JT distributing/Double Star poor customer service

[magmaster]

I just wanted to let everyone here know how poor the customer service is with Double Star. I purchased a lower about a month ago from Gunrunners in Duarte. I did not get to see them because they were on order. When I got it it had a poor finish and a serial number that was hardly ledgible. I asked them about it and I was told that this was one of the best ones they had seen.

A week later my friend ordered two through Ades and his were WAY better than mine. Of course I was pissed so I emailed Double Star. The president Teresa Starnes replied and basically told me that I was f***ed. WTF? Supposedly they use two suppliers to make them and I got the crap end of the deal. They don't want to do anything for me. Here is the pics of the two so you can see for yourselves. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thanks!

ARlower1.JPG
ARlower2.JPG

[blacklisted]

Wow, that looks terrible. The one I got yesterday looks GREAT (like the top one). I wonder who makes that one.

[phish]

Why do you need the serial number to be sharp?

[magmaster]

I sent the pictures to them and they still told me to f-off. So I emailed the ATF and they said the serial number must be at least .oo3" deep. DS told me that my lower was BATF approved because they can use a chemical process to bring back filed down numbers. They told me to get some sort of compound from Brownells to make the number stand out more, then to soak the lower in oil to make it more black in color. The top one is teflon coated and the bottom is anodized to Mil-spec. Now that is the worst "Mil-spec" I have seen. Bottom line is they don't want to do anything at all. She was even suprised that I had one being that I'm from CA. They so not ship to CA at all she said...

I just needed to vent and put the warning out for everyone here to see

[gotgunz]

I for one am not surprised at the lack of service or concern. I have a Doublestar lower and the quality of it is fine, the markings are crisp and sharp with no imperfections, but how hard is it to stamp a number into a piece of aluminum? Hell, my kid learned how to number connecting rods in about 5 mins.

I was very disappointed when I went to buy a rifle kit from them to compliment their lower I was building. I called and asked a few questions; no problems and very nice lady answered my questions. Called back after the weekend was over and ordered the kit I wanted, gave the shipping info and the credit card. Hung up thinking: " sweet, I will have an evil black rifle in about 10 days!". The following week the UPS truck shows up at my office but no kit! I call the bank and what do you know?, no charges to the card. Call J&T and ask where my kit is. I am put on hold until the lady I originally talked to comes on the phone, I ask "where is my stuff?" she says that they are expecting the barrels the following day and that she would ship the kit out 2nd day air and cover the charges. I reluctantly agree and wait for my stuff. Another week goes by and still no kit! I call again and the person that answered puts me on hold, the original lady comes on the line and when I inquire as to WHERE THE HELL IS MY KIT!? she puts me on hold again to check status and them some guy comes on the line and acts like he has no idea why I am calling. I proceed to tell him that I had placed an order and it has now been over 2 weeks and that I was told originally that it would ship in 2 days. He seems to not care and basically says that if I want it, I will have to wait for it. When I told them to cancel the order he seemed to be shocked that I would say screw it and move on.
I called Model 1 Sales the very next day and the kit was shipped and recieved exactly when they said it would (even with UPS trying to delay delivery). I installed the kit with no problems and it has not let me down at all. I highly recommend M1S regardless of what others say, the finish is spot on and it functions perfectly and is highly accurate.

[magmaster]

Its not just the faint serial number but the crappy finish as well. I can see it now getting hassled because the serial number isn't that distinguished. Personally I don't really care about the faint number but it could be used against me in the future. And if I decide to dura coat this, then I can totaly see it covering it up.

[Forever-A-Soldier]

Wow, all of mine look great (like the top photo) but I see what you mean with yours. That's B.S. It would seem Double Star would say, "o.k.. our error, we'll send you FedX prepaid labels. Box it up and ship it to us and we'll make it right." But I guess that's just me if I made lowers. Sorry to hear about your troubles and good luck.

F.A.S. Out

[EBWhite]

Call them up and talk to a manager. Run the problem over again. Contact gunrunners and complain too since they were the shop that sold it to you. Let double star know if the attitude does not change they will be bashed all over the net. If gunrunners won't help, file a small claims suit against them for a replacement since it was not of quality....

[bwiese]

J&T is a small co in Kentucky. DoubleStar is another name for them. (Why they need two biz entities is beyond me).

I have ordered stuff from J&T and they are very nice. They make mistakes but correct them.

I suspsect there are wide variations in finish of many brands of lowers.

You're in CA - consider yourself lucky you even have a lower. Beggars can't be choosers.

If you want another lower, go get another brand, perhaps inspect first.

The lower you have will build a 100% working, accurate rifle - which is the main thing.

[elsolo]

Did you buy it from Gunrunner's or did you buy it from a different distributor and just use Gunrunner's as thereceiving FFL?

If it was the former, than you shouldn't have taken delivery of it from the FFL in the first place. Let them deal with the distributor.

Dealing with customer service, often their willingness to help you on an issue like this (hat is not really critical)is dependant upon the attitude you have when you contact them. A polite business letter goes a lot further than an angry rant. I am certain Theresa didn't tell you to F-off.

[6172crew]

My DS is about as nice of a receiver that I have, the finish is perfect as well and machining.

Im totally blown away that the owner (there are only owners that answer the phones as far as I know) would give you crap over a small part like that.

If you want a nicer one I might be able to a hand picked one sent to your FFL and you could sell yours or ask for a refund from whoever you bought it from.


Damn, that sucks big time.

[rmeyer]

"You're in CA - consider yourself lucky you even have a lower. Beggars can't be choosers".

I respect your posts and opinions Bill but that is a poor answer. Just because he lives in California doesn't mean he deserves a crappy piece of junk. Maybe he doesn't have the bucks to just go buy another. He isn't a beggar but a paying customer and deserves some respect from that company.

[magmaster]

Here is the email sent and relies both ways read for yourself...My last reply is not on here I apologize. Basically it said that I didn't see it before hand and I am not happy with their CS. I asked what they were willing to do for me and I never got a reply.

Your friend purchased from a different batch which has one style of lettering, the one that you purchased came from a different contractor with a different style of lettering. What we have in stock is the pecked serial numbered version. I assume since you probably filled out a 4473 to purchase the lower you probably saw what you were purchasing prior to completion of the transaction. If you purchase a new Remington rifle which you are pleased with, and your buddy purchases one later that has a nicer stock on it do you email Remington to complain and demand that they send you a new stock? If they refuse, then did you make a mistake in purchasing a Remington rifle? Does it perform any better with a nicer stock? No, you got exactly what you saw and were pleased until you compared with your friend's.

The finish on your friend's lower is a bit smoother and blacker because it is teflon coated, your lower is hard coat anodized, which is the current mil-spec. The lower you have will match most uppers in color, his lower will only match teflon coated uppers. It will get a more uniform black color if you spray with oil and let it soak in overnight.
If you are concerned with someone not being able to read the number then use some of the white inletting compound from Brownells. The pecking process of doing the serial numbers was approved by BATFE and is actually a bit deeper than required. They prefer that method so that regardless what is done to try to remove the serial number it can be chemically raised and identified. We have used this contractor for lowers for 5 years and have not had any problems.

Thanks,

Teresa Starnes

Dan Thorburn wrote:
> But the difference between the two is my concern. The finish is way
> better on my friends compared to mine. If there is nothing you want to
> do then that is fine, I just made the mistake using your products I
> guess.
>
> Thanks for your help
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Teresa Starnes [mailto:teresa@jtdistributing.com]
> Sent: Friday, May 12, 2006 12:14 PM
> To: Dan Thorburn
> Subject: Re: Stipped lower
>
> Mr. Thorburn:
> The one that is the pecked number is the one that ATF prefers. We
> have that one in stock, However I do not ship any lowers to CA under
> any circumstances. I sell to other states but not to California. The
> number on the lower is very legible the number is DS12*** and I don't
> see a problem. If this is a concern, to photograph lowers we have put
> a white inletting compound from Brownells to allow it to show up
> better in a layout.
> Thank you,
> Teresa Starnes
> Dan Thorburn wrote:
>
>> Hello I have a question concerning the stripped lower that I
>> purchased. My friends and I all have purchased stripped lowers from a
>> local gun store here in California. We bought them maybe a month
>> apart
>>
>
>
>> and I noticed some major differences between them. My unit has a very
>> poor finish compared to my friends. Also the serial number is almost
>> not readable. I have enclosed pictures with this email to show what I
>> am talking about. I was curious if I could return it to you to be
>> refinished and maybe re-engraved so the serial number will show a
>> little better? At the time when I bought it I was told by the shop
>> that it was a good one compared to what they had been receiving. I
>> purchased it from Gunrunners in Duarte, CA.
>>
>>
>>
>> Here in CA we have pretty strict rules concerning firearms. The last
>> thing I need is to be hassled about a barely legible serial number.
>> Other than that I think it is an excellent unit and it assembled very
>> nice. I have not fired it yet so I was hoping to see if you can help
>> me out with this matter before I take it out. The pictures are of
>> mine
>>
>
>
>> and my friends so you can see the difference in the two. If you need
>> to contact me by phone then please do so.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you very much!
>>
>>
>>
>> Dan Thorburn

[Stanze]

I would put a badass parts kit on it, shoot several thousand rounds to check reliabilty and accuracy, then see how I feel about it.

Just cos' your kid was born a ugly duckling doesn't mean you love it any less, or it won't grow up to be a swan.

[bwiese]

I've dealt w/Teresa in the past. J&T are nice folks.

From what I read, it's a courteous, rational series of replies. The time taken to write these email replies probably ate whatever inkling of profit there was in these lowers.

If you asked to swap for another lower (doubt you can do a S/N exchange, but ask) they might allow you to do that.