Jonathon Arthur Ciener

[pecos bill]

This is a warning to all the gun nuts reading this magazine. I need to warn everyone about the Jonathon Arthur Ciener Co.

On April 30, 2010 I sent them an order for a .22 conversion unit for my pistol accompanied by a USPS money order for $209. After a 2 months wait I wrote inquiring if they had received my order. It is now Aug. 23, 2010 and I have heard nothing from Ciener & Co. They cashed my money order and have signed for a registered letter I sent them but no, repeat, no response. I should have checked with the Central Florida BBB before I sent money, not after.

I don’t know if these thieves are still in business but their web site is still up and their phone is still answered by the same message that they don’t return voice messages. I do know that if you send them $10 they will check on your order. Sorry, guys, I’ve got $209 plus the $2 for the money order plus the $6 to trace the money order plus the $6 for the registered letter and they won’t even take the time to tell me to kiss their ---. This company is a band of thieves! They know that no one in his/her right mind is going to sue for a couple hundred bucks ‘cause the lawyer fees would be way too expensive. Don’t send any money to these thieves and if you have, demand it back. You won’t get it, but demand it anyway.

 

[Snake45]

Ciener does have the reputation for the worst customer service in the firearms industry, if not the entirety of US business in general.

I've bought four of their units (which work superbly, by the way). The first was in my hand less than two weeks after I mailed them a personal check. The third took closer to a month. The fourth was less than a year ago. I mailed a personal check the day after Thanksgiving and the unit arrived in time to give as a Christmas present.

The second one I bought, however--a then-brand-new unit (2004) for Browning P.35--was a nightmare not unlike your story. Took them nine nerve-wracking weeks to get the thing to me. When it finally arrived it was worth the wait--it has run 100% and is a joy to shoot.

JAC is not a company of thieves. They get behind sometimes but everyone eventually does get their stuff from them.

If you sent him a USPS money order, I think you can get the US Postal Inspectors on your case. File a complaint with your local post office. That might help shake things loose. :wink:

 

[wwb]

Order the conversion through Midway.... same price ($200) and much better customer service.

I suspect orders from individuals take a back seat to orders from big sellers like Midway, Natchez, Brownell's, etc. Those guys probably order several dozen at a crack, while Joe Sixpack wants one.

 

[Snake45]

Order the conversion through Midway.... same price ($200) and much better customer service.

I suspect orders from individuals take a back seat to orders from big sellers like Midway, Natchez, Brownell's, etc. Those guys probably order several dozen at a crack, while Joe Sixpack wants one.

I've heard the same thing. However, Midway, Brownell's, etc. don't carry all the variations.

Last Christmas, I wanted the high-gloss 1911 unit. The other shops only offered the matte-finished one. I could only get the shiny one from Ciener himself.

So I did! :wink:

 

[luvs2hunt62]

I had a similiar experience. My first order to them almost 3 months to fill, it came with no notice, no fanfare, and no "thank you". The second one, for a widebody, came in three weeks. I sent e mail, letters, never got a reply.
Both units run like a Dodge truck! not a problem, not a hitch.

Obviously, customer service in totally unknown to this outfit, but their product is great, and most people that I know that have one are happy with it.

As for the "band of thieves" thing, I would retract that. A libel lawsuit can be expensive! Substitute "band of non-communicators".

 

[Richbaker]

Anyone that requires $10 to check the status of an order, especially one from April, IS a thief.....

Ciener has a huge reputation as a Prick, he deserves it.....

 

[patrickjames]

$10 to check the status of an order? Your kidding me ?What a AHOLE.

 

[Robsauto]

I had the misfortune of meeting him at the shot show once. I will never buy one of his products.

 

[Snake45]

I spoke to him on the phone (back when they'd still actually answer it) when I was waiting for my P.35 unit. I'd already spoken to someone else at least twice, but this time I got JAC himself.

When I mentioned that I already owned one of his products and liked it very much, he said "Hold on a second." I heard him going into a filing cabinet, and then he came back and said, "Oh, you're a REPEAT customer!" His whole tone changed. He promised I'd have my P.35 unit within a week, and I did.

When I ordered my third and fourth units (both 1911s) from him, I made sure to put in my letters that I already owned some of his products, and the new stuff was shipped in good time. :wink:

 

[Belt Fed]

Hey pecos bill, If you still have all of your paprework, M. O. receipt ect. go to the post office and talk to them about filing a complaint for mail fraud. I met J.A.C. at Knob Creek. He did not impress me at all.