Anyone cancelled an order with SSS?

[lazyeiger]

I am getting well ticked off with Sharp Shooter Supply and am thinking of trying to cancel my order for a Savage target action timed and trued. They have had my $585 since 12/31/10. the action was promised late January/early Feb. I contacted them a week or so ago and was told there was no way that they would ship by the 21st of February which is when I have machine shop time to do the reaming. Lisa at SSS told me they have 28 full builds to do before they start on any actions and there are many before mine. I have tried to contact again them and now they wont even reply!

I was wondering if anyone had had sucsess in cancelling an order and getting your money back?

 

[tiny68]

I waited on the "list" over a year on my first action Fred T&T for me. The last two didn't take as long. Seems to be some communication failures with SSS as of late. I have done 15-20 purchases with them and had no issues. Realize there are very few good gunsmiths that can take on what you getting with a 2 month turn-around. Most have a significant backlog. I encourage you to be patient with Fred & Lisa. They are a two person shop and don't want to change that.

My experience with good gunsmiths is that it will get done when it gets done.

Luck with your Savage, Tim

 

[Erik Cortina]

Question: what exactly do you get for $585.00? Just the timing and truing, or the action as well?

As far as the wait time, I just ordered two actions from Kelbly's and was told it would take about three months, so hurry up and wait!!!

My point is, anything in the gun world takes a least 3 months. Barrels are about 4 months from Krieger and about a year from Bartlein! So, just be patient and you will get your action, getting upset and canceling your order is not going to make it any faster.

 

[ballistic64]

If your getting po'd about waiting for a little over a month so far,dont ever order a custom action. ;D

 

[Heavies]

This has many folks experience with SSS. Inaccurate estimates on delivery dates and dodging inquires seem to be SOP.
http://www.accurateshooter.com/forum/index.php/topic,3749282.0.html

I had about the same quoted delivery schedule as you, I ended up waiting much, much longer than quoted.

 

[40X Guy]

I contemplated doing business with SSS last summer but went with Stockade after reading about communication difficulties and changing time lines with SSS. As has been mentioned patience is a virtue in this hobby when ordering something and I have little patience also, but you have to bite the bullet so to speak. I waited 4 months for my stock from Stockade, but its almost a one off custom Thumbhole, that he had to have repainted as it did not meet his specs, and I had total trust. Which is something I did not have with SSS after research.

I am quite certain that SSS does excellent work, but as I have read in the linked thread, they don't communicate well, and that gets my goat.

Frank

 

[Terry]

Service is everything!

The only responsible way to deal with long waits is to be up front about it. If you tell someone it will be months before they receive their order, then they can choose whether or not to do business with you. Your estimate must be accurate. Smart firms give an estimate and then beat it.

I placed, and then cancelled an order. Visa got my money back for me.

Terry

 

[lazyeiger]

If your getting po'd about waiting for a little over a month so far,dont ever order a custom action. ;D

Just to get things straight. It is not the long wait I am ticked off about it is.

1/ The fact that I was outright lied to about the delivery time. I really do not need the action T&T'd I can do that perfectly well myself but the delivery time quoted by SSS was quicker than many other sources for just the action.

2/ I have worked with many companies while racing go-karts ,full size cars and sailboats and I have NEVER had my credit card charged for the full amount on the day of the order but this seems to be the norm in the gun buisness?

I am new to shooting am I am so suprised that you all are so vocal about many other issues but are prepared to put up will this bs*t from these gunsmiths!

By the way not all gunsmiths are like this. I built a custom .22LR for my son and worked with Kidd Inovative Design and they are a real class act! Every thing they made for me was delivered exactly as promised or earlier.

Cheers!

Jon

 

[FURMAN]

I agree with customer service and promised delivery times. Fred and Lisa are not good with timelines. I can assure you you will not be able to get your action in time the way Fred will. Maybe Kevin Rayhill can but I seriously doubt you will be able to do what they do. When they are done the actions bolt will open as smoothly as a custom action.

 

[fdshuster]

When I order a barrel from Hart, they usually quote 6 weeks for delivery, but the brown truck is in my driveway within 4. Hart does not charge my debit card account until the barrel is ready to be shipped. And, they have never requested payment upfront for a custom dimensioned contour. That's the kind of company I prefer to deal with. Of all the Hart barrels I've bought have never had a bad experience, from start to finish.

 

[1000yardstare]

I phoned one of my `smiths last September about an F Class build. He said he could get on it in October. Mailed everything off and waited until November then phoned him to check progress. Hadn`t even opened the box I sent it in. Said he would phone me when he got to it. No call yet. Will be glad to get it in April in time for the start of the season. The man makes excellent barrels, has many winning rifles on the firing lines and is reasonably priced but any shooter you talk to in my neck of the woods has a story about waiting, waiting, waiting.

In contrast my other `smith did an F Class build for me this January in 3 days!!!!! Excellent work but twice the price. He warns you up front that he is fast but expensive. Come with a fat wallet to pick up the finished work.

These guys are a cottage industry and march to their own drums. You can get POd all you want but it ain`t going to change anything.

 

[Steve Blair]

My point is, anything in the gun world takes a least 3 months. Barrels are about 4 months from Krieger and about a year from Bartlein! So, just be patient and you will get your action, getting upset and canceling your order is not going to make it any faster.

Erik is right. I ordered a non-standard barrel from Bartlein and was told five months. The BAT 3LL and Krieger barrel that Lester Bruno ordered for me are both about four months. The stock for the 3LL from Manners is about three months. My usual cycle time from order to shooting runs around eight to nine months.

I have two Savage Target actions that Fred worked and installed Evolution triggers. Both work very well and I have no complaints. No date quoted in either transaction was met nor did I expect that they would be.

My rule of thumb is to start builds at the beginning of the competition season with the intent to use it the following year. That usually gives me enough time for build, load development and tuning. IMHO, expecting to do it any faster with a top gunsmith, action, stock and barrel is overly optimistic.

 

[DJ111]

I sent my target action to SSS on 12-9-10 for Time and True, trigger, magnum bolt face, fit PTG bolt body and was told it would be done at the earliest end of January. It shipped 1-31-11 and Lisa always responded to my emails as I changed things during the time frame.

Did not have to pay until it was complete but I sent them the action and bolt body…. I feel your pain if you had to pay up front and waiting but if you order a Bat you will be paying some up front also and are at their mercy until it ships too!

Good Luck,
Dallas

 

[artbosco]

I am getting well ticked off with Sharp Shooter Supply and am thinking of trying to cancel my order for a Savage target action timed and trued. They have had my $585 since 12/31/10. the action was promised late January/early Feb. I contacted them a week or so ago and was told there was no way that they would ship by the 21st of February which is when I have machine shop time to do the reaming. Lisa at SSS told me they have 28 full builds to do before they start on any actions and there are many before mine. I have tried to contact again them and now they wont even reply!

I was wondering if anyone had had sucsess in cancelling an order and getting your money back?

Although the work that Fred does is excellent and performed at a reasonable price, Lisa, is notorious for over promising and under delivering.

It's been my experience, that if you can speak to Fred personally, you have a better chance of improving delivery.

Sometimes I don't think Fred and Lisa are on the same page.

Today I go elsewhere. Too many unfulfilled promises in SSS.

 

[MarkS]

lazyeiger,

I have a LRPV, that has nothing done to it. I got a barrel from SSS 20 Tac, it shoots great, but as pain dealing with them. Weeks of calling and emails without answers. I think they screen the calls, can't prove that, but some people can get thur fine. For me, I would not Pay $585 for a timed and trued. You will have the cost of a Bat action in a Savage action . I would get my money back and shoot it as is . I had to go thru the card co. to get all my stuff.

Mark Schronce

 

[ballistic64]

I have worked with many companies while racing go-karts ,full size cars and sailboats and I have NEVER had my credit card charged for the full amount on the day of the order but this seems to be the norm in the gun buisness?

No I dont think its the norm,at least not with the people Ive dealt with.The only custom actions Ive ordered so far, I was charged a deposit and when the actions were ready to ship the remaining balance was due.This is the same arrangement the gunsmiths Ive dealt with use.I cant say anything about SSS's policies as Ive never dealt with them.Any successful business knows that customer satisfaction and service are keys to maintaining success.If you feel your not dealing with a company that has these priorities its your option to terminate your relation with them.Its as simple as contacting your CC company,filing a complaint with them and having them remove the charge from your card.

 

[deadlyswift]

I have never had work done by SSS, and I don't think I will! One thing I have learned is! If someone is honest and as good as they claim! Then they will deliver what they promise when they promise it, or they are full of well you know what! If a man tells me he will clear coat my stock, but it will be 90 days before I get it back ok! I want him to do the job so I'm willing to wait! If it's not ready in 120 days! I have a problem and yes My attiude and OPINOINS change Quickly!! I have been told by many! AS well read many post about SSS That Fred's work is awesome, but the honesty about turn around times are some big time BS that I don't want to deal with!! IMO IF they at SSS aren't as honest about their turn around times? And it appears they are not! Then how honest are they about the work they do!? I hold a man to his word! If he can't stick to that the he has nothing! I don't care how much knowledge he has about what ever he is building or involved in! Don't tell me it will be done in 2 weeks and it turn into 2 months, or 8 weeks and it turn into 8 months! If someone starts giving me the run around then as far as I'm concern their word isn't any good! So their work is most likely going to be lacking also!!

 

[faith1]

I did business with them twice. The first time was ok but the second was not. Never again. I'd give up shooting and go fishing before I ever did that again. Good luck to you.

 

[40X Guy]

Good post Deadlyswift, thats the way I feel also. I take a man at his word and if they fail to deliver, then they are done in my book. As was mentioned in this thread, if you are good, and you tell the customer the turnaround time is 6 weeks, then you deliver in 4 weeks, then I do not hesitate to go back again.

Frank

 

[bigcatdaddy]

I walked away from them recently, from them, my money, and my parts.