Bad Boxing Day shopping experience at Marstar

[lanis]

Looks like the fanboys are winning this one, OP you shoulda just wrapped this up last night

I am not looking to win popularity contest. Getting information out to my fellow gun owners is what is important to me.
Silent majority will read it and make their own conclusions.

When are you going to wake up, I took the day off work just waiting for the end of the story.

I wish I could do the same.
Most days I spend 11- 12 hours at work, and can post when I am back home.

Im glad he posted this on a public forum. It helps me make decisions on who i buy from. If you or anyone else doesnt like it then stfu and get out of the thread. No one forces you to read.If a company shipped anything to me, especially a firearm and after i cancelled and shipped it like garbage i would be irate.
Now its been 1 day since he posted he obviously has a life outside of this forum and im sure he'll post when hes not so po'd.
Keep your panties on ladies.

Yes, sir.
As posted above, I work long hours, and post when I can.

While I normally like to see grievances posted on the public forums, I prefer them to be written up after the fact with the resolution included so we can draw our own conclusions on which businesses to support. It's good to see which retailers come through when something goes sideways.

Either way 5/5 thread would encourage archiving.

What I normally like is to receive the merchandise that I paid for, and enjoy it afterwards.
I also prefer not to write up this kind of threads, and you can see that from my posting history.

However, we sometimes get what we are not looking for.

While I hate how my rifle from Marstar came UPS (meaning I eventually drove 30 km to the depot to pick it up- FK UPS), this novella approach to a thread is worse.

I am not Shakespeare, but I am willing to practice.

I've dealt with John @ Marstar on a number of purchases - 1 for a Norc M4, others for parts. I've had no problems with any shipments they have arrived secure and well packed and in plain boxes - no outside indicate of what was inside. During the ordering process i've asked questions, raised concerns and John/Marstar have always answered promptly and quickly. No disrespect to the OP but - pick up the phone and call them. Posting the juicy details here does seem to make good reading for some but the way this was done makes it impossible for John to do anything to resolve any issues.

I had couple of good transactions with Marstar.
Last two transactions have been unsatisfactory.

you have my attention also as I was just about to make an order.Will wait a day

Thanks travic.
This thread is a resource for people like yourself, and many others.

Hey, I'll give the OP a chance. Where is he? Did he fall off his chair last night. Are we are waiting for him to wake up? The post is useless w/o the details!
I'm not saying someone should not post a problem with a dealer. Just get it all out with the details before you start to badmouth them.

I've never ordered from Marstar (does not mean i won't), but the dealers make this site possible. No need to post this as a novel. Done, end of story, enough already!
STFU?.....whatever...LOL

I am working on it, with time that I have available.

This post is not required OP. Pick up the phone, call it in with ALL the details John needs and deal with it.

I will be the judge of that.
Marstar has been contacted, to no avail so far.

I will make additional effort to contact business owner personally.

Well, if I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that the author (OP) is letting the reader experience some of the waiting and wondering and anticipation and disappointment and
frustration that he experienced in his dealings with said retailer. Judging by the response this thread is getting, I'd say that he has succeeded in doing just that - assuming
my assumption is correct that is.
It's been very interesting to see how the various people respond.

We all work for our money, and among other expenses- for our leisure activities.
Leisure should be fun, shouldn't it?

Oh boy.

I would have talked to Marstar first.

The OP has prompted me to look at Marstar online.... damn I want one of the rifles he's selling. If i get one I might as well get two.

Don't forget folks; Marstar was the first to give us the $400 M14. When all other retailers had been charging double that.... of course the expensive ones from other retailers were better with tighter quality controls (*cough* bullzhit *cough*)

Slow shipping? - Yup
Eventually get your gear? - YUPPERS

Honest and slow... Meh... I like em' because they're honest. I DARE ANYONE TO SAY MARSTAR STOLE THEIR MONEY!

I am still out shipping costs since last year.
And I did speak to John on the phone then, and he promised full refund.

It still has not happened.

Thank you for posting. Posts like this inform the consumer how potentially their hard earned products might arrive in the mail. Cheers great to know how products are shipped and customers are treated. Sad how the OP always end up being treated by the fan boys.

Dealing with Marstar is crap shoot.
If things work out, great.
You get decent merchandise at very good price.

If things do not work out- THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!
That is why most customers choose to stay silent and absorb the loss.

I wonder if we have all been a victim of a glorious pot stirring and nothing else. I have had no prob with marstar.

No, sir.
I have been here for a while, and have no reason nor inclination for shenanigans of that sort.

 

[JToews]

Can I play too?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I went to the store to buy a can of sardines.

They were for my cat.

His name is Fluffy Bunnykins, Slayer of Helpless Things, Destroyer of Worlds.

He is a Persian. I love him very much.

When I got to the store, they were out of sardines.

I talked to the manager. He was not helpful. He told me there is a shortage of sardines, as the Norwegian Sardine Fishing Industry is on strike.

I hold the store manager responsible.

So I drove to the airport, bought a ticket, and flew to Oslo...


/To be continued

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seriously, mate, pix or it didn't happen. And quit trolling. Serial dramas went out with the newsreel.

I am more of a dog person. But that's interesting too right?

 

[lanis]

You mean like the series of incomplete postings you've up? Go ahead and share your customer service experience good or bad, but actually write it all down, post it at once so we can know the story. If there are pictures... include them. What is productive about posting riddles and innuendo?

Your message could have been conveyed in about 7 sentences.

"I saw some things I wanted on the Marstar website, and ordered them. After not hearing back for two weeks I decided to cancel my order. I was told it was cancelled, but 2 days later I got an email saying it was being shipped and I was being charged. I was hesitant but allowed this. When I got the delivery notice, I was super excited and I even planned a day around unpacking and enjoying the new pickups. When I went to pick them up they were poorly packaged, which I feel was the fault of Marstar, so I shipped them back. Here are the photos I took."

Sorry for not being stylish enough in my posting, but I tried to be as detailed as possible.
Perhaps we have different writing style?

Where's the pictures?

To be continued

Coming.

i willing to bet he doesnt even have any but just states that he does for sake of keeping people hanging on to see them. next we will hear is "oh i cant get them off my phone." or "they got messed up when i tried to upload them" or some other crap.

I will be glad to take that bet.

OP I'm not going to sugar-coat this: your writing style is atrocious.

I've had one experience with Marstar and it wasn't the greatest. Instead of writing this 6th grade hybrid-style paper, you should have contacted them directly after you chose NOT to accept the package.

In regards to your first post, you seem like a hard person to please at the best of times.

I will work on my writing style.
Meanwhile you will have to accept what I got.

In regards to being hard to please, kindly refer to my feedback rating.

They let me know, they would replace the item.

It was just that simple.

Sorry, but to come one here and claim you got burned twice (Fool me once) Is a huge overstatement, John even shows up on the thread, letting you know you will get a full refund, sounds like its resolved, far from a burn. I must say , I LOVE how people order things right after these places have their one break a year , then a HUGE sale, then expect up to the minute service, its crazy lol.

I fully agree with sharing poor experiences so people know who to stay away from and who not to, but this was a really silly way of doing it, have a conclusion, because if this novel ends with "And I got my money back, but I am still so chapped" No one is going to feel bad for you, and everyone will know that it is safe to buy from Marstar because they actually give refunds to unhappy costumers.

And to the "Fanboy" Comments, I have never even purchased anything from Marstar, but with the way John has answered my E-mails promptly with any questions I had, I they will definitely see business from me in the future. This thread only helps that as he has offered the OP a full refund.

I did.
Four times.

Perhaps I might have a little more insight in how they operate?

This post certainly caught my attention!
I have a restricted HG on the way...being shipped today. So far my online purchase experience has been drama free with Marstar. Took 3 days once I hit the BUY key.
Lanis, your return method may cause more grief. Did you read their return policy and steps that need to be taken to expedite the process? I'm not taking sides or stirring the pot....just saying.

As noted above in my previous replies, I tried that approach on previous transaction with Marstar and it ended with financial loss to me.

Wow, holy #### I am laughing so hard right now... Well, next time skip the "Fine Cubans" and just get your local store to order the guns for a few bucks more I guess?

Best thread ever.

Good point, I think I will do exactly that/ local stores.

Can I play too?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I went to the store to buy a can of sardines.

They were for my cat.

His name is Fluffy Bunnykins, Slayer of Helpless Things, Destroyer of Worlds.

He is a Persian. I love him very much.

When I got to the store, they were out of sardines.

I talked to the manager. He was not helpful. He told me there is a shortage of sardines, as the Norwegian Sardine Fishing Industry is on strike.

I hold the store manager responsible.

So I drove to the airport, bought a ticket, and flew to Oslo...


/To be continued

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seriously, mate, pix or it didn't happen. And quit trolling. Serial dramas went out with the newsreel.

Pictures are coming.

My posts are brimming with information.
Yours however is lame attempt at humour.

Who is trolling here?

Now this is funny!! OP got " LOST"!

OP works long hours and has a life.

Classic lose/lose situation.

Marstar gets flamed without ability to defend themselves.
OP comes out looking like a knob for being a drama queen. Drawn out thread over two days with all fluff and no details/pictures. Hard to take this thread seriously.

Two days?

All initial postings are within half a day.

It would of been better to put it out all at once, but I just did not have time nor energy.

Well gentlemen , and ladies....I do not even understand this whole thread . If the firearms in question were poking through the box upon arrival at the postal pick-up , why did the buyer accept the packages if he felt they had been damaged in transit ; and if someone is going to start a thread , then state your case , and leave the drama out of it . It is a firearms forum , not a creative writing class or a mystery novel .

I also kind of wonder why the mods let these types of threads and posts get started and continue as they appear to be more slander than fact based . I have seen some interesting threads , especially related to law enforcement issues , on CGN get locked or deleted , and other threads like this one that makes little or no sense continue on......maybe I am just not yet aware of how the whole site works ?

Buyer did NOT accept the package.
Keep law enforcement threads out of this, we are discussing Marstar customer service here.

I wonder what a phone call with the lanis guy would sound like? LOL

/to be continued...

You will have to keep wondering my friend.
With one transaction to your name, your chances of chatting with me are not that good.

Possibly, but the Vendor has also shown their true character... reading this feels like my dealings with Lever Arms. I won't deal with Lever any longer, and after seeing John's posts I won't deal with Marstar either.

The OP may be a whiner and overly dramatic in his delivery, but the vendor is acting like a jerk. That's OK though; I don't think John gives a rat's ass about losing my potential business... and I'm sure he'll be the first to tell me so.

OP has tried to give entire story.
Vendor is acting as he is accustomed to.

So you can just make unsupported claims, not back it up and anyone who calls you on it is a fanboy... and they are the dolts?

Maybe some, like myself, used to be in retail and know the crap that we used to go through with wankers who think they are always right or just have a hate on to abuse people in retail.

God people like you make me glad I do something else now

I'm no fanboy but I'm not a boat jumper like you.. come on lets all gang up on the guy who makes money in a business selling the toys we enjoy, we can hate him because we're jealous... is that where you come from?

Perhaps some people are capable of making their own minds, and do not feel the need to be followers.

Try using a regular font face instead of bold.
Try empowering your staff to deal with these sorts of issues while you're at SHOT.
Try saying something professional, like "Sorry to hear your shipment was damaged in transit. Can you PM me your name or order number with some pictures of this and I'll look into it."

When your first words are insults and snide comments, do you think it is doing you ANY favors with prospective buyers?

FF

Word for word, exactly right.

Referring to the OP like this ------> LANUS (Big Mouth) is a not so subtle barb. It's like adding Contributing Dealer or Help I sold my soul to the Internet to a name. Why would you unless making a point?

Barb is coming from not so subtle, class act retailer.

NO PROOF NO NOTHING, PLEASE PEOPLE DONT FALL FOR SUCH OBVIOUS TRAP

Pom

No trap, just an experience of ordinary Canadian gun owner.

I've had good luck with Marstar from the two orders that I've made a few months ago.

I received an SVT-40 from another seller on here, that was really well packed. But CanadaPost still managed to make the charging handle poke thru the two layer of cardboard + packaging. Not always seller fault.

I received rifle with charging handle poking through the package just this last week from another retailer.
That is a non event and I accepted it without second thought.

I've never been in retail, but on numerous occasions I have seen the following sign, "if you are happy with our service, tell others,if
you are not happy with our service, tell us". I think this indicates that the retailer would like to work out any issues with the customer.
It this doesn't work, then go public, as opposed to simply going off without giving the retailer a chance to remedy the situation. These
threads of complain first, resolve second, are getting tiresome. Every business is going to have the odd situation where things go
sideways, and no, I have never been a customer of Marstar's, simply because I have had items go astray, or damaged in the mail when
buying from other business's.

Wise man.

 

[st1264]

I've had a couple minor issues with Marstar and they were resolved quickly. I suggest to step back, relax and let them fix the problems. Getting worked up on CGN is pretty easy to do, best to bring it to their attention and let them take care of it. Hope everything is worked out to your satisfaction (I expect it will be). If it isn't, use the iTrader Feedback system as it's supposed to be used.

 

[lanis]

I know some don't like johns bold text, I actually find it easy to read, but that's just me.

If story is true, I still would have taken the things home to see if there was actually damage or not. Then go from there if damage is evident. Doesn't make much sense to me to send it back so it can be sent back again.

Buy enough rifles eventually you will see a barrel breathing fresh air from the box.

Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
You take rifles home, who will guarantee that you did not cause the damage yourself.

As you can see here, retailer is just an extremely polite and respectful gentleman and pleasure to deal with.

I get the story, I get the OP's frustration and I also get what he's getting at.
So OP, did you get your Visa card credited to the full amount, including the
shipping to and fro?

Not yet, but will ensure that it happens one way or the other.

Someday I have to order something from this place. Wonder if I should start a thread on that. Have to sleep on it.

Good luck!

I have an idea, why don't you tell us what you do for a living, then we'll have someone complain about the work you do before they bother contacting you for a resolution, they can come here make wild accusations about what you did wrong, slander you, generally #### all over you and we'll watch you sit here and be polite to them.... no that wouldn't be ok, but hey because it's retail the gloves are off and anyone in retail is supposed to let people squat and #### all over them and they are supposed to smile.... what a JOKE

Are you coming to these conclusions based on your extensive trading record?

edit: Just went through the rules again, sorry, didn't know that was a rule.
Thanks for pointing that out Deckard, (and Ballox) won't happen again.

@OP, don't make this into something it's not, if there is still an unresolved issue, contact john, am i'm sure he'll do as he said he would (resolve it).
If the issue is resolved, stop trying to turn it into the most traumatic event of your life (I'm sure this pales by comparison).

Thanks for the tip.

To the OP, should have just put the whole thing out there instead of dragging it out. That said you should have learned from your first bad experience. Had the same ####ty service back before the site update. I tried placing an order by email, went several weeks without a word from them tried doing follow up email got nothing, brought it up here and got told by the fanboys make a call thats the only way to contact them.....then why did they have email order forms? anyway phone call just wouldnt work with the east-west time zone difference and my work schedule so i faxed an order in with an explanation that it was a follow up seeing as the email order didnt seem to go through, back to the unresponsive waiting game that returned here followed by johns go to response "I tried searching your screen name and nothing came up...blah blah blah", well no ####, maybe if they checked their email they would have seen i sent them all my information with regards to the order. A week or so later i finally got an email saying the order was being processed and i eventually got the gun.

All that said i could care less what john or the fanboys have to say, I order LOTS of items online and marstar was by far the worst handled ordeal ive ever dealt with which is why they will never get my business again and i will steer others away as there are plenty of amazing dealers on this site that appreciate the business and handle all aspects of online purchasing in a much more professional manner.

All i can say to future buyers is be warned. There will always disgruntled buyers but i always seem to see the majority in the marstar forum.

Agreed.
There are numerous other online retailers who are capable of treating their customers with respect, as you correctly pointed out.

I've never bought anything from Marstar, but I have to say, after reading this unprofessional behavior, I don't think I would in future. I don't believe anything this guy says about the poor packaging, and I've seen many marstar products in person and loved them, but this behavior is not conducive to someone I want to do business with. It's true, this guy is probably making the whole thing up to make marstar look bad. But John, seriously, we have a saying here on the internet. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, wise man.

Dear John,
The OP has apparently bought firearms from you. There has to be a paper trail somewhere in your records. According to his original post, he has spoken to an employee at Marstar. He has also received an email from your administrator telling him his CC has been charged. You obviously have his info and CC number. It is not up to the members of this forum to do your job or PR for you. This is the business you are running. Please look up your email trail. i'm sure you can figure out who the OP is.
Dear OP,
Please resolve this situation soon. John, through his numerous posts, is trying to contact you. Let's get back to some civility here. By your prose and the fact that you have gone quiet, it really does not look good for your cause either.

Thanks 'Still alive', I will see to it, that it gets resolved in timely fashion.
I have contacted them twice already, but it did not work as it should.

I will certainly contact them again.

Cheers.

This #### is epic lol. The op obviously is full of crap who would take 3 days to drag out a story but im with some of the others it must be hard to have trolls trash your business but I think being the bigger man and not coming off as a hot head to others might get you more business.

Where did you get THREE days?
Just writing something for sake of writing, and joining the fan boy pile up, Mr Big Spender?

well he said he was getting tired,,,, must be really tired , I guess, to take 3 days to finish the store and post some supposed pics

Your math is little off.
Postings are all within half a day.

I do not have lot of time available for internet activities.

Cheers.

As a newbie here, I would like to offer my point of view. I stopped reading this thread around page 12. If the OP's intentions were to wind people up, and start a battle, he certainly succeeded. I don't even know if his claims were valid, or true. But the responses were amazing. I also garnered that Marstar is a vendor that has been embroiled in controversy before, and now again. At this point, where is this going? It seems way off topic at this point, how long do these things go on?

OP's intentions are to inform people and help them make better choices.

I'm willing to bet the OP is waiting for the parcel to return to the supplier.
Then the seller will know who the sale was to.
If not, then there is absolutely no hope.

Entertaining to say the least.
Just waiting for the photos to show up?

I have refused the parcel and it has been returned to Marstar's local post office.
It has been sitting there for a week now, and no one has picked it up as of yet.
They must be busy posting on CGN.

Been following this and all of the other Marstar bashing threads. All seems to be a bit surreal at times. Seems strange that all of these posters, most with low post counts, just came out of the woodwork at the same time to bash Marstar. Been dealing with them for years, with no such experiences. I think something smells here.

It may be time to change your socks Pete, and do some actual firearm purchasing, not just talk about it.

Cheers.

 

[ShadNuke]

All the time spent on the big posts within the last 45 minutes, and still no pics? Just appease the masses, and get it over with. Wouldn't that just be easier?

 

[nemo905]

maybe the mods should start looking up multi ip's?

 

[lanis]

All the time spent on the big posts within the last 45 minutes, and still no pics? Just appease the masses, and get it over with. Wouldn't that just be easier?

ShadNuke, I actually thought as well that it would take me about that long to reply to CGN'ers concerns, but if you look little closer- it is more like
three hours.
I edited first post adding all additional information from my other posts for more clarity, and after that continued with replies to individual postings.

After putting in twelve hours work day and three hours of CGN postings, I am bushed.

Pictures are on my smartphone, and will be posted as soon as I get to it.
Not that exciting, two barrels sticking out of the box, and looking ridiculous.
I am sure it will be rather underwhelming.

I will figure out how to do it, can't be that difficult.

Cheers,
Dan

maybe the mods should start looking up multi ip's?

Nemo, please clarify?

 

[slicknova]

All the time spent on the big posts within the last 45 minutes, and still no pics? Just appease the masses, and get it over with. Wouldn't that just be easier?

No kidding. It just makes one wonder the motivation of this thread, and why the op worked so hard at capturing interest..... all the to "be continued stuff". I give him credit tho, he successfully turned allegedly "damaged shipment thread" into a 200 post joke. Seriously entertaining tho!! FWIW OP, I hope you get this sorted and are satisfied in whatever resolution you and John come to.

John: Your Professionalism needs improvement. I can however understand your frustration. That being said I have never ordered from you, but I may. I will definitely not let a thread like this influence MY decision to do so. Some will tho, that's why you can never be too professional.

I was gonna put a movie on, then I stumbled on to this little GEM!!

 

[Speckfire]

Exactly it takes way more time to quote every single person's question and your answer than posting those promised pics.

 

[lanis]

My word is my bond.




I am off to bed now, there will be more pictures with greater detail once I get some rest.


Cheers,
Dan

 

[Ratfor]

wow

I've never bought anything from Marstar, but I have to say, after reading this unprofessional behavior, I don't think I would in future. I don't believe anything this guy says about the poor packaging, and I've seen many marstar products in person and loved them, but this behavior is not conducive to someone I want to do business with. It's true, this guy is probably making the whole thing up to make marstar look bad. But John, seriously, we have a saying here on the internet. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, wise man.

My apologies, The nature of anonymity on the internet leads to being a bit jaded regarding Trolls (which if you are, is Masterfully done, but after that much effort unlikely). You took the time to respond to everyone, I'm very impressed. I will continue to assist you by voting with my wallet. If there is anything else I can do, please PM me.


*edit*

And now after seeing the picture I am suspicious of trolling again. You said you returned the package at the post office to the sender (post #85). That post office looks Awfully like someone's home. Or your post office is just way cozier then mine. I don't know what to think any more.

 

[lanis]

Pictures are from the storage room in the back of local small pharmacy that has a postal counter.
Not everyone lives in large cities, my friend.

There will be several more coming tomorrow, now that I know how to do it.
Off to bed now, without further delay.

 

[smokeater40]

Looks like careless handling by posty to me. Just my opinion. I wonder how far this had to travel?

 

[RageStation]

Looks like careless handling by posty to me. Just my opinion. I wonder how far this had to travel?

From Vankleek Hill to Kichtener/Guelph area; not far perhaps enough for CP to do the packaging in.

But from this one pic I would not agree that its well packed to begin with. You can see that there was lots of packing between the rifles but nothing in front of the muzzles. You can deduce this by the limited "sway" in the punctures which are both very similar, suggesting the rifles moved as one. There is no shredding to speak of besides the thin and clearly fatigued before use cardboard that would have concealed the barrels.


OP I do hope you have more than this one image. It would had been very wise of you to take a pic as a whole and also one detailing the packing slip (I do not expect nor suggest you post that one unedited to reveal private information).


My dealings with John have come to an end and only because of the responses to threads here. I am not a fan of the insulting manner to which he treats clients who are clearly already having enough "fun" nor being referred to as a "####ing idiot" by the guy (strangely enough when actually complimenting his business). The final line was struck when he started this new fad of demanding his clients to post ALL of their private information publicly in these threads; citing that its the only way his crystal ball only works with that. And always ignoring any comments from said users about them having called and provided that information.


That all said its in Johns interest to leave these threads unlocked. He will likely see these as threads that deter users who have strong consumer convictions that play things close etc to shop elsewhere buying rifles he probably imported and make a cut on anyway. And the rest of the lemmings as we all are to such brilliance will just join the fanboys who make these threads in 30 pg nightmares. (Interestingly enough usually OP is blamed full stop for the threads being so long and this is the first that OP probably did lol)

 

[GtpSpecialEdition]

Wow you sleep a lot.... You should take some stimulants and finish off this skid mark of a thread.

 

[FAQMAT]

Wow you sleep a lot.... You should take some stimulants and finish off this skid mark of a thread.

+1 This is getting ridiculous.

 

[surly]

This thread is more entertaining than ARROW and AGENTS OF SHIELD put together.

 

[armycat]

Where are the photos?

 

[ex2ppcli]

I literally almost fell asleep reading this crap...........