[Pancho]

As a long time fan of Thompson Center sidelocks I'm disappointed to report that I find them to be unapproachable. I tried multiple times for four working days to call them staying on hold too long on toll and then each time leaving a message for them to return my calls. No response. Two days ago I gave up calling and finally emailed them with my issue. No response.. I might repeat this thread in the centerfire area because T.C. is turning away from muzzleloading toward modern firearms.

[dogrunner]

Had occasion to query them about some small parts for a sidelock & got the impression that they really didn't much care about trying to help......kept getting the statement of "just send it back".

Mayhaps it's just me, but I had delt with their customer service some years back and they fell all over each other trying to help, sure wasn't that way this time.

[Ratshooter]

Wasn't TC just bought out a while back? That may explain the lack of service. I sent a hawken barrel back to them 10 years ago. It was slightly warped. They said no problem to straighten.

I got it back about a month later. It was ramrod straight. They test fired it and sent it back uncleaned. It looked like a bio hazard it was so gunked up. I was P.O.ed to say the least. But it cleaned up and had no damage done to it.

I started to call and tell them what they did but in the end just forgot about it. Bad service? Welcome to the brave new world.

[higene]

I have sent them a 20 year old Contender frame-no warning, note in the box and received it back in three weeks completely rebuilt. That is Washington state to Conn. (Can't spell that one right twice in a row) and back in three weeks no questions asked. I'm not sure about the side locks but the are the hands down winner for my warranty service.

Higene

PS The work was done in 2009

[arcticap]

Thompson Center is located in Rochester, New Hampshire.

Thompson lays off another 66, and furloughs 37

By Bill O'Connor
boconnorfosters.com
Friday, January 30, 2009
ROCHESTER— Sixty-six workers were laid off on Thursday at Thompson Center Arms — one of the city's largest employers — and another 37 workers were furloughed, making for a 103-position reduction in force at the Route 11 rifle manufacturer.

This latest round of staffing cuts follows an 80-position reduction at the plant in September and a 36-position reduction back in March, making this the third time the plant has downsized since Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., the parent company of the famous arms manufacturer, acquired Thompson Center Arms in January 2007.

"These cuts were largely economy-driven," said Smith & Wesson Vice President of Investor Relations Liz Sharp of the most recent round of layoffs Thursday evening. "At Thompson Center Arms we manufacture hunting rifles, which have a largely discretionary market. Specifically, we manufacture black powder rifles, the market for which is even more discretionary."

Sharp said fewer and fewer of these rifles are selling due to the current state of the nation's economy, and she could not hazard a guess as to whether that trend would reverse anytime soon.

The reduction in force accounted for almost 29 percent of Thompson Center Arms' work force, bringing the number of workers at the factory to roughly 250, almost half of what it was just under a year ago. According to Sharp, the cuts in staffing were specific to neither production line workers, nor office employees, but spanned all departments relatively equally.

Sharp said Smith & Wesson will be working closely with state agencies to help employees with the transition.

During the last round of layoffs at the plant, officials from the state Department of Employment Security in Somersworth were on hand to help former employees enroll into state programs to help them find new employment opportunities, and city Economic Development Manager Karen Pollard said the same would likely be true this time around.

"Our hearts go out to the families and the talented staff members who won't be working for awhile," Pollard said Thursday evening. "We understand the company (Thompson Center Arms) is very consumer oriented, and we hope the economy can turn so consumers start buying the company's product again and we can get these people back to work as soon as possible."

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090130/GJNEWS_01/701309950

[Pancho]

by approaching from the back door I found out the best time to get customer service is between the hours of 5-8 P.M. est. It took a lot of explaining but the second shift group seemed up to the task and were ernest in solving my problem.They are sending me three 6-48 screws .44" inches long. Hopfully I'll be able to file then down enough to screw the gun together so I can use this Deer season.