New 642 is defective

[Kho]

Actually, in Florida they do. There's a lemon law on cars. This situation is a little different than that though.

However, many companies will replace a defective item as opposed to repairing it, to maintain customer satisfaction. My iPad 3 was replaced instantly when it had a defect the first week, even though they didn't have to. And Apple even gave me the next model up memory wise. Lenovo does that too.

Your iPad was replaced because it is cheaper to do that than repair it (a repair would generally consist of replacing the board or the screen anyway).

I think you need to reread the lemon law.

I don't understand the OP's distrust of a repaired gun. By his logic, he should also distrust a properly functioning gun because there might be a hidden defect that hasn't reared its ugly head yet. If you put a few hundred rounds through the returned gun with no issues, then you are good to go.

Actually, in Florida they do. There's a lemon law on cars. This situation is a little different than that though.

However, many companies will replace a defective item as opposed to repairing it, to maintain customer satisfaction. My iPad 3 was replaced instantly when it had a defect the first week, even though they didn't have to. And Apple even gave me the next model up memory wise. Lenovo does that too.

 

[AlHunt]

Too bad. The selling dealer should have replaced it with a perfect gun. Yes, they'd have to deal with the transfers and they should have done it at their trouble and expense. Then all we'd be talking about is their spectacular customer service. And Stevewins would have been a customer for life. Instead, they're just another run of the mill dealer more interested in your money than in you.

Too bad, really.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I wonder how that got past test-firing. Or, are they still test-firing?

 

[shawn mccarver]

Actually, in Florida they do. There's a lemon law on cars. This situation is a little different than that though.

Correct. Your situation IS different. "Lemon laws" do not get you a new car for a single repair. Those laws only work to get you a new car if the same repair is made several times, and the car just cannot be made right.

It sounds to me like this is the first complaint with your new revolver.

They might give you a new revolver, but I would bet all you will get is a repair.

I still wonder just how this revolver made it past test-firing.

 

[wrangler5]

I didn't think they test fired all chambers, just a few. I think my 638 came with 3 burn rings out of 5 chambers.

 

[Boogsawaste]

All the new ones I bought had 3 burn rings. Luck of the odds I guess.

 

[rifmon]

So LGS's will exchange an obvious manufacturer's flaw. I bought a titanium j frame and after I left with it I noticed the barrel was canted to the left. I brought it back and they exchanged it for me right away. You never know till you try!

 

[Hapworth]

You have no reasonable expectation of receiving another gun. Car dealers and manufacturers do not give out new cars when something goes wrong. It is repaired under warranty. Same with your revolver. It is unreasonable to expect another gun. It is reasonable to expect it to be repaired under warranty.

In this particular case it's likely that a new cylinder or reamed current one is all that's needed, but it isn't at all unreasonable to consider the possibility of total replacement -- there are many instances of small problems on a revolver resulting new revolvers rather than fixes, like when a hammer or trigger stud shears.

 

[Hapworth]

...I still wonder just how this revolver made it past test-firing.

Seems simple: the gun was test-fired, functioned fine on the few charge holes that worked, sent to marketplace.

Perfectly fair.

S&W promises a gun that will fire; too many folks think that five or six charge holes is to increase firepower -- not so, it's to increase the odds that one'll work and so a functioning firearm will be delivered as promised.

No warranty issue here, kids...

 

[CajunBass]

Out of line? No, but it's not going to happen because of the paperwork and it's not the dealer's fault.

Call S&W. Turn around time is not that bad on warranty work.

What paperwork? Let's assume you have a defective gun and take it back to the dealer. There is no "paperwork" problem. Dealer buys the gun back from you, same as if you walked in and wanted to sell it. He gives you full price for it. The gun is entered into his books as a "used gun." It's now his.

You then buy a new gun to replace the defective one. No problem.

My dealer has done it on a couple of occasions when I bought a gun that was defective. Did they "have to?" Probably not, but they did, and the "paperwork" was not a problem...or an excuse.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Actually, in Florida they do. There's a lemon law on cars. This situation is a little different than that though.

However, many companies will replace a defective item as opposed to repairing it, to maintain customer satisfaction. My iPad 3 was replaced instantly when it had a defect the first week, even though they didn't have to. And Apple even gave me the next model up memory wise. Lenovo does that too.

Apples and oranges. It's a lot more cost efficient to give you a new Ipad than trying to figure out and fix the old one. And as far as the lemon law is concerned-they have a right to fix the car first-replacement is the LAST option. You have a right to expect and get a replacement cylinder which will fix the problem. Demanding a whole new gun is unreasonable and probably ain't gonna happen..

 

[Boogsawaste]

there are many instances of small problems on a revolver resulting new revolvers rather than fixes, like when a hammer or trigger stud shears.

I don't want to step on any toes or anything but I'm guessing the reason they swap for new guns with sheared studs is because the gun would need a refinish after hand blending the new stud in. I'm guessing the labor will outweigh the cost of a new gun for them, and also the time involved. Of course this is pure speculation on my side and could be completely wrong!

Also about the OP being concerned about his repaired gun being inferior to a new one. Don't forget that your defective cylinder came on a new gun too. What's to say your new one won't have any problems that you might not be aware of? With your current gun being repaired I'd actually feel more comfortable having that one since it'll have a second look at by the factory.

As others suggested, when you get it back shoot it a bunch until your fears fade. Of course you're free to do whatever you like also. If you must buy a new one because they don't replace yours, that's your choice. Just remember the new one might have an issue too...Good luck and keep us posted with what s&w decides.

 

[MichiganScott]

What paperwork? Let's assume you have a defective gun and take it back to the dealer. There is no "paperwork" problem. Dealer buys the gun back from you, same as if you walked in and wanted to sell it. He gives you full price for it. The gun is entered into his books as a "used gun." It's now his.

You then buy a new gun to replace the defective one. No problem.

My dealer has done it on a couple of occasions when I bought a gun that was defective. Did they "have to?" Probably not, but they did, and the "paperwork" was not a problem...or an excuse.

Entered into his books when he takes it back, removes it from the books when he send it back, all the new paperwork and background check when he sells you a new gun. Bigger shops with all the help they need can do it. At a smaller one man shop, customers are building up and getting irritated because of the wait when all they want is a brick of primers.

S&W will probably just run a finishing reamer in the OP's cylinder and send it back. A new gun's not going to happen.

 

[Stevewins]

What paperwork? Let's assume you have a defective gun and take it back to the dealer. There is no "paperwork" problem. Dealer buys the gun back from you, same as if you walked in and wanted to sell it. He gives you full price for it. The gun is entered into his books as a "used gun." It's now his.

You then buy a new gun to replace the defective one. No problem.

My dealer has done it on a couple of occasions when I bought a gun that was defective. Did they "have to?" Probably not, but they did, and the "paperwork" was not a problem...or an excuse.

That has been my experience too, 4 or 5 times over the last 40 years or so. S&W received the 642 back today, so I'll probably hear something in the next week or two I imagine.

 

[Stevewins]

Apples and oranges. It's a lot more cost efficient to give you a new Ipad than trying to figure out and fix the old one.

iPads are not that hard to fix, mine had a software problem and all it needed was to have the OS reloaded. The Apple store gave me a brand new, more expensive model than the one I bought because that is Apple's business model. That is what they always do when you buy it directly from their store. It has nothing to do with easier to fix, it's all about customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

You have a right to expect and get a replacement cylinder which will fix the problem. Demanding a whole new gun is unreasonable and probably ain't gonna happen..

The buyer has a right to receive a new product, not a refurbished product, when he pays for a new product.

 

[Norton 750]

To me, having a hand fitted replacement cylinder from a guy that does repair work all day is better than a random "new" gun off the line that is assembled by a guy that might be on the job for two weeks.

 

[ken158]

Gun makers used to keep blank frames & restamp your SN on them if it was defective. I don't think they can do that anymore & there's an AR maker in big trouble over un-marked frames. It's the world we live in.

You are correct - serial numbers must be applied when the manufacturing process has been verified as a completed frame.

 

[9mmsubgun-m11]

I wouldn't be afraid of it after they fixed it. Hell I sent a $1300.00 Performance Center gun back the first week of ownership and they did an excellent job.It is a little too big for a carry gun but I would trust it in that role if need be.

 

[k20350]

Well, the dealer referred me to S&W. They made the call to them this morning, explained the situation, and a sales rep from S&W called me. So, the gun is on its way to Springfield along with a fired Federal case that won't fit in one of the chambers and a persistent letter from me insisting on a new gun.

They wont give it to u. I bought a 317 that was a literal pile of garbage out of the box. Had a multitude of problems. I bleed S&W blue but that thing was a ****. I basically demanded a new gun and they sent me the same frame back with a new barrel, cylinder, and I assume new guts. i never fired it. Sold it off and never looked back. It's the only S&W I EVER had problems with when new. Well i bought a 629 with a cracked grip that i didn't notice till i got home but that very well could have happened at the dealer. S&W sent me a new pair without question.

 

[Clark B]

Some of you guys crack me up. No need for a new gun. Something made small can easily be made a touch larger, and the charge hole is small by just a very few thousands of an inch. Some revolver owners actually send their new revolvers out to have an additional couple thousands honed from the charge holes and to have them uniformed, and then here folks act like that is something bad.