I want to first mention that I have a safe full of fun toys and am ex-military. I know my way around a firearm enough to know when quality control is a sever problem with IO Inc products. Below you will read about my recent interactions with them regarding a severe issue that I found on one of the two AKs my wife and I bought a few months ago.
Near Jan 1st of this year, my wife and I each bought an AK from Royal Tiger Imports and 6 additional 30 round magazines. The mags showed up about a week or two after placing the order. Then each AK showed up about 4 weeks after placing the order. When the rifles arrived I looked them over and noticed that one of the AKs had horrible assembly issues. Whoever riveted the rear trunnion to the receiver, they riveted them together without the receiver sides fully inserted into the trunnion. Because the receiver was so horribly bent out of shape, the dust cover would not install. However, that same dust cover/AK combo shipped to me assembled. That means someone had to use excessive force or tools to install that dust cover. There is no way that it would go on by hand (which is what all AK dust covers need to be installed with).
While I discovered the AK issue, I decided to test the magazines and load 30 rounds into each. With each AK we received 2 mags/ea and the additional 6 that I mentioned earlier. That puts us at 10 mags. 6 of the 10 mags that we received do NOT hold 30 rounds. They ranged between 25-27 rounds maximum capacity. Really? Out of the 12 products we bought from RTI, only a small percentage work properly. It is at this point that I assume IO, Inc has ZERO quality control checking these assembled items for completeness and functionality.
I went directly to IO Inc and spoke with Keith, who handles warranty repair. He quickly sent me a RMA to send the defective items back for repair/replacement. It took a few days for the package to arrive but it did show confirmation that it arrived. I allowed 2 weeks to pass and contacted Keith to determine any feedback regarding the situation. I was quickly responded by email stating to allow 4 weeks from time of receipt for my items to ship back. No problem as I understand the political agenda and current events have placed these guys in a difficult situation to supply the demand. I let another 2 weeks pass and attempted to contact Keith numerous times over the course of 1-2 weeks (now at about 5-6 weeks after receipt of the items for repair) via email and phone. I was finally replied by email 1.5 weeks after I was supposed to receive the items for the 2nd time. The email was very short and stated to wait until the end of March to receive my items. Now they are telling me it takes 8+ weeks to repair something that should never have left their facility in the first place. At this point it has been 3 months since we placed the original order and still have nothing to show for it. I replied back to Keith telling him that his answer was unacceptable and they should hold themselves more accountable as I was a customer who has paid my fees and waited just like the rest of society but because IO Inc screwed up, I have to wait even longer. Keith replied back asking for the serial number of the firearm in question. When he sent the additional 4 week email, he just sent it without even checking into my account or claim. He just replied to an email to clear it from his inbox. From there I did not hear from him until the next day when I got him on the phone.
I spoke to Keith about the situation and the recent email exchange. At that point he questioned why I had not received the repaired items yet as if he had current knowledge that the items already shipped. So, now I am getting 3 different responses from Keith and none are the same. Sounds like they are just running around with their heads cut off. Keith checks the status and says that he sees where they received the firearm but show no tracking for the repaired firearm. That is because it has not shipped yet, Keith. I don't even work for IO Inc and I could tell you that. Keith then told me to give him some time to see where my stuff is.
I got a phone call from Keith and he left a voicemail stating that my firearm was un-repairable and a new one would ship that same day. Not sure why it wasn't determined the first 4 weeks that it was not repairable but judging by the rest of my experience with IO Inc, it is assumable that their customer service and products are shoddy. I immediately called him back asking about the 6 magazines. He replied as if he were questioning that I did in fact turn in 6 magazines with my original shipment. He then stated, "If you sent in 6 mags, then you will receive 6 back."
Here we are discussing this issue after finally receiving a package from IO Inc last night. My wife and I opened up the package and who would have thought that IO Inc is cheating me? There were only two magazines with the new firearm. I looked over the firearm and everything seems to be OK. Still need to field strip it and do a good once-over on it. Then I decided to load 30 rounds into each of the two replacement mags they sent me. Sure enough, one of the mags does not load to full capacity. They cheated me yet once more. In the end we have purchased 2 AK-47s, including 4 mags, and purchased an additional 6 mags, and only 3 of the mags from the total lot work properly. STAY CLEAR OF IO INC PRODUCTS, THEY ARE NOT WORTHY.
I attempted to contact Keith again this morning and the phone rang off the hook. Attempted customer service and received the same results. Then I tried their accounting department and got someone on the phone. I explained my situation and she said she would look into it and to give her a few hours to diagnose the situation. It has been 3 hours and I still have no word back. I think they are just trying to capitalize on the demand that society has placed upon this business. However, this business has poor ethical leadership and their products reflect their values.
I have contacted the BBB to notify them of the situation. That way a 3rd party can speak on my behalf because I am obviously not a priority for IO Inc, even though we spent $1600+ with them in a matter of a week or two. They got their money so they have fulfilled their obligations. Beyond that, there is no customer service. Next stop, my bank as I am submitting a claim for the faulty 6 magazines.
And by looking at the picture I attached, someone please explain to me how IO Inc was able to install the dust cover over the bent receiver near the rear trunnion?
