Interornance m53 kits--Please read !!

oldiron · Post by **oldiron** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:44 pm

I was on the phone in the last few days with Interordnance about the m53 kit that I had purchased from them. I reported on this problem in another section here; but basically this was what happened. The fed-Ex ground guy appeared with the package obviously broken open in several areas; and the end flap open. He is a local and he said it was loaded on his truck at the terminal this way. Anyway notified Interordnance about it even before I saw the package also called fed-ex and made a claim/statement to them about the broken open package. Finally got home to the location and yes almost 90% of the package contents were gone; All that was left was the buttstock, buffer; feed tray recouperator (partial); feed tray and an obviously trashed 8mm barrel, charging handle,and maybe other small parts-- Anyway returned them to Interordnance and they are trying to put a kit together to return to me. FIRST they are out of kits; Second no cash refunds;Three if I were to get a refund there would be a 20% restocking charge--- Lastly I was conveyed the message that about 25-30 kits had arrived in various levels of distress mine being one of the worst !! I recieved a partial kit not due to anything I did; but I still have nothing but a credit card bill !! The best part is that they wanted to give me a store credit usable on future purchases !!

Anyway I see two problems here; They must use the cheapest (Try a different word.) boxes I have ever seen in my life; Packing materials consisted of almost nothing and also instead of using a paper tape on the box; the wet glue type they also use a cheesey plastic tape that does not seem to be more than a millimeter thick; and to say that they use this tape sparingly would be nice.

Second it seems that they pack this stuff with no nothing except the parts in an oversize"" one size fits all box--"" Well I will let everyone know if I ever get my parts; but at this time if I do not get satisfaction I will be calling my credit card company in the next week. My point to this post-- Who else out there is in the same position?? We should do a poll !!

This is a picture of what was left in the box !!!
And of all the packing materials that were left also !!

"" Quality parts; careful packing using only the best materials !! These parts are left over from the Bosnian/Serbian comflict; are historical items and they had little or no maintenance--"" Qoute from one of the Interordnance people I talked with !!

Post by **j.bal** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:34 pm

If you paid by credit card, then can't you dispute the charges?

Post by **TOM R** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:44 pm

look in the review section I have posted this same problem 1 ofthe last kits I got same thing box was broke in half, caleed em shipped backon their dime, got another kit yesterday, missing parts called and they said fax a list but we got no parts left to send you, so basicly tuff (Try a different word.), if they got no parts they should give a price break or partial store credit, they already owe me 2 recouperator frony bolts now it is 3 plus other small parts

DrSmeller · Post by **DrSmeller** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:57 am

And this isn't limited to I/O. You hear stories all the time about $1,000 tripods thrown into a box and shipped out, only to arrive mangled. You'd think they would learn their lesson after a while. They do know the value of these items. Amazing really when you think about it.

CRA · Post by **CRA** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 7:08 am

..................

Post by **Pirate** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:13 am

A kit I ordered from them came the same way. It was porly packed and one end was open. fortunately it was all there. Just cal your cc company and dispute the charge. then call Dan at angola and get a good kit with excellent service. Dan is the man!!

Post by **Pirate** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:15 am

Forgot to add ALWAYS pay with a credit card!! even if you use paypal use a credit card
for payment!! if there is a problem all you do is call your cc company and tell them and you have your money refunded.

Brass Scrounger · Post by **Brass Scrounger** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:59 am

Sounds like they learned packing techniques from Centerfire! The M53 kit I received (and sent back!) was all the parts chucked into one box - no packing. Buttstock was gouged, grips were crushed, and while I never did a complete inventory I'm sure a small screw or two was missing.

Stopped ordering from IO a few years back when f-troop dropped by the house to pick up a saw-cut FAL receiver stub from a kit I ordered from them.

MDMike · Post by **MDMike** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:11 am

Go to your credit card company. They can take care of you on this. I had a problem like this once, the credit card company started to give me the run-around. I simply stated that they could do what they wanted, I wasn't going to pay for it. I told them to do as they wished. That changed their attitude fast. Everything was hunkie-dorie from there on out.

Post by **TOM R** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:03 am

the only reason i got the io kit was the 8mm parts, if dan had 8mm kits I would have gone to him in a second

kmw · Post by **kmw** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:18 am

I was lucky with my IO order...ordered on a Monday, got the parts on Thursday. This kit (a 308) was all in one box but parts were wrapped in shipping paper and the box was rugged and well sealed. I was missing a couple of minor parts (front sight pins, recuperator rear nut/bolt and front nut), but nothing major. No shipping damage, no problems.

But, (here's the rant mode) I agree -- what is it with so many firearms parts suppliers? In my other passion -- sports car racing -- most of the people you deal with are in that business because they love it. Now that's not to say they've got time to sit and yack, but they tend to take a considerable amount of pride in what they do, from supplying tires to building roll cages.

Why is it in a field like firearms that 1) are as deadly serious as racing cars and 2) filled with passionate enthusiasts there are so many %*&( #@*^ %@&*ing complete SOBs supplying parts, services, and firearms? There are the very few good ones out there, but it just seems the signal to noise ratio is awful. What is it that attracts complete SOBs to dealing with firearms? Again, there are some good ones, and a whole-hearted "thank you!" to the professionals out there who care. To the rest? Go get a law degree and chase ambulances, your mentality fits in with bottom feeders! (rant off)

One more time, thanks to folks like pirate for supplying what will become unobtanium and Dan for his professinal, friendly attitude.

DrSmeller · Post by **DrSmeller** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:44 am

I agree KMW. Ever try and talk to the vendors at a gun show? Man you want to talk about lack of people skills! And lack of product knowledge. I often wonder why they do it, show after show. They don't seem to be enjoying themselves and i don't think they're making very much money.

Now there are many exceptions and good people but a lot of these guys should not be dealing with the public, period.

Post by **TOM R** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:47 am

this is the reason i do not deal with the 1 ffl/gunsmith near me, ugy has no people skills or personality, works slow as hell and is expensive, the lack of people skills though is the reason I only go there if i have to

slowfinger · Post by **slowfinger** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:11 pm

Why is it that public relations is so shitty with many gun companies? Wondering myself...Slowfinger

Post by **Intruder196** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:14 pm

TOM R wrote:this is the reason i do not deal with the 1 ffl/gunsmith near me, ugy has no people skills or personality, works slow as hell and is expensive, the lack of people skills though is the reason I only go there if i have to

Sounds like a guy who ran a shop here in Raleigh. He treated his customers like idiots, had a BS tale for everything, and was overpriced to boot. I used to own a preban Chinese AK and knew what it was worth. He sold guns on consignment so I took it there and told him I wanted it listed at $650. He tried to tell me he couldnt sell it for that much and I needed to lower my price to $200. I took it somewhere else and got what I wanted.
I was in the area of his shop this last week and noticed that he has gone out of business.
The days of 01FFL dealers running a local monoply with the ability to bluff and BS the customer are over. The internet makes sure of that.

Cruiser133 · Post by **Cruiser133** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:42 pm

What is helping with the FFL dealer monopoly is that with Bush in office, the ATF is much more accomodating to average joes like me. I was sick of the local ripoff dealer and got my own FFL. ATF came to my house,In and out,very friendly!! My IO kit, German 599.00 kit and Yugo 499.00 kit came complete save for some small pins and springs. My SOG kit was in great shape, however the bipod was missing and I got a $20 credit to replace a $60 to $70 item:( Anybody have a bipod to sell!!!!

Post by **TOM R** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:59 pm

bipod try dangola

Post by **Capt. Willard** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:49 pm

Yep ..I too have noticed the alarming percentage of a-holes in this business. There is no doubt its a fact.

nlander · Post by **nlander** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:20 pm

Cruiser133
I'll have an extra if the M53 kit GB ever goes through here or on Weaponeer.

Post by **scatter cat** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:38 pm

Sorry to hear your order got trashed. Both of the kits I ordered were packed well (lots of paper wraping the parts} no broken boxes. From what you have posted it makes you wonder if they paid the little bit extra for ins on the package. They may have some kind of bargin deal with Fed-Ex.Regardless they should make it right.