What's up with October Country?

chorizo said:

I get notification when it is put into the mail or ups...My post is based upon their ship date, not usps/ups transit.
time.

And my experience is that they sit on orders for 7 to 10 days before I receive ship notification. Takes less than 2 days to receive from North Idaho to South Idaho when shipped. 3 to 5 times longer than shipping to get it shipped.

Deer Creek Products generally ships the same day as order received if not the next. Apples to apples comparison with nothing to do with transit times. I wouldn't be so quick as to put it all on USPS or UPS either.

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I mailed a bill which had to go 100 miles, it only took 43 days to get there.

The Crisco Kid said:

Maybe delete your original post and ask the moderators to delete the thread. That will help your remorse. I've had the same feeling before myself.

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The thread on this subject matter was locked on the Modern Muzzle Loading Forum. Should done so here.

No use to bash them on 2 sites.

ETipp said:

Indeed. They only have 5 employees. They also have had some computer issues going on but they have rectified that.

Also, I have been told that they are swamped right now. They are a couple weeks behind on making some items. Personally, as long as they come through with my order, I'm good with it. Not in a hurry.

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Remember when Dixie was behind in shipping during the virus and everyone here was whining and complaining?

Finding employees let alone good employees is tough these days plus supply issues are still a problem. I have friends who run small businesses and it's a struggle. I have places I've used for years and their service isn't what it used to be but I still support them because I understand the struggles they are dealing with.

FishDFly said:

The thread on this subject matter was locked on the Modern Muzzle Loading Forum. Should done so here.

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That one was horse of a whole ‘nother color.

Yep, but cannot see what new can be added here that is positive.

FishDFly said:

Yep, but cannot see what new can be added here that is positive.

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True. However, my thoughts on this thread is “sh*t happens as a business grows”; that one was “holy sh*t, that’s some arrogance!”

I have ordered stuff from OC from time to time and never had any problem. Heck we all use TOW and they are a much larger operation and have become sort of the standard when it comes to buying our sort of stuff online and Track often takes a week just to get around to shipping out an order.

MTplainsman said:

She said that they had a huge uptick in orders in recent times. ... the hold up on the order was the antler short starter with the brass rod. She said that they have a machinist that makes the brass rods and he is at least a week behind.

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On a recent thread regarding ramrods, I told about the brass ramrods and short starters of custom lengths that I ordered from October Country, and how satisfied I was. Now they're back-logged. Cause and effect?
I must be a MuzzleloadingForum Influencer!

MTplainsman said:

It's past 2 weeks now and my order has not showed up. I spose I should give them a call in the morning just to see if all is still good. I am a patient person and don't mind waiting, but I am just curious if this is there normal for them to be delayed this long?

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In the past I have ordered from October County a number of times. Not the next day delivery we have come to expect, and not always the best price on everything. But every order seemed to include items not available elsewhere. Guessing some items are finished up or customized by OC before shipping.
Believe that is their little corner of the market where they shine.

I have also ordered from another well known muzzleloader supplier that showed items expected within 90 days. Some items took over a year before delivery. Oh, those items were not available anywhere else. At any price.

And realistically, we are mostly hobbyists, relying on suppliers that service hobbyists. Just the world we live in.

I just ordered (~11pm Thursday) ten different ramrod accessories from October Country.
I'll post here when I get them.
I expect good results, like in the past, or I wouldn't have ordered.

While poor business practices are inexcusable, we’re all guilty, myself included, of wanting things now. I doubt that most of us don’t remember when there was no communication from order to delivery that might take a month or more.

Brazos John said:

On a recent thread regarding ramrods, I told about the brass ramrods and short starters of custom lengths that I ordered from October Country, and how satisfied I was. Now they're back-logged. Cause and effect?
I must be a MuzzleloadingForum Influencer!

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Ah ha! So you're the reason why the brass RR I just ordered is going to be delayed. The nice lady said they are particularly behind in making them due to a high volume of orders.

Thanks a lot, pal!

TDM said:

While poor business practices are inexcusable, we’re all guilty, myself included, of wanting things now. I doubt that most of us don’t remember when there was no communication from order to delivery that might take a month or more.

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Yep, I vividly remember the days before Al Gore invented the internet.

All we had was what some stores offered. That often resulted in those occurrences that resembled a school field trip................an all day adventure. That's IF we even knew of a store that carried what we were needing. And that one often required going through the yellow pages.

Then we sometimes had the option of ordering a catalog, which took a week + to arrive. But alas, at least we had a phone number where we could actually speak to a human. Nowadays, it has become the standard "Press this number for this, or press this number for that". And when we finally figure out what extension to press and/or the button to push for "human", its often "We're sorry, we are not available at the time, please leave a message".

Even though we sometimes have the "I want it now syndrome", we really have it pretty good now.

IMO, much of the issues are with shipping/shippers. So much can go wrong during shipping and there isn't much we can do about it. At this time I have at item that has been shipped back to me from a warranty repair from the manufacturer. I have the tracking information but when I try to pull it up, all I keep getting is "Its on its way". That one makes me nervous. Last time that happened the part showed up 6 months later. And that's no lie. Considering this one is definitely a custom item, I'm hoping for the best.

I’ve ordered quite a bit from October Country in the last two years. I’d estimate at close to 40 or more packages shipped. In every case I have received an email when my order was received by them and a second email with a tracking number for my order on the day the order is shipped. In every case the order took at least 5 business days between receipt of order and shipping (5 was minimum, sometimes it took more). I have never received an order from October Country in under 10 business days. They are just not fast at shipping.

With Amazon, I’m not a prime member so shipping there also takes about as much time but on Amazon I am getting free shipping on orders over $35 so I am saving $ and the wait doesn’t bother me.

With October, they take just as long or longer than non-Prime Amazon, but October is still charging me $10-$15 shipping for the prolonged wait. Paying for shipping that takes that long does bother me.

As I said this is a definite pattern I see every time I place an order with them. While they have great products and hard to find items, I have begun buying only items I can’t get anywhere else. If I can find it someplace where the shipping is free or the wait time is less, I order there first. Unfortunately October Country is now my place of last resort for Black Powder supplies.

MTplainsman said:

It's past 2 weeks now and my order has not showed up. I spose I should give them a call in the morning just to see if all is still good. I am a patient person and don't mind waiting, but I am just curious if this is there normal for them to be delayed this long?

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My Mrs bought me a possibles bag from them a while back. No issues. Good stuff, fair price, usual shipping.

>>>PLEASE READ THIS POST<<<

Even tough I still regret creating this post, it has certainly helped shed a lot of light...

I have now learned that:

- They only have 4 employees currently.
- They make a lot of handmade and unique items.
- @Brazos John may have been the root cause of overloading this small company's donkey!

So... as far as I am concerned, I am actually very satisfied with a lot of the information received by this post and by talking to the company itself.

For what it is worth, I am VERY happy to support the little guy trying to make it in this "dog eat dog" commercialistic world. I love handmade and I LOVE American made. So, in short, I have no ill feeling to OC right now, and I probably will keep them in my sights for products down the road. I will however, keep in mind that if I need a product ASAP, it may not be the best place at this point in time. I hope others will agree with me as well, and not abandoned a company such as this knowing their situation. If I would not have discovered all this insight, my mind would be on a different path. So as far as I am concerned, OC will still be on my list of companies to do business with in the future "at this point in time". I will be patient and hope they can grow and stabilize at the same time. Also, thanks to everyone for not forming a "virtual mob" and and coming after me with pitchforks!

Every year these stores run out of items during - or just after hunting season. Sometimes they don't re-order items until March, knowing that most muzzleloader enthusiasts won't be shooting their smokepoles in the freezing cold, unless the licensed Gun Hunting Season is upon them..

Sometimes the stores here in Michigan wait until July to fill their shelves again. So wear a little patience - or give the store a phone call requesting a more speedy shipping calendar time.

I have ordered a fare share from October County and never had issues, I have however had Lots long waits from just about everywhere in last few years; sometimes a week or more just to receive tracking info, other times I get tracking info but according to tracking it dont get picked up for Days, other times once in rout it travels All Over the Country (even to My town then elsewhere and back again).

I have a belt I ordered (another vendor in California) Last year, I was supposed to have it by November - it didn't show - then by December - no show - now they tell me "we Hope to have it in your hand by Valentine's day....for Belt, no holster, just a Belt.

TOW is usually fast but I have had orders that took up to 6 weeks.

And this is Not just with muzzleloader or firearms items; clothing, my wife with cooking stuff.

Myself; I always call or write the vendor before going public, I don't always get the answer I want to hear but so long as someone answers or responds...I sit and wait.

NOW when BP ships, in the hands of the shipper, and tracking starts going on a sight seeing tour all over the country (and Into, Out of, BACK Into ....OMG...California!?!) - then i get jumpy! Especially when i get an e-mail that they "Tried to deliver, sending back to vendor"!??!!? Then i get MAD!

I attempted to buy from October Country last year, but when I questioned the
excessive shipping fee compared to others I order from, they cancelled my order.