I reside in CT and ordered 2 new guns (Colts) from my dealer. Paid cash for them up front. I knew there would be a wait and that was ok. Since they were ordered in August, about 6 months ago, I wanted to see where I stood re an ETA. Not pushing, just wanted an approximation. I phoned Colt and they were obliging and willing to work with me, but needed the order numbers. When I asked my dealer for them, he passed me over to the distributor. When I asked the distributor for the order numbers, he flatly refused to give them to me. Is this normal.? Can anyone tell me why the distributor would want to prevent me from getting any kind of status/delivery information from Colt when I already paid for them.?
Can a distributor refuse me my ordering info.
- Thread starter FrankD
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AirForceShooter
Member
I'd raise a little hell with my dealer.
AFS
AFS
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
AirForceShooter said:
Yeah, in this case you are not really Colt or the distributors customer, your dealer is. You're just some guy on the phone.
It is not their place to get involved in a dispute between you and your dealer.
If you think your dealer is lying about delivery dates, find another dealer.
If your dealer won't give you the information you need, find another dealer.
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Your dealer should have called the distributor for you.
I don't want my money back. I do want the guns. I waited this long, I can wait longer if need to. My dilemma is having the "right" to speak to Colt about my order. I'm not trying to be devious or change anything. I really don't know if within the technicalities of ordering a gun I do have this "right".
Beren
Moderator Emeritus
Frank,
You're not buying from Colt. You're buying from your dealer. You have no relationship with Colt or the distributor right now. Your relationship with Colt begins after you take possession of your purchase.
Get your money back and talk to one of the online dealers. Check with 'www.thegunsource.com' Find someone local who is willing to do a $10-$15 transfer for you. Buy from the online dealer and have the local guy do the transfer.
You're not buying from Colt. You're buying from your dealer. You have no relationship with Colt or the distributor right now. Your relationship with Colt begins after you take possession of your purchase.
Get your money back and talk to one of the online dealers. Check with 'www.thegunsource.com' Find someone local who is willing to do a $10-$15 transfer for you. Buy from the online dealer and have the local guy do the transfer.
You purchased from your dealer.
Your dealer purchased from a distributor.
The distributor purchased direct from Colt.
Information MUST go through those routes. You can't bypass the middle man in cases like this.
Your only point of contact is your dealer. If he is not willing to give you the information you need, you will have to find another dealer. As simple as that.
Your dealer purchased from a distributor.
The distributor purchased direct from Colt.
Information MUST go through those routes. You can't bypass the middle man in cases like this.
Your only point of contact is your dealer. If he is not willing to give you the information you need, you will have to find another dealer. As simple as that.
dfariswheel
Member
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- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,662
This is sort of a "chain of command" type thing.
You ordered a gun through your dealer.
He place the order with a distributor, who ordered the gun from Colt.
You do not bypass the dealer and the distributor to talk directly to Colt.
In effect, the distributor and Colt have no idea who you are, and as far as they are concerned, you're some stranger attempting to interfere with their business.
The reason this isn't allowed is because if the distributor is telling Colt one thing, and you're horning in telling them something else, orders get confused and the wrong gun gets shipped.
Then the distributor or dealer gets stuck with a gun the customer refuses to accept.
You would never dream of, (nor would you be allowed) to order a new car, then start talking directly to Ford or Chevy about how you want it.
The bottom line here is, you do your talking to YOUR dealer. He's in charge of passing communications on up the line and getting answers.
Bypassing your dealer and the distributor is WRONG, and frankly I'm surprised the distributor didn't cancel your order and tell you to get lost.
You ordered a gun through your dealer.
He place the order with a distributor, who ordered the gun from Colt.
You do not bypass the dealer and the distributor to talk directly to Colt.
In effect, the distributor and Colt have no idea who you are, and as far as they are concerned, you're some stranger attempting to interfere with their business.
The reason this isn't allowed is because if the distributor is telling Colt one thing, and you're horning in telling them something else, orders get confused and the wrong gun gets shipped.
Then the distributor or dealer gets stuck with a gun the customer refuses to accept.
You would never dream of, (nor would you be allowed) to order a new car, then start talking directly to Ford or Chevy about how you want it.
The bottom line here is, you do your talking to YOUR dealer. He's in charge of passing communications on up the line and getting answers.
Bypassing your dealer and the distributor is WRONG, and frankly I'm surprised the distributor didn't cancel your order and tell you to get lost.
You have to pay up front??????
Whenever I have my dealer order something, there is zero charge until the gun gets there.
I don't think I would do a 100% up-front, even for a custom job.
Maybe you DO need to find a new dealer. I would think that he has zero into the deal other than the time it took him to order them, while he has had your money to use for over 6 months.
I would not be a happy camper, if I were you.
Whenever I have my dealer order something, there is zero charge until the gun gets there.
I don't think I would do a 100% up-front, even for a custom job.
Maybe you DO need to find a new dealer. I would think that he has zero into the deal other than the time it took him to order them, while he has had your money to use for over 6 months.
I would not be a happy camper, if I were you.
dfariswheel
Member
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- 6,662
FrankD failed to say if these were custom-order guns.
It's common when ordering ANYTHING that's custom to pay up front.
A common problem with custom orders on any product is, the maker builds it and the customer backs out, leaving the maker stuck with something custom made for someone that other people possible won't want.
It's common when ordering ANYTHING that's custom to pay up front.
A common problem with custom orders on any product is, the maker builds it and the customer backs out, leaving the maker stuck with something custom made for someone that other people possible won't want.
Something wrong here...Colts are available at quite a few distributors. I have gotten several new Colts through my dealer and Ellett Bros. recently with overnight shipping. And thats the problem with Colt....what kind of screwed up system do they use? Getting the product on dealers shelves should be priority for them, instead of making it such a maze for dealers to actually get them. I feel lucky that my dealer knows how to get them.
The Colts I ordered were/are a SAA 45Lc blue/color cased with fitted walnut grips, color cased hammer, tuned trigger and extra 45acp cylinder. The other a 1911 45acp WW1 replica. Both ordered last august. I was looking to get a REAL answer from Colt as to the shipping date, and not the BS yadda yadda from dealer and distributor. Got over $3k in these 2 guns.
The problem here is that in its present condition, Colt may not have the necessary parts on hand to complete this order, or any expectation that they can get them. Any gun is the sum-total of all of its parts, and this may be the reason for the delayed delivery.
It is YOUR DEALER'S responsibility (since he took your money in advance) to determine, throught the distributor he placed his order with, when delivery of the two handguns can be expected. Regardless of the semi-custom nature of the Single Action, Colt should be able and willing to answer your questions, but by going through the dealer/distirbutor that placed the order.
If your dealer won't find out any straight answers after 6 months, it would be prudent to demand your money be refunded. In fact a competent dealer would have determined an estimated delivery date before he accepted the order, and taken your deposit.
It is YOUR DEALER'S responsibility (since he took your money in advance) to determine, throught the distributor he placed his order with, when delivery of the two handguns can be expected. Regardless of the semi-custom nature of the Single Action, Colt should be able and willing to answer your questions, but by going through the dealer/distirbutor that placed the order.
If your dealer won't find out any straight answers after 6 months, it would be prudent to demand your money be refunded. In fact a competent dealer would have determined an estimated delivery date before he accepted the order, and taken your deposit.
FrankD said:
Frank,
You just don't seem to "get it." You don't have any idea how much Colt "got" in those two guns. The only thing you know is that your dealer got $3k. If there's a default in delivery, you'd have no legal standing with either the distributor or Colt....get it, now? You have two options, neither of which you seem to want to hear and process: (1) You can cancel your order THROUGH YOUR DEALER or (2) you can accept whatever your dealer tells you and wait for delivery.
Just_a_dude_with_a_gun
Member
Anything that isn't instock at the Dist. level is going to take a while. That's just a supply chain management norm.
It's also possible that the dealer is hesitant to give you the order# info for a reason...
Dealers (of anything that is special ordered) love to wait until other customers place special orders along side yours before even contacting
the Distributor or Mfr, because they'll get a better price buying in quantity.
It's also possible that the dealer is hesitant to give you the order# info for a reason...
Dealers (of anything that is special ordered) love to wait until other customers place special orders along side yours before even contacting
the Distributor or Mfr, because they'll get a better price buying in quantity.
Humph. Don't know anything about how long a custom order from Colt's custom shop would take.
On the WWI replica, I purchased one last year. It took my dealer 3 days to get it from the distributor. Don't know what the availability is right now -- maybe the distributors are out and are having to wait for Colt to make some more.
Anyway, I agree with the others -- go to your dealer for questions/answers -- he is the one you are actually in a 'contract' with.
On the WWI replica, I purchased one last year. It took my dealer 3 days to get it from the distributor. Don't know what the availability is right now -- maybe the distributors are out and are having to wait for Colt to make some more.
Anyway, I agree with the others -- go to your dealer for questions/answers -- he is the one you are actually in a 'contract' with.
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