Gun shop salesman tells me Springfield 1911's are "crap"...

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mosttoyswins

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I was looking at the Kimbers and the new Taurus 1911 when I noticed there were 2 Springfield A1 Loaded's in the case, one for $500 one for $599 (both used). The usual salesman I buy from was not working today so I was helped by an older guy I have seen in the shop before.

Conversation went something like this...

"I would also like to look at those 2 Springfields please"

"Oh, you don't want a Springfield, they are crap...the have 2 piece guide rods...you should definately get a Kimber"

I smiled, thanked him for his help, told him I would wait for my usual salesman (who is great to work with) and left.

What do you guys think?

I know they are not crap and I was a little shocked at his response.

What should I have said?
 
salesman

I would have thanked him for his "enlightened opinion" then said let me look at them.

Go to any of the major customizers websites and see how many Kimbers they use as base guns versus Colt and SA. That says it all to me.

My $.02
 
Horrible salesman is my opinion.

If he's just trying to convince you to get the Kimber the first thing he should have done was put those Springfields in your hand. He could then explain how the Kimber is a better firearm and why he thinks so.

Anybody with any type of sales experience (Read: Common Sense) would do that. If I were running that shop and overheard he would be sitting down at my desk before close to discuss these details.

That guy is an idiot, and I would not be dealing with him again if I were you. I work and excel in sales. It can be rough at times but there are so many tools like this one in sales giving us all a bad name.

When I get crappy salesmen I just mess with them. Bad salesmen use very common "tricks" and pointing those out to them is something I enjoy. Then again, I'm kind of evil. :D
 
Go back and look at what you wanted to see. If they aren't available for sale, then they shouldn't be under the glass. If they are, you should be able to buy it. Opinions are like . . . . you know.
 
""If they're crap then I should get a pretty good discount.""

Right. That would have been the tack I would have taken:
"Well, if they are crap, will you take $400 for both of them?"
Either that, or laughing like the person made a joke often gets people who make statements like that back down.
 
My rule of thumb is too NEVER belittle one's choice of a firearm, but rather
point out all the features of brand X; if I'm trying to persuade them
away from their original choice. It works pretty well in most instances.:cool:

However, I will go on record as saying that your salesperson doesn't
know very much about firearms; as Springfield Armory weapons have
proven too be a very good value for the money.
 
"Oh, you don't want a Springfield, they are crap...the have 2 piece guide rods...you should definately get a Kimber"
Click to expand...
"Hey, You're the one displaying crap for sale in your store, mister, not me. Does the Store owner know you're selling crap? Does this crap come with a warranty?"
OR
"I need something for a good crapshoot. Maybe one of those is the one for me?" ;)
 
This is not an uncommon discussion where used Springfields are traded in for new Kimbers.

I usually ask to see the manager.

Then I ask for a 40-50% price reduction since these pistols are admittedly substandard.

Things either get sorted out real fast, or I get a great deal on some pistols.


Now....I'm going to ask everyone to follow my example and clean up their posts so my daughter can enjoy this thread. TIA.
 
Everyone is entittled to have an opinion. FWIW I have owned a few Springfields and had problems with all of them. SS Loaded model wasn't accuarate and fit and finish were questionable. Blue Loaded model trigger pull horrible and sear spring broke after several hundred rounds. Micro compact undersprung and was a jamomatic....Best Springfield I had was a G.I model accuarate and very reliable.....:scrutiny:
 
Then someone should tell Rob Leatham and the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team that the pistols they're using are "crap".

I've had a Springfield "loaded" for years. Never had a problem with it.
 
Then someone should tell Rob Leatham and the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team that the pistols they're using are "crap".

I've had a Springfield "loaded" for years. Never had a problem with it.
Click to expand...
Like I said everyone has an opinion based on diffrent experiences. And FWIW the guns that the FBI HRT use aren't Loaded models. If i'm right there custom made by the Springfield Custom shop. I'm sure that Rob Leatham doesn't use Loaded models either......:scrutiny:
 
Every maker lets guns get out that shouldn't. Its how they deal with making it right that seperates the crap from the best. Complaints about Springfields service are rare as far as I can tell.

--wally.
 
The Springfields are nice guns. Unfortunately the one I shot with the factory 2 piece guiderods did loosen up on several occasions. Replacement guiderod and you are good to go...Illini
 
Geez - whatever happended to the customer is always right? Just go back to your regular sales dude & be thankful you already found a guy that you can trust.
 
Springfields

They could be better..but the same can be said for any production pistol on the market. Crap? Hardly. Search for a few old threads that I did a couple years back titled "Springer through the Wringer" and print my posts...and take'em to him. I put a GI Mil-Spec through a torture test that exceeded the
hell that the US Army put the originals through in 1911...and I got some pretty surprising results. Warning: Not for the faint of heart. When I tried to break it, I tried hard.
 
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