r/canadaguns • u/iwannabeaspacecowboy • May 15 '26
Gun and gear reviews High caliber services
Has anyone else had bad experiences with high caliber services based out of Mission, BC? I have now been strung along for 6 months on the purchase of a magazine adapter that I was told had a wait time of 4-6 weeks. After being told the product would be done and shipped by the end of the month on 3 separate occasions, they have now started ignoring emails. The product is now listed on their page as in stock and being shipped. I like to support local gun and parts manufacturers but this is absurd, I have not had customer support or an experience with a company as bad as this. They were always to quick to reply with the first few letting me know they were almost done, but after being patient and giving them ample time far beyond the estimates they had told me I have become very frustrated. How can you advertise a product and take money from people for said product and then not even have the intention of delivering it by the end of their own timeline.
13
u/bermpan May 15 '26
HCSC is widely regarded amongst my industry working friends as just barely short of being a scam. They're notorious for not returning emails, not providing refunds in adequate time, exceptionally poor communication and service, etc.
I and everyone I know strongly avoid doing business with them.
11
u/1baby2cats May 15 '26
I ordered some hard to find magazines from them. Took longer than advertised but they did eventually arrive. Turns out they were waiting for enough people to order them before they placed the order.
2
u/One-Coffee-2621 May 15 '26
I don't want to name the company because afterwards they were nice enough to issue me a full refund, but I ordered three separate items from a Canadian firearms related site, all three were listed as in stock and delivery in business days. A little after that nothing had changed regarding tracking, emailed no response, called and finally got a response to my email. None of the parts were actually in stock, one would've taken 5-7 weeks to get to me, another part longer than that, and the one I wanted the most wasnt even in stock at the manufacturer and no one could fathom when it might appear. I get that these places might not have huge wearhouses, but there has to be a better system
3
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
Something Safety or Hero's? I swear they simply buy from irun or aztec upon order.
1
u/Cableguy613 May 15 '26
The 10/30s? Mine never arrived. Sent 4 emails, ghosted on the last few.
1
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
Try phoning them. I was in the store today and saw a bunch of bx-25's arrived.
You don't realize that they typically only have 2 people working: the busier it gets, the more emails can pile over the old.
Phoning cuts the risk and doesn't end up in a spam folder. Particularly on a week day were delivers happen, and foot traffic is more limited due to working hours.
~ a guy in a similar industry situation.
7
u/fiestaskeleton May 15 '26
The shop owners a great guy, but in my experience they have serious operational issues. Had them install the sks mag adapter, it took 6 months and 4 visits to the store, which Is a long drive for me. Was super unhappy with the process. Multiple returns because they didn't install it properly and it needed more work done. One of the times I was told it was ready, drove all the way out, and in fact it was not ready. I also had to wait even longer as they misplaced my case.
I don't hold anything against the owner personally, but the business is a mess.
2
u/iwannabeaspacecowboy May 15 '26
How long ago was that? They’re saying the company was bought out a year ago now.
4
u/throaway2322 May 15 '26
Yes and it's only gotten worse since the buyout. Operationally they're even more lost and dysfunctional.
The storefront is okay if you're local but be wary if you order online.
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
I think ALL 2/3 gun specialty stores are more dysfunctional now because it is so hard to replace merchandise when the heart of sales were torn out, starting in 2020.
Anything wanted is almost entirely one-off orders as the wholesalers are not stocking niche products and parts that come from banned platforms after they finish selling what they had. I suspect they are coasting on current inventory, back ordering the more exotic and gathering only the safest product that everyone will begrudgingly buy eventually.
And now everyone is fighting for parts that have been out of production for a combloc gun since the 2000's.
1
9
u/TheBulletBuddy May 15 '26
Got an email a while back about 10/30 lar magazines in stock, was about to order and figured id give em a call and double check that they had them on hand since ive heard some bad stories about these guys.
The employee was pushing HARD to get me to place an order, AND THEN he would go check stock for me. I told him I just wanted a confirmation that they were in stock before ordering a handful of them, he just hung up on me at that point.
Dont think ill ever order from these guys after that haha. Just seemed "scammy". They dont carry anything that you cant get else where so F### em.
2
u/AdeptArt May 15 '26
Damn what the hell. I’ve never seen a store refuse to check if an item was in stock without placing an order.
5
u/beekermc May 15 '26
I saw a scope online they had, so I drove to Mission. Turned out, they didnt have the scope in stock at all.
Gave me a box of PMC bronze .308 for my trouble🤷
2
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26
That seems rather thoughtful. I wish I got free stuff every time stock was miscalculated!
I am betting the till and website do not communicate with each other, if not a simple overstock from a overzealous scanner. 🤣
4
u/ProofKey3287 May 15 '26
Ordered an SKS hand guard 2+ months ago that was not listed as “on back order” at the time, waited a month and sent an email to inquire on ETA. I was told it would be shipped by the end of last month, still nothing. After seeing this post I’ll be canceling my order now lol
2
u/Vsatbtw May 15 '26
They’ve worked on a few of my guns. Always a fast turn around. Usually my go to shop
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
Ditto.
My sks was pretty machined for the new adapter, my mini acog's base was tapered to allow my weird little Stowaway's bolt to pass by it, and numerous other things that have since evaporated like delicate dew-drops in the morning rays of 2020.
2
u/Rewindonemoretime May 16 '26
I ordered a mag adapter back in January 2025 and the shipping was quick. They had just re stocked I believe at the time. Think I waited like, 5 days from ordered to delivered….then it sat on top of my safe for like 3-4 months because I was intimidated by installing it myself.
1
u/iwannabeaspacecowboy May 18 '26
Which adapter?
1
u/Rewindonemoretime May 18 '26
Sorry I thought I wrote it in there. It was the Sks magwell adapter for XCR pistol mags.
1
u/Dave_JSL May 15 '26
I’m also waiting for the adapter and installation from them. Paid in January and apparently ETA is May, and now it’s May. We’re both in pain lol
1
u/TheLeftyHalfy May 15 '26
My experience was similar. Had them install a mag adapter for an SKS, was told to expect 8 weeks I think. I would check in every couple months and get told “they just finished machining” or “waiting for orders to get a big batch done”. But then after 14 months of weird excuses, I finally got the call that it was ready for pickup.
For what it’s worth, mag adapter has run flawlessly.
2
u/Spydude84 May 15 '26
They sponsor one of my clubs so it's really unfortunate to hear had horrible they are. I've only bought ammo from them in person and that was a great experience. I was looking at shotgun shells and they offered to give me one pricing on a cheaper box for the box I wanted. I didn't even ask for that, they just offered.
1
u/BagAdditional9150 May 16 '26
Also ordered an adapter back in early March, and on the website it says that since the adapter changed whilst in back order and had a price change, that two extra XCR mags would be included.
They haven’t responded to my emails lately, order still says processing. thinking about cancelling and getting my money back.
1
u/iwannabeaspacecowboy May 16 '26
Ya mine was back in November so we’ll be waiting some more I’m sure
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26 edited Jun 07 '26
Just phone. Emails are nice, but they are far less important to walk-in shoppers, followed by phone calls, deliveries, etc.
Somewhere, at the very bottom are emails.
Businesses get busy, and emails stack. So phone.
Emails are like digital petitions: they feel good, are waived around by whoever is politically, and safely, in charge but that is about it.
They can be useful for guaging the temperature, but they hold far less weight than a personally drafted letter to your MP or MLA.
1
u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn May 16 '26
No clue about this business but we wont back order parts or accessories at all. We did when we first started but we learned quickly that theres alot of over promising and under delivering from manufacturers and distributors in this industry
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
You must have a very stable market offering then.
High Calber dominated in the Modern Sporter and Pistol market for there size, but there is no major retailer taking chances or bringing in a product that isn't already in stock or on a limited backorder arrangement.
I don't see that changing until the political arrangement does.
1
u/LumberjackCDN Gold'n Loan Outfitters & Pawn May 17 '26
No, you miss understand. We book and dont recieve alll the time. Hence the not back ordering for consumers. Id rather tell them no now then take their money and have them be mad at me because a manufacturer or distributor cant fulfill their end of the deal in a timely manner.
1
u/CountryFine May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
Never ordered from them but I find some aspects of their business concerning. They’re running a “sticker raffle” where you buy stickers for $22.50 each, and when they’re all sold they pick a winner for a free gun.
The issue is this raffle has been live for months with no guaranteed end date, they won’t draw a winner until every single ticket sells, which may never happen. Anyone who bought a ticket could just be out $22.50 with nothing to show for it.
From what I can tell this likely violates BC law around raffles and gambling. Licensed raffles in BC require a defined sales period and draw date.
When i emailed them with a concern about this because i was going to buy a ticket they just said “The raffle happens when all the tickets sell. No matter how long it takes. “
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
You seem fun. Someone has to stand up to protect big Lotto and Casinos!
1) Why would a business take a loss just to raffle quickly? It is no different than S&J Hardware. The price of the "appreciation gift" is fixed. The payout on a 50/50 raffle is not. Should they raffle it now and give away mag pouch, if that is all the current draw amount is worth? No one operates that way.
2) Are the items too cheap (low interest), too expensive (slower to gain numbers)... Or too boring? Aka, not sexy enough.
3) Nevermind. I looked it up, and bought 2 tickets for 45.00. On the Italian 30-30.
You litterally CHOOSE which raffle tickets you want that are still available. Hence #7 and #72.
...With ALL of your details being attached to it.
All I see are sour grapes from a slow sale.
Maybe the store/employees suck at selling them.
Maybe no one is as interested in them as you and I.
If you want to see any validity, maybe buy all the tickets and check to see if there is a draw. If nothing happens after a week, I will gladly acknowledge your point and raise hell with you.
1
u/CountryFine May 17 '26
Has nothing to do with protecting big lotto, any small business can run a raffle but they still need to abide by the regulations, its to protect consumers.
Their raffle has been live since 2025 and they havent even sold 50% of the tickets, could be a year (or never) until the draw. Its not really fair to anyone who has paid for a ticket especially when they dont make any effort to disclose that info on the sales page
1
u/xmqe May 16 '26
They suck. Bought their sks mag adapter last year, they fucked up sometime on their end and despite me paying they never had an order registered for it. So I had to wait another restrock cycle and had to email them numerous times to figure things out. Took like 4 months to finally get it.
Never buying anything from them again lol
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
The store sold last year. It sounds like you got caught in the reorganization. That would definitely suck.
I am local and like the new boss, but I don't pretend to be blind to the initial growing pains.
If it were me, I would approach them again, give them your history of experience, and see if you could catch a sweet "we're sorry for your experience" deal. But that's me.
If you still don't wish to try it, message me your details and I will try to use it to leverage for a deal on my/your behalf. I have being eyeing their 1-6 eotech vudu and 1.5-6 elcan. Happily.
1
u/Smart_Letter366 May 17 '26
I never had a problem there. I had a item that took 8 months to deliver.
They are my local store.
It was a mini Trijicon ACOG, that they ordered for me, using GRAVEL. The product arrived when it arrived.
North Sylva delivered them some of their ammo after 3 months.
I had to wait another 2 for the ammo that I had ordered, after being shown that my ammo was miscalculated.
At no point we're they at fault for it.
It seems that you are unhappy that a new product is taking longer to produce than initially advertised. It happens all the time, particularly when you are asking a small store to magically force a 3rd party machine shop to produce a small merchandise run at the drop of a hat.
That is unreasonable expectation from a store in our current climate. Things are moving slowly because there is no rush to be caught holding the bag when things are arbitrarily banned. Specialty producers like Alberta Tactical Rifles have already dropped. DLASK may be next, due to retirement and a lack of market clarity.
That said, I have seen the latest prototype at the store, still "in the white" at their desk - along with the TNA offering.
It is night and day, in quality and difference. We'll above their older version.
The fit is sure, the mag doesn't rock about, and the all-metal build doesn't feel like the plastic competitor that needs Sun Block to prevent it breaking down in the first rays of a winter sun.
I recommend that you go to the store and check out the sample. I think you will appreciate just how much nicer it is than a clone of their older style adapter.
1
u/iwannabeaspacecowboy Jun 06 '26
They admitted to deleting my emails and blamed it on an employee that is no longer with them. They ignored 11 phones calls of mine not even 2 weeks ago. They replied to my email only within hours of posting a review. I don’t care how much better their product is, I won’t give my service to a company who treats customers that way.
1
u/Smart_Letter366 Jun 07 '26
Out of curiosity, did you get a hold of the boss? I doubt the workers will have have a connection with the manufacturer.
Cheers!
1
u/iwannabeaspacecowboy May 19 '26
Alright, after being ignored again over several emails I called them since emails clearly didn’t, and they DONT EVEN HAVE THE ADAPTERS….. they are listed as IN STOCK On their website and I’ve watched over the last few days as the numbers go down. How tf can a company sell a product saying they have them in stock knowing fully well they don’t have any at all
0
u/Vikare_ May 16 '26
That's not acceptable. Charge back if you can.
Charge backs are really bad for businesses but things like this deserve them.
0
36
u/[deleted] May 15 '26
[deleted]