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Kantz64 · New Member

Has any of you guys had problems in purchasing gear from CobraAirguns.com (www.airgunsbbguns.com)? They sent me a used GAMO hunter rifle they had advertised as new on their website, I called them to complain about it, returned the rifle to them and then found out that they had charged me a "penalty" fee because the rifle had been used!!! - If this wasn't enough, when I called to investigate why they had charged me an extra fee they tried to blame the whole thing on me!!!

Do any of you know of a site that posts consumer evaluations and ratings of internet retailers?

Thank you very much for your time and help.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

I don't know of any sites with reviews of vendors. Probably a liability deal- no one wants to "host" a pile of possibly negative opinions on specific vendors- too much potential for a lawsuit.

That being said- most forums allow "after the fact" accounts of people's experiences with vendors- like yours. As long as they are a description of events that have occurred (i.e. fact) everyone should be safe, legally speaking.

I have seen alot of posts on different forums from people asking about a specific vendor before they make a purchase- for example "has anyone dealt with XXXXXX Airgunseller and what did you think?"

As for CobraAirguns- my personal contact with or regarding them has been minimal. I approached them for some pre-sales support and was apparently ignored and/or overlooked- thus I didn't attempt to deal with them again.

I feel bad for you- getting an incorrect, misrepresented/mislabelled item sent to you, and then a penalty (on top of the shipping bill back to them I assume you had to pay) when you returned it.

What can you do about it? Probably not much- except tell your story and let others use it as data when deciding where to buy their products.

It's too bad when businesses assume the customer is lying to them. I don't know that Cobra has intentionally stuck it to you- they probably believe they sent you a new gun. However, not giving the customer the benefit of the doubt is usually not good for business in the long run.

Did they at least offer to exchange the gun for a new unit they would check before shipping?

Kantz64 · New Member

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Interesting- and certainly sounds indicative of someone doing something inappropriate.

But- can you call them and talk to a totally different person? Maybe the person who dealt with you on the issue has since retired, been fired- or is just generally a sh!thead.

When I get yanked around- I always try to do my best to go around the person causing me grief. The problems that can occur with this of course are that a) you don't actually get someone else who can do something, b) they don't believe you because they eat lunch every day with the first person you spoke with, c) they're just as uncooperative as the first person.

Were the people you spoke with the last time in a specific department- for example, "Returns"? If so- maybe try calling someone in the sales or management office and tell them the story. "Squeaky wheel gets the grease" and all that- if you can find the right person to speak with on the issue.

I'm just trying to be the optimist here, in that the whole organization hopefully isn't drawing with a crooked ruler, if you catch my meaning.

CobraAir · New Member

I would just like to say that Cobra Airguns ships about 18,000 - 25,000 Internet orders for airguns a year and have about 104 complaints per year about 8 can not be resolved 3 BBB complaints per year. I Think that's a great record. think of the numbers of very happy customers

This is what is in our return comments for this customer

CUSTOMER STATES GUN IS USED AND IN INCORRECT BOX SAYS IT WAS IN A BOX FOR A 220 NOT A 440 WANTS REFUND 3/28/07

4/2/07 gun was not used, in good condition, wasn't even fired. nylon tie from Gamo still on trigger the 440 Gamo was in correct box Tom checked it out. note customer sent in says "reason for returning, i do not like the rifle, please issue a full refund. giving to Sue for a credit minus restocking fee.

Some people like to order so they can write reviews then send it back or they find it for less or just change their mind. If some tells us the truth and ships it back in new condition we wave the fee. But if they do not tell us the truth and change their story 3 times just so they do not have to pay return shipping and we pay $15.00 to have it pick up at their home we charge a restocking fee to cover our cost.

And we do not sell used Airguns and have a great customer services!!

You probably will not post this but we Had to reply
We are for Airgunners - We are Airgunners

JWFire · New Member

I just received a Crosman 2240 from Cobra. The front sight is rotated so that it points toward 11:00 instead of 12:00. Cobra will exchange it, but they want me to pay for the return shipping, although they sent me a defective (in fact unuseable) product. I don't think that's fair, and I've dealt with lots of mail order houses who don't share Cobra's policy. Sure, Crosman made the defective gun, and packaged it so it can't be inspected by the middleman. Nonetheless, Cobra should take it up with Crosman, not stick me with the cost of the fix.
The price was good, but just two bucks less than Pyramid. I'd rather pay more in the first place and trust the seller to shoulder its responsibilities in a case like this.

JWFire · New Member

I just checked Cobra Air's return policy: Because I fired one shot (that's when I noticed the sight was mounted wrong), the Cobra Air policy says I'll pay a "minimum" 15% restocking fee if I want a replacement or refund. The restocking fee also applies if the gun is "not in the original packaging." The packaging was a blister pack that can't be opened without cutting it. Does that mean I pay them at least 15% because the gun is not in "new, sellable condition"? Their post in this thread says, "If some(one) tells us the truth and ships it back in new condition we wave the fee." So now they've sent me an unuseable product, they expect me to pay to send it back, and they expect me to beg them not to charge me 15%, or more, for opening the package and firing the gun one time. Have I got that right, Cobra Air?
I should have checked the return and exchange policy before ordering the gun. Well, fool me once, etc. Unless CobraAir tells me they'll pay the costs of replacing a defective product, theirs will be the last site I check next time I'm shopping for air gun stuff.

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Funny enough- this topic has sat doing nothing for months and I left the CobraAir response alone so that "both sides of the story" could be heard- even with the "I bet you won't leave this here" thing that was posted. Strangely, no one has thrown in any positive comments about Cobra- despite the claimed 18-25000 airgun sales per year.

Keep us updated on how this goes- and if anyone's ever had a positive experience with Cobra- let us know that too.

Westonhill · Member

Allow me to play devil's advocate - if you are an airgun store owner, a small mama-papa shop owner, what would you do? You have a customer who wants to return/refund his $150 air rifle which has been fired and he is not happy about. How can you make the customer happy while sustaining your business? I just don't see a solution unless you are a big store like Wal-Mart ... and we are all bashing Wal-Mart for losing jobs in the America. Go figure! I wish Wal-Mart sells all kind of airguns. Laughing

Speaking like a true consumer!

broommaster2000 · Moderator

We could start a thing like that in another country. It's not like they can sue me(for instance)for posting reviews about how bad a shop is. Mr. Green

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

What happens a lot with internet sales, is that a company will sell an item which is then returned in it's orignal packing, as supplied for a full refund which is given. This is where the problem arises, the item is not checked properly and sent out to the next customer who orders one, who then finds a bit missing or broken.
Living where I am many miles from a gun dealers 90% of all my buying is on the internet and 50% of all I buy appears to have been sent to some one else before. I have had sights with striped adjusters, spoting scopes with cracked or chiped lenses, four of these one after the other, a CP88 with a pellet stuck in the barrel, a Co2 pistol that had been changed over from PCP in the shop and was full of striped thread chippings. I could go on and on, never mind all this crap about being airgunners for airgunners, they are there just to make a profit, and they will keep sending the same piece of junk out untill it dosn't come back.

So everytime you receive an item check everything right down to the last detail including marks scratches etc, look at the packing for replaced selotape, unattached lables, crinkled wrapping paper that should be smooth, also rember exactly how it was packed, so you can repack it again and send it back unused.

Al

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Westonhill · Member

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Bhargav · Veteran Member