Springfield .38 Super DOA

[drannor]

I've been jonesing for another 1911 for some time now. Given 38 Super's historical cachet I thought it would be a great addition to my collection. I originally looked at the Kimber Stainless Target .38, but jumped on the SA Milspec 38 when I saw it at a local gun store. I already have a target type 1911 so the basic model really appealed.

I brought the gun home and did some basic tests. I REALLY wish I had done these before leaving the gun store. I cocked the hammer and engaged the safety. Pulled the trigger, nothing happens, good. Depress thumb safety, pull trigger, CLACK the hammer comes down AND the safety clicks off. :banghead:

How did this gun get past QA? Do they have QA? This is a pretty simple test to perform. I own two Kimbers, this was my first SA purchase and I'm extremely disappointed. Have other people experienced issues like this with SA milspec 1911s? Thoughts? I was thinking about saving for one of their Garands and this has turned me off completely.

Addtionally I'm not terribly pleased with the gun stores handling of this situation. I was refused a refund on an unfired and broken gun. They're selling the now repaired gun (went back to SA) on consignment for me as "used". I'll lose around $50 on the deal, and I get "store credit". Is this typical?

I do a lot of business with this store. (multiple C&R rifles, SIGs, CZs, revolvers) The gun store rep told me that since the gun had been "titled" that he had to sell it as used. I'm tempted to take my credit, make some final purchases, and take my considerable business elsewhere. I know we have several gun store owners on THR and I'm interested in their thoughts on how this is being handled. This store has great pricing, and to this point their service has been impeccable.

BTW - I'm moving this weekend, so I apologize in advance if my replies are tardy. I may be in traction after moving all the ammo!

 

[10-Ring]

Something similar happend to me. I couldn't return an obviously defective gun because it had already been registered to me. Took me a while to accept that point too.

What we ended up settling on was for a factory warranty repair and my next purchase at cost + S&H + fees.

 

[Kahr carrier]

SO was the Springfield a New gun ?? I had a similar situation when I bought a new gun but the shop I was dealing with made good on the situation they took the defective gun back and gave my a new gun the same make and model that function perfectly .Guess I got lucky.

 

[David Roberson]

I have had a similar experience to that of Kahr Carrier. I bought a new gun (Armi San Marco Schofield) that was defective, they sent it back for repairs and it returned still defective, the dealer took the gun back and gave me full credit on the price of it toward the purchase of another gun. (I didn't want another ASM Schofield after my experience with the first.)

Hyatt's Gun Shop in Charlotte, NC.

 

[bountyhunter]

"Addtionally I'm not terribly pleased with the gun stores handling of this situation. I was refused a refund on an unfired and broken gun. They're selling the now repaired gun (went back to SA) on consignment for me as "used". I'll lose around $50 on the deal, and I get "store credit". Is this typical?"

Typical? YES. Legal? NOOOO! A licensed dealer is bound in most states by an implied warranty of merchantibility on any product he sells. If it fails to perform as a reasonable person would expect, the dealer is 100% liable.

If he has to "untitle" the gun from you and sell it as used, he takes the $50 hit... not you. If he has to return it to the factory at the ludicrous shipping rate, he must pay... not you. You are entitled to either a refund or another gun in proper working order at no cost to you. If there are title and transfer fees, he eats them. Apparrently, very few people are aware of this implied warranty.. it's there whether the dealer admits it or not. And he is bound by it if he wants to be a dealer (does not apply to private party sales).


"I'm tempted to take my credit, make some final purchases, and take my considerable business elsewhere. I know we have several gun store owners on THR and I'm interested in their thoughts on how this is being handled. This store has great pricing, and to this point their service has been impeccable."

I hope you do take your business elsewhere and be sure to tell them why. It is patently outrageous what gun dealers get away with. They sell a new item to a customer which turns out to be junk and they just say: "Take it up with the manufacturer." The consumer is out shipping charges and lost time, and ends up with a re-worked gun that should have never left the factory in the first place. The implied warranty law was enacted just exactly to protect consumers from such fraud.

 

[Kruzr]

How did this gun get past QA? Do they have QA? This is a pretty simple test to perform. I own two Kimbers, this was my first SA purchase and I'm extremely disappointed. Have other people experienced issues like this with SA milspec 1911s?

Lots of people are asking the same question about SA's lack of QA/QC in the past six months. I had a similar experience with SA. I sent the gun back, they had it over 5 weeks and only addressed half the problems I pointed out in my phone conversations, e-mails, and letter sent with the gun. I finally ended up fixing the problems myself and then sold the gun at a considerable loss. Chalk up the money loss to tuition in "the school of hard knocks." The SA Custom shop is pretty good but unfortunately, they don't send new guns in need of warranty repair to the Custom Shop, they send it to the Factory Repair Department. I've dealt with Ruger customer service and Kimber customer service. Springfiled could learn a great deal from both of them.

Oh, and don't bother writing a letter to Denny Reese, their CEO, he simply doesn't care unless you want to spend over $2K on a PRO.

 

[drannor]

First, yes this was a NIB gun. Unfired, excepting any factory testing. Once I discovered the safety problem I didn't even bother to clean and lube it so I can't speak to that.

The gun store now has this 1911 on layaway. So it may be another month before I see any credit from this transaction. They didn't even call me when it was put on layaway. I've had to call them two times to check on the status of the weapon. If this was a normal consignment situation I could understand that, but given that I was extremely displeased with the broken firearm you'd think they'd clue in and at least TRY to keep me abreast of the situation. In the mean time MY gun is not even in the case for an immediate purchase.

I'll be spending my "credit" and informing them in very certain terms why they will not be receiving anymore of my business.