Should I be mad

[Gallows]

Because I am officially pissed. Gonna apologize for the rant ahead of time.

So here is the story. I take my 1911 in to have Novak sights installed the firearm, they tell me they have to mill down the slide to make a fit and it might take longer(on week). No problem. I come in a week later as I was instructed and it wasn't done, they tell me to come in a next week. Still no problem. Come in next week and they tell me they haven't started on it yet. Losing patience but still no problem. They tell me to come in a few days later and they still haven't started, I ask what the deal is and don't get a straight answer. Losing my cool but still no problem. They tell me to come in next week and they then tell me its not done and too come in a few days. Still no straight answers, nobody knows anything. Problem. Come in and they tell me they just got the sights they ordered but they haven't started. Makes sense so I waited. Come in they day of the "pick up" AND THEY STILL HAVEN'T STARTED. Go in a little later and they just put on the rear sight tell me to come in the next day. NOTHING. No one knows when it will be finished and told me to go in on Monday. I'm pissed.

So here I am a whole month later, if not longer, and its not ready. Every time I ask no one knows anything about the status of my firearm. Now I am trying to rationalize it as maybe it takes awhile and its a long process. So I check around some local stores and they tell me they could have it done within a few days MAX. Can someone tell me if this is normal? Or am I right to be mad?

I feel like I'm getting the run around and it should not take this long. Two of the people there have been very helpful and I appreciate it but I'm losing my patience. Should I just go in and ask for my blaster back and pay them for the work? Have someone else finish it for me? I'm at a loss right now.

Maybe I'm just overreacting. Rant over.

[Bill Carson]

yeah, get your gun back asap.

[Saigon1965]

Custom gun work requires time - Usually a shop is booked solid depending if they have a good smith - Now that's no excuse leading you on - They should of known how long something like this would take and told you so from the beginning -

[Cokebottle]

Custom gun work requires time - Usually a shop is booked solid depending if they have a good smith - Now that's no excuse leading you on - They should of known how long something like this would take and told you so from the beginning -

Bingo.

I'll wait a month or more for quality work/product, but don't tell me that I'll have it "next week"
If you're booked up, you're booked up and you know it.
You're afraid of losing the sale because you're afraid I don't want to wait, well guess what Bucko... you just lost a LOT of future sales and the 2nd time you tell me "one more week", you've lost this one too.

[Preacher]

Ask to speak to the Smith actually doing the work..if he is booked then you know what the problem is and chalk it up to poor communication...

If you cannot speak to the smith, ask for a GM or owner explain the situation and the poor communication and politely ask for the return of your side arm...

Then as soon as you get home..... POST THEIR NAME ON A BOYCOTT THREAD!!
J/K

Good Luck

[-hanko]

Custom work takes time...

...but you're saying it took the shop over 3 weeks to ORDER the parts??

Which gunsmith or shop??

-hanko

[Gallows]

Well personally I don't want to put the shop on blast and have it turn into a big deal. Really just looking to vent and get a few opinions on what to do etc. I completely understand that these things take time and I'm trying to see if this is whole thing is normal.

What brought this whole thing one was after talking to a few buddies of mine they all suggested I take action and retrieve my firearm. But before I go flying off the handle, I thought it would be a good idea to see what responses I get. Communication would be really nice for all I know their throwing my gun in the dirt or kicking it around. haha thats extreme but I'm sure you get what I'm saying.

[Jonathan Doe]

Usually, I get the guns out quickly. But then, I don't charge for my work, and I just do it for my guns and my friends' only.

[Fot]

Wow you're getting screwed over,,, did you at least play hard to get and get dinner first?

[DnPRK]

Some gunsmiths take a long time because they run jobs in batches. If your gunsmith is one of those, he might be waiting for a couple more slide milling jobs to come in so he only has to do setup once for the batch.

[Cokebottle]

Some gunsmiths take a long time because they run jobs in batches. If your gunsmith is one of those, he might be waiting for a couple more slide milling jobs to come in so he only has to do setup once for the batch.

Once again... that's fine.

But don't tell the customer it's going to be done in a week, and then blow him off for ANOTHER 2 weeks.

The 2nd time I'm told "a few more days" will be the time I demand my parts back and call my CC company to dispute the deposit (if any) and will be the last time I walk through that door.

If you can't commit, tell the customer.
If it's going to be 8 weeks, tell the customer.

[razr]

A month is not bad at all. They should 've given you a more realistic date. My local guy picks up projects that pay more so he works on them first, smaller jobs get pushed back.

[Rob454]

They should give you a better more realistic time. Nothing pisses me off more than having to hear no its not ready over and over. I take people at their word so I would be the same way you are. I just wouldn't be as patient as you were. you screw up ok Ill give you another chance but if you do it again im walking.Most shops have a pretty good idea of how long it takes to do something. I don't think you are wrong for getting a little mad over this. However it is custom gun work and that takes time. granted its installing a set of sights so I cant imagine that being that custom a job.
if you can find another gunsmith that can do the work with the same quality then go somewhere else and let them know why you are taking your work somewhere else. The most feedback some shops get is the customer ranting at them so the counter guy completely shuts down and doesnt wanna hear it, or they see a post about their shop and a customer badmouthing them on the net. Personally I find it its a lot easier to walk in and ask to speak to the manager or owner. You get a lot more done by speaking to someone than at them or just foaming at the mouth crazy talk.

[Gallows]

They should give you a better more realistic time. Nothing pisses me off more than having to hear no its not ready over and over. I take people at their word so I would be the same way you are. I just wouldn't be as patient as you were. you screw up ok Ill give you another chance but if you do it again im walking.Most shops have a pretty good idea of how long it takes to do something. I don't think you are wrong for getting a little mad over this. However it is custom gun work and that takes time. granted its installing a set of sights so I cant imagine that being that custom a job.
if you can find another gunsmith that can do the work with the same quality then go somewhere else and let them know why you are taking your work somewhere else. The most feedback some shops get is the customer ranting at them so the counter guy completely shuts down and doesnt wanna hear it, or they see a post about their shop and a customer badmouthing them on the net. Personally I find it its a lot easier to walk in and ask to speak to the manager or owner. You get a lot more done by speaking to someone than at them or just foaming at the mouth crazy talk.

Agreed. Communication is a must for me and I just didn't like being told to come in over and over again just to get the same response. If you say a week get it done in a week. If its gonna take longer go ahead and tell me, not like I'm gonna freak out.However, I'm willing to chalk this up to he has a lot of projects right now. Or that he is just taking his time to make things perfect. I doubt it but hey. I have already expressed my concern in a respectful manner letting them know my issue. But lesson learned and I don't think I'll be having any work done there for awhile. Thanks for all the replies everyone!

[shotcaller6]

Could have shipped the slide to Novak, I believe their turn around time is 1 week.