Online retailer requires consumers to pay via money transferring apps and fails to deliver orders or issue refunds
(Denver, Colo.) July 6, 2022 -- Better Business Bureau serving Great West + Pacific (BBB GWP) has issued a warning regarding an online ammunition store, Honor Ammo Shop, headquartered in Wheat Ridge, CO. BBB has received 46 nationwide complaints over the past 12 months and 27 one-star customer reviews from, with an average loss of $450 per person.
According to BBB complaints, Honor Ammo Shop customers are asked to pay using Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or Bitcoin to obtain an additional discount once they are at checkout. Consumers are provided with instructions and account information via chat, text and/or email to send their payment. Once the order is placed, the business becomes unresponsive, and customers are not able to request a refund. Since peer-to-peer money transferring apps are the only method of payment offered, consumers are left with little to no recourse to get their money back.
“Better Business Bureau is an instrumental resource in helping consumers make purchase decisions. We are also a crucial line of defense when it comes to calling out businesses demonstrating unscrupulous and even illegal business practices. Our internal investigation team is dedicated to this research and sharing our findings with both consumers and business owners,” said Dené Joubert, Investigations Manager for BBB GWP. "We strongly urge consumers to search for reputable businesses using trusted resources such as BBB.org."
BBB reached out repeatedly to Honor Ammo Shop to try and resolve these claims. At the time of this release, Honor Ammo Shop has only responded to two complaints and has not responded to any communications from BBB.
On January 10, 2022, a visit performed by BBB confirmed that Honor Ammo Shop is not located at its advertised address (9690 W 44th Ave Wheat Ridge, CO 80033). BBB found the business has changed names, websites, and addresses on more than one occasion. Addresses have varied between California, Oregon, Colorado and Illinois.
A business license search with the Colorado Secretary of State and the Oregon Secretary of State failed to provide licensing information for Honor Ammo Shop. BBB attempted to call the business using its advertised phone numbers and each was confirmed to be disconnected.
BBB recommends the following tips to consumers:
Shop online with a credit card. In case of a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protection and is another outlet for consumers to potentially get their money back.
Shop with trustworthy sellers on secure sites only. Be wary of unfamiliar businesses and online websites. Check their BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org to view ratings, potential consumer alerts, complaint reports, and verified customer reviews. Also, type the website name along with the word “scam” or “reviews” into the web browser. When customers have been victims of a fake site, there are often reports warning other shoppers not to use that site.
Pay attention to contact information and shop policies. Legitimate online stores should provide a physical address and a working phone number in the contact section. Looking up the address can help confirm whether it coincides with the nature of the company. Furthermore, BBB recommends calling the number to determine how responsive the business is before placing an order. Shopping with a BBB Accredited Business ensures consumers will receive a response in case any issues arise.
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About Better Business Bureau: For more than 100 years the Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit, has upheld high standards for fair and honest business practices. BBB specialty services are membership-based for businesses and free for consumers. BBB provides objective advice on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charities, dispute resolution services, consumer alerts and educational information on topics related to marketplace trust. There are local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Visit BBB.org for more information.
