Cold War Shooters - Question

[crazyXgerman]

After seeing positive comments about them here, I placed an order with ColdWarShooters.net on Monday.

All items were shown as in-stock on the website when I placed the order. My credit card was charged immediately, and I received a confirmation email.

Since then - nothing. It's now 4 days later and I have not heard anything. When I log in to check my order status it still says "Processing", which is the same status as Monday.

The order is not super urgent, but I don't think having to wait a week for "processing" until the order even ships is normal or acceptable. I placed three other orders on Monday with other online businesses. All three of them shipped within a day, one of them already arrived.

Who else has ordered from them via their website? What was your experience? Is this loooong processing time normal for them?

[ATS76]

It took me over 3 weeks and more than 10 calls to get my last order.

[Directshot]

I've order several times from them.... they were prompt on processing and shipping. If you are concerned call them (915) 479-8558
Good luck.

[DirtySanchez]

I have ordered from then several times and expect for the first time when I ordered my stag Lower I have used the website.

Check your spam filter because they should have sent you an updated email
with tracking info, or better yet call.

[sthornwall]

Michelle is very busy all the time. I have had the same thing happen to me. More than likely your order has been shipped already but your log in account has not been updated. Give them a call and they will call you back asap. They're really good about that.

[6172crew]

Im sure they are on the road right now, the cow palace gun show is this weekend and I think they will be there....Im sure they will be able to check in this weekend.

[grammaton76]

I also happen to know Michelle and Hector are both out of town for a gun show at present. They may or may not have ready access to your info...

[CALI-gula]

I am surprised by the modern world's sense of urgency. I recall growing up, that is was typical to wait 6 to 8 weeks for ANY order of ANYTHING up until the internet came along. And RUSH shipping may have helped get it to you in 4 weeks. Now people go crazy if they don't have their goods in 6 to 8 days! There are people on Ebay that sell 4 items a week, and can literally ship out your item within an hour after you pay - they sit by their computer and check it every 15 minutes for the end of the auction or to see if you have paid. Then there are the big companies that have 1000s of uncaring employees working 24/7 to fill orders, assembly-line like. Yet, you may not get the long-range service from the guy selling just a few items or the big conglomerate that hires and fires its reps through a revolving door, or they are part-time only for the summer. Somewhere in the middle is the Mom & Pop company like CWS dealing with expansion, while they must try to fit the service of either end - they will prove themselves in the long run as the better company, trust me. They will prove the better customer service again and again, but a hang-up may simply require a tad of patience for the pay-off later.

CWS is a great company, and have probably grown extremely fast, due to the OLL onslaught and their unwavering commitment to fill the void where most all other CA dealers dropped the ball. Their service is the best I have ever dealt with before, during, and after placing an order. Their website went from looking like it was done by a high-school kid to looking like one of the best websites I have ever seen, in just a few months time.

All I can say is, be patient. It will pay off for you in the long run. There could be many technical reasons why your order still says processing, such as the website had not been updated when you placed your order - a bummer but it happens. Or it could be something as simple as they had been out of town on business, looking for even better deals for us Californians! Hell, maybe they were HERE in California shopping around for a warehouse and retail outlet real-estate so they could open up a California location! Wishful thinking?

.

[chiefcrash]

between the gun shows and the ATF audits they've been going through, they're a little slow on orders at the momment. Never fear, they will make sure you get yer stuff

[Gshock]

Same thing happened to me, they print out the shipping label then fill the orders, they didn't have one of my items in stock and somehow didn't get that info back to Michelle. I called and e-mailed, and Michelle has always responded quickly. They're pretty busy right now and heading to S.F. gunshow. I really appreciate their customer service which a lot of companies don't seem to have, and will definitley buy from them again.

[crazyXgerman]

Looks like you were right. I got an email from Michelle with the tracking info today in response to my inquiry, and she said that they were out of town.

For some reason I was under the impression that it was a bigger business. It just caused a raised eyebrow after not seeing any status change for almost a week, a) because all my other orders were already shipped and b) I had a couple of negative experiences in the past so I'm a little more cautious.

It's all good though, everything is straightened out, no worries

CALI-gula - Your point is well taken. Times definitely have changed from the catalog mail-order wait for weeks olden days of yore. With the advent of computers, databases, automation, warehousing, and the Internet, vendors have drastically improved their ability to deliver fast and reliable service to consumers.

As the bar has been raised, businesses have to rise to the challenge in order to stay competitive. Consumers win because they get better service, and businesses who provide fast and reliable service win because they quickly gain a good reputation which means more customers and more sales.

I'm surprised you didn't use the phrase "young whippersnapper" in your message

[CALI-gula]

I'm surprised you didn't use the phrase "young whippersnapper" in your message

LOL! Sorry, I didn't really mean it as a reprimand or to imply that you were impatient thought it reads that why now that I look at it. I was merely reminiscing more than anything else. Also was thinking of how the mail order business now has so many different models that must try to adhere to the same speedy principle as people expect the same form all that do mail order, because with a snazzy website, you might look as every bit as quick or large as Cabela's. Products from Russia overnight, drop-shipped orders, factory direct, or from some guy's kitchen table? All might appear to have equal clout online.

I remember when you had to order stuff from the Sears-Roebuck catalog, which came in the mail whether you wanted it or not, and it was about 3 inches thick, AND had firearms in it!!

Tinks 'bout dat yem whipppersznappie!

.

[crazyXgerman]

No worries, mate Your observations and comments are very true.

Funny you should mention the firearms in the Sears and Roebuck catalog - I'm currently reading Unintended Consequences (very interesting book, a must-read for every firearms enthusiast), and it contains a picture of exactly those pages from the catalog.

Those were the days...

[R_P_Rizzo]

Shipmate,
If the lead time on an email order is the biggest concern in our lifes, we must be Americans, by definition. Let's find something else to complain about.

[Grakken]

Shipmate,
If the lead time on an email order is the biggest concern in our lifes, we must be Americans, by definition. Let's find something else to complain about.

Like the French.