Let me rant a minute. I know we like to keep things positive on TFL when possible and flame-throwers usually aren’t welcome. Well sometimes the world isn’t a bed of roses and things go wrong. I don’t want to open up a huge can of worms or spawn an overwhelming bitch session (excluding mine) but I just have to know how many of you guys feel quality control of firearms has gone downhill in recent years along with customer support. It seems to me that we are paying some pretty high prices for some pretty shoddy craftsmanship. Let me give you my two most recent examples.
I bought a Kimber Stainless Gold Match in September and it has been back to the custom shop twice on warranty. I sent the pistol in (actually Kimber sent a call tag) on Novemeber 18th. That’s almost six weeks ago. Still no word on the status of the pistol other than they promised to have it back before Christmas. I try not to think about it because I get a headache when I do. Counting taxes, shipping, etc, I have over $1300.00 invested and I haven’t had it in my possession for more than a couple of weeks in the past three months. That just isn’t right is it?
Last week I bought a new Remington 700 Varmint Rifle in .22-250. I put a new 6-18 power Leupold scope on it and started working up loads. Counting the scope, rifle, base, rings, etc., I have over a thousand bucks in the rifle. The darn thing started to string shots horizontally. I then noticed there is an 1/8 inch or more gap between the barrel and the stock on the right side and the stock contacts the barrel on the left side. The stock is an HS Precision stock with the aluminum-bedding block. I went back to the dealer and he agreed the problem is pretty darned obvious. Called Remington today, twice. They will replace the stock, but I have to send the firearm back, at my expense. The anticipated turn around is four to six weeks excluding shipping time. By then the winter “turkey” shoots will be over and the predator hunting will be about done. What a bummer. I called back to Remington and pleaded for them to send me a stock. No can do, not even if I give them my credit card number to insure I don’t rip them off. I was told even if the problem is obvious "it isn’t a problem until Remington says it is a problem". To add insult to injury, the guy at Remington went so far as to tell me the stock is a $350.00 part. I can buy one from H&S direct for less money. I suppose I would have been better off to buy a barreled action and get a stock from old what’s his name. Good grief.
So, what do you guys think? Has customer service and quality control gone by the wayside or am I just too darn finicky?
I bought a Kimber Stainless Gold Match in September and it has been back to the custom shop twice on warranty. I sent the pistol in (actually Kimber sent a call tag) on Novemeber 18th. That’s almost six weeks ago. Still no word on the status of the pistol other than they promised to have it back before Christmas. I try not to think about it because I get a headache when I do. Counting taxes, shipping, etc, I have over $1300.00 invested and I haven’t had it in my possession for more than a couple of weeks in the past three months. That just isn’t right is it?
Last week I bought a new Remington 700 Varmint Rifle in .22-250. I put a new 6-18 power Leupold scope on it and started working up loads. Counting the scope, rifle, base, rings, etc., I have over a thousand bucks in the rifle. The darn thing started to string shots horizontally. I then noticed there is an 1/8 inch or more gap between the barrel and the stock on the right side and the stock contacts the barrel on the left side. The stock is an HS Precision stock with the aluminum-bedding block. I went back to the dealer and he agreed the problem is pretty darned obvious. Called Remington today, twice. They will replace the stock, but I have to send the firearm back, at my expense. The anticipated turn around is four to six weeks excluding shipping time. By then the winter “turkey” shoots will be over and the predator hunting will be about done. What a bummer. I called back to Remington and pleaded for them to send me a stock. No can do, not even if I give them my credit card number to insure I don’t rip them off. I was told even if the problem is obvious "it isn’t a problem until Remington says it is a problem". To add insult to injury, the guy at Remington went so far as to tell me the stock is a $350.00 part. I can buy one from H&S direct for less money. I suppose I would have been better off to buy a barreled action and get a stock from old what’s his name. Good grief.
So, what do you guys think? Has customer service and quality control gone by the wayside or am I just too darn finicky?