Century/SOG

[legion489]

Alot has been written on here about the various sellers found inthe SGN, especially Century and SOG. Here is my take.

Century has good prices, but like a CAI rep said "it takes a century to ship". They employ minimum wage workers and sorters who have no (or little) idea what they are looking at/for, so don't be suprised to get the wrong item or less than the entire item if it has more than one piece to it (like a Garand bayonet frog. Forget getting all of, or the correct, parts order, it aint gonna happen). I don't think I have ever got all the stuff I've ordered from them if I ordered two or more items. The return policy is good and they are easy to work with (normally) when you send something back. Get one rep you deal with and stick with them, it will be helpful in the long run, I use Albert (hit 9 then 2), tell him Doug at D&D in Iowa sent you. It may not help, but shouldn't hurt.

SOG is generally pretty good. I placed an order Tuesday of this week, the order came today (Thursday) . The FAL mags (at $5) looked near new, just slight handling marks! If they offer more than one grade (grade 1, grade 2, grade 3), you will LIKELY get the lesser grade, at least I always seem to, every time. I ordered (and paid good money for) a grade 1 Rom. .22 rifle w/sling swivels, I got grade 2 w/OUT swivels. I called and they said send it back (they will refund S&H) but I said just send me swivels. I got ONE swivel, called to bitch, told that was tough, they were out of grade 1 rifles and didn't have any more swivels. This seems to be more common lately (last year, year and a half), but they are normally good. When they are good they are great, when they are bad it is no end of trouble to get it straightened out! Better to just get over it than die of a heart attack screaming at some low level flunky who doesn't care and won't help.

Tapco is well loved here, and I like they too, but they can have problems also. I called late night to place an order and talked to a young man who was very helpful and nice! Did I know about the FAL mag special? No? Of course we will add it to your order! How about..., it was great, my very own FAL helper! Called late night to place another order and talked to a young lady. YEAH, WHAT DO YOU WANT?! THAT IT?! I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY SPECIALS OR FFL DEALER PRICING! I'M BUSY!...CLICK!! She was obviously having a bad day. Both orders in the last four or five weeks or so. On the plus side, both came PDQ, so no problem there.

This is my .02 worth.

[B3]

I had trouble with SOG. I ordered two rifles and they sent the wrong weapons -- they were out of the ones I ordered. I fought and fought. Had keep boxes with numbers on them or they would not have talked to me at all.
Got to where I sent email each moth updating problems. This did not help.
I asked for the address of their legal department in order to start an action per my legal advisor.
They sent check.
If you can go any place else please do. Even look for another vendor.
If u get what u want from them u are OK -- if not LOOK OUT
B3

[BlackHawk1]

I will never deal with SOG again, PERIOD. They tried a bait and switch BS game with me. I got my money back.

As far as Century, I got a half way decent assembled CETME but the furniture was crappy and some drunk monkey scraped the muzzle across concrete or something. After I refinished it all, it looked good but I won't buy another Century made firearm.

[slv2fun]

Originally posted by legion489
Alot has been written on here about the various sellers found inthe SGN, especially Century and SOG. Here is my take.

{{SNIP}}

This is my .02 worth.

This was a very helpful review, thanks.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Sarco? I have heard some complaints against them in the BBB. I have heard horror stories so I am less likely to order from them.

Regards,

[gunhead]

Sarco seems to be still in the 1970's! They never seem to know anything, but eventually they realize what you're talking about .
I have good luck the few times i've dealt with them though & got exactly what I expected!

[Harlan at FAC]

SARCO has an amazing range of product offerings that are rarely available anywhere else. They know how to make a deal.

SARCO also sells Century product as does SOG and many others, including FAC.

[skfullgun]

That's exactly the kind of customer service that keeps us going back to TAPCO!

[legion489]

Tapco service is great! Sent private note, after all even I (yes I know that is hard to believe ) sometimes am less than polite. But then if Job had to put up with the cr*p I put up with every day he would have cracked!

Sarco has stuff you will NOT find anywhere else. They also short you on the small stuff, pins, screws, springs, that sort of thing, but if you catch it, just give them a call and they will send it right out. EVERY parts order I have got from Sarco has been missing a few small parts, so if you buy any parts kits, COUNT the springs, screws, pins, etc. Since it is in plastic bags, it didn't get lost in the box! No one I know who deals with Sarco has ever got an order that had all the little stuff included. Sure it is ONLY a screw, or spring, or pin, but darn it, I am paying for it so I want it! You also have to watch the ammo orders from them, same problem.

The five Centry FALs and one HK 93 I got from Century worked just fine, no bithin' there, so I will continue to buy their guns. I have had to send back quite a few Mausers though, VG w/sewer pipe barrel (totally, and I do mean TOTALLY, rusted out, although the outside looked great!), M-48 with bulged barrel (the barrel did look minty however), a few used mags (for SMLE) that didn't fit or feed and I didn't want to screw with them, that sort of thing. I do have to admit that Century has NEVER given me any grief over returning stuff and has worked to make me happy. Now if they would only get their heads out of their rear ends with the parts...

Just my .02 (again).

[normbal]

I'm having a good experience with TAPCO so far. They've sent me two G1 kits and are making good on a broken locking shoulder and firing pin and some missing pieces. I like that.

As to SOG. I've got an A1 credit rating, a C&R, I buy a LOT of guns and parts and two years ago I tried placing an order with SOG, their helpful sales reps took my credit card number down WRONG, got refused for the charge, and when I called back weeks later asking where my order was, they told me I'd have to pay cash/MO only from then on. I asked them to read back the credit card number and it was wrong. Did they ever call me about this? This is how you lose a good customer.

Century I'm working with, Albert really seems to have his stuff together. I'll see how the shipping and handling folks work this week.

I put in an online order for DSA last week and am still waiting for my card to be charged. Are they slow? I want to order a few hundred dollars MORE stuff, but I think a WEEK is the most anyone should wait for stuff these days, with USPS priority competing with FEDEX and that Brown company.

-Norm Balog
Socialist Occupied Maryland