Help! Cerakote Gone Wrong

[squirrel502]

So I am in need of help with regards to some work that I recently had done.

The situation is that I had my Arsenal SLR 101s recently Cerakoted by a local shop that just became a certified applicator, however, after the fact, it becomes aware that the owner of the shop got certified and decided to farm the work out to one of his employees. The resulting action is a very ****ty finish that is spotty in areas and thick in others. I refused to pickup the weapon until they fixed it, and after re-coating it, it was better but still very lackluster. I have them go ahead and assemble the AK, and that is when the trouble really started. Apparently they sprayed the entire trigger mechanism including sear engagement, resulting in a complete loss of any form of acceptable trigger. Additionally, the bolt now hangs when charging. Speaking with the owner, I was informed that it would be taken care of. Today I go to pickup the weapon, and find that nothing was done other than packing the trigger, bolt, charging handle with frog lube. So, I refused pickup again. Now I am being told "we will call you when it is ready".

So, what can I do? I am 100% on board with legal action, but I have no idea where to start or if I even have a case. As it is, the dang thing has been in there possession since mid September and I have no idea when I will get it back. Additionally, I know that no paperwork exchange was ever performed by the shop indicating work to be done, or custody of the weapon with my signature. I am sure I can pursue them through the ATF on that one, but again, what can be done? I am at the point where it is a "Fix it or Replace it"....but 101s' are not exactly available these days.

[tonyxcom]

Are they an FFL?

[squirrel502]

yes, they are an FFL

[tonyxcom]

Your first problem is the lack of a paper trail. That is gonna make court tough as they can lie and you'd need some other way to discredit them.

So you don't even have a work order or a receipt or anything? Any emails or txt messages to substantiate what your side of the story is?

[deviusdragger]

Just have them cash you out on the parts they screwed up and do it yourself and consider it a lesson learned. Sucks that it had to be that way. Maybe have them give you a couple extra bucks for wasting your time.

[hellayella]

I always remove all the moving parts from the part to be cerakoted..ie. FCGs, bolt, carrier etc

[Yerman]

That really sucks.

I'd avoid court time until all other options have been exhausted.

Are you communicating with the owner/certified person or the office workers?

I'd have a sit down talk with the owner. Ask him what his plan is to fix the problem. Ask what time frames he is anticipating. Visit him on a regular basis based on his time estimations. Ask what you can do to help. Price some replacement parts and present them to him as an option. Etc.

Basically, do everything you can to work out the problem WITH him instead of taking the stance of "fix it or I'll sue."

I know it sucks but you just have to work through the problem.

Also, start keeping detailed notes on phone calls, emails, etc. basically log the entire interaction in case it does end up in small claims court

[toddh]

#1 ....out the shop so another calgunner doesn't go through this.

#2.....go get your gun.

#3....find a reputable shop with a near you that has a PROVEN TRACK RECORD to refinish it.

#4....have the 1st shop pay the bill for proper refinish.
If they don't pay, that's when you drag them to court.


Hopefully you have a learned a valuable lesson.

AND I would like to know why you went with a shop that had no reputation for doing the work you wanted done.....and then
continue to go back again after they screwed up ??



.

[gsxr310]

Have them pay your bill when you find a legit shop. Btw, I'm in need of a cerakote shop. What's the shop name so I can avoid?

[DarkSoul]

Your in a tough spot for sure. My two cents, I know it ain't much, but having been a "cerakoter" for some time, this was handled poorly from the get go. Why they chose to paint all the "innards" in the first place is beyond me. This presents a lot of problems. The entire firearm, down to the last nut, bolt and spring will need to be disassembled and then media blasted AGAIN to get all the errant cerakote off, but now you have raw metal parts, so they will need to be basically well lubed, and always checked for rust since the forced oxide originally on them is going to be gone (i.e. Parts that should not be cerakoted)

Once the whole gun is stripped, it will need to be re-painted properly, this is a very expensive job to go to this detail, and they would have saved themselves a whole lot of issue had it been done right the first time. With no paper trail, and unless your time isn't worth anything, I would go get your gun, see if they will help with future expenses, and gt out of dodge, IMO, and not trying to be a jerk, but lack of paperwork is of course not going to help your cause here, see if they will kick a few hundred to you for "damages", if they do, take the money and run, if. to, still run, find someone you trust.

[Steve1968LS2]

Pick up the gun.. if you paid with a credit card then dispute it.. if you paid in another way then sue in small claims.

The definition of insanity it doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.. they seem incompetent to fix it, take it to someone else

And remember, you can't fix stupid...

[Hova]

What shop was it? You should tell us so we can avoid them

[spyde12]

What shop was it? You should tell us so we can avoid them

This ^^^^. It'll help the community.

[jonc]

This ^^^^. It'll help the community.

THIS^^??

[squirrel502]

Hey all. Thanks for the feedback.

So I just had a nice conversation with the owner, and was asked to give him a week to resolve the issue, as he is going to strip and re-spray the rifle himself....and have a talk with his guys.

That being said, while my experience has been less than stellar, I am going to hold off on identifying the shop for now. My hope is that this incident will be formally addressed and prevented from reoccurring. And if so, I don't want to completely throw them under the bus for any future work prematurely.

~squirrel