taking the piss. In total he waited I think 8 months for a recoil back and the work done was sub par, in the same vein another team mate sent a sniper rifle to the same tech and it came back worse off than it was sent and the work that was done wasn't what was agreed.

 

[ImTriggerHappy]

Ive personally never had to wait any longer than 2-3 weeks which with my playing schedule worked out nicely and even had phone calls to ask if I wanted added work done etc. with the exception of a certain gun type that has a longer lead time with a well known tech which is well known so again not an issue on the wait. A team mate of mine had the complete opposite experience with a well known tech who came out with every excuse under the sun for not doing or completing the work but having added their personal account on social media as well we found out he was just taking the piss. In total he waited I think 8 months for a recoil back and the work done was sub par, in the same vein another team mate sent a sniper rifle to the same tech and it came back worse off than it was sent and the work that was done wasn't what was agreed.

Name and shame?

 

[Druid799]

I did once have a gun with a tech for 11mths it wasn’t a problem though as he was having a real problem sourcing a part AND he kept me fully up to date every mth on the state of play with finding said part . 

Then a team mate bought a gun from shoot’n’scoot that was promised in 6wks but took 8mths and when it did finally turn up it wasn’t even completed ! ?

 

[clumpyedge]

Name and shame?

KOA

 

[ImTriggerHappy]

KOA

Hmmm that name turns up too often but to be fair most of his work I have seen has been ok.

 

[clumpyedge]

Hmmm that name turns up too often but to be fair most of his work I have seen has been ok.

Recently it seems to have improved including turn around times but having said that one bad experience is enough to leave a sour taste and not get repeat custom

 

[Albiscuit]

I did once have a gun with a tech for 11mths it wasn’t a problem though as he was having a real problem sourcing a part AND he kept me fully up to date every mth on the state of play with finding said part . 

See this is perfect, lots of communication. You (as the customer) was happy with this and was understanding.

I wouldnt mind a longer than expected wait as long as the communication was there, if I were the OP I would have chased up/sought refunds from most of these techs by now as frankly those waiting times with lack of comms is taking the piss!!

If its an easy fix or a fault finding mission they should not have taken on the job if they were not prepared to complete, or got in touch and apologised, refused to do the work and sent the gun back at the very least!.

Surely you have some form of contract from these people when you send them a RIF? There must be some sort of procedure, especially if they are with retailers?

 

[AK47frizzle]

This is why i've done everything myself from day 1. I only send my stuff off if I am truly stuck because I don't have the tools that are 100% required and no way around it. That's when I knock on Sam's door from Kingdom of Airsoft and bug him

 

[Wo1f]

Recently it seems to have improved including turn around times but having said that one bad experience is enough to leave a sour taste and not get repeat custom

You want a recoil built and not just fancy parts thrown in, SixG is the way

 

[ImTriggerHappy]

You want a recoil built and not just fancy parts thrown in, SixG is the way

Only until I get off my arse and start up ?

 

[Rogerborg]

That's when I knock on Sam's door from Kingdom of Airsoft and bug him

Whose work is not getting done while he's helping you?

This comment may be less flippant than it first appears.  I suspect the root problem that a lot of techs have is being soft touches and unable to say "No".

 

[Immortal]

I suspect the root problem that a lot of techs have is being soft touches and unable to say "No". 

That's a polite way of saying "unprofessional". :lol: (IMHO)