Posted: 3/21/2008 4:58:13 PM EDT
I found this web site many years ago. It had great prices, great customer service, and fast shipping. I am a gear nut (I am sure most here are) so I would have lots of people ask me where to buy products and I always pointed them to LA Police gear. Well, I guess this company has gotten to big and don't care about customer service any more. I had multiple problems with an order. I sent email after email with no reply. I finally got my order and it wasn't right. I sent them an email listing the multiple problems. I recieved an email back that said pretty much said, oh well, sorry. I guess it is time to look for a different company to buy from and to suggest to others. What do you suggest for a one stop shop that has resonable prices, fast shipping and actually cares about thier customers? |
|
I placed and order a week or so ago and used the free shipping code. Order went through, didn't get canceled like they specifically say it will if you use an incorrect/invalid code. Three days later, I get an email saying that they can't complete my order unless I agree to pay shipping, since the code wasn't valid. I ask them to explain why, since my order went through/wasn't canceled, and if the code was invalid, they should allow my order and fix whatever caused the "invalid" code to work so that they wouldn't have any problems in the future. Literrally flat told them that it was bad business to renege on something like that. They refused, and I told them to KMA. Not a well run company, IMO. |
| I've ordered several things from them in the past. Most recently, a couple pairs of the new 5.11 tac pants. (love em), one of the colors was on back order. Two weeks past the expected shipping date, so I called them. They didn't admit it flat out, but my order just dropped off the radar. It's a good thing I called them. hey shipped that day. I will however order from them again. |
| I have had very similar problems. I used to buy alot of my gear there, but the customer service is now very poor. Also, alot of items are not instock which leads to long delays without any communication. I have been looking for another company and have been using optics planet, not the best, but alot better than lapolicegear. |
|
Well - when they had that special on boots a month back or so, I ordered a pair for my buddy. I added a cheepy compass while I was at it. The boots came - but the box said size 13 and the boots were size 9. DOH. Well - I wrote them - said its not worth shipping them back, I can give them to good will or something. I said I wanted my money for the boots refunded. The next day they had it all sorted out and credited back my 10 bucks. I guess I could have asked for the shipping back too - but I did get the compass - so. eh. Overall I was happy with my service. |
|
I got a closeout pack from them, ordered in Woodland. My order got held up due to a back ordered item. When it eventually shipped the pack I received was Desert. I checked the closeout page and only Desert was left. I called them and they authorized the return and promptly sent me a RMA. Within a week, I got the correct pack and a Nalgene bottle for my trouble. You pays your money and you takes your chances. |
I ordered a Gerber LMF knife from them. A week after the funds had been deducted from my account and no emails were returned I called to check the status of the order. I was told that since I ordered on a Sunday, that the following weekday orders take precedent over the previous weekend orders.  Seriously, that's what she said.  Anyway, I ended up getting the knife almost 2 weeks after I paid for it. It was a good price and I didn't really need it immediately so what ever. I'd order from them again, but only for something I was in no hurry for. It's really hard to beat their closeout prices. |
+1 This sums up my experience as well. I have ordered from them 4 times in the last two years. Two orders went great, two bad. Bad order #1 They had a closeout on Bates boots for $9.99 about a year ago. Great boots, especially for the money. My size is listed, so I order 4 pairs. Their website take my info, credit card info etc. I think all is well until I get an email about a week later telling me the Boots are ordered are out of stock!  Note to LA Police Gear! Update your website to not allow orders to be placed if they are not in stock! Get a real time inventory system! Bad order #2 Ordered four pairs of 5.11 pants last summer. All are ordered as 36x30 Order goes thru fine but they send me three pairs of 36x30 and one pair of 30x30! My invoice clearly says 36x30 ordered. I try and email them, call them, etc. no answer for 4 days. Finally get them on the phone. They advertise free shipping both ways on 5.11 pants if you order two or more pairs. I think they are going to send me a shipping label from UPS?FedEX to return them. Wrong! They tell me to return them at my expense and they will reimburse me. I guess no problem. I return them for $7 or so shipping. I then get an email from them telling me to complete the return, I have to now provide an additional $8 for shipping to get the correct pair of 5.11 pants returned! So for their mistake, I am now out the $39.99 for the pants plus $15 for shipping! To make a log story short, it took an additional 3 weeks and numerous calls and emails to get them to fix their mistake. And I never did get the $7 credit I was promised to ship them back at my expense! LA Police Gear customer service sucks! 
|
|
I've placed about 10 or so orders with them. I've had no problems besides the canceled closeout boot order(that was expected, and I didn't mind). However, I've been seeing a lot more complaints. It hasn't gotten to the point where I'll look elsewhere for gear; but if problems become commonplace, I may start getting a little more cautious when I order gear. For now, I'll still uphold that they're a good company based off of my experiences. I'm wondering if they're just seeing a lot of growth and having a little bit of trouble keeping up at the moment? |
|
Their closeout section is the DEVIL!! In the last year I have picked up a Spec Ops THE pack for $65 Maxpedition Pigmy Falcon for $29 "" " Condor for $39 2 pair of the Bated DOD boots for $39 A shitton of 550 paracord They key to getting your order is getting in on the closeout deals FAST. I cant hold anything against a company because they sold out of a product. |
Same with me and they have always been decent to deal with. The only problem I has was trying to order a set of the bates boots at the closeout deals when they were 19 bucks and the next day they sent an email and canceled the order. I figured that with the high demand from the traffic on this site it was going to happen so I wasn't to heart broken. |
Yall may want to check back on those Bates. I ordered one pair, got them in, and liked them so much, decided to order another pair just a week or so ago, and got them no problem. They might have gotten a new shippment in. |
|
I ordered some stuff with no errors then ordered more from the close out list and added a Glow Tube for my daughter. They sent first gen. tubes so I e-mailed the owner (Sean) and he admitted that the warehouse staff was the weakest link. He sent me the right tubes and told me to keep the wrong one, when the box arrived; free 511 hat and Nalgene bottle...SCORE!!!! I just dumped the 511 digicam closeout boots after wearing them daily for well over a year. Shoulda bought 4 pairs. Pete |
I clicked on the link and several of those experiences are very similar to my two most recent dealings with LA Policegear. For the record, I have ordered from them at least 10 times in the last 4 years are so. Prior to just a couple of years ago, they were a great company to deal with. Growing pains maybe, but sadly, they are not the company they used to be. I know all company F up occasionally, but when customer service basically tells you to piss off because of their mistake...
|
|
1 order, 1 problem. It wasn't a major problem, my boot order advertised 4 pr of free socks. When order arrived I didn't receive 4 pair and assumed it was an honest mistake, but reading through this thread leads me to believe that maybe it wasn't as honest a mistake as I assumed.
|
|
Hell, I've got their closeout page bookmarked! I had ONE bad experience, and they made it right ASAP. The CEO emailed me within about an hour of me giving bad feedback, and has continued to help me and my guys in Kosovo out when we needed something. I have ordered a LOT of stuff from them, and since that first time, I haven't had any problems whatsoever. You DO have to realize they don't have live inventory, and take your chances. They do put warnings to that effect on the site, though. I can't order from them anymore because I am in Cambodia and there is WAY too much corruption/graft/etc. here, and red tape to make it worth their while. I would if I could, though. |
| A good alternative that I have had luck with is GT Distributing. |
Lyman did the same thing to me with a lead melting pot. Promised to reimburse. $10 return shipping no reimbursement. No more Lyman for me. |