What’s the deal with Taurus?

[Roamin_Wade]

My Judge broke a spring and tip assembly that holds the cylinder assembly into the frame. This spring and tip work by the forward side-plate screw where the screw is hollow and the spring fits inside that hollow screw and the tip fits on spring and loads up when screwed in by the tip engaging the groove on yoke arm.
Now, I couldn’t find any gunsmith around that had the screw assembly. They told me that Taurus doesn’t prefer to sell items for the stores’ stock.
They had the spring but not the tip. Taurus rep was aggravatingly monotone and couldn’t tell me when the tip would be back in stock. She just had no idea somehow. Couldn’t tell me from a month, six months, or two years.
She wouldn’t let me pay for it so that when it does come in they could just process and send it to me. She had to know the serial number to sell me the part even though I knew what I needed. She wouldn’t sell it to me without a SN. I felt like they are doing what the govt can’t do...register their firearms. I have to leave a credit card number so when and if they get the $1.50 part, they can attach a $9 shipping charge so I have to leave $11 in my acct that I use with a budget so sometimes it gets down to a few dollars but they couldn’t help that because of their policy of not letting me buy it all now, including two separate shipping charges. Maybe that’s a tactic to get more revenue, I dunno. Bean counters like doing stuff like that. They learn how to do it in college. She said they were unable to send me a receipt in an email. I had to write down my purchase number on a post-it note. How can it be 2020 and they can’t send a confirmation of order via email? If you notice, I was told no a bunch through this phone call. This all culminated into me asking for another number or website to file a formal complaint to their process and not to complain about her. Guess what...she said she didn’t have a number to give me and that she didn’t know of a website that one could go to and do that. It topped off the phone order with a seriously poor system of doing business. They aren’t so good of a firearm manufacturer that I will still want their products no matter how bad their system after a sell is to a customer. I got nothing the way I wanted it.
Oh, and it took 27 minutes just to get a live person on the phone.
Have any of you Gunsmith’s or mechanically inclined firearms enthusiast’s ever had a similar thing happen to you? The couple of companies that I’ve dealt with for after the sell issues haven’t been nearly as obtuse as Taurus was today. Ruger is FAR more easy to do business with.

 

[1942bull]

One reason I sold my G2c was because of the numerous customer service and repair complaints on Taurusarmed.net. I expected that the budget gun would eventually need service which is common for Taurus guns more so than other better brands. I just knew I would not want the hassle.

 

[Roamin_Wade]

One reason I sold my G2c was because of the numerous customer service and repair complaints on Taurusarmed.net. I expected that the budget gun would eventually need service which is common for Taurus guns more so than other better brands. I just knew I would not want the hassle.

The fellow who had bought the gun around 2000-2001 was 80+ years old and eats Thanksgiving at my parents house in Wimberley. Two years ago we took my sons’ new deer rifle so he could show his new deer rifle to his PawPaw. The guy noticed that my son was using the trigger to collapse the firing pin when he closed the bolt. Apparently he doesn’t have much family or he knows that nobody in his family will want them when he passes. He surprised us the next day when he brought this Judge to me and a PRISTINE Browning A-Bolt .22 S,L, and LR caliber. Just gave them to us. My Dad got a 357 Revolver.
All this just to say that I didn’t choose this gun. It’s sweet and I didn’t already have one so hell yea I appreciate it! It is the polished SS model and he put Crimson Trace grips on it.

 

[BBBBill]

As noted, Taurus customer service is nonexistent. That's one of several reasons that I stopped selling them back when I had an FFL. The part you need should be simple to make for anyone with a lathe. Heck, someone with a drill press and files could make a serviceable part.

 

[ericuda]

I got an email a couple days ago from the president saying it changing. Not sure how to copy it here, bet it is on their website.

 

[bersaguy]

About 5 years ago, I had to send my TCP back to Taurus for a (I believe) a broken linkage in the trigger bar...it just stopped bringing the hammer back far enough to have enough energy to detonate a primer. They had it for 3 months...3 freaking months!. During that time, there was no customer service, no update, nobody to really get a straight answer out of. Very frustrating. That being said, when it finally did come back, it was perfect. It used to be a little picky on ammo...eats everything now. So, I have mixed feelings, the product is decent, I've carried TCPs pretty much every day for 7 years. Ive had others, but I keep coming back to this golblessed Taurus because it fits right, I can shoot it well and it conceals perfectly. So, while the warranty process and customer service is intolerable, I've been satisfied with the results of that process.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Lower purchase prices do not necessarily mean lower cost of ownership. You’ll pay in dollars or other ways.

 

[Charlie98]

I bought 2 Taurus PT1911's a few years ago... when they were $400 on sale. I've since sold both of them. One shot so far left as to be laughable, and that was even after I swapped parts between the two trying to find a magical combination. The other's slide was so soft, the slide metal peened into the firing pin retention plate, basically welding it in place. You can have the best customer service in the world, but if the basic product is shoddy... I have no use for it, lifetime warranty notwithstanding.

 

[Speedo66]

The poor customer service woman's monotone voice is probably because she's used to saying no and getting yelled at for abysmal company policy.

Wonder what their personnel turn over rate is?

Sorry for your experience there. I'm at the point where part of my gun buying decision is dictated by how well I think a company's service is.

 

[BBBBill]

The mark of a quality product is: quality engineering/design, quality materials, and quality manufacturing. If any of those is missing you have failure.

The only Taurus products that I've not personally had issues with are the model 85 revolver (S&W J frame inspired). I suspect that is just luck.

 

[Roamin_Wade]

The poor customer service woman's monotone voice is probably because she's used to saying no and getting yelled at for abysmal company policy.

Wonder what their personnel turn over rate is?

Sorry for your experience there. I'm at the point where part of my gun buying decision is dictated by how well I think a company's service is.

Amen to that.

 

[Catpop]

I don’t do Taurus anymore because of customer service problems too
I own two Taurus revolvers, both broken. I keep them to remind me not to buy another one.

 

[JERRY]

with all the customer service horror stories out there regarding Taurus, why would anyone even remotely familiar with firearms buy a Taurus? I've owned a few Tauruses in the past and they were good guns, but the last decade or so it seems they have.... well, lets just say good luck to the next guy that buys one.

 

[boom boom]

During the explosion of buying firearms since 9/11, companies did not have to necessarily focus on customer service as you would have to in leaner years. Some name brand companies have had issues as well, cough Remington and its sister companies, Smith and Wesson, etc. A tougher sales environment means that ironically, a company has to resolve its problems or go out of business.

Even today, outside of firearms, how many other name brands have been used to sell all sorts of garbage by fooling customers via a brand name with a lack of service as well. Tools, electronics, etc. are being made to basically throw away when broken.

 

[BBBBill]

Tools, electronics, etc. are being made to basically throw away when broken

My current microwave, A Whirlpool, was made in June 1998. It is used every day and still looks and performs as new. They cannot make any money making them like that. I have no doubt that when it dies its replacement will not be nearly as good.

 

[swagbrdr]

Wouldn’t buy a Taurus. Problem solved. Sell it, and get a real handgun.

 

[Clemson]

Here is the letter that Taurus sent out to all dealers and probably to some customers. I hope the guy comes through with the promised changes:

https://www.taurususa.com/wp-conten...00428.pdf?mc_cid=878eaae99f&mc_eid=2b092a6965

 

[BBBBill]

Here is the letter that Taurus sent out to all dealers and probably to some customers. I hope the guy comes through with the promised changes:

Me, too.

 

[boom boom]

My current microwave, A Whirlpool, was made in June 1998. It is used every day and still looks and performs as new. They cannot make any money making them like that. I have no doubt that when it dies its replacement will not be nearly as good.

One of the issues I understand involving electronics is the use of no lead solder required by the EU. Since China and SE Asia are making the same electronics for worldwide distribution, they use lead free solder even if the US does not require it. Tin only solder can eventually make whiskers over time and given the short distances on circuit boards nowadays, short out the circuit board--item is now dead. Throw in lousy capacitors that leak and line surges and sags, it is a wonder that electronics last as long as they do. Old fashioned stuff with dials controls using contacts, etc. and a minimum of electronics lasts until mechanical wear takes it out.

Bear this in mind if you have a bunch of fancy electronics on your optics.

 

[SSN Vet]

As they implement these changes, they will incur costs, which will hit their bottom line and drive prices up.

Nothing is free in this world.... deeply discounted fire arms manufacturers can only float their financial boat by cutting costs in other areas. And CS is usually the first thing to go.

So expect to see their prices increase.

Taurus build their name as a maker of discount fire arms... it's going to be hard for them to morph into a brand known for high quality.

 

[chickasaw_hunter]

I read the letter above and I hope they succeed in the goals of the letter, time will tell. I've always considered Taurus a crap shoot sometimes you can get lucky and other times you get screwed. My only experience is with their revolvers really. I have bought three over the years. I bought all of those because of what seemed to be a price that was too good to be true. So I took a chance. I won the crap shoot two of the three times. The third required a phone call to customer service, I got some kid that knew nothing about guns, it was very hard to talk with him, he didn't know a cylinder from a barrel. I was put on hold several times, I believe so he could go find someone to talk too. All I needed was a sideplate screw what an ordeal. They did not have any in stock and didn't know when they would be making any more. I had given that third pistol to my daughter and had to rob a screw from pistol number 2 so she could use it. Somewhere between six and nine months later an envelope showed up in the mail with a single side plate screw in it. No paperwork or anything to explain what it was, took me a few minutes to put it all together. So I put the new side plate screw into pistol 2, that had been languishing in my safe unable to be fired for lack of a side plate screw. Never say never, I could walk into a gun shop tomorrow and see some hot deal on a Taurus and be tempted, but probably not. I'm not a Taurus haterer, I just recognize that buying one is a crapshoot and if you lose the throw, getting parts and help from Taurus will be another throw of the dice.

 

[General Geoff]

Taurus build their name as a maker of discount fire arms... it's going to be hard for them to morph into a brand known for high quality.

They got a good start with my 692SS revolver (purchased new last month). It has better fit and finish than both of my S&W revolvers (also purchased new).


Seriously, a very well-built piece. Have about 400 rounds of 9mm through it and its just as tight as new, zero problems and very accurate.

 

[whatnickname]

An unfortunate and all too common transaction that has been part and parcel of the Taurus customer experience for years. Coupled with spotty quality, a recipe for disaster. Frankly I’m surprised that Taurus is still in business. This is just a shame. They have the ability to make quality products. Some of their stuff runs well all of the time. Some of their stuff runs well some of the time and some of it never runs...at least for very long anyway.

By contrast, let’s look at a fairly recent transaction I had with Ruger. Bought a used MKII 22 pistol...6&7/8” target model mounted with a red dot electronic sight. The B-Square mount just wouldn’t stay put...kept wanting to slide off the receiver under recoil after a few boxes of ammo. Decided to take the scope off. Only problem was there was no rear sight on the pistol when I bought it. Called Ruger. Their parts list showed the sight at $38.00...figured S&H would run another $6 or $8...no big deal. Explained that I wanted to purchase the target sight and that the pistol did not have a sight when I bought it used. Like Taurus, the lady asked for the serial number...legitimate question as sometimes there are minor engineering changes to guns that may dictate a different part for a particular gun than what might otherwise be found on current production guns. Next thing she wanted was my address; which I gave her. She said It would probably reach me in a week to ten days and thanked me. I said: “Wait a minute. Don’t you want a credit card number?” The answer was: “No. we’ll just send it to you no charge.” I thanked her. She (Ruger) didn’t have to do that. This transaction happened a year ago. Ruger went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied with a product which had long since been out of production! And that my friends is why I own quite a few Ruger products. You get what you pay for. I own one Taurus product today. A PT 1911. It runs just fine but took two trips back to Taurus (at my expense) to get it right. I’m going to sell it. I will not buy any Taurus products going forward because of their inconsistent quality but, more so, because of their poor customer service. I vote with my wallet in situations like this!

 

[Varminterror]

I used to get quite a few of the Ultralight 85 series revolvers in my shop, cracked main bushing or FP bushing - effectively condemned. Most customers had me handle the return/replacement. Never had any issues.

I wanted some spare parts for a Tracker 17 HMR, including a few firing pins, since the model was discontinued. It took a half a dozen phone calls and some patience, but I bought about $100 in spare parts to keep it going throughout my and my young son’s lifetimes. Most were “factory install only” components. But persistence pays off.

I rebuilt a used and abused 85 Steel which my MIL had bought at a gunshow. It needed an extensive overhaul, and unfortunately, again, many factory install only parts. Equally, there have been several eras of production which have had slight variations - so they sent me 3 different hands to try in this revolver, and unfortunately, none at all fit, so I had to weld and reshape a hand myself.

Most OEM’s seem to ask for serial numbers when placing these orders, but especially Taurus. (I’ve bought THOUSANDS of dollars in parts from Ruger, they ask for a serial number every. single. time). In Taurus’s case, I can attest, that record isn’t necessarily for registration, but in their case, largely because they have had many models with manufacturing eras and different parts. Ruger does it because they want to be sure to open the right pull sheet for the right model (and SOME era dependent compatibility stuff, like getting the right GP front sight, or right Mark series rear blade height). Savage asks for serial numbers whenever I order spare/replacement parts. The only recent time I have had a replacement order NOT require a serial number was a Remington made Marlin which delivered with a broken stock - I called, texted the rep a photo of the broken stock on my phone and had a shipping notification within an hour. For most of these “big brand” firearms manufacturers, there’s really not a preferential treatment of gunsmiths, so I’ve actually fared better by acting like an ignorant owner rather than a gunsmith - at least until I get the right person on the phone, and then Katy, bar the door, because they’re gonna send me a pallet of parts before the day’s over...

 

[BBBBill]

A buddy had several of the Tracker model in various calibers. Two had no forcing cone, a 45LC and a 218 Bee. Fortunately that is an easy as I have the tooling on hand. I've spent a lot of time inside his revolvers over the years. Mostly for trigger jobs, but the Taurus were to correct issues first, then enhancements.