A One-off, factory mistake??

[em4010]

Here's the question:
How many of you have expirenced this or know of this type of situation.

(I'll leave the company name out for now, I'll explain why in a bit)

Many of you know that a company will make specialty or theme pistols for departments, people, etc. I ordered this pistol per my groups theme, ie color, logo, name, etc. It is a 45 ACP single stack, with trijicon night sights, match barrel, ambi safety, blah blah blah, and tactical rails.

So here's the deal, it's what I wanted, single stack w/ rails. When I placed my order, I asked for it, but they don't make it with rails. Other models they have, yes, they have rails, but not this particuliar theme/specialty pistol. So I settled for no rails.

6 months later I get an email stating that the factory made a mistake and made it with rails. If I want W/O rails it'll take a few weeks longer. If I want the one W/rails, I'll get it soon. So I said yes, send it to me W/rails.

About a week after pick up, a rep calls to confirm the serial number.
A little after that, the VP of the company/department/unknown called, said he wants the pistol back cause they messed up and the frame is supposed to go somewhere else. I only know he's a VP cause I googled his name.

I bought this pistol, it's paid for, it's the one I wanted. He said that if I send it to them, they will send me the exact same thing back. My b-s detector is ringing! I asked about serial number, etc, got his response and my detector is screaming. So I deflect and say to call back.

Soooooooo, that has been a while, and I still get a phone call. about once a day, sometimes several days go by and no call. But I've gotten to the point that I just cancel the incoming call. (which is why I left off the company name for now).

Anyway, this is the pistol I wanted,,, said and done. BUT, how many of you have heard of this, where they call you for it back? I've looked at a few of the possible reasons why they would want it back,,, but it's been LONG enough for them to just tool another frame and drive on...

My curiosity leads me to wonder how many other "mistakes" actually got sent back and if mine is one of a few. And worth more simply cause the other folks just didn't care and sent their "mistake" weapon back,,, Making mine just a little more unique.


PS
I forgot to mention it's a 1911

 

[KodiakBeer]

Unique, possibly... But, they may have a safety issue that they don't want to admit to. If a VP is calling it's kind of suspicious.

 

[em4010]

Yeah, it is,, I suspected safety issue, proto type, sequential serial number order, etc, or simply this frame goes on a diff model.

It was just odd, and when I asked if I sent it back, would I get back a single stack 45 with rails, the way he responded made me wonder (I'm in law enforcement and my b-s meter was going off)..,, there was just something in there. I suspect that if I did send it back, I would not get the same thing back. That it would be a regular 45 without rails.

Cause I questioned the serial number, FFL, transfer fee issue and he said that I would get the weapon back with the same serial number. His emphisis was on getting the frame.

 

[CraigC]

Very interesting. However, I see no legal or moral reason to send it back. It's your pistol now. It was legally sold and legally transferred to you. Unless they can provide a compelling reason to send it back, TS for them.

Cause I questioned the serial number, FFL, transfer fee issue and he said that I would get the weapon back with the same serial number. His emphisis was on getting the frame.

This is a non-issue. By federal law, a manufacturer can send you a serial numbered frame or complete pistol directly to your door. As long as it is a replacement. The serial number does not have to match and is irrelevant. No need to do an FFL transfer on a replacement.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Screw-up somewhere...

EM 4010--You bought and paid for, the pistol. You now possess the pistol and a receipt for payment, right? And it's exactly what you originally wanted, right? And it works perfectly, right?

I'm not a cop, I'm a teacher, but I too have a finely tuned B. S. detector, and it's ringing.

Unless they are completely forthright with you as to why, AND give you a good reason (plus mebbe an extra inducement) to return what you bought and paid for, my reaction is, to heck with 'em.

Obviously, somebody screwed up somewhere, somehow. Obviously, somebody's butt is attempting to be covered.

Given the conditions I listed above, I'd ignore their pleas.

Enjoy using the pistol.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Obviously, somebody screwed up somewhere, somehow. Obviously, somebody's butt is attempting to be covered.

Given the conditions I listed above, I'd ignore their pleas.

Unless there's something like a problem with the metallurgy in that frame and you end up eating a slide...

I think I'd ask directly if there was a safety issue with the pistol. If he says "no" then I'd tell him to quit calling.

 

[rcmodel]

I would send it back for sure.

But only after I had received the matched pair of consecutive serial number guns they sent me to replace it.

rc

 

[em4010]

I don't suspect it's a safety issue, I've fired it- no issues, a buddy has the same weapon, just in a diff setup and caliber (which is why I eventually bought mine). I don't have x-ray or gas chromatigraphic vision, but they look the same in all mannor. Again, accounting for a slight difference in the mag well due to diff caliber.

His emphisis was on getting the frame,, that they would just take the slide and barrel off, put it on another frame and have it back to me in about 2 days. qouting him, he said , ",,, when you make enough pistols, eventually you send some to the wrong place."

I donno,, I wish knew someone else who rcvd the same kinda weapon, just to see if they got called. But then again,, how many people ordered what I did. We get some ammo for training and quals every quarter, so a lot of guys just get pistols in that caliber, in order to avoid buying ammo. Me,, I liked the 45 version,, not the 40 cal it also came in

 

[em4010]

HAHAHA!!! RIGHT!
Already thought of that,,, they have a real nice 1911 Centennial Edition out,,, a box set!

 

[CraigC]

If they sent you somebody else's frame by mistake, that's their problem, not yours and you shouldn't be inconvenienced by it. This is completely unprofessional to handle it in this manner, especially the continued phone harassment and I would love to know who it is. We're not talking about screwing up your drink order at a restaurant.

 

[rcmodel]

qouting him, he said , ",,, when you make enough pistols, eventually you send some to the wrong place."

It sounds to me like you got mistakenly sent someone else's gun that had been back for repair or warranty work.

Many locals require gun registration, or firearms owners cards, or extensive background checks, or CCW qualification that tie that guns serial number to the owner for life.

The company just can't legally stamp the same serial number on another frame and send it to him for replacement without destroying the duplicate numbered frame first.
It's against Federal law.

rc

 

[yhtomit]

I think you should politely explain that you like your gun, but could be convinced if they put in writing what you'll get back in exchange, and make it worth your while.

timothy

 

[doc2rn]

I would agree to the "send me a matched pair identical to this one, first" crowd.

 

[451 Detonics]

I think being greedy and wanting 2 for one is rather silly, however I would inform them I would ship back the gun the wanted only after I received it's replacement and it would require a call tag.

 

[sgt127]

Cause I questioned the serial number, FFL, transfer fee issue and he said that I would get the weapon back with the same serial number. His emphisis was on getting the frame.

He needs your frame back, but, will send you an identical gun with the same serial number? Thats a little wierd since the frame IS the serial numbered part....

Also, since they are the manufacturer, they can just make another gun just like the one they sent you, why not do that?

Even wierder is the fact they sent you, I assume, a brand new gun, but, desperatly want the USED gun back now...

I would call the VP back and ask him to be honest with you, and specific. Maybe there is something wrong with that gun, but, he doesn't want to come out and say it...

 

[daorhgih]

Keep it. Auction it back to them, starting at ...

... a very high bid -- like that matched, boxed, Centennial outfit -- and go with the flow. If it is just a flub on some repair-job that got the incorrect address on it, you have no "high" bargaining chip. But if it left the production-line inadvertently, and is a very special frame, you'll soon know. Be up front; tell the V.P.(??) that your want the best deal he can get for the swap, regardless of any serial-number flap. Mano-a-mano, no fingers-crossed deal, just tell him you want his best offer first. Let us know how it turns out, and we're rooting for you. (see post #16) Dao.

 

[em4010]

yeah the auction thing came to mind too. Nobody I know has ever had this happen to them, so I needed more input. And just maybe, a person with similiar past issue would speak up. I do lean towards the capitalistic side for a "win-win" solution.

Just fyi, I went to their website and looked at their lineup,,, they only have 1 model advertised that is close to my weapon's setup and comes with rails. It's MSRP is twice what I paid for mine,, about $860 difference. Plus, mine came with trijicon night sights, match barrel and ambi-safe. Some other stuff too, I think trigger job, slide/barrel/frame fitting,etc, I don't remember what else the flier said. Oh, and 5x 8rd mags. It was really a good deal, I wanted to buy 2, one in 45 and one in (giant clue* spoiler* I want to say but don't want to burn them kinda deal,,,,) doublestack 40 , but figured that was a little overboard.

Anyhow, they probably meant for the frame to go to that model, not mine. Only visible difference on the frames is the paint color.

 

[Old Shooter]

There are a lot of good reasons for them to want it back as listed above, ranging from safety issues to a mix up in assembly of parts in the repair/assembly departments. For a VP to be calling I suspect RC may have it in that it may be a state registration issue or maybe even a government agency repair/modification.

I would send it back but would want them to sweeten the pot a bit (it is legally your gun after all) by throwing in a half dozen mags, mayby a hat and a tee shirt, do they make belt buckles?

Unless I saw something really unique about it and they are willing to replace it with a new one identical to this one, you 're getting a new gun for a used one.

 

[The Mayor]

Pictures?

 

[Lucky Derby]

Not gun related, but a similar story.

Back in the early 80's a friend of mine purchased a brand new luxury, large, American car off the show room floor. He told the salesman that he was leaving on a long road trip the following day in the car to visit his wife's family.
He returned home about two weeks later, rather fond of the big car, as it got EXCEPTIONALLY good gas milage.
There were four men in suits in a large sedan waiting in front of his house. They informed him that the car needed to be returned, as the salesman should not have sold this car. My friend told them that he liked the car and did not want to return it. They said that he would return the car. They would refund his money in full, and he could come down to the lot and pick any car he wanted off the showroom, no charge, no financing, they would even pick up tax and licensing. They further explained that eventually the car would need tune up, repair etc, but parts would not be obtainable. He reluctantly did accept the offer, and got another car of the same "model", that got the typical 12-15 MPG.

And yes, I purposely omited references to the car's make and model as the company is still in business.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I would not return it unless they give you another railed on in its place. Period.

 

[Toforo]

Send it back and get a new one PLUS "benefits" (and get the DEAL IN WRITING ON COMPANY LETTERHEAD SIGNED BY THE VP) before you send the gun back.

Somebody - somewhere, on another gun-forum far-far away.....

....a "disatisfied customer" of the same company is posting about not getting the gun they ordered but that the company VP is "personally looking" into it to see what he can do...

Karma.

 

[kansersurvivor]

Agree about getting any deal with the Manufacture in writing, on company letterhead, and Noterized.

Also, they should pay for the shipping back to them. Very easy for them to make a Shipping label for a return.

You hold the power in the situation. You have what they want. Make it worth your while, but I'd try and make it work regardless.

As far as any additional value added to the gun by this potential mistake, I doubt any of us would realize any added value in our lifetime.

My .02 on the subject.

 

[InkEd]

If you are going to receive one with the SAME serial number, then I would suspect it is flawed or a prototype. Tell them you will send it back (at their expense) BUT want a replacement sent overnight to you. Get everything in writing via email and state that this is the ONLY way you will return it.

You're not entitled to a second free gun because somebody made a mistake. That is absurd. They could give you some free magazines for the trouble but you're not entitled to anything.

I have a feeling this isn't from a "major" manufacturer.

 

[Patriotme]

This is a very interesting story. Let us know how it turns out.