Posted: 3/7/2011 10:04:45 AM EDT
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It would be nice if your web store listed currently out of stock items as "out of stock or backordered".
This is the second time I've ordered a product (that appears to be in stock), only to have my hopes dashed by a lack of communication and then the eventual discovery that "we don't know when that item will be back in stock"... I thought the first time this happened it was a fluke. Well, I was wrong. A backordered notification would have saved me 100 hours of waiting and a phone call on this last go around... |
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It would be nice if your web store listed currently out of stock items as "out of stock or backordered". This is the second time I've ordered a product (that appears to be in stock), only to have my hopes dashed by a lack of communication and then the eventual discovery that "we don't know when that item will be back in stock"... I thought the first time this happened it was a fluke. Well, I was wrong. A backordered notification would have saved me 100 hours of waiting and a phone call on this last go around... Not saying it is your fault, but a tip to help you save that future phone call is to phone in your order the first time. I tried to order the tan Covert Case not long ago on the phone and they told me all they had in stock was blue and ranger green. Chose green instead, problem solved. However, I do agree that would be a nice feature, but if that is the only complaint I have (and no store front), I think they're doing their jobs pretty damn well. CM |
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I think LT is well aware of the "shortcomings" of their website, and i'm almost positive i read in another thread that Mark has moved the website to a higher priority on the "to-do" list.
as long as i've been a customer of LT (2006?) there has been an understanding that if a product is needed with any sense of urgency, it is in your best interest to contact them via telephone/email to place your order. |
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Shoulda called first...
http://stores.homestead.com/Laruetactical/Service.bok |
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but is it really hard to keep a store up to date? No, its not just not a priority. They must have everyone one machines cranking out good products. Is that even English? It's hard when both your website and telephone ordering systems aren't tied to your inventory management system. For a company like LT who makes their own products, this would require realtime inventory management on the shop floor. Or what you're suggesting, have someone full time on payroll manually updating the site periodically which could still cause issues. Impossible? No. Difficult transition when you're using legacy systems? Definitely. Magpul is another manufacturer that doesn't appear to have realtime inventory tracking There are also a number of security concerns running a DBMS in this fashion and it would require some well thought out design to mitigate the risk of database compromise/corruption impacting production schedules and even then you could still encounter a deadlock situation if an order on the floor or phone is processed while your Internet order is pending. Your phone operators would basically have to use the same web portal as a regular online customer. This is inefficient when your sales folks know part numbers/prices by heart and can just as easily type everything in manually. This would require a second front end interface. I've built ecommerce sites from scratch, it's hard enough when all of your inventory goes through shipping/receiving. |
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Quoted: Quoted: but is it really hard to keep a store up to date? No, its not just not a priority. They must have everyone one machines cranking out good products. Is that even English? It's hard when both your website and telephone ordering systems aren't tied to your inventory management system. For a company like LT who makes their own products, this would require realtime inventory management on the shop floor. Or what you're suggesting, have someone full time on payroll manually updating the site periodically which could still cause issues. Impossible? No. Difficult transition when you're using legacy systems? Definitely. Magpul is another manufacturer that doesn't appear to have realtime inventory tracking There are also a number of security concerns running a DBMS in this fashion and it would require some well thought out design to mitigate the risk of database compromise/corruption impacting production schedules and even then you could still encounter a deadlock situation if an order on the floor or phone is processed while your Internet order is pending. Your phone operators would basically have to use the same web portal as a regular online customer. This is inefficient when your sales folks know part numbers/prices by heart and can just as easily type everything in manually. This would require a second front end interface. I've built ecommerce sites from scratch, it's hard enough when all of your inventory goes through shipping/receiving. Even big retail locations that everything is through their computer system, if it says 1 or 2 in stock, I want someone to verify the item is there and put it on hold for me before I drive over and get it. |
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Also don't forget guys..... the .Mil and LEO guys get first crack at stuff also. Which is how it should be and I have no problem. But then I call in my order  Im LEO, ordered my T-1 on Fri, noticed today my account has yet to be dinged, so i called, backordered 
I'm not bitching, they make great products and its worth the wait......but I do agree with OP, didn't know about calling ahead and I would guess most other customers don't know either |
| I have to say that LT is one of the best though. I tried to order a holster for my FNP-45 from four different companies. All four charged my card immediately and after two to three weeks of "Order status update" Your item is backordered, but expected in stock within 7-10 days...Cancel!!! try another...I had to call two of them to get my cc charge credited back! Will not happen with LT! |
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Also don't forget guys..... the .Mil and LEO guys get first crack at stuff also. Which is how it should be and I have no problem. But then I call in my order Im LEO, ordered my T-1 on Fri, noticed today my account has yet to be dinged, so i called, backordered
I'm not bitching, they make great products and its worth the wait......but I do agree with OP, didn't know about calling ahead and I would guess most other customers don't know either I tried to order one over the phone today too. Went with an accupoint instead. Hopefully they're back in stock by next week so i can get one. |
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My order was for a T-1 as well. I decided to call after a few days of not receiving a shipping notice. Seems odd that they haven't spent a few bucks on an Inventory Management System 
What is a few bucks to you? 5 figures, 6 figures, 7 figures ??? I'll call, if I don't get a email & tracking in a couple of days. I know it is out of stock. Makes adding to the order easy if I forgot something. |
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Sorry nope, calling is not guarenteed to work either. Told twice over the phone by LaRue staff that what I wanted was in stock only to find out a week later when it still had not arrived that it not only was not in stock, but they had no idea when it would be in stock. I like their stuff but they really need to work on this. |
I ordered a barrel wrench, grip, pink dillos with some other stuff. Checked out. Got billing/shipping notification. Noticed the total was less than at checkout on the website 
Order arrived minus the barrel wrench. Shows $0 on the invoice in the box for the wrench. No clue what that means. Available? Not available? Backordered? Would be nice to know what the hell happened to it. Shouldnt have to call to find out it was backordered or whatever. Not hating, just constructive criticism. 
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I just placed about $900 worth of stuff. Placed an order late Sunday night and it just shipped out today and I won't get it till Monday... after the weekend I was hoping to have it for =( I love Larue, but I really don't think it's too much to have an item from order to your door in a few days rather than a week. |
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Quoted: Did you spring for 1 or 2 day shipping? TX to NY UPS ground takes more than a few days. I just placed about $900 worth of stuff. Placed an order late Sunday night and it just shipped out today and I won't get it till Monday... after the weekend I was hoping to have it for =( I love Larue, but I really don't think it's too much to have an item from order to your door in a few days rather than a week.  |
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I ordered a barrel wrench, grip, pink dillos with some other stuff. Checked out. Got billing/shipping notification. Noticed the total was less than at checkout on the website
Order arrived minus the barrel wrench. Shows $0 on the invoice in the box for the wrench. No clue what that means. Available? Not available? Backordered? Would be nice to know what the hell happened to it. Shouldnt have to call to find out it was backordered or whatever. Not hating, just constructive criticism.
i don't think that barrel wrench even exists... i've tried to order it before... it was a glimmer in Mark's eye several years ago, and I don't think it ever came to fruition... wasn't there a contest thread asking people to name it? |
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Did you spring for 1 or 2 day shipping? TX to NY UPS ground takes more than a few days. I just placed about $900 worth of stuff. Placed an order late Sunday night and it just shipped out today and I won't get it till Monday... after the weekend I was hoping to have it for =( I love Larue, but I really don't think it's too much to have an item from order to your door in a few days rather than a week.
Yeah that's not larues fault. Move to texas. I get mine next day every time. |
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I always call in, no problems for over 2 years .....  Glad you have received good service. My problem was this was my very first order. Expecting LaRue greatness and received everything but. Two weeks to get the mount (that was in stock) and had to order the optic from another vendor here. |
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I just found out that the nightforce scope I ordered was out of stock. but I called JP and got it changed to a different rheticle on the same scope that was in stock, and they are going to ship it right out. my grendel rifle is lonely. I cant wait to kill some pigs the weekend after next. |