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Brownells changed their “forever guarantee” return policy

Adam B

Adam B

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    • Mar 7, 2005
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    A word to the wise. Brownells has always had a great return policy (that is why I shop there from time to time, it surely isn't their low prices). I purchased 2 of their MPO scopes at the end of December and decided that I didn't care for them and returned them. I received a credit for $2100 and change today instead of a credit on the card I used to purchase them. Apparently they change their Forever Guarantee in November and neglected to tell anyone about it. This is my last purchase with them!
     
    This should be interesting. I just sent back a couple of HS precision urban sniper rifle stocks.
     
    Adam B said:
    They just made the change in November and never sent out one single notice about it. FYI-the scopes were like new when I sent them back
    Click to expand...
    Wait, so the expectation is that retailers have to send an email or letter to all potential customers that they are changing a policy?
    It’s not enough that the policy was clearly in place at the time of the order, but they are required to send out individual communications prior to any future purchases?
     
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    Adam B said:
    A word to the wise. Brownells has always had a great return policy (that is why I shop there from time to time, it surely isn't their low prices). I purchased 2 of their MPO scopes at the end of December and decided that I didn't care for them and returned them. I received a credit for $2100 and change today instead of a credit on the card I used to purchase them. Apparently they change their Forever Guarantee in November and neglected to tell anyone about it. This is my last purchase with them!
    Click to expand...
    How long did you have them prior to returning?
     
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    Drew890 said:
    Wait, so the expectation is that retailers have to send an email or letter to all potential customers that they are changing a policy?
    It’s not enough that the policy was clearly in place at the time of the order, but they are required to send out individual communications prior to any future purchases?
    Click to expand...
    Given that they have had their Forever Guarantee in place forever, which essentially helped to build their business to what it is today, I would think if they are going to make such a drastic change to it they should send out an email to their customers notifying them of the change. It isnt like they dont spam them hell out of their customer base as it is
     
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    You can't find a way to spend a $2100 gift card at Brownells?

    tenor.gif
     
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    if you say you're never shopping with them again, may I pretty please have the credit?
     
    I wouldn't get all bent out of shape over it if I was you.

    Most everyone has had to adjust their refund policies because with all the competition and low margins nobody can really afford to keep taking it in the shorts as a buy and try for free place. Too many folks abusing it and as such it becomes unmanageable.

    They sent you brand new scopes on time.
    You returned Used scopes the better part of 2 months later.
    They can't sell them as new any more, and somebody else would want a fair bit of a discount (I'm sure you would) because somebody else used them.

    Take for example EuroOptic, you mount the scope in your rings, no full refund for you even if it's within their return period as now they can't sell it as new any more & have to give a decent discount on it.

    I'd have a bit of sympathy if you just got the scope took a look and didn't like the feel of it and sent it back right away, but over a month later, be glad you got the full value back in a gift card and not less a restocking fee.
     
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    stephanovich said:
    That does suck, but it would also suck to "sell" stuff so people can try it out, then try to sell it used when you're already out shipping costs.

    I'm not above doing this whatsoever, but it feels better when I do it to a POS outfit like Amazon.
    Click to expand...

    You'll find it's rather infuriating on the other end especially when people lie about things to demand you pay the return shipping.

    So you sent them the exact item they wanted, brand New, and now you get back a Used item, devalued, and had to pay to ship it to them and get it back. You'll understand why on the other end, you feel pretty robbed. Even if you are selling a used item, the price may have changed for the lower two months later when you get it back.

    You'll notice just about every grocery store and warehouse store in the country stopped offering returns on common bulk buy products as this "crisis" hit. Not just here in the USA either.

    Amazon will tolerate it when you do it to the little guy, their 3rd party sellers. But do it to Corporate Amazon a few times too many, and trip their "It's not worth it for us to have you as a customer" percentage and you may see your account terminated without warning or recourse.

    On our end we tend to refuse to sell to customers who do that stuff to us once or more.
     
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    Buyers responsibility to understand the return policy before buying.

    I side with Brownells on this one. It was in place in November and you bought in December. thats on the buyer 100%.
     
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    My most recent experience was getting a hazmat shipment from them. FedEx would only attempt delivery in the middle of the day during the week. They were trying every which way to get FedEx to either wait until the weekend or deliver at night but FedEx was too lazy. They then offered to have it returned and they'd ship it (for free) to work if my job allowed it or to a FFL to hold onto for me. In the end, they had FedEx hold it at a location that stores hazmats and I drove an hour away to pick up my stuff.

    Sucks to hear you weren't satisfied with their current policy, but I've really enjoyed their customer service.
     
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    Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't buy more than one scope of the same if I never had tried it before.
    Fed x sucks. I joined the EDGE program , placed a order, supposed to be 2 day free shipping, took a week to get the package. I called to cancel the EDGE program , they said they would change my account to ship UPS only.
    Placed a order yesterday, they didn't ship until today, so will see if I get it Thursday.
    They aren't the best price like stated above, I think I'd rather support a company thats gun related vs say a Amazon.
     
    dzander said:
    Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't buy more than one scope of the same if I never had tried it before.
    Fed x sucks. I joined the EDGE program , placed a order, supposed to be 2 day free shipping, took a week to get the package. I called to cancel the EDGE program , they said they would change my account to ship UPS only.
    Placed a order yesterday, they didn't ship until today, so will see if I get it Thursday.
    They aren't the best price like stated above, I think I'd rather support a company thats gun related vs say a Amazon.
    Click to expand...
    I agree 100%, I ordered the second one for a buddy
     
    Who the fuck orders shit, just to send it back later? Much much later I might add.
    There is a proverb that applies here....right on the tip of my tongue......parted money....something something.
    I dunno. Seems weak.
    Making prima Donna's happy....is that why their stuff is expensive?
    They are changing their policies, good, maybe I can afford to shop there more often.
     
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    Brownells has a lot of niche stuff that would pain in the ass to try and round up otherwise.
    Wouldn't like to see them go out of business. I probably wouldn't buy a firearm or loaded ammo from them, or a Scope as there usually better sources for that. It's a gunsmith goto source.
     
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    I returned scope rings that were a year old, new and unused. Thought I was gonna get a 30mm scope but decided not to. Guess what? They accepted my return and gave me store credit? Instead of coming to SH and starting a whining and bitch thread, I bought something more expensive from them that I wanted more.
     
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    F...R.....E.........E...Free....FREE......FREE
     
    "I purchased 2 of their MPO scopes at the end of December and decided that I didn't care for them and returned them."

    Let me fix it for you:

    "I purchased two of their MPO scopes at the end of December. I decided I didn't care for them, but I waited 48 days to try to return them. I expected Brownells to let me keep them for six weeks and now I'm upset they are only giving me a store credit so I thought I'd come on here and badmouth Brownells."
     
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