Re: POF Horrible Customer Service!
Oddball-Six pretty much nailed it.
One thing that people do not get is that Frank (POF-USA) started out of his garage. They are a growing company.
No excuse for the OP's experience, but I do know a little about POF, I was one of the couple guys that worked there.
I didn't offer to help in this case becasue I don't have any solid inside that will get anything done quicker.
There are many factors that affect wait time, such as the processes of manufacturing the differnt parts, then chambering all the barrels, then them going to anodizing and heat treating or also NP3'ing. Not to mention, oh, that supplier's order for the thingamajig that everything is held together with hasn't come in yet, etc.
In todays economy most manufacturers are NOT just building an assload of an item to have it in inventory hoping they will all sell-that is ridiculous, that includes the guys that make the small parts, not just POF and their inventory of the big parts. The little spring on an ejection port cover will keep a rifle from going out if that order is hung up somewhere, etc.....
Likewise, good or bad, POF has not ran the business model of giving dealers an assload of product on payment terms. POF sells dealer direct. A FFL buys a rifle to resell, they don't say "hey POF, I'll take three of your rifles to hang on my wall and I'll send you the money whenever I can"-they have to pay dealer cost and they get one when its built and shipped. Again, in today's economy, its harder for a gun shop to buy a couple to hang on the wall, esp with different models available, so they usually don't order until a customer presents wanting one.
POF's are still high demand items, so even when dealers can buy them without having a customer order pad for they do not stay in stock long.
Then there's the whole CA thing...
If you are buying just an upper ther is no reason to go through a dealer unless they have one in stock you want. Best bet is to go to POF-USA.com and order your upper direct. Then if anything happens you have an order number you are in control of and can call POF and say, "when will I see order #XXXX"
There's many layers to the onion, and I'm pretty sure POF is doing their best to get ordered rifles out.
Unfortunately the economy has made it so I am no longer sitting at a desk answering questions like these for POF. I am willing to help where I can, but there's not much I can do for this situation except shed a little light on the situation. If I were still there I'd get the details and light a fire under the situation, but I'm not. And I don't believe in promising something I can't deliver, that's why I'm not saying I can do anything.
As for the wait, may it pass quickly.
