I have been trying since Friday to order one of these from PSA:
Screenshot
First of all, when I try to log into the PSA website with my account, it makes me complete a CAPTCHA. Which wouldn’t be so bad, except that there seems to be something broken with PSA’s CAPTCHA process. Sometimes it will go through the first or second attempt, sometimes it takes a dozen or more “click on all the squares that contain X” attempts before it finally goes through. Then, since I have two factor authentication enabled, once I get the PIN, I have to go through the entire CAPTCHA process again.
Once I am finally logged in, and go through the checkout process, when it asks me to select a FFL, I do not get any option to upload a copy of my C&R license. Yes, I do have one, and (as you can see in the screen shot above) PSA claims this is C&R eligible.
I’ve used the online help system three times. The first two times, the online help team told me they would escalate this internally to the “discount code” team, and that I should hear from that team directly. That was Friday, and they said I wouldn’t have to wait until today. I’ve heard nothing. The third chat agent I used today just kept going around in circles telling me to call their customer service number. They did tell me to try a different browser, or try incognito mode: when I told them I’d tried four different browsers on two different computers, it was back to the endless cycle of “call our customer service number”.
I called the customer service number. The person who answered the phone was singularly unhelpful, telling me I needed to upload my FFL to the “compliance department”. The link for that is difficult to find, but I did manage to find it and uploaded it on Friday, before I spoke to customer service. When I told the customer service rep I had already uploaded it, she told me a) I have to wait for them to “process” it, and II) I had to specify, when I uploaded it, what items I wanted to purchase. Curiously, that’s not stated on the upload form. I asked how long it takes to process it, and the customer service rep refused to answer that question. If that person is to be believed, PSA won’t let you upload a copy of your C&R FFL to have on file in your account. When I asked about the supposed escalation to the “discount code” team, I got no reply that addressed that claim.
This is a real shame. My Makarov owning friend tells me, at that price, PSA is virtually giving them away. But that price becomes much less attractive if I have to pay FFL transfer fees on top of PSA’s shipping, shipping protection, and tax. At this point, I’m tired and I’m fed up with chasing after Palmetto State Armory to give them my money.
This is the second time I’ve tried to order something from PSA. The first time, I tried to order some 5.7 ammo they had on sale: that order was cancelled for no apparent reason.
I don’t plan to try to do business with Palmetto State Armory again. I also don’t feel like I can encourage any of my readers to do business with Palmetto State Armory.
I haven’t been treated with this much contempt since Cheaper than Dirt had a retail store in Round Rock.