Expansion Industries

Positive experience, here, with Expansion Industries. Recommended by the salesman in my local sporting store, I took a flier and ordered 500 rounds of their house 9mm 115gr FMJ. While expecting immediate delivery and not knowing any differently, I was surprised when did receive an e-mail within a week saying that March orders were just completing production in the first week of April. The next e-mail was a shipping notification the following week, and my box of ammo was delivered two days later. Overall, I'm satisfied with the communications and now better understand their production model, which is to satisfy orders once received, rather than to build up inventory. I like that it's a Virginia operation, also, which is simply a personal preference.

I cannot comment on the quality/reliability of the ammunition yet, as I haven't gone to the range. If there are any issues, I will revise my review or update with another post.

I've been waiting nearly 5 months and still have not received my order. No satisfactory communications or call-backs from the company either. I DO NOT recommend.

Review: I and my wife ordered ammo from Expansion Industries (EI) 1/2/2016 PERSONALLY during Gun Show in [redacted]. The salesperson explained that they sold out their stock of items we ordered during the first day of the show, and we were promised by their salesperson that the ammo will be sent not later than "2-3 weeks."

We haven't received our order as promised. However, our credit card was charged immediately.

In response to my inquiry last week, their representative claimed EI were backed up because they were waiting on a large order of bullets (which is different from what we were told initially). The response stated that the order will be sent "soon" without providing any specific date or a range of dates.

When I submitted my inquiry to EI (but before I received the response) I checked their Web site and found that both items we ordered were listed "in stock." Upon receiving the EI's promise to send the order soon, I checked the site again - as before, both are listed "in stock." I also checked the Revdex.com site and found two complaints that resemble our situation.

It's IMPORTANT to note that I checked [redacted] reviews as well - many of them are positive, but one is not and very similar to our experience. It was submitted 9 month ago. Interestingly, the response from the owner, and, in particular, the update of Aug 13, 2015 by the owner states that "Since your review, we now have same day shipping, have increased the quality of our products overall, and we don't charge credit cards until your order ships out. If it says its in stock on our website its physically in our warehouse ready to be shipped out." That directly contradicts our experience - items are in stock on their website, but they don't ship them to us.

In my response to the response I demanded that EI ships our order immediately or my money are refunded immediately. I also mentioned that any reference to the policies spelled out on their Web site is irrelevant since we made our purchase personally, and no specific disclosures about payment and shipment details were made - it was a straightforward promise to ship not later than in 2-3 weeks (we wouldn't order if it were more than that).

We definitely cannot recommend the Expansion Industries to anybody because:

1. The fact that items are listed in stock and the EI's response (where they effectively say they cannot send us our order) seems mean only one thing - Expansion Industries, LLC is trying to finance their operation by falsely advertising the availability of the items (which are in high demand) thus luring customers to pay. Consequently, EI charges credit cards immediately before shipping the order.

2. We relied on the promise and assurance made by the EI salesperson which they broke. The waiting time specified was (and is) important to us - we would have never ordered if the salesperson said 4 weeks (or more).

3. Businesses have right to create and follow their payment policies as they wish. However, that should have been disclosed. References to web pages with related information in EI response to our inquiry are simply not serious since (1) we placed the order personally, (2) we didn't have access to the internet at the Gun Show and (3) any suggestion that while talking to a real person we should also go to the Web site to check the policies is simply ridiculous.

4. In our experience, most if not all businesses that don't have items in stock charge only when the goods are shipped.Desired Settlement: If the order cannot be shipped IMMEDIATELY, we would like to have a refund ASAP. Also, I just want to alert other customers that it seems that with the current business practices at Expansion Industries, any expectation of good customer service which includes keeping the promises made and the prompt shipment of goods that are listed IN STOCK may not turn the way customers think.

Business

Response:

This is the same case as the other filing we have already delivered the product [redacted] tracking shows it delivered back in February 12th. Processing times were explained when order was placed. Already spoken with this customer and everything has been resolvedThanks

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]. Here are some details. The explanation of terms and condition made by the salesperson at the moment of the original transaction didn't come even close to what happened in real life. Because of this, I disputed (after the three-week delivery promise expired) my payment with the credit card issuer who revesed the transaction. Nevertheless, in about three weeks later, the seller sent the order (effectively without payment). I did respect such gesture - I contacted the seller and offered to send my payment by check. The seller accepted and the check was sent last week.At this point my complaint can be considered resolved. I also got an apology from the company's national sales director which I also appreciate.

Regards,

Review: Order ammunition on 3/3/15. Credit Card was charged that day since it was a internet order. I checked status of order few days later due to not receiving a tracking number. Sales person told me it was delayed due to back order of materials from there suppliers. Sales person said it would be another week. I agreed. Little more than a week went by and I received email from sales mgr that we could switch to a different ammo that would work in my gun if we wanted due to it was available for shipment. I sent email to change orders and never heard anything. This went on until I called and spoke with the Owner(Father not son) on 4/10/2015 to cancel order. He said he would put this threw that day and it could take up to 7 days to get credit. Today 4/20/2015 no credit. Called and got son and he said they did not put my credit thru until 4/17/2015. He couldn't give me a confirmation number and he said it would be another 7 days. I called today and reported company to my bank as a fraudulent charge. They are a newer company taking orders they can't fill and using people's money to float there costs to keep it growing. They are just stalling on my money because I cancelled. Companies like this need to be shut down. If you called today they would take your order. They need to be upfront with customers if it's not in stock that way customer has chance to make decision if they want to gamble and wait or buy somewhere else. Plus they need to refund customer when they ask. Not wait for another week to put thru. Worst company that I have felt with in over 15 years. First complaint that I have ever wrote.Desired Settlement: I just want information to be posted so people can see that this is type company you don't want to deal with. If company operates like this up front, I would bet there quality of product is the same.

Business

Response:

Customer has already been refunded and the money is processing. We can't make it go any faster. One of the most vile customers we have dealt with he has called and cussed out multiple employees not looking for real answers just wants to yell and attack our characters company but our personal character. Every situation that we came in contact with with this individual we explained what was going on with his product. We are not [redacted] and do not have 100,000s of rounds sitting in stock like he wants us to. We are growing and eventually get there but for now we describe on our website how our processing works and we do take money up front. He is completely in his right to go anywhere else to fulfill his ammo needs but we hide nothing as a company and we are on pace to be in 250-300 stores nationwide by the end of summer and we ship to 40 states every week. I understand his frustration of not having his product immediately but we are not a scam and we are servicing many shooters throughout the country. Never dealt with such a vile and rude customer since we have been in business. Like we said we have done his every request and his money has been refunded and we have canceled his order. Nothing more to do.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

Company stated they refunded my money. I requested refund on 4/10/15. They said they would issue credit that day. Said it could take 7 days to show up on my CC. Called 4/20/15 to find out why there wasn't a credit showing. [redacted] stated he did not apply credit until 4/17/2015 and I would have to wait another 7 days. Company states they have there process listed. No where on there website nor in person do they state it takes 30 or more days to fill your order. Only thing I expect from a company that takes my money is to have it in stock. If it's not available it needs to be listed back ordered. Again no where on there website. As far as me cussing several of there staff members that is false. I was professional with staff that has no clue to the situation. Only person that I did get angry with was with [redacted] because he has lied about time lines, product being available and because they didn't issue credit when requested. He waited another week and there is no excuse for that.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me and consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,

Review: I ordered 1000 rounds of 124 grain, 9mm bullets from Expamsion Industries on December 3rd, 2014. I was told it would be approximately eight weeks before I received my order. At ten weeks I called to check on the status of my order and was told that it was ready to be shipped, but that due to them being audited by [redacted] it would be a few more days. I waited about ten days and called back. I was then told by a different salesman that they had a problem with the 124 grain projectiles and that they wanted to send me 115 grain ones instead, since they were in stock and were not defective. I agreed to the modification of the order and was told they would be in the mail the next day and that I would be receiving a tracking number email from [redacted] by the end of the day. I waited three more days and, having not received the tracking email or my product called back again. I was then told that my shipment had been sent and they were unsure as to why I hadn't received the tracking number. This salesman then took my email address again and stated he would forward me the tracking number immediately. I then received a [redacted] message from one of the other salesmen two days later asking if I had received my order. I told him that I had received nothing and that I was fed up with them at that point. I then received a phone call from the son of the owner stating that they had somehow had miscommunicated the status of my order and that he could then do one of three things. Send me the original order of 124 grain bullets, send 115 grain bullets or refund my money. I attempted to express my disgust with the company and how that I had been lied to on multiple occasions and he then called me a liar and hung up on me. I requested a refund and am still waiting on that to be fulfilled.Desired Settlement: Full refund.

Business

Response:

Full refund has been processed.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I just checked my account online and saw the refund, I will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,