Rafter S Gunleather (Merged)

AllAmerican · May 1st, 2009, 04:21 PM

An update to my quest for a belt...

So on Wednesday I ordered a belt from Rafter S. I spoke to Della. I was told by Della that my belt was going to ship that day.

Yesterday I saw no charge on my Visa card and after hearing some bad news about the company I decided to call Rafter S.

I spoke to Willie who told me Della was not in yet but that she would call me within a few hours. Willie knew nothing about my order, couldnt look it up or even look up my name. So, more than a few hours went by and I called back and Willie said Della was not there but seemed suprised that she hadnt called me yet.

However, Willie couldnt remember who I was even after our conversation a few hours earlier. I asked Willie to cancel my order. He said he would do that. He said he would let Della know.

A DCDC member here told me to watch to see how they would charge my card. Well, today I found they had charged my card. So I call and I get Della on the phone.

I ask why there is a charge on my card. She was not told by Willie I guess to cancel my order. I tell her that her company has a poor communication system between the 3 people she says she has working there.

She says, so you want to cancel the order because I have your belt here in a box ready to go out.

I tell her that she told me the belt was going out 2 days ago. She asks me again if I want to cancel and I say yes. She says, "you're doing us a favor by cancelling this order because if you could see the retail price on this belt...." Click and she hangs up on me.

Do business with them at your own risk. I gotta call my bank.

dgg9 · May 1st, 2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllAmerican

She says, so you want to cancel the order because I have your belt here in a box ready to go out.

I'm currently being shined on by them in the same manner: call them -- "it'll ship out tomorrow!" -- 2 weeks later no belt, so call again -- "it'll ship out tomorrow!" -- repeat.

AllAmerican · May 1st, 2009, 04:53 PM

Well Im glad I cancelled. I called the bank and they said to wait and see if they reverse the charges since they are in a pending state.

If not the bank says I can file a dispute. Oh glory this ought to be fun.

JerryM · May 1st, 2009, 07:04 PM

What a shame. I bought my first real gun belts from RafterS in shark and plain. The service was good, and the product also. I found them easy to communicate with, and the delivery dates were generally accurate.
They said that they recondition shark belts when they get beat up, and those who send them say that they are better than new when they get them back.

The last ones I bought about 4 or 5 months ago do not exhibit the workmanship and care that my first ones do.

I guess the demand, and lack of good business acumen have caused them to be less than satisfactory now.

Regards,
Jerry

Erik · May 1st, 2009, 11:26 PM

I've used Rafter S for five or so transactions and always been satisfied, despite two of the type of unscheduled delays seemingly in line with the industry. Actually, come to think of it, "in line" isn't entirely accurate in that they were still delivered relatively quickly; certainly faster than my average from other comparable vendors. I'll certainly use them again and continue to recommend them.

An extra two days? A couple of weeks? Given the time lines often mentioned in threads concerning the better vendors, most could only hope or wish for that kind of dissatisfaction.

Out of curiosity: which other maker have you decided on in lieu of Rafter S?

jh225 · May 1st, 2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik

I've used Rafter S for five or so transactions and always been satisfied, despite two of the type of unscheduled delays seemingly in line with the industry. Actually, come to think of it, "in line" isn't entirely accurate in that they were still delivered relatively quickly; certainly faster than my average from other comparable vendors. I'll certainly use them again and continue to recommend them.

An extra two days? Given the time lines often mentioned in threads concerning the better vendors, most could only hope or wish for that kind of dissatisfaction.

Erik,
You are absolutely 100% wrong on this issue, sorry.

I am the one that told A.A. to watch out for hinky business with Rafter S. Why? Because they played the identical game with me a month or so ago. Turns out I was correct when I told A.A. to watch his credit card. Too bad he didn't catch it before the charge.

I am also a prior customer of theirs and was appalled to find out how drastically their business ethics had changed. I started getting bad vibes from them after several "It will ship out", "We had a problem with your address", etc. BS lines. I asked here and found out that they had gone downhill.

I had not dealt or inquired with them in several years and ordered from Della via phone based on my previous dealings. Little did I know I was in for one story after another.

I wasted no time in calling my credit card company and within 24 hrs, my money was back in my account.

Get greedy and play games with customers money, you are playing with fire. (complaints) Eventually, the fire will grow so intense that your business will go up in flames. (complaints on the internet is a powerful tool)

Too bad, as they had a good thing going.

redrick · May 2nd, 2009, 12:37 AM

I went through the same thing, but two things good that I will say about them, I was very happy with my shark belt and the first one that I ordered was to small, they took it back and sent me another one with no extra charge. It still took about 12 weeks to get each one.

orangehole · May 2nd, 2009, 03:40 AM

They are known for the old "The belt/holster will ship tomorrow" line. It really is a shame because their belts are top notch. Slightly better than The beltman but Rafter S has real poor customer service. I have ordered from them 3 times and 2 of them were no problem, the 3rd was not that great. Once word gets out on good leather craftsman, their waits and customer service usually suffers. I have seen this happen to all but TT leather. Tim still answers emails quickly and it very friendly.

Wasabi · May 2nd, 2009, 10:39 AM

I've said it before and it looks to still hold true. They have absolutely the worst customer service I have encountered. Hopefully somebody considering buying something from these losers will see this thread and it will save them from a terrible experience.

AllAmerican · May 3rd, 2009, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasabi

I've said it before and it looks to still hold true. They have absolutely the worst customer service I have encountered. Hopefully somebody considering buying something from these losers will see this thread and it will save them from a terrible experience.

I really hope this thread is a help to others. As of today, my order is still a pending charge on my account. Ill know more monday.

May 1st, 2009, 04:21 PM	#1
AllAmerican VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chesterfield, Kakalaki del Sur Posts: 2,401	Rafter S Gunleather (Merged) An update to my quest for a belt... So on Wednesday I ordered a belt from Rafter S. I spoke to Della. I was told by Della that my belt was going to ship that day. Yesterday I saw no charge on my Visa card and after hearing some bad news about the company I decided to call Rafter S. I spoke to Willie who told me Della was not in yet but that she would call me within a few hours. Willie knew nothing about my order, couldnt look it up or even look up my name. So, more than a few hours went by and I called back and Willie said Della was not there but seemed suprised that she hadnt called me yet. However, Willie couldnt remember who I was even after our conversation a few hours earlier. I asked Willie to cancel my order. He said he would do that. He said he would let Della know. A DCDC member here told me to watch to see how they would charge my card. Well, today I found they had charged my card. So I call and I get Della on the phone. I ask why there is a charge on my card. She was not told by Willie I guess to cancel my order. I tell her that her company has a poor communication system between the 3 people she says she has working there. She says, so you want to cancel the order because I have your belt here in a box ready to go out. I tell her that she told me the belt was going out 2 days ago. She asks me again if I want to cancel and I say yes. She says, "you're doing us a favor by cancelling this order because if you could see the retail price on this belt...." Click and she hangs up on me. Do business with them at your own risk. I gotta call my bank. __________________ My Music: www.reverbnation.com/dickiefredericks New tunes added. "The Double Tap Center Mass Boogie. Learn it, know it, love it, shoot it. Good guys should live, bad guys not so much. " - Ted Nugent 09

May 1st, 2009, 04:53 PM	#3
AllAmerican VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Chesterfield, Kakalaki del Sur Posts: 2,401	Well Im glad I cancelled. I called the bank and they said to wait and see if they reverse the charges since they are in a pending state. If not the bank says I can file a dispute. Oh glory this ought to be fun. __________________ My Music: www.reverbnation.com/dickiefredericks New tunes added. "The Double Tap Center Mass Boogie. Learn it, know it, love it, shoot it. Good guys should live, bad guys not so much. " - Ted Nugent 09

May 1st, 2009, 11:26 PM	#5
Erik Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: USA Posts: 339	I've used Rafter S for five or so transactions and always been satisfied, despite two of the type of unscheduled delays seemingly in line with the industry. Actually, come to think of it, "in line" isn't entirely accurate in that they were still delivered relatively quickly; certainly faster than my average from other comparable vendors. I'll certainly use them again and continue to recommend them. An extra two days? A couple of weeks? Given the time lines often mentioned in threads concerning the better vendors, most could only hope or wish for that kind of dissatisfaction. Out of curiosity: which other maker have you decided on in lieu of Rafter S? __________________ God, country, family.

May 2nd, 2009, 12:37 AM	#7
redrick Distinguished Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,570	I went through the same thing, but two things good that I will say about them, I was very happy with my shark belt and the first one that I ordered was to small, they took it back and sent me another one with no extra charge. It still took about 12 weeks to get each one. Last edited by redrick; May 2nd, 2009 at 09:12 AM..

May 2nd, 2009, 10:39 AM	#9
Wasabi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 1,009	I've said it before and it looks to still hold true. They have absolutely the worst customer service I have encountered. Hopefully somebody considering buying something from these losers will see this thread and it will save them from a terrible experience. __________________ "Life's tough......It's even tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne

May 1st, 2009, 07:04 PM	#4
JerryM Distinguished Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,666	What a shame. I bought my first real gun belts from RafterS in shark and plain. The service was good, and the product also. I found them easy to communicate with, and the delivery dates were generally accurate. They said that they recondition shark belts when they get beat up, and those who send them say that they are better than new when they get them back. The last ones I bought about 4 or 5 months ago do not exhibit the workmanship and care that my first ones do. I guess the demand, and lack of good business acumen have caused them to be less than satisfactory now. Regards, Jerry

May 2nd, 2009, 03:40 AM	#8
orangehole Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: PA Posts: 289	They are known for the old "The belt/holster will ship tomorrow" line. It really is a shame because their belts are top notch. Slightly better than The beltman but Rafter S has real poor customer service. I have ordered from them 3 times and 2 of them were no problem, the 3rd was not that great. Once word gets out on good leather craftsman, their waits and customer service usually suffers. I have seen this happen to all but TT leather. Tim still answers emails quickly and it very friendly.

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