M14 Forum

mescalito

I agree with Bam and JWB that the issue may have been one of perception, but that still does not make it ok that Hobo had to publicly voice his grievance for it to get the attention it deserved.

cheepertokeeper

Hobo, FWIW I just picked up my 762 mm "group buy" build. Was delivered to my FFL in Sept., just got the chance to get my hands on it. Ordered and paid (a lot) for a barreled forged reciever with new forged "laser engraved" op rod. In May. Initially requested a new 18" barrel. After playing phone tag all summer, finally got Chris moving on it. He seemed quite unorganized, confusing my order with someone else. These receivers were supposed to be stamped TFL, correct? One point He tells me I'm ready to go. New 22" Criterion barrel? Got my hands on it. First time racking op rod de-tracks. Take apart, used (1) H&R barrel, well worn op rod, thin tab. Haven't mic'd it yet, does not matter, sure isn't new like I paid for. Gas cylinder lock flopping loose. Reciever not TFL marked and track looks well used. Someone elses failed reject? Will be taking this up with Chris after I do a closer inspection, sort out and document all problems. Previous threads said He always backs up his products. We shall see. I'm nowhere near OH either and don't like the prospect of shipping it back after reading your horror story. Hope you get some positive resolution. Not even gonna bother firing mine, didn't get what I paid for. Will be contacting 762 once my blood pressure comes down. Stellar customer service is what has kept SAI going all these years, despite some occasional QC issues. Do hope 762 is able to get their house in order but they need a business savvy exec who knows what it takes to grow a successful business, let the engineers and armorers concentrate on R&D, manufacturing. And a friendly female voice to answer phone and reassure customers "Everything will be taken care of asap and we do appreciate your business" Good luck Hobo, keep us posted.

Hobo Hilton

Cheepertokeeper,

I understand your situation.... exactly. Prior to shipping your rifle back, it may be a good idea to photograph (clear / closeup) the details you have described and to list these issues on a shipping tag attached to the rifle.. It is unfortunate that routine customer service issues must be brought to the forum. In my dealings with 7.62mm Firearms the communication was much more of a challenge than correcting the mechanical issues. I will be interested in how this works out for you.

Hobo

cheepertokeeper

I do apologize for hijacking your thread. 762 deserved the opportunity to make things right before my rant. I'll remain confident they will. Just opened that box, like a little boy opening a Christmas present expecting a shiny new this only to find a beat up old that, just had to vent.

Hobo Hilton

Cheepertokeeper,

No apology needed. Feel free to vent as there a lot of folks who are also frustrated with customer service through out our society...... not just with firearms manufacturers. I don't consider this "my" thread.... It belongs to everyone who has had dealings (good or bad) with 7.62mm Firearms. Feel free to update us as you continue to build your quality rifle. I plan on doing the same.

Hobo

82nd ABN

Hobe

82nd ABN

Hobo can you please tell me what barrel was installed? I'll be pretty disappointed if it wasn't exactly what was taken off. I know they will be for sale at kroeger if they are not already listed on the website.

Hobo Hilton

82nd ABN,

I communicated with the Criterion guys and I was told they supply both lined and unlined (the large majority is lined) to LRB, the supplier of the barrel. They told me to remove the flash hider and inspect for chrome near the end of the barrel. When I get to it.... I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks,

Hobo

echokilo60

it's "what we GOT here is failure to communcate."

DaveH

Man- I don't know, just went thru the entire thread. I remember all of the supportive posts regarding 7.62 before they got up and running. Based on cheepertokeeper's and HoboHilton's experience, I wouldn't go near that manufacturer with a 10 foot pole. There are a couple of forum members who come off looking (or sounding) not so nice as well.

Jason0839

What I get out of all of this is that he makes a great receiver but he doesnt have the man power to make a nice rifle. I am still willing to purchase a receiver from him but Im going to get SEI to put it together with one of their 18" barrels and my TRW parts kit.

willriskit

I have ordered and received my third 7.62 build since this thread and expect to order a fourth. The entire process usually takes under two weeks and the finished result is excellent and priced competitively. There should be a separate forum for people who create their own problems.

Zombiphobia

I just created a profile here to share my experience with 7.62MM Firearms LLC.

It's bad. I purchased a Draco AK-47 'pistol', requested the FedEx 2-day shipping method, my card was charged and I gave my FFL dealer their phone# to call so they could send up their FFL... Well, I was unable to contact them and so was my FFL, but my FFL checked their website for the FAX and sent their FFL. I got a call at the end of the business day (2 days after I placed my order) from Chris to confirm the FFL, and he hung up on me before I could finish speaking to ask when he planned to ship it.


5 days later and after reading this thread and having sent several emails and phone calls with no response, I sent him a message saying if I didn't hear back from him or my FFL didn't have the gun in their posession by the end of the next business day I'd be contacting the ATF and BBB, which might have been a bit premature to do so, but by that point I figured I wasn't getting anythign anyway. I got a prompt reply to notify me of a refund and cancellation.

Ok, I figure this is not good customer service, and again having read this forum, I'd decided a BBB report was in order, so I filed one.

TODAY, 2 and 1/2 weeks after my order, and roughly a weeks after the BBB report, I got a phone call from a hostile sounding man stating he refused to do business with me because I was making threats. I tried to explain the waiting/lack of contact situation and he'd have none of it. He all but yelled and cussed me out, which I was expecting, so to just go ahead and end the call I said, "well, I got my money back so I'm not worried about it", to which he replied with a scoff, "No, you didn't GET your money back, I GAVE it back to you". So I take this as the man trying to tough talk me over me the phone and figure he's just going to become more beligerent as this convo goes on, regardless of the fact I was very polite and just tried to ask about why they'd taken so long to ship and couldn't be contacted; and he wouldn't answer only referring back to my 'bad attitude', and I never raised my voice, or cursed at him.

So I added that to my BBB report.

I see that some of you have had good experiences, but I see more bad than good, and after mine, even if they would do business with me, I wouldn't. I've never had such an unprofessional attitude directed at me doing business with someone, or had such a hard time contacting a business I've made a purchase with.

The fact that they are so hard to contact until integrity is put on blast is suspicious to me, and having such a bad attitude to tell me they refused to do business with me only adds to that.

Sure, I might have jumped the gun a little, but I'd made several, and I do stress several, legit attempts before hand, but to no avail. I may need to exercise more patience sometimes, but it is clear to me and I'd say several others here that they have a problem with communication and customer service.

This wasnt a gun they were manufacturing, it wasn't listed as out-of-stock when I placed my order, and there was nothing to indicate such or a backorder.

I think those who've had a positive experience with this company with none, or even only minor problems have just been lucky, or those of us with negative experiences have been very UNlucky, but I doubt it.

And I agree with HoboHilton about "When I deal with a manufacturer(or dealer in my case), regardless of their product, who refuses to return my phone calls or emails there is an issue"

willriskit

Isn't this thread about one individuals purported problems with 7.62 Firearms as the title suggests? I thought it died last year and that company has done a build for me since.

m1shootr

I have no use for the BBB. Being a contractor for 30 + years I have seen their method of extortion to recruit members. They basically threaten business owners with a bad report if they choose not to be a member. They are a FOR PROFIT business. They themselves should be reported. I therefore hold no stock in someone who goes whining to them without knowing their backround.

Criticism

In 2010, 20/20, an ABC network news magazine, reported in a segment titled 'The Best Ratings Money Can Buy' about the irregularities in BBB ratings.[23] They reported that a man created two dummy companies which received A+ ratings as soon as he had paid the membership fee. They also reported that business owners were told that the only way to improve their rating was by paying the fee. In one case a C was turned to an A immediately after a payment and in another case a C- became an A+. Chef Wolfgang Puck said that some of his businesses receive Fs because he refuses to pay a fee. Ritz Carlton, which does not belong either, also receives Fs for not responding to its complaints.[21]

In response, the president of the Council of Better Business Bureaus has stated the BBB ratings system will cease awarding points to businesses for being BBB members.[24] The national BBB's executive committee took several steps to address the public’s perception of the ratings system. The BBB ratings system no longer gives additional points to businesses who pay accreditation fees. They also implemented a system to handle complaints about BBB sales practices and conducted a review of their accreditation processand instituted a strict, uniform, minimum Accreditation Processes.[25]

In Canada, the CBC News reported in 2010, that Canadian BBBs were downgrading the ratings scores of businesses who stopped paying their dues. For example, a moving business who had an A rating and had been a BBB member for 20 years, dropped to a D-minus rating when they allegedly no longer wanted to pay dues.[26]

BBBs have been accused of unduly protecting companies. The BBB responds by, at a minimum, notating complaints on the "Business Reviews" section of its web sites.[27] If a branch does not act reasonably on behalf of a consumer, a complaint may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission. However, recent reports have suggested that the Austin chapter of the Better Business Bureau refused to resolve complaints against companies if customers do not pay a $70 "mediation fee".[28]

[edit] Criticism on case resolutions