Pre order with SPAW 😩

[bamavet55]

On August 22, 2021 I pre ordered a .177 caliber 500mm barrel from SPAW (Ken Hicks). The funds were promptly accepted and an invoice for payment was sent to me per email. After waiting patiently for 5 months and receiving nothing from SPAW, on January 29, 2022, I contacted Hicks per email inquiring about the barrel and an approximate date of delivery. Mr. Hicks responded promptly, stating that he expected the barrel to come in the "first quarter" of this year. I accepted that answer and let the issue pass.
On August 4, 2022, I read a post on this site from Hicks, interjecting in a complaint from a forum member and another airgun vendor. Ten minutes later, I "Private Mailed" Hicks with the details of my unfinished purchase from him, requesting a refund of my payment. Hicks, responded within the hour, explaining the delay and agreeing to refund my money.
On August 4, 2022 after corresponding with Hicks, received an email showing that the pre-order from August 22, 2021 had been canceled, as I requested -- "refunded" was typed on the cancellation invoice.
To date, I have not received a refund of the money I paid Ken Hicks i.e. SPAW. And, Hicks has not responded to my most recent PM.
I do not understand how any legitimate enterprise expects to conduct business this way.
Suffice it to say. No more "pre-order" for me.
Al

 

[oldman70]

On August 22, 2021 I pre ordered a .177 caliber 500mm barrel from SPAW (Ken Hicks). The funds were promptly accepted and an invoice for payment was sent to me per email. After waiting patiently for 5 months and receiving nothing from SPAW, on January 29, 2022, I contacted Hicks per email inquiring about the barrel and an approximate date of delivery. Mr. Hicks responded promptly, stating that he expected the barrel to come in the "first quarter" of this year. I accepted that answer and let the issue pass.
On August 4, 2022, I read a post on this site from Hicks, interjecting in a complaint from a forum member and another airgun vendor. Ten minutes later, I "Private Mailed" Hicks with the details of my unfinished purchase from him, requesting a refund of my payment. Hicks, responded within the hour, explaining the delay and agreeing to refund my money.
On August 4, 2022 after corresponding with Hicks, received an email showing that the pre-order from August 22, 2021 had been canceled, as I requested -- "refunded" was typed on the cancellation invoice.
To date, I have not received a refund of the money I paid Ken Hicks i.e. SPAW. And, Hicks has not responded to my most recent PM.
I do not understand how any legitimate enterprise expects to conduct business this way.
Suffice it to say. No more "pre-order" for me.
Al

I had the same problem with him, almost to the word as you wrote. over a year ago. sorry hope it gets resolved soon, mine did, took awhile.

 

[ram2jeep]

If it’s not in stock and on the shelf ready to go I will not send my money. I started a thread about the pre-order craziness and this is the reason why I won’t do it.
I definitely understand your frustration and would have expected a full refund when the vendor canceled the order.

 

[cmatera]

And, if you pay with Paypal, after 6 months, you have lost your right to file a claim. I found that out the hard way when I trusted another dealer. All the scammers are not individuals, plenty are "businesses".

 

[mike4406]

Crossing this vendor off my list

 

[SimpleGuy]

On August 22, 2021 I pre ordered a .177 caliber 500mm barrel from SPAW (Ken Hicks). The funds were promptly accepted and an invoice for payment was sent to me per email. After waiting patiently for 5 months and receiving nothing from SPAW, on January 29, 2022, I contacted Hicks per email inquiring about the barrel and an approximate date of delivery. Mr. Hicks responded promptly, stating that he expected the barrel to come in the "first quarter" of this year. I accepted that answer and let the issue pass.
On August 4, 2022, I read a post on this site from Hicks, interjecting in a complaint from a forum member and another airgun vendor. Ten minutes later, I "Private Mailed" Hicks with the details of my unfinished purchase from him, requesting a refund of my payment. Hicks, responded within the hour, explaining the delay and agreeing to refund my money.
On August 4, 2022 after corresponding with Hicks, received an email showing that the pre-order from August 22, 2021 had been canceled, as I requested -- "refunded" was typed on the cancellation invoice.
To date, I have not received a refund of the money I paid Ken Hicks i.e. SPAW. And, Hicks has not responded to my most recent PM.
I do not understand how any legitimate enterprise expects to conduct business this way.
Suffice it to say. No more "pre-order" for me.
Al

Preorders are a hoax anyways! That's a way for the vendors to line their pockets and or use those funds to restock inventory on your dime. Hopefully Ken will see this and do the right thing. If it were me I wouldn't be so patient with my hard earned funds!!

 

[baloo]

I placed an order with SPAW on June 11th for a 700mm barrel tensioning kit and nothing yet. 3 weeks ago I emailed him and was told was told in the next 2 weeks, well nothing yet.

 

[jerrymail]

I requested to cancel my pre-order with SPAW last year after waiting for months and past due his promise. Then I was charged 15% restocking fee. No answer to my emails after several days, but got response only a few hours after I submitted a dispute on PayPal. I will keep away forever.

 

[baloo]

Ya that 15% restocking fee is BS when you waited a fair amount of time and they had your money that whole time.

 

[WorriedMan]

Got stung by that 15% restocking fee when first starting out in the Airgun hobby, too bad for SPAW, they got the fee, I shopped elsewhere for my six PCPs and accessories. WM

 

[CoyoteGod]

I am really sorry to hear of the trouble with SPAW. Unfortunately I have seen many posts all the same for this company on this forum. I had a really bad experience with SPAW and I decided it was best for me to stay away. But that experience led me to make a really great friend out of it. Hoping for a positive outcome for you Al.

 

[WorriedMan]

Makes me smile when SPAW is heavy pushing product on this forum, after burning so many bridges for nickel and dime fees, based on dubious business practices, did they think people wouldn't remember? WM

 

[qball]

WOW!!! That is quite the steaming pile of cow pie!!! Completely unacceptable! Hope you can dispute with credit card company! I always pay with credit card for that reason! So far I did not have to use it with Utah air and Talon tunes and based on my personal experience highly unlikely also. SPAW certainly will not ever be on my list of vendor to shop from.

 

[qball]

Makes me smile when SPAW is heavy pushing product on this forum, after burning so many bridges for nickel and dime fees, based on dubious business practices, did they think people wouldn't remember? WM

What happens on internet lives forever! Welcome to the new world and people like SPAW should remember it well!

 

[corny]

Yeah..pre-orders, unless it’s the actual manufacture is a ripoff.
I’m always wondering why some websites do it.

 

[Healthservices]

I dont think Spaw and companies who do this understand what kind of lost money, loyal customers, and potential customers this type of practice cost their business. Really sad as competition really does not have to do very much more to win these customers over, other than to take orders and not make the same mistakes. Then again maybe Spaw just has such a large customer base that losing these customers is not a issue.

Allen

 

[mike4406]

Just the fact SPAW has not responded says it all.........

 

[bamavet55]

Just the fact SPAW has not responded says it all.........

... "has not responded" to this thread, indeed!
I have nothing to gain by publicly exposing my problem with the vendor--other than a refund of my legitimately earned money.
I simply stated the facts. And I can support this with documentation, including the emails and "private message"s.
It is baffling to me that any business expects to succeed while conducting itself in this manner.
If ever this matter is resolved, I will immediately post that information.

 

[Richieg]

Yeah..pre-orders, unless it’s the actual manufacture is a ripoff.
I’m always wondering why some websites do it.

I have pre ordered and sent an invoice but it was more like a waiting list, and when the item came in I was contacted and THEN paid for my item. But that was from another dealer.

 

[SimpleGuy]

Just the fact SPAW has not responded says it all.........

Too many people coming out the closet with the same issue so it's undeniable! Now if it were just Al then I bet my last penny there would be rebuttals!