AWA still in business?

[Doc Red Dawg, SASS #16761]

Pards,

 

Has anyone dealt with AWA recently? I've been trying to contact them with zero results. I sent them a Lightning in for repairs in June '13 and I've not received any feed back or replies of any sort.

 

Any ideas? Please let me know.

 

Thanks, Doc Red Dawg

[Kiowa Kid, SASS #69870L]

No not for few years now, and they still have an Original Lightning rifle of mine that I will never see again.

 

KK

[Outlaw Gambler]

Did you speak to anyone at AWA BEFORE sending your rifle? Chances are you didn't as they have been "silent" for a few years. Regardless if you spoke to someone or not you can more than likely kiss the rifle goodby. Only hope is if you sent it insured and signature required you can maybe go after the person that signed for the package.

[Conejo Kid #51342]

It seems to me that taking and keeping guns is theft. The same as if someone had taken out of the back of your car -- never to return them. I not one to make troubles for people in the gun fraternaty but this appears to be deliberate theft. If the shop closed or the owner was in ill health and needed time to put his affairs in order to return the guns -- but two years.

 

Shouldn't this be reported to the authorities??

 

Conejo

[Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator]

Whether they are still in businees or not, their web site is still active.

 

Their return policy is below and requires a form.

 

Revised 2007" Firearms Return Policy


AWA-USA, Inc. (American Western Arms) warranties its product against manufacturers’ defects for life. Normal wear and tear, abuse or modifications on firearms are not warranted.

To avoid inconsistencies in returned firearms, we have instituted the following policy for all customer returns.

Click here to print authorization sheet

Under no circumstance should a firearm be returned to AWA-USA without an authorization sheet. Should a firearm be sent without said authorization sheet, our Repairs Department has been instructed to repair as a standard repair at the standard shop rates.

Having made the determination that you wish AWA-USA to inspect the firearm, you need to print the authorization sheet.

Any firearm being returned to AWA-USA should be carefully boxed in its original storage case inside a shipping box. The detailed authorization sheet, explanation of what is believed to be wrong with the firearm should be placed inside the case.

AWA-USA will make every effort to expedite a speedy return of your firearm, standard delivery at no cost to our customer, provided the repairs have been determined to be necessary resulting of a manufacturing defect.

Our aim is to return all firearms within 14 days; however, some repairs may take longer. Please refrain from calling us to get a repair update during the normal 14-day repair cycle.

Should it be determined that the necessary repair(s) are not of a manufacturing defective nature the customer will then be contacted via telephone and an explanation of the costs involved to repair the firearm will be explained and the customer will have the option to determine the outcome.

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Debbie R.
Customer Service
305-828-1982

AWA International Lightning Rifle

AWA-USA does not perform any warrantee repairs on other manufacturers’ products, only standard repairs. We will continue repairing AWA-International Lightning Rifles as an Act of Goodwill. Owners of AWA-Intl. Lightnings are required to pay for all parts and/or shipping & handling charges. We will continue to comp labor only.

This policy is on a one on one basis and up to AWA-USA discretion.

Russell J. Simpson
President

[Kiowa Kid, SASS #69870L]

Did you speak to anyone at AWA BEFORE sending your rifle? Chances are you didn't as they have been "silent" for a few years. Regardless if you spoke to someone or not you can more than likely kiss the rifle goodby. Only hope is if you sent it insured and signature required you can maybe go after the person that signed for the package.

Oh they were open he had the rifle for two years before he closed his doors. I would talk with Russel every month or two and he did work on originals and I did try to get it back even called ATF and no results so I have pretty much wrote it off.

 

KK

[Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator]

Oh they were open he had the rifle for two years before he closed his doors. I would talk with Russel every month or two and he did work on originals and I did try to get it back even called ATF and no results so I have pretty much wrote it off.

 

KK

That sucks!

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

KK,

If he logged that rifle into his A&D (acquisition & disposition) book and it's not on premises, he has a problem with BATFE. It would have to show either still on premisses, lost, or stolen. The last two require the dealer to report immediately to BATFE.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

Shop closes...

 

Books are closed...

 

Guns logged to owner...

 

Owner goes home.

[John Barleycorn, SASS #76982]

So if he logged guns to himself that are not his, without trying to return to rightful owner, then that's a theft, at least in my eyes.

[Larry Earp SASS#60034]

First you have to get AWA to respond to someone.

 

The Better Business Bureau has AWA rated "F with 9 complaints. AWA did not respond to any of the complaints filed with the BBB.

 

There is an entire webpage devoted to alerting everyone to the fact that AWA is a crook and a ripoff. Just type in "American Western Arms Rip Off" on Google and that page along with several other complaints will come up. It tells how they take orders, cash checks and won't respond. They do not send parts that are ordered and paid for or return guns that have been sent to them for work.

 

I ordered parts on june 6, 2011. My check was cashed and I was never able to get a response from them. I even tried calling them every single day for 3 months leaving messages but no response. Deadeye Dallas ordered parts about the same time and had the same experience.

 

The phone number is still answered with a message stating that you have reached AWA USA and to leave a message. That is a total waste of time. The email address "rustyguns@nxs.net" still goes through but no one ever replies.

 

ATF shows them as an active business but they do not handle customer disputes.

 

I have 2 AWA Lightnings that I have had to have repair parts machined for because you can't get parts.

 

If we have someone in the Hialeah, FL area maybe they could actually go by the physical address and see what is there. If there is no actual business at their listed business address then perhaps ATF would get involved.

 

The next solution would be to file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs with the State Attorneys Office for Miami-Dade County. If they can't resolve an issue they have the option of going after the business criminally. I just used this approach for a different matter in Pinellas County FL and I got amazing rusults within a week. The business apologized and offered me ten times my loss just to get the State Attorneys Office off their back.

 

A complaint can also be filed with then Florida State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in Tallahassee. The take complaints seriously and look into them. I have also used them with excellent results.

 

The above complaints can be filed online. If anyone needs help with directions to the various websites I would be glad to help.

 

I can underswtand a business going under for various reasons but when they continue to take money and guns then they no longer deserve anyone's sympathy and need to answer to someone.

 

Larry Earp

[Doc Red Dawg, SASS #16761]

Chuckaroo,

 

Did all that and got a form, talked to Rusty via e-mail who told me to send it with the repair form and got nothing back, not a peep. I guess as I sent it via USPS, I could get the Postmaster General to investigate due to mail fraud. I hoped that it wouldn't come to that but it maybe my last choice.

 

Larry Earp,

 

I might try your approach first then try USPS or ATF.

 

Thanks for the replies Pards! Doc

[Frontier Lone Rider]

So if he logged guns to himself that are not his, without trying to return to rightful owner, then that's a theft, at least in my eyes.

 

+1

[Larry Earp SASS#60034]

 

Chuckaroo,

 

Did all that and got a form, talked to Rusty via e-mail who told me to send it with the repair form and got nothing back, not a peep. I guess as I sent it via USPS, I could get the Postmaster General to investigate due to mail fraud. I hoped that it wouldn't come to that but it maybe my last choice.

 

Larry Earp,

 

I might try your approach first then try USPS or ATF.

 

Thanks for the replies Pards! Doc

 

I believe KK already tried the ATF appraoch and all they would say was that AWA was still listed as an active business. All that might mean is that they never notified ATF, as they are required to do, that they were no longer in business. The Postal Inspector would most likely need some proof that they never intended to do any work or your gun or return it to you. I doubt that merely that fact that you sent it to them via USPS and now you are having trouble getting it back would constitute fraud.

 

I worked a lot of fraud and theft cases as a Detective Sgt. with a local Sheriff's Office. Intent is sometimes hard to prove and the matter becomes a civil issue.

 

Larry

[Matthew Duncan]

Small claims court

[backshootin beauford mcgee]

Just because one ATF office was not interested in looking into this, does not mean another would not be. I'd try both my local and the businesses local if I thought they were going to keep my gun after a long period of time with no response.

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

AWA-USA, Inc., is dead and long gone. The Florida State Corporation Commission has them listed as defunct as of 09/23/2011.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

Good luck...

[Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator]

Their FFL is active, their GoDaddy web page is active and they accepted a gun as late as June of last year. It appears they are still doing something.

 

I would ask for the gun back and if you don't get it, go after them with everything you got. Someone is still accountable. If they are out of business then they are commiting fraud by continuing to accept firearms.

 

 

Hope this helps,

From the AWA Rip Off Web site http://awausa.biz/#

 

Pam Bondi

Florida Attorney General

1-800-226-6667

Click to file a complaint http://myfloridalegal.com/contact.nsf/contact?Open&Section=Attorney_General

 

 

Miami Florida

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

305-597-4960

Click to email a complaint marco.muniz@atf.gov

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Office of Public and Governmental Affairs

99 New York Avenue, NE, Room 5S 144 Washington, DC

1-800-800-3855 marco.muniz@atf.gov

Consumer Complaint Agencey

http://www.consumercomplaintagency.org/contact.html

Better Business Bureau

http://www.bbb.org/us/Consumer-Complaints/

Rip Off Reporting

A venue for consumer complaints about companies and individuals who have allegedly mistreated them.

www.ripoffreport.com

Roo

[Lazarus Longshot, SASS #44254 Life]

An active website is not indicative of an active organization. I was a member of a SASS club that folded five years ago due to loss of the range (residential building encroachment). That website is still active, although nothing has been done with it in five years!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

So if he logged guns to himself that are not his, without trying to return to rightful owner, then that's a theft, at least in my eyes.

Theft of property entrusted to one's care, is called 'Embezzlement'. Carries a higher penalty than theft. Since it's a firearm, it's 'Federal', all the way.

LG

[Elk Creek LeMieux]

I know it's two different communities...

 

But crap like this in the automotive world gets front door visits. And it gets them long before a year or two has gone by.

[Col. Nathan C. Riddles, SASS # 7462]

Notify BATF, US Postal Inspectors (regardless of carrier used) FBI, Fla Atty Gen, Fla Dept of Law Enforcement, IN WRITING by Certified Mail. Surely ONE of those agencies would be interested in getting your property returned to you and prosecuting the responsible party(s).

[Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator]

An active website is not indicative of an active organization. I was a member of a SASS club that folded five years ago due to loss of the range (residential building encroachment). That website is still active, although nothing has been done with it in five years!

They accepted a gun, with instructions from them, last June. There web site is working because it was renewed (updated maybe not). Their FFL was renewed during this period. Not the sign of someone that is oit of business.

 

Bootom line is these people are sleeze.

[Lazarus Longshot, SASS #44254 Life]

Chuckaroo, please don't read anything into what I posted, other than what I actually posted. I did not comment on AWA at all, or their culpability. I only commented on utilizing the fact of an operating website as an indicator of an organization's current existence!

 

The website I mentioned belonging to my old club has not been renewed for five years, yet it still exists. The hosting service has never deleted it.

 

Laz

[Chuckaroo #13080 Regulator]

Chuckaroo, please don't read anything into what I posted, other than what I actually posted. I did not comment on AWA at all, or their culpability. I only commented on utilizing the fact of an operating website as an indicator of an organization's current existence!

 

The website I mentioned belonging to my old club has not been renewed for five years, yet it still exists. The hosting service has never deleted it.

 

Laz

I understood your input and you are correct, it is not proof of still being in business.

 

However, it does not appear to be the case with AWA. All accounts indicate that they are out of business but they have continued to accept product returns and payments.

 

I also know that GoDaddy will cut off access to their web sites if the bill is not paid. Their web site is built on GoDaddy. If they overlooked this one, I'd be surprised.

 

Anyone that has ever had an FFL should know better than mess with firearms and records. If they are indeed keeping firearms, with no justification, they are just plain crazy. The BATFE can be very aggressive when it suspects foul play.

 

Roo

[Fast Enuff]

One or more of you need to get a cheap flight to florida. show up on the same day. Call and leave a message that you are shipping a rifle to them to repair, under a different name, but obviously no real rifle in the box. Ship it signature required. Be at the address you ship it to on the day it arrives. Wait for the delivery truck and when someone signs for the shipment, introduce yourself and ask for your guns back. If they don't have them, call the cops right then and there.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

This is pretty sad....

 

I've got one of their Lightnings, and it's my fave SASS rifle. It's one thing for a company to fold for whatever reason, but to mess with its customers like this will badly tarnish whatever fond memories of the company and its products that anyone may have.