Am I being impatient?How long is too long for a Cerakote guy to get you your rifle back? - Page 1

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Am I being impatient?How long is too long for a Cerakote guy to get you your rifle back?

Posted: 5/27/2017 11:27:04 AM EDT

Hello fellow Arfcommers,

Here's the gist of it. I sent my DDM4V5 off to be Cerakoated in Patriot Brown, with the barrel in black. It was received by the shop 6 April. They advertised a 2-4 week turnaround.

I checked last week on the status and it shows "processing" on their site still, so I emailed and asked about it. They responded and said it had just finished coming out of prep and will be ready for refinishing. I check today and it still says "processing". It's been 51 days now. I'm getting impatient because I was planning on running this at front sight next weekend. Am I being a sissy? Or is it not unreasonable to be a little frustrated at this point? Thanks guys.

Posted: 5/27/2017 11:52:36 AM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:
They advertised a 2-4 week turnaround.

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I haven't had cerakote done before, but that sounds perfectly reasonable.

Quoted:
I checked last week on the status and it shows "processing" on their site still,

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Oh boy, that's never good. *flashbacks of ordering an exhaust*

Quoted:
I check today and it still says "processing". It's been 51 days now.

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So they quoted you 14-28 days, and now they're well past to almost at double that time?

Yeah, no, that's rather unacceptable imo. Give them a date and let them know that you'll be by to pick it up on that day and time. If it's finished, you can pay them and be on your way without trouble. If it's not, then take your rifle back, and go pay someone who will actually do the job as and when promised.

I'm non-confrontational, I like to try and be very understanding and give plenty of leeway because stuff happens, people get backed up, and complications arise. I understand that, sometimes things don't go perfectly and on schedule. But there gets to be a point that is not excuseable, and 2-3x past the due date with no definite delivery time or real progress update is definitely at the point of "get it done or give it back."

Posted: 5/27/2017 2:23:38 PM EDT

[#2]

That's ridiculous. Last time I had something Cerakoted (~3 years ago) it took about 5 business days. I'd be pissed if I were you.

Posted: 5/27/2017 7:59:30 PM EDT

[#3]

We were quoted 1-2 weeks at Olympic Cerakote in January and there are still guys without their parts.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:37:59 AM EDT

[#4]

Here's the gist of it. I sent my DDM4V5 off to be Cerakoated in Patriot Brown, with the barrel in black. It was received by the shop 6 April. They advertised a 2-4 week turnaround.

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I'm guessing we sent it to the same shop.
Mine was received on 4/19.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:50:28 AM EDT

[#5]

Wait times I can handle. Non-communication I cannot.

If they've been in touch and are providing updates, then just hang tight (my suggestion).
If it's a good company that's worth the wait, it will make it that much better when you get it.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:55:13 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
We were quoted 1-2 weeks at Olympic Cerakote in January and there are still guys without their parts.

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Got mine back a few days short of 4 months.

Posted: 5/28/2017 8:06:38 AM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:

Got mine back a few days short of 4 months.

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Oh shit. That's not what I wanted to hear.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:23:50 PM EDT

[#8]

We got swamped from our sale. It seems we ran it a bit too long and it just buried us.

We are right on the cusp of being back to normal turn times here. We have guys working round the clock and on holidays. We apologize for the terrible delays but rather than send out poor quality work, we want to do it right.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:29:26 PM EDT

[#9]

I can handle longer wait times as long as there is communication.

Posted: 5/28/2017 12:43:46 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
We got swamped from our sale. It seems we ran it a bit too long and it just buried us.

We are right on the cusp of being back to normal turn times here. We have guys working round the clock and on holidays. We apologize for the terrible delays but rather than send out poor quality work, we want to do it right.

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Then send a mass email to let your current customers waiting know there is a back log...

Customer Service 101 FFS.

Posted: 5/28/2017 1:18:44 PM EDT

[#11]

There are a lot of companies that Cerakote in Arizona. Most say turnaround is 3-7 days. No way will I be sending my weapons out of state.

Posted: 5/28/2017 2:26:22 PM EDT

[#12]

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Quoted:

Then send a mass email to let your current customers waiting know there is a back log...

Customer Service 101 FFS.

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We can do that, sure.

Posted: 5/29/2017 10:49:24 AM EDT

[#13]

Sure, still waiting on my stuff from January.

Posted: 5/29/2017 5:57:03 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Hello fellow Arfcommers,

Here's the gist of it. I sent my DDM4V5 off to be Cerakoated in Patriot Brown, with the barrel in black. It was received by the shop 6 April. They advertised a 2-4 week turnaround.

I checked last week on the status and it shows "processing" on their site still, so I emailed and asked about it. They responded and said it had just finished coming out of prep and will be ready for refinishing. I check today and it still says "processing". It's been 51 days now. I'm getting impatient because I was planning on running this at front sight next weekend. Am I being a sissy? Or is it not unreasonable to be a little frustrated at this point? Thanks guys.

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Where are you? I would never wait that long... scalpel arms in Texas offers same day service for locals...

Posted: 5/29/2017 10:10:50 PM EDT

[#15]

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Quoted:
Sure, still waiting on my stuff from January.

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We're obviously out today but should have your order shipping in the next few days.

Posted: 5/29/2017 10:12:32 PM EDT

[#16]

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Quoted:

Where are you? I would never wait that long... scalpel arms in Texas offers same day service for locals...

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It's our fault. The biproduct of a rather large sale that many took advantage of. We're nearing the end of the orders this week, may even have them all shipped as well.

While it's not what we wanted to happen, we didn't expect such a large turnout. Now that we're better prepared we can handle that sort of situation.

Posted: 5/30/2017 5:53:24 PM EDT

[#17]

Wow, really? 2 or three Months? What did you do? Offer free coatings? No way would I wait months to have a gun coated! Not when most states have several trained and certified coaters! And letting your customers just hang? Poor busine practices. You go out of business doing that!

Posted: 5/30/2017 9:03:27 PM EDT

[#18]

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Quoted:
Wow, really? 2 or three Months? What did you do? Offer free coatings? No way would I wait months to have a gun coated! Not when most states have several trained and certified coaters! And letting your customers just hang? Poor busine practices. You go out of business doing that!

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30% off ALL cerakote work. It's a pretty big savings for custom stuff.

We have been available for contact a majority of the time whether via phone, text, email, forum message, etc. it forced us to grow quickly and we are almost recovered. We have never denied fault or shifted blame. We do hope everyone takes us up on our apology. So we can prove that customer service is important to us and that we are here for you guys.

Posted: 5/30/2017 10:48:43 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

30% off ALL cerakote work. It's a pretty big savings for custom stuff.

We have been available for contact a majority of the time whether via phone, text, email, forum message, etc. it forced us to grow quickly and we are almost recovered. We have never denied fault or shifted blame. We do hope everyone takes us up on our apology. So we can prove that customer service is important to us and that we are here for you guys.

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It's definitely a smoking deal. I understand how you could get overwhelmed with a huge response on a sale like that. I appreciate you guys stepping up. I look forward to getting my rifle back and I hope I didn't cause you guys any unnecessary headaches. I'm just eager to get it and show it off in my next carbine class.

Thanks again Olympic.

I'll update everyone when the rifle shows and I'll post pics to drool on

Posted: 5/31/2017 7:43:36 AM EDT

[#20]

This is a good lesson for all. I think Olympic is a good dealer, seem him post on here. The issue is when a custom shop gets backed up, for whatever reason, the comms HAVE to be good. People can (usually) stand the waits, but they can't stand being ignored. If you have one of these types that calls boolshit, and doesn't want to wait, I would immediately refund and nip that shit in the bud. I have refunded a couple of grand worth of business before just because my wait times got out there.

There are many young folks who are very impatient and are unwilling to wait for custom work. There are guys doing custom work that aren't very good at communicating. And/or have an attitude problem. So I think it cuts both ways here. As a dealer, you have to be able to respond to a sudden backlog; as a customer, you need to decide if you want a certain shop or price, how long are you willing to wait.

In this case, I think you have a good shop that will do a good job for you; unfortunately you have a backlog which you both have to figure out what to do. This happens in successful start-up businesses.

The wait is unfortunate, but as long as the guy is communicating with you, and you think it's gonna get done, albeit, a little late, I'd stick with him. I would imagine you will be getting it pretty quick at this point.

Posted: 6/2/2017 10:47:27 AM EDT

[#21]

I don't mind the wait for quality work. What bothers me is when I think it's going to be 2-4 weeks as advertised. I alloted 6 weeks just in case. Now I'm not able to run the rifle I wanted in my carbine class.

If it will take 10 weeks, 12 weeks 6 months, whatever. Just tell me so I know going in. I understand delays. But month long delays or longer are aggravating as hell. It's not a coffee cup. It's a freaking $1500 rifle. That's what is frustrating for me.

I guess we'll see how it goes, although it gives me pause when guys are saying it's been 4 months for them.

ETA:spelling

Posted: 6/2/2017 4:54:51 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I don't mind the wait for quality work. What bothers me is when I think it's going to be 2-4 weeks as advertised. I alloted 6 weeks just in case. Now I'm not able to run the rifle I wanted in my carbine class.

If it will take 10 weeks, 12 weeks 6 months, whatever. Just tell me do I know going in. I understand delays. But month long delays or longer are aggravating as hell. It's not a coffee cup. It's a freaking $1500 rifle. That's what is frustrating for me.

I guess we'll see how it goes, although it gives me pause when guys are saying it's been 4 months for them.

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The four months was unfortunately where we were at after the large sale. And that wasn't all orders, just the larger multi gun or pattern orders. Some of which required shop time too.

With that said, our times are coming back down and it should be going back out soon.

Posted: 6/6/2017 10:57:34 PM EDT

[#23]

Still processing...

Posted: 7/2/2017 1:08:02 PM EDT

[#24]

Any update?

ETA: never mind, forgot about the other thread

Posted: 7/2/2017 1:32:42 PM EDT

[#25]

Maybe next time you offer a sale limit it to an amount that you can turn around in a month, something like the first 100 shoppers get 30%, if not you are going to end up costing yourselves more customers than you earn...just an idea

Posted: 7/2/2017 9:21:23 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Maybe next time you offer a sale limit it to an amount that you can turn around in a month, something like the first 100 shoppers get 30%, if not you are going to end up costing yourselves more customers than you earn...just an idea

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Great idea. We can certainly put a limit on it!