Kimber Customer Service Atta-Boy!

[RainDodger]

I am truly amazed at my recent interaction with Kimber customer service! To start, here's what happened:

I took a chance and bought a USED Kimber Solo at a good price. As expected, the pistol had some issues, and it was missing the right-hand (ambi) safety lever. I called Kimber, initially wanting to purchase a new safety lever and pin to hold it in place on its pivot. After talking to the Kimber rep, I decided I'd rather just send it to them and let them have their way with it.

Remember... I'm not the original owner. First, they paid the 2-day shipping... both ways. Next, they did this: Replaced Extractor, Extractor Spring, Firing Pin Return Spring, Right Thumb Safety, Thumb Safety Long Pin, Sear, Sear Spring, Solo Spring & Outer Recoil Spring. They tested the pistol with two different loads which they specified, and did a "complete gun check and QC inspection". They cleaned and degreased firing pin channel, refinished barrel, chamber reamed & polished.

I got the pistol back yesterday; all of the above done in roughly one week, doorstep-to-doorstep, and no charges whatsoever.

I would call that kind of service really rare these days. Not only that, but this is the second instance of great service I've had from Kimber. I had some minor back-and-forth a few years ago with them about a Pro Carry .38 Super I have. That was excellent service as well.

Just sayin'... great service.

 

[John G C 1]

Wow, good to know. Service counts for me.

 

[railroader]

I got great service from them a while back too. I purchased a two tone Custom in 9mm. The front sight wasn't quite centered so the gun shot left a bit. The sights are really tight in the gun and I didn't want to mess up the finish on the slide trying to move the front sight. I called and they had me send it in so they could fix the front sight and sight it in. I had the gun back in about two weeks. They also covered shipping both ways. Great customer service.

 

[340PD]

Stop it right now you guys. The internet tells me that Kimber (and a few other manufacturers) have horrible customer service and their guns are no good to boot.

BTW, My 3" Kimber Ultra CDP II never gave me one bit of trouble regardless of the loads I made for it and my K6s revolver beats any Smith I own.

 

[DannyLandrum]

Well, this is great news; thank you for sharing. Unfortunately for them, we will likely have to hear at least 10 to 20 such similar stories before it will overcome in our minds the well-earned (over many years; many many stories) reputation they currently have for horrid customer service.

"The internet tells me that Kimber have horrible customer service and their guns are no good to boot."

The internet is exactly right on the first part, and should be taken heed of (along with this new information)

On the 2nd thing there, the internet doesn't say that - it says (correctly) that, on the whole, they put out the occasional lemon like everyone else, which is what makes the truth of the horrible customer service thing so important. Historically, they do NOT "make it right".

Kimber's well-known terrible CS is the only reason I don't have a Mountain Ascent in .280 AI - can't take that risk.

So, it's fantastic if you never get one of those lemons and don't need their CS (I myself have had two 1911s with no problems). But woe to the sucker who gets a bad one and needs to deal with them. But maybe they're changing - we'll see.

 

[RainDodger]

In my view, that's a bad thing about the internet... you put something out there and it's there forever. Life changes, but internet posts live on, many times to the detriment of someone.

Obviously I can only recount my own experiences with Kimber customer service, but both times (and separated by a few years), I have called, talked to a human with virtually no wait, and then received absolutely great service. Let this post live on!

 

[beag_nut]

My BIL had a similar experience with his Solo, except that he got his brand new. So there was no debate about warranty. Final analysis, Kimber might be as good as Ruger CS.