I placed an order with combat masters with all the required info my credit card and a scan of my PAL the works. Haven't heard back in a week. I am going to cancel it and order from Wolf at least he responds in 1-2 days.
Combat Masters too busy for new clients???
- Thread starter grox6
- Start date
I have asked Combat Master before about "left over" stock but with demand being high - all the "left over" stock have already been sold. Combat Master makes a good product at reasonable price, and that is why the demand is high. The downside is limited supply.
I do not know whether his operation is 24/7, and I do not know why he did not respond to your request in 3-4 weeks. All business would like to have more customers so I would have to assume there is a reason behind the "no response".
I have faxed 3 times and emailed twice. Takes 5-7 business days in between each response to respond, and each response is either indifferent or open ended. I don't even know why they pay for a telephone. I guess it beats hiring a $10.00/hour phone rep to take orders and payment.
I placed an order over a month ago for 2 cases of 9mm ammo (their minimum order). I am still waiting on a response so I can give them credit card information and place my order.
Now, they can soak a cork. I found someone local for the same price. Oh well for them.
I placed an order over a month ago for 2 cases of 9mm ammo (their minimum order). I am still waiting on a response so I can give them credit card information and place my order.
Now, they can soak a cork. I found someone local for the same price. Oh well for them.
Funny after I canceled my order last night with him he replied in 3 hours. Yes 3 hours about how he was sorry. Well why didn't you respond in three hours after I made the order. All you had to do was tell me I will be waiting for a month or so before I get the ammo. No big deal but to leave a customer hanging not knowing anything well that is absolutely terrible. And he lost about a 2k dollar sale because of it.
scallywags
Member
- Location
- Northern Alberta
It's funny that while he was returning your email that he didn't answer a few more. Still waiting! If he has time for people that don't want his stuff anymore you think he would make the time to reply to people that do. I'm still want a reply from him?
I sent an e-mail to Combat Master on your concern with losing business. Here is the reply from Combat Master. His problem on supply just got worse as US export on component is down to nothing. He is now trying to make jacketed bullet to fill his existing orders.
He got multiple things happening at the same time - component importing problem, making jacketed bullets, filling existing order, moving the shop, updating the website with newer prices, customers' order or request for info. All these things take time, and I do not believe he has that much help. He is doing his best to get the cost under control - by going to jacketed bullet manufacturing. He has asked fellow shooters to understand his dilemma on time and his availability. Thank you for your understanding.
Here is Combat Master's reply
"I am buried with work, and with ongoing delays in getting product in from USA, and with the prices being to high even with the cost of metals dropping, I've got a full time machinist here to tool up 5 machines for making jacketed bullets. Once we have this under way, then we will have much more control over our costs, and availability. American vendors are getting slammed with $5,000.00 fines for one tinny thing out of place on exports and fewer and fewer want to deal with exports.
Americans have a huge run on product this spring, thus less need to sell export as it's very time consuming the legal way and the potential risk and fines take all the fun out of it.
As for the emails, I'm getting as many as 50 a day, and I just can't respond to them all, we're changing to supplying more product to stores and less direct to customers. We will try and service our existing customers who have been with us in the past, but until I can get caught up on product, and existing orders, it's hard to take new orders, just not fair to the ones waiting.
I want to update our website, but Domain Direct SOLD all it's websites to Hoover, and this requires all new accounts and time muddling around, so I'm looking at a new ISP for hosting then I will update.
I do try and go back and respond to as many emails as I can but most are for one box of ammo, and our website clearly states minimum 2 case order, or they want 100 pce of brass, I just can't respond to all these requests, just not good use of the time I have for each day.
We're moving onto our new Industrial lot in a few months, and then I can hire an assistant to take care of much of the customer communications, even if it's to say no.
We will be retail to the public at the Easter Gun show in Calgary. Less and less retail, and moving more towards Wholesale only.
More focus on product, production, development, and manufacturing, and to put time into distribution retail sales, promotion, and such, is going to change in the future. Moving more to dealers as time moves on. Doesn't mean we will forget our customers who been with us for years, just new customers will have to go to the stores, as each time they pickup, it kills me for time, as I like to visit, and they want to visit, next thing, 1/2 the morning is gone, and I'm even further behind.
So, That's what's happening in our world. I have full plans on updating the website, including price increases, as we're to low, and this has caused a flood of requests.
I hope you understand. You've been a very loyal customer over the years, and appreciate your support, and concern, I trust this will shed light on why there's such a taxing demand for my time, and I just can't do any more in a day, I work 7 days a week, from 7 AM to 10 PM every day. This will improve with new premises, more space, more helpers.
Kurt THOMAS
President,
Canadian BDX Inc."
He got multiple things happening at the same time - component importing problem, making jacketed bullets, filling existing order, moving the shop, updating the website with newer prices, customers' order or request for info. All these things take time, and I do not believe he has that much help. He is doing his best to get the cost under control - by going to jacketed bullet manufacturing. He has asked fellow shooters to understand his dilemma on time and his availability. Thank you for your understanding.
Here is Combat Master's reply
"I am buried with work, and with ongoing delays in getting product in from USA, and with the prices being to high even with the cost of metals dropping, I've got a full time machinist here to tool up 5 machines for making jacketed bullets. Once we have this under way, then we will have much more control over our costs, and availability. American vendors are getting slammed with $5,000.00 fines for one tinny thing out of place on exports and fewer and fewer want to deal with exports.
Americans have a huge run on product this spring, thus less need to sell export as it's very time consuming the legal way and the potential risk and fines take all the fun out of it.
As for the emails, I'm getting as many as 50 a day, and I just can't respond to them all, we're changing to supplying more product to stores and less direct to customers. We will try and service our existing customers who have been with us in the past, but until I can get caught up on product, and existing orders, it's hard to take new orders, just not fair to the ones waiting.
I want to update our website, but Domain Direct SOLD all it's websites to Hoover, and this requires all new accounts and time muddling around, so I'm looking at a new ISP for hosting then I will update.
I do try and go back and respond to as many emails as I can but most are for one box of ammo, and our website clearly states minimum 2 case order, or they want 100 pce of brass, I just can't respond to all these requests, just not good use of the time I have for each day.
We're moving onto our new Industrial lot in a few months, and then I can hire an assistant to take care of much of the customer communications, even if it's to say no.
We will be retail to the public at the Easter Gun show in Calgary. Less and less retail, and moving more towards Wholesale only.
More focus on product, production, development, and manufacturing, and to put time into distribution retail sales, promotion, and such, is going to change in the future. Moving more to dealers as time moves on. Doesn't mean we will forget our customers who been with us for years, just new customers will have to go to the stores, as each time they pickup, it kills me for time, as I like to visit, and they want to visit, next thing, 1/2 the morning is gone, and I'm even further behind.
So, That's what's happening in our world. I have full plans on updating the website, including price increases, as we're to low, and this has caused a flood of requests.
I hope you understand. You've been a very loyal customer over the years, and appreciate your support, and concern, I trust this will shed light on why there's such a taxing demand for my time, and I just can't do any more in a day, I work 7 days a week, from 7 AM to 10 PM every day. This will improve with new premises, more space, more helpers.
Kurt THOMAS
President,
Canadian BDX Inc."
More info on where to buy Combat Master ammunition.
"The stores, Pro-Line Shooters and The Shooting Edge in Calgary get regular stock on a weekly basis, so I have to service Police contracts first, stores and stocking retail sales next, and then mail order, etc.
Minimum order for bullets and Ammo going up to 4 cases or 4M after the Easter gunshow, I just don't have staff to deal with individuals as it cuts into my time for development of product, and keeping operations running.
Tnx. Kurt"
"The stores, Pro-Line Shooters and The Shooting Edge in Calgary get regular stock on a weekly basis, so I have to service Police contracts first, stores and stocking retail sales next, and then mail order, etc.
Minimum order for bullets and Ammo going up to 4 cases or 4M after the Easter gunshow, I just don't have staff to deal with individuals as it cuts into my time for development of product, and keeping operations running.
Tnx. Kurt"
We all have to make our own decision and justification. Combat Master has limited resources and time. His problem is caused by external sources like US government.
I believe he is doing his best to satisfy customers (like expanding, keeping cost down, etc) but when problems continue to "pile up" - a person can only do so much in a certain period of time.
Can he do better? Probably but have we walked a mile in his shoes yet? I have dealt with US Government before and I certainly do not envy his job.
If you can get a better product, faster delivery, and cheaper price, I am sure fellow CGNer will be very interested as well. I have only used Combat Master 9 mm Low Lead and I can say they are very good product.
Sometimes, do not be too harsh when judging others as we do not have all the info.
S.
I believe he is doing his best to satisfy customers (like expanding, keeping cost down, etc) but when problems continue to "pile up" - a person can only do so much in a certain period of time.
Can he do better? Probably but have we walked a mile in his shoes yet? I have dealt with US Government before and I certainly do not envy his job.
If you can get a better product, faster delivery, and cheaper price, I am sure fellow CGNer will be very interested as well. I have only used Combat Master 9 mm Low Lead and I can say they are very good product.
Sometimes, do not be too harsh when judging others as we do not have all the info.
S.
but it is a response,...I don't like that it may take longer but I have been buying his product since he started making ammunition,..and I have to say I had no better luck getting ammo from any other supplier except Wild West shooting center. I do remember some quick emails from a reloader from BC though. I don't run such a business,..but I remember what he has to do to make a product from start to finish. If he is moving,..I had better conserve my ammo until my next order comes in.
- Location
- Peace River, Alberta
Excuses, excuses!
You guys can make all the excuses you want for CM. He has a lot of his own too if you want to add those to the list.
It is an obvious fact that he is just a poor guy with a poor business plan and skills. He has a great market but he cannot seem to understand the potential he has and how to reap his rewards.
Greg
You guys can make all the excuses you want for CM. He has a lot of his own too if you want to add those to the list.
It is an obvious fact that he is just a poor guy with a poor business plan and skills. He has a great market but he cannot seem to understand the potential he has and how to reap his rewards.
Greg
Last edited:
Pretty easy to pass judgement on others when you have no idea as to what is involved. I am sure he knows the potential of the market. I am sure if he had unlimited resources at hand he could solve a lot of problems. If anybody thinks there is vast amounts of money to be made in that business they're mistaken unless its on a huge scale. As a reloader we have all seen what is happening to component availability. Havin trouble getting 5K primers? Try finding 1million from 1 supplier when the US is delaying export permits. Seen the notice on the Montana Gold website asking folks to reduce order sizes and not hoard? So you dont get a reply right away or even after an extended period of time. Ya, thats unfortunate and I am sure he doesnt like it any more than you do but why ramble on. there are alternatives if you're not happy. Move on.. I use the product and will continue to do so but I am in the area where it is available thru select retailers. Yes even then its hard to come by when the guy ahead of u takes 5k rounds at a crack but thats just how it goes. I still reload but take the lazy way out when I can...
Just my .02
dB
I tried contacting CM for some cases of 9mm several times and even after 2+ months I still haven't heard from them. I wasn't in a hurry so just left it. Tried contacting Wolf and he responded within 1 day. Ordering from Wolf is fast and easy.
I can understand being swamped and taking a week maybe to respond to order requests. But to never respond?
Are individual gun owners such a small percentage of orders? Even if we're only order 1 or 2 cases at a time?
I can understand being swamped and taking a week maybe to respond to order requests. But to never respond?
Are individual gun owners such a small percentage of orders? Even if we're only order 1 or 2 cases at a time?
Bdx
i don't get all the whining and snivelling on this thread. It's really simple, if you don't like how he operates go somewhere else for your ammo. no, wait, you can't do that cause you want to get ammo at his price(which we can't get anywhere else). at no time is any business required to take care of every potential customer. he does what he needs to to earn a living, if that means taking care of huge contracts first and the onesey and twosey orders if he gets a chance then so be it. he owes you nothing and you owe him nothing, so stop #####in and let him earn his living without all this drama.
hell, i've been trying to get ahold of him myself for a couple months to no avail, no problem though cause i understand he's workin like a one armed wallpaper hanger in a windstorm.
cueball
i don't get all the whining and snivelling on this thread. It's really simple, if you don't like how he operates go somewhere else for your ammo. no, wait, you can't do that cause you want to get ammo at his price(which we can't get anywhere else). at no time is any business required to take care of every potential customer. he does what he needs to to earn a living, if that means taking care of huge contracts first and the onesey and twosey orders if he gets a chance then so be it. he owes you nothing and you owe him nothing, so stop #####in and let him earn his living without all this drama.
hell, i've been trying to get ahold of him myself for a couple months to no avail, no problem though cause i understand he's workin like a one armed wallpaper hanger in a windstorm.cueball
i don't get all the whining and snivelling on this thread. It's really simple, if you don't like how he operates go somewhere else for your ammo. no, wait, you can't do that cause you want to get ammo at his price(which we can't get anywhere else). at no time is any business required to take care of every potential customer. he does what he needs to to earn a living, if that means taking care of huge contracts first and the onesey and twosey orders if he gets a chance then so be it. he owes you nothing and you owe him nothing, so stop #####in and let him earn his living without all this drama.
cueball
Well said.
I went to DVC tonight and met up with John. I bought 500 cartridges of 147gr JHP 9mm. I was looking for FMJ, but I don't have any hollow point for any of my pistols, so I thought "what the heck".
I went to the firing line and did a little ammo show down between Federal AE 124gr FMJ, Federal AE FMJ 147 gr , Fiocchi FMJ 115gr, and John's ammo.
John's stuff is as good as the commercial stuff. I've got pictures of my groups to prove it. I'll buy from him again.
But, the surprise of the night was the Fiocchi. In the past, I always #####ed about it being too hot. But, hot or not, tonight I was dumping 10 carefully aimed rounds into a toonie sized group at ~10 yards. And, my never ending problem with trigger slap/jerking the trigger seemed to disappeared with the Fiocchi. I was dead on with the Fiocchi, while the AE 124 grain and John's ammo produced tight groups about an inch to the left of center(Not sure why, any theories?).
The AE 147gr was producing the most ragged groups for some reason, but still good enough for me.
Anyway, based on my sample of John's ammo, I'll definitely buy from him again assuming I can get a bulk discount.
I went to the firing line and did a little ammo show down between Federal AE 124gr FMJ, Federal AE FMJ 147 gr , Fiocchi FMJ 115gr, and John's ammo.
John's stuff is as good as the commercial stuff. I've got pictures of my groups to prove it. I'll buy from him again.
But, the surprise of the night was the Fiocchi. In the past, I always #####ed about it being too hot. But, hot or not, tonight I was dumping 10 carefully aimed rounds into a toonie sized group at ~10 yards. And, my never ending problem with trigger slap/jerking the trigger seemed to disappeared with the Fiocchi. I was dead on with the Fiocchi, while the AE 124 grain and John's ammo produced tight groups about an inch to the left of center(Not sure why, any theories?).
The AE 147gr was producing the most ragged groups for some reason, but still good enough for me.
Anyway, based on my sample of John's ammo, I'll definitely buy from him again assuming I can get a bulk discount.
I had some email exchange with Kurt today,...he is truly trying his best to get out his product,...but the demand is way too high. His contracts to this and that agency are well over what he has in stock. I told him to send what he can to me,...and hopefully he will have a made in Canada (totally) manufactured ammunition by the end of summer.
