Rifle Scopes TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

[Al D]

Great site with great info.
Sorry my first post is to be a whiner.
My freind recomended TPS rings. I ordered some from thier website and they do seem like good rings.
The website said they had all 4 sets in stock. When I received the order, one set was not shipped or shown on the order (although it was on the original confirmation). No notation on the packing slip about it being backordered or cancelled.
I sent them an email asking, then another. Then a phone call and got put on hold 45 minutes (no exageration) then left a message. Then another email. Almost a week later and not relpy.
Tried the links on thier website. The forum link takes you to "godaddy.com and the "contact customer service" link says the link is expired.
Are they always this bac? How do they stay in business?

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Midway carries alot of their rings. I recommend find them in stock somewhere to avoid what you're going through. I've heard alot of complaints dealing directly with the manufacture. I ordered some super low 30mm's and had honestly forgot about them by the time they showed up.

 

[Adam B]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I have had great luck with the steel TPS rings, I broke the cross bolt on a set of aluminum rings but I bought them from Bronwells and just returned them.

 

[Scimitar]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Buy from Brownells or Midway +1

 

[match308]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

TPS rings are great, but dont buy them direct. TPS customer service is very lacking.

 

[BobinNC]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

TPS doesn't do that pesky customer service thingee......

 

[pawprint]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

This is a weird string!!! I can't count how many times I've read posters going on and on about how important customer service is to them, how important the way they have been treated by a given company etc. Yet, here we find a company that treats a customer like crap, and the advice is to buy their product anyway, but from a different source!!! It makes me wonder how many people that post how important customer service is to their buying habits etc. are really telling the truth? I have even read posts where price wasn't the primary issue! They would rather pay more for the same product-as long as they knew they would get great customer service. I on the other hand, look for the best price, 45 minutes wait, after you made it clear they had sold you a piece of junk, is not good customer service-maybe in abdulastan it would pass as good, but not in the USA. I would suggest not buying their product from a different supplier-but rather a different product-get a refund if possible.

 

[oldfatguy]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I have two pairs of TPS rings and one base. Never had a problem with them and consider them to be very good given my limited experience.

However, after checking the factory direct price I ordered the rings and base from another vendor, not TPS. Lower price for one thing and positive previous experience with the vendor for another.

Yes CS is very, very important and it seems that TPS is much better at manufacturing hardware then they are at CS.

So I will continue to order TPS products, just not directly from them but from a vendor I know has good CS.

OFG

 

[pawprint]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I can only imagine the screeeching if a company such as Leupold, or Zeiss etc treated their customers in the same fashion. A loud call to boycott would be bouncing off the walls here in the hide! When ever a company is talked about, their [the company in question] customer service is always touted as "the reason to do business with them", often a person's name is attached, such as, "Joe is a great guy to do business with, he'll take care of you" etc. Yet, we now read from some that even though this company's customer service is as bad as it gets, they still buy the product! Makes me continue to wonder, how important is customer service? How many people, on this board for example, really care about customer service? Places such as Walmart seem to sell a lot of goods, evidently in the case of Walmart it is price and selection that accounts for these massive sales. As for anyone that has ever shopped Walmart (and most have), you know it is not their customer service accounting for the billions in yearly sales.

 

[buffybuster]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

TPS Products

Overall, they produce a quality product and they predominately sell their products through resellers (Midway, Brownells, etc). They do however maintain their own website with the ability to order direct through them. In this instance I would strongly recommend and if would seem they would also prefer, you buying through a stocking reseller. Ordering direct with TPS almost guarantees a bad buying experience.

I still like their product, but would never recommend buying direct from them. My advice to them, is to close their direct sales site and put links to their authorized resellers. That would save a ton of grief to all involved.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Simply a matter of company structure. TPS is a manufacturer and likes things like that. Thus they prefer that customers purchase their products through retailers. I personally have never had to deal directly with TPS and have had excellent experiences. However I have heard many complaints similar to the OPs when dealing directly with the company.

 

[pawprint]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Some of the posts on this string are interesting, I've learned something, customer service can suck as long as there are others selling your products that have good customer service. My original take regarding the screeeeching on this board regarding poor customer service was wrong, as for many, customer service is not a big deal, as long as the mfg. sells their stuff through people that give good customer service. There is a lesson here, if you mfg a product, do your best to get good companies, those with good customer service to carry your product, you can let your customer service go in the sh(*&er, and it will still be okay as far a many of your customers are concerned. Interesting, I'm sure a business prof. could do a full semester on this.

 

[Al D]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

2 more days, 2 phone calls and another email.
Still no reply.
I placed an order with Midway late last night. Just received my nothice that the rings already shipped complete.
Nice job Midway! Guess I know who to use and not use from now on.
Thanks for all the comments.

 

[kujo929]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

That sucks. I've got several sets of their rings and some bases. I've ordered TPS products straight through their site and other vendors and never had an issue. I also have called to get info regarding some night vision rails for a department purchase and they were great to deal with. Order went through easy and had the rails within the week.

Maybe I'm just lucky.

 

[Engine 22]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I have had a similar experience with TPS. I'm going to suggest instead to purchase products from a different manufacturer. I now use Badger products and couldn't be happier!

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I never bought through their site only through vendors but I have 4 sets in my junk drawer that the cross bolts are stripped on and I couldn't get in touch for them with warranty. I had five sets but I sent one in with a note about a year and a half ago to see if they would repair/replace them if I just mailed them in and I haven't seen or heard anything back from them. The problem with all five sets is the cross bolts stripped VERY easily. I tighten all my rings with a snap on torque wrench and most of them stripped with about 30-40 inch pounds, all of them stripped before they got to proper torque. I won't use or recommend TPS products any more. For just a little more you can get Seekins or MK4's which are great quality for the price, I prefer Badger or NF though.

 

[Mike]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Whatever you do, do not come here first and do a bit of research. You would only find out this is the norm rather than the exception.

 

[jwpark]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Hmm I'm thinking I should return my recent TPS ring purchase.

 

[2Shots]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I have purchased their rings through SWFA and have been very satisfied, I would find a distributor that has them in stock and forget about dealing direct. This is unfortunate because they have quality products in there line.

 

[z71rat]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I would just recommend buying Seekins Rings and Bases... never any questions about quality or their customer service!!

DK

 

[Jason280]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

TPS makes great rings, but as it has been mentioned several times, their customer service is extremely lacking. I had a set of their alloy rings break, and it was a PITA getting them replaced through TPS.

 

[Stewart]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

Just order them from Brownells in the future and all will be ok.

 

[Engineer]

Re: TPS sucks, or maybe jus me.

I purchased two sets from Brownells. I've had positive experiences with Brownell's CS. No issues with the rings themselves so far.