T/C Arms' Not-so-"Pro" Hunter .50 X 209

[Geno]

Gail from TC Arms just called. She advised me that the repair took so long because they didn't have any barrels on hand to replace mine. They had to wait until the line was run to manufacture some barrels. They also replaced the stock for the .22 Classic. It is to arrive tomorrow via Fed Ex.

I will report on the quality of the replacement parts after I have had time to test-fire it. Then I forgot to ask if they had reimbursed me for the shipping.

Doc2005

 

[Geno]

Well, safe to say that Fed Ex will not be delivering my Encore Pro Hunter barrel and .22 Classic stock to me at this time of day (11:12 pm).

When I spoke with the woman at TC Arms, she told me that it would be delivered "...July 28th". I redirected with, "That's Saturday; UPS doesn't deliver on Saturday." The woman advised me that the items were being delivered via Fed Ex. In addition, the shipment required that I, or some adult, be here to sign. The woman did not have the tracking number.

So, I called Fed Ex to verify if a shipment was coming to me today; they not know. But, they did say that because I was told so, it was probably on its way. So, stupid me, I waited here, aaaaaaaalllllll morning, aaaaaaaalllllll afternoon, and uppers....aaaaaaaalllllll evening...no Fed Ex!

Thank-you Thompson-Center! Thank-you for shipping a defective product. Thank-you for letting it sit, and offering up an excuse that you didn't have any replacement barrels. Thank-you for shipping it via Fed Ex, and telling me repeatedly that it would arrive today, "...July 28th". Especially thank-you that it did NOT arrive as advised.

I officially place TC Arms into the same spotlight as Kimber. They are co-equals of lacking commitment, lacking quality and grab-posterioristic. Perhaps I should really be thanking S&W, because this never happened before.

Doc2005

 

[Ol' Red]

I really wish TC or anyone else wouldn't use FedEx, especially for home delivery.

Thanks to FedEx I had to wait an extra two days for delivery because I wasn't home at 11:10 AM on 7/3. Fortunately I was off work on 7/5 and was able to take delivery.

FedUp with FedEx sums it up. I have shipping accounts with both FedEx and UPS but have not used FedEx in quite a while because of this same delivery glitch in the past.

FedEx drivers are contractors. They can pretty much do as they please, including stating "Attempted delivery" on one package when I was indeed at home ALL day waiting for it because I needed the contents to complete a project. Needless to say, I was PI$$ED!

TC should have been more on the ball with your replacement but FedEx deserves the blame for no delivery because they are supposed to deliver even to residential addresses on Saturday but they don't give a ratsazz.

 

[Geno]

Update

So, here I sit waiting for my package...day 2! So, I call Thompson/Center and ask for information. Finally I am told that they basically don't know anything, and no, I'm not joking. I do manage to get a tracking number and confirm that it is Fed Ex.

Next, I call Fed Ex and ask where my package is. As I enter the tracking number, the computer system advises me that the "...recipient address is incorrect". Well, that tells me a lot. Now, who input the incorrect address?!

Maybe a cockroach ran across the keyboard and did it. So, now Fed Ex is to try to deliver the package tomorrow. Yeah, I'll hold my breath. Between T/C Arms and Fed Ex, it has been an "interesting" experience.

Doc2005

 

[AntiqueCollector]

Why not try going to Fedex and seeing if you can pick your stuff up there. I've done that with UPS, I would assume Fedex would be similar and would allow it...assuming they put the right name on it at least...

 

[Geno]

They told me that they had entered the system to have it delivered today, prior to 10:00 a.m. Here I sit, 10:41...no barrel...no stock...no Fed Ex. Worse yet, I cannot leave to take care of anything else because it requires a signature per TC Arms' request.

Furthermore, TC Arms knew for fact of the complexities that we had this very week, and that the items HAD arrive before this week. This is precisely the reason that I am vehemently anti-Kimber.

Of the 15 Kimbers I have owned (past tense), 5 were defective. Each time I had to ship one, I had to take off a 1/2 day of work. Each time it was shipped back to me, I had to take off a full day of work! Multiply that by 2 for the pistols that had to go back twice! I ended up taking off nearly 10 days in that single summer! For that reason alone I will never buy another Kimber, and TC Arms is setting itself to the same track, real fast!

Doc2005

 

[Geno]

Dear TC Arms:

Where is my not-so-Pro Hunter barrel? Where is my .22 Class-less stock?

Doc2005

 

[Geno]

I just got off the phone from speaking with Gail at TC Arms. She said the barrel and stock returned to TC Arms. She continued,

"My boss just said that they will be shipped to you (me) either Monday or Tuesday. We will ship them 2nd day air, so you'll have them immediately."

Immediately? This is a sad experience. Anyone want to buy a Pro Hunter?

Doc2005

 

[Geno]

Well, guys...what do you think? Should I stay home from work today and wait for my not-so-"Pro" Hunter to arrive today. Of course, no-one can tell me for certain if it is arriving today, and, it requires an adult signature. I've never been a gambler and this seems like a crap-shoot. This is worse than cable tv install...at least they say between 8:00 am to noon.

Wow, hold the presses...now it isn't shipping Fed Ex, it's coming via UPS. It shipped Monday and will arrive today. Now, I have a day of schedulled meetings...and an arriving package that requires an adult signature.

I can understand the adult signature, but why in God's name is it that I couldn't get any concrete information until, today?! Frankly, we are talking incompetence. And that incompetence means I have to reschedule my meetings or reschedule the delivery.

 

[22-rimfire]

Thompson Center has great customer service. I get my stuff delivered via UPS and even when a signature is suggested (not required), they never ask. They just leave the gun or ammo on the porch if I am not home.

 

[ArmedBear]

She advised me that the repair took so long because they didn't have any barrels on hand to replace mine. They had to wait until the line was run to manufacture some barrels.

If a company doesn't keep ANY spare parts on hand, it certainly shows how much they prioritize customer service -- unless there are so many lemons getting shipped that they used up all their spare barrels, which doesn't speak well for them, either.

Twice, I've called Ruger because a part broke. Once, the company was empty for the Christmas holiday, but the part shipped out the next Monday. The second time, I got the part a couple days later, for free, without sending back the old one.

Whether or not I always like all of their guns, Ruger's customer service is exceptional, and definitely enough to influence a purchase decision that I might be wavering on...

 

[Geno]

22-rimfire:

I would qualify your quote to say "usually" or "typically". The fact of my experience draws into question the continued quality or lack of quality of TC's service. This experience has given me pasue as to continuing to do future business with them.

In closing, one person's experience with a company's customer service neither constitutes good service, nor bad service. It is an instance of the case, and the sum of all cases, is the of quality service.

Doc2005

 

[alsaqr]

FEDEX and UPS have very good tracking systems for customer use. When someone ships you a parcel be sure and get the tracking number. With the tracking number you can go online and find out where the package is. UPS and FEDEX will hold the package at their local trans-shipment point for your pickup.

 

[Geno]

TC Arms could not tell me the tracking number. Seriously.

Well, all the same, the barrel and the stock arrived about an hour ago.

I'll make this short. I am less than impressed with TC's product and service. In the spirit of putting my money where my mouth is, I used the $1,000.00 that I had saved for a TC Arms' bolt-action rifle, or some Custom Shop barrels instead to buy a .50 BMG upper for my Colt AR15.

The strongest message I can imagine for TC is to withhold my business.

Doc2005

 

[arcticap]

I can't blame you for being disappointed with the quality of your original guns. But I'm curious about the quality of the replacement parts. Were these satisfactory despite having the shipping problem?

 

[Geno]

Re: the stock: It has seveal dents in the wood...like it would have if someone carelessly stored it in a vault, knocking it into other firearms. That isn't too terrible. But, the wood/metal fit is unimpressive. The trigger guard sets about 1/4" into the wood. The old stock held the trigger guard about flush. Guess I can live with it, but well...yuck! $399.00 of unimpressive rifle.

Re: the 50X209 barrel, the rifling is course for the final about 2", and it looks deformed by something. So, in terms of the barrel, appearances aside, I will wait to see how performance goes. When I pay $999.00 for a rifle, I expect a smooth barrel...especially from TC Arms. Their barrels were always like glass.

So, in sum, no, the replacement parts are not "quality". In fact, they are disappointing, and as I said, for that reason, I will not be buying any more TC Arms' products any time soon.

 

[whosyrdaddy]

So, in terms of the barrel, appearances aside, I will wait to see how performance goes.

Update?

 

[Wildfire]

Wow !

I have had non of these problems with T/C. When I needed a firing pin for my Encore they shipped it overnight and I had it the second day from ordering it.
No charge. If fact They goofed and sent me two. I shipped a gun back to them a year or so ago and had it back in about 2 weeks. That was just before the deer season. They were very swamped.
That is to bad you got one with a bad barrel . I would not be happy about that. But sounds like maybe everyone is sort of jumping the gun a little here.
T/C is a good company and always was. I too am not so sure about the new S&W thing. They have pulled some crap in the past.
My Encore is a real shooter and I will keep it. I have seen some ruff barrels in SS guns. But seldom in a blued gun.

 

[RugerGuy]

I grew up in Rochester,NH about four miles from the T/C factory . I've got a .54 New Englander that I absolutely feel I can depend on. From what I've heard S+W buying them out will only improve things. I've never heard anything negative about the customer service at T/C. I've only heard how great they treated their customers. Doc2005, I'm sorry to hear your having problems and I'm very surprised they didn't do good by you. I'm willing to bet they still will if you call them up and tell them what they sent you is not up to snuff. You still want this resolved don't you ? Whenever you send something to a company for warranty work they take you in the order your work came in. They don't take an easy fix like yours and put it at the head of the line. They're just trying to be fair. I realize you live too far away to know this but had you walked into their showroom and explained the problem you would've walked away with either new parts or a new rifle. Ask me how I know? I know your irritated because this has taken so long but call them up again and calmly explain to them what is wrong with the replacement parts and give them a chance to rectify the situation. I'm willing to bet when all is said and done you'll end up with a T/C product that is 100%. Please keep us posted. Thanks/

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Mr. Doc, that really sucks. It really does. (I don't own nor am I into any type of modern firearms. I'vd never owned a TC either so I don't really have a dog in this fight)
I no longer have any reason to associate myself with S&W. (I assume you're referring to Smith and Wesson) I remember one time (years and years ago) I ordered a new rear sight apperture from them for some sort of .44 Magnum revolver for my brother who was in law enforment. Don't remember what model the revolver was but that probably didn't matter anyway. It took it over 4 months to come in. When I finally received it (regular U.S. Mail) it had been so long I'd clean forgotten I'd ever ordered it.
S&W started going to hell in a handbasket back several years ago when Dan Wesson sort of branched out on his own. (ya'll may remember)
If Smith and Wesson bought TC then I fear ya'll can look for some bad service for lot's of different reasons. One of the reason's being that S&W is heavy into law enforcement equipment (firearms, leather, etc) for both this country and 'friendly' countries elsewhere. ('allies' if you prefer that word) and I just don't believe that 'primitive arms' is going to be very high on their list of priorities. They probably bought TC for a damn tax write off, at least I wouldn't be surprised if this were the case.
Good luck sir. I hope it turn's out well for you although I understand that they could give you 10 new ones right now and it wouldn't make up for the shabby way you'vd been treated...Okay...