SARUSA is one of the sponsors of NSSF’s annual Shot Show. I know for the last two years they advertised a giveaway of 10 SAR9 pistols per day for the 4 days of Shot Show for 2022 and 2023. I was a winner for day 4 of 2023 and this is what my experience has been as of 3/30/2023. I will say I know of 12 people that have received their pistols, one person got a pistol in 2022 and 2023. I know of two people that haven’t received pistols for this year. Below is my experience and why I would, at this point, recommend avoiding SARUSA
First I’m going to say that I was a winner on the last day for 2023 using one of their two options of entries, Instagram (5 winners) or in person via your email (5 winners). I should have been cautious without them having posted any rules, but I entered and was announced one of the 10 winners for Jan 20th. I was contacted by several of the other winners and maintained contact throughout the process. SARUSA reached out @7:30 am on Jan 30th with the following message on Instagram, “Good Morning! You are one of the winners of the Shot Show SAR9 giveaway. We just need your email address so we can get the rest of your info and send your firearm to your nearest FFL. You will receive the email within 48 hours from your response. Congrats!”. I responded at 7:50 am on Jan 30th and waited for excitedly for the next 48 hours. I sent a follow up DM on Instagram at 08:10 on February 2nd and didn’t receive any reply.
Februrary 8th, I finally received an email from SARUSA at 2:41 requesting my information and my FFL information and again confirming I was a winner of a SAR9 pistol. I responded the following morning with the requested information and advised them I am the FFL. I had given them the benefit of the doubt and just assumed finishing up Shot Show and making sure everything was accounted for and whatnot, that would be the worst of the experience…..I had no idea what I would be in for. The rep replied to my email with my information telling me California would be a tough state to ship to as they would need to get approval to ship to my FFL. Suggesting I should speak to my FFL for guidance. I replied back again stating I was the FFL and I am familiar with the process. I provided the process information and a sample approval letter they would need to ship to my FFL. I didn’t receive a response, so I followed up with a email asking if that was the information needed. The next email I received on Februrary 10th from the rep was telling me I need to get an approval letter from my FFL and they cannot ship my pistol without it. and the my FFL may have experience in obtaining the approval. I again respond with I am the FFL and I am familiar with the process. I suggested they may need to call me for clarification as it is the shipping FFL that obtains the approval letter not the receiving FFL. I also let them know in the email from the previous day the example I sent was an actual approval letter. The next email I got was another rep that had been CC’d in on the emails would call me Monday (Feb 13th) morning, as it would be good for them to learn the process so they can hopefully do it in the future. The rep and I exchanged unrelated emails about the CA market on the 10th. I thought it was pleasant and responsive.
Monday the 13th comes and I haven’t heard anything from any rep. I send an email to three different reps confirming a call for that day. I get an email stating she would follow up with me and get back to me. On the 14th I receive and email asking me when I would be available as she wants to have a second rep on the call as well. I told her I would available in about 15 mins and for the next 2 hours. I did receive a call about 40 mins later. I explained the process and they were receptive and I offered to help with any other questions. They said they would call me if they needed any help but they thought they had it and would advise me when the pistol shipped. February 16th I received an email saying they were working on it. February 17th I received and email saying they would keep me posted. February 23rd I hadn’t heard anything and sent a follow up email checking on the status, no response. February 28th I still haven’t heard anything so I send an email to check up, no response. I check with some of the other winners and some have received their pistols and most I was speaking with hadn’t heard anything, so I’m thinking okay they must be busy filling the shipments for the winners. March 4th I reach out via IG and I get a reply to reach out to the rep I have been attempting to speak with. At this point some of the other winners are receiving their pistols and sending me photos of the laser etching the pistols have on the slide. I assume the delay must be because of the special order for the laser etching.
March 6th I send another email checking on the status and I receive and email they are not shipping me my pistol as per their lawyer’s advice. I respond requesting for clarification as to why their attorney advised them not to ship to my FFL. I advised them of the process with California and explained that it was legal to send it to my FFL for specific reasons and offered them the documentation to back up my explanation. I got a reply from the initial rep stating they understand I may be allowed to have the item ship but they will need to run my email by their legal rep and I would get an answer the following week. I acknowledged their email and I reached out to the CA DOJ Bureau of Firearms and ran the situation by them and the state rep confirmed I was correct. I forwarded that email chain with the state to all three SARUSA reps and requested they share their with their legal rep so that rep could also independently reach out to the state and confirm to give SARUSA the okay to ship the pistol. The week they advised I would hear back passed, so I reach out to them again on March 24th I gave them some alternative options and they stated they would send me 2 cases of ammunition instead. The rep told me they would ship the ammunition out Monday. I sent a reply saying on record I would still prefer the pistol but I would accept the ammunition instead. and that was the last thing I heard.
They have had contact with another winner in California and offered to ship them ammunition as well. and on Monday they had emailed him the shipping information. I advised the other winner who isn’t a FFL or Ammunition Vendor to be careful with that shipment as I am not sure if he will get in trouble with the state for a direct shipment to him in violation to California laws requiring the ammunition background checks and not being able to legally receive direct ammunition shipments. I suggested he reach out to a proper source to get appropriate legal advice. I am shocked and confused as SARUSA was advised by their legal rep to not do something legal and they end up sending ammunition illegally and their horrible lack of communication. I have heard fantastic things about their pistols and their ammunition but I guess I will never know. Was this all just a case of bait and switch for their giveaway? Did they just not have enough prizes to honor their contest? I don’t think it’s asking too much for them to honor their contest. I thought ahead and made copies of all their related posts, DMs, our emails and lack of rules posted or available if they have any and gave it to my legal representative. I figure if I don’t hear from them, receive my pistol or ammunition by April 7th my legal rep will have to take over. At this point I cannot recommend dealing with SARUSA and would probably recommend people avoiding them. I can’t imagine the service you would get if you had their product and needed warranty work.