ComplaintsforOctober Country Muzzleloading

• Initial Complaint

  01/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  October Country.I purchased a Traditions Bore Light from October Country on Monday the 9th of January of 2023. I like the white light from the Traditions over the *** Ox-Yokes yellow-green. It was $12.39 each and I bought two of them for a total with tax for $29.34.I received the bore lights from October Country on Tuesday January 17th; However, they were not the Traditions Bore Lights I ordered, they were the *********** versions I didnt want. I called October Country and talked to *****. She said they were out of the Traditions type and gave the the *** instead. I knew the *** Bore Lights were under $10 each, so I said I would keep them but wanted a refund of the difference in price. She said their ***s were more expensive than their Traditions and didnt charge me for the up charge. I knew my local Muzzleloader dealer sold them for under $10, so something was not right.I told her the ***s are not that expensive and looked it up on BACOs web site. They have them for $9.79 and sent ***** the link. She agreed and had the owner check out the price. He said the higher price he sold them for was correct. He has since lowered the price for the ***s to match the Traditions.***** said I could send them back for a refund, which I chose to do. I asked about being refunded for the return postage. She said they dont do that. I said you send me the wrong items and I have to pay for return postage? She agreed and said she would.I sent the *** Bore lights **** Priority Mail to their store with a signature Required for $16.35. The lights arrived at October Country and were signed for by **************. I received a refund for the purchase cost of $29.34 but not the $16.35 postage.What this amount to is a bait and switch where I had to pay the return postage.

  Business response

  02/06/2023

  The customer placed an order with us on 1/12/23 FOR A TOTAL OF $29.34.  We have attached his invoice.   The customer chose the least expensive shipping rate to ship it to him via **** first class mail for $4.56.

  We did not have the item that he ordered in stock, and he was sent a similar item that he could have used if he chose to.  He did not want the item we sent, accused us of a  "bait and switch",and he returned it for a full refund of the original order amount of $29.34 which we did refund him. 

   When the customer returned the item,  rather than choose the same shipping rate he used to send him the order which was visa **** First Class mail, he chose to return the order via **** Priority Mail/Signature Required at a cost of $16.35.   We did not give him authorization to choose his preference of returning the items to us, and we therefore did not refund him the $16.35 for his choice of the return shipment.  Had the customer returned the items via the same way they were shipped via **** First Class mail for $4.56, we would have gladly refunded him $4.56.

  Since we did not authorize him to return the items any way he chose to, we do not feel we are under any oblilgation to refund him the full $16.35.  We can refund him an additional $4.56 which is the same amount he paid to have the items shipped to him, and the same amount he would have had to pay had he returned them **** first class mail instead of **** Priority Mail/Signature Required.  

  Customer response

  02/10/2023

   
  Complaint: 189**239
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  I sent October Country an email requesting an address to send the bore lights back to.  I did not receive an answer.  I wasnt given any information,instructions or advice on how to return the Bore Lights.  Since no guidance was given or sent, that left the decision up to me.

  I knew by then, this whole incident didnt pass the smell test.  I was told I could return the Bore Lights, with no information on how to do so. I didnt trust the company.  I didnt trust the address on their envelope to me, would be forwarded to the correct people.  I didnt trust I would be reimbursed, if I sent them and they arrived safely.  I wanted proof the lights arrived.  That required a signature upon receipt.

  I asked ******** Office Clerk how I could send the package with a receipt required upon delivery? I was told the cheapest way was Priority Mail and that is how it was sent.  It wasnt sent Overnight or Next Day or even Two Day.  It was sent plain priority mail with signature confirmation.

  I should be reimbursed the entire $16.35

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  02/23/2023

  We are a legitimate company that has been in business for 42 years.  If it was our intention to take advantage of **************** or any other customer the way he has stated, we would not have been in business very long, nor have the amount of return customers for our products and supplies.  **************** has exercised his intellect to file a complaint, because something didn't pass the "smell" test for him, stating that he did not trust our company, or the label.  If he was unsure as to how or where to return the item, why didn't he call us for return information, as opposed to asking a Postal Clerk.  We have had other customers return or exchange items who did not require any additonal instructions, nor trying to take advantage of return postage reimbursement. 

  Since his return package arrived, we are obviously a legitimate company, with a legitimate address.  Again, we feel that **************** is trying to take advantage of this company, simply because it didn't pass HIS "smell" test.  The phone calls and emails and time we have spent trying to please **************** have been very legitimate, and his suspicions of our intent are perhaps his way of simply trying to drive his point home that he is an unhappy customer.  We can't help but wonder if **************** goes after every company like this that doesn't pass his "smell" test.  Again, we are happy to refund him $4.56 for return postage, which is the same amount it cost to ship the item to him, but do not feel we should have to refund him $16.35 for something he could have down for $4.56.  We think it is his way of trying to "stick it to us" because from the very beginning he is ASSUMING we were trying to cheat him somehow because the price of an item he ordred from us was higher than a competitors price, and we wouldn't match that price.       

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