The following is an account of my current ordeal in ordering a custom Encore barrel. The barrel is what I would call a 'basic' order for the maker (no need to give names) - the total order, including accesories, etc. ran about $500. Let me start by stating that the initial ordering process was very smooth and uncomplicated. I gave the maker my home address, home phone and e-mail address. I am a 'first-time' customer with this maker.

April 2 - ordered barrel from maker - work order typed up and okayed by me. I was told that it will take 6-8 weeks to complete.
April 10 - credit card billed 50% of order.
June 27 - called to check on barrel - told 'about two weeks more'
July 18 - (Today) - It has now been 15 weeks - almost double the time I was told I would have my barrel. I have received no phone calls, e-mails or mail explaining the situation.

I also called at one point to get some paperwork sent to me - I was told "It'll be in the mail tomorrow" - 10 days later I e-mailed asking where it was - I was replied "I thought I had sent it out".

I have called this maker about 6 times since ordering - I usually have to leave a message on the machine. About half of the time my original call is not returned (and I waited DAYS). My second calls have been returned.

I am not the kind of person that calls daily to check on my order. I AM the kind of person that expects to be notified if there are going to be significant delays, and the reasons why MY order will not be filled on time. PLEASE DO NOT TELL ME THAT I SHOULD EXPECT DELAYS - IF THE MAKER CAN'T FILL MY ORDER IN 6-8 WEEKS, THEN THEY SHOULDN'T TELL ME THAT IT WILL ONLY TAKE 6-8 WEEKS.

So, from my perspective:
1. I am a first-time customer who decided to order from this maker because of their reputation,
2. I made a simple order and immediately approved it,
3. I have given the maker 3 different ways of contacting me,
4. I was told 6-8 weeks - it is now almost 16 weeks,
5. I have not been given any apologies, excuses or explanations why I do not have the barrel in my hands today.

This whole ordeal has certainly soured the anticipation of getting to the range and wringing the barrel out. The only possible bright side to this will be if the accuracy and craftsmanship holds up to the reputation that many of you have given to this maker. I am a patient man, but...

So...... what's your advice? Have I done something wrong? Have I missed something? What would YOU do?

Thanks

Erict
Did you tell the barrel maker about how you feel that the purchase is progressing? If you don't they will not know unless they read it here.

I have had delays with every custom maker that I have delt with so far. More than once they were pretty far off on their dates that they claimed to have the product ready. It does seem that a couple of these manufacturers could use some front office help in regard to dealing with customers calls & inquiries.

You have given them enough info that they should be able to contact you. You might have to be a little more aggresssive in trying to get a hold of them to discuss your purchase. Some of these shops are very busy & these things happen. With that said the barrels that I've gotten from them have been very good in comparison to factory barrels & were worth the wait. I am a very impatient person in general but, am getting use to these types of delays. Don't forgte you could always cancel an order, but then you will end up starting the process all over again somewhere else. You may also end up with the same problem at the next custom maker.

Take a deep breath & give the shop a call & speak to someone there. Let them know what's bothering you & ask what might be delaying things.

If after it is all said & done after you have the barrel you have the option of not doing business any further with that particular shop again in the future. That is what I have done with one shop. While they made a real good shooting barrel the aggravtion wasn't worth it. SO I choose to make purchases elsewhere. Good luck ! Hopefully you won't be waiting much longer.
Rich Jake

What Rich has said pretty much echoes my sentiments on the subject. I've run into delays as well (more often than not, if the truth be known). But for the most part, everything has been well worth the wait.

While I do have a few older factory barrels, I rate the new ones pretty low on the totem pole. Some of the older barrels, especially the 6mm, 6.5mm and 7mm TCUs, shoot extremely well. But if I had to choose to buy a new factory barrel immediately or wait a bit for true quality, I'd choose the wait every time -- even if I really dread the waiting period.

These are NOT the kinda stories i like to hear. I had a similar experience with a custom maker, barrel arrived months late and once i got it found that it had problems!! I was sooooo disgusted that i never shot it. After a couple months of tryin to it them to refund my money i finally gave up and sold it to someone that knew the whole story. He was not concerned with the problem and said that it was even a decent shooter.

I have yet to try VVGC but will. I have had great experiences with Mike of OTT and am not afraid to have him build me another barrel.

I thikn that the others have already given u some really sound advise. I hope that it works out and ur barrel is delivered SOON!!

First let me say that all my barrels or rechambers was delivered in the time or less then was quoted,or close to it. So I don't have a problem with VVCG,Bullberry,Van Horn,SSK,OTT{no quoted time givin},Mike Bellm{no quoted time givin}
I look at it like this guys. If a custom shop can't get your order to you in the amount of time you were quoted {or close to it}then there is a problem somewhere.
I'm not talking about they told you 6 weeks and you got it in seven. I'm talking many weeks or even months after the quoted time you were told.
I mean how long does it really take to make a barrel or do a rechamber ? It sure pays well
If anyone on here is like me {and I doubt it LOL!} Once it's been toooo long after the dilivery date I was quoted then I start to loose interest in that project.
The whole thing in a nutshell is "NOT TO QUOTE A DILIVERY TIME IF IT CAN"T BE MET". If you do then there shouldn't be any excuses why that didn't happen.
Oh shit happens for sure, but all it takes is a simple phone call to let the person know that this deadline can't be met for one TRUTHFUL reason or another and be givin a new time of dilivery. It's that easy I shouldn't have to call to find out why my shit ain't done.

As far as it being done right the first time??? That bitch better be right! That's why I paid that high dollar for CUSTOM. This ain't no practice or a learning game.

IME, custom makers quote 6-8 weeks (like it is in the custom maker SOP somewhere) but deliver in 16-18 weeks. PLUS it isn't as ordered. In my case the changes were actually for the better, so no gripes on my part. However, in no case did it come to me as ordered. What's up with that?

I too would prefer that when I take the time to approve the work order that it be followed. Also, that actual estimated delivery dates be given. Like others a 1 week delay isn't bad but doubling the time is. I know darn well I couldn't get away with that!

To be honest, that's one reason I've put off buying new custom barrels and have been content with keeping my eyes peeled for what I want on the used barrel market.

Thank you for your responses so far.

Just so we are clear on this - I would wait a year IF I was originally told that it would take that long - but I wasn't. If I'm told 6-8 weeks, I expect it in 6-8 weeks. If there is a problem, tell me, otherwise, deliver as promised.

I would much rather have the maker spend time working on getting my (and others) barrels finished than distracting them with numerous phone calls - I know how a 1 minute phone call leads to 10 minutes away from the shop.

I would like to believe that if there is a problem I will be contacted. It really gets to me if I don't get what I paid for after providing very detailed instructions and $$$.

I will be contacting the maker this week to express my dissatisfaction/disappointment, but I am still hopeful that it will shoot like it should once it arrives.

Erict, I'm in the same boat. I also ordered two barrels on April 2 and haven't recieved either yet. I was told last week that they were being shipped. One was done for over a month and a half, sitting in the shop. I guess it's my fault for not having it sent (I should have suggested it--they didn't).

It took me 6 weeks to get a brochure from MOA.

I have had a similar experience recently with a custom maker. I ordered three barrels which were delivered 4 weeks past the scheduled date. When they arrived 2 out of the three were not what I had ordered. The barrel maker did remedy the situation in a reasonable amount of time and I am happy with the end result.

I would sum up my thoughts on ordering custom barrels this way. I don't mind waiting to get them. I don't mind paying extra for them. I don't even mind them being a "little" late on arrival, but when they get to my house they better be what I ordered.

Call Fred and tell him.... oh sorry.. hehehe.

I'm used to smiths taking longer than quoted. But not TWICE as long, which is what happend the last (and MY last) time I used a certain barrel builder in Utah. When it came, it wasn't worth the wait either. Do your voting with your money in the future.

Both custom barrels I ordered took twice as long as quoated. Both were shorty specials, and both took 16+ weeks vs the 8 week quote. Also neither barrel lived up to the accuracy I expected, so both were sold.

Not sure what I'm going to do when I get back in the single shot game, guess I'll just stick with factory tubes, at least I'll expect mediocre accuracy out of them