I've been dragging my feet on sending in my CAL bipod to be upgraded. If you didn't know... There's both a Gen1 and a Gen2 Atlas CAL bipod. The Gen1 has a curve on the bottom, the Gen2 is flat. There are many other way to tell the diff. but, this is the easiest. In fact, I did a video on it. If you have a Gen1, send it back for a free upgrade to the Gen2. The Gen2 is better and I can find no good reason to keep a Gen1.
https://youtu.be/YZSGQcpv7Rk
I used the "Contact us" link to email them and explain that I wanted to have my Gen1 CAL upgraded to a Gen2. One of the things they require is that you send a picture of the bipod along with the email. This picture must show the base and leg hardware.
I received an email back the next day with a link to the RMA form. Filled it out and sent it. Then, I got the RMA email. I think it was on the same day.
I sent it USPS Priority since I had one of the free boxes sitting around. The bipod barely fit but, it was close enough for a 2 day trip. I taped around the edges for good measure.
I received a phone call today. "Hi Tom, this is "somebody" with B&T. I'm calling you to let you know that we received you bipod and have upgraded it. It's going through quality control and I expect to have it shipped out early next week." Jeez!! I fully expected to just find a box at my door a few weeks after sending it in with no communication in between. I did not expect a phone call confirming arrival, nor an update on its status. I might have expected an email confirming that it was on its way back, when the time came but, I wasn't counting on it.
To me, this is a sign of high quality customer service. I have no doubt that I will get an email with tracking info when the bipod gets shipped back. I'd imagine it will ship out on Monday and arrive a few days later. I should be able to update this topic on Wed, when I get back home from work.
There was an option to have the bipod sent back "Signature Req'd" but, I opted out. Regardless, I think it needs mentioning that Atlas knows their bipods carry a significant price tag and I think that's a nice option that Atlas thought to offer.
Well done Atlas!
BTW, The reason there is a Gen1 and Gen2 is because the owner was alerted to an issue regarding the tilt mechanism (See video). He decided to halt production and halt sales. He went back to the drawing board and basically designed an entirely new bipod that kept the wider stance and functioned properly.
Happy Shooting!
Tom
https://youtu.be/YZSGQcpv7Rk
I used the "Contact us" link to email them and explain that I wanted to have my Gen1 CAL upgraded to a Gen2. One of the things they require is that you send a picture of the bipod along with the email. This picture must show the base and leg hardware.
I received an email back the next day with a link to the RMA form. Filled it out and sent it. Then, I got the RMA email. I think it was on the same day.
I sent it USPS Priority since I had one of the free boxes sitting around. The bipod barely fit but, it was close enough for a 2 day trip. I taped around the edges for good measure.
I received a phone call today. "Hi Tom, this is "somebody" with B&T. I'm calling you to let you know that we received you bipod and have upgraded it. It's going through quality control and I expect to have it shipped out early next week." Jeez!! I fully expected to just find a box at my door a few weeks after sending it in with no communication in between. I did not expect a phone call confirming arrival, nor an update on its status. I might have expected an email confirming that it was on its way back, when the time came but, I wasn't counting on it.
To me, this is a sign of high quality customer service. I have no doubt that I will get an email with tracking info when the bipod gets shipped back. I'd imagine it will ship out on Monday and arrive a few days later. I should be able to update this topic on Wed, when I get back home from work.
There was an option to have the bipod sent back "Signature Req'd" but, I opted out. Regardless, I think it needs mentioning that Atlas knows their bipods carry a significant price tag and I think that's a nice option that Atlas thought to offer.
Well done Atlas!
BTW, The reason there is a Gen1 and Gen2 is because the owner was alerted to an issue regarding the tilt mechanism (See video). He decided to halt production and halt sales. He went back to the drawing board and basically designed an entirely new bipod that kept the wider stance and functioned properly.
Happy Shooting!
Tom
