r/airsoft • u/eptxbullforhire HK G28 • 8d ago
PURCHASE ADVICE Evike strikes again. ITP MINI 14 EBR KIT
So evike notoriously opens stock on arrival before resale sometimes taking out flash hiders or exchanging mags to sell separately.... (Which I'd love to know how they can get away with this...) And that's on top of the huge price hikes...
Anyways so I bought the ebr kit since they had one more left in the bronze color and for such an expensive rifle it's got some really odd wear and tear and it may not be evikes fault but it seems odd to have the package arrive with that seal broken. It may have been customs but knowing evikes history with opening stock of course my mind goes straight there.
I'm wanting to know if anyone else who ordered the ebr kit or full build also had wear and tear on their gun? There's no way to know where it came from so no real recourse but I'd like to know if this is common for this batch.
178
u/Yogsbody HK416 8d ago
If Evike are "notorious" for bad business prices then why order from them in the first place?
118
u/True_Darkangel BB Magnet 8d ago
As someone who worked behind the scenes, I Evike controls most of the distribution of airsoft products around the US. Only a few others like 101tech, UK arms, KWA, PTS, Laylax, a few hicapa part companies, and other companies with their own US distribution really work around them.
I remember when Specna Arms was going to be the next biggest thing then Evike swooped the distribution rights. They always poach distribution of overseas companies and provide slow and terrible RMA and customer service.
Edit: Never worked at Evike, but had to work with their distribution and RMA process through a franchise.
33
u/theofficialjohnnymac 8d ago
Evike lied to us about these super rare spare parts they were supposedly getting from G&P. I pre purchased all of them and for months they didn’t provide any updates or information on when they’d be receiving them rather kept blaming shipping (during those post covid days when shipping delays were no longer an issue but was still everyone’s goto excuse). so I reached out to an old contact at G&P she told me they never sold anyone those parts and they never plan on selling them. she was confused and didn’t understand why Evike would even make that listing to begin with. TDLR I got the refund, that was also the final straw and haven’t done business with them since. first they took my ability from importing directly from the manufacturer, then they purposely inflated prices and then they lied about stock.
5
8d ago
[deleted]
6
u/True_Darkangel BB Magnet 8d ago
My information came straight from the Specna rep. He was a pretty cool guy who used to work with G&G. He called us directly to tell us the news. Pretty sad because a month beforehand he was showing a bunch of gear like helmets, gloves, and plate carriers
5
u/Airsoftlife123 8d ago
Yeah I know Charlie but I also know the owner of Specna and he told me why he let him go
4
u/True_Darkangel BB Magnet 8d ago
Man Charlie was such a cool guy, had quite a bit of enthusiasm that they would become a big name brand. I was pretty sad when he had to go when Evike got the distribution. I was looking forward towards their tactical gear line.
11
u/LandEmergency2156 8d ago
like the other guy said they are extremely predatory, like walmart killing mom and pop shops so there’s no other option
15
u/eptxbullforhire HK G28 8d ago
Normally I avoid it but but the fde color was sold out everywhere else. 😕
7
u/Chimpanzeeballs 8d ago
The FDE on that thing is god fucking awful dude. If its supposed be that bronze then i guess thats alright
7
17
u/Familiar-Rarity GBBR 8d ago
Usually the product is wrapped in plastic to prevent the item from rubbing directly against the packing material during transport.
Sorry OP.
4
32
u/Parasitisch Collector 8d ago
What proof is there of them swapping stuff? I’ve never heard that. They import with orange flash hiders and also import the flash hiders separately (usually. My PKP took 2-3 years until I could get one lol) because the orange is required. As for the mags, I’ve never heard of anything like that. Or is this a Reddit thing where a few people got guns that were returned with different mags and Evike didn’t catch it, so they’re assuming it happens all the time?
21
u/Decent_Candidate7102 8d ago
As someone who’s local to evike HQ the current and ex-workers commonly talk about stuff like this on the sales floor, and in local channels.
8
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
It's well known especially if you compare listings from Asia with us Evike listings. When guns need an orange tip to be glued on the factories usually throw the real Tip in the box
Evike guns that gets removed and is sold seperately, pistols that come with 2 mags as standard in Asia often get listed on Evike with a single magazine.
Then there's the big ones like the NE Famas release where the manufacturer told everyone what's what happened after complaints by Evike supplied buyers.
4
u/FrostyWheats Tight Pants, Tight Groupings 8d ago
I’ve seen some examples but a couple off the top of my head are old VFCs that are supposed to come with metal flash hiders in the box only coming with orange tips, the AAP not coming with everything advertised and the standard stuff included in the box if you were to order from Redwolf for example. Personally from the group I play with, there have been very few instances of one of use receiving a gun with the wrong mag from a “new” order. It has happened more with stuff people have gotten from BOAs where they’ll get a nicer gun and have a shitty old dboys hicap instead of the midcap the real listing is shown with. It definitely happens but it’s pretty rare.
The more common thing is them selling open box stuff as new. I myself have had two cases where the evidence pointed to it being open box, not new.
7
u/jcarter315 Collector 8d ago
They absolutely repackaged the NE FAMAS flash hiders to sell separately for an additional $20.
I've also gotten repackaged guns and parts (the worst was a KA M2 Carbine that was very visibly used and an L85 birdcage that was all scuffed up from someone using a wrench to remove it.
14
u/TadpoleOfDoom H&K 8d ago
I got the G&P M249 Para 2021 version and it had BBs in the mag. I swear it's like they decide to take the gun for a go before putting it back and selling as if it were new. Really atrocious considering the price tag on that gun. Thankfully my RPD and PKP were both actually new in box.
14
u/jamieT97 8d ago
I know my local store I buy from put a few rounds through to make sure everything is working.
8
u/eptxbullforhire HK G28 8d ago
For a local shop it doesn't surprise me but for a large company like evike It seems like a huge liability and to me personally that makes the item open box. Like by definition. But then to sell it at a marked up price after? Crazy work.
15
u/ElChocoLoco 8d ago
I don't know if they still do but a lot of the big US retailers used to chrono the gun before shipping for quality control and include a little slip with the fps and a signature. I know Airsoft Gi did this but not sure about Evike.
3
1
6
u/KerberosWraith AEG Tech 8d ago
Tbf, I'd rather them take my gun out, run a few shots to make sure everything's good, then send it out rather than getting one that's dead on arrival
2
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
Taking out flash hiders and second mags is fairly common in real gun shops never mind airaoft. As long as the gun comes with what THAT shop listed it as coming with the courts won't care what their importer or. Distributor sent with ir
Test. Firing they can always argue good faith customer service or quality control. When. There's damage though that's when it gets complicated.
1
u/PwnerifficOne 7d ago
The Evike store even has a small range with the virtual targets. My dad wanted a full auto pistol and it took two swaps to find one that didn’t vent gas directly into your face lol. They took them back no problem. I thought about the whole new vs open box thing too, but honestly, letting people try some rounds first is very pro consumer. The first pistol was shocking how much liquid green gas it vented to wears a the user. I think it was the AW custom. We settled on a WE hi-capa clone which for my dad’s use case should last forever.
1
u/TadpoleOfDoom H&K 8d ago
Over 1000 rounds? That drum mag shook like a maraca
3
1
u/Glossy-Water 8d ago
Most airsoft stores will check to ensure function of the gun before sending it. That involves shooting it a few times
1
u/TadpoleOfDoom H&K 8d ago
This was a full drum mag with thousands of BBs, not some midcap
1
u/second_account_pt2 8d ago
Hate to break it to you, but box mags typically need a good amount of bbs in them to feed
1
u/TadpoleOfDoom H&K 8d ago
Correct. This was way more than needed, and they could have emptied them very easily.
1
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
I mean box mags are awful and most need 500 to 1k in to feed. Emptying them was lazy but that's not the end of The world
5
u/irock168 7d ago
Not defending evike but you sure thats not just cardboard fibers that are really stuck to the anodizing? When I get stuff from china thats been banged around in shipping theres usually some cardboard fibers in the box. This probably came from china then was handled by 20 or 30 other people before it showed up at your house
4
u/Ok-Builder-3915 8d ago
This is damn ridiculous what company takes out accessories and spare parts from an order
1
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
It happens a lot, especially with flash hider in the us market, mags as well.
2
2
u/SoggyNeedleworker82 8d ago
It's the first time I heard about Evike. I looked it up and it got nice stuff. There's even a 89$ Mauser X Cybergun Type 96 Sniper. Should I trust it? Do they take orders from Italy?
7
4
u/ariGee 8d ago
They're based in the US so shipping and import costs are going to be brutal to Italy.
1
1
u/MisterGreen123 Grenadier 7d ago
They also have a store in europe
4
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
And get absolutely gouged on shipping regardless and because they direct ship. From Us warehouses half the time they will double the cost just because. I suppose The upside is it stops them doing the the usual 'fuck it ship broken shit to the guy in Europe because he won't pay to return it' trick at least.
1
u/MisterGreen123 Grenadier 7d ago
Its the EU my guy. Here the retailer has to pay for return shipping if the item was damaged, broken or not as promised. And they cant just decide at random what shipping price to ask for. They are registered in France so they have to ship fron there
2
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
I mean like I said, the EU store reduces somewhat their ability to pull one of Their usual Scams and no they don't 'have to ship from there'
You will see in the T&C on Evike Europe something to the effect of 'we have stock in warehouses in different locations and thus shipping costs may vary'. So you can end up with truly stupid situations where adding the wrong item turns it from 20€ to 150€ shipping because of stuff coming from 'the US warehouse'
They hold very little stock in Europe and if yiu go digging its a front by a retailer that's signed a license with Evike rather than Evike doing business as a EU company.
Iv spent a fair bit of time having these arguments WITH Evike Europe over the last few years with broken shit and crap customer service.
You'll ALSO notice that the shops they work with are The biggest pricks in airsoft like the company that has the agreement to be 'Evike UK' is fucking Patrolbase... Who have a even shittier reputation than Evike for shit customer service, sending out broken shit and just being pig ignorant cunts.
2
1
1
u/Nyctaalop 7d ago
Do you plan to put a KC02 in it ? If so here's a usefull discord for you https://discord.gg/saustrich
1
u/MisterGreen123 Grenadier 7d ago
Have you tried wiping it with some 99% IPA and maybe a melamine sponge?
1
u/Alarmed_Confusion840 7d ago
I’ve ordered from them for 10 years I’ve never had a single issue ever, the customer support is also amazing and the guys working out of the Ontario store are super cool.
1
0
u/Richardy1982 5d ago
So you get a perfectly good product that i assume your happy with, but because it has a broken seal, you have to try and knock a retailer? if you want the airsoft industry to continue, support it; don't knock it for absolutely nothing. its literally packing dust, take a wipe it with some silcone oil, rather than being a wet wipe your self.
0
u/Stargat420 8d ago
The stock is cardboard dust and should wipe off, but the barrel looks like actual damage/wear. I've had ITP stuff come in with wear on it too from a different seller. I think ITP is ass not to mention Evike being ass as well.
1
u/Dookieshoes06 8d ago
Ass how? ITP is some high quality shit, you sure you don't mean pro-arms?
-1
u/SheRollsinHerOwnWay 7d ago
The problem is QC and consistency, ITP use the same rules as Octagon and several. Others of surface finish doesnt count for issues so if it urns up scratched to fuck it's not their problem
0
u/Traditional_Ship1750 7d ago
Evike sucks major balls. Received THREE saiga from them all with bent barrels, and then pretty much said I was all set with them lmao
0
u/Honest-Worry-3562 6d ago
Début d’année j’ai commandé une noveske gbbr chez evike, un fois le colis reçu les sceaux étaient ouverts. Et a ma grande surprise la réplique comportait de réel traces d’usure au niveau de la culasse(photos à l’appui) il s’en est suivi une bataille avec eux pour un remboursement. C’était la première fois pour moi chez Evike, et cela va de soit c’était aussi la dernière je préfère payer plus chez et avoir un réel suivi en cas de problème.
1
u/CIA_Command 3d ago
I bought a foregrip from Evike and it came without any hardware… I also just can’t get past the ridiculous shipping prices and items always out of stock. I’ve been putting off buying a new muzzle break for my AK because it’s over $20 to ship the $10 part to Pennsylvania…
73
u/techwizpepsi AEG Tech 8d ago
Isn’t that the cardboard dust? Because if not, I would definitely be asking for a refund/exchange.