Springfield Customer Service

[aeroscout]

Haven't heard much about it.

I'm planning on ordering a SA Micro Compact tomorrow. I also like the Kimber CDPs but here's why I chose SA.

The store/FFL I'm ordering from orders their stuff straight from AccuSports and keeps no stock on hand. They quoted me $901 out the door for the micro. Which, if I don't like it and choose to sell it, I shouldn't loose to much. Plus they offered to send it in for service if there are any problems.
As for buying the CDP, since the store is not a master dealer they can't get the kimber and I can't expect the same price break downtown.

So that's why I was wondering about SA service, if I did have any problems I can send it back. I've heard kimber is lacking a bit in customer service.

 

[1911Ron]

I've had no problems with Springfields customer service, and i've called them several times.

 

[Jason Demond]

I've used SA customer Service with so-so results

I have had good service for a couple Springfield rifles I own, but not for pistols.

I bought two new 1911's, at the same time. The grips on them turned black, and I couldn't get any help from SA.

The grips started to turn color after a couple weeks, when I contacted SA, they couldn't care less. They said it was my fault!
I have several 1911's, and have never had this happen before.

I replaced the grips, and have vowed to never buy another SA product.l

 

[Hedge Hog]

SA support

I guess this is a two-edged sword. While SA has been good to me, I would prefer to not have needed their support.

I have an XD-40. Used it at a 4-day defensive handgun course at Front Sight. It performed great, but as many others on the XD site have commented, the finish on the slide wears VERY quickly. Also, the grip safety had begun to rust from my very sweaty hands. I called SA and they said to "send it in". They reimbursed the shipping. It came back Armory Koted, no charge. Time gone; three weeks.

I purchased a blued Loaded at the end of February. Shot low and left, the serrations and the edges of the slide were sharp enough to cut, and the extractor clocked. They shipped the pistol to Il for free. 6 weeks lated it comes in the Big Brown truck. Slide completely dehorned & reblued, sights right on, extractor adjusted. No malfunctions since I bought it.

So as I said, I would prefer to buy a pistol and not need to return it to the factory. However, certainly SA went the extra mile for me in addressing all my concerns. Admittedly, turn-around time could have been better, but in the end I am happy.

 

[aeroscout]

"I guess this is a two-edged sword. While SA has been good to me, I would prefer to not have needed their support."


That's how I feel.

Kimber has a good reputation, maybe slightly less risk than a SA but for the price differance and the hopefully better support if needed, I think I'll try the SA.

 

[Josey]

I have had four SA 1911s. The Brown truck driver and I became first name friends. I own Colts and will never own a SA again. Bad experience and very costly lesson.

 

[ruger357]

I have only delt with SA customer service once and had good results.

 

[aeroscout]

Broke

Well looks like I'll be voting on my own poll.
I ordered a Micro Compact on Monday, and picked it up on Tuesday. Then I bought a few differant brands of ammo and headed out to try out my new toy. I've had good luck with white box but I thought I'd try UMC first. I loaded and then fired 5 rounds then on the 6th round it failed to eject and is stuck in the chamber so tight I can't budge it. I called Springfield and based on my description of the problem they said it's probably broke.

So, less than 24 hours and it's already on it's way back.
However customer service was positive so we'll see.

 

[freedomlover]

SA Customer Service

So far, so good, and keeping my fingers crossed...

The extractor in my SA Mil-Spec quit so I called Customer Service, was told to send it back & a new one would be shipped out free. I'm still waiting for my new one, and hope it is indeed a new one, I've heard many stories of SA sending customers their old problematic extractors back to them, probably "tweaked" a little in the hopes of fixing the problem. I'll report back.

Do y'all believe SA actually charges people $30 a pop for their somewhat-less-than-top-quality extractors? You can get a Brown Hardcore extractor for the same amount. P.T. Barnum said something about a sucker being born every minute...

 

[Brass Balls]

I've used both with good results.

With Springfield it was just a matter of getting a question answered and Dave Williams himself returned my call and anwered my questions.


With Kimber I called about a slide stop in a new gun that had an unusual wear mark. They sent me one right away no charge.

 

[dlctech]

I have a story for everyone about Springfield's customer service. I'm new to the 1911 world but had been wanting one for a good while, preferably a Colt XSE, but I could not find one on the shelves of our local gunshops to look at. So I had my friend who runs a pawn shop order me a Springfield "custom loaded" ( the distributor did not have any XSEs and I would have to wait it out). So in it came and upon inspection I noticed a couple of small blemishes and the rollmarking wasn't exactly perfect, but I was happy, it was a beautiful gun. So after a few days I thought I would take it out and see what she would do, and I don't believe I could not have hit the broadside of a barn if I had been standing in front of it. Soon , I began to realize something was drastically wrong & upon further inspection, I noticed the rear-sight was off literally 1/8th of an inch & the grip became loose. I gave Springfield a call & they told me to send it in. They kept my less than a month old gun for a month & replaced the grip, rear sights and barrel, because they said it was defective.They also told me they "cleaned up" the blemishes I had mentioned. So back it came and when I opened it up I noticed the pin to the mainspring housing was hanging out halfway and they nearly ground the serial number completely off. So I called them back again and the supervisor I spoke with made the statement to me "I don't think you will be happy with anything, why don't you send it back and we will send you a refund." So it was a well learned lesson to me and I have been looking for a Colt. Maybe it was my fault for ordering something I had never seen, but my wife ordered me a Glock a couple of years ago and it has been perfect and accurate too.

 

[tommytrauma]

Areoscout, I wish I'd seen your post earlier. I know first hand from my experiences with a SA micro that Springfield's customer service is excellent. It should be, they get a lot of practice. I had to return my micro to them 3 times before finally getting them to swap it out for a longer frame compact. I now believe that, the shorter a 1911 is, the more likely it is for problems to crop up.

When I got my second warranty return number, I was amazed to see how many numbers had been issued between my first and second returns. Evidently, they depend on warranty work in leiu of any kind of quality assurance.

I've bought SA since, but i consider it to be a lot like Kel-Tec; I buy knowing that they'll eventually put any problems right, but that shipping the gun back a time or two might well be needed. There's no way I'd buy one if I needed it immediatly.

 

[aeroscout]

Well, I called Springfield on Monday to check on my Micro Compact. They said it was finished and that it was actually a defective slide. I think he said it was a defect of the "track" in the slide where it mounts to the grip frame / slides along the grip frame. I got the feeling that if I hadn't called, it would not have been shipped out that day, but because I did they Fed Ex'd it out and I got it the next day.

So I took it out today and put 24 rounds of white box through it and 25 rounds of winchester personal defence ammo through it. All completely trouble free. I'll be very pleased if the performance keeps up.

As for the service. It was fast and friendly. If I could say anything bad it would be that I'm disappointed that I didn't get a note or anything to explain what was done(besides the phone chat). Also the replacement slide they put on is not as nice as the original. One of the letters in "Micro-Compact" is noticably lighter(not as deep) as the rest. But that's nothing if that's the worst thing that happens.