Just a heads up. I don't normally post negative reviews about business transactions, but I feel the need to let others who may have considered doing business with Rhineland Arms know about my recent experience with them. I am not a vindictive person by nature, but this experience warrants some airing out.
Late in November, I was looking for a quick-fix LR Mauser barrel to do some late-season hunting with while I had a couple of custom barrels being made. I did a search for Mauser barrel nuts (I do understand that the barrels in a Mauser do not require a nut, but I was doing a search for the heck of it), and came upon Rhineland Arms' site. Turned out that they offered a .308 Win barrel in 10-twist with a threaded muzzle, fully-chambered. The price was right and I placed an order. Received the barrel; it looked good from the outside, but would not head space correctly. I brought it to RA's attention. The reply was that the barrel had not been properly spun on their lathe, and that the problem could be remedied by using a belt sander on the breach face. I replied that I did not own a belt sander and, in any event, would not feel comfortable with fooling around with a barrel in that manner, so I asked for a refund. I shipped the barrel back at my own expense, though the person I was corresponding with offered to have UPS pick it up (this was after I had already mailed it; no big deal). I asked the person if they would split my return shipping charges, refunding me the amount of the purchase plus what was a bit less than $10. They replied in the affirmative. This was on the 11th of December. The barrel was delivered to them on the 19th. On the 29th, I emailed them to ask about status of the refund. They replied that they had received the barrel (with my contact info on the outer packaging) but had not associated the return with my purchase, it seems. Again, no big deal; it's the holidays and people are not in work mode, I get it. I then asked about the refund; no reply. Re-sent the email the next day; no reply. Tuesday, 1/2 rolls around and still no reply, so I email them again. Nothing. Yesterday, I write a lengthy email which includes the details of the transaction, return, and the dates of correspondence. No animosity, I just want my refund to be processed. I inform them that, owing to the lack of response, I will need to involve the payment processing company (PayPal, if you can believe it) in order to get a resolution if I don't hear from them one way or another by yesterday evening. Not surprisingly, no reply. I file a complaint with PayPal at 1800 EST last night; this morning at 0930 I have received a refund in the original amount of the purchase, no shipping refunded. Fine. At least this is over. Still no reply from RA, and I certainly don't expect one. I am posting this because, as a business owner and Chem Engineer of nearly 20 years, it is customer service and poor QC such as this that I feel ought to be thrust out into the open so that other consumers can be aware of a company's business principles. Now, what could have been remedied with a few words in an email and a couple of mouse clicks has resulted in this post.
Late in November, I was looking for a quick-fix LR Mauser barrel to do some late-season hunting with while I had a couple of custom barrels being made. I did a search for Mauser barrel nuts (I do understand that the barrels in a Mauser do not require a nut, but I was doing a search for the heck of it), and came upon Rhineland Arms' site. Turned out that they offered a .308 Win barrel in 10-twist with a threaded muzzle, fully-chambered. The price was right and I placed an order. Received the barrel; it looked good from the outside, but would not head space correctly. I brought it to RA's attention. The reply was that the barrel had not been properly spun on their lathe, and that the problem could be remedied by using a belt sander on the breach face. I replied that I did not own a belt sander and, in any event, would not feel comfortable with fooling around with a barrel in that manner, so I asked for a refund. I shipped the barrel back at my own expense, though the person I was corresponding with offered to have UPS pick it up (this was after I had already mailed it; no big deal). I asked the person if they would split my return shipping charges, refunding me the amount of the purchase plus what was a bit less than $10. They replied in the affirmative. This was on the 11th of December. The barrel was delivered to them on the 19th. On the 29th, I emailed them to ask about status of the refund. They replied that they had received the barrel (with my contact info on the outer packaging) but had not associated the return with my purchase, it seems. Again, no big deal; it's the holidays and people are not in work mode, I get it. I then asked about the refund; no reply. Re-sent the email the next day; no reply. Tuesday, 1/2 rolls around and still no reply, so I email them again. Nothing. Yesterday, I write a lengthy email which includes the details of the transaction, return, and the dates of correspondence. No animosity, I just want my refund to be processed. I inform them that, owing to the lack of response, I will need to involve the payment processing company (PayPal, if you can believe it) in order to get a resolution if I don't hear from them one way or another by yesterday evening. Not surprisingly, no reply. I file a complaint with PayPal at 1800 EST last night; this morning at 0930 I have received a refund in the original amount of the purchase, no shipping refunded. Fine. At least this is over. Still no reply from RA, and I certainly don't expect one. I am posting this because, as a business owner and Chem Engineer of nearly 20 years, it is customer service and poor QC such as this that I feel ought to be thrust out into the open so that other consumers can be aware of a company's business principles. Now, what could have been remedied with a few words in an email and a couple of mouse clicks has resulted in this post.
