Available does not mean in stock for shipping

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JCD

JCD

Member
Sep 1, 2016
1,072
34
MD, United States
I didn't just fall off the turnip truck and I should know better so this is just a reminder to folks that our many of our favorite vendors are happy to take your money for product that is NOT listed as pre-order on unavailable or coming soon or ….. 

There are 3 things I've been waiting buy. Finally ordered each within the past 3 weeks. No updates on shipping or time frames. Between the 3 we're talking 5k. I've successfully canceled two of the items, still waiting to here on one. 

At the end of the day and I know it's tougher with what we are facing these days, CALL first if you are watching your money flow.
 
I had the same thing happen to me. I saw other items on the website listed with “product is out of stock”, and did not have an option to purchase something they didn’t have to sell. But the FAS 6004 that was probably still in Italy, the grips probably still a branch on a tree, the receiver still a raw block of aluminum: they let me put it in my cart and pay for it. Then they let me salivate and rub my hands in anticipation for a week until I cancelled the order after I found out nobody in the country has new ones in stock, and they didn’t even know when they’ll get more. I ended up getting an eBay special, really great bargain. The seller didn’t even mention that he would send any extras, but a huge box showed up, including thousands of rounds of match ammo, the fancy ones, each pellet lovingly packed in its very own spot on a foam tray. Also about 10 blocks of putty, and 20 packs of NRA 10 meter pistol targets. I was blown away by how generous this dude was. 
 
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I feel you man!

Last Friday I called dealer to see If they got item I want to get in stock they did and I was told if I buy today it will ship today or next day so I paid right away ($2300)

Checked my email at night, no tracking number then Saturday few times ,no tracking number. Monday morning I called to see what it going on and dealer said he didn't have a chance to ship it because he's short no stuff and virus situation and he will send it today , OK no problem I understand.

Monday night I'm checking my email, no tracking number, Tuesday same thing ,so I called Wednesday morning and hear same story short on stuff and virus situation and that will ship today ,OK no problem I understand. So again I checked my email Wednesday night, no tracking number then this morning (Thursday) nothing !

I be calling them later this morning and if they didn't ship it yet I cancel my order. I tough in time like we have it right now with all the businesses closed dealers need our support, but looks like not. 

Will update you guys later today after my conversation with them.

B
 
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Best of luck - I've had to deal with a few cancellations as well and they are a pain in the butt. I REALLY hate when companies don't have good in stock systems. It is usually companies that have both a mail order and walk-in storefront that have the most trouble keeping stock accurate. Someone places an order online when it's in stock, but before the item ships someone walks into the store and buys the last one - I get it, it can easily happen. 

What pisses me off is when a dealer will say an item is in stock and they haven't even received it yet. Just post it as a pre-order so you set proper expectations.
 
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My best (worst) example was early last year. I knew from prior experience with one vendor to not trust the website so I called about something specific that was on the site. Even had the rep verify stock. All was good so I put it in the cart and placed the order while they were on the phone. About a week/10days later I called and asked about it. They still had to test it etc... An hour later I got a call from the owner - 'yeah, we haven't had that gun in stock for quite a while and not even sure we can order one anymore'. I did end up getting a VERY good deal on something else as part of that conversation but still....

I suppose my real purpose in all this is that while I'm willing to spend $ for stuff I want, I'm not willing to loan my money to a vendor for an indefinite period of time, or worse, for something is never going to happen. Just seems to happen more often with airgun stuff than with other stuff. 
 
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As a sole-Proprietor business myself, things like this really ruffle my feathers. If I, as a Sole Proprietor, can keep my website and it's products updated, then a business with a number of employees should also be able to do so.

It's certainly not defending them, but something that I ran into when I first sought a website..... many businesses hire an outside entity to build/maintain their sites... and that in itself causes many disconnects. Before I taught myself HTML/websites, those I contacted about building/maintaining a site for me said that when I wanted a "product change" I would need to email pics, and any change info, and it would be 2-4 weeks before the change was visible/took effect on the site. If these outfits are doing that....it would explain the issue(s). But IMO, that is totally unacceptable.

That being said, most of what I would call responsible businesses that operate website, have a dedicated position that does nothing but website maintenance/updating..... and those are the businesses who keep things updated to the minute....or at least they SHOULD.

As is proven by this thread....bad news these days travels at the speed of the web...... and often times can break the back of a business if they ignore it. Personally, when I run across what the OP did..... I try to speak to the business about it. If they ignore me, then I seek another source, and let everyone I know about that business's attitude.
 
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Ed, I get what you are saying and appreciate the comments. I also know that maintaining the inventory data can be difficult (the one example I gave was a bit outrageous but wound up good after making it clear that I was dissapointed) . That said, the cancelations were each done after discussions with the companies, they know I was upset and why. I didn't name names here because... while I want them to improve the model, I don't want to hurt the overall business by steering people away for a less than complete reason. Just don't be afraid to call and hold them to their info. They don't like doing credits. 
 
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Any proper business in retail should have a Point of Sale system that maintains their inventory - especially companies that sell in-store and internet. Sorry guys it's 2020 and everyone has an iPhone or Android - technology excuses aren't viable any longer. And these aren't small companies either. Without pointing fingers directly at any of the other of the primary big 3 US retailers, Pyramyd is the only company that maintains a reliable in stock system. 
 
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Pyramyd is the only company that maintains a reliable in stock system
Click to expand...

That certainly narrows down the culprit. :)

Being relatively new to the airgun world, I can say that when I found Pyramyd, it quickly became my "go to" place..... Their site is top notch for info, and they are quick to answer phones with good answers/information. I've only purchased a couple of small items from them online (I freely admit I buy guns off Amazon simply for the return policy) but Pyramyd is "johnny on the spot" with ordering, tracking info, and shipping. I have called one of the "other" outfits.....never got to talk to a person...just an answering machine, and never got a return call....so guess who's NOT getting any of my business. 😏
 
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