OMG I HATE YOU OPTICSPLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Recession]

So I placed an order for a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA Matte Riflescopes last week. The next day I receive an email from them accusing me of planning to export this out of the country.

The following is our email correspondence (Red is them, Blue is me):

Greetings from OpticsPlanet.com!

Thank you for ordering:
================================================== ================
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA Matte Riflescopes $399.99
================================================== ================
We apologize, but your order has temporarily been placed on hold. Certain elements of your order indicate that your item(s) will be exported. Prior to shipping your order, we need to verify that the ordered item(s) will not be leaving the United States without the valid authorization or export license issued by the U.S. Government. Please answer the following questions (in writing) to aid in processing your order:

1) Who is the end user of the product(s) you have ordered?

2) What is the end use of the product(s) you have ordered?

3) Where is the final destination of the product(s) you have ordered? (Please respond with a city and country)

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Once we receive this information (via fax at (847) 919-9401 or email at RM@OpticsPlanet.com), we will continue processing your order.

Please note that your order is currently on HOLD. If we do not hear back from you within 7 days, we will assume that you are no longer interested in this transaction and will cancel your order.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your prompt response. Have a great day!

Best Regards,
OpticsPlanet.com Risk Management Team

I reply...

1) Who is the end user of the product(s) you have ordered?

ME! THAT'S WHY I ORDERED IT!

2) What is the end use of the product(s) you have ordered?

WELL LET'S SEE... IT'S A RIFLE SCOPE, SO I'M GOING TO BE PUTTING IT
ON MY RIFLE!

3) Where is the final destination of the product(s) you have ordered?
(Please respond with a city and country)

WELL LET'S SEE... I LIVE IN LOS ANGELES, MY BILLING ADDRESS IS IN LOS
ANGELES, AND I'M HAVING IT SHIPPED TO LOS ANGELES, SO IT'S LOS ANGELES
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!


The next day...

Thank you for your continued patience. Please answer the below questions.

1. Is the state of CA is the final and only destination of the product
contained in your order?

2. Why is your order shipping to a freight forwarder?

We will require a physical residential U.S. address.


Please be advised that the item that you have order is restricted by the
Export Administration Regulation.

I apologize for any inconvenience this matter may have caused you. Thank you
in advance for your cooperation!

Best regards,

Igor B.
Risk Management
RM@opticsplanet.com
(800) 504-5897
http://www.OpticsPlanet.com

I reply...

1. Is the state of CA is the final and only destination of the product
contained in your order?

Yes, didn't I already answer this question?!


2. Why is your order shipping to a freight forwarder?

What the hell? You guys did a background check on my delivery address?
This is my place of employment. I am not home when the UPS
delivery person gets there and they usually leave the package on my
porch and then the neighborhood kids come and steal it. That is why I
have my packages shipped to my work place where it will be delivered
directly to me.

If you do not want to ship to my place of employment, then go ahead
and ship it to my residence:

[Address]

Just be prepared to deal with a lost package claim.

The next day...

Greetings from OpticsPlanet.com!

Thank you for ordering:
================================================== ================
Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 PA Matte Riflescopes $399.99
================================================== ================
We apologize, but your order has temporarily been placed on hold. Some or all of the items you ordered are subject to U.S. Government Export Regulations. Export of these items may be prohibited without authorization or a license issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security. We understand that many of our customers have no intention of taking the restricted item(s) outside of the U.S. However, we must be vigilant with all orders. We require that before we can ship your order, you must complete, sign and return the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Compliance Certification located at http://images1.opticsplanet.com/pdf/...xport-form.pdf

Please either fax the Compliance Certification to (847) 919-9401 or scan and email the Certification to RM@OpticsPlanet.com.

By signing the Compliance Certification, you confirm that: (1) You have read and understand the terms as listed on the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Compliance Certification; (2) You understand your responsibilities as they relate to your purchase.

Please note that your order will remain on HOLD until we receive the signed Compliance Certification. If we do not receive your Certification within 7 days, your order will be cancelled.

We apologize for any inconvenience. This is a standard procedure we follow to prevent illegal export of restricted items. This process is necessary because the consequences of illegally exporting or assisting with the illegal export of a restricted item can be very severe, including civil and criminal penalties.

Please note that we will not sell any items regulated by the EAR to domestic customers who intend to illegally export these items.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you!

Best Regards,
OpticsPlanet.com Risk Management Team

I reply...

Are you kidding me? This is the 3rd damn time I've had to fill out a
form and send it back to you. How many times do I have to say "NO I
WILL NOT BE EXPORTING THIS THING OUT OF THE COUNTRY"?!?!?!

Is it because my work address is affiliated with a shipping company?
Is it a crime to be employed by a shipping company? I've already
explained my situation to you numerous times! I do not want this
package shipped to my house because I am at work when the UPS delivery
man get's there. He usually leaves the package on my doorstep which
is openly viewable from the street and people steal it right off of my
porch. This has happened numerous times and I am sick and tired of
filling out claim forms.

If I really wanted to export this thing to whoever the hell you think
I'm trying to export it to, I would have just gone across the street
to my local gun shop and bought it.

I purchased the scope through you guys because you come highly
recommended by the online gun community. I guess they forget to
mention the fact that I will be accused of attempting to export and be
harassed by multiple "PLEASE FILL THIS OUT AND VERIFY THAT YOU WILL
NOT BE EXPORTING THIS" requests.

If you ask me to fill out 1 more form (I've already responded to 2
already asking me the same question), I will cancel my order and take
my money to your competitors.

[bjl333]

Go to Liberty Optics:

http://www.libertyoptics.com/

Same scope, same prices and they support Calguns ...

[Casual_Shooter]

Order from somewhere else and send OP a copy of the invoice to show that jumping through hoops lost them a sale.

[LAWABIDINGCITIZEN]

I'd feel really important if I got an email like that!

It's nice to have someone named "Igor B." of "Risk Management" checking up on you like that. Of course, someone who was sending one of these to North Korea would be truthful and answer all the questions, right?

I wonder if this is just a marketing ploy to make you think what you're buying is really, really cool???

Same thing happened to me when I ordered that James Bond cologne on EBay.

[hk-p2000]

so did you get it or not.

[Recession]

so did you get it or not.

Waiting to hear their response to my last reply. I'll most likely just go through one of our sponsored vendors here.

[Flat Broke]

I would just cancel the order. Odds are they don't even have it in stock anyhow. They are horrible about not letting customers know when stuff is backordered.

Just move on and get the optic from a vendor that will support you before, during, and after the sale.

Chris

[hoozaru]

My only reply to Igor B. = "F U"

but you should tell him that vortex scope is most likely made in China or Philippines, and it's a federal offense to import foreign firearm related items without a FBI issued dealer license. CIA will shut his business down and IRS will probably take him to jail.

[WTSGDYBBR]

I would be pissed off do a charge back to your CC

[Eroland7]

I have had two very negative experiences with optics planet myself, and will never order from them again. Both times I had placed an order for "in stock" items. Over a week later i receive an email stating that my item is out of stock and should be back in stock in 5-10 days. Both times I had to cancel my order and demand a refund after a month had passed.

[blakdawg]

Export restrictions can be as fussy (or worse) that CA and ATF regs re firearms transactions. Apparently the item you ordered is considered sensitive.

I don't know why they couldn't have dealt with all of those issues in a single E-mail, or why they couldn't have warned you about this when the order was placed. That's bad customer service.

On the other hand, though, your unfamiliarity (and frustration with) the export control system reminds me of people who get PO'd at gun stores who get spooked by apparent "straw buyer" transactions - the customer knows they're legit, but from the store's perspective, the transaction might be a sting or a bad guy, and going forward with a prohibited transaction can have significant civil & criminal penalties for the retailer.

But after 3 emails, I'd be looking for a new vendor, too.

[Purple K]

I've NEVER had a transaction go smoothly with Optics Planet.

[para38super]

SWFA has 110% price match. They crazy price match a Nikon for me with no questions.

[RobG]

LA, Mexico. Basically the same thing. Thats probably the issue

[Wherryj]

LA, Mexico. Basically the same thing. Thats probably the issue

I'd watch it with the insults.

Mexico follows its own Constitution, or at least intends to do so.