Do Not Buy From Evike.com - A Cautionary Tale
 

I realize that this may not apply to you good folks in Canada, but I'm posting this across the internet to make sure that it gets heard by Evike.com. Please give it a read. Thanks for your time!



Dear Canada Airsoft Members,

I am writing this today because I want to inform you of a situation which has developed between myself and an online supplier, Evike.com.

I ordered an ICS M4 C-15 (SR-16) from Evike.com around Thanksgiving of 2006. The gun arrived, but had a variety of problems. The major problem appeared to be electrical as the gun would fire, and then stop firing. A bit of jiggling of the wires coming out of the stock would fix
this problem, but it was still a problem nonetheless. In addition, the gun would
sometimes fire fully automatic when set to the semi-automatic mode. After having the gun
and firing probably about 2000 rounds through it, the gun would just whir and not fire.
Eventually it stopped firing altogether. I assumed that this was an electrical problem
again.

In addition, there was some wear and tear on the gun. The black paint near the stock and
grip of the gun was worn away, and the paint on the flash suppressor was also worn. To me
it appears that the gun may have been a store model and was hung on a wall or rack. I
only assume this from where the paint has been rubbed away.

I e-mailed Evike.com and filled out their RMA (return request) form. I returned the gun
to them at a cost of $30 to myself and the gun was in their custody for about five to six weeks. When the gun was returned to me I happily ripped open the packaging, plugged a battery into the gun and pulled the trigger. The gun cycled for one round and then would not fire. I assumed again that this was an electrical problem.

Rather than returning the gun to Evike.com for another six weeks, I opened the gun's
stock and wired Dean's Connectors into place where the tamiya connectors were. This still
did not solve the problem. I assumed that the problem then was with the gearbox and I
took the gun to a local shop, Empire Airsoft. I had the technician there open the
gun to see what the problem was. The problem was in the wiring assembly. He fixed this
problem, but while doing so informed me that the gun had a TURBO 2000 motor and nylon or
plastic bushings.

Hearing this, I was a bit surprised considering that I ordered the new 2006 ICS M4 C-15
with the TURBO 3000, Metal bushings, new wiring, etc, from the Evike.com website. Had I
known that I would be receiving an older model gun I would not have ordered from
Evike.com.

What is puzzling to me is that on their website they list all of their ICS
guns as the new 2006 model with all of the new upgrades. In fact, the box in which my gun
was shipped had a sticker on it identifying the gun as a new 2006 model with all of those
upgrades.




Evike.com’s website states very specifically states that new ICS models come with:

"ICS refer this AEG as a Pre-upgraded EAG because this 2006 model now comes with:

1) New Turbo 3000 Super Torque Motor

2) Precision Cut Reinforced Motor Pinion Gear

3. Precision Cut Reinforced No.1 (Bevel) Gear.

4. Steel Bushing, Made of harden silicon alloy.

5. Low resistance 16-AWG Electric wire. "

http://www.evike.com/Merchant2/merch...y_Code=AEG_ICS


So, after having the gun returned to me by my local shop, I phoned Evike.com and
explained the situation to them. They directed me to fill out an RMA form and send it in
to them with all of the details. I did so and included my original order number and
everything else they requested. In this e-mail I detailed my dealings with the gun, how I had opened the gun and added Dean’s Connectors and how the gun had been repaired by the Empire Airsoft technician. Unfortunately, they e-mailed me back and told me that
they would not allow the gun to be returned for a full reimbursement, but that they would
send me a new motor and metal bushings.

This solution was unacceptable to me, so I e-mailed their ICS supplier in the United States, TeamSD. I explained the situation to one of TeamSD’s representatives and they told me that they would contact Evike.com and look into my claim.

A few days after I spoke via e-mail with the TeamSD representative, I received an e-mail from Evike.com. They advised me to return the gun and that they would send me a new 2006/2007 model ICS C-15.

I followed the directions in their e-mail and returned the gun at a cost to myself of $30.
Today, however, I was phoned by an Evike.com representative who told me that the gun had “cosmetic damage.” I enquired as to what that damage was and was told that the paint on the gun’s grip/stock was worn away. Upon hearing this I informed the representative that that cosmetic damage was mentioned in my original RMA (return request). The damage was present on the gun when I first received it.

The representative informed me that he would have to call me back.

In the end, I ordered a specific type of gun from their website and paid a significant amount for it. The gun they sent me was not the correct model, despite what their website said and what was
labeled on the box. I realize that I voided the warranty by opening up the gun, but had
this not been done there would have been no way for me to tell if the gun was really the
correct model. In the end, finding out that the gun was not the correct model was done
only in a round-about way as I was trying to get the gun to function properly.

Had I known that I would not be getting the latest model (as
was shown on their website) I would not have ordered from them. In addition, while I
returned the gun to be fixed and paid to have it shipped all the way to California, the
gun which was returned to me did not work and I was forced to go to a local shop to have
the problem remedied.

While I am still awaiting a reply from Evike.com concerning this issue, I have also filed a report with a California branch of the Better Business Bureau.

Upon an examination of the Better Business Bureau’s website I noted that Evike.com has a “D” rating.

http://www.labbb.org/BBBWeb/Forms/Bu...nyID=100013774



UPDATE: 2-12-06

The Better Business Bureau got back to me this morning. In their e-mail they informed me of Evike.com's final decision on my problem. This is what was written:

"Initial Response - Posted 2-9-2007


Company states, they have issued a RMA authorized return and have returned a fully functional gun to the customer. Due to the fact that the gun has been altered and had been in the customer possession for over 3 months a refund will not be offered. Please refer to their warranty for information on the terms for refunds.

Initial Response Summary


Company states, the gun has been returned in working condition. No refund per company warranty terms."

Unfortunately, the gun has NOT be returned to me. I have recieved no tracking information of Evike.com and no gun has arrived on my doorstep. Perhaps Evike.com is a bit slow in getting this information to be, but no gun has arrived.

So, in the end, Evike.com decided to not allow me to return the gun as they initially said I could, and they also have not (yet) returned my property to me.

If you have, like me, had problems with Evike.com please report them to the Better Business Bureau so that concerned consumers can have a better record how this business is treating people.


Thank you very much for reading this rather exhaustive post…


If need be I am prepared to post all documentation which I have accumulated from my interactions with Evike.com

We dont buy from US manufacturers!

I've ordered BB's from them with great service.

Yeah this is weird for sure, since I've thus far experienced decent customer service from Evike in ordering AEG parts from them.

a guy on my team ordered 2 Pro-win mech boxes from E-vike and paid via Visa 3 weeks ago. They say they never recieved payment but his visa statement clearly states they took the money. They won't ship the mech boxes until they reciev payment. They are no help and their customer service resembles what came out of my ass this morning.

LOL

dude that sucks sue there ass and make them pay

The credit card company should be able to put some pressure on the company and make them give him his shit. That's why it's good to buy stuff with a credit card. Just tell him to complain to the credit card company.

unless they were taken at customs, i've heard of the CBSA taking mechboxes for some reason.

Jeeze, thats almost as bad as ASGI gouging us big time on shipping costs.

If they paid their order with visa ! Good for them !

After one month or 30 days : they have an option it's called a payment reversal.

It's a kind of consumer protection if after 30 days they didn't received they good, the credit card company will take back the money from the dealer and give it back to you !

You have to call your visa contact, and make the claim..

JF

he said that hes just spreading the word... should of got a TM or CA

ya i know I was just pointing out shity customer service from evike.

they dont even ship guns to canada do they?

Isn't what the first guy said in the domain of the FBI?

false advertising, mail fraud something like that?

I'm the guy ordering the 2 Pro-Wins. The story for us up here in Canada is that they do not accept International Credit Cards. I paid with my Visa, and the payment went through, but after 2.5 weeks, and several unanswered email I finally bit the bullet and phoned them in California. They say my Card was declined (which is wasn't) and that they had called and emailed me (which they hadn't).

So I have contacted Visa, and got that side of things all cleared up, Got my cash back, minus Exchange rate differences :mad: . But I still want my order, So I paid through paypal now because they say that is what they accept for international. Since then I have been again complete un-informed about anything. I am calling them in the next hour to see what the hell is going on with them. But I have to also give a warning. These people are not looking out for the consumer worth a damn. This has been the biggest headach I have ever had with importing anything, Ever. This may have been my first Airsoft order from accross any boarder, but this is Total Bull. Do not Buy from Evike.com. Which sucks, because they have AUG parts I havn't seen anywhere else really.

I'll let you know what happens after I phone them. :banghead:

They will ship guns to Canada, but you take the risk. Plus, seeing what happened to these guys I bet Evike knows that if you try and raise a big enough stink about things then the CBSA might notice what you're doing, so why even bother with US retailers. Just stick to the Canuck retailers, at least if they jerk you around you don't have to worry so much.

We will technically ship anything to Canada but we do this only if the end buyer accepts the fact it could get seized and its not our problem if it does.

So far I've never had any guns sent to Canada seized but we don't send them in our store name, using our store address and the word airsoft and gun sure isnt on the customs forums, cough cough...

There are laws about "bait and switch". If this should happen in Canada there's www.ccbbb.ca. Just remember: document, document, document.

Even if they did, you should know by now that Customs would seize them.

So you are a retailer who encourages smuggling? How professional of you.

man this is really paying, until you get cought.

When I was considering more local suppliers for BBs I got samples from them. Needless to say I wasn't impressed with the quality of the product (jammed the MP5 I was testing with) and they were inconsistent weight and air bubbles galore.

I'd like to say you get what you pay for but in their case you don't even get that. I am not surprised by this customer's experience.

Why did you change the connectors? And why send it to a local gun tech? Sounds to me you screwed yourself in the first place, regardless of their crappy reputation.

If I bought a new car from a dealer, why would I take it to some other mechanic when it didn't work properly new?

Your logic is the problem - this whole rant is a waste of time.

Yeah they're full of shit. I got a quote for bulk BB's from them once they quoted me it was $99 USD shipping, so I agreed as it was a few cases. So when I emailed them back to get the payment info and confirm, they sent me a total and the shipping was now $249.99 USD for just the shipping.

Also if you look at one of their ebay auctions for a replica Mich, they are asking $24.99 USD for the helmet and $75.00 USD for shipping to Canada.

Fuck those pieces of shit.

they are to expensive anyways, ive found cheaper sites:P

Well i should have read this! I ordered a few replacement parts from evike.. took them a month to ship.. only after i opened a paypal dispute. Sent me the items COD after i paid them $15 shipping. When i asked WTF is going on in a nice way. They stated that they undercharged me for shipping and that was a gift to me not to charge me the rest... seriously...

Well, Since my origional order with them for my pair of Pro-Win Mech boxes and some pouches and odds and ends, and having them come in 3 seperate shipments all using UPS, who as you should know, Ream us for broakrage fees. All said, for the shipping after I had payed Evike, it was almost doubled with what I had to pay UPS. Since then, they have actually totally revamped there website and there online shopping system. I, in a moment of weakness, Put in another order with them, for a couple cheap things that if they didn't get here, I could easily live with. I am happy to say that things worked out perfectly and smoothly. I have since done several orders from them, and with the exception of them still using UPS as there courer service agents, have been quite satisfied with there level of service. I have had to deal with them on the phone, both with my first order (Many times) and with one of my newer orders regarding an exact part that I needed (2 calls) and can say that there customer service has imporved greatly. After the absolute crap that I had to go through on my first order, for me to be saying anything at all positive about there service should say something. They even now have a online order checking page that tells you atleast a little bit about what the hell is going on with your order. I would tell everyone up here in Canada that you should defently pay with paypal, as it seems that is all they accepts still for international orders. I personally wouldn't bother with the time, effort, headachs involved with there ebay store autions however. I do use ebay, but there pages have always set off a red light in my head.

As to the shipping, I have a package comming right now that they charged me ~$15 US for, but I know I will end up paying alot more for the shipping on it, but the money won't be going to Evike atleast, it will be going to UPS, split up into Government Charges, Entry Freping, Disbursement fees, Brokerage charges, and the GST put on all of those. UPS really does rape you in there extra charges, and they of course expected when they drop off your package. Evike does claim to ship small things using USPS (much more preferable in my books) but with this order even when requested to use USPS they still shipped it with UPS. That is probably my biggest gripe with Evike now. All in all, I have to say that they have really gotten there shit togeather and turned there buisness practice around, which I am very happy about, because no-one should have to put up with the crap that I did with my first order.

I call them as I see it. Take your own opinion of them and do/think what you will, I am just informing of what they are like now. Take it however you want.

Yea, after hearing what other people have had to do to get their products and how much they charge for shipping, I think it's quite a bit cheaper to buy stuff in Japan and still have it sent EMS express (5-day). At least they you don't need to deal with USPS.

I think the USPS is fine....it's UPS that bends you over the hood of the delivery van.

Thanks for the Info. I order all my Airsoft Aeg's from Power Edge USA, just received my Tokyo Marui M4 RIS from them two days ago, haven't fired It yet, but they offer 30 day warrenty on there Aeg's.

you got guns into canada from the us? or do you live there?

His location states he is in the states

dont order from EVIKE.COM they will screw you guys over. they'll take you money then they'll say its back order or they'll send you guys the wrong parts. They did it to me and a whole bunch of people. You can even google it "evike on back orders", youll see a whole bunch of people complaining. They didnt have the orings for my mag, so they sent me the wrong one a huge one, because they dont wanna do a refund. They think people are stupid. Karma will bite their ass

Only 2 years too late on this thread!