Very Disappointed with The Epp's Bluing Process

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Garaldtao said:
Agreed. To do the job right, it would have cost more than a new 1911. The gunsmith should have turned it down if he or she was not planning to do the work correctly. Who knows why they took on the job? The $250 profit is definatly not worth the hassle. If the pistol had sentimental value then the customer should be prepared to pay to have the job done correctly. You can not expect the world for $250.

On the flip side, Epps should have conceded and admitted that they should not have taken on such a difficult job for so little money instead of going on the attack. There is nothing wrong with showing a bit of humility, in fact in most cases, humility is a sign of strength, professionalism and respect of which non have been demonstrated here. I feel that a company with years of experience and so called experts working for them should have dealt with the situation from the time when the pistol walked through the door. And when it slips through the cracks they should have admitted that they should not have taken on the job. I would give the customer the benifit of the doubt because he is not a gunsmith and do not have any idea as to what it would take to get something looking like it just came out of the factory.

OK so the OP was ill informed and Epps is not admitting any lack of judgement on how they dealt with the situation from the begining or about how they are reacting to this thread. I would say that I would have to side with the OP which gives me an uneasy feeling because by saying this, will I be verbally attacked by Epps? It is too bad because I am a new customer of their's and since the begining of this year I dropped over $8000.00 there. I like the young guy who had helped me out with the purchase of my shotgun and he even answered all my questions about the long range stuff which is what he specialized in. I am kinda on the fence about going back because such as the OP, I do not want to be ridiculed for not knowing something after they have taken my hard earned money... I am just saying.
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And it has been stated the giy wanted a bead blasted finish. That is what he got. As far as i know there was no promis of filling in holes. So really the guy got exactly what he asked for on the workorder. The gun was beadblasted and hotblued.
 
Aries- said:
And it has been stated the giy wanted a bead blasted finish. That is what he got. As far as i know there was no promis of filling in holes. So really the guy got exactly what he asked for on the workorder. The gun was beadblasted and hotblued.
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Wrong... If he got what he asked for, this post would not exist! The OP obviously had high expectations and it is the responsibility of a seasoned professional who has been in the industry for so many years, to tell him that bead blasting and bluing will not cover any of the pits, write those details on the work order and have the customer sign it, that way if any dispute arises the work order would settle all. In fact, if the work order addresses these issues then the store would not have any problems posting a copy online (with the OP's personal info blacked out of course). Truth be told a true professional would have refused this job or at this point admit that they did not realize what the OP's expectations were and it was their mistake for taking on this job. If I was working there, the OP would either have a new pistol transferred into his name or would have happily paid more than what a new gun would cost to save something of sentimental value, at this point. If anyone argues that this is what the OP expected, show it to me in writing and explain to me why this post exist!?!
 
tiriaq said:
OP's complaint was about the colour - black.
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That is true... How did that get lost in the mix!?! Guess I was so taken aback by the overall condition of the gun. If that was my gun, the colour would be the least of my worries. Thanx for pointing that out, tiriaq. Lol
 
Perhaps Epps (being professionals and likely more able to predict the outcome on such a bad specimen!) should have contacted the owner after they received the gun and simply voicde their concern that the gun is NOT worth the cost of blueing or that it likely won't meet the customer's expectations. Seems like a case of a business providing a service just to make a buck. Now, if you look up the definition of 'business'.............'nuff said.
 
At what time should a business walk away from a job? I'd be interested if they made any attempt to explain the impossible just wasn't possible. If they didn't they should have seen this coming. Good businesses don't take every job that comes their way.
 
Those old gun were parkerized not bued. Anyway in the pitted condition the gun was, it was not worth refinishing unless pitting was filed and repaired. In my view,was a waste of money. Bad decision.
 
Work order attached to gun says bead blast and blue, how does the gunsmith know what expected colour by customer. He must assume the customer knows what he wants and has done his research. Or should they call every customer. The backlog at epps last I heard was about 6 weeks, it's not like the gunsmith took the order yesterday if at all.
 
You pretty much hit the nail right on the head
Garaldtao said:
Agreed. To do the job right, it would have cost more than a new 1911. The gunsmith should have turned it down if he or she was not planning to do the work correctly. Who knows why they took on the job? The $250 profit is definatly not worth the hassle. If the pistol had sentimental value then the customer should be prepared to pay to have the job done correctly. You can not expect the world for $250.

On the flip side, Epps should have conceded and admitted that they should not have taken on such a difficult job for so little money instead of going on the attack. There is nothing wrong with showing a bit of humility, in fact in most cases, humility is a sign of strength, professionalism and respect of which non have been demonstrated here. I feel that a company with years of experience and so called experts working for them should have dealt with the situation from the time when the pistol walked through the door. And when it slips through the cracks they should have admitted that they should not have taken on the job. I would give the customer the benifit of the doubt because he is not a gunsmith and do not have any idea as to what it would take to get something looking like it just came out of the factory.

OK so the OP was ill informed and Epps is not admitting any lack of judgement on how they dealt with the situation from the begining or about how they are reacting to this thread. I would say that I would have to side with the OP which gives me an uneasy feeling because by saying this, will I be verbally attacked by Epps? It is too bad because I am a new customer of their's and since the begining of this year I dropped over $8000.00 there. I like the young guy who had helped me out with the purchase of my shotgun and he even answered all my questions about the long range stuff which is what he specialized in. I am kinda on the fence about going back because such as the OP, I do not want to be ridiculed for not knowing something after they have taken my hard earned money... I am just saying.
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K-Roc said:
You pretty much hit the nail right on the head
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And if all that was stated on the workorder was "beadblast and blue" are they to assume that theybare to charge the customer mire than the gun is worth to repair pitting and refinish to new when it isnt stated? If you take an old clunker of a car that is rusted out into a mechanic and it says replace oil filter and sparkplug wires. Do you expect them to call and say do you want us to replace all your body panels totaly beabblast your frame and refi ish the car to new?
 
Aries- said:
And if all that was stated on the workorder was "beadblast and blue" are they to assume that theybare to charge the customer mire than the gun is worth to repair pitting and refinish to new when it isnt stated? If you take an old clunker of a car that is rusted out into a mechanic and it says replace oil filter and sparkplug wires. Do you expect them to call and say do you want us to replace all your body panels totaly beabblast your frame and refi ish the car to new?
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I've had mechanics tell me that the routine maintenance required is exceeding the value of the car.
 
Generally.. with the entire world at our fingertips on the internet, one can do a little research (about bluing for example) and understand something before spending money. I look at it like being an informed consumer, It saves money at the mechanic also!

look up gun bluing on google.. or even better, Youtube.. Tons of stuff to learn
 
Aries- said:
And if all that was stated on the workorder was "beadblast and blue" are they to assume that theybare to charge the customer mire than the gun is worth to repair pitting and refinish to new when it isnt stated? If you take an old clunker of a car that is rusted out into a mechanic and it says replace oil filter and sparkplug wires. Do you expect them to call and say do you want us to replace all your body panels totaly beabblast your frame and refi ish the car to new?
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Well it would have taken 2-3 questions and 45 seconds for the person who took the order to ask the guy what he expected, if it was worth it, or if it was even possible.

I just took my mountain bike in for a total overhaul, the guy spent 7-8 min with me telling me what they were going to do, what I wanted, what the result would be, and if I should consider a new bike instead of the overhaul. $300 later I signed off on the repairs... just seems standard on stuff like this. I donno maybe they did that with him but it sure doesn't sound like it.
 
When I take anything to a "EXPERT".. I expect "EXPERT" work and advice!!! I think that advice should have been " not worth putting any money into that gun" Been busy is no excuse for not giving every customer the time and advice on every project!!!
 
K-Roc said:
Well it would have taken 2-3 questions and 45 seconds for the person who took the order to ask the guy what he expected, if it was worth it, or if it was even possible.

I just took my mountain bike in for a total overhaul, the guy spent 7-8 min with me telling me what they were going to do, what I wanted, what the result would be, and if I should consider a new bike instead of the overhaul. $300 later I signed off on the repairs... just seems standard on stuff like this. I donno maybe they did that with him but it sure doesn't sound like it.
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And if the gun was shipped with with a note that says "please beadblast and blue"

It is also not the gunsmiths writing up the work orders. It is the general counter staff that writes up work orders on guns be it in person ir ship ins.
 
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I think a 5 min call or email would have helped if he had mailed it in and not dropped it off in person. I mean that is what being part of the service industry is all about. Sure lots of customers are rude and have unrealistic expectations, I don't doubt that... but its sort of the job of the business to clarify things isn't it? Its just setting yourself up for complaints, some of which will be warranted, some of which will not, if they fail to take that approach.

If the dealer used their expert common sense and said "Well this wont really make this gun any better, maybe I should take 5 min and call this guy or write him an email"
 
How much more clarification should they need past beadblast and blue? If the customer wanted more, then it shoukd have been stated when it was brought in or more details in the note along with the maiked in gun.
 
Hey you can take that approach if you want , and your section on cgn will keep blowing up with complaints. Like I said , some warranted , some not. You realize I'm not even saying its 100% epps fault. Probably more like 50/50, just saying with a 5 min phone call = no problem . I wish you and your business the best. I have no dog in the fight so to speak. Cheers mate .
 
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