I'm sure that AOA has many satisfied customers. I am happy for those customers. I am not one of them. Here's my experience with AOA so far:
On 2/20 I purchased a Wildcat, Omega bottle, pellets, extra mags, etc, and.......a picatinny rail. Was advised that the rifle would ship approx 4 days from purchase, after test firing. That's cool, as I think that test firing is a great idea. Was advised that the rail was in stock and would be shipping immediately with other items.
The gun shipped in 1 or 2 days, which would be fine if it weren't missing the test target when it arrived, causing me to suspect that it hadn't been tested. It has been shooting ok though (I think, I'm new to PCPs) so maybe there's no harm or foul there.
On 3/1, the rail did not arrive with other items I'd purchased. Assuming it was an oversight, I emailed and asked them to send the rail asap. The response I got was sorry, the rails are out of stock and we will send you one from our next shipment in a month. Wait, that's it? Tough luck, but we will send you one in a month? Why did they charge me for a rail they couldn't deliver? When they realized the rails were out of stock, why didn't they contact me immediately to offer a refund?
No rail means I can't mount the scope. Can't mount the scope, might as well not have a rifle. So I called and asked for a manager. Manager advises that 1) delays are "normal" in the airgun business, but agrees that I should have been contacted. He ships me a dented loaner rail to use until AOA can send me one from their next shipment at the end of March. Okay so far, manager is trying. Except....
With a wary eye on the calendar, the end of March comes and goes. No rail. Not even a contact from AOA regarding said promised rail, so I email them last night. Today's response was sorry, they didn't get any rails in their shipment, maybe next time. That's all. Not even any details regarding when that supposed next time might be!
My reply just just now was to ask
1) Doesn't FX invoice AOA when a shipment is sent so that they know what's coming (or as in this case, NOT coming)?
2) Shouldn't the customer have been advised that another promised delivery date would be missed?
3) Shouldn't the customer have been advised as to when the next target ship date might be?
I'm on the verge of making an investment in a compressor -one which costs more than the rifle itself did. Any bets as to whether I will be using AOA for that purchase? Heck, I'm new in this hobby. Maybe I will learn that everyone leaves their customers hanging this way with such poor communication and that my AOA experience is the industry norm, but I doubt it. Maybe I'm the only one they've disappointed, but I doubt that too.
Again, I'm happy for the customers who are happy.
I will follow up later as the issue develops. At least it's just a rail.
MOD EDIT: MOVED TO DEALER DIRECT SECTION
On 2/20 I purchased a Wildcat, Omega bottle, pellets, extra mags, etc, and.......a picatinny rail. Was advised that the rifle would ship approx 4 days from purchase, after test firing. That's cool, as I think that test firing is a great idea. Was advised that the rail was in stock and would be shipping immediately with other items.
The gun shipped in 1 or 2 days, which would be fine if it weren't missing the test target when it arrived, causing me to suspect that it hadn't been tested. It has been shooting ok though (I think, I'm new to PCPs) so maybe there's no harm or foul there.
On 3/1, the rail did not arrive with other items I'd purchased. Assuming it was an oversight, I emailed and asked them to send the rail asap. The response I got was sorry, the rails are out of stock and we will send you one from our next shipment in a month. Wait, that's it? Tough luck, but we will send you one in a month? Why did they charge me for a rail they couldn't deliver? When they realized the rails were out of stock, why didn't they contact me immediately to offer a refund?
No rail means I can't mount the scope. Can't mount the scope, might as well not have a rifle. So I called and asked for a manager. Manager advises that 1) delays are "normal" in the airgun business, but agrees that I should have been contacted. He ships me a dented loaner rail to use until AOA can send me one from their next shipment at the end of March. Okay so far, manager is trying. Except....
With a wary eye on the calendar, the end of March comes and goes. No rail. Not even a contact from AOA regarding said promised rail, so I email them last night. Today's response was sorry, they didn't get any rails in their shipment, maybe next time. That's all. Not even any details regarding when that supposed next time might be!
My reply just just now was to ask
1) Doesn't FX invoice AOA when a shipment is sent so that they know what's coming (or as in this case, NOT coming)?
2) Shouldn't the customer have been advised that another promised delivery date would be missed?
3) Shouldn't the customer have been advised as to when the next target ship date might be?
I'm on the verge of making an investment in a compressor -one which costs more than the rifle itself did. Any bets as to whether I will be using AOA for that purchase? Heck, I'm new in this hobby. Maybe I will learn that everyone leaves their customers hanging this way with such poor communication and that my AOA experience is the industry norm, but I doubt it. Maybe I'm the only one they've disappointed, but I doubt that too.
Again, I'm happy for the customers who are happy.
I will follow up later as the issue develops. At least it's just a rail.
MOD EDIT: MOVED TO DEALER DIRECT SECTION
