Being Careful with Simpsons Ltd.

[southriv]

Several week ago I purchased andexpensive piece (not a Luger) from Simpson. It was my third purchase over about three years. It is definately my last. The gun was mechanically defective and nothing was said about it. I sent it back. I was not very happy and expected to swallow the shipping charge, which I didn't think applied to what I felt was basically a miss-repesented item. Well, I was also tapped for a 3% re-stocking fee. On a 4k plus gun - this added up to a substantial sum for a look at a peice that should not be on the shelf (it still is).

I stark contast, I had a similar experience with Collector Firearms in Houston earlier this year for a gun costing about the same amount. They did several things Simspons did not: First, they apologised. Next they took the gun back and did not charge me a "restocking fee". The they refunded me my shipping and last, they called again to make sure I was okay with all this!

In this last couple years, my list of dealers I will do business has shrunk to almost none. I now deal almost exclusively with collectors. I suppose I am lucky in that I have never been burned big time, but even though the sum involved here is less, that doesn't make it right.


Bob

[Marvin]

I have had one problem with Simpsons in the past. I bought a Luger that was supposed to be matching and it was not. I called to explain the problem and they immediately said to send it back for a refund, credit or exchange. They had another almost identical Luger which was 1% better, so I exchanged. The only thing I "ate" was the shipping back. Honestly, they should have taken care of this, but all other dealings had been good.

Collectors Firearms has always been a good dealer for me. Another dealer that is high, but so far I have found to be honest with descriptions is DFW Firearms. Wolff has always treated me fair.

[Imperial Arms]

It is sad to notice how dealer's standards are deteriorating and many lack good business principles. I rarely do business with dealers because they often misrepresent an item and the return of an item most often leads to disappointment. At the end of the day, dealers want your money and simple courtesy such as an apology for their mistake is not in their code of conduct.

I hope that you will be successful in other avenues, and my advise is to do business with collectors instead of dealers.

Good luck,
Albert

[southriv]

Albert,

Well said - I now deal mostly with just collectors.

Bob

[minigun]

Just wondering what type of gun it was that is still there?

DFW Arms is great! A little on the high end, but Wolff will shoot you straight. I've bought from DFW an Hk93A3, '37 S/42 Luger, Walther M8, Hk Mod 4 pistol and an Hk P7K3. All but the Hk Mod 4 & P7K3 are still in my collection.

[bradsimpson]

Bob,
Sorry for the problem. The 3% was the credit card fee. We get charged whether the gun is kept or returned. This can be avoided by paying with a cashier's check or money order.

[southriv]

In deference to not making this a more public issue, and seeing as the above reply deserves a clear response, an email to Bob Simspon and a PM to Brad has been sent. Given the specific circumstances here (a defective gun) I would hope for a better response than the above.

Bob

[bradsimpson]

Bob,
We inspected the gun today and it works fine (no we did not have it repaired.) Any members of the forum are free to stop by and inspect the gun at the shop any time. It is in no way defective.

Our 3% credit card charge policy is stated on the luger list and on the web-site. Our salesmen try to remind customers of this policy when credit card payment is made. It is our actual cost to make the sale, and it is non-refundable to us.

If the gun was in fact defective, we would take responsibility for our mistake. We have made mistakes in the past, and do our best to correct them when possible. But that is not the case in this instance.

We will continue to try to make all of our customers happy. But, as those of you in business know, there are those few that will never be satisfied.

[Edward Tinker]

Just so folks know, this same thread is on http://luger.gunboards.com.


I am not going to lock this thread, but I think all has been said, pro and con.

Ed Tinker
Administrator

[southriv]

In Response to Brad and to all:

The gun is a Colt SAA. The bolt is worn out and the gun slips out of lockup. If you grasp the cylinder in any locked-up position and attempt to gently rotate it, it will slip out. This is a simple test that anyone (and any gunsmith) who has handled an SAA knows. Any number of gunsmiths familar with SAAs knows this. I had a well known SAA specialist (who is familar with Simpsons) appraise this before I called to return it. My cost would have been $200-$300 with shipping to do the repair. Before I returned it, I talked to one other gunsmith to confirm my feelings about this. Since then, in the gun community that deals withs SAA's, I have found Simspons' attitude to be in the sole minority.

Brad's response is further proof of their inability to deal responsibily with their customers. Instead, resorting to insulting the customer in public and calling me one of those " few that will never be satisfied".... is at best, an arrogant and insensitive attitude if I ever saw one.

Bob

[bradsimpson]

I welcome anyone to come to the shop and inspect the gun in question. Then look at the correspondence regarding the deal and decide who is at fault.

This is one of those deals that cannot be salvaged through reasonable means. It can happen to any of us, and we are sorry when it happens.

This issue was brought to the forum in an attempt to tarnish our reputation. I have been on the defensive from the beginning. Any statements I have made have been in defense of untrue accusations. I'm sorry if that makes me appear to have an "arrogant and insensitive attitude." I hope that those of you who know me through normal circumstances understand the position I'm in.

[Edward Tinker]

thread closed