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Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:33 pm
by AEA
OK ELB, thanks for that info.

I am not afraid to say I am wrong when I think about things further. :oops:
In this case, apparently I am wrong when I said a 4473 has to be filled out again if you return your firearm to a Dealer (FFL) and get it back. :shock:

But, there is some paperwork required of the FFL which is probably why some do accept returns and others don't. :???:

It would be nice if an FFL would chime in and set me straight. :cheers2:

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:02 am
by gigag04
I think only if a hypothetical dealer were to replace the gun on the spot would they need new yellows.

I think good service would be to ship back to the mfgr on the dealer's dime to sort it out (I'm willing to wager that the MFGR would gladly pay) if the problem can't be remedied in the store.

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 6:29 am
by cowboymd
AEA wrote:OK ELB, thanks for that info.

I am not afraid to say I am wrong when I think about things further. :oops:
In this case, apparently I am wrong when I said a 4473 has to be filled out again if you return your firearm to a Dealer (FFL) and get it back. :shock:

But, there is some paperwork required of the FFL which is probably why some do accept returns and others don't. :???:

It would be nice if an FFL would chime in and set me straight. :cheers2:

I sent a Taurus back 4 times :grumble through Academy. 1 of the times Taurus sent it back directly to me. The 4th time was the only time I filled out paperwork. All the usual, for the new pistol I received after I told Taurus I did not want the original one back.

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:04 am
by ELB
AEA wrote:OK ELB, thanks for that info.

I am not afraid to say I am wrong when I think about things further. :oops:
In this case, apparently I am wrong when I said a 4473 has to be filled out again if you return your firearm to a Dealer (FFL) and get it back. :shock:

But, there is some paperwork required of the FFL which is probably why some do accept returns and others don't. :???:

It would be nice if an FFL would chime in and set me straight. :cheers2:
For all I know maybe he was supposed to have me do a form, but he didn't. :???: However, I doubt Jerry stayed in business this long being sloppy with the paperwork.

In anycase, my broader, unstated point was that the guy who charges somewhat higher prices offers more services. A place that has discount prices has to find the discount somewhere, and that is generally in avoiding costs, one of which might be dealing with warranty returns.

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:55 am
by wgoforth
Scott in Houston wrote:FYI, when I purchased a Taurus PT738 (.380) at Academy, they were clear in saying they'd handle the shipping if there were issues.
There were issues with it (like seems to be the case with so many Taurus pistols), and I took it to Academy where they filled out the paperwork for Taurus, paid for shipping, and everything. 6 weeks later, they called me when Taurus had shipped it back. I was very pleased.

I don't know if they do this for all their gun sales or just Taurus, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Apparently it varies from Academy to Academy. I know ours has a sign. But considering Taurus will send FedEx directly to your house within hours with a box, how is taking it to Academy better?

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:29 am
by seeker_two
Ned Stockton wrote:I purchased a new Ruger ranch rifle in 223 cal. from Independence Firearms near Brenham on may 28th ,gun jammed the first time I fired it, also noticed the rear sight adjustment screws were missing. Called Independence Firearms and told my salesman of the problems. Was told to bring the gun back and they would send it to ruger to make it right. Got to the store today and the manager told me that they don't do that. Very poor customer service. I have purchased 3 guns there ,after this I won't be going back :confused5
Just quoting the OP to point out the problem...it wasn't the store policy or the rifle's problem that was the problem....it was the fact that IF told the OP one thing on the phone and, after traveling out of his way to go back to the store, IF refuses to back up the committment made by their salesperson (who represents IF) or even try to accomodate the customer for IF's mistake (gunsmith repair, store credit, etc.). That is bad customer service in every sense of the phrase.

Thanks for the heads up, Ned. I won't bother stopping by there if they can't be trusted.....

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 8:56 am
by speedsix
Scott in Houston wrote:
AEA wrote:Did you fill out another 4473 when you picked it up? If you didn't then BATFE should be reviewing their FFL records and practices.
If you're talking to me, no. I didn't fill that out.
No money changed hands the 2nd time, so how is it another sale?
They did check ID.

All Academy did was pay for postage and give me a box to send it in, then mailed it for me.
...if the firearm that has been brought in for repair is returned to the person who brought it in...NO 4473 is required...that applies to gunsmiths...don't know if the same applies to dealers...either must "log in " the gun in a bound book kept for inspection...they must show in that log where every gun came from, and where it went...I believe that if a manufacturer/dealer replaces a defective firearm with a like firearm, no 4473 is required, either...

...had time to look it up...if a licensee delivers a replacement firearm to a person who brought his defective firearm in for repair...no 4473 is required...

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 11:24 am
by Katygunnut
ELB wrote:Two other variants:

I bought a Kahr pistol at Texas Guns on Bandera street in San Antonio. It had some problems. Jerry, the owner of the shop, shipped it back to Kahr for me on his nickel. Kahr shipped the repaired pistol directly to me at home.

I also bought a used revolver from Texas Guns. At the range I found that during rapid fire the timing was all screwed up. I took it back to Jerry, and he had it repaired by his gunsmith, again on his nickel. No 4473 as I recall. I do believe he entered this gun and the Kahr into a ledger of some sort.

Since I moved to Seguin, Jerry's store is a long way away from me, so haven't been there in a long time. As I recall, his prices were on the upper end compared to all the other gun stores I haunted in San Antonio, but then again, when I took the guns back, he told me (paraphrasing), "No charge, I consider it part of the customer service I provide."

Taking it to the gun shop does interpose a third party, but I was happy to have Jerry box it up and worry about the rules and such.

You don't always get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't pay for. ;-)
:iagree:

Nothing wrong with expecting this type of service as long as you are willing to pay for it. Just don't expect to buy from the absolute lowest cost source and also get great customer service.

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 4:20 pm
by gigag04
Price. Service. Convenience. Pick any two.

Re: Buyer beware of Independence Firearms

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2011 11:46 am
by drjoker
The Annoyed Man wrote:I wouldn't deal with a dealer who won't make things right for you after you've just dropped several hundred (or thousand) dollars in their store. I'd rather drive a little further, or pay a little more, to know that they have my back.
I agree with TAM. The trouble nowadays is that most people are annoying price shoppers and only go for the lowest price, regardless of customer service. Then, when something goes wrong, they complain about horrible customer service (not saying that's what the OP did because I do not know the price paid for his gun). That's why there are so many Walmarts but so few general stores. I mean people complain about foreign factories stealing American jobs, but guess what? These same people go out and buy a cheap foreign made item because it's (surprise!)... cheap.

Buy from the seller with the best customer service and buy American. You can't go wrong.

P.S. another poster has stated that certain low quality manufacturers are American. My response is that Hi Point has a lifetime free repair warranty.