AirsoftKit
Review written
by Justin
Evans-Reid
(aka Speedman)-
Sunday, November 24, 2002 3:32 PM
First things first, I’m not new to airsoft, I still remember the joys of building my Marui M92F springer! Yes, airsoft in kit form, Airfix kits that hurt! After I got hooked I bought a few springer handguns and then after a few years I laid my arms to rest and retired from the combat arena (back garden with my mates) forever. Or so I thought… I went to a Sci-Fi convention a couple of years ago and was told a good costume goes down really well. The three nanoseconds it took to decide on a costume was the easy part, any of the characters from The Matrix. Unfortunately, due to the fact they all carry enough weaponry to turn the Middle East into a ‘nice’ beach resort, I decided my old collection of pistols needed updating. Nothing spectacular was purchased, just the Academy kit of a M16A1. As it only cost £35 I was not expecting much, and as far as firing goes its pathetic but for looks it was great. I was hooked again! A few more spring pistols, sub-machine guns and shotguns later I decided to get a proper Airsoft weapon (something you didn’t have to cock after each shot). I purchased a KSC Beretta M93R 1st version (after reading Arnie’s review) from a UK airsoft company who’s name I wont mention. First the packing was destroyed in the post - okay not all their fault but better and more secure packing would have helped a lot. Next the weapon was faulty (trigger pull would not drop the hammer), I emailed them and they offered to replace it, in the meantime I had fixed it buy refitting a return spring that had come loose. Six months later, after only putting around four hundred rounds through it the valve gave up completely! I emailed them regarding this and was told to return it to them and they would repair or replace it. That’s when the fun began. I sent it off mid-way through April, after many, many ignored emails I received an email from this retailer to inform me a new one was one the way, It was now July!!! So I came home from work one night and promptly dropped everything to open the nice brown paper wrapped parcel to find a KSC Berretta M93R 2nd version! The wrong gun! Being a little more than upset about this an email went off in under five minutes to the original seller, who, more than a week later responded with an offer of a refund as they couldn’t get the correct one for me. I accepted and also got them to refund any postage that I incurred returning it to them. Eighteen months from start to finish, I was not a happy Airsofter - I had no weapon and no faith in Airsoft retailers. I decided to take my freshly refunded money and invest in my first AEG. Only one problem, what do I get? I trolled through all the review sites, forums and web shops for what seemed like an age. And then one day I saw it… Marui’s H&K G3/SG-1. I started going through websites in earnest to find a good deal and one day (and I still don’t know how I found them) I stumbled across AirsoftKit at www.airsoftkit.com. Looking through their site I couldn’t help but notice the low prices, and the following quote… ‘Here at AirsoftKit we believe that communication is vital to the success of any retailer and as such we aim to keep you informed at every step. If there is a problem with an order we will tell you, if there is a delay we will tell you why and when your order arrives with us you'll be the first to know. We know that you have got sick of retailers taking your money and giving you nothing in return for months which is why we won't take any money from you until the order is in our hands ready to send out to you, simply fill in an order form send it to us and we will get your products in stock before asking for payment.’ Wow! Good retail ethic, but could they live up to it? I used the online order form to get a quote for the rifle plus a few extras to go with it. I had a reply less than four hours later, a full quote with some advice on battery and charger choice! Well to say that I was impressed was an understatement, that was it, I was ordering from these guys. I filled out the order form and indicated I wanted to use bank transfer as my method of payment and received confirmation of my order by automatic email within seconds, but what I didn’t expect was another email a few hours later thanking me for the order, giving their bank details for the money transfer when needed and promising to keep me updated. Now one nice feature on their web site is a countdown timer for the number of days until their next order goes off to their supplier. Now I will say the site is a little rough around the edges, with a few links not yet up and running but one great thing about it is it has no Flash, or fancy graphics to slow browsing down if your using a 56K modem (I have Broadband and its lightning quick browsing their site). One thing to remember about the AirsoftKit website is the fact that they are new, and like everyone, have to start somewhere. Someone must have said, “Who are these Marui guys anyway?” in the past! I received an email to advise me the order had gone off to their supplier, another a few days later to say it was on the way to them and one more to telling me customs had held the shipment for a day. (While 800,000 fags, 50 cases of single malt and 1/4 ton of 'wacky backy' passed through un-noticed) They emailed once more (They must go through a lot of keyboards in a year!) to say my G3/SG-1 would be with me on the Thursday, cool I thought. Thursday came and I rushed home from work to find…nothing! Eeeeek! Where was my BFG? I booted my PC up to pop off a quick email to them but they beat me to it, there, sitting in my inbox was an email apologising for the lack of delivery. It went on to explain that Securicor had not turned up to collect the orders and promised I would receive my rifle the next day. Friday night I arrived home and there it was, a huge brown paper wrapped box in the corner of my hallway. I was on it in a second tearing off the paper like hyperactive five year old after his 3rd pint of orange squash! There were a few dents in the cardboard lid but nothing had pierced the packing, one nice touch was the piece of corrugated cardboard placed on the bottom to protect the easily damaged polystyrene (Take note other retailers!). Rifle delivered, almost on time (But remember I wasn’t their fault and they had the courtesy to tell me ASAP) and well packed for only £5.00! I was very impressed. I emailed them soon after (As soon as I had enough self control and will power to put the rifle down and stop drooling) to tell them I had received it ok, and thank them for the good service. Since receiving my order the have helped with a few enquiries and I have just placed my 2nd order with them. I could have looked around to see if anyone was cheaper (Unlikely) but what I want is good service with a personal touch, which is what I get from AirsoftKit. Once I’m up and running with my G3/SG-1 (And believe me what I have planned for it scares me to death!) I will be getting a Western Arms GBB from them as my side arm, they retail WA’s Beretta M92FS Centurion perfect version for £150 less than some other retailers! So a big thank you to the guys at AirsoftKit, keep up the good work, it is noted and appreciated. And for all those out there wanting airsoft weapons, upgrade parts, accessories and supplies, give them a try, you won’t be disappointed. Website
7/10 – Easy, fast browsing. Clear instructions for ordering. Yours, Justin Evans-Reid (aka Speedman) External Links: AirsoftKit Site links: TBA Comment on this review in the forums Last modified: Sunday, November 24, 2002 5:00 PM Copyright 2002ArniesAirsoft
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