HK doesn't hate me

[JustinJ]

I called HK on Thursday to order all the necessary parts to convert my HK P2000sk from DA/SA to a LEM trigger V1 and V2. I also ordered an HK45 mag release paddle. The rep was extremely helpful but informed me that only a couple of my requested parts were in order and the rest weren't expected until March. I asked that he just wait and send everything at once. He then said that he would check with the repair department for my parts to try and expedite my order. I was pleasantly surprised when my entire inventory of parts arrived Tuesday although I can say they weren't cheap.

So far I've done the V2 conversion. I haven't fired the gun since converting but dramatically prefer it based on dry firing alone. The larger mag release paddles are a huge improvement as well. This is my primary CC gun and the long DA pull of the V3 trigger is just not conducive to speed. My plan is to try out the gun with the V2 trigger, convert to V1, and then decided which I prefer.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Hk loves me. I have dealt with them a lot. They have been one of the best customer supports I have had contact with. FedEx mis delivered a 416 extended quad rail. Hk overnighted me a new one so I did not have to wait while FedEx sorted it out.

 

[Grunt]

Funny, ain't it? Folks that have had actual first hand experience with HK's customer service have totally opposite experiences than the parrots that run around squawking, "because you suck and we hate you."

 

[Girodin]

Funny, ain't it? Folks that have had actual first hand experience with HK's customer service have totally opposite experiences than the parrots that run around squawking, "because you suck and we hate you."

I take it you have never actually read Larry Corrie's original Open letter that coined the "because you suck and we hate you" or his follow up blog post. It actually didn't talk about or refer to HK customer service at all. It was about marketing, fan boyism, the price of HKs and the fact that many items are not available to civilians.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Hk is a company that focuses 90% on it's military contracts. They do not have a large civilian market. Most are upset that they will not produce rifles such as the MP5 (94) in the US for civilians. The US was the one that started the embargo. I love my HK's and their customer service. I own 4 of their rifles 1 upper and 2 handguns. What kills me is people get mad over HK's price but never say anything about Wilson Combat or JP or such. It was just a letter written because the guy hates HK. I hate Glocks,but will never criticize them or someone for owning them. When Gaston Glock said Americans were stupid and lazy nobody wrote a big letter. To each their own. I honestly think that Glocks are one of the most reliable pistols made, just never cared for them or rant in fanboy letters about them.

 

[CNobbe]

I had a USP in .40 some time ago, older stainless model that I picked up used for a great price (traded an old Glock 23) and the guy I got it from didn't have a box or manual with it.

I called H&K requesting a manual in case I ever sold the gun (eventually did) but told the guy at HK I bought the gun second hand, and it didn't have a manual or a box with it. Said they'd mail out a manual for free.

Few days later a package was on my porch, they sent the manual, a box, and a few stickers, and a product catalog at no cost.. Thought that was really nice of them giving me a box.

 

[Girodin]

What kills me is people get mad over HK's price but never say anything about Wilson Combat or JP or such.

I have an HK. I plan to buy at least one more. I have nothing against HK. That said, comparing the prices of a hand built and fitted 1911 from a small company like Wilson to a mass produced polymer framed pistol (say the HK45) is a bit silly.

I don't know that Larry "hates" HKs. Rather I read his pieces to be cleverly worded critiques of the hype he saw associated with some HK products (including a number that were not even available to the civilians that seemed to have bought into and perpetuated much of that hype). One of his closing lines summed it up

Look, gun owning public, just because you saw it on Future Weapons, or read about it on the internet, doesn’t make it true. For the love of John Moses Browning, before you formulate super strong opinions about a weapon, you should have at least shot the damn thing first.

Larry himself has stated: " I posted that letter on THR a long time ago as a joke. . ." He also readily admits he is not the biggest fan of HK and offers his critiques about some of their products.

I don't think Larry's letter was a fan boy letter or an angry rant. Rather, Larry used to own a gun, shoots a lot and is a writer. He was a Moderator here. It was a clever piece making some critiques of HK and moreover the fanboys who love HK from rainbow six but probably have never pulled a trigger on many of the guns they proclaim as the best ever. The fact that 7 years later people are still using his line is telling. Larry is a good writer. he actually sold out of his gun shop and pursued a career as a writer as I understand it. Now all these years later some people throw that line around without even knowing the origin or understanding the point of his original pieces, as evidenced to some degree by this thread.

 

[Grunt]

No, I haven't but apparently enough people didn't read it either when they use the same line to complain about HK's customer service that they apparently haven't had any first hand contact with.

 

[Girodin]

No, I haven't but apparently enough people didn't read it either when they use the same line to complain about HK's customer

They probably haven't.

HK's customer service that they apparently haven't had any first hand contact with.

Or perhaps their experience simply was different than yours. It would not be unheard of for people to having differing experiences with the same company, particularly a large company where different people answer the phone on different days at different times. Just because HK or any other company treated you great doesn't mean that they treat everyone great anymore than someone else having a negative experience means that's how everyone gets treated.

Personally, I have never had contact with HK customer service. That's one advantage of having a very well made gun that is built like a tank with hell and back durability (even if it is big, clunky and has a laughably bad trigger).

 

[wideym]

HK sure hates me. I called them to send in my 93 in for repair (every third round or so it crunched the brass and jammed so bad it takes at least 5 minutes and a pair of needle nose pliers to remove).

I realized that it was no longer under warrenty since it was sold in the 80's, and would gladly pay gunsmithing charges for my $2400 rifle to work correctly. Customer service called a few weeks later telling me it was fixed and the parts were about $45, but it would cost me an additional $100 just to ship it back. I was a little upset since it only cost me $24 to ship with insurance.

When I get it back, it still had the same problem. I think they just replaced all the springs and rollers then called it fixed without test firing it. I called back and customer service told me they would take another look at it, only they would still charge me another $100 to ship it back the second time.

I ended up donating it to Bill Fleming's wife, so they could fix and raffle it off to help pay for her cancer treatment.

 

[RainDodger]

I've had one experience with H&K service. I called them one time for parts for my USP Compact 9mm. They were very helpful, nice, service was fast and they followed up with an email. No complaints from me!

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I think even the supplier themselves don't have much visibility to their supply chain. I ordered a couple custom-length/custom-thread barrels from Lone Wolf recently and they told me their long "blanks" would not even be in until mid-March. A couple days ago, I got a shipment notification. I like that kind of surprise.

Mike

 

[18DAI]

The best thing about HK's customer service, to me, is that in almost two decades of shooting HK pistols, I've yet to need HK customer service. I haven't had one problem with an HK handgun.

I'm often amazed at how some go on and on about how good "brand X's" customer service is. Know why they are so good? Lots of PRACTICE!

 

[JustinJ]

The best thing about HK's customer service, to me, is that in almost two decades of shooting HK pistols, I've yet to need HK customer service. I haven't had one problem with an HK handgun.

Agreed. My need was just customization.

I'm often amazed at how some go on and on about how good "brand X's" customer service is. Know why they are so good? Lots of PRACTICE!

LOL

 

[JWH321]

I would like to buy an H&K, but my accountant (wife) says that I can't really afford the guns I already own.

I have handled a couple of them in the course of my previous life (I'm retired). They just seem like they are machined by the same folks who make Rolex's. They are almost jewel-like.

But I'm poor, so my big M&P and little Sig will have to do.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Girodin, I was comparing more toward the AR platform. Hk is the master of that domain. When a 12" barrel 716 is shooting under MOA groups at 800+ yards! that's got the game. The 416 and MR556 are the best in the business, one is combat one is a match rifle. I'll put my HK against a Wilson or JP anyday... I owned a JP, it became a safe queen once I traded for a 24" RRA Varmint. The RRA even shot tighter groups..

 

[Grunt]

My experience was with buying a used USP-40C only to find the washer and snap ring on the recoil guide rod was missing. I called HK, told them I needed to buy those parts and they offered to send them to me for free. I told them again that this was a USED pistol but they didn't care and still sent them out for free. Made the call on a Monday and by Friday, I had the new parts in hand and my USP was back to 100%.

 

[Radagast]

Remember, that was years ago and companies can change.
Ten years ago HK's distributor sponsored an IPSC shooter here in Australia. He had to wait six months for a replacement firing pin. I read similar stories from US based shooters. That was the level of service they provided back then: none.
IIRC They also legally threatened several shooters who had purchased guns that HK did not want to sell to civilians but had stuffed up and let out into civilian sales channels.

At the time HK appeared only interested in what Heinlein called 'honest graft' - getting military contract specifications set so only HK's product was compliant. Having a large civilian sales book might have annoyed politicians who influenced contracts, and bluntly, a single source order for 300,000 guns was a much more juicy goal than lots of single sales to picky civilians.
But that was ten years ago. Changing primary rifles and handguns in the middle of a war was a bad idea that was finally knocked on the head. The huge contracts did not occur, wars are winding down and the civilian market is how larger than the military market. If HK have their heads together they will be courting civilian sales and customer service is part of that.

 

[Onmilo]

I hate H&K so much I own three of their handguns,,,

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

Their change in rifle took place. Look at the marines. They changed from the 249SAW to the HK416 (M27IAR) in 80% of the rifles. There are still a number of 249's per platoon, but mostly they are phased out.

 

[Grunt]

Uhm, when I had the missing parts on my used USP-40C, I was still living in Minot so that was probably around 2002 or so and HK's customer service did right by me.

 

[johnnydollar]

Four HKs and no need of customer service. My HKs don't hate me.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I have honestly found the best customer service at Hk and Sig Sauer. Both have helped me out numerous times with various parts and upgrades. The absolute worst I ever experienced was Beretta. It took over 4 months turn around to replace a barrel and slide to get the 92 to shot straight.