Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics SWFA gets a bad review

Shhhhhh.

PM comin' atcha.

Rick

And back(thanks)......................

"Look on HA now.He found his receipt-he bought it in June of 2002-almost a year ago."

The date he called us with today from his credit card company was June of 2001, almost two years ago.

For any of ya'll that did not know why we stopped posting and advertising here, just read Rick's post. He took our money for a year contract on advertising then started selling scopes against us by personal messaging and cutting our prices. Its kinda hard for us to compete with the guy that owns the board. We would have never paid to advertise here if we knew his intentions. We will gladly beat any price he advertises or offers and we have everything in stock ready to ship.

Contact me personally.

Chris Farris

Can't stand a little competition, eh Chris? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Seems to me you would have appreciated the fact that your posting privileges were never affected here, like they were on HA and other sites. But maybe you like it like at the other place you sponsor, where the entire Peter thread was killed for your benefit. Got a lot of pull there, don'tcha? Fortunately, I don't need to rely on advertising to pay the bills around here. I sell stuff. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Seems to me you would have appreciated my post, overly generous as it turns out, regarding the Peter situation. The pitfalls of the Internet, huh? Except that for a guy who complains about another improperly maligning his business on the web, you sure do have a free and fancy way with my bandwidth, pal. You complain about Peter, and then do exactly the same thing. Priceless!

You also never mentioned that you got not one, but three chances to be our sole optics supplier, and turned them all down. You knew from day one, before the website even went live, that I wanted to sell optics. That's the whole reason I first contacted you! The truth is that you never thought I'd be able to score a supplier, and now you're bitter that I did and you're not it. The line about the banner is bull. That was months after you turned us down. You just want a pretext to complain about my selling optics without you.

Bottom line: You gambled, and you lost. Take your marbles home now.

And hey man, thanks. I've moved quite a few scopes today. Keep up the great work, and don't think the word isn't out about your supply of Leupolds. I notice there's a few folks kicking your butt on pricing lately. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Here's some news: So will I, to anyone who asks.

Ciao.

Rick

P.S.: You'll need to change your handle. Only paying advertisers get to use dot-coms.

Chris,

You got a lot of positive feedback from members here on this thread, why are you dumping compost on it?

I have been a satisfied customer in the past too.

Mighta shoulda left that dog to sleep.....

Bill,
IMHO, I Don't think Chris was doing anything other than commenting on why he no longer maintains a presence on this board. He paid for a years advertising and Rick became a dealer and started undercutting his prices before that period of time was up. It must have something to do with one's definition of chicken-[bleep]...

Money will make folks do some amazing things. It just gets interesting at how little it takes for some of them...

FWIW, My business will continue to go to Chris Farris & Dick Thomas...

Regards, Matt.

www.riflescopes.com
www.premierreticles.com

Matt:

Since when does paying for advertising guarantee that the owner of the medium can not compete with an advertiser? I think businesses pay for advertising to attract new customers and to alert your present ones to changes in your product line. Frankly, my definition of chickensh.. works on the other side of this deal. Particularly when it was apparently understood between the two parties that selling optics by 24hr was in the game plan. I might add that I have heard of some other chickensh.. moves by SWFA as well, but I am not in the business of spreading tales that I can't confirm personally, so that is all I am going to say on that topic. I usually buy from the cheapest supplier, which is often Rick for Leupolds (but if it is close, I use Rick, see following paragraph), sometimes others. Other people value handholding much more than I do.

One reason I use Rick for most of my Leupie purchases(let's see, at least 3 in the last 6 months or so) is that I get a great deal of pleasure, information, and general comraderie from this site and most of the people who frequent it. Therefore, for me, I believe that giving him my business, if he has what I want and is reasonably close to the lowest available price, is some minimal return for the value I receive FREE from this site. Those decisions on my part are included in my definition of loyalty.

I'm a little confused about this issue. How is Rick selling scopes on the forum, through the Free Classifieds?

Go to the banner at the top of the page and click on Gear Shop.
Then click on "search by manufacturer"

Rick,

Competition is no problem. HA would not allow us to post or advertise because they had an exclusive with another optics retailer. Huntchat pulled the thread on their own and I asked them to put it back up. Someone made a comment about Huntchat that caused it to go down. Why would I want a pro SWFA post removed?

You got your story mixed up a little. We started advertising here when we were asked to by the mass exodus of Shooters.com posters that you inherited. You then asked me if I would sell you scopes, I said no because we don't sell to dealers...just the public. All of this was after you had our money. I would have never advertised here if I knew that you were going to under cut all our prices and PM members with special deals.

Its pretty cut and dry really. You say you don't need banner ads because you sell products, then why did you solicit us?


IF it Flys it dies,

Your post is exactly what I am getting at.
"Since when does paying for advertising guarantee that the owner of the medium can not compete with an advertiser? " " I believe that giving him my business, if he has what I want and is reasonably close to the lowest available price, is some minimal return for the value I receive FREE from this site. "

So why waster our time paying him to PM our customers with a better price.

We are a stocking dealer and will beat any legitimate price. If you want to give us a shot we'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
Chris Farris
RifleScopes.com
SampleList.com

Westman,

I am just reacting and responding to Rick's post that I felt were very inappropriate and unprofessional. To most his comments did not make since as it was directed to me personaly.


"All I know is that a little controversy sure does sell scopes. Anybody else want prices? I'm making a rush order in the morning and might as well tally up a few more.
Rick"


"Shhhhhh.
PM comin' atcha.
Rick"


Chris Farris
RifleScopes.com
SampleList.com

Chris, I believe you are cutting your own throat here. Granted there are some die hard customers of yours who (for good reason) will not leave your side, but for those on the fence, your reactions are bound to send them to Rick.

I personally agree with If It Flies It Dies (don't fall over buddy, I'm sure this is a one time event -- grin). I feel you'd of got a lot more mileage out of keeping your banners and ignoring the competition. You have/had a good reputation and such an act would have demonstrated class -- maybe even allowed you to keep the majority of the business that is going to Rick now???

While I'm not saying that I'm never going to order any rifle scopes from you again, I WILL look to Rick first based on your petty needling. As IIFID stated, if buying stuff from him keeps this site up and running, I'm all for it. But hey, I don't buy a pallet of scopes each year, so I'm a small fish to lose.

BTW, I am impressed at your description of the events with the jerk you were dealing with! I believe my minor problems getting you to sell me a scope earlier this year were an anomoly and definitely would NOT affect me doing business again with you. What you don't seem to understand though, is that Rick is our Host here. Many of us REALLY like this place. When you stab at him, it is primarily making YOU look bad.

Again, if I haven't made it clear, I'm not trying to bash you. I'm just hoping you might bury the hatchet with Rick and get on with life. You're only driving folks away with this crap.

I for one,ain't gonna get in the middle of "The Clash Of The Titans". Mainly,because none of it is any of my damned business and that's a more than good enough reason.

I'd state that competition is the best thing for the consumer,that is a given,though I weigh Service heavily due to aforementioned reasons. As far as tossing opinions back and forth and not having everything bein' warm and fuzzy,I can relate to that too. I'm guilty of having an opinion of my own now and again,that isn't embraced by the masses.(grin)

Takes a lot to ruffle me,but I just might be in the minority. If big boys wanna butt heads,I'll watch the show and chalk it up to free entertainment. I've butted my fair share and would be the last to point fingers.

My respect/appreciation for both parties,is miles from being diminished in the slightest. I'm pretty lighthearted and savvy that all storms(regardless of size) soon blow over.

I just await the Scope Wars,followed by the 2-fer Sale(grin). You gents can lighten up now,the water is under the bridge.....................

Stick? ... butt heads? ... here? ... say it ain't so <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

2-fer sale! Hell, what was I thinking! You two go back at it -- I could REALLY use a pair of Leupie 6x42's!

Welllll,it's sorta so(grin).

Point was,I won't begrdudge another for stating his case and sticking to his guns,as I sorta have a slight admiration for the trait(though it ain't always productive).

Group hugs ain't my gig and sparks never spooked me. That don't mean that differences can't ever diminish.

Mr. Rick once accused me of being a Diplomat,I hope he didn't mean it(grin).....................

Post deleted by AFP

Whattabout the Remington vs. Winchester thing? I mean how infantile can we get and how low can folks stoop?

EVERYONE knows Winchester's suck!....................(hee hee hahe haa)

And here we are ... its mating season up in Paradise Alaska. The mighty big horn sheep, that the community know as the campfire calls, Big Stick comes and welcomes all challengers (known as Winchester fans) to his arena. Gonna be some headaches dealt out this afternoon! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Yes, that full curl has butted more than one head in its lifetime. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

If one looks closely he will notice in the background ... the Ruger and Mauser sheep don't even dare to enter his territory (unless its the K-Hornet varieity). <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Post deleted by AFP