Springfield Armory....grrrrr.

A

ATTICUS

New member
I purchased an M1A Scout in early September. Springfield was running a special on the Government scope, 3rd generation mount, and rings ( a $680 value for only $99) with the purchase of an M1A. I mailed everything in and waited, and waited ,and waited. Finally I called them and was told that the response to the ad was overwhelming and that the scopes were back ordered for 6-8 weeks. I asked if I could get another scope (Aimpoint scout) since I really didn’t want the Gov’t model anyway. They said no.

It’s been 8 weeks now, so I called them today and asked when I would be getting the scope package. I was told that I might get on the list for the November shipment but they couldn’t promise anything. I asked once again if I could get a substitution. They offered two types of scopes as substitutes (not a scout); one was an additional $180 (above the $99) and the other an additional $300. You would think that they would make an effort to compensate someone who just bought one of their overpriced rifles. This whole deal has really ticked me off, and it will be a cold one in Hades before I buy another Springfield product. Am I being unreasonable? Any suggestions to get them moving?
 
I would say be patient.

I got a pretty good deal on a 3rd gen mount and 6x40 when I bought my M1A. About a year and a half later I sold them both on ebay for a 100% profit. Considering what a good deal it is, I would just be patient. Plus, I would imagine that there would be a lot of people buying M1A's with such a good deal. My scope took a little while too if I remember right.

You are entitled to do what you want. If you think they are taking too long then don't buy them anymore. I am on the side of being more patient and understanding myself. Especially since I like my M1A so much.
 
I understand about waiting and it does seem to take forever, I got an M1A but it was smith work on a shotgun [benelli] that took GG&G Forever and a day to get it done, about 18 months for a barrel change and sights. I know its not the same but the waiting sure is. Good luck and hope you get your stuff soon.
 
Thanks, I will try to be be patient since I don't have any other choice...which is what's ticking me off BTW. I will wait, and I will enjoy my rifle (it's a good one), but Springfield is not gaining a loyal customer in me. There are at least a dozen better ways they could have dealt with their poor planning, but they didn't. This will be my only purchase from them. Maybe I'm old school but I still think that customer satisfaction should be a priority. Springfield makes me feel like I'm dealing with the IRS (a kinder,gentler, mannerly, IRS maybe, but still...).
 
ATTICUS, lemme put a positive spin on the deal: A semi-auto-rifle gunmaker is swamped with orders, which gives the lie to the anti-gun crowd about how Americans don't really like guns. :) It means that folks are getting some Good Stuff, and at a heckuva price, which in this age of inflation is a Good Thing.

As to "poor planning", a lot of businesses have been unexpectedly affected by 911. Some, good; too many, bad. At least this effect is good, from the standpoint of Springfield staying in business.

So, another vote in favor of patience.

:), Art
 
Art, you make good points, and I agree entirely - BUT - When business is good, and your makin money hand over fist, that is the time to make customers happy. When your broke, you can't do that, and you spiral on down and out of business. Springfield could have offered a number of deals on different scopes, or they simply could have said, " hey, we are overwhelmed and we WILL make it up to you. What can we do? What would you prefer from these five choices?" I would have been happy with a simple apology and a free hat. Instead they did nothing, and offered nothing. I coaxed the other scope offer out of them, but coughing up an additional $200-$400 for a different scope, of THEIR choosing, that I don't even want, just doesn't cut it.

I omitted another part of this story though. This rifle had to be sent back for repairs a day after I got it. The gun was repaired and returned promtly, but I spent the next five weeks trying to recover shipping expenses that were "in the mail" three times.

Paying $1400 for a rifle is a very big deal to me, as was the $580 incentive to do so. I paid my bill, and I want them to do likewise. I wish SA the best, but the time to worry about them is when unsatisfied customers STOP complaining because of it's futility.
 
My original plan was to sell the SA scope and buy a Leupold or Burris scout scope with the money. So if someone will be kind enough to "lend" me one, I'll pay you back when SA delivers and I can sell it. Would January work for you (maybe 2002)? ;)
 
Be patient, Young Grasshopper.

I too am having a heck of a time waiting for my Springfield to come back. It's been 33 days for a very simple part swap and a little rail polish. This should have taken about 2 or 3 weeks.
My patience is almost at the very end.

I am afraid my next Springfield will be a Rock River. I've had a few Springfields now... I like them, sure. But this isn't a danged VCR we are talking about - its an Automatic Handgun. Promptness is Required. If Springfield is getting flooded - then Springfield needs to bring in some additional damned help.

Hmmm...

Be Patient? :mad: Maybe no longer...
 
Here is a "maybe" scenario. They got a whopping good deal on some scopes and decided to perk up sales with that special offer. But it was too good, and now they can't get any more scopes at that special price. I would almost bet there is some hard bargaining between SA, Inc., and the scope people. If they substitute something else at no extra cost, they lose their a**.

Jim
 
and I've heard that the Chinese are tough negotiators. :)

They had my package (receipt, coupon) in hand on 9/14 - so apparently this scope shortage probelm existed prior to the events of 9/11. I should have kept the $99, at least I'd be halfway to the Leupold.
 
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Sounds like you'll get your scope eventually, and you're only going to sell it, so what's the problem? The 3rd Gen scopes have the best resale of any scope from Springfield, so you'll eventually make a $200 profit on your $99 investment. I bet you have enough liquid cash to buy the scope you want now and make your profit later. You got (or will get) a great deal, no matter what the timeline.
 
You will make your money!

Atticus. You are making a profit off of this deal. I am telling you, that package will resell. I had my scope and mount for a year and a half and resold it. Here is what I bought each for.

3rd Gen Mount $49. Sold for $110.

6x40 7.62mm Government Model Scope $109. Sold for $200.

You are getting yours $60 cheaper than mine! And I am going to bet you can sell that stuff on eBay or Gunbroker.com for the same price. Scopes aren't really necessary for the M1A anyway. You did mention you got the scout right? You are not even going to use that set up anyway right? You are going to make it a scout rifle with the scout mount and a scout scope right? So don't sweat it. Besides, the longer Springfield waits, the more value your items are going to gain.

If you really are that displeased, I would be willing to buy both of them and rid you of this dishoner right away. How does $150 sound for the both of them? :D
 
Don't tempt me, a bird in the hand....... You're right guys, but it's the principal of the thing. I'll just keep patiently waitng for my "Christmas present". If Santa doesn't bring it by the 25th, I'm gonna give you guys another earfull, and I will probably take your $150 ER . As a matter of fact, why don't you just send me the $150 now,in good faith, and I'll let you know how it all developes. :D
 
Handy: "I bet you have enough liquid cash to buy the scope you want now and make your profit later."

Actually, I had $500 earmarked for a scope for the M1A and ended up buying a Glock instead...DOH! I have no self control dammit. It's all SA's fault!!!
 
Do you have a good scope bolt gun in .308?

If you don't already have a good bolt gun in .308 with a good quality scope, save your money and do that. I sort of gave up on scoping the M1A, the cheek weld wasn't right and I just wasn't happy. Plust I use it for shooting national match and there are no scopes there. So I decided to just get a Remington 700 VS and put a nice Leupold scope on it. Now I use that as my long distance .308 and the M1A as a good general purpose rifle. The 700 does its job great andt he M1A does its job great. Just a suggestion. Buy a nice scope, but buy a nice bolt gun to put it on instead.
 
I've got that covered with a Rem 700 in '06. The M1A is a scout and will probably end up with a 2-3x of some kind.
 
a lot of businesses have been unexpectedly affected by 911
Click to expand...

It's got nothing to do with 9-11. It's simple incompetence.

I sent them my 1911 hi-cap the first week of August. (A gunsmith told me it was so far out of spec it was not safe to fire, ONE DAY before a Farnum class!!!)

Just YESTERDAY I finally got an answer from them. The gun was inspected, and no problem found. It should have taken MAYBE 3 weeks to find that out.

In all the times I've called them to ask about it, NOT ONCE has the customer service person been able to tell me anything without checking on it and calling me back. Worse, NOT ONCE have they ever called back as promised.

Oh, the "answer" I finally got from them? "Well, I think it should ship out this week."

Yes, everyone I talked to has been very nice. And incompetent. And liars. "Oh, we've left several messages and sent you several emails." No, ONE email. Last Wednesday, so I called on Friday. (Busy work schedule.) It took until Tuesday and me calling BACK (after having been promised a call back, again) to get anywhere. The ONLY call back I've gotten was from Deb after I pointed out that I have NEVER been called back as promised.

I've bought my last Springfield. Love my new Sistema!
 
"Yes, everyone I talked to has been very nice. And incompetent."

Exactly Captain- You took the words out of my mouth. It seems like they have a lot of experience in handing out apologies and empty promises, because they are VERY good at it. That's too bad...I might have purchased an aimpoint comp and a few other items from them if everything had worked out.

This whole deal is comparable to Ford offering a Kawasaki quadrunner with the purchase of a Ranger and then saying,
" Gee whiz, we really didn't think that anyone would want one. We'll have to see if we can find some somewhere."
 
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