What should I do here? FFL scratched my Gold Cup.

[JB357MAG]

I recently got my dream gun, have wanted one since the mid
80's a Colt Gold Cup National Match new in box.

Did the transfer at my local FFL and after I got it home I noticed a
small ding on the trigger guard and a small rub mark on the top
of one side of the slide in front of the slide serrations.

Its not major, I thought it was maby done in shipping.

The other day I was looking at the FFL's web site and there's
a pic of MY GOLD CUP with a magazine laying on the slide right
exactly where the rub mark is.

They must have taken the pics before they called me to pic it up.

I know its my gun because the mag has a unique area on the side
and its the one in the pic.

I bought this new, I have and will shoot it but wanted to keep it
as nice as possible.

Am I owed some compensation for this?

Jimmy

 

[JB357MAG]

Here is the pic the FFL took with out my prior knowledge.

Jimmy

 

[rhinoh]

I'm not sure I understand.
Why was the receiving FFL messing with your gun?
Seems to me he should leave it alone until you come to pick it up.
If he played with it and caused damage I'd be PO'd and would expect some reparation.

 

[Berserker]

I don't think he should have taken it out of the box. You bought something cool, and he wanted to play with it.

 

[BCRider]

Is it brand new or just "NIB" which indicates that previous owners at least handled it? In the picture it seems like it's got some wear markings at the front of the slide and along the dust cover. If it's not brand new than it might be simply coincidence that the magazine is laying on an already existing mark.

Either way I'd be a bit ticked that the FFL was needlessly handling your gun. Removing from the package to check for serial numbers is one thing. Playing "Barbie and Ken" with it is another. Or did you buy it FROM the FFL? As in the picture is the one on the website in the advertisement?

 

[JB357MAG]

Is it brand new or just "NIB" which indicates that previous owners at least handled it? In the picture it seems like it's got some wear markings at the front of the slide and along the dust cover. If it's not brand new than it might be simply coincidence that the magazine is laying on an already existing mark.

Either way I'd be a bit ticked that the FFL was needlessly handling your gun. Removing from the package to check for serial numbers is one thing. Playing "Barbie and Ken" with it is another. Or did you buy it FROM the FFL? As in the picture is the one on the website in the advertisement?

I got it Brand New in the Box from Buds Guns.

It still had that oil they ship them with on it, thats what the marks
are that you see.

The gun is brand new flawless except the marks I desribed above.

Jimmy

 

[wojownik]

Unfortunately is this is going to boil down to "he-said/she-said", and how stand up of a character of the FSL is going to be.

Unless serial numbers are depicted in the picture I think is going to be a hard to *definitively* prove it is the same pistol as yours. The FFL could have ( or claim it was ) a pic of a similar pistol. The FFL could also note that it was the buyer's responsibility to thoroughly inspect the weapon upon pickup, before leaving the store and completing the transaction, to verify the pistol was delivered as expected.

I'm not defending the FFL per se. I had my own incident several years ago where I picked up a Swiss Sig p228, and when I got it home I noticed a pretty significant ding in the underside of the slide when I disassembled it at home. I called up the FFL to ask their thoughts on what I should do about a return. This FFL was very stand up - he quickly ran down that it was one of his clerks that was playing with the pistol before I picked it up, had disassembled it and dropped the slide pretty hard. He made it right with me in a pretty big way, and pretty much earned my unwavering loyalty as a customer right there.

Unfortunately I can't cite any other FFL in this area that would of stood up like that.

Enjoy your Gold Cup - if you're anything like me, you'll add your own fair share of "character" to that pistol in short order ;^)

 

[Pilot]

You took delivery of it, after inspecting it at the gun shop, correct? I would discuss it with the gun shop owner, and see if he is willing to do anything to rectify the issue. If it is a reputable shop he may offer something like ammo, or some gunsmith work. It never hurts to ask. Maybe he will take the gun back.

 

[Jim Figaniak]

My FFL here in Louisville KY does not even open the box prior to my arrival @ the store !

 

[243winxb]

after I got it home I noticed a
small ding on the trigger guard and a small rub mark on the top
of one side of the slide in front of the slide serrations.

To late, done deal. Contact Buds.

 

[JB357MAG]

I just got back from my FFL, I got an apology and
a card for a free transfer.

Im happy with that.

Jimmy

 

[wojownik]

Good for you! And good for your FFl for acknowledging the issue.

Now I want a Gold Cup, darn you!

 

[dogtown tom]

Berserker I don't think he should have taken it out of the box.

Federal law requires the dealer to log the firearm into his records no later than close of business the next day. Kinda hard to do that without opening the box.

Jim Figaniak My FFL here in Louisville KY does not even open the box prior to my arrival @ the store !

Which is possible if the customer arrives before close of business the day after arrival.



****Read this little tidbit from a Houston dealer:
http://houstonffltransfers.com/incoming-ffl-transfers/

•The FFL Transfer Fee is very affordable! We charge $10 per item for transfers for individuals with a Texas CHL License, and $15 per item for individuals with a TXDL. We simply cannot comprehend how some gun shops can ask customers for $50-$80 to sign a gun into a logbook, but we do appreciate the huge amount of transfers we do as a result. Your firearm may be used in a short youtube review video, we do these to help offset our low transfer fee and help pay for server fees for our websites. The firearm will be displayed in the video for approx. 3 minutes, and not fired or tampered with any more than we normally would during the sign in process.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Good Luck !

A friend/co-worker/fellow competitor bought a Colt Gold-Cup back in the '90's.
It came "dinged" the way you describe your's from the factory by Colt.
Besides, it shot horribly. 5-6" groups at 25yds with match grade ammo.
He brought it to the attention of the Colt factory rep at the '95 Police Nationals. The rep just shrugged his shoulders and said "send it back, and the gun isn't warrantee'd for accuracy"... It's a "match style" gun, according to Colt....

Wonder why they are "struggling", hmm..................

 

[Glock Doctor]

You were lucky! I've done plenty of business with gun dealers who would have (and did) behave a lot less honorably. From what I see in the photo that ain't bad. It can, also, be gently removed by by a smith or other machinist with a glass bead polishing machine. You might have to make a few phone or internet inquiries; but, there are plenty of pistolsmiths who have these machines and know how to use them.

(I know Robar does it!)

 

[bottom shelf]

I'm glad you're happy with the way the FFL handled it. Can we see a picture of the damage you described? I overlook small marks knowing that in a year or two normal wear and tear will be much worse and the original marks will be unnoticeable, but I'm wondering how bad they are in your case.

 

[Snyper]

Federal law requires the dealer to log the firearm into his records no later than close of business the next day.

Kinda hard to do that without opening the box.

The serial number is generally on both the invoice and the outside of the box, so opening the box isn't "necessary"

It's good to open the box to confirm, but that doesn't require more than a quick look before returning it

 

[Rule3]

The FFL must get the number off the GUN, not the box. Who knows if they match?

Regardless they handle enough guns that it is not difficult to get a serial number without scratching the firearm. If indeed he did. Who knows? No one ever will. Maybe it came that way. That is why the buyer should inspect completely before doing the transfer. Once you transfer it it is yours. If The gun was damaged You can refuse the transfer and BUDS will pick it up on their dime and replace it or give you money back.

The OP seems to have settled the situation.

 

[dogtown tom]

Snyper

Quote:
Federal law requires the dealer to log the firearm into his records no later than close of business the next day.

Kinda hard to do that without opening the box.

The serial number is generally on both the invoice and the outside of the box, so opening the box isn't "necessary"

It's good to open the box to confirm, but that doesn't require more than a quick look before returning it

We are referring to opening the shipping box, not the factory box inside.

Rule3 The FFL must get the number off the GUN, not the box. Who knows if they match?

I've received two guns since January 1st where the serial# on the packing slip and factory box was different than the what was on the gun.

 

[bannockburn]

JB357MAG

Good to hear that you got some sort of satisfaction from the dealer for their screw-up. Trust this will not happen again with any future transactions.

 

[blarby]

I've received two guns since January 1st where the serial# on the packing slip and factory box was different than the what was on the gun.

We got one of these last week !

And , for those most concerned about FFL's handling your firearms when they come in :

Many firearms are not shipped in truly "sealed" containers from the factory. If its not covered in factory seals ( Glock, for instance ) but comes in a folded cardboard box ( Ruger, for instance ) please assume that everyone along the line has opened that box and verified the contents.

On used gun FFL transfers, this happens on EVERY FIREARM. Nobody trusts that sharpie the guy who shipped it to you wrote on the side of the box.

This does not excuse damage ( like above ), but your firearm will likely be handled if not in a true factory sealed carton.

 

[SSN Vet]

The problem is that Colt puts a bunch of crap in the plastic case and the convoluted foam doesn't adequately prevent it from migrating inside the packaging.

I just bought the new S70 Gold Cup and had a very, very small ding in the serrations on top of the slide, which I believe came from the stupid trigger lock whacking it during shipment. I know this happened during shipment as the FFL received the gun about 15 min. before I got to his place and he only had time to open the case and record the serial #. It was sitting on his desk opened with the contents in the exact position that the sellers on-line pic showed them.

The gun is otherwise perfect, and this little ding will probably only be noticed by me. And since I bought it to shoot it, not to stare at it, I'm choosing not to get upset about it.

The convoluted foam secures the gun, as it is fat and presses deep into the foam fingers. And it secures the magazine, as it is light weight and has very small inertial forces that don't overcome the less firm grip of the foam. But the lock is both thin, heavy, and hard, so it migrates in the case and impacts on the gun.

That said... if Colt is going to put that stupid lock in there, they should drop it in a bubble bag or foam pouch.

"I believe that "normal" handling in transit is causing this damage, so I don't think you can really blame your FFL.

 

[SSN Vet]

PS... I'm a packaging engineer by trade and the company I work for has quoted the foam inserts and molded cases for several major manufacturers.

There isn't a penny of wiggle room on these programs and we never win the high volume bids, as we're not so desperate that we need to drop our pants. Also, we don't employ illegals or temps (as we know some of our competitors do).

Colt's packaging is actually better than most, as their blue case is injection molded with very secure slide latches, and the polyurethane foam is of good quality.

Other big name manufacturers I've seen are using blow molded cases with flimsy latches and a grade of polyurethane foam that is so light and riddled with air pockets that I'd wager it has to be coming from Asia. (there's only a couple companies in the US that "pour" polyurethane. We're well acquainted with the ones on the east coast... and they know they wouldn't get away pawning off this junk on us).

I laid out a really nice custom foam Pelican case insert for a very high dollar (~$4K) custom sniper rifle kit (AR 10 type rifle, with high end optics and bipod) for another big name manufacturer and we had to get the sign off from both their marketing department (aesthetics) and their engineers (function) and their 6 sigma quality guru. But outside of the medical & aerospace industry, I rarely see this kind of attention to detail.

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

if the scratch really bothers you just get some rattle can krylon

 

[boatdoc173]

I recently got my dream gun, have wanted one since the mid
80's a Colt Gold Cup National Match new in box.

Did the transfer at my local FFL and after I got it home I noticed a
small ding on the trigger guard and a small rub mark on the top
of one side of the slide in front of the slide serrations.

Its not major, I thought it was maby done in shipping.

The other day I was looking at the FFL's web site and there's
a pic of MY GOLD CUP with a magazine laying on the slide right
exactly where the rub mark is.

They must have taken the pics before they called me to pic it up.

I know its my gun because the mag has a unique area on the side
and its the one in the pic.

I bought this new, I have and will shoot it but wanted to keep it
as nice as possible.

Am I owed some compensation for this?

Jimmy

HI

IF it is stainles s steel--I cannot tell from pic

Glenn @ Dan Wesson had me use a scotchbrite ultra fine pad to"sand" and polish the scratches in my Dan WEsson heritage-- their stainless scratches wen I just look at it--LOL

bought a box of the scotchbrite from amazon for less than 20 bucks--enough to last years--I also use metal polich to finish the job-- hope this helps you--I know the frustration of buying NEW and not getting it-- you case is worse--your FFL did you wrong and should fix it--BUT that said--are they a gunsmith too? if not do it yourself or risk more problems