Freakshow10mm aka Adam Returns!

[rct442]

This is what I received from Adam (aka Freakshow10mm) at THR:

I'm heading to Calguns later tonight to give another status report. I've told the people that have been emailing me that I'm working on refunds but they don't want to hear it. Don't blame them I suppose. The more I went there and gave status reports the angrier people got. I figure leave off of there for a while, try to get money for refunds, and then go back and check in. Of course that worked out well.

Yes I have every intention of giving refunds.

Adam

After I received this I responded by offering to help him with his refunds.


I am working on refunds, but with very few sales coming in I have nothing to go on. I'm trying to sell what I can and it isn't selling. I can't get a loan because my credit card and student loan debt is to high. I've only been in business one year so I don't have enough history to get a business loan.

Doing a Google search for "freakshow manufacturing" lists my site as #1 and then the Calguns threads start up. I can't attract business to my site so I can get money to refund everyone. Christ, I'm supposed to load 5 cases of ammo for a local LE department but I don't have $500 to buy the bullets to finish the order. I have to borrow primers and powder from my friend to have them for the order. I can't even get a Net 10 credit line for the bullets from the supplier I buy all my components from.

I'm trying my best and trying to give refunds as I get money. Right now we are scraping by on my wife's measly income with utilities getting shut off every other week. We had to potty train our 2yo son because we can't afford to spend $60/mo on diapers.

Adam

If this is true, I think you have to take some pity on this guy. It sounds like everything is not working out just right for him.

We need him to feel he is in a safe place, so he can start to rebuild our trust. I understand your angry, because I'm angry as well. But being combative is counterproductive, and doesn't encourage him to make amends.

[freonr22]

tag

[technique]

:gene:

[s10rick]

Mmm...

[Guruwes]

We shall wait and see...

[5150Marcelo]

Didnt he just spend some ungodly amount of money on something. Someone posted that post from him from another forum. IDK.

All I know is that Chief still owes me $2.52 cents and a trip to Adelitas. Where is that punk???????????!?!?!?!

[97F1504RAD]

At 2 years old the child should already be potty trained and if the child was not yet forcing him to be is also not a good thing.

Sorry but this sounds like typical Adam excuses. Actions speak louder than words. I have emailed him and pm's him to have him send me 95.00 worth of Factory Gold Dot ammo that at one time he had in stock to make up for the missing carry handle on my rifle and nothing no reply zip zero zilch.

He brags on another forum that he just spent something like 60k on some machines yet here he is telling you he is piss poor broke. If his utilities are being shut off every week I am pretty sure his power company is requiring several hundred dollars each time to turn them back on. Sounds like more BS.

Rebuild trust start with those of us that have had issues standing with him since last year. Oh wait there's a bunch of us.

[ke6guj]

This was in July
I don't sell components. I only sell ammunition that my company loads. Most of what I can get loaded is bought by gun shops so I'll be ok i think for a bit. Thanks though.

I hope I don't go under. I just dropped another $29,000 on a Camdex I won't see for 4-6 months.

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13365705&postcount=15

[97F1504RAD]

Ooops, I made a mistake it was only 29k

[Blue]

I feel for the guy. Then again, he doesn't owe me any money :cool: Lets be cool and see what he has to say.

[bruce381]

I have no dog in this hunt BUT "yeah check is in the mail"

[freakshow10mm]

Didnt he just spend some ungodly amount of money on something. Someone posted that post from him from another forum. IDK.

No. I can't get financing. As it sits now, I can't even afford to keep my cell phone active let alone feed a Camdex machine.

At 2 years old the child should already be potty trained and if the child was not yet forcing him to be is also not a good thing.
From everything I read, boys usually start training around 3 years old, girls are sooner.

Sorry but this sounds like typical Adam excuses. Actions speak louder than words.
I understand.

I have emailed him and pm's him to have him send me 95.00 worth of Factory Gold Dot ammo that at one time he had in stock to make up for the missing carry handle on my rifle and nothing no reply zip zero zilch.
I have never had 357 SIG Gold Dot ammo in stock. I'm currently developing loads, a FMJ and the Gold Dot, but have not completed testing due to a component shortage. To see if I have something in stock, add it to the cart. Currently I only have the clearance items in stock and 7 boxes of 38 Spl ammo I'm selling for about $1/box over cost. The transfer stuff and AK bullet buttons are in stock as well (18 of them).

He brags on another forum that he just spent something like 60k on some machines yet here he is telling you he is piss poor broke.
That was a pre-emptive post. Financing fell through. I don't have a Camdex on order. Call them tomorrow. Ask if there's an order for Freakshow Mfg on file.

If his utilities are being shut off every week I am pretty sure his power company is requiring several hundred dollars each time to turn them back on. Sounds like more BS.
We are able to maintain mortgage, electricity, and water. Water is being paid the day it is due to be shut off for the last 3 months. Cable got shut off, but for some reason the Internet still works. Cell phone just got shut off last week. I owe $600 or so on the cell, $400 something on cable. We are also current on the gas bill, which will go from $60/mo to $200/mo in about a month when winter starts here.

Call my cell phone once. 906-281-2213. Let me know what message you get. Betcha it says "cannot be completed at this time. try again later."

Rebuild trust start with those of us that have had issues standing with him since last year. Oh wait there's a bunch of us.
Yes and I'm trying to work on it.

This was in July


http://glocktalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13365705&postcount=15
Addressed above. No Camdex.

I have no dog in this hunt BUT "yeah check is in the mail"
Your brass has been returned a couple months ago.

[rct442]

Freakshow10mm, you promised to post tonight, and you did. For that, I respect you for having the guts to acknowledge your problems.

You should contact Kestryll (Head Janitor) to figure out how you're supposed to refund these nice people their money.

[technique]

I would start with Kes...and his sticky above.

[97F1504RAD]

I to give you props Adam for replying to this thread it is a step in teh right direction but it certainly does not fix things. It also appears I have a pm now, which i will read in a moment.
You know I have given you the benefit of the doubt more than once during our business transactions and you also know I have always told you I truly hope you could get things worked out and wished you well.

But when you simply stopped replying and then disappeared from this site, Well that was the final straw.

At this point I would like my 95.00 back for a carry handle that I paid for and never got. you had also agreed that since my order took so long and I was being patient with you that you would also supply me with a few extra 10 round magazines which you also never did.

At this point I just want either my 95.00 back (preferably in Cashiers Check or Postal MO) or some Factory .357 Sig Gold Dot ammo. NO RELOADS AT ALL!

So you decide which is easiest for you.

[freakshow10mm]

So, here's the status. Things were going good during the Obama surge. Lots of transfers January through March, had a pile of money in the account. I placed a bunch of orders for stuff, orders came in and got shipped. Never gave a thought about the balance as I figured I made enough profit to not worry about it. I should have. Orders came piling in and wiped the account dry. I tried to replace the money but we can all see how well that's going.

So yeah, I'm broke as ****. Got fired from my job June 23. Thought I could take advantage of the market, promote ammo sales, make enough money to refund everyone and settle everything as best I could. I'd bid farewell to Calguns and never return.

I apologize for the way things are happening. I never meant for this to happen. I'm overwhelmed with the stuff that it takes. I started this business to make money and help out my fellow gun owners. I ****ed up so bad it still shocks me.
I might hit the character limit for a single post so I'll post this and then continue below.

Adam

[freakshow10mm]

Freakshow10mm, you promised to post tonight, and you did. For that, I respect you for having the guts to acknowledge your problems.

You should contact Kestryll (Head Janitor) to figure out how you're supposed to refund these nice people their money.

I would start with Kes...and his sticky above.
Tried to send him an email from my memory. I thought it was username at gmail but I didn't get a response from it. I figured he was grabbing a noose or it was the wrong email address. The back end of my website is a mess. I've got the LPK GB in it's own category and I've been moving the refunded orders to "canceled" as I did them. I created categories for every status so I can keep track of them. The Lowers GB is the mess. I've got people still in there that I know I've sent lowers for mixed with people that need lowers. I need to sort through the thread here with my notes and my site and get this organized this week.

I to give you props Adam for replying to this thread it is a step in teh right direction but it certainly does not fix things. It also appears I have a pm now, which i will read in a moment.
You know I have given you the benefit of the doubt more than once during our business transactions and you also know I have always told you I truly hope you could get things worked out and wished you well.
I understand that and I sincerely thank you for putting up with my juvenile ****. I signed up with LMT for a lower receiver transfer for a CA dealer. I sold about $200 of stuff on another forum that I can get you a LMT carry handle to settle up with you. I still owe you 10rd mags. I will come through on this as soon as I can. I'm just overwhelmed the the amount of **** I created.

But when you simply stopped replying and then disappeared from this site, Well that was the final straw.
I understand that and, roles being reversed, I would do the same. It seemed like the more I came here the more people got pissed. I leave for a bit and people get even more pissed. I didn't and don't know what to do. Half the people are saying communicate and the other half are telling me to eat a shotgun slug.

At this point I would like my 95.00 back for a carry handle that I paid for and never got. you had also agreed that since my order took so long and I was being patient with you that you would also supply me with a few extra 10 round magazines which you also never did.

At this point I just want either my 95.00 back (preferably in Cashiers Check or Postal MO) or some Factory .357 Sig Gold Dot ammo. NO RELOADS AT ALL!

So you decide which is easiest for you.
You will get $95 or $95 worth of 357 SIG Gold Dot ammo. FWIW, not that you care, but the 357 SIG ammo I will sell will be factory new using Starline brass. Only the 9mm, 40, 45 and .223 are remanufactured by me. Everything else is new manufacture with Starline brand brass.

[rct442]

Here's Kestryll's profile page. You could try to send him a pm? :shrug:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/member.php?u=34

Here's his personal email: kestryll@gmail.com

[saigon1965]

Freak - You don't owe me anything - But good luck on making things right for everyone - I do hope your future will be bright and here on Calguns -

[Blue]

Freak - You don't owe me anything - But good luck on making things right for everyone - I do hope your future will be bright and here on Calguns -

+1 :)

[technique]

I think we accomplished something here. We got him back on the board, and thats a step. We are closer today, than yesterday.

That said...I split the dif with a friend on the LPK GB. As long as you get it out eventually not only to me but to everyone else....Cool.

Speaking strictly for myself....I understand being broke. IIRC you have a son...For that reason, I will not demand my money back, I feel that would be taking food outta your families mouth.

But please get to or orders. As long as you are around here making an attempt, I will not attempt to take away from your business.

[freakshow10mm]

Sorry for the delay, I had a couple of PMs to handle first.

That's the address I sent it to. I'm sure he gets tons of email. I should have PM'd him too, but email doesn't tie down the server load like PM's do. Just a forum habit.

For the guys in the LPK group buy that thought I was stringing everyone along when the 30 LPKs came in from Anvil Arms before, here's the email I just got from DelTon today. The order for the 45 LPKs I put on order November 4 for the LPK GB are in stock and ready to ship. I've been scrambling all day trying to borrow money to pay for these to deliver product. No luck so far. Note the order comments below. Credit card declined. This was also lumped with a couple different things for other customers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/freakshow10mm/deltonorder.jpg

A big order for .233 ammo might be coming down the pipeline to me. I'm waiting on confirmation after a quote. Quote is for 50 cases which will give me plenty to settle up with the group buy people.

[freakshow10mm]

I think we accomplished something here. We got him back on the board, and thats a step. We are closer today, than yesterday.

That said...I split the dif with a friend on the LPK GB. As long as you get it out eventually not only to me but to everyone else....Cool.

Speaking strictly for myself....I understand being broke. IIRC you have a son...For that reason, I will not demand my money back, I feel that would be taking food outta your families mouth.

But please get to or orders. As long as you are around here making an attempt, I will not attempt to take away from your business.
I need to settle everything and every one.

Don't worry about food too much. I'm starting to hunt again so I can get meat for my family. Squirrel, rabbit, grouse season open up tomorrow. My in-laws have a 140 acre farm I can hunt when I want to. They are going to watch my son while I go hunting for some critters for the family to eat. No meat in the freezer right now. Couple of the snow birds (seasonal people that stay up here in summer homes) left a couple weeks ago and let us have the left over food they were going to throw away. We're living and trying to make due.

I've got to go off to bed. It's 1am here and hunting starts early.

Adam

[Kestryll]

Tried to send him an email from my memory. I thought it was username at gmail but I didn't get a response from it. I figured he was grabbing a noose or it was the wrong email address.
That is my email address, I'll check my spam folder as gmail has some odd ideas on what is spam depending on the day..
I have found Report Post emails in the spam folder the same day as I received 4 others, who knows.

I understand that and, roles being reversed, I would do the same. It seemed like the more I came here the more people got pissed. I leave for a bit and people get even more pissed. I didn't and don't know what to do. Half the people are saying communicate and the other half are telling me to eat a shotgun slug.


Adam, here's what I will suggest.

Keep logging on and give updates on what is going on.

If you have something going on that should lead to being able to give some refunds, post it with the caveat that it is not a done deal but you are moving forward.
If it succeeds then issue refunds either based on who you can cover with what came in or oldest owed.
If it falls through post that too, letting people know what's going on is the important part.

Yes, some will not be happy and get bent out of shape, there's nothing that can be done about that.
You accept that it is going to happen and move forward.

One thing I've learned is that you can not appease everyone and if you try you will only manage to piss off everyone.
Keep the communications open, post updates regularly and don't disappear again, it looks like running out on people and that gets people worked up.
No one heard from you and then we all saw the post about spending 29k elsewhere. Without being here to address it the only option people saw was that they had been taken.


You can not go back, if you stop you are in this mess forever, the only way out is to keep moving forward. Even an inch forward is an inch closer to being done with it.

[Cali-V]

Adam
I'm glad you decided to stop by and give us an update, I'm really sorry you've hit a bump, but it happens. The key is to make it through a little wiser and a bit stronger....

However; regarding the group buys, I'm still a little confused. What ever happen to the money you collected for the Group Buys, did the funds ever get to the manufactures?

I paid for 2 lower parts kits and pre-paid for one CA transfer... I did not receive the LPK's and because of your circumstance choose not to use your middle-man service...

I'm owed just under $150.00; it's not much but it was hard earned, and its loss would be felt... I would like the money I paid returned...

PM me if you are serious about some help through this hump...

[RECCE556]

Well I finally received my refund from an order I placed back in late 2008. I have the bank issued check in hand, I am going to attempt to cash it tomorrow. Hopefully, there won't be any issues...I'll report back if there is.

Adam, I'm sorry for the problems you ran into. I could go extensively into what you should and shouldn't have done but that's moot at this point. All I can say is that I hope you're able to pull out of your current situation and hopefully, it'll make you a better, wiser person and businessman.

EDIT: Check cashed fine. Thanks for finally getting my refund to me.

[thedrickel]

Step 1 - Sell the mac.
Step 2 - Buy a PC. Use the leftover 60% to pay people back.

[thefifthspeed]

If it's any consolation, even after having to wait out a 3 month delay before receiving my rifle, I would still pay you for your transfer service in the future once things get back to normal.

Bottom line is you were the only person online who is willing to take in certain types of firearms and send them into CA.

[97F1504RAD]

Adam, here's what I will suggest.

Keep logging on and give updates on what is going on.

If you have something going on that should lead to being able to give some refunds, post it with the caveat that it is not a done deal but you are moving forward.
If it succeeds then issue refunds either based on who you can cover with what came in or oldest owed.
If it falls through post that too, letting people know what's going on is the important part.

Yes, some will not be happy and get bent out of shape, there's nothing that can be done about that.
You accept that it is going to happen and move forward.

One thing I've learned is that you can not appease everyone and if you try you will only manage to piss off everyone.
Keep the communications open, post updates regularly and don't disappear again, it looks like running out on people and that gets people worked up.
No one heard from you and then we all saw the post about spending 29k elsewhere. Without being here to address it the only option people saw was that they had been taken.


You can not go back, if you stop you are in this mess forever, the only way out is to keep moving forward. Even an inch forward is an inch closer to being done with it.

I agree with Kes 100% Especially the part I put in bold. That is what got me irritated is when you all of a sudden stopped with the updates, stopped with the pm replies, and then bragged on another forum about spending 29k and were no longer even signing in here.

I really do wish you the best Adam I think you got in way over your head and simply did not know what or where to go and do. Now it is one thing at a time and things will get resolved as long as You take care of them.

[freakshow10mm]

Adam, here's what I will suggest.

Keep logging on and give updates on what is going on.

If you have something going on that should lead to being able to give some refunds, post it with the caveat that it is not a done deal but you are moving forward.
If it succeeds then issue refunds either based on who you can cover with what came in or oldest owed.
If it falls through post that too, letting people know what's going on is the important part.
Sounds good.

One thing I've learned is that you can not appease everyone and if you try you will only manage to piss off everyone.
Keep the communications open, post updates regularly and don't disappear again, it looks like running out on people and that gets people worked up.
No one heard from you and then we all saw the post about spending 29k elsewhere. Without being here to address it the only option people saw was that they had been taken.

I understand and I apologize.


However; regarding the group buys, I'm still a little confused. What ever happen to the money you collected for the Group Buys, did the funds ever get to the manufactures?
No. This is what happened as posted above:

Lots of transfers January through March, had a pile of money in the account. I placed a bunch of orders for stuff, orders came in and got shipped. Never gave a thought about the balance as I figured I made enough profit to not worry about it. I should have. Orders came piling in and wiped the account dry.

The money was in there and I was an idiot and didn't check the balance or try to isolate the funds in any way. I have one business account I use as an everything account. My orders money gets deposited in there from my merchant account, which has been canceled because I can't pay the monthly fee so I can only take checks/MO until I pay $165 that I owe to get it turned back on. I also messed up the website integration when I removed the credit card option to try to hide my troubles from customers trying to buy from me. If they ran a card it would always come up declined. I passed it off as I changed merchant processors and there's problems with the integration on my site. Then I have to pay about $100 to my web hosting people to have them reconfigure and test the integration and get me back online.

All the business bills come out of that one account, merchant fees, UPS charges, working capital, labor for the PT guy that helps me out sometimes, and general order money for orders placed with me on the site.

After my UPS snafu in March, I created a subaccount where I could isolate funds for shipping, then when the UPS bill came I would transfer the funds from the subaccount into the master account and pay it. That worked for a while but now I owe UPS a few hundred dollars. Most of my stuff is either FTF with LE (I just drive the stuff there) or wholesale orders in which I just bill their UPS account for shipping so I don't have to pester with handling money for freight, etc.

I paid for 2 lower parts kits and pre-paid for one CA transfer... I did not receive the LPK's and because of your circumstance choose not to use your middle-man service...
And that's the part that hurts the most. I owe people money and that in turn decreases consumer confidence in me and my sales drop. I don't blame you. I had a guy (might have been you) call and talk to me last week or so about a rifle to be broken down and shipped to CA off the internet. Cool. $40 shipped and transferred. We talked about the Calguns stuff, as he was leary of using me. I told him to send the check, I'd hold it until the rifle arrived, then cash it. He contacted me via email late last week and wanted to cancel the transfer, that he'd find another one as he didn't trust me. I understand, thanked him for his time. I wrote "VOID-DO NOT CASH OR DEPOSIT" (for security) on the signature line of the check back and mailed it back to him on Saturday. Haven't heard if he got it yet. $40 and a couple bottles and cans would be one refund for a LPK. But I lost it due to the situation I created.

I'm owed just under $150.00; it's not much but it was hard earned, and its loss would be felt... I would like the money I paid returned...
I understand. You will have the money returned.

Step 1 - Sell the mac.
Step 2 - Buy a PC. Use the leftover 60% to pay people back.
Mac Mini is worth maybe $300 on the used market. A cheap PC is about $300.

If it's any consolation, even after having to wait out a 3 month delay before receiving my rifle, I would still pay you for your transfer service in the future once things get back to normal.

Bottom line is you were the only person online who is willing to take in certain types of firearms and send them into CA.
I appreciate that. Most of the transfers that come in now, besides being dealers in CA that can't find anyone else to do it, are for the Tantals and AMD65s (damn you CA guys like your AK variants-what's up with that?) because few other middle man FFLs will pin a stock open. I also transfer in the real evil crap like open bolt pistols. A couple CA FFLs use me to get Stag rifles and lowers factory direct because Stag won't deal with CA at all. Couple guys buy from CDNN and use me.

I agree with Kes 100% Especially the part I put in bold. That is what got me irritated is when you all of a sudden stopped with the updates, stopped with the pm replies, and then bragged on another forum about spending 29k and were no longer even signing in here.

I really do wish you the best Adam I think you got in way over your head and simply did not know what or where to go and do. Now it is one thing at a time and things will get resolved as long as You take care of them.
Thanks for the support.

[Guruwes]

I'm glad that you are trying to make things right...

Don't forget about my $64.95 check that you said you mailed 2 months ago!!!

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=201211

Most calgunners are good people and all we want is to know that you are working with us and not avoiding the situation... I would never take food off anyone's table and will gladly work with you to make things right.
Thanks for showing us that you are man enough to come back and at least try to clean up this mess.

Once this all gets resolved I will continue to use your services and I think others will as well.

Wes...

[freakshow10mm]

I've got about $220 coming in this week. $95 is going to the 97f150 guy and I'll get $65 to you at the same time via PMO.

[kjshum]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showpost.php?p=2717852&postcount=19

Did you manage to get the replacement brass from Starline? I would still like the rest of my order.

[freakshow10mm]

I haven't gotten anything in from Starline. I still have the bullets here.

[lazyworm]

Adam,

I'm pretty impressed with the level of communication in this thread.
You once mentioned you're bad at communication, I think you've either
cured it or you have a ghost writer :) Please keep it up.

btw, yes you own me a refund too, but I can wait. (order 334)

[bombadillo]

Wow, quite a saga man. I wish you the best and hope that you can get your financed worked out for you and your family. It sucks to be in a boat to not be able to afford your daily expenditures and have people hounding on you to get money back. I think people are seeing that you were just trying to make a go at a business and dug into a pretty deep hole. Slowly but surely, like Kes said, with open communications and honesty you'll get back up on your feet.

[freakshow10mm]

This experience has been the graphic eye opener. I was never fit to run a business. I don't know how to manage money. The credit card debt should have been my first clue. I started this business in order to have extra income so I could pay off my CC debt. At the time I was in school for LE and my son was just born. We moved here from Green Bay.

I was making $13.40/hr and had solid 12 hours a week of overtime at $20.10/hr. Plant shut down in Feb 2005. Got a severance package of about $4,000 and wiped my 401K out for about $5,000. I had bought my Blazer two months before I found out the plant was shutting down. I was smart about money then. I paid off a personal loan I had taken out to buy a computer to build my credit. Had two credit cards, one for $550 and a Dell account I bought a $650 LCD TV with. Paid both those off immediately. Bought a nice king size bed from a local factory, still owed $700 so I paid that off. I paid off everything I owed, which was less than $2,500. Sold my car to my dad for $3,000. Paid my half of the rent (wife was girlfriend at the time) for the rest of the lease. Plan was to move up here, transfer schools, live with future in-laws free to save money. So I sucked on the unemployment teat until the semester in Green Bay was done, moved up here and found a job a couple months later. Worked there from July 20, 2005 to June 23, 2009.

During that 4 years, I went from making a solid $775/week to less than $200 a week. Of course I was hard headed to give up my standard of living. Applied for every credit card I could have. Then it snowballed.

I was 24 years old making over $40,000 per year in Green Bay. I was buying a gun a week, a silencer every month, got a couple transferable MGs. Rent was $225 (half), electricity was 430, cable $100 and cell phone $75. Truck insurance was $60 and then I had to buy food. That was my only expenses. We got bored so Saturday me and the GF would go to Walmart, blow $100 each and leave. Just for something to do. I sold everything when I moved to MI because we can't have that stuff here (now MGs are allowed and silencers are SOTs only, which I am).

I blew through the money in a year and a half. Student loans covered tuition, job covered books.

Started the business as a bullet caster in 2005. I got so backed up I had to stop bullet casting. The one bullet I listed on my site just because I had the mold and figured what the hell, was the number one seller. I sold tens of thousands of bullets from that mold. Handcasting as a part time gig when I had full time school, full time job, and a newborn son was a stupid move.

Talked to a guy I knew well on a forum. He said go low labor high profit. So I said OK. Got my 07 FFL in short order. I'll build AR15s, since they are simple kit guns requiring about $500 in tools and holding fixtures. Found a lower supplier that would engrave my info on them to comply with GCA 1968. Found a source for rifle kits. ****, building ARs for $500 and selling them for $300 profit is easy as hell. But then Obama happened and put a stop to that without warning. All the orders I should have gotten were going to the big guys. CA transfers came pouring in over the next several months. That was keeping me going but then the bottom fell out. My demons of piss poor money management came through and now here I am today, laying out my life for all to see.

Guess reality is here. This venture is just about closed. I'm refunding everyone that I owe. Then the website is coming down, domains will be forgotten, and business will close. I'll keep the FFL until it runs out in 2011 to handle local transfers, maybe. $20 a pop I can stick in my son's savings for some day when he will appreciate it.

I started this business the old fashioned way, cash. I promised myself I'd never get a business loan. Just turn the profits back into the business and grow it as fast as possible. 100% markup. Sell one, I can buy two, sell those two, I can buy four, etc. That plan works well if you have an emergency account with a few thousand sitting in the bank.

Tried to run the GBs as a marketing tool. Give the guys a good price, get my name out there, get more business, keep on keeping on. I see how well that plan was executed. I should have listened to the advice I was given on GBs.

It all started when I got my FFL. I wanted some Double Star lowers from Midway USA. I put an order in for 5 of them. The idiots there wouldn't ship to MI as they said a gun lock needs to be sent with all firearms to MI as that was the law. I told them and showed them the law stated that applied to retail sales within the state and that wholesale acquisitions were exempt. They wouldn't hear it.

So I contacted Double Star directly. They said pricing was $125/5, $115/10, then $80/25, and $4/unit discount when quantity doubled. OK, crap. buy 25 at $2,000. I only had money for like 5 of them. So I went over to my guys at the new forum we created as a fallout from GTR. I cut them in at wholesale pricing, they save money and I get the minimum needed to make my bottom line. Buy at $80, sell for $125. We got to 50 before you knew it. Then other people from other forums were joining in. I listed on a couple forums. We got over 150 lowers in that GB. Couple hitches, but it all worked out. I should have stopped there.

But I wanted to make a name for myself here (I sure got my wish, didn't I:rolleyes:) so I ran one for Calguns only. Then people expressed interest in LPK group buy. Well, hell that makes sense to me. So I ran two GBs at once. Then people wanted M4 stocks added to the LPK buy so I did. What a mess.

What I should have done, was stick to the original 25 lower group buy on the one forum. That's all I needed to get my price, I should have cut it off there. I got 5, ship out 20 lowers. Everyone is happy. Sell my lowers, make enough to buy 10 lowers, put another one out for 25 lowers with me buying 10, I need another 15 sold then cut it off at 25 units. Sell my 10, buy 20, now let's open it up to 50 units with me buying 20. Then we're done for good.

That's what should have been done and how it should have been done.

When I saw the Double Star group buy at 1919A4.com or whatever, I knew it was going to be a cluster**** if there ever was one. A small mom and pop 3 employee shop dealing out 3,000 lowers and selling them for exact wholesale cost? I never laughed so hard. When they announced it would be held to $78/unit no further discounts, I was waiting for the chaos to grow exponentially. I know the pricing down the line for Double Star. At 3,000 units they were buying them for less than $50 each. Making $28 per unit at 3,000 units is a nice profit of $84,000. I would have loved to make that money. But my lessons with group buys mean the time and effort spent on them is not worth the time it takes to even post about starting a group buy.

Applied for a local newspaper route, a motor route. Drive around and put papers in the box. Never leave the vehicle. 230 customers, 150 miles a day, 5-6 hour time. Pay is $950 every two weeks. Figure 36 hours a week, that's about $13/hr for a paper boy. Score! She's calling everyone today and letting us know who got the job. It's between me and two other people. The other two have motor route experience but I have more driving experience and delivery experience plus two vehicles, back up vehicles from family if need be, and my FIL is my back up driver if I get sick. Hope I get it.

[daves100]

Thanks for the post, Would like to see you get even with everyone here.

But would like for you to stay here and keep working the firearm maybe slow down a little, I for one will buy from you again after everything is worked out and online again

[s10rick]

Nice to you have back around here Freakshow.... It looks like your moving in the right direction.

I wouldnt completely give up on the firearms buisness just yet. My guess is by the time this is all said and done you will have learned just about everything you should have known from the get go and will be able to run a smart money making operation. Just my .02

Good luck with job, I hope it works out.

Everyone makes mistakes... But its how you handle yourself and correct those mistakes that matter, thats what people will remember.

-Rick

[freakshow10mm]

Nope. Didn't get the job. I was the second choice. ****. Back to the drawing board.

[kjshum]

In that case, can I please have my bullets back?

I haven't gotten anything in from Starline. I still have the bullets here.

[freakshow10mm]

Address still the same? I'll mail them out today.

[kjshum]

Yes it is.Thanks.

Address still the same? I'll mail them out today.

[cowboyup]

Pray.

[cuda3x2]

adam, what are you going to do for me ? # 316 or 361 one of the two,been too long.

[freakshow10mm]

Yes it is.Thanks.
Sorry, I'm a day late getting this out. You should receive delivery confirmation via Stamps.com to your email on file. I'm heading to the PO shortly to mail this and two packages from items that sold on another forum. Should receive in 3-4 mailing day's time.

adam, what are you going to do for me ? # 316 or 361 one of the two,been too long.
The LPK is from the GB and will be refunded in the order in which they were placed. The BB I have one in stock. If you want it, I'll get it out today in the mail. The pistol receiver you mentioned a rifle receiver with stock will suffice or a combined equality in AR accessories.

I don't have much in the way of AR stuff. Have a Tapco folding vertical grip ($15-20?) and a YHM 2pc rifle rail hand guard set ($200 retail value). Also a stripped Mega Machine upper receiver ($15). That's it.

[torsf]

On the flip side of all of this, I bet you are learning alot of lessons that will help in the future.

Good luck!

[freakshow10mm]

And teaching other business owners what not to do.

[AJAX22]

And teaching other business owners what not to do.

Other than not communicating enough (a little more transparency a little sooner would have gone a long way), the only big mistake you really made was not building in any safety margin into the group buys..

By passing the stuff along at actual cost instead of cost + there was no margin for anything to go sideways.

You tried to be too nice and to give too good of a deal... no margins meant that any hiccup resulted in a snowball cascade, and the timing just didn't work in your favor.

You still have a viable business, but you'll need to stick to service related products (i.e. middleman transfers) which don't require any capital outlay for a while in order to build back up.

[freakshow10mm]

Yes. My communication sucks. I'm trying to work on that.

With selling the stuff at cost and not taking a cut, all the chargebacks ate away at me and I lost my *** on it plus all the business it caused me to lose and continue to lose. My merchant account was overdrawn $165, plus my bank fees because my merchant account debits from my business checking, so that went negative too and anything more than $100 in MI is a felony so I worked with the state police and officials to stall the bench warrant until I could get enough money together to bring it back positive. All that caused my personal account to be closed plus my merchant account was canceled on me and I was force debited a $99 cancellation fee through my business checking account and then I was in the creek with the state police again because the bank fee of $32.50 sent me over negative $100 so I had to stall a felony bench warrant for my arrest again. So this summer was fun dealing with that crap. Try landing an ammo contract for the state police while trying to work with them to keep a warrant off the judge's bench for me. Real professional.

If you start a business with no cash reserve of at least $5K you are a fool.

<< Big fool. I started my business with $38 in the bank and sold all of my personal guns except my carry gun. I had about $2K for cash assets in the business when I started.

Trouble now with Middle Man services is my tenure is up. I had a good run and lost it. Now with more competition doing this I'm lost among the crowd. A couple FFLs use me still, couple retail guys trickle in from CDNN. Cold calling into the dealers in CA hasn't been productive. Even though I've got my **** together and transfers are current (except for the tantal and AMD I have to pin open over the weekend) but not much is in the pipeline. I think I have only one transfer pending but not confirmed it's inbound to me yet.

Ammo is the only thing I can think of but I don't have capital to stock anything these days so I have nothing to sell.

[JandJArmory]

Hey Adam,

Never have done business with you, I see that you need help. Whats going on with the NFA items you have. I have an SOT and would be willing to look at those items. Let me know. And that M16 (demo) is that functional. If I can get you a little cash flow i may be interested in your Items. But Ill only do COD. No cash up front.

[freakshow10mm]

The M16 is functional. It's pretty beat up and is a franken gun. M1S BCG, barrel, YHM upper, HG rails, YHM QD flash suppressor, JP gas block. Receiver is Double Star with DPMS parts kit and Colt sear. Machined/converted by my company. Probably 10K rounds through it mostly full auto. The suppressor is about the same. YHM stainless Phantom 556. Rate of fire with suppressor is about 900-950rpm (silencers increase ROF on full auto).

My Midget suppressor isn't in production yet. Hoping to have the insurance company approve the manual and get the rider on my policy for suppressor manufacturing. When that happens, dealer price is $100 off retail. 10 or more is 50%. Have enough material for 22-23 cans if there are no culls.

The machine gun I'd sell for $750. The YHM can I'd sell for $450. The YHM is on a Form 3 and the machine gun is on a Form 2. Both in MI. I can wait until both forms clear or ship as the clear. You'll need a demo letter for the post 86 machine gun.

[Fate]

Just wanted to let people know that my order, #308 (LPK Group buy) has been refunded. Adam's bailing the water out.

[CalGuns]

I made an order with Adam thru the group buy for an ar pistol marked with LPK installed, Adam state that he will sent the lower, I'll keep you guys posted to see if I do get my lower, thanks Adam for the replys.

[Z ME FLY]

Other than not communicating enough (a little more transparency a little sooner would have gone a long way), the only big mistake you really made was not building in any safety margin into the group buys..

By passing the stuff along at actual cost instead of cost + there was no margin for anything to go sideways.

You tried to be too nice and to give too good of a deal... no margins meant that any hiccup resulted in a snowball cascade, and the timing just didn't work in your favor.

You still have a viable business, but you'll need to stick to service related products (i.e. middleman transfers) which don't require any capital outlay for a while in order to build back up.

If anything, stock up on BBs for some AKs and ARs. Those are always being transfered into CA. Stick to that and your ammo making to build up your $$$. If you try to do too much again you will just run into the same problem. You have to build a good base to get a steady income and then you can branch out into other things. You are doing ammo right now so don't stop that since it can help you land some good $$$. Middleman transfers seem to be straight forward unless it's something evil.

[freakshow10mm]

I've got 1 AR bullet button left (called yesterday to get 5 more on the way). ARs are easy because most FFLs will also take them split in half, but if customers are going to buy one anyway, they can get it from me in one shot.

I've got 18 AK bullet buttons in stock with material on hand to make 190 more. I got these in trade for dealer middle man transfers. I need to get a milling attachment and end mill holder for my lathe to make them or pay $6ea (over $1,000 for all of them). I think $200-250 is a better investment.:D

As you can see from my website, I'm doing three things: ammunition, middle man transfers, cast lead bullets. Ammunition is the main idea in the business plan. Cast bullets because now I have help to cast and size, since we mix our own alloy and cast/size by hand. The middle man transfers because all it takes is my time. I love doing transfers for dealers because I bill their UPS account for shipping. If I've done business with them before, such as sending a couple retail transfers their way, I'll invoice them for my services with a Net 10.

The NFA weapons are a side thing I'd like to pursue but to design, develop, and bring a product to market isn't easy. I'm putting that on hold until I get the GB stuff settled, then I can work on the NFA division of my company.

[daves100]

I would be up for some cheap ammo .223 .7.62 x 39 just some ammo to make holes in things at the range

[freakshow10mm]

You got your refund already if I remember correctly.

[kjshum]

Adam,

What is your status on bullets, powders & primers? Despite your problems, I've found that your ammo is good. I've just counted my 10mm empties and I'm closing in on 1k now. If you can promise to deliver a quality product on time, I wouldn't mind have you load for me again. (Looking at 130-155gr)

Thanks,

Ken

[freakshow10mm]

I'm glad you liked the ammo.

Bullets: out of stock. Supplier has ample supply. Takes 3-4 days to arrive after I order it.

Primers: big order trickling in. Can order to fill orders as needed from dealers/retailers. Have 150,000 CCI primers drop shipping now, trickling in. Split the order with a local guy whose reloading shack burned down; about 75,000 are mine. He's piggybacking on my wholesale account to get restocked. Have 20,000 SR primers on BO with another supplier. Have another 200,000 CCI primers on order factory direct due in December/January. The 220,000 primers are all for me. The big CCI order is 125,000 SP, 50,000 LP, and 25,000 SR.

Powder: getting low but more on the way in a week. Looking to make a bulk purchase for a few drums (vary 35-55lbs each).

This week I'm loading 5 cases for local LE. When I get paid from that I will have a few cases of bullets in stock. When I have it, it doesn't take long to load an order and pack for shipping.

I sell to a CA dealer who stocks my ammo. Net 30 terms and the money should be coming this week. Should have more components in stock.

So things are tight now but in the next couple weeks I should have components and ammo in stock.

[kjshum]

Adam,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'll check back with you in a few weeks then.

Ken

[freakshow10mm]

Sounds good. I'll be around.

[dondo]

Who cares.

[CalGuns]

I made an order with Adam thru the group buy for an ar pistol marked with LPK installed, Adam state that he will sent the lower, I'll keep you guys posted to see if I do get my lower, thanks Adam for the replys.

Adam keep me update, still havent heard any updates to the ar lower pistol.... keak400@sbcglobal.net

[freakshow10mm]

I haven't heard anything from the engraver. I'll check on Monday.

[97F1504RAD]

Adam any info on my refund?

[freakshow10mm]

It's pending. I'm waiting for a check to clear from an order payment and then I'll get the refund out. Should be early to middle of this week. Usually takes about a week but this check is taking longer for some reason. I'm sure it's a good check but want to make sure before I pull the funds to send your refund.

[97F1504RAD]

Very good thank you

[Seesm]

Sounds like we are getting warm and fuzzy with Adam again? Great to hear!! Adam I hope is back for good and it is a good thing!! :)

[freakshow10mm]

Things look better on paper but I'm trying. Activity is picking up so hopefully some sales are coming down the pipeline soon. I took an order for a case of .45 and .380, plus the reloading service customers should be sending their brass to me shortly. Couple bites on the wholesale end of things but no one pulled the trigger yet.

I'll be around to settle up. Working with a few contacts out west in case AB962 gets passed. Have been talking with an angel investor and he seems interested in my plan. He's the money and I'm the labor. It's going to be profitable it's just a complex set of logistics need to be ironed out. All looks good on paper. Beginning to find out what that means.

[CalGuns]

I haven't heard anything from the engraver. I'll check on Monday.

Adam- have u heard anything on the engraver? It's been 3 weeks now (getting pretty worrie now) I know it shouldn't take this long, I need to know- otherwise i perfer a full refund.

[CalGuns]

Adam- seeing that you have loggon to calguns and didnt reply to my message is pretty much disappointing, and dont tell me that when the engraver is done, it'll take one week to have them shipped to you and another week for my ffl holder to recieved the lower, this is total BS. I'm tried of your lies, its been almost a year now!

Please contact me asap, otherwise i'll contact your local PD.

[freakshow10mm]

I'm sorry, I didn't see a post in the vendor forum until now.

It should have been here by now but the engraver isn't answering my emails. They normally don't take this long to do an engraving.

I think the best thing here is to give a refund. I can send you $100 now and the other hundred when I get some payments in. I have a few orders in the pipeline and will be able to settle up shortly.

[frankym]

Can you please respond to the Refund Status thread that you posted? Your whole forum is getting real messy and complicated.

In any event my info is as follows:

Order Number: 393
Detailed Invoice: 2 x Stag Arms Bare Lower Receiver
Date Ordered: Wednesday 26 November, 2008

[ilbob]

This whole thread gives me a headache.

I wish you the best of luck. You seem to have had plenty of bad luck already and don't need anymore of it.

For the guys who are still moaning about their refunds, the phrase "blood out of a turnip" comes to mind.

[freakshow10mm]

Can you please respond to the Refund Status thread that you posted? Your whole forum is getting real messy and complicated.

In any event my info is as follows:

Order Number: 393
Detailed Invoice: 2 x Stag Arms Bare Lower Receiver
Date Ordered: Wednesday 26 November, 2008
I'm trying to keep order myself. There's so much crossposting going on it's making my head spin too.

[CalGuns]

I'm sorry, I didn't see a post in the vendor forum until now.

It should have been here by now but the engraver isn't answering my emails. They normally don't take this long to do an engraving.

I think the best thing here is to give a refund. I can send you $100 now and the other hundred when I get some payments in. I have a few orders in the pipeline and will be able to settle up shortly.

pm sent for a full refund.

[NSR500]

Adam,

You got my Vector MP5 .40 clone to me just about a year ago and that was a smooth transaction. I'm glad you have not given up!
I hope you get everything sorted and back on track. I'll still keep you in mind for a transfer I'm thinking about.

Good Luck with everything Bro!

[Iowegian]

I'm trying to keep order myself. There's so much crossposting going on it's making my head spin too.

I would suggest keeping only 1 list in a special book till it is taken care of. I can see what a pain it would be to track all this.

Add to that book my order #251 for 4 lowers on the DS group buy. Either lowers or a refund will be acceptable.

[galabomber]

Adam,

You got my Vector MP5 .40 clone to me just about a year ago and that was a smooth transaction. I'm glad you have not given up!
I hope you get everything sorted and back on track. I'll still keep you in mind for a transfer I'm thinking about.

Good Luck with everything Bro!

Hey Adam!
I had a plesant transaction thru your services earlier this year. I got my AR Pistol assembled by you... and she's still a sexy beast! (my AR pistol)

Good Luck Buddy!
Jerry

[Guruwes]

I'm glad that you are trying to make things right...

Don't forget about my $64.95 check that you said you mailed 2 months ago!!!

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=201211

Most calgunners are good people and all we want is to know that you are working with us and not avoiding the situation... I would never take food off anyone's table and will gladly work with you to make things right.
Thanks for showing us that you are man enough to come back and at least try to clean up this mess.

Once this all gets resolved I will continue to use your services and I think others will as well.

Wes...

Still nothing... but I have faith!!!

[freakshow10mm]

Yours is headed out tomorrow. I'm waiting until I actually ship the order to the customer before the profit from the order is touched. Before I kept turning the profits right back into merchandise and if someone canceled I was F'd. Taking a little longer to process because I'm doing it the right way this time. Also my CC processing should be back on my site this next week so my customers can pay at the time of order and things can be a little quicker than waiting for the mail to deliver the payment to me, wait for it to clear, and so on.

I've got a big order in negotiating the terms right now. Trying to meet middle ground and it's tense. It might be in small shipments but there is definitely enough money in that to settle up with everyone. I don't want to get too excited because it hasn't been finalized and it's still in the air. If I can get this deal on contract, I will be able to get faster and better equipment, which means my labor cost is less which means there will be a substantial price cut on all ammo. Cross your fingers.

[CalGuns]

Adam- where is my check that u told me that u were going to mail it Monday?I know it doesn't take over one week to deliver a check, this is getting very fishy now, I'll contact ur local PD on Tuesday if I don't receive it on Monday.

[freakshow10mm]

I did mail it out Monday, $100. It should be maybe 4 days to arrive. I'll send another $100 out on Monday with tracking.

[Lyte-]

I would like to add that I placed an order with Adam a couple weeks ago for about $100 to help him get some capital to pay people back.
He was constantly communicating with me and My cousin said the package arrived at my home in Houston just fine.
I will be home next weekend and I will verify that everything was received as promised.

[97F1504RAD]

Adam I also did not get the check you said you sent me on Monday as well.

I wanted to wait until Saturdays mail arrived to give you the benefit of the doubt but nothing in mail.

[SanSacto]

Adam I also did not get the check you said you sent me on Monday as well.

I wanted to wait until Saturdays mail arrived to give you the benefit of the doubt but nothing in mail.

:shrug:

[97F1504RAD]

So Adam I still have not gotten my refund that you said you sent out on Monday or Tuesday of last week.

What's UP?

[freakshow10mm]

Responded to PM.

[emc002]

Glad to see orders are being refunded.

Please refund Order #325
Order #325 (LPK Group Buy)
Order Date: Friday 31 October, 2008 Order Total: $239.90
4 x Lower Parts Kit-Calguns.net Group Buy
2 x Bullet Button

[freakshow10mm]

Yes, like I told you several times and others several times, I'm working in the order in which the orders were received. There are people ahead of you that will be refunded before you. I know you need a refund and I know people before you need refunds and people after you need refunds.

I have a purchase order for 220,000 rounds of handgun ammunition from a California indoor range. They are trying to change the terms and I will not waver from my terms. If they want the order, they will need to pay for it, then lead time is 4 weeks to load and ship. If/when that happens there will be more than plenty of profit to refund everyone I owe (even if they cancel, I have a 20% cancellation fee). They might walk on the purchase and that's fine. They can find a place able to deliver that kind of quantity in 4 weeks somewhere else then.

In the mean time, orders are starting to pick up slowly and I'm refunding people as I can. If things continue to pick up, refunds will be quicker. I hope I can get this big order to be finalized and done with so you guys can get your money back and we can all move on.

[emc002]

Yes, like I told you several times and others several times, I'm working in the order in which the orders were received. There are people ahead of you that will be refunded before you. I know you need a refund and I know people before you need refunds and people after you need refunds.

Fair enough, but note that order numbers higher than mine, thus after mine, have already been refunded per the various threads here.
Hell at this point I'd even take ammo in lieu of $$.

[freakshow10mm]

Yes, I realize that. I am taking care of the firearm/pistol lower conversion orders first, then the DS GB people, then the LPK people.

The reason 97's refund was taken care of before yours, is because the rifle was shipped to him several months ago and I owed him a carry handle and 10rd mags that didn't ship with the gun. I am now settling up with him for that. I have one more pistol lower refund to take care of and the other one will accept a stocked lower or ammo. Then I will be moving on to the GBs.

[technique]

Thanks for the updates!

[Ron-Solo]

Keep at it Freakshow. Best of luck. It's easy to judge a man when things go right, but you get a better picture of a man on how he takes care of things when it goes wrong.

[freakshow10mm]

I might have investors to back the purchase order but I'm trying to secure payment for this PO to set the investors at ease. The purchaser is a lawyer and this little hick from the sticks in Bumf***,Michigan doesn't trust an $800/hr criminal defense lawyer from Big City,California. They've got $50K for the order no problem. I know they do. A small range in the ghetto will burn through 100,000 rounds a month easy. For an indoor range they will sell it for a $30K profit at their range no problem. They know it, I know it. I think they are trying to push me around because I'm the new kid on the block.

POs don't mean anything beyond "I want" written down on a sheet of paper. Any lawyer can find a flaw in terms or contracts to back out and not pay a dime. As a business I have to guarantee payment for my product, same as the customer has to guarantee product for their payment. No way am I shipping out $50K worth of ammo on COD terms. I trust only ONE person to do that (and I'm sure you guys can figure it out). Quite frankly, this ammo is worth more than I paid for my house plus the market value of the 3 vehicles we own; two of which I got for free.

I'm going to call in a couple hours when they open (I'm 3 hrs ahead of you guys). I'll let ya know how it goes. Wish me luck!

[Lyte-]

Okay as promised,

I am back out here @ my house in Texas and I received everything that I ordered from Adam and everything was as described!

Thanks again Adam

[CalGuns]

Just wanted to mention to everyone here on calguns, that i have recieved my refund from Adam, it did took a long time but i sure did get my refund, thanks Adam, keep up with your good words.

[97F1504RAD]

Got my refund from Adam, so we are all squared up now so he took care of what he said he would with me.

Thanks Adam

Richard

[freakshow10mm]

I've got a decent size wholesale order I'm waiting for payment on. When I get it, the profit will be enough to settle up with everyone from the Double Star group buy. His investors are used to being able to turn their money around in less than 30 days and I gave a lead time of 4-6 weeks (mainly due to primer shortage). I gave him terms of a PO plus 1/3 down, load & ship that, sell it, then finish up the PO in 1/3 and another 1/3 when the second third sells. He's getting to his investors and will be getting back to me today.

Have another wholesale order coming from Alaska. Mail runs slow from there so it could be 2-3 weeks to get the check. When that comes in I'll have enough to settle up with the LPK group buy people. If the checks clear when I get them, it's looking like both GBs will be settled in 4-6 weeks.

I'll post this in the other places too.

Adam

[rkt88edmo]

good news, keep on it :)

[freakshow10mm]

Well, the shop in CA canceled the big 220,000 round order tonight. Seems they didn't want to stick with my terms, so they called me an amateur and hung up on me. Apparently "orders paid in advance" actually means "we ship COD". :rolleyes: Which is why this "big name" range called little old me, an amateur, looking for ammo because they can't get it anywhere else.

Ya win some and ya lose some.

[FS00008]

Wow. Keep on it Adam, I hope you can work through everything and wind up successful.


For those of you complaining about a refund... I understand that money is short, but cut the guy a break. Yes he flaked out, yes he has wronged some of you, forgiveness is the way to go. Let's support a friendly out of state FFL so that when he is back on his feet he can continue to support us. Adam, good luck and God bless.

He seems to be doing well by the majority of people wrt refunds. Let's take a deep breath and a step back for now and allow him to catch up. Consider it an investment in the future :-).

[JeffM]

Well, the shop in CA canceled the big 220,000 round order tonight. Seems they didn't want to stick with my terms, so they called me an amateur and hung up on me. Apparently "orders paid in advance" actually means "we ship COD". :rolleyes: Which is why this "big name" range called little old me, an amateur, looking for ammo because they can't get it anywhere else.

Ya win some and ya lose some.

Wow... that stinks... I'll have to let my shooting buddies to stay away from that Range...

Adam is good people.

If you (or I) find some 10mm brass I'll be putting a 500-1k round order in. Just waiting for pay day to start looking... I always find the best deals when I have no money so I've stopped looking until I've got the cash in hand :)

[Guruwes]

I'm glad that you are trying to make things right...

Don't forget about my $64.95 check that you said you mailed 2 months ago!!!

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=201211

Most calgunners are good people and all we want is to know that you are working with us and not avoiding the situation... I would never take food off anyone's table and will gladly work with you to make things right.
Thanks for showing us that you are man enough to come back and at least try to clean up this mess.

Once this all gets resolved I will continue to use your services and I think others will as well.

Wes...

I'm still waiting for my check!!!

[freakshow10mm]

I was just going through paperwork tonight and was thinking about you. I couldn't remember if I had sent you a check. I'll get a bank MO out tomorrow.

[kpwill]

still waiting on order 248 from over a year ago...

[freakshow10mm]

More will be sent out shortly. I'm waiting to fill the orders coming in before I use the profit for refunds.

[Iowegian]

How is it going Adam?

[Guruwes]

Still No Check...
Adam are you still going to send me a check???
Let me know...

[emc002]

Bump.

[freakshow10mm]

Everything will be taken care of by end of next week. I'm busy handling the ammo orders and will be getting checks done this weekend.

Those that have Gunpal accounts, let me know the account and I can put the money there over the next few days.

[kpwill]

Everything will be taken care of by end of next week. I'm busy handling the ammo orders and will be getting checks done this weekend.

Those that have Gunpal accounts, let me know the account and I can put the money there over the next few days.

Sent you a PM with my Gunpal email for a refund for order 248.

[mikeylikesit106]

Also sent you a PM with gunpal email for order 290
Mike

[cuda3x2]

still waitting for refund

[emc002]

Everything will be taken care of by end of next week. I'm busy handling the ammo orders and will be getting checks done this weekend.

End of the "next week" this was posted was 1/16/10. It's 1/22/10...

Update?

[XS40]

I know you're at the Shot show now, but I'm still waiting for my brass and money.

Refund and brass promised to be shipped back the last week of 2009.

1000pc of LC brass
$475 check for reloading that was not performed

[Seesm]

I may order some .223 once I know everyone is free and clear...

[kblack583]

PM'd Gunpal info for orer 315.

[freakshow10mm]

Can't give Gunpal refunds because account is locked. Trying to contact GP to figure out WTF is going on.

[artherd]

GUNPAL is investigating this issue...

[1919_4_ME]

Adam,
I was trying to reply to your PM but now your not accepting PM's? I need to send you some info so turn it on please I don't have number....;)

[1919_4_ME]

Does anyone have the mailing address for Freakshow10mm?

[freakshow10mm]

GUNPAL is investigating this issue...
More rhetoric.

[freakshow10mm]

Adam,
I was trying to reply to your PM but now your not accepting PM's? I need to send you some info so turn it on please I don't have number....;)
Email me instead. Link is in profile.

[1919_4_ME]

Email me instead. Link is in profile.

Hey bro tried it and this is what I get:

Unable to submit your request. Please, try again later


*Used other link tab found

[freakshow10mm]

Not looking in the right place.

Bottom left side of the website you will see "Contact Info & Company Profile". Click the link. Right side of the screen you will see address, phone number, fax number.

Click on my profile here on Calguns. Look for the contact info tab. Note my email address.

[freakshow10mm]

FedEx just got here and dropped off my press. I'll get it set up and get loading the .223.

[1919_4_ME]

Adam,
Fedex is scheduled to come to you tomorrow during your normal business hours to pick up those 2 boxes.
Thanks and hope everything works out for you.
Rich

[freakshow10mm]

OK. They normally come between 1-4pm EST.

[akrifleman]

We should give Freakshow a break and give him a chance to fill his orders. I do not know where else you can get 1000 rds of brass 223 for $250 delivered. In the long run, it is better for Freakshow to remain in business. Chill out and give him a chance.

[zum]

We should give Freakshow a break and give him a chance to fill his orders. I do not know where else you can get 1000 rds of brass 223 for $250 delivered. In the long run, it is better for Freakshow to remain in business. Chill out and give him a chance.

great first post :dupe:

[bambam8d1]

so what is the update with this? been waiting for over a month now? i understand unexpected delays emerge... but its been quite a while now...anyone received their ammo yet?

[akrifleman]

I am waiting on Freakshow too. But I know that he ran into some mechanical issues that were beyond his control. If you were in his shoes, you would want us to be patient too. We are are not in a "Do or Die Situation" and we can wait a bit longer. We are lucky to have Freakshow as a resource of quality reloads and middleman transfers that are so inexpensive and he creates competition to lower prices.

[Cool Hand Luke]

I am waiting on Freakshow too. But I know that he ran into some mechanical issues that were beyond his control. If you were in his shoes, you would want us to be patient too. We are are not in a "Do or Die Situation" and we can wait a bit longer. We are lucky to have Freakshow as a resource of quality reloads and middleman transfers that are so inexpensive and he creates competition to lower prices.

If I were in his shoes I wouldn't take a bunch of new orders when there are much older orders that need attention. But it looks like he is playing an upside down pyramid scheme with himself using other people's money. He keeps needing new order money to pay for old order material costs and refunds. The profit on the sales itself isn't enough apparently. Logic would dictate this system is badly flawed.

[smogcity]

Adam,

any update on my 9mm reloads? I just tried to pm you, but it appears that you have disabled your abitity to receive pm's...

I really don't want to dog pile or bug you, but if we can't make this happen within 2 weeks I want my 88 lbs of brass mailed back.

Please update with shipping status immediately.

Thanks

[bambam8d1]

why is it the only posts sticking up for this guy are with new users with 1 or 2 posts? odd to anyone else?

[Gio]

why is it the only posts sticking up for this guy are with new users with 1 or 2 posts? odd to anyone else?

Dunno, but with ever mounting tension towards him I sure do hope he follows through and delivers our orders :D

-Gio

[artherd]

More rhetoric.

How's this for rhetoric? Deliver tracking numbers in 5 days or your orders will be canceled and refunded*.

* = If any GUNPAL customers who have not yet complained wish to wait longer - please open a support ticket to that effect.

Lessons learned: When your payment processing company asks you for tracking numbers, do not refuse to provide them and swear at their staff instead. That doesn't go over so well.

[ke6guj]

Lessons learned: When your payment processing company asks you for tracking numbers, do not refuse to provide them and swear at their staff instead. That doesn't go over so well.:eek:

[Gio]

How's this for rhetoric? Deliver tracking numbers in 5 days or your orders will be canceled and refunded*.

* = If any GUNPAL customers who have not yet complained wish to wait longer - please open a support ticket to that effect.

Lessons learned: When your payment processing company asks you for tracking numbers, do not refuse to provide them and swear at their staff instead. That doesn't go over so well.

Sounds good to me, I am willing to go by what is said by you ;) I was going to give him til the 1st to come up with a Tracking Number, but I can wait a few more days. Hopefully he comes through and gets out some ammo, with that said I wish you the best of luck fulfilling these orders Adam.

-Gio

[artherd]

I really hope Adam comes through here.

[PolishMike]

No offense, but how the **** is Freakshow still on here? He has done nothing but cause problems and screw people. Settle up and GTFO IMO.

[freonr22]

artherd might have something heavy than Kes' or the mods banstick!!

[XS40]

How's this for rhetoric? Deliver tracking numbers in 5 days or your orders will be canceled and refunded*.

* = If any GUNPAL customers who have not yet complained wish to wait longer - please open a support ticket to that effect.

Lessons learned: When your payment processing company asks you for tracking numbers, do not refuse to provide them and swear at their staff instead. That doesn't go over so well.

If only Gunpal had launched three weeks earlier.... :(

Looks like my $475 and $80 in brass is being scammed without an ability to recover it.

[zum]

guess there is nothing else to be said here

thanks artherd for the support, its a damn shame freakshow's a scammer

[Seesm]

If you don't have a deal pending with Freakshow stay out of it. ~ rkt

[chickenfried]

Fool me once...

[G-Man WC]

Update:
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=252025&page=27
PJF
Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1
iTrader: 0 / 0%



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here you go guys-

A few places that Adam can log into and be active all the while ignoring the people who have actually sent him money and are literally begging for nothing more than an update.

http://www.m4carbine.net/member.php?u=22415 (requires registration)

http://www.defensivecarry.com/vbulle...action=getinfo (posts as Tubby45 and site requires registration)

http://www.silencertalk.com/forum/pr...da99de092d1096 (requires registration)

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/member.php?u=57855

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?u=2973

He has at the very least logged on to every one of those accounts since his last activity here. Maybe he is checking all those other acounts while he takes a break from loading all that .223 The silencertalk forums show he is online right now as I type this.

Some of you folks may want to register at those sites and remind him of the long overdue orders he has yet to fill. If he has time to log into all those other sites he has time to get people the items they have paid for.

Freaks feedback on Gunbroker:

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/Vie...px?User=332860



There were pages of evidence here in his subforum that showed him to be an awful businessman. Sadly he has the ability to edit all the posts in here and he took out everything that could have given someone a heads up about him. Now he is doing exactly the same thing again and apparently going to get away with it.

[PatriotnMore]

+1, I have no dog in this fight, from what I read going on with the last group buy nightmare, I decided I would not do business with this person, then I read this thread.



No offense, but how the **** is Freakshow still on here? He has done nothing but cause problems and screw people. Settle up and GTFO IMO.

[zum]

No offense, but how the **** is Freakshow still on here? He has done nothing but cause problems and screw people. Settle up and GTFO IMO.

any moderators care to explain?

i understand he was left here to make good to those calgun members still waiting for their stuff but why was he allowed to post outside his forum and take more unsuspecting members for a ride?

+1, I have no dog in this fight, from what I read going on with the last group buy nightmare, I decided I would not do business with this person, then I read this thread.

and like many other senior members didnt warn the n00bs, because you didnt want to be seen as "thread crapping"? such an awesome forum rule isn't it?

[rkt88edmo]

I don't have any answers there, in hindsight it definitely is starting to look like a mistake.

any moderators care to explain?

i understand he was left here to make good to those calgun members still waiting for their stuff but why was he allowed to post outside his forum and take more unsuspecting members for a ride?



and like many other senior members didnt warn the n00bs, because you didnt want to be seen as "thread crapping"? such an awesome forum rule isn't it?

[chickenfried]

It's a good rule for the most part and there was plenty of info on why you shouldn't roll the dice with an order if you looked. I wouldn't come down on the mods too much. They're guilty of being too nice and giving a guy the benefit of the doubt.

a
and like many other senior members didnt warn the n00bs, because you didnt want to be seen as "thread crapping"? such an awesome forum rule isn't it?

[j1mmy_ch00]

For this to be a Ponzi scheme, previously scammed folks would have gotten their refunds. Appears that some didn't get their money back which means Dec 2009 customers paid for his trip to SHOT.

Disputing my order with CC company now. Can't believe he was allowed to do this on this site given his history here. The Commercial section in the Marketplace should have a sticky to the Vendor section. If I had known what I'm reading now, I would of never placed an order.

[HUTCH 7.62]

seems Freakshow is back to his old shananigans

[Backcountry]

This guy is a liar, a horrible businessman, and for all intents and purposes, a criminal. If he would have run a tight ship from the begining he wouldn't have to cry about the myriad negative threads about his business. Save us the lies and sob stories, and send the money you owe to hundreds of your customers that you have scammed over the past two years.

[Backcountry]

FedEx just got here and dropped off my press. I'll get it set up and get loading the .223.

LIAR!

[Backcountry]

Everything will be taken care of by end of next week. I'm busy handling the ammo orders and will be getting checks done this weekend.

LIAR! You've been saying it will all be taken care of in a week for a year and a half.

SHAME ON YOU!

[HUTCH 7.62]

Just a friendly heads up stay far away from this guy also

Oh and you guys' buddie freakshow posted on this thread
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=238345&highlight=german+guns

[artherd]

If you paid with GUNPAL and have not received your merchandise please open a support ticket with us directly.

We are working on this matter with Adam. He should have an update for everyone shortly.

[mydogsmonkey]

If you paid with GUNPAL and have not received your merchandise please open a support ticket with us directly.

We are working on this matter with Adam. He should have an update for everyone shortly.

thanks for helping us out, i put my ticket in when i first found out last night

[Gio]

If you paid with GUNPAL and have not received your merchandise please open a support ticket with us directly.

We are working on this matter with Adam. He should have an update for everyone shortly.

I think I did it right, but I clicked on support with all the relevant info on there and said I was going to stick with the 5 days like you proposed already.

-Gio

[kpwill]

My order was from 2008. Adam is scamming us all. Should we contact his local police?

[cuda3x2]

still waitting for refund order #316 ?why? when? 1 year.

[artherd]

The only reason I'm waiting is to not hurt Gunpal in anyway. I guess 5 days meant 5 business days. I agree the final word should come from them. My support ticket was opened with them before the 45 days that they allow so I'm not to worried just getting frustrated with this whole situation. The problem is that if we wait to long then a chargeback won't even be an option.

Hi guys, GP has been silent on this issue to give FS a chance to contact his customers. He was supposed to contact all of you, but may have only contacted some.

In summary, Adam must ship 1 order within 5 (business) days (it looks like he may have, waiting on confirmed delivery.)


Recap: I agree to 1 order minimum with tracking number in 1 week.
5 more orders in 2 weeks, the rest in 4 weeks, all from today's date 01-30-2010.
Thanks for understanding my situation. I fully intend to fulfill my commitment to the customers.

If you are patient with us, in this case you have my personal guarantee that you will get a refund even if your CC chargeback window expires. Adam, let's resolve this the correct way.

[artherd]

If Adam does not get his GUNPAL orders out as agreed (or refund his customers.) we are going to refer the matter to the District Attorney.

I am hopeful we can turn this into a success story and those who ordered can get their product or a timely refund. This Buyer Complaint protection is one of many services offered by GUNPAL.

He has a little less than 30 days to satisfy all customers.

[emc002]

He logged in 2/2, but still no update?
Adam, clearly you're reading this website still. All I want is my $$ back, just like everyone else. It's been over a year.
Please at least post something here to acknowledge the issue.

[Backcountry]

Adam = liar

[Iowegian]

I would like to post that Adam did recently send my refund for my Double Star lower order back through Gunpal. Yes, it took a long time, but I did get it and I hope some others got their refunds as well. It seems perhaps his optimism exceeds his cash flow.

[Backcountry]

I'm happy you got your refund after 1.5 years... Adam should have also paid you interest for the 1.5 year "loan". I wonder how many other people Adam is going to screw in order to fund the refund he just sent you?

[radioburning]

Wow. We're still talking about that Doublestar lowers group buy thing? That was forever ago.

[s10rick]

I tried to send Adam a PM with my gunpal info but the system told me adam is not excepting PM's at this time or he has been blocked or something??

What gives? Adam, you out there?

[Backcountry]

I tried to send Adam a PM with my gunpal info but the system told me adam is not excepting PM's at this time or he has been blocked or something??

What gives? Adam, you out there?


Scamming hundreds of people from multiple websites at a time takes a lot of concentration. Adam is busy, he will get back to you in about a year and a half (with a sob story I'm sure).

[artherd]

UPDATE: WE HAVE A TRACKING NUMBER! Still need to see it delivered, but it looks like Adam is on track for making this right, so far...

[akrifleman]

I got my tracking # today for a Middleman Transfer. I hope Freakshow can bounce back.

[davester00]

So what's the status on Adam getting "back on the horse". Anyone see any ammo yet?

[s10rick]

AMMO? Shoot... I still havent seen a refund for the DS Group buy!

[artherd]

We understand that Adam is going to be issuing refunds shortly. If he doesn't, we will force them.