Sorta unhappy about powder measure...

[jmorris]

I don't want to deal with ANY customer service. Why would anyone? What’s wrong with you people? Why are you complimenting poor products?

Everything breaks at some point. I have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds over 37 years and the equipment I have is still going due to excellent customer service.

On the other hand I have had 5 trucks and 3 other “drivers” in just the last 20 years. If Dillon made and sold cars/trucks with a lifetime no BS warranty, I would probably own one.

No one wants to need customer service. When you need it and it’s there with no BS it’s a great feeling. Maybe even more so today than 37 years ago.

 

[jmorris]

Separating fraudsters from customers I guess.

That would be my speculation. The idea of lifetime warranty is equipment always seemed like a Ponzi scheme. If I don’t ever need to buy new equipment every new owner is paying for anything that breaks or I wear out using it.

What they noticed is people selling new parts, they sent off for free, on eBay. That does two things, wastes the parts and uses up supply of them o people that really need them and legitimately deserve them to have to wait on more production or get scalped by people who essentially stole the parts…

 

[CQB45ACP]

Everything breaks at some point. I have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds over 37 years and the equipment I have is still going due to excellent customer service.

On the other hand I have had 5 trucks and 3 other “drivers” in just the last 20 years. If Dillon made and sold cars/trucks with a lifetime no BS warranty, I would probably own one.

No one wants to need customer service. When you need it and it’s there with no BS it’s a great feeling. Maybe even more so today than 37 years ago.

I take your point and distinguish between breaking (which I do not excuse) and wearing out (which is what’s happening to me at 70 and just is). Vehicles are an interesting animal. I maintain them per guidelines unless guidelines are too onerous and require me to sit at a dealer for hours and hours, but if they break I don’t repair them. They go in the dumper. I buy a new one.

 

[CQB45ACP]

That would be my speculation. The idea of lifetime warranty is equipment always seemed like a Ponzi scheme. If I don’t ever need to buy new equipment every new owner is paying for anything that breaks or I wear out using it.

What they noticed is people selling new parts, they sent off for free, on eBay. That does two things, wastes the parts and uses up supply of them o people that really need them and legitimately deserve them to have to wait on more production or get scalped by people who essentially stole the parts…

Yeah, my thoughts too.

 

[jmorris]

… if they break I don’t repair them. They go in the dumper. I buy a new one.

That’s the trend these days. You don’t need customer service at that point, just piles of money or credit good enough to pile up the debt.

 

[Jim Watson]

Interesting reports - My hopper broke so they sent me TWO.
Obviously they know their quality.

It is hard to complain about "good customer service" but it also shows me just how cheaply that stuff is made that they can and will replace it so readily.

 

[GW Staar]

Or maybe they figure if you're one of those who break one you might "need" two. I have six......never broke one in 50 years, but I have at least every model they've made. I like them.

Just for everyone's information, RCBS's new Uniflow 3 Hopper screws on....new for them...and the insides are way smoother. They always worked for me, but I enjoy the newer ones most. Which shouldn't be surprising.

Acrylic can crack and break....so can the Pyrex aftermarket one....so can every hopper made except the steel black powder ones. My guess is that the OP's may have had a rough shipment and cracked it in an unnoticeable place. Or it was dropped unknown to him.

I appreciate RCBS quality everyday......but as jmorris mentioned. everything can break even your favorite brand....I appreciate RCBS service if and when it does. Seems today it's vogue to put down RCBS. It's uncalled for.

BTW, anyone try to order parts the little parts for Lee's APP? Most of them are free.....just ordered from their web site....not on the phone......and they didn't ask me if I even had one. (what I used to make my Summit/App from) Just added things to my shopping cart, and the price said zero. That's new for Lee? Mirrors more than one experience from RCBS.....not a bad direction.

 

[CQB45ACP]

That’s the trend these days. You don’t need customer service at that point, just piles of money or credit good enough to pile up the debt.

From 14-65ish I was a car guy. Sports cars, muscle cars, cool stuff. No one but me did ANY work on them. Minor or major. Then I quit and just buy and replace. Cash & carry. Carmax & donations are my friends.

 

[dannyd]

My equipment doesn't break it just wears out. The Hornady powder measure on the far left in the picture had north of 75,000 rounds on it.

So I used to call now I just email and both companies send the parts free of charge.

 

[doubleh]

I don't want to deal with ANY customer service. Why would anyone? What’s wrong with you people? Why are you complimenting poor products?

Anything, let me repeat, ANYTHING, made by man can fail. That is why you may have to deal with customer service and RCBS is one of the very best to deal with. I have only had one little RCBS thing fail and it's failure was my fault which I explained to the nice lady I spoke to. I asked what the charge was and was told it was nothing as their products have a lifetime warranty. I have had the same experience with Ruger and Timney, all of which are stand up and do the right thing for the customer companies.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Or maybe they figure if you're one of those who break one you might "need" two. I have six......never broke one in 50 years, but I have at least every model they've made. I like them.

Just for everyone's information, RCBS's new Uniflow 3 Hopper screws on....new for them...and the insides are way smoother. They always worked for me, but I enjoy the newer ones most. Which shouldn't be surprising.

Acrylic can crack and break....so can the Pyrex aftermarket one....so can every hopper made except the steel black powder ones. My guess is that the OP's may have had a rough shipment and cracked it in an unnoticeable place. Or it was dropped unknown to him.

I appreciate RCBS quality everyday......but as jmorris mentioned. everything can break even your favorite brand....I appreciate RCBS service if and when it does. Seems today it's vogue to put down RCBS. It's uncalled for.

BTW, anyone try to order parts the little parts for Lee's APP? Most of them are free.....just ordered from their web site....not on the phone......and they didn't ask me if I even had one. (what I used to make my Summit/App from) Just added things to my shopping cart, and the price said zero. That's new for Lee? Mirrors more than one experience from RCBS.....not a bad direction.

As for Lee, that’s not a new (I mentioned earlier too) approach. I’d say they’re playing the odds that most people won’t go through the hassle to “steal” a part they didn’t buy.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Anything, let me repeat, ANYTHING, made by man can fail. That is why you may have to deal with customer service and RCBS is one of the very best to deal with. I have only had one little RCBS thing fail and it's failure was my fault which I explained to the nice lady I spoke to. I asked what the charge was and was told it was nothing as their products have a lifetime warranty. I have had the same experience with Ruger and Timney, all of which are stand up and do the right thing for the customer companies.

Yep sure can. That’s in part why the sarcasm pre warning. But still some breaks more than others, right?

 

[CQB45ACP]

My equipment doesn't break it just wears out. The Hornady powder measure on the far left in the picture had north of 75,000 rounds on it.

So I used to call now I just email and both companies send the parts free of charge.

I like things that just wear out—well enough made that customers want to use them over and over and over again. I just had a pair (set?) of anvil cut loppers wear out after close to 40 years. I have cut so many limbs from shrubs and small trees I can’t count. They no longer held the correct angle for the anvil to meet the blade properly. Don’t know the brand. Maybe I should call RCBS.

 

[dannyd]

I like things that just wear out—well enough made that customers want to use them over and over and over again. I just had a pair (set?) of anvil cut loppers wear out after close to 40 years. I have cut so many limbs from shrubs and small trees I can’t count. They no longer held the correct angle for the anvil to meet the blade properly. Don’t know the brand. Maybe I should call RCBS.

RCBS like Old Sears, Simpson and Roebuck has a lifetime warranty, so I use it.

 

[CQB45ACP]

RCBS like Old Sears, Simpson and Roebuck has a lifetime warranty, so I use it.

Me too if/when needed

Well not Sears any more

 

[GW Staar]

As for Lee, that’s not a new (I mentioned earlier too) approach. I’d say they’re playing the odds that most people won’t go through the hassle to “steal” a part they didn’t buy.

No part I ever ordered before had a zero price tag.....I was giving Lee a compliment....so RCBS-like. I bought one of the first Lee APP's which I love and use every week, the free parts are the plastic shuttle parts prone to wear....I didn't "steal" anything and never will. I was just ordering to have on hand for when something breaks. I'd say Lee recognizes their life is limited and they are adding to the value by offering free insurance for a time, for when they do wear out...nice of them. And you are insinuating that that's stealing?

 

[CQB45ACP]

No part I ever ordered before had a zero price tag.....I was giving Lee a compliment....so RCBS-like. I bought one of the first Lee APP's which I love and use every week, the free parts are the plastic shuttle parts prone to wear....I didn't "steal" anything and never will. I'd say Lee recognizes their life is limited and they are adding to the value by offering insurance for when they do wear out...nice of them.

Missed my point entirely—Lee does in fact have an easy replacement policy/feature where you enter all your info as though you are purchasing and when you go to pay…it’s free. I’ve used it twice. Great approach. The steal reference was for those that try the feature yet didn’t purchase in the first place.

Well not missed entirely only stealing part. Didn’t mean to imply…

 

[JFrank]

Call RCBS ... on the phone and speak to a real person .
Be real nice to them ... use a little Southern Charm if you're from the South ... if you are nice enough and pleasant to the person answering the phone I bet you can get a free one sent right to you .
My Mom a Gracious Southern Lady could charm the birds out of the trees and she taught me the art of being friendly and pleasant so others would do almost anything for you .
Don't get ugly and talk mean ...that will get you Doodly-Squat ... you gotta be NICE !
Gary

Good approach

 

[Bill M.]

"Call RCBS ... on the phone and speak to a real person"

I am old and hearing impaired. The phone through an automated switchboard is hard/sometimes impossible for me. I went to the RCBS website yesterday and filled out their customer contact form on the website along with a message. When I submitted the form they sent a message that said they might answer the message "within 10 days". We will see.

Thinking back on things I think I might have dropped the powder measure the last time I used it. It was 9 months or so ago. Not sure but that is a nagging thought in the back of my mind. It is still a weak design with the step down "stress raiser" where the hopper is reduced in diameter to fit the metal casting. This one is not screwed in. I have it taped up and am using it. I have a new Redding coming that will be in tomorrow. I will test the Redding to see if I get better results with it. Right now I am loading 6.5 grains of HP38 and am getting some load to load variations with the RCBS that I am not sure why I am getting. I think the chamber on the RCBS is max 25 grains and the chamber on the Redding is 10 grains max so maybe it will work better. Or not.

 

[Varminterror]

You've never dealt with RCBS, obviously.

Absolutely what I was thinking…

Realizing I’m piling on here, but rightfully so - Dude’s first move when he realized his part had broken SHOULD have been to have comfort that he owned a product with great customer support and service, and then call RCBS - instead of looking around online for used options or retail replacement parts, and instead of buying another brand and instead of ideating about duct tape…

Call RCBS.

 

[Varminterror]

I will test the Redding to see if I get better results with it.

How-so? By dropping it also to see if it also breaks like the RCBS?

 

[barnfrog]

How-so? By dropping it also to see if it also breaks like the RCBS?

Not that Bill can't defend himself, but it seemed fairly obvious to me that he intends to see if the Redding has less variation in the charges it throws. I think it was probably obvious to you as well.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I think I might have dropped the powder measure the last time I used it. It was 9 months or so ago.
...It is still a weak design with the step down "stress raiser" where the hopper is reduced in diameter to fit the metal casting

There are very few parts in reloading that can withstand being dropped without sustaining some damage. To label that a "weak design" is disingenuous at best and deflective at worst

 

[EricBu]

Put my almost new RCBS Uniflow powder measure on its mount and half filled the hopper from my new bottle of HP 38. Reached up and noticed that the hopper seemed "loose". Well, the hopper had sheared completely off. I managed to get a lot of the powder back into the bottle but not all. I spent a very frustrating half hour so far on the RCBS website and cannot find a replacement hopper. No search I could run would find it either. Many searches found the video about how to replace the hopper if you could get one. Found a cracked hopper E-bay. From what I have read this is a common flaw in the Uniflow measure. I just assumed it should not happen to me, I guess. No, I have never dropped it and I keep it in a drawer when not using it.

Ordered a Redding from Midway. Gonna try to tape the hopper back on the Uniflow because I need some loads now.

Will go back to RCBS and see if I can get a hopper without having to ship the whole thing in with "proof of purchase".

Man! Brother, either use the email contact form on the RCBS website, or call their customer service number. They'll ask your address, and has soon as they have a replacement hopper available, it will ship out to you. They are great!

 

[CQB45ACP]

There are very few parts in reloading that can withstand being dropped without sustaining some damage. To label that a "weak design" is disingenuous at best and deflective at worst

Sounds like a new thread…drop test results.

I dropped my Lee breech lock press. Just missed my foot but broke the plastic side mount for the safety prime. Free replacement of course because they have the best customer service.