Ruger Customer Relations are Horrid!
- Thread starter Nickelboy
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Guillermo
member
Nickel was not treated unfairly but certainly has reason to complain.
The lesson that should be learned is not to spend all that cash sending it back. Find a good gunsmith to advise you before you make the decision.
I am confused though. I thought Rugers were unbreakable, build like tanks, used as deck guns on battleships.
The lesson that should be learned is not to spend all that cash sending it back. Find a good gunsmith to advise you before you make the decision.
I am confused though. I thought Rugers were unbreakable, build like tanks, used as deck guns on battleships.
Jim March
Member
Yeah, I have to lay some blame at Ruger's door myself on this one.
Look, if this had been anything computer-related, and he called in saying "it's broke" or anything like it, they'd have put him through to tech support. A geek would have walked him through, tried to figure out if it was really broke and if so, is it fixable? And THEN figured out what to do.
A Ruger receptionist was clearly reading from a script that said "if gun broke, mail it in". Well when shipping was $15 each way, that made sense. When it's $50+? I don't think so!
The gun wasn't fixable. Anybody knowledgeable at Ruger who heard the words "bent topstrap" would have said so instantly.
As is, the gun is worth (at absolute most) $100 in parts. That's a Lett grip and with them out of biz, supplies will run out as they already have on the GP100 and Ruger will replace them with some other design that may not be as good (if you don't believe me, look at the latest GP100s with oversize Hogue rubbers!). The original poster may have a spring kit in there worth recovering, and the hammer/trigger/etc. should still be good.
So it's worth his keeping the wreckage.
(WARNING: do not re-use the crane parts or anything related to the cylinder's lockup. The barrel is questionable but probably survived intact.)
In Ruger's defense:
Quality control on their guns of late has been exceptional. They're now building some of their best work, and better than most 1980s/90s production. We're seeing fewer "bad monday guns" of late and better designs, including the mid-frame SAs such as the NewVaq and 50th 357 Blackhawk. I'm not saying "don't buy Ruger". I do think the OP would have been better off showing us a pic of his gun and asking "do I send it in?".
Then again...they did offer him a discount on a replacement (sounds like a wholesale price level?) that they probably wouldn't have offered had he not sent it in.
Look, if this had been anything computer-related, and he called in saying "it's broke" or anything like it, they'd have put him through to tech support. A geek would have walked him through, tried to figure out if it was really broke and if so, is it fixable? And THEN figured out what to do.
A Ruger receptionist was clearly reading from a script that said "if gun broke, mail it in". Well when shipping was $15 each way, that made sense. When it's $50+? I don't think so!
The gun wasn't fixable. Anybody knowledgeable at Ruger who heard the words "bent topstrap" would have said so instantly.
As is, the gun is worth (at absolute most) $100 in parts. That's a Lett grip and with them out of biz, supplies will run out as they already have on the GP100 and Ruger will replace them with some other design that may not be as good (if you don't believe me, look at the latest GP100s with oversize Hogue rubbers!). The original poster may have a spring kit in there worth recovering, and the hammer/trigger/etc. should still be good.
So it's worth his keeping the wreckage.
(WARNING: do not re-use the crane parts or anything related to the cylinder's lockup. The barrel is questionable but probably survived intact.)
In Ruger's defense:
Quality control on their guns of late has been exceptional. They're now building some of their best work, and better than most 1980s/90s production. We're seeing fewer "bad monday guns" of late and better designs, including the mid-frame SAs such as the NewVaq and 50th 357 Blackhawk. I'm not saying "don't buy Ruger". I do think the OP would have been better off showing us a pic of his gun and asking "do I send it in?".
Then again...they did offer him a discount on a replacement (sounds like a wholesale price level?) that they probably wouldn't have offered had he not sent it in.
I have had some problems with ruger customer relations. I bought a brand new gun and it had problems day one. I sent it back to ruger, they failed to fix it and sent it back to me. I sent it back a second time, and they sent me on a wild goose chase to do some non-existant paperwork at the store where i bought it, the store that was sending and receiving for me. I finally got a total replacement, but no free extra goodies to make up for their mistake of #1 letting a bad gun out #2 not fixing it the first time #3 wasting my time with wild goose chases.
Now, YOU broke the gun, no fault of rugers. Ruger can't diagnose over the phone. Lets say they did pull a tech from fixing a gun and had him listen to your description. He'd say 'humm, doesn't sound good, the chances of us being able to repair it are slim, but I couldn't say for sure without seeing it' But then, you should have already know the chances were slim.
So why send it off at all? Were you hoping they'd be able to repair it, and even though the warranty was negated, they'd repair it for free out of pity? That's a big gamble for $52 shipping.
What would you have done if they said 'it is repairable for $700'? or what if they just said 'it is repairable for $350'?
Did you decide on a 'break point' were it wasn't worth fixing?
Why did you not choose to take the replacement purchase? I can understand choosing not to buy a replacement on your own, just have one less gun, tight economic times and all, but you sent out a gun that you damaged knowing they'd charge you to fix it, so apparently you were willing to shell out a decent chunk of cash for it.
Finally, why pay to have it returned? figure it is $52 worth of parts?
Now, YOU broke the gun, no fault of rugers. Ruger can't diagnose over the phone. Lets say they did pull a tech from fixing a gun and had him listen to your description. He'd say 'humm, doesn't sound good, the chances of us being able to repair it are slim, but I couldn't say for sure without seeing it' But then, you should have already know the chances were slim.
So why send it off at all? Were you hoping they'd be able to repair it, and even though the warranty was negated, they'd repair it for free out of pity? That's a big gamble for $52 shipping.
What would you have done if they said 'it is repairable for $700'? or what if they just said 'it is repairable for $350'?
Did you decide on a 'break point' were it wasn't worth fixing?
Why did you not choose to take the replacement purchase? I can understand choosing not to buy a replacement on your own, just have one less gun, tight economic times and all, but you sent out a gun that you damaged knowing they'd charge you to fix it, so apparently you were willing to shell out a decent chunk of cash for it.
Finally, why pay to have it returned? figure it is $52 worth of parts?
Query: Why would one have to overnight a box of broken parts to Ruger? I thought the shipping rules were different for repair as opposed to transfer, especially for a firearm that is physically impossible to fire.
Priced a new SP-101 at Sportsman's Warehouse today: $460.00. At $359.00 that sounds like cost.
Next time you blow up a Ruger, see if you can send it in as "Parts" and avoid overnight shipping. Let the manufacturer keep it and take the replacement offer.
Priced a new SP-101 at Sportsman's Warehouse today: $460.00. At $359.00 that sounds like cost.
Next time you blow up a Ruger, see if you can send it in as "Parts" and avoid overnight shipping. Let the manufacturer keep it and take the replacement offer.
Jim March
Member
When the topstrap is bent, wanna bet?
Definitely.
* Lett is out of business - those are Lett grips. Value may rise to $50 (used in good shape) once Ruger starts shipping something other than Lett on the SP101. If that "something else" is as ghastly as what's on new-production (post-Lett) GP100s, $50 might be the starting point on EBay in as little as six months...
* He likely has a spring kit in there worth $20.
* The hammer is worth $35, trigger is worth $25, and I don't think Brownell's will sell them to you...
I was told by many including my dealer to send it in. I did have a breaking point, up to $250 fix it, over that I'm keeping it as-is. To me I'm looking at worst case is a bad frame and cylinder the barrel, crane, trigger group, hammer, grips all are in working order so if the frame can't be straightened a new frame and cylinder. There are many more still working pieces than not working? Not to forget the manual, lock and box included with a new one I still have not needing to replace. To me it looked like swap out the bad with new, how expensive or hard can that be it's only 2 pieces, but again I'm no smith or metallurgist. I didn't think it was worth seeking a local smith if Ruger could just swap a couple pieces? How am I to know what they are capable of, they are the experts that's why I called them.
I'm the fool that double charged it, and maybe I'm a fool for sending it in and wanting it back as-is. But there is no excuse to me for the lack luster customer relations, calling any manufacture for help should be their pleasure to assist.
Anyway the new to me one I got yesterday shoots fine today even with my reloads! And I can swap hammers for hammerless DAO pocket carry or hammered single action at the range, best of both worlds.
bestseller92
Member
Ruger customer relations have been good to me. When one trip back to their factory didn't help the POI problems with my Mini 14, they replaced it with a new one, free of charge.
bestseller92
Member
And, far from considering them "ghastly", I like the grips on my '08 GP100 a lot.
Virginian
Member
Well, I would not have sent that to Ruger. I do not need a weatherman to tell me it's raining. I think your dealer isn't a very sound judge of anything, either. 20/20 hindsight, but that's life.
I will not give Ruger 100% on customer relations on every contact, but I have managed to get everything resolved properly in one pass every time, so far.
You admit you blew up the gun. They offered you a good deal on a replacement gun and you turned it down, and blew another $52 getting your junker sent back to you because you were what, mad? I'd be mad too if I just pi$$ed away $125.
I will not give Ruger 100% on customer relations on every contact, but I have managed to get everything resolved properly in one pass every time, so far.
You admit you blew up the gun. They offered you a good deal on a replacement gun and you turned it down, and blew another $52 getting your junker sent back to you because you were what, mad? I'd be mad too if I just pi$$ed away $125.
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