I bought several Crimson Trace lasers when they offered "Free batteries for life." Not sure if they still do.

You've always had to jump through some hoops to get the batteries. At first, an email worked. Now you need to fill out a ridiculous form for every laser every time. And yet months after filling out the forms, no batteries.

I think S&W might reconsider bundling products from a company that doesn't honor its obligations.

Richard

Sounds like they used this as a sales tactic and now they're not interested in keeping up their end of the deal...with the bottom dollar being their true motivation and greediness of companies these days I am not at all surprised. It's very rare to find a company that stands by what they market without adding fine print in an attempt to disqualify you from your benefits or claims...they're focused on the initial sale and profit, they don't seem to be interested in making lifelong customers and keeping those customers happy down the line.

Sent from my moto e6 using Tapatalk

I agree and still awaiting the batteries. I sent Crimson Trace an email requesting a delivery update and never received even the courtesy of a reply...perhaps they bundled their reply with their batteries?

I don't have a CT Laser but was curious on the program. From what could find, it’s basically 1 battery per year per item.

“ Under this program, the original purchaser of a qualifying product purchased new at retail may receive from Crimson Trace up to one (1) set of new batteries per calendar year, per qualifying product registered, for the life of the product. ”

OP, how long does your battery set last before it needs replacing? Is it more often than once per year? If its a #2032 battery its cheap enough they may hope owners just replace on their own, instead of contacting them for a free one.
Or perhaps if CT has staff offsite due to covid related restrictions, their follow up could be delayed. Which could explain why so long for feedback or batteries now.

It's easier for me to buy a battery locally than jumping through hoops and getting distressed about getting a battery. Their little certificate is still in the box.

And I am sure this is what they're hoping for, the fact that they can make it just hard enough that you'd rather spend your own money and get a replacement battery rather than making them stock to their obligation...sad!

Sent from my moto e6 using Tapatalk

I bought one of their lasers last year (for a gun I no longer own) and sent in the warranty card. About a month later I got a new battery in the mail. Didn't ask for it, didn't need it and gave it to the buyer when I sold the gun. I was impressed. Sorry it's not working out that way now.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I bought a CT in 2011.

I called them in 2014 to ask about the battery. They sent batteries.

However that was before the original owners sold the company.

Some of us have the luxury of being close by so can just stop in while passing by. The really do prefer that you remove the grips from the revolver though before you walk in the door looking for batteries.
I also had a switch go south on me a few years back. I took the grip in and asked if I could get a replacement switch. The nice young lady disappeared behind a closed door and returned shortly with a brand new in the box replacement grip. Right on par with Dillon if you want my opinion. Of course your experience may differ with all the current **** going on in the world.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

S&W owns Crimson Trace, they purchased them in 2016.

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland...-to-smith.html

Extended warranty! How could I lose?

Much less frustration to just buy a new battery when needed.

as with all companies , when the big company(S&W) buys out the little company(CTC) many things that made the little company successful just disappear. Casualties over the years:
SilencioHearingProtection(now gone) Uncle Mikes,Hoppes,KleenBore,
the list goes on and on.....

But is it a scam if you do get a free battery, even if you have to stand on one leg and recite the alphabet backwards?

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Hello darknes my old friend

I got one free battery; however, it was the wrong one for my Shield with the red integrated laser. I also tried to get new batteries for my C-T grips for my P239 about 3 months ago, which they acknowledged I had correctly submitted the required documentation, and they were sending batteries ... received NOTHING !

At this point, I am done with C-T, and consider their battery program to be a TOTAL SCAM.

I bought my first CT years ago for a J frame airweight. I'd just call them when I needed batteries and they'd send however many I said I needed. No fuss, no muss. Dang I miss the good 'ol days of just talking to people who give a **** about customer service.

The CR2032 batteries can be replaced with the much more expensive DL2032 that I have bought @ Home Depot which are Lithium Ion..
They are available just about anywhere, Just Google it..
My Diabetic Sugar Tester = Glucometer uses the same ones & they do wear out from use & aren't designed to last forever.. I keep new ones on hand for when they go bad which is about every six months or less, It gets used 5-6 times a day and yes my fingers are sore.. Hate that thing.. It saves my life though.
I bet that after playing with the laser for a while they start to loose voltage & go dim, Every other battery does too..
They are 3 volt & can be checked with a volt meter..
In fact I have some CR2032 Lithium batteries right here that aren't marked DL but CR JFYI.. I bought these @ Kroger..
I'd also bet they are ALL made in China in the same factory..
You're Mileage May Vary..
So Go Out & Get some new batteries..

I didn't know that S&W had bought Crimson Trace.
Must be why the internal lasers in some older pistols are from Insight Technology..

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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MightShowYouHisSmith&Wesson

Same for me. Didn’t know they changed. Sad.

Guys must play with their laser a lot to need a new battery every year. I keep a few spares but have not needed one yet for the first Streamlight TRL-6 I bought 4 years ago.

I heard that CT had problems with contacts coming loose, it would suck to have the laser that is permanently attached and you have to send the whole gun in to fix the laser problem.

All my light/lasers are easily detachable and are made by Streamlight or Lasermax, like this light and green laser on the .45 Shield.

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U. S. Army Veteran

I am glad that someone else doesn’t like the factory built in laser. Considering how long a firearm can last with reasonable care and how fast technology keeps advancing it is foreseeable that the laser will be useless once manufacturer support ends.

I can't get the link to work and I can't delete this post. Look up the Olight baldr mini or Olight Store.
Search results for: 'baldr mini htm' | OlightStore

Check this one out. It is what I use.

Baldr Mini Micro Tactical Light 600 Lumen | OlightStore

I am sorry to hear the horror stories associated with the Crimson Trace battery-a-year program. In November '19 I won a Crimson Trace CMR204 tactical laser. Even though I have yet to take possession of the P320 Xcompact (still awaiting issuance of the purchase permit) that will wear that laser, I sought my replacement battery back in June or July. Even though I registered the laser at the time I won it, I had to reregister it in order to receive my battery. I viewed the process as their way to confirm that I was the original owner. It took about 6-7 weeks for my free CR2 battery to arrive.

Up until last year, I had never given the idea of a pistol laser a second thought. However, I did install the laser on my G17.5 MOS a few times, and I did like the versatility that it offered. In fact, when I won a P365 this past October, I immediately started looking for a Lima365 to put on it. I am finding that, despite my disabilities, I can put a pistol into play defensively and safely much faster.

Based on my experience with Crimson Trace so far, I really don't believe that their battery-a-month program is a marketing scam. I would like to think that any delays that consumers are experiencing this year are a direct result of the COVID crisis that has hit our country and wreaked havoc with our economy!

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Judge control not gun control!

I'll admit, there have been times I bought Brand B over Brand A because B had something like a mail in rebate or some other freebie. That didn't make Brand B any better or even cheaper than Brand A but I thought I was getting a better value.

Then you go through the gyrations of receipts, forms, mailing/faxing/emailing, and then wait 6-8 weeks (if not more) to get your $2 check (or worse a gift card).

I don't let those kind of things sway me anymore. If I get the rebate, I get it. If not, I'm still happy with my prurchase.

I have at least 10 CTC lasers. I have gotten the free batteries twice mainly because I forget to call. I am pretty sure the last time was >2016. But more important than free batteries, I have never had a CTC laser fail.

This is really your first contribution to the Forum after being a member for 6 years

The "ridiculous form" only asks for your name, E-mail address and phone number. Thet use that to look up the registration card you filled out when you bought your product. They then mail the batteries to the address you registered the product with

So you do not like their method of giving you your FREE batteries.

How does that make it a Scam ?

Myself and my Family have plenty of CT products between us

I change all the batteries every year, on the same day that I change my smoke detector batteries

For more than 10 years now, my batteries have always come FREE from CT.

I give them a call, tell them what I need and in 4-10 days there is an envelope in my mailbox.

I have NEVER jumped through a hoop or had a problem

This is an Honorable Company that manufactures a good product.

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"Acta non verba"

+1 I bought my 642 with one on. I just remember that there were enough hoops to jump through and a lot of info to provide that I decided I would spring for a new battery when needed. The older you get the more you prefer the less time used for the easy way out.

The C-T website asks for name, address, email, serial numbers, battery numbers you are requesting, laser model, laser serial, etc.

I have completed the online form multiple times over the past 18 months, then I receive emails acknowledging that my request was received, then I hear no more from them, and haven't received the batteries.

In my opinion, this is either a scam, or an unacceptable level of incompetence.

My experience with Crimson Trace customer service has been less than stellar. I won't be buying anymore of their grips.

I have six sets of CT lasers. I have called CT and even after S&W had purchased the company I have never had a problem. My last call was 10 months ago and an envelope with all six sets arrived in a few days.
I think calling is better than an e-mail.

I bought a CT laser for my 45 sheild and have been promised the batteries for 4 months and still have not gotten them. No big deal as they are cheap.
However I do not like being lied to.

I'm one of the smart guys that bought a set of 1911 laser grips from a Chinese vendor on Ebay.

They got my twelve dollars and I still don't have my laser grips.

Before anyone feels compelled to remind me that it's Christmas, or about Covid, or which way the wind blows....no worries.

And I have had the opposite to the point they sent me a replacement set of grips on one of their very first introduction products.

Some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you.

Pick up the phone and call. Ignoring emails or simply deleting them on the server with a filter before they even hit the inbox is easy. It's harder for an employee to lie on the phone. Because you can ask Why? Then they have to think of something else to say. Better yet, a snail mail letter to the CEO asking about why they don't follow their own guarantee?

Sounds a little ridiculous to me. If it's a good product who cares about the "free" batteries. Would it be a little disappointing to not get them after being advertised...yes. But it sounds like bitching about a good vehicle because you didn't get the free toaster they offered with purchase...first world problems...

I've had CTs on a Combat Commander for years, never a problem getting batteries with a phone call. Now also have a Kimber Micro 9 with factory rosewood CT. Called to get batteries for both recently. Told that now you must fill out online form. Had to remove grips from both to get serial numbers. Filled out online form, got confirmation on Dec 4, still waiting for batteries. Very disappointed in change, but that's "progress" for you. I hope the batteries arrive eventually, not holding out much hope after reading this thread.

After multiple follow up emails to Crimson Trace without even the courtesy of a reply I called to ask about the free batteries that I still had not received.

They have a record of my request and said that due to changes in how they can now ship batteries they are totally overwhelmed and behind in shipping. When I asked about the lack of email reply they said they don't have enough customer service people to respond.

I mentioned that they were being slammed on this forum as a scam, and the rep had nothing to say. He did tell me it would be at least another 2 months until they could ship the batteries.

My final comment to them was that if this is how they support their marketing programs, it gives me reason to doubt how they handle product development and customer service in general.

If a company cannot follow through on their own marketing, it seems to me that perhaps they should own up to it....and maybe come up with a different marketing plan? Just my opinion, ymmv...

Is there anywhere in any of there marketing material that promises a set delivery time of the free batteries?

Yes, in their confirmation of product registration email they say to allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Delays during a worldwide pandemic are totally understandable. Failure to recognize and acknowledge those delays is simply bad business and lack of customer service...in my opinion...ymmv.

Fair enough. Yeah I get covid extending lead times, but if they are that far outside there range they should really have a banner notification at the top of the relevant web page with the same generic heads up I've seen on plenty of pages "due to disruptions in supply chains shipment of batteries are currently running 3-6 months behind" and a similar pre recorded message if you call.

Crimson Trace free batteries for life worked great 4-5 years ago before they started requiring registration for each laser that actually does not have a registration number. I have four CT laser grips for four of my M&P pistols and they work great. The battery for life program used to work with just a phone call to Crimson Trace and a request for batteries not anymore though. I can suspect that it got abused by people and they ended the program by requiring a number of hoops to jump through. Still a good product though.

In the spirit of full disclosure I did receive my replacement battery via UPS Mail Innovations with final delivery from USPS this past weekend....almost exactly 3 months after it was ordered.
I have no idea if my recent phone call to customer service had anything to do with the shipment arriving when it did. I guess I will find out when I reorder again next year.
As always...ymmv....

Seldom good for a big company to buy a smaller company....hate to hear CTC is no longer its own company.

I never paid attention to their battery offer....I thought it was silly since their batteries last years in my carry gun. I think I've replaced the battery once in 9 years?

I love CTC laser grips so much though, it's the main reason I've stuck with the 5-shot J frame instead of going to a Colt 6 shot Agent or Cobra.

I received an e-mail from Crimson Trace last week informing me that "We are sorry for the extreme delay in response." It has been so long since I contacted C/T that I did not remember what this apology concerned.

I buy laser grip batteries in many different sizes through the year so one free battery per laser per year is not a big deal to me. What IS a big deal (as I stated in my e-mail response to C/T) is that I had my computer hard drive crash months ago and all of the data associated with my dozens of C/T purchases was no longer available.

I received a second e-mail from C/T informing me that they had lost their older laser grip buyer registration data and that I would need to re-register my 40+ C/T laser grips including purchase date and related info.

I sent C/T the above picture and their response was that they were sorry but re-registration was their only acceptable procedure.

I still love the product but I am not a fan of C/T's customer service.

I will admit they are somewhat slow... but I have never failed to get the free battery when requested. I have received 4 so far.

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

Hey all,

A bunch of firsts for me today: I'm making my first post here because I just ordered my first CT product, for my first S&W handgun, and didn't even know about the free battery offer before this.
I'm sorry, but not surprised, to hear that they may make it more trouble than it's worth. Since the light I ordered uses a relatively uncommon CR2 battery, I'm really sort of hoping they do offer--and deliver--free replacements.

Just by the way, those CR and DL batteries are both lithium (NOT Lithium Ion, which is different). The DL just means it's Duracell brand. A Duracell battery may indeed be better and more expensive than a 10-for-a-dollar eBay special battery, but it's not a different chemistry or technology in any way.

Nice meeting you all,

ApK