Bonus points for Kimber Customer Service !!!

[RobertFBurnett]

Hello all I recently was having some trouble with my Kimber and finally sent it in with the following detailed letter:

To whom it may concern,
I am having some operational difficulties with my Kimber 1911 Gold Match serial #K037342 and after calling your customer service I have been instructed to send it in to you
I have many concerns regarding my pistol, but the most serious is, on occasion not every time, the hammer is following down home when the slide stop is pressed. Thankfully it has only ever happened on “snap caps” so there has never been an accidental discharge. It doesn’t do it every time, but it has done it about six times all the way down, and twice where the hammer stopped at the hammer safety stop. I have been advised that it may be due to the sear spring? Either way I have been told this is very bad and must be dealt with before continuing to operate the pistol.
The other, less dangerous, concerns I would like to have resolved while it is back at the factory. I apologize in advance if my terminology is a little off, I do not know too much about the internal workings of the 1911. In no particular order:
• The 1911 is about eight years old and while it has not been fired all too much (maybe 700 live rounds and some dry-firing with snap caps), I would be interested in knowing if you had a new spring kit (main, recoil, firing pin) to install and check the parts that can wear out like the extractor to freshen things up if need be.
• The rear sight ramp has a left-right wiggle, not the mount; it seems fine, just the ramp wiggles. I don’t know if it can be tightened or repaired with parts or the entire sight must be replaced? Either way it seems like there is a lot of play going on.
• The bottom right grip screw is stuck in the bushing and the bushing has become stripped and stuck in my grip. So I will need a new grip screw and bushing. I have enclosed the defective screw/bushing for inspection and the old grip (which is probably trash, but the parts are stuck in it.) along with a new grip to be installed with the new screw/bushing.
• The right side of my safety fell out, this may be normal if only the grips hold it in; it was just surprising to have a part fall right off. Could you please re-install it correctly and give the safety a function check?
• The factory magazine is sticking in the magwell (I sent it to you in this condition), and the slide is not locking back on empty magazine. This could possibly be the magazine’s (spring?) fault, and I may need a new one, but if you could check the interior of the frame also to make sure there is nothing wrong in there?
• There are some small scratches on the feed ramp/mouth of barrel, and it has never been as shiny polished as it was new (what ever is?) but now kind of dull even after cleaning. Anything to be concerned with?
Enclosed is my Gold Match, Factory Magazine, right side safety lever, bushing wrench, and one new and one old Hogue monogrip. I know it seems like a lot, much like with car repairs when it rains it pours, and if it weren’t for the hammer problem I would probably hold off on the non-critical things, but I really miss shooting my fine Kimber and want it in tip top shape. That does it for now, other than the above problems my Kimber has been otherwise dependable. Thank you for your help.

That was Monday March 3rd, I just got home and found it on the coffee table (Dad signed for it THANK GOD as I'm going out of town and didn't want UPS to hold my package for 10 days)...so I'm totally worried because I have read forum posts about Kimber CS dropping the ball and not fixing the problem etc. And they never contacted me in that week to seek payment...this is all flashing in my head as I'm carving open the carton...and there is a beautifull white work order that reads:

Warranty Work Performed: Trigger Group Adjusted, Loctite added to Grip Screw Bushings, Grip Screw Bushings replaced, rear sight replaced, new style ambi-safety installed (doesn't have that little tongue on the right that interferes with Hogue grips), polish feed ramp, replace magazine, replaced and adjusted slide stop, replace recoil spring, lubricated, firing pin spring replaced, extractor adjusted, overnighted back to me all at no charge.

I don't know a whole lot about the inner workings of 1911s but it looks like Kimber met AND exceeded my needs in every way they could. Thank you Kimber! Now the only problem is I'm flying out of state in 5 hours for a week so cannot take it shooting for a long while!

RFB

 

[schmeky]

Funny you mentioned this. Like you, I have read many negatives on Kimber's service. I have little doubt there is some merit these claims, but I wonder about some none the less.

I called Kimber on Monday (3-10) and spoke to "Dennis" in customer service. I told him my 15+ year old Kimber Classic Custom shoots about 1.5" to the left. I know it's no big deal, but being the anal retentive type, I would prefer it shooting to POA.

He said no problem, send in the slide and they would adjust the sights under warranty. I know this is probably a 2 minute deal for Kimber, but after 15 years of ownership, the word warranty never crossed my mind.

Glad you got satisfaction from Kimber. I love my Classic Custom and for me, it is the best 1911 I have ever owned, and I've owned a bunch.

 

[possum]

awesome that is great to hear thanks for sharing.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

I've been very satisfied with Kimber customer service (unlike Springfield).

 

[Ske1etor]

This is male bovine manure. There is no way that Kimber actually helped someone out.

Let me guess, you were polite on the phone?

 

[dhoomonyou]

Im glad it worked out, must have been all my bitchin about Dennis, maybe someone reamed him a new one .

 

[RobertFBurnett]

^^^ Could be i'm sitting in Sisters apt in Hawaii working on a great beer buzz 2,200 miles away from all my problems and tommorow I am seeing the "Mighty Mo's" 16"ers (Are 16" guns good for HD?, What about "knock-down" power? ) but to the above regarding Kimber, I Don't know how or why they did it and don't care, sight is tight, springs are new, and grip..is...gripping? Anyhow, only complaint I do got is they fired one of those DIRTY test rounds and wrapped up my gun like S&W does...great for testing, but run a bore-snake bro! Everything else is Shockingly great!

Peace from Honolul, HI

RFB

 

[Lonestar49]

Way to go, both of ya..

...

It's "all in the approach", good take-off, smooth landings..

Ya both did great, as your well written/typed, nice, to the point, letter hit home with someone that cared and was proud of what he did, and made you proud of owning a Kimber and everything that goes with a Kimber, from your end..

Great read, and ending..

Many more for those that can read and adapt..


Ls