opticsplanet.com - bad policies.

[DocSkinner]

tried to order some rings from opticsplanet.com.
The order went through fine, but then the next day received an email that my order was placed on hold, as they "have just run out of stock", but that they would be more than willing to discuss other options if I wanted to call their sales department...

was thinking wow - did I miss an out of stock/backorder notice? so I checked their site again, and it would have let me order the exact same thing again with no notice of it being a back ordered out of stock item.
IO replied to their customer service letter, expressing that I thought it was poor policy in teh age of internet sales to not have some check on stock/availability BEFORE a person actually places and order.

they replied by saying they will cancel my order, and hoped I might return as a customer some day.


This is really crappy responses and policies for an internet based vendor! I know it has come up in the ammunition support thread about ammo vendors not notifying of back order status, and people moving away from those vendors,
so thought I would start that here -


don't bother with www.opticsplanet.com until they bring up their standards and don't knowingly sell you out of stock items without your knowledge it is out of stock!

[264charlie]

Funny, I had the same issue... Switched to www.sportoptics.com and CSgunworks.

www.sportoptics.com is first class all the way...

CS GunWorks is great too.

[Jon Se]

Funny, I had the same issue... Switched to www.sportoptics.com and CSgunworks.

www.sportoptics.com is first class all the way...

CS GunWorks is great too.

and Liberty Optics. Great prices, communication, and shipping.

[swerv512]

I've never had an issue with opticsplanet.com in the handful of times i ordered from them. Nonetheless, I suggest you give Scott at Liberty Optics a call. He's a cool guy who'll set you up.

[Gunaria]

I see that you are in the East Bay area. If I was you or anybody else that needed rings or mounts I would go to this place;

http://www.bearbasin.com/

They are awesome and know their stuff. Prices are fair and very fast shipping.

[Ronco]

and Liberty Optics. Great prices, communication, and shipping.

I'll second that!! Scott at Liberty Optics (Calguns: LibertyOptics) is the best.

http://www.libertyoptics.com/

PM him with what you need.

[EZRider]

+2 on Scott at Liberty Optics. I ordered an optic and mount from him. The price was lower than opticsplanet or botach tactical, and unlike either of those places, Scott is a true expert and he spent about 45 minutes on the phone with me discussing my situation and helping me choose my optic. He then followed up with me via email regularly -- even after I got the optic.

That kind of personal service is worth a lot. I'd buy from him even if the price was a little higher before going to a generic website like opticsplanet.

[97F1504RAD]

I got that same email when i ordered a couple weeks back. Also in that mail it said you want to keep the order in process do nothing to which i did. Then about 4 days later they got stock in and I got my order. I have ordered from them several times and had no issues what so ever.

I do agree that the online quantity should update as items are ordered but they sure did fill the backorder fast.

[DocSkinner]

I see that you are in the East Bay area. If I was you or anybody else that needed rings or mounts I would go to this place;

http://www.bearbasin.com/

They are awesome and know their stuff. Prices are fair and very fast shipping.

thanks! - didn't know it existed! Have to drop in.

[chuck762]

I have tried to order items 2 different times from optics planet. Both times out of stock and was given a resupply date. Date comes and goes. No communication until I write them. They still don't know when the items will be in stock. I can canceled the orders and on the second order I told them I would never bothering trying to order from them again as they never have anything instock and their resully dats are unrealistic.
Also have a friend at work go through the same crap.

Do they actually stock anything or just have items drop shipped?

[ArcLight]

Well they won't be getting my business. Thanks for the heads up as I was actually planning on purchasing from this site.

[Omega13device]

Opticsplanet.com is gtg in my experience. I have had the same issue with out of stock items too, but it's no worse than a lot of other online stores selling firearms stuff. They just don't have their inventory system connected to their shopping cart system. If you've ever set up ecommerce systems then you'll know this isn't a trivial thing to do.

[PeterGenius]

Well they won't be getting my business. Thanks for the heads up as I was actually planning on purchasing from this site.

I agree with swerv512, one of my items was sold out but it only took an extra day..nothing to sweat bullets over. they always got the lowest price for what our group needs.

[damndave]

everytime i have a backordered item on optics planet i just cancel that order and get it elswhere. other then that, they are a great place to buy items. i have absolutely nothing bad to say about optica planet

[DocSkinner]

Opticsplanet.com is gtg in my experience. I have had the same issue with out of stock items too, but it's no worse than a lot of other online stores selling firearms stuff. They just don't have their inventory system connected to their shopping cart system. If you've ever set up ecommerce systems then you'll know this isn't a trivial thing to do.

I never said it was trivial - running a business isn't trivial period! Running any ecommerce set up isn't trivial. HOWEVER, if they are going to run an internet based business - it shoudl be standard practice to MANAGE your website at the best level, and if you want to compete, that means offering services your competitors do.

"No worse than other" is not a good business model, and I for one don't want to support businesses who's goal is to be no worse than the worst. If you choose to support that, that is your option, I just wanted those out there that value their time and want to support good businesses and good customer service to know what practices this vendor implements.