WARNING! Defective Federal Ammo!
- Thread starter ZO6Vettever
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berettaprofessor
Member
How old is that box of Federal? Haven't seen that design for awhile.
qcsmitty
Member
Could you elaborate on the details a bit?
ZO6Vettever
Member
Bought the only 2 boxes they had about a month ago at Wally World. One round was 1/8" and the other 3/16" set too deep. I called and e-mailed both. They asked for a photo and I sent that one and and the lot#E11S24 from the inside flap. I was told the send the rounds in the original box, by UPS and UPS only on my dime. Depending if they were found to be defective they would replace the two rounds. I told them if they couldn't send my a box of ammo I would post the pic on a couple forums. They actually said "go ahead". I guess ammo sales are so good that they don't give a hoot. This is the 3rd one I posted on. Any product made will have a boo boo once in a while. There's no excuse for bad customer service.
The Sarge
Member
All Fed ammo I guess?
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
How did you determine that the ammunition was defective? Was it defective or was it damaged? If it was damaged, where was it damaged? Was it damaged at the factory, during shipping, during handling and stocking, or did you damage the ammo somehow?
It very well may not be that the ammo was defective. Such bullet setback can occur during handling from the time of manufacture to the time the end user opens the box. I have had this happen when ordering a case of ammo and the case gets dropped. Damaged boxes of ammo would not be out for sale, but boxes that were undamaged would be put out for sale, but the impact from being dropped can still have some of the bullets setback.
You didn't receive bad customer servies. Unless you got a warranty with your ammunition saying otherwise, they are not obligated to pay for your return of the items to them, especially when the purported defective rounds many have been damaged after they left the factory.
The folks at Federal asked you to return the ammo for their examination and said that they would make good on the problem if the ammo was defective. I don't see anything wrong there with their customer service.
The fact that you threatened them with trying to give them bad publicity says a lot about your conversation. That they didn't outright hang up on you at that shows indicates that their customer service was not poor.
It very well may not be that the ammo was defective. Such bullet setback can occur during handling from the time of manufacture to the time the end user opens the box. I have had this happen when ordering a case of ammo and the case gets dropped. Damaged boxes of ammo would not be out for sale, but boxes that were undamaged would be put out for sale, but the impact from being dropped can still have some of the bullets setback.
You didn't receive bad customer servies. Unless you got a warranty with your ammunition saying otherwise, they are not obligated to pay for your return of the items to them, especially when the purported defective rounds many have been damaged after they left the factory.
The folks at Federal asked you to return the ammo for their examination and said that they would make good on the problem if the ammo was defective. I don't see anything wrong there with their customer service.
The fact that you threatened them with trying to give them bad publicity says a lot about your conversation. That they didn't outright hang up on you at that shows indicates that their customer service was not poor.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
I had some Winchester 22 mag dynapoint ammo that was recalled due to possiblity of too much powder. My local gs had some too and when I told him of the recall he was not interested. In the interest of safety I bought his ammo and sent it all to Olin with a letter.
They sent me a case of .22 mag ammo for my trouble.
They sent me a case of .22 mag ammo for my trouble.
Hunterdad
Member
I'm no expert, but I'm going to guess that with the bullets set the deep in the casing, it could cause some serious pressure increases.
broken_line
Member
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a bulllet too deep would be better than a bullet touching the lands.. as far as presure
R.W.Dale
Member
You are utterly and completely wrong. Especially with reguards to handgun rounds.
The round pictured left would probably run triple the pressure of the round on the right.
posted via mobile device.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Right, you don't want to be shooting those rounds out of your gun. Bullet setback can cause pressure problems. However, saying the rounds are defective and demanding Federal make good on the rounds certainly implies the OP thought the problem was from the manufacturing process whereas I noted you can have the same problem when cases of ammo are dropped that damages the ammo in that manner and hence isn't the fault of Federal.
Redlg155
Member
I would have sent in just the two rounds and the flap with the lot number. Sure it's an exercise and futility, but someone is bound to say "Who the heck asked for these rounds back?" . I'm betting you would get at least a box or 2 back.
I think Federal should have mailed him a shipping label and asked for him to immediately send it in for inspection. Any customer complaint of defective ammo should be taken seriously and be dealt with immediately. Yes, he probably shouldn't threatened to post bad publicity, but it still should have never got to the point where he felt he had to react to get some action. I'll give the benefit of the doubt to our THR poster and will not buy any Federal ammo lest the same thing were to happen to me. I doubt the same situation would have escalated had it been Hornady ammo.
ObsidianOne
Member
Double Naught Spy said:
Does it matter if Haley's Comet smacked into it and caused it to set back? It's still Federal's product, representing their company, and if it is defective and causes harm or loss of life because of their ammunition, they are legally liable.
I'm sure if you bought a condom that had a bunch of tiny holes in it and you used it, you'd be pretty mad and hold the company liable.
Double Naught Spy said:
I can understand if they wanted you to pay upfront for the shipping and if the ammunition is found to be faulty they will reimburse. Replace two rounds? That's insulting. I'd tell them to give them to the QC employees who checked that lot as their pension when they can them and let them know they'd never get my business again.
It is true that we don't know exactly how the conversation went, but I can tell you that given what we know, it does NOT sound like good customer service. I've worked in this field for quite a few years and would not find that to be acceptable.
Pietro Beretta
Member
Run it through a gun you don't like, if it Kb!'s send the parts to federal with a note from an attorney, lol. 
I don't suggest doing that.
I don't suggest doing that.
last time i looked in walmart the federal boxes looked like that. it was maybe 3 months ago
Liberty1776
Member
I received the same response from them years ago on faulty shotgun ammo - bad crimp, crumpled rounds - never should have been shipped. They said the same thing - send it back at my cost - the whole box - and they'd send a certificate for two rounds. I can see going to Gander Mt with that coupon...
Certaindeaf
member
Dang, they have machines and sensors that'll blow small and or discolored potato chips off the line before packaging etc. You'd think that with something that'll blow your hand off, they'd at least employ some of this technology.
I agree that is terrible customer service. I can see paying to ship the defective rounds with lot number on your dime (to avoid people scamming the company), but getting a reimbursement and a free box of ammo in return.
How much does a box of ammo cost? How much does losing a customer for life cost? Or, how much does a lawsuit cost? It is really a simple equation to solve.
How much does a box of ammo cost? How much does losing a customer for life cost? Or, how much does a lawsuit cost? It is really a simple equation to solve.
There is certainly defective ammunition out there.
I won't mention the manufacturer but I had a premium box of 9x18 Makarov ammunition touted to be a high end "self defense" load. I should add this happened about 10 years ago.
But I had a squib. I had the presence of mind not to pull the trigger which was a good thing because the gun went into battery because the squib round was just far enough down the tube to allow this.
I cleared them both and continued firing. A short time later I had a second one. I gingerly finished the box. I simply made sure I got a full loud report after each shot.
I haven't bought any of their stuff since. I did not take the trouble to contact the manufacturer although looking back - I should have.
I would not however have threatened to out them on the internet. In my opinion, and with all due respect, that has a slight whiff of extortion.
V
I won't mention the manufacturer but I had a premium box of 9x18 Makarov ammunition touted to be a high end "self defense" load. I should add this happened about 10 years ago.
But I had a squib. I had the presence of mind not to pull the trigger which was a good thing because the gun went into battery because the squib round was just far enough down the tube to allow this.
I cleared them both and continued firing. A short time later I had a second one. I gingerly finished the box. I simply made sure I got a full loud report after each shot.
I haven't bought any of their stuff since. I did not take the trouble to contact the manufacturer although looking back - I should have.
I would not however have threatened to out them on the internet. In my opinion, and with all due respect, that has a slight whiff of extortion.
V
Jeff F
Member
I find defective rounds all the time in factory ammo. Primers seated sideways, bullets set to deep, etc. I just toss em in the dud bucket at the range. It happens, I know it happens and it is not worth my time or money to get a few rounds replaced. I inspect every round of ammunition I buy either before I go shooting or before it gets loaded into magazines or guns. All boxes of ammo that have been inspected have a little sticky dot stuck on them.
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