Buyer Beware!

[tnguy]

I bet they just lost it. It was a display piece.

[Smith]

I bet they just lost it. It was a display piece.

Yep, it happens. They have to take them out of the box because with the Ruger's they kinda sit on top with all the paperwork and never got put back in. The employess probably didn't know they came with the gun and assumed that was the case.

 

I will add that the first gun I bought when In moved to Nashville (8 yrs ago) was a Springfield XD9 Service at Academy. There had been some hoopla about the original XD's finish rusting and so they switched to a Melonite finish after (IIRC) the 2nd or 3rd year of production. Well, after I got home I got to thinking that mine didn't look the same as other "new" xd's I was seeing so I ran the serial with Springfield. Turns out it was 4 years old production wise with the original finish but was new to Academy.

 

Evidently, they have regional buyers who store things in warehouses until they think a store needs it and that gun was sitting in a warehouse for 4 years before they put it in the store. The manager said they had a "no return policy" on firearms but would check with a higher up corporate person. He got back to me and brought in a new production gun from another store and swapped me. This was the Rivergate Academy. I initially was pretty upset, but they were very nice handling an oddball situation.

Edited October 1, 2013 by Smith

[Joe357]

as was stated Ruger is a first class operation :up:  :usa: 

[Sidewinder]

I'm not saying Academy did anything slimy, like purposefully removing and reselling my scope mount. From the get go... I could have lost the gun, due to it being put back on display after Academy's agreement to "hold" it for me for a specified time. Fortunately, I went in to pick it up one day early... otherwise, it would probably have been sold as these are very hard to find right now. Then, there was the scope rail and screw issue.

 

Dillon cleared the "hold" for me, and Mark was the one that sold me the gun. Ferris was the one that denied my gun was supposed to have a scopr rail and screws with it. Dillon re-confirmed what Ferris had told me about the gun not coming with a scope rail and screws. Bill was the guy that escorted me to the cashier for me to pay for it.

 

At the very least, there was some incompetence going on here. And... if they knew the gun was supposed to have a scope mount and screws included with it...then they lied to me, a customer. I'll eventually get a scope rail and screws for the gun, as the Ruger factory is stepping up and making it good. But, what does it say about Academy Sports in Smyrna? As I said at the very beginning of this thread... "BUYER BEWARE"!

[Sidewinder]

So Academy is repackaging and reselling the mount and screws?

I doubt that is the case, TennJed. Probably more like it got misplaced, and then everyone had to CTA! Makes it a PITA for the customer though.

[Tennjed]

I doubt that is the case, TennJed. Probably more like it got misplaced, and then everyone had to CTA! Makes it a PITA for the customer though.

Couldn't Ruger have made a mistake and it actually not been shipped? Ruger turns out a lot of guns ever day. It is just as plausible that the mistake was made there.

Glad everything worked out and this is the reason I love Ruger, they take care of their customers (not sure I would bad mouth Academy without a little more proof though)

[Sidewinder]

Couldn't Ruger have made a mistake and it actually not been shipped? Ruger turns out a lot of guns ever day. It is just as plausible that the mistake was made there.

Glad everything worked out and this is the reason I love Ruger, they take care of their customers (not sure I would bad mouth Academy without a little more proof though)

TennJed, not really "bad mouthing" Academy. Merely stating what happened to me there.

1. I was assured the gun was "on hold" for me until last Friday. I showed up on Thursday and it was back on display.

2. I was told the gun was not supposed to come with a scope rail and screws, according to it's  model number. Ruger said that according to that model number it does, and they're sending me one.

 

I suppose these circumstances could show up at any retail store. The place I hold them accountable is that they said they checked, and that the gun did not come with a scope rail and screws...according to my model number. At the very least, I expected them to call Ruger to verify this... but they didn't. They just tried to bamboozle me and didn't think I'd know any better...which I didn't.

 

I don't fault anyone for making mistakes. We all make them. It's those that make it right afterwards, that earn my trust and business.

[Guest TankerHC]

I certainly would like to see that sale footage. Considering that I have easily purchased 40 guns in at least 10 different Academy sports and not once have the they ever strayed off their policy. It would take several screwups by at least 2 people for the purchaser to walk out of an Academy sports not knowing what they were walking out with or the policy. Not saying that the OP is wrong. But I would definitely like to see how that f up took place. Considering they have cameras and the store manager will go look if they violated their own corporate policy that bad, obtaining a brand new replacement would have been as easy as calling corporate and letting them know.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Sidewinder]

I certainly would like to see that sale footage. Considering that I have easily purchased 40 guns in at least 10 different Academy sports and not once have the they ever strayed off their policy. It would take several screwups by at least 2 people for the purchaser to walk out of an Academy sports not knowing what they were walking out with or the policy. Not saying that the OP is wrong. But I would definitely like to see how that f up took place. Considering they have cameras and the store manager will go look if they violated their own corporate policy that bad, obtaining a brand new replacement would have been as easy as calling corporate and letting them know.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

TankerHC, I'm not exactly sure exactly what you're saying... or implying. At $25 for a scope rail and screws, I'd hardly sell my soul to the devil for a free one. Nor, would I say there was not one in the box, if there had been one in the box. It would take one sorry POS to try to pull a low down scam to get a free scope rail! I feel very proud of my honesty and integrity...it took me 72 years to keep it intact... because that was the way I was raised. I welcome the pulling of any and all taped film to show me and my gun...and the absence of any scope rail in the box. I don't care if you have bought 400 guns from Academy Sports, sir. If you're implying what it sounds like you're implying...I'll challenge you to a gentleman's wager. Have them pull the tapes with me and my gun box on it. If there's a scope rail in the box, I'll give you $1,000.00. If not, you give me $1,000.00 and write an apology on this forum. Sir, you can take away everything I own, except my integrity... that, I have to give away freely. And, I wouldn't do it for $26,000.00 when offered once. Why in the world would I do it for a measly $25 scope rail???? I wouldn't, and I resent any implication that I would.

[tnguy]

Go look at the clearance section in many stores and see how much crap is out there that was display models that are missing parts. Power supplies, remotes, what have you. When it comes to display models, it only takes one careless staff member and accessories are gone. I think some places don't even seem to have a policy of trying to keep the accessories put by for when it comes to sell (Though in this case, I suspect it would be more likely that a member of staff just took them out of the box and put them down and that was that. Some people just can't seem to get it into their heads to keep things together).

[Guest TankerHC]

Not implying anything. I wasn't there. What I am saying is whatever went on during that sale would have to be a major major screw up to let someone walk out with a gun with a missing component. As I mentioned in an earlier post they have a corporate policy in place just so that doesn't happen and it's damn near foolproof. If followed it is foolproof. If it happens it would take mistakes by two employees, including a manager. You or someone said "shame on Academy". You brought a complaint to the public. From personal experience and a lot of it I know what it would take for this to happen and I would like to see how it happened.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Guest TankerHC]

Here is the policy. At which point did the two failures occur that Academy should be ashamed. This is from memory

1. Customer picks out a gun and the salesman hands customer said gun.

2. Customer selects gun and salesman looks to see if there is a new in box under the racks. If not the customer gets the gun off the rack and the gets the box out.

3. The salesman asks for drivers license and checks driver's license. Then in the case of tn, tells the customer to go up front and pay 10 dollars for a background check and bring the receipt back.

4. Customer brings back receipt and salesman hands the customer a 4473. It does not matter if you have filled out a million 4473s, they still go over it with you. While the customer is filling out the 4473 the salesmen will check contents of the box and the serial number.

5. When 4473 is complete the salesmen takes the 4473 and tells the customer to inspect the firearm to make sure it is to their satisfaction and their policy. Once you walk out the door its yours. Sometimes you see it and sometimes not but they always use the overlay to check accuracy on the 4473. They then run the 4473. While they do this is all time to inspect the gun and accessories.

6. Once the 4473 clears you are now half done.

7. Salesman calls up a manager.

8. Manager arrives. Asks the customer a second time if they have inspected the gun to make sure it is to their satisfaction and all there. Tells customer again "once you walk out the door its yours"

9. Manager checks serial number, matches bar code on the side of the box to what's in the box. Double checks the 4473 asks if your ready to check out then carrying the gun escorts the customer to checkout. Customer pays and out the door.

Thing is I do have respect for the Academy brand. Up until a couple of years ago Academy was a big box mom and pop. Sounds weird but the man who started Academy started by selling surplus rifles out of barrels in his tire store. He built it. And up until a couple of years ago the company was in the family until his grandson sold it to a conglomerate. I wish any small business owner that kind of success. And that conglomerate kept pro firearms owner policies started by the founder in place. One big one for me is the set price policy. Their policy is "whatever the firearm price is when it hits the shelves is what it sells for". If you go to 3 stores and see the same gun for the same price then go back later and see the same gun has risen in price, Academy won't be one of them. They have a lot of firsts when it comes to the recent unpleasantness. At the same time when ARs went behind the walls we what Dicks did. I was told directly by a Walmart manager that the reason for their policy was they didn't want non firearms customers to even know they were still selling ARs and probably wouldn't even order any more until things settled down. Academy had a more legit policy. We sell ARs, period. And will continue to sell as long as we can get them. They were in back because corporate policy was one gun out at a time. The only problem was that while I was being told that, I was holding a WW15 and there were 3 other people standing there with ARs and one sitting on the counter. I pointed that out and just got sort of a stare and asked if I were interested in a scope. Ton of other positives for me and it's a firearms owner and 2nd Amendment supporting business that will continue to get my money when they have what I want.

As I said I wasn't there, and I am not calling your integrity into question but will say that for one I do not walk out of any store, not just Academy without thoroughly inspecting a firearm purchase. Most stores, big box and m&p have the same policy. You carry it out, its yours. And as mentioned, I would not make any assumptions, I wasn't there. But it really does surprise me that so many failsafe errors occurred that it justified some of the comments against one of the stores that actually does support our habit.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Dolomite_supafly]

I bought a "new" Savage at a Walmart I frequent about once a week and have been for at least a decade. It was a left handed short action that I have been wanting to find for a very long time. Well it came out on the shelf on sale so I snatched it up for the $350 asking price. I asked why it was on sale and they said because it never sold. I told them it was because it was never on the shelf. They went and checked the logs and it was put in the safe in 2005 and taken out in 2013 two days before I bought it. It sat in the safe for 8 years and there is no telling how many times it was moved around. Luckily nothing was missing.

 

Things get lost. And when you have people working for the amount these likely do they want to make their job as easy as possible. That is why they tell angry customers what will make them go away. My Savage buying experience above was not without drama either. I had a manager threaten to refuse to sell me the gun because someone else was complaining it was taking so long to complete my sale. 45 minutes after I had passed the background the manager finally showed up to take my money. I am still pissed about this, as well as being called an idiot by another "associate" or being told by yet another another "associate" that the cashier needed to put something behind the counter so that I won't steal it. I hate the people who work at Walmart but still shop there. If I have ANY questions I ask for a manager and ask them rather than deal with any associates. I have even called managers on the phone from inside the store for help.

[tnguy]

Here is the policy. At which point did the two failures occur that Academy should be ashamed. This is from memory

 

The firearm itself appears to have been fine. The problem is that the customer did not know what to expect in order to be able to fully verify that the purchase was "all present and correct" without verifying after the fact. Indeed, the customer actually did have information that there probably should have been accessories but was given misinformation by two employees.

 

The real issue isn't that the part was missing, the issue is that there are people out there who will simply bullshit when they don't know something just for an easier life.

 

The best answer would have been for Ruger to have included a "what's in the box". Although that still wouldn't have prevented the "Yeah, we take em out to make the guns cheaper" piece of bullshit.

 

To be fair, I wouldn't blame Academy for this. Just employee misbehavior.

[Guest TankerHC]

So because a customer was uninformed prior to making a purchase, that's a reason to bash a business. Which Academy is this? Id like to know what it was the employees at that gun counter had to gain that would risk losing their jobs in this climate. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2 Edited October 2, 2013 by TankerHC

[Guest PapaB]

So because a customer was uninformed prior to making a purchase, that's a reason to bash a business. Which Academy is this? Id like to know what it was the employees at that gun counter had to gain that would risk losing their jobs in this climate. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

 

I'd say yes on that. This isn't the hardware aisle at Wally World, it's the firearms department of a sporting goods store.

 

Any business that sells specialty products, like firearms, should expect their employees to know those products. Customers often have questions about products they're interested in. They rely on the businesses that sell those products to employ informed, well trained staff to assist them. Your statement suggests that consumers should be more informed than the people that deal with those products everyday. I call that poppycock.

 

Just for the record, I've bought firearms and many other items at Academy and will continue to. I believe in being an informed consumer but I know not everyone is.

Edited October 2, 2013 by PapaB

[Guest TankerHC]

One last thing I will say and leave it. I am sure the OP was legitimately not happy with the purchase after he found out about the missing parts. However it isn't the responsibility of any FFL whether he's working from a back room in his house or has a shop with 10000 guns to insure that every customer is fully informed on their purchase. It's the customers responsibility and the stores employees responsibility to assist with a purchase. And I will say that I am not immune from being uninformed myself. And I'll give a recent example which will make me look stupid but I'll do it anyway. First heard of the 300 blackout about a year and a half ago. Decided I wanted one. Did some research but clearly not enough. An opportunity came up to purchase one from a member here. Made the deal and standing there talking. Clearly I was making some statements in our discussion that weren't making sense (statement in a second) because the member asked me if I was familiar with the 300 and of course I was. So I set off to find the park I needed. And ended up in a shop with highly knowledgeable people who also happen to be vendors here. Walked up to a guy standing in front of a rack of ARs and asked for a complete lower in 300 AAC. He asked me if I meant a standard lower and I said no, it's not for a 556 it's for a 300 blackout. Then he looked at me and said he wasn't sure what I was talking about at which point I attempted to politely explain what I was talking about when he said we don't carry them. Walking out I'm thinking "this place must have 100 ARs on the wall and a glass case full of parts and don't carry a 300 lower?". (Guess who I'm talking about), so I went back in and asked the same guy if they had a stripped 300 lower at which point he informed me they didn't have anything like that. This occurred at 3 different places prior to researching more thoroughly and finding out that I was uninformed. Must have looked to everyone like I was buying my first gun. But I would not make negative comments on the stores simply because it's not their responsibility to make me informed. That's my responsibility. And if I would have asked for and been handed the wrong thing then walked out happy it probably would not have behooved me to get on here complaining about. It was bad enough when I got on here afterwards and started asking about 300 lowers, just glad I didn't do it on arf.com. "The more you know'


Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[Guest TankerHC]

Papab. You of course are entitled to your opinion. But we definitely differ on opinions. A lot of guns move through those stores (and many gun stores) and they aren't just dealing with guns. I know for a fact those Academy employees are generally knowledgeable on firearms and accessories. They carry a lot of different types and brands of firearms. Model's come and go and the buyer is given a lot of opportunity to make sure what he or she is getting is correct before walking out the door. I would ask again. What did the employees gain by attempting to cheat someone out of a 20 dollar rail and how does you being uninformed to the point you don't even know whats supposed to come with purchase justify bashing a business and it's employees.?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

[tnguy]

Again, it sounds like he *was* informed but the staff at that particular Academy went out of their way to *misinform* him when he presented them with his prior information.

 

Given the tactics of many retailers, most notoriously Walmart, to supply slightly different/underspeced models of certain items at lower prices, what basis would he have to believe he was being lied to? And would you except him to call them out to their face without at least checking first?

 

I'd like to know what your alternate scenario is? He did receive the rail but pretended he didn't in order to be able to cheat Ruger out of another then he posted about it on a web forum? He has a beef against Academy and made up this fairly trivial story about a rail to blacken their good name? I just don't see what alternate scenario you're hinting at.

 

To address your last point, it doesn't seem that they were trying to cheat him out of the rail, just that they had lost or misplaced it at some point and didn't want to have to bother with making it right.

Edited October 2, 2013 by tnguy

[Sidewinder]

I'll say this and leave it at that. I have no ill will toward Academy Sports in Smyrna. Mistakes are made, and until they remove erasers from the end of pencils, we'll all probably continue to make them. I feel sure Academy Sports is a fine commercial operation, and we all appreciate them providing us with the products we want and need. After all, I had searched endlessly for this particular Ruger MK lll version far and wide, with no luck. The store was big, attractive, well stocked, and everyone seemed friendly and eager to assist customers. The price was obviously what I considered a reasonable price... otherwise, I wouldn't have bought it. I do remember half way kidding them about the box having a big orange DISPLAY sticker on the end, shouldn't there be a 10% discount. They were friendly and polite in telling me NO, and I had to chuckle for trying anyway.

 

With the exception that there were a few customers patiently waiting behind me, the experience was pleasant and without any pressure to buy. When I showed up at the front door, I told the lady who I was and that Dillon had put this gun on hold for me. I told her that I was a day early, as I was told they would hold it until Friday by Dillon. She made a call, presumably to the gun section, and sent me back to where the guns were, after telling me that the gun was actually back in the showcase. When I got back to the gun counter, Mark greeted me with the gun laying on the shelf behind him. He handed it to me, and I looked it over. When I said I wanted it, I was sent up front to pay the $10 background check fee. And, the search was on to find the box. It took a second person, but the box was found and put on the counter. I was given plenty of time to inspect the contents of the box, but it just didn't register with me that the scope rail and screws wasn't there. My paperwork was checked with the plastic overlays, and I made a couple of corrections. Another man was called back to look everything over, and Bill escorted me to the register. He was admonished by the cashier, for cutting the line, when there was no line at that register. The line was at the register beside that one. I showed my sales receipt to the same lady that had greeted me when I came in, and I was out the door. When I got home, things settled down and I was admiring my new gun. It was then that I realized the scope rail was missing, and called back to Academy. I made two calls back, and was told first by Ferris and later by Dillon that my gun did not come with a scope rail and screws. Dillon explained the model number indicated that it did not come with a scope rail and screws. Ruger says that it does, that it left the factory with them, and that they are sending me the scope rail and screws. Problem solved.

 

For some that seemed defensive over the issue, here's my reason for posting it on this forum.

 

1. I was told by Dillon that the gun would be held for me until Friday. It was not, and was on the shelf for sale to anyone on Thursday. Luckily, for me, I showed up one day early, and was able to buy the gun before it was sold to someone else.

 

2. I was told by Ferris and by Dillon, on two separate phone calls, that my model did not come with scope rail and screws. According to Ruger it does.

 

Broken promise to hold the gun for me, and a lot of BS about it not coming with accessories that it does come with.

 

It all has ended well...as Ruger is sending me the scope rail and screws...and I got there before the gun was sold to someone else. Thanks to all who voiced their opinions one way or the other. Don't we live in a great country where we're free to do that? God bless America!

[Guest PapaB]

Papab. You of course are entitled to your opinion. But we definitely differ on opinions. A lot of guns move through those stores (and many gun stores) and they aren't just dealing with guns. I know for a fact those Academy employees are generally knowledgeable on firearms and accessories. They carry a lot of different types and brands of firearms. Model's come and go and the buyer is given a lot of opportunity to make sure what he or she is getting is correct before walking out the door. I would ask again. What did the employees gain by attempting to cheat someone out of a 20 dollar rail and how does you being uninformed to the point you don't even know whats supposed to come with purchase justify bashing a business and it's employees.?

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

 

You're setting up a straw argument when you ask "What did the employees gain by attempting to cheat someone out of a 20 dollar rail...". No one suggested the employees were gaining anything nor were they accused of cheating someone. They may have honestly provided bad information (that model doesn't come with a rail (when it does)) out of ignorance. That's still poor customer service at a minimum. The employees do have a lot to keep track of with the various models and accessories. They should have access to a resource to assist them in answering questions. If they don't, shame on the store for not providing it. If they do, shame on them for not using it.

[TrickyNicky]

One last thing I will say and leave it. I am sure the OP was legitimately not happy with the purchase after he found out about the missing parts. However it isn't the responsibility of any FFL whether he's working from a back room in his house or has a shop with 10000 guns to insure that every customer is fully informed on their purchase. It's the customers responsibility and the stores employees responsibility to assist with a purchase. And I will say that I am not immune from being uninformed myself. And I'll give a recent example which will make me look stupid but I'll do it anyway. First heard of the 300 blackout about a year and a half ago. Decided I wanted one. Did some research but clearly not enough. An opportunity came up to purchase one from a member here. Made the deal and standing there talking. Clearly I was making some statements in our discussion that weren't making sense (statement in a second) because the member asked me if I was familiar with the 300 and of course I was. So I set off to find the park I needed. And ended up in a shop with highly knowledgeable people who also happen to be vendors here. Walked up to a guy standing in front of a rack of ARs and asked for a complete lower in 300 AAC. He asked me if I meant a standard lower and I said no, it's not for a 556 it's for a 300 blackout. Then he looked at me and said he wasn't sure what I was talking about at which point I attempted to politely explain what I was talking about when he said we don't carry them. Walking out I'm thinking "this place must have 100 ARs on the wall and a glass case full of parts and don't carry a 300 lower?". (Guess who I'm talking about), so I went back in and asked the same guy if they had a stripped 300 lower at which point he informed me they didn't have anything like that. This occurred at 3 different places prior to researching more thoroughly and finding out that I was uninformed. Must have looked to everyone like I was buying my first gun. But I would not make negative comments on the stores simply because it's not their responsibility to make me informed. That's my responsibility. And if I would have asked for and been handed the wrong thing then walked out happy it probably would not have behooved me to get on here complaining about. It was bad enough when I got on here afterwards and started asking about 300 lowers, just glad I didn't do it on arf.com. "The more you know'Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

I have to disagree on this one. I've always worked specialty retail where in I specialize in a group or variety of products, not guns, but similar enough for comparative purposes.

When selling a specialized product, retail workers should be expected to know more about the product than those buying them, doesn't always happen and isn't important to know everything, or even to know more than 100% of your customer base, but they should know more or at least as the majority.

Also not a big deal that the rail want there, and I don't see the OP's post as pointing that way. The problem seems to be for him, and I agree, that when asked about the rail he was lied to. How else do you explain "based on the serial number that pistol did not come with one."? It would be no big deal to me if the answer was,

"honestly, I have no idea and I'm not even sure how to check. Sometimes we make special buys with distributers for guns without extra components to keep pricing down, maybe that's what happened here. I would say your very best course would be to contact the manufacture, they should know for sure."

Or even.

"Gosh, I'm not sure, I'd better have you speak with a manager."

Instead what he got was misinformation, and it sounds to me like intentional misinformation.

That's not even getting into the whole "sure we'll put that on hold for you" fiasco.



Bottom line IMO, Academy screwed up and later tried back pedaling instead of owning their mistake. Thankfully Ruger is making it right.

[Byedan]

I am going to put this out there and it nothing against the big box stores, but this is why I use to always buy guns from mom an pop stores better product knowledge. Plus they want you to come back and to spend more money with them so they care. Know I am in the biz, and in try me best to make the customers happy with good product and good knowledge, if I don't know I will find out for you. I want your to come back and spend more money with me.

[Sidewinder]

Latest Update to the Update.

Ruger mailed me the proper scope base and screws for the gun, and I received them yesterday. Ruger customer service has been very courteous, helpful, and they did what they said they would do. I don't guess it gets much better than that. I'm a satisfied customer, and I highly recommend Ruger's service after the sale.

[Joe357]

Good deal