Unhappy with Solstice Arms / G. Gucciano, Gunsmith

[dad]

Appended below is the complaint I posted earlier today on
the AK bulletin board at: www.gunsnet.net regarding
gunsmith Gary Gucciano, doing-business-as Solstice Arms.
(www.solsticearms.com)

Judge for yourself if this is a "flame" or a legitimate
complaint.

A few hours later, I find that I am unable to access
this website (www.gunsnet.net/forums/). Presumably,
my complaint was also instantly removed.

No wonder there are never any complaints regarding this
guy at this site!

I have also received an email message from Mr. Gucciano
warning me not to post his email anywhere because he
has "copyrighted it". He also says that he is
now returning my gun, but with the serious mechanical
problem unfixed. I do not want to state what the problem
is, but it does make the gun dangerous to use.
He described fixing the problems
with his work as "giving me free services" and that
there was no need for me to "attack" him. He characterized
my complaint as "harassment".

What can you say about all of this?

Here is the complaint that caused me to get
locked out of this site. By the way it was
posted on a forum described as a "board of
inquiry".

******************************************************

I am posting this complaint regarding Solstice Arms/Informer after
exhausting my patience. Those of you who look through the
email excerpts below will wonder how I managed to have as
much patience as I did.

I sent a rifle to SA/Informer about a year and half ago. It was
returned to me after about a year, but the work was incomplete.
I returned it, and SA/Informer completed the work and
returned it to me in a reasonable period of time. Unfortunately,
the gun came back with a mechanical problem. I do not believe the
mechanical problem was SA/Informer's fault, because it was probably
related to defective parts. I had to return the rifle to SA/Informer a
second time, and the defective parts were replaced in July.

My complaint is that I can't seem to get SA/Informer to return
my gun! I have posted below email excerpts from SA/Informer
showing repeated broken promises to ship the rifle. I counted
TEN times that shipment was promised or intended; every one
of these promises was broken. I know this sounds unbelievable,
that is why I have appended the actual emails from Solstice/Informer
documenting what happened.

My purpose in posting here is not to "flame" anyone. The only
thing I want is to get my rifle back. That is why
I have been very careful to give only the facts. Furthermore, the
work done by SA/Informer appears to me to be of high quality.
SA/Informer has also accommodated my requests for two changes to
the original order, and he once delayed shipping for a week while I was
out of town. I have also spoken with Informer on the telephone, and
found him to be a very reasonable and conscientious person.

What I want is my rifle returned. I post this complaint as a method
of last resort. If you read through the emails below, I believe you
will see for yourself what the problem is.

Excerpted emails from SA/Informer follow:

>
> July 18 [1st promise to ship]
>
> I'm currently waiting for them to arrive, and when they do (by Friday
> I was told) I will have them installed within the same day and the rifle
> will be shipped within a few day from that time. I'm assuming Monday
> is very realistic.
>
> July 26 [2nd promise to ship]
>
> Yes, my apologizes I have been extremely busy trying to complete a
> few other things I need to. I haven't shipped the rifle yet, but I will
> make sure its out in Mondays shipments. I do apologize for the short
> delay. If you don't receive notice of the shipping info by that evening,
> please e-mail me and Iíll get it right to you.
>
> July 30 [3rd promise to ship]
>
> I was intending on sending you an e-mail tonight pertaining to this
> subject. The rifle will be shipping out on Thursday...
>
> August 4 [4th promise to ship]
>
> Very sorry about the delay, no the rifle wasn't shipped as
> planned......Anyway, Its planned to ship Monday or Tuesday, that's
> going to be the best I can do at this point.
>
> (at this point, I had to ask for a one-week delay in shipping due
> to the fact that I was going to be out of town. Informer agrees
> to delay shipment on Aug. 12-13)
>
> Okay, Iím confirming the different ship date. Ship on the 12th or
> 13th.
>
> August 10 [5th promise to ship]
>
> Thats great, I take it your trip went well? I will be shipping the rifle
> Monday morning via USPS. Thanks again.
>
> August 14 [6th promise to ship]
>
> Sorry for the delay getting back with you. I had a few delays to deal
> with and I will not be able to ship anything until this Thursday. Your
> rifle will be shipping for sure on that day.
>
> August 21 [7th promise to ship]
>
> Sorry for the delay getting back with you. I have had some trouble
> getting things around and some rifles I HAD to work which caused me
> to have to delay a few things as well. (one being e-mail responses to
> people. although the post in the BIY forum requests 120 hours) I will
> be shipping your rifle this afternoon, or tomorrow... either way you
> will receive it before the weekend for sure.
>
> August 24 [8th promise to ship]
>
> My sincere apologizes. I have not been able to get anything out and
> shipped as I had planned. I will attempted to get your rifle out this
> morning, and will email you if I'm successful. If not, it will be Monday.
>
> August 28 [9th promise to ship]
>
> Yes, I got behind trying to take care of too many things at once. Your
> rifle will be shipping out tomorrow in our Thursday shipments.
>
> September 6 [10th promise to ship]
>
> I will get your rifle out Saturday, yet you will not receive it until
> Monday, possibly Tuesday.
>

Today is September 14, and I still have not received my gun.

[Mark O]

So you got banned for complaining about a smith(and moderater.)
Don't feel alone,anybody who has ever complained about him has had thier posts deleted and been banned.

[MAKOwner]

Nevermind...

[GG-SAI]

Every site, club, lodge, has its own rules. Whether you agree with them or not, if you brake a rule there normally is a consequence. That said, .... I do not have the power to ban anyone, period. I found out about him being ban while talking with Demming himself on the phone. I can assume that the reasons were.... (according to that boards rules.)

• He was cautioned about the FLAME and continued the action after he was informed that he broke the rules. (i.e. it is a flame for many reasons, see below)
• Made libel defaming allegations in the post without validating ANY facts.
• He was forewarned about posting private messages, then continued to re-post the SAME message again and again. (Think about it, ... why would anyone save a post unless you knew it was against the rules and you didn't want to have type it all up again.)

I found out about the posting and phoned him late that night. We discussed the matter, said I would be shipping his rifle to him today. (and I did) AFTER we talked he went around and posted the same libel allegations, ... i.e. showing he was just out to cause problems and NOT for the reason that was claimed. If you read his post he "said" all he wanted was the rifle shipped..... obviously not true.

This was my response at another location to his libel defaming allegations....... (if you read it its NOTHING as he tries to allude in his .... hmmmm... "post."

The "serious mechanical problem" was a set of AK fire controls. The rifle was to be refinished, a set of fire controls, and comp installed. When I sent it back he claimed that it was "double firing once in a great while." I offered to send him a new set of controls... he declined and said he didn't know how to install them. I then suggested sending the rifle back and I would check it out. I test fired 40-60 rounds and was NEVER able produced a malfunction. I called and told him my results.

I had Jerry from Gordon technologies (the maker of the fire controls) call him to discuss the problem..... that didn't work. I called Mr. Demming and asked what would make him happy? He said he wanted Kvar fire controls instead, ... so I give them to him. That was the problem.. not at all what the allegation was trying to convey. We did everything we should have, and more. Mr.Demming has even agreed with this from our last phone conversation.

On anouther board this same person tried to
insinuate that we were a "ATF sting" operation! Links can be provided if needed. This should play a large part with credibility.

MAKOwner:
Its always best to know all the facts before making a jugdment. In light of the facts many people have agreed the intent of the post was not what it was claimed to be. Your milage may vary.

[Art Eatman]

GG-SAI: Question, are you saying you DID NOT send the emails containing the excerpts as shown in dad's post? You DID NOT email him about shipping times?

Art

[LawDog]

Are you stating that the reason that it has taken from mid-July to mid-September to ship the rifle in question is that the owner keeps requesting additional changes to the rifle?

LawDog

[Greywolf]

Well guys, I realize I am new here and probably don't carry much weight, but I will say this:

I have known Gary for almost 2 years now and have become pretty good friends with him. I have had him do 2 AK builds for me, and you will not find a better smith anywhere when it comes to AKs - haven't yet had him do any other work (but will) on non-AKs, but if he spends as much attention to detail as he does on AKs, I know I will be happy with the work.

That said, I will be the first to admit (sorry, Gary!) that Gary is the most overly optimistic person in the world when it comes to turn-around time. If I've told him once, I've told him a hundred times that he should adopt my mantra - "Underpromise, overdeliver." Gary does such great work that he gets VERY busy. Plus his family had some serious medical problems last year that caused him to have a serious backlog in his work.

I could have just as easily gone through the same problems and done the same things that dad did, but I was patient and understanding of the many things going on with Gary last year, and bit my tongue and figured that sometimes **** happens - I was in no absolute hurry to get my rifle back so I waited. The anticipation killed me, but the final product was well worth it, and now I have a good friend who I can talk to any time I have a question and he doesn't even charge me

Dad, I'm sorry you had so many problems with this issue. And I don't want to sound snooty or come off as a know-it-all, but perhaps a little more patience would have paid big dividends. I know it is tough having to wait for things like this, but I'm glad I did.

P.S. - Hey, Gary! Get off your ass and get my Krinkov done! (just kidding, dude!

[eap]

[snip]
Personal attack deleted by Staff.

[GG-SAI]

I did not revisit this subject, but received an e-mail that it was "kicked back up."

Art Eatman - No. We got behind and have now stopped excepting work until we get caught up. The great major majority of our customers have been decent, understanding, etc. about the reason for the delay. Since this post I did return his rifle and he posted at a different location http://subguns.biggerhammer.net/inquiry.cgi?read=23305 that he was "happy."

LawDog - No. I questioned the indecent action of posting private e-mail that was noted to be considered private during its exchange. Its a ethic and moral question. Personally, I'm not the type that would do such actions. As I said, we got behind, any good professional smith does for whatever reason. We did what was needed to remedy the situation and gave him more than what he paid for. http://subguns.biggerhammer.net/inquiry.cgi?read=23305 What else could possibily be done???

To show the true intend of the individual, after posting the link above, he has sent threats to us, has had repeated posts deleted at subguns, and other boards as well. The intent was NOT to find a solution and remedy it, rather his intent was to attack, punish, and make personal attacks. That is something no other board has allowed, accept this one. I'm actually amazed that this place does allow it.

eap - Good example. You hide behind a nickname and hidden e-mail address. From the information I have seen, I don't even know you. Please be manly and identify yourself as the rules of any board like this should require you to do.

The problem here is that I ran late due to a family medical situation. Show me a professional, known gunsmith that hasn't at some time. Well over 95% of our customers have been understanding, decent, mature, etc. There is not a question at all about our work being top notch. (even demming stated that.)

Personal attacks (i.e. eap,) accusations without actual proof, and etc. should not be allowed. If they are, then you can logically only believe a small amount of what you read... in affect a person or business can be "convicted" for what amounts to lies, opinion, assumptions, and etc. That's not exactly correct. We are very busy and I will not be able to respond again. If you have any questions please e-mail and I would be happy to respond. Thanks.

[dad]

I'm sorry to say that when I took my rifle out to test fire it, it malfunctioned even worse than it was sent to GG.

After about a year and a half, I still don't have a gun that even functions. I shipped it to GG three times, but he never was able to get it right.

Honestly, my post above that started this thread is just the tip of the iceberg. I am going to tell the entire story--in a factual and dispassionate manner--in a separate thread here that will be upcoming.

[MAUSER88]

Why is the Gooch welcome here anyway? We all know his business practices.