Advanced Rifles production issues

[Write Winger]

Just received this email from Advanced Rifles, an 80% lower receiver supplier. Anyone bought from them?

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The past four weeks has been the most stressful and gut wrenching weeks ever faced by the team.

What started as a small question from QA ended with us scraping May's entire production run. That was more units than many of our competitors will sell in a year. Without getting too deep into details, basically a machine that is early in the process for both models had been pushed too hard for too long, it created a dimensional defect that that was invisible to the naked eye, that only got worse as we stepped through the manufacturing process. Thankfully our QA team caught it using our precision our test jigs and CMM machine. Our production team is racing to get the machine back online and production moving. The CNC line is already back online.

Now what does this mean for you?

First, we will not sell you an inferior product like others are doing.
For existing orders, what this does mean is there will be shipping delays beyond the promise by date for some customers. We are working on doing something nice for them to make up for these delays and we will notify those impacted next week.

For all new orders, we will be maintaining the 6-8 week production lead time for now. We had targeted to be down to 3 day lead times in June to better compete against the imported "airsoft" units which are popping up all over the web.

Orders aged over 8 weeks
Once your order has aged 8 weeks you will receive a $20 rebate. For every additional week delay until your order ships you will receive a additional $10 rebate up to the full price paid for your order.

For example, If you ordered first week of May and we ship your order 3rd week of July:

As of June 26 $20 Rebate, followed by 4 additional $10 rebates for a total one time rebate of $60.

Second, every member of our Team is committed to Customer Service, and community support. We appreciate your patience, however we understand if you choose to go another direction. Any requests for a refund will be handled upon request.

Sincerely,

The Advancedrifles.com Team

[Sledgecrowbar]

I placed my order the day you made this post, I'm at 12 weeks as of today. I'd rather have my product than $50 in consolation prize.

I sent an email one week ago today asking for an ETA, with a copy of my receipt, and my original email conversation inquiring about their products where I got the same information about the rebate that you did.

Radio silence.

I haven't seen anything on their Facebook page for a while (since August 29th), not even customers asking questions (maybe they're deleting comments?). There's another company I recognized from Rockethub that supposedly copied their website wholesale, but I'm starting to wonder who copied who. Not that Rockethub isn't a wretched hive of scum and villainy. That company is Red One Armory. At least they have a listed phone number.

This is the second company to defraud me on 80% lowers, I waited six months on the first one, and that was from a well-known, established company liked by a lot of people. I'm not looking forward to disputing two charges on the same credit card in one lifetime, much less one year.

[Howie44]

They charged my CC 1JUNE. There are several excuses in e mails, but still no paper weight.

I have never had a vendor pull out right thievery and steal my money before. DO NOT DO BUSINESS with them!

[BTooneUSMMA]

I placed my order on April 23rd, had my card charged the next day. I've received all the emails you guys have, plus I've had a small conversation with them via email over the last three weeks. It has taken them 2-3 days to respond each time, but they've told me that they had ANOTHER machine break on them, which is why the delay has been even greater (it was 5-6 weeks when I ordered in april, then reset to 5-6 weeks on July 1st). However, I actually received my 80% lower last Friday on 4 October. So they actually do exist! The receiver does appears to be good quality, and if its in spec it should make a great lower......although I might sell mine since i've since bought lowers due to the wait being so long......maybe not though, we'll see.
Now the problem I'm running into is getting info on the rebate....they actually owe me the entire $125 I paid for the thing, but i've emailed them twice in the past 4.5 days and heard nothing but crickets from them....i'm starting to wonder if they are going to ignore my requests in an attempt to keep my money. But we'll see, I'll keep you guys updated as things happen.

[Sledgecrowbar]

I contested the charge on my credit card online, my CC company called me the next day and asked me if I'd still want the items, and I said "not if I have to wait any longer". Lo and behold, my lowers showed up without any other communication within a week, but I had to get the 800-pound gorilla to knock on their door to take my money back for me for them to do it.

I've still gotten no communication from the company, and I'll never do business with them again. I'm certain they have no intention of crediting me the promised money for the delay.

[BTooneUSMMA]

Yeah, thats kinda how I feel it went for me. I emailed and complained, and told I was near the top of the list. Then, BOOM, they shipped the lower and it showed right up. Now I'm wondering if I can talk to my CC company and do a charge back for the rebate they owe me. I've still got all the emails they sent, and in one of their emails to me when I complained, I asked if the rebate was still in effect and they told me it was, and i would be receiving it.

[Howie44]

I passed on the rebate, and chose to swap to billet,.... And nothing. Called my cc co, and the lower shows up. 5 months!!!
Will not be doing business with them again.

[BTooneUSMMA]

Depending on when you ordered (and I think you fell into that timeframe) you should be getting a rebate regardless of whether or not you received a lower....when I emailed them at first, they told me they could send me a billet instead, and I would still receive the rebate. Don't think it will ever show though.

[Tasty]

Similar story for me. I ordered a 5 pack on April 21st. I sent a few emails (I can be a patient person), and got the same responses you all got. The latest email was sent to me around September 25th stating that they were shipping the following week and that I was owed a rebate of $xxx. The paperweights were waiting for me when I got home from work on October 4th. I'll have to check my banking transactions, but I don't think I've seen the rebate yet either.

[BTooneUSMMA]

At least your email said they owed you a rebate, mine was totally devoid of that.