This thread is the reason I joined. To thank both this community and Joe Zakher.
I wanted a wood furniture set for my brand new 500 and couldn't find anyone who carried forends, see? Havlin Sales was very useful in getting an action tube of the size I needed, but I passed on the mismatched and blemished sets they and Numrich sell. So I got a used one from FleaBay in great condition instead and went to town on it because I wanted to make it mine and was going for an old school look. Since it was my first wood refinishing job I struggled a bit (switched from TruOil to Boiled Linseed Oil in a hurry) and even panicked at one time, thinking I'd never get it right. So I decided to spare myself the hassle order straight from Mossberg.
Well, you all know how that went: no response to my emails and crazy wait times on the phone. But armed with Mr. Zakher's email (obtained here) I contacted the man and he took care of everything for me. Days later I had a brand spanking new set in my hands.
I finally received a response from Mossberg, by the way, a full month after I emailed them and way too late. So I can't really comment on Mossberg's CS except to say that it seems understaffed and antiquated. But Mr. Zakher, who's probably a busy man, did come through. And so did the members who turned me on to him.
Here's a pic of the set I got from him next to the one I refinished. The price was barely more than what most eBay folks want for used (and sometimes less), and I should've started there. For now my 500 sports the used set that I'm not afraid to beat up and that I kinda managed to make look OK (the staining is uneven). If only Mossbergs parts order system was more modern, like directly from the site...