Mega Arms - Don't bother!

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Jer
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Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Jer » Mon Apr 15, 2013 6:51 pm

Let me first start out by saying that the firearms manufacturer Mega Arms has lost a customer and I am making it my mission to get as many people to steer away from them as possible; and here is why:

In October of 2012, I placed an order through my FFL dealer for a Mega Arms billet upper and lower set in 5.56 for my first AR-15 build. It was initially told to us that they were 3-4 months behind and that I should see the set around February at the latest.

Ever since December, I’ve been sending an email, every few weeks, to Mega Arms to inquire as to the status of my order.

I ended up talking mostly to a guy by the name of Jason Curns (Jason@megaarms.com) who goes by the title of “Firearms Manager.” Jason told me in December that they didn’t have a single unit in stock but that I shouldn’t worry. I told him I was worried because at that time I was out of the country and was being told that there was a huge anti-gun push in the USA and that legislation may be enacted preventing me from purchasing an AR-15 by the time they got the set to me.

In January, I sent another email:
Jason,
I'm sorry to keep bugging you on this. Today is January the 7th, 2013.
Previously you stated that you think you will have the billet set shipped to my FFL holder before any malicious law even gets close to passing. Being in Ecuador, I'm a bit out of the loop on many things - but I hear that Jan 15th may see the enactment of some very restrictive gun laws - including an AWB.
Do you see this being shipped to my FFL holder prior to that, or is this something that probably won't happen on the date they say?
Just anxious to get my billet set. :) I could have bought any AR upper/lower - and built a decent AR - but I chose Mega for various reasons of quality and design. I sincerely hope I get it before I'm not allowed....
The reply I got from Jason make me think that production was actually happening and that I should be receiving my order soon:
We are moving on production, but unfortunately I cannot see where your order is in line. Please rest assure, that our rights will not be infringed on, to the point of you not being able to receive your set. WE are running 24/7 to make sure needs are met, but with current orders being what they are, is rough.

Jason Curns
Mega-Arms
Firearms Manager
1-360-918-0054 Office
1-360-918-0058 Fax
1-360-561-4798 Cell
jason@megaarms.com
http://www.megaarms.com
Then February rolls around and I again send another letter to Jason inquiring as to the status of my order – and this is the reply I received:
The order is still in the system. The Custom Gun Shop was given a estimated time of delivery of April 5th in their Sales Order Acknowledgement. We should have no problem meeting that date.

Jason Curns
Mega-Arms
Firearms Manager
1-360-918-0054 Office
1-360-918-0058 Fax
1-360-561-4798 Cell
jason@megaarms.com
http://www.megaarms.com
Awesome – so April 5th – with a “no problem meeting that date…” But I don’t take people’s word anymore and once 30 more days passed, I sent another email to Jason:
Jason -
Today is another 30 day mark being March 6th. This is [redacted] writing again. Sincerely hoping you can provide a hard date for the shipping of the billet set we've been discussing since last year.

Thank you in advance
I received a reply almost immediately from Jason, reassuring me the April 5th date still looks good(ish):
Again, the Sales Order Acknowledgment says April 5th for shipping. There are a lot of orders in front of yours still, and we will be getting to it. To give a hard date of exactly when it will ship would be impossible. Please understand we are EXTREMLY busy, and doing the very best we can during this push. We will get your set out.

Jason Curns
Mega-Arms
Firearms Manager
1-360-918-0054 Office
1-360-918-0058 Fax
1-360-561-4798 Cell
jason@megaarms.com
http://www.megaarms.com
I returned to the USA in late March, and even though it hadn’t been 30 days since my previous email, I decided to let Mega Arms know I was back in the States and to see what the status was now – so I told them and this time, Jason was done talking to me – he forwarded my email off to a lady by the name of Tamara Dabner, with the title of “Firearm Sales” – so I was downgraded from talking to one of the main players at Mega Arms to being “dealt with” by one of their sales associates…here was her email to me:
Jason forwarded me your email so I could look up your order. I pulled up the part you are waiting for (part #M0903-HA) and there are 102 of them to go out ahead of your order. We send parts out in the order that the orders were placed. We are running almost 24/7 and doing our best to get parts out as quickly as possible. Your part is not going to be able to ship on the April 5th date. We haven’t even started manufacturing the parts yet.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions for you.

Tam Dabner
Mega-Arms
Firearms Sales
1-360-918-0054 Office
1-360-918-0058 Fax
tamara@megaarms.com
http://www.megaarms.com
So, now they are telling me just 2 weeks from their deadline that they won’t be able to meet the deadline at all and that they haven’t even started manufacturing the parts yet!!!

What the HELL???!!! Where was that manufacturing push that Jason was talking about way back in January??? Apparently they would rather spend their time posting FaceBook photos of their guns than actually manufacture any…

But I really wanted a Meg Arms billet set – so I sucked it up and decided to continue my wait.

Then April 5th came and passed – and I still waited another 10 days before I decided to send them another email. So, today, April 15th – I sent them the following:
Jason Curns / Tam Dabner:

Today is April 15th - 10 days after the original ship date.
I am the proverbial thorn that will not go away and would like a status update on the upper/lower matched billet set that I ordered.

In your previous email you stated the part will not be ready by April 5th.
A few questions:

1) Can you please let me know a projected date that it WILL be ready?
2) Have you started production on the 102 units that were ahead of mine in the order chain?
2) If not, when do you anticipate starting and how long will it take to get to mine in that line of 102?
3) If so, how many more are ahead of mine?

I know you aren't supposed to discuss orders and production and such - but that is simply an internal policy and not mandated by law.
Your customer, here, would like to know when he can expect his product that was bought and paid for already.

I eagerly away your prompt and informing reply.
And received this in reply:
We still have not started manufacturing the parts you are asking, so it is going to be difficult to give you a projected date. We are doing our best to manufacture parts as quickly as possible. There are still 102 orders ahead of yours. The parts will ship as soon as they are available.


Tam Dabner
Mega-Arms
Firearms Sales
1-360-918-0054 Office
1-360-918-0058 Fax
tamara@megaarms.com
http://www.megaarms.com
HOLY CRAP! They STILL haven’t started manufacturing the parts!!! For a company that says they were working 24/7 in production they certainly don’t produce anything!! I had had-it with Mega Arms at this point.
Tam / Jason
I'm sorry. I don't think I have any faith that I will actually ever receive my set. It is incredible to have waited this long for product that has not even started to be manufactured yet. You have not answered any of my previous questions as to how long the 102 pieces will take to manufacture nor when you anticipate starting the manufacturing. Therefore I simply cannot risk not having my set. I will be canceling my order with my FFL dealer. Hopefully, your refund policies are much quicker than your manufacturing because I will be using the money to purchase a complete upper and lower billet set from someone else however this time it will not be a Mega Arms brand.

Furthermore, I am a very active member of numerous online forums the experience that I have had with mega arms will be very publicly published. I will also be encouraging any person that has an outstanding order for a billet set to cancel it and I will use quotes from the emails from mega arms Jason and yourself to back up my position.

All of this could have been avoided by simply explaining in detail to me why I have waited so long. Why you have not started production on the 102 units ahead of me; when you will start production; how long it takes to manufacture those 102 units. But I did not get a single answer to anything therefore I'm sorry, but I will be canceling my order.
So, after getting my money back from my FFL dealer (who had nothing in stock that I wanted) I then went to a local gun shop and walked out with this:
Image
That is an Adcor Defense aluminum billet lower receiver – that was in stock. And even in this age and time of crazy gun prices, I ended up paying exactly what the dealer paid + tax. :) which happens to also be SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than what Adcor Defense sells them for online… happy me!

The receiver is Aerospace Grade 7075-T651 Billet Aluminum and hard black anodized plated.
The trigger guard is machined into the receiver making it 1 piece and significantly stronger – also because it’s billet – there are no burs, tool marks or other errors in the receiver. In effect – this thing is perfect. Even the magwell is flared out – but not so much that it becomes ugly.

So, I went back to my house and began to finish the build that I had waited on Mega Arms for so long:

Image

Image
After comparing the engraving graphics from the Adcor Defense and the Mega Arms – I’m now much happier with the Adcor – it just looks more “gunny” than Mega – the Mega Arms engravings looked too “toyish” for my tastes anyway.

And in about an hour, I had fully assembled my lower receiver:

Image



Installed is the Geissele Super Semi-Automatic SSA Trigger, the Magpul B.A.D. Lever, the Magpul MIAD Grip, a Spikes Tactical ST-T2 Heavy Buffer, and the Magpul UBR Collapsible Stock.

I just need to settle on an upper receiver and finish the build.

So, if you have ordered anything from Mega Arms - my advice is QUIT WAITING - they haven't even started production yet... cancel your order and get something that is available now and go shoot!
Last edited by Jer on Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
--John F. Kennedy

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Blackthorn-USA
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Blackthorn-USA » Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:49 pm

That sucks about the wait. I know all the manufacturers are running hard to even try to keep up with demand, but stringing customers on with false delivery dates either shows a lack of knowing your job or dishonesty. I would have cancelled too.

Good that you were able to find something worthwhile locally, it’s looking nice so far. One thing about preparedness (I know you were out of country), is that it can eliminate problems like this. I haven’t needed to buy guns, parts or ammo since all the craziness has happened because I knew it was coming sooner or later. And was able to prepare for it.
Image ..... Image

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Jer
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Jer » Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:15 pm

Agreed.
MOST manufacturers are busting ass to keep up with demand - some so much so that the quality of their product is taking a hit. But in the case of Mega Arms, the emails that I received and posted above lead one to believe that they are playing golf or painting the barn instead of manufacturing anything. By their own admission, they haven't even been producing the parts since a minimum of December when I first started emailing them.

I suspect Mega Arms will be out of business soon...

I've been (mostly) prepared for things like this - but with .308, .40 and 9mm - This was my first AR build and I just screwed the pooch by waiting for Mega to come through - and they didn't.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
--John F. Kennedy

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Jer
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Joined:Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:28 am
Location:Buckhannon, WV

Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Jer » Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:20 pm

While the Mega Arms debacle had left me wanting for a billet upper, I took my assembled lower to a few local gun stores today and "tried on" various uppers - all of which were forged. Some people may not have an issue with mix-and-match parts like that, but for me - I just couldn't do it.

So while sitting at the shop of an FFL friend and using his gunbroker account, I stumbled across a Spikes Tactical "Biohazard" billet upper which, looks to be significantly more badass than the Mega Arms upper was. And I pounced on it. Probably paid much more for it than I should have - but after searching about 500 other sites and finding nothing in stock, this one magically appeared, so I bit the bullet and hit the "buy it" feature." But at least I can now finish the build.

Image
Not my photos as I don't have it yet - it's being shipped.

Image

What I REALLY like about this upper is that the design on the left is specifically for the Magpul B.A.D. lever which other uppers tend to rub on. So this will fit PERFECTLY. M4 feed ramps and all the other jazz!

Image

So, Mega Arms - while you STILL haven't started production on the line of parts as you had lead me to believe, I have become a paying customer of both Adcor Defense (lower) and Spikes Tactical (upper) and pending their performance, I will remain loyal to both as I probably would have with you...but your customer service failed and failed miserably in this aspect.

Also - the Spikes Tactical Biohazard Billet Upper...well, the design... IS FANTASTIC!
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
--John F. Kennedy

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Blackthorn-USA
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Blackthorn-USA » Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:37 pm

Nice! Spikes is pretty well liked among the gun crowd and while I don't have any of their products currently I wouldn't hesitate to grab them if they were around. Should be another sexi rifle when you get 'er together.
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williaty
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by williaty » Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:13 am

Jer, I followed you over from ZS.

I wouldn't be as hard on Mega as you're being right now. The entire AR-15-related industry is in utter chaos right now. I've waited past the projected due date twice so far on parts from Aimpoint and LaRue Tactical and both of those companies have reputations as being absolutely top-flight businesses. Additionally, IIRC Mega is an OEM for a variety of different companies that just roll-mark their own logo on. When you were told that "they hadn't even started production", what you really might have been hearing is that they were still working on the huge orders for other vendors that they were behind on before they could get to the point of running their own parts. October was already well into the first wave of the buying panic that started early in the year with it being an election year and ramped up heavily after the Aurora shooting. Granted, you were before things really hit insane overdrive level post-Newtown, but you still were months too late to be anywhere close to the head of the line.

As far as not really being able to tell you when your parts will be ready, as a small business owner, I kind of can see how they might be in over their heads. I've twice had periods where business has suddenly exploded to levels I hadn't even imagined before. Each time, I turned out to be really, really wrong about catching up. You take for granted that you have time to call suppliers to arrange deliveries, stop working to receive the deliveries, take the time out of the business day to go replace a broken tool (heck not to mention the change in the rate that you break/wear out tools!). Neither of my sudden explosions were anything close to the size of the recent panic buying of guns. I can't imagine how you could even begin to predict delivery times when your orders are suddenly 500+ percent higher than you've ever seen before. It would have been nice, however, if the guys at Mega had simply gone "Look, we're up to our necks and the water's rising. I have no idea when your parts will be ready. Do you want to stay in line or get a refund?".

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Jer
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Jer » Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:53 am

Perhaps I am being too hard on them. And I appreciate the explanation.
My biggest grip was the lack of explanation they offered me. They themselves never explained the issue as did you. Had they taken the brief time to do that - I may have been still a customer of theirs.

I do believe in second chances - so after I finish this AR-15 build and get my finances squared away again, I fully intend on building a .308 in an AR platform. Seeing as how they do make the billet .308 AR receivers, I'll consider using them for that build. Hopefully, my experience then with them will be much more calm than this past one.

The flip side is that as far as Adcor Defense is concerned, I hadn't heard of them before and I'm really really really liking this lower that I picked up. It may not have the styling of the Mega - but it certainly has amazing lines in its own right.
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
--John F. Kennedy

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Jer
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Re: Mega Arms - Don't bother!

Post by Jer » Sun Apr 21, 2013 9:02 am

Also - forgot to say - thanks for following me over here. As another member said - there is no such thing as too much information!
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
--John F. Kennedy

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