Re: SWFA-SS Tax Day Group Buy: 1-6, 5-20, and more!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">SWFA is sadly learning the same thing that Vortex did and you all are teaching the lesson. In short, don't talk to the customers, don't ask their opinions, don't give them any sort of expectations because if you don't meet them then you'll be flamed.
Vortex Optics used to literally post here several times a day until the PST scopes went longer than intended on their development and release. Guys here flamed them, overwhelmed them with PMs of questions and bitching, etc. Now they don't ask for opinions on the scopes we want or give ideas on when they might be released. Why, fear of bullshit like this! Same reason why Leupold doesn't post here and a few others I personally know of as well. It's a lose/lose deal for them.
I love the guys throwing stones here, discussing how SWFA does business, critiquing their vendor choices, etc. I'm sure you've all have personal experiences with product development, outsourcing to countries with different native languages in another hemisphere and putting hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line. You guys should really hire yourself out as consultants to SWFA. I'm a business owner, but I'm not in their business, so I keep my mouth shut.
Let's look at the alternative to the long lead time. SWFA releases a scope that's not ready, has reticle issues, etc. Bulk of them are returned, SWFA SS line gets a bad name, no one buys them again and SWFA spends tons of $$$$ trying to return/replace/fix the issues because they released a product that shouldn't have gone out in the first place. Another good family owned American company dies....
Or... Wait a couple extra months, release an awesome scope, everyone's happy and within 2 months everyone has forgotten about the delay being a few months longer than expected. SWFA = Winning!
Don't worry, I've got inside intel that the zombies will not be coming until at least 30 days after the 1-6's are delivered, you'll have plenty of time to get it dialed in and stored away in the safe.
Lastly, if I was as pissed as the handful of bitchers appear, I'd simply cancel my order and move on with life instead of coming back here to whine on a regular basis. But then that wouldn't be the internet, would it?
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I can see the logic in some of your comments, but you *ass*ume many things.
Where do you get the idea of "a couple extra months" and the scope will be "awesome" and everyone will be happy with what ships and forget about the delay being longer than expected ?
I hope your speculation is correct.
Regardless of the outcome on this, lack of communication is just bad customer service - period.
I for one won't order from SWFA again, not because of the wait, but because of the extremely poor customer service exhibited by them on this buy.
In my opinion, the way they have handled this *really* puts forward the thought that they don't care about customers.
I can understand not wanting to come here to get a beat down every day, but not keeping customers informed is in my opinion indicative of lack of concern.
I do indeed have personal experiences with product development, outsourcing to countries with different native languages in another hemisphere and putting hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line.
In every case, when ANY delay or setback occurs, keeping MY customer informed is just good business, not to mention an ethical obligation.
As far as seeking an engagement from SWFA for consulting services, I will agree it appears they do need some help to take care of basic customer service communication duties.
But, that's not something they could really hire out if it isn't an integral part of the way they do business.
They might make a fantastic scope, but the warranty claims taking months, the reticle change (how long does it take to snap a couple of pics ?) and deafening silence just leaves me with the impression they are more concerned with their new building and other things than taking 5 minutes to provide a courtesy update.
I'd rather hear bad news than no news at all, especially after it is clear they are aware of this thread and the buyers here have all shown a great deal of patience and professionalism when receiving ANY news.
In my opinion, they either lack the balls to tell the truth about the situation, or, they have taken the customers in this buy for granted.
