Track of the Wolf problem

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vega

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Greetings Gents and Ladies

I had a package from Track turned around at the border about three months ago.

In it was just innocuous stuff, but also including some .44 Real bullets and some shot. Nothing flammable and no brass.

The US tracking site just said that it had been returned to Chicago for fwding back to Track.

I've written them twice asking about this, but they just say that they presume Canada Customs had a problem with it, and turned it around. They also said that returned mail can take time.

However, three months seems to me to be enough time for the pkg. to get back to them even if somebody was walking it back.

I also have had no info from Customs.

I've spent heaps of money over the years with Track, and have more stuff I need, but am not going to order anything else until this is resolved.

Anyone here had experience of this sort, or any other advice/info to offer? 'Twould be appreciated.
 
Customs can be a pain. I had one package from Track that was missing a couple of things and had roller blade weels in the package along with my stuff. Someone some place was missing his wheels. I wrote Track and they sent the whole order again, and it came through. I also have had items stopped at the border and notice given that they would be sent back to the shipper. A couple of months later the original package showed up. I think they are a bunch of idiots at customs. I try my best to find what I need in Canada.
 
Are they bullet shaped or balls? I've ordered lots of Hornady balls from Track and never had an issue.
 
I don't know how Track would have described the bullets, but they are designed for muzzle loaders although I was going to try them in my .44-40.

Anyhow, I just don't know what to do to rectify the situation at this point.

Could it really take more than 3 months for the package to be returned to Track?

As to buying in Canada, I always try to do that but there is just so much that is not available up here.

Track seems to be putting this off on to Customs or USPS. Is that legitimate do you think?
 
Is there no activity on the tracking #?

My experience with TOTW is that the packages are shipped insured.

Sooo.... if you really believe it to be lost then send the management a clear, well written letter (not an email. Do it in writing and address it to the correct person in management, do your research to get the right ear) stating just the facts (no opinions, embellishments or extrapolations). And then firmly request your $$ back as a USPS lost parcel (or whatever the correct claim may be). They are a reputable company, but sometimes you have to get past the guys and girls on the ground.

Only my suggestion there, but it is a simple and effective method of getting results. You may have to go back and forth a bit.
 
Thanks guys. I misspoke on the bullets. They are Hornady swaged bullets with knurling on the bullet to hold lots of lube. Besides the fact that I don't cast, couldn't make those anyway.

On the tracking number, when I looked it up about six weeks ago it showed a pkg. sent to Ireland. When I wrote Track, I got an email back from the owner, David Ripplinger, telling me that the tracking at USPS was unreliable and not to be concerned, that returned packages often just take a long time. But as I said initially, I figure three months is long enough.

I think I will take your advice and write him a letter.

I was in the gun business myself for a long time and if it were me and had a good customer, I would have either sent a duplicate order with the caveat that if the package eventually arrived the customer would send it back or remit a second pmt., or refunded the money with the same condition.

Anyhow, guess I'll write. Sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth though. Guess the problem was the bullets, but as I've gotten lots of round balls from them in the past, I figured lead was lead.

Sometimes being a shooter in Canada sucks.
 
vega said:
Thanks guys. I misspoke on the bullets. They are Hornady swaged bullets with knurling on the bullet to hold lots of lube. Besides the fact that I don't cast, couldn't make those anyway.

On the tracking number, when I looked it up about six weeks ago it showed a pkg. sent to Ireland. When I wrote Track, I got an email back from the owner, David Ripplinger, telling me that the tracking at USPS was unreliable and not to be concerned, that returned packages often just take a long time. But as I said initially, I figure three months is long enough.

I think I will take your advice and write him a letter.

I was in the gun business myself for a long time and if it were me and had a good customer, I would have either sent a duplicate order with the caveat that if the package eventually arrived the customer would send it back or remit a second pmt., or refunded the money with the same condition.

Anyhow, guess I'll write. Sure leaves a bad taste in my mouth though. Guess the problem was the bullets, but as I've gotten lots of round balls from them in the past, I figured lead was lead.

Sometimes being a shooter in Canada sucks.
Click to expand...

Yes that is too bad - I like TOTW but does sound like nonsense there. I ship lots of different items and can't say I've ever witnessed USPS be so out to lunch as to tell me something went to the wrong continent. Usually in my experience if the tracking info is "off" it's been a matter of timing; or it will have it sitting in Mississaugua for a week when it's actually making it's way through Smithers or something like that (just not updated).

I agree that especially with a repeat customer, just send a guy another order.

Good luck, hope it gets resolved smoothly...
 
I'd say that the bullets were the reason the package went back.

They may or may not be exempt from the export controls regs in the States, but really I am surprised that Track would send them out. I can see a Customs guy sending them back. Would have been a simple decision if he/she has been told to watch for the basic list of export control stuff (gun parts, ammo, components) as well as if the bullets were for a .50 cal ML (they would likely get about as far as the '.50')


Learn to cast! :) It's not brain surgery. Molds can be ordered by mail (tools, no export issues) and you likely have what you need around your place to keep you going.
Check out the Castboolits site. Lots of info there.

Cheers
Trev
 
I have had a couple dozen orders for M/L and cartridge gun parts and accessories from TOTW over the past 5 years and never a single hitch although most packages are opened for inspection by Canada Border Protection. I have not, however, bought brass or bullets. If the "bullets" are the problem, I think it would be from US Homeland Security export regs, not Canada and in that case I would think TOTW would have known they can't export that stuff and not sent it in the first place. Ripplinger and the crew at TOTW were good to me helping on a couple of issues so I would send a carefully worded letter and ask for their help to rectify your problem. I have seen return mails take 6 weeks but never 3 months. Good luck
 
Thanks guys.

I just looked at the original invoice and the bullets were described on the export list as "lead and articles thereof, round balls made in the United States."

This is precisely how the many round balls I've ordered over the years were described and never a hitch.

I really think the package went to Ireland.

But no point in further conjecture, I shall have to write Mr. Ripplinger again. Still, it bugs me that they wouldn't have done something to rectify the situation before now. Think in future I shall look for another source for my BP stuff.
 
trevj,

i tried to order a bullet mould last night from Cabelas and as I was doing the order process it said that the mold was a restricted item that could not be shipped out of the States! Am going to try Sinclairs they seem to be able to send almost everything I want?
 
rodauto said:
trevj,

i tried to order a bullet mould last night from Cabelas and as I was doing the order process it said that the mold was a restricted item that could not be shipped out of the States! Am going to try Sinclairs they seem to be able to send almost everything I want?
Click to expand...

Who makes the mold?
Most of the makers products as carried by the bigger retailers in the US, are available from Canadian sources. A couple of the guys that are site sponsors carry the Lee lines, and a couple carry the Lyman molds.

One of the retailers down south got hit with a $250K fine a while back for breaching export regs. All the major ones have been pretty tight-arsed about exporting anything, since.
Online ordering sucks anyway. Phone and talk to a live person. Lots of stuff triggers the auto-response online, that they will sell and ship.
Oh. Be aware that if they ship by UPS, you will get boned for a bunch of extra money. Just so you know. Get stuff sent by post. Slower, but only a $5 fee, rather than a $50 fee, for collecting GST/HST.

Cheers
Trev
 
Yep. I would suspect our pasty faced snivel servants in customs before the fine fellas at TOTW. I have bought from them many times and have an order inbound as we speak.

This nonsense serves to underline the need for all of us to cast our own bullets when possible.
 
Just a quick update: After my last email to Track's owner, my money was refunded by them.

Although it took over three months to get it sorted, I give them credit where credit is due. Looks like they're going after USPS for a lost package.
 
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