Has anyone else had a problem with Smith & Wesson warranty???

[shawn mccarver]

Well before this post does die I'll ask a more direct question to everyone. My question is what would you do in the case of your warranty return not being able to be repaired and your current firearm not being in production, would you settle for a gun that did not fit your hand properly, was of smaller caliber, and of lesser value? Keep in mind you have a stock of ammo in your current caliber, already own a holster, and misc accessories for said gun. What would you do?

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You asked, so here goes: Take the 9mm Shield and RUN.

The 9mm Shield is the best of the bunch. The .40 Shield has had more "issues" if you can believe the posts on this forum. The .45 Shield is too new, and I would not trust that all of the "kinks" are corrected yet. And, 9mm ammo is more affordable, will do fine in the stopping power department if you use currently made premium ammo, and you will have less recoil, more rounds in the magazine, and the weapon will have a MUCH better trigger than your 457 ever thought about having.

The 457 was the Value Line version of the 4516, and as such, it occupied a place in the line now held by the SDVE Series (the current version of the original SIGMA).

Frankly, I think S&W is going above and beyond to offer you a new gun. As the 457 is no longer in production, they are giving you what amounts to a current production premium pistol in the most tested and reliable version in exchange for a battered frame, out of production, Value Line model.

Personally, I would take the deal they have offered without hesitation, and hope that my answer were received before S&W changes its mind.

 

[Michaeljlee1980]

You asked, so here goes: Take the 9mm Shield and RUN.

The 9mm Shield is the best of the bunch. The .40 Shield has had more "issues" if you can believe the posts on this forum. The .45 Shield is too new, and I would not trust that all of the "kinks" are corrected yet. And, 9mm ammo is more affordable, will do fine in the stopping power department if you use currently made premium ammo, and you will have less recoil, more rounds in the magazine, and the weapon will have a MUCH better trigger than your 457 ever thought about having.

The 457 was the Value Line version of the 4516, and as such, it occupied a place in the line now held by the SDVE Series (the current version of the original SIGMA).

Frankly, I think S&W is going above and beyond to offer you a new gun. As the 457 is no longer in production, they are giving you what amounts to a current production premium pistol in the most tested and reliable version in exchange for a battered frame, out of production, Value Line model.

Personally, I would take the deal they have offered without hesitation, and hope that my answer were received before S&W changes its mind.

As I said it does not fit my hand and I already have lots of .45 ammo.

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[JAREDSHS]

You asked, so here goes: Take the 9mm Shield and RUN.

The 9mm Shield is the best of the bunch. The .40 Shield has had more "issues" if you can believe the posts on this forum. The .45 Shield is too new, and I would not trust that all of the "kinks" are corrected yet. And, 9mm ammo is more affordable, will do fine in the stopping power department if you use currently made premium ammo, and you will have less recoil, more rounds in the magazine, and the weapon will have a MUCH better trigger than your 457 ever thought about having.

The 457 was the Value Line version of the 4516, and as such, it occupied a place in the line now held by the SDVE Series (the current version of the original SIGMA).

Frankly, I think S&W is going above and beyond to offer you a new gun. As the 457 is no longer in production, they are giving you what amounts to a current production premium pistol in the most tested and reliable version in exchange for a battered frame, out of production, Value Line model.

Personally, I would take the deal they have offered without hesitation, and hope that my answer were received before S&W changes its mind.

Sounds like good advice....

 

[Muss Muggins]

As I said in my earlier posts it has sat in my safe for the past 9 years. I finally decided to put a box of 100 rounds through it to see what would happen. This is what happened. I have not any battle. Why couldn't you answer my last couple questions? Is it that you are set in your ways and you must be correct. I don't think anyone will judge you if you change your mind on this because you have seen the light. If you don't want to be involved in this post please by all means go ahead and move on. There are many people on here who are at the bare minimum being educated on what the s&w warranty is. I'm OK with that.

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I completely understand what S&W means by "lifetime warranty," along with what other entities mean by lifetime warranty. People that don't walk around mad. My suggestion to you is to engage an attorney and sue for specific performance . . .

(edit: I don't pretend to suppose what forum members know or don't know about the S&W warranty, although I suspect you'd be quite surprised. Many members, including myself, have spent time at the factory, and there is a multitude of years of experience here.)

 

[Protected One]

As I said it does not fit my hand and I already have lots of .45 ammo.

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Sell it to someone whose hand it does fit and put the money towards a .45!

 

[Michaeljlee1980]

I completely understand what S&W means by "lifetime warranty," along with what other entities mean by lifetime warranty. People that don't walk around mad. My suggestion to you is to engage an attorney and sue for specific performance . . .

(edit: I don't pretend to suppose what forum members know or don't know about the S&W warranty, although I suspect you'd be quite surprised. Many members, including myself, have spent time at the factory, and there is a multitude of years of experience here.)

Mad? I am expressing my concern and that I am unhappy with the results but I never said I was mad. Also I never said this was a performance issue. S&W's gunsmith told me the gun was unsafe to shoot but it is funny that the service department told me they would return the gun and they were fine with me continuing to shoot it. Maybe at that point I could contact an attorney. You don't suppose but you suspect huh? Just because there is a multitude of experience there means nothing if it isn't good experience. The service folks I have been dealing with have only been there a little over a year. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of experience there does it? A new hire doesn't have the experience or history for the entirety of said company.

 

[bob98366]

My experience has been very good.

After about 15,000 rounds fired, the slide stop broke off on my M&P40 Pro. Called S&W customer service. They emailed a shipping document and returned it fixed in under 3 weeks. No charge to me for anything and they included a 10 round mag for free.

Also later called to buy spare recoil and striker springs. Customer service just mailed them to me at no cost.

YMMV, but I'm a happy shooter.

 

[Michaeljlee1980]

After about 15,000 rounds fired, the slide stop broke off on my M&P40 Pro. Called S&W customer service. They emailed a shipping document and returned it fixed in under 3 weeks. No charge to me for anything and they included a 10 round mag for free.

Also later called to buy spare recoil and striker springs. Customer service just mailed them to me at no cost.

YMMV, but I'm a happy shooter.

The first 2 times they replaced the frame under warranty no problem and with great customer service. This is gun replacement and with a completely different attitude from customer service (new employees for sure). Trust me when I say I was more than shocked that this was their decision.

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[Muss Muggins]

Mad? I am expressing my concern and that I am unhappy with the results but I never said I was mad. Also I never said this was a performance issue. S&W's gunsmith told me the gun was unsafe to shoot but it is funny that the service department told me they would return the gun and they were fine with me continuing to shoot it. Maybe at that point I could contact an attorney. You don't suppose but you suspect huh? Just because there is a multitude of experience there means nothing if it isn't good experience. The service folks I have been dealing with have only been there a little over a year. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of experience there does it? A new hire doesn't have the experience or history for the entirety of said company.

Duly noted . . .

 

[rwsmith]

Alternatives....

If your car has a warranty for the rest of you life like the gun has a warranty for the rest of your life that would be an accurate assumption. However it's not, so this is fairly more complicated still not rocket science either. If s&w puts a warranty on a product for the rest of your life wouldn't you expect them to uphold that warranty not just a warranty of till they run out of parts? And the same and only part that has been replaced by the way. Maybe the problem wasn't even fixed the first 2 times I sent it back to have work done only the part that had obvious damage to it could have been replaced. The way I see it is they warranty a product of X amount of $. If it fails because of them using sub-par materials numerous times that is not my fault and they would replace it with parts that cost that same amount of $.

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If the gun was that bad back in 2005, you probably should have dealt with it then.

Write them a nasty letter
Get a lawyer
Call the Better Business Bureau
Never buy another S&W product and advise others to do the same.

To me, settling would be satisfactory. You may collect but it wil cost a lot of money and time and I doubt you will get completely satisfactory results. If you can go higher up the chain and convince someone to comply, more power to you. Some people have the guts and persistence to do that. Like my sister. But I'm not that way. I cut my losses best I can and move on.

It's very possible that the company we know is fading into typical corporate-Americanism. That stuff happens.

 

[TrainingCounselor]

Michaeljlee1980,
Take the deal. Have the gunshop which values you as a customer do the ship and receive. Then they are holding a new factory gun, and you can work the deal for a gun you want to have. Best of all worlds.
Let us know. It's good to see the resolution on things that turn out not to be as simple as they should be, or how we hope they will be.

 

[iPac]

Consider this a learning lesson. Do you know what I do when a company fails to resolve something to my satisfaction? I no longer give them my business.

Take what they will give you for free, sell it, then go buy something you want from another maker. I hear Beretta makes a fine PX4 in 45. I love my compact in 9mm.

 

[WGSNewnan19]

to the op - i have a question for you. what exactly did you pay for the 457 back in the day?
there are lots of used 457's out there for 350-400. if you absolutely must have that gun because it fits your hand then take what they give you and sell it. you can buy another one.

 

[cardguy]

I had a bad barrel in my 9 CORE, sent the gun back on their dime, 2 weeks later I got the gun back with a very accurate barrel. No complaints.

 

[Michaeljlee1980]

to the op - i have a question for you. what exactly did you pay for the 457 back in the day?
there are lots of used 457's out there for 350-400. if you absolutely must have that gun because it fits your hand then take what they give you and sell it. you can buy another one.

Out the door I spent almost $650. I have yet to find one in that great of condition. Most 457s that I have found have extreme wear with dings and dents all over them and are still about $375 and up.

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[Michaeljlee1980]

Michaeljlee1980,
Take the deal. Have the gunshop which values you as a customer do the ship and receive. Then they are holding a new factory gun, and you can work the deal for a gun you want to have. Best of all worlds.
Let us know. It's good to see the resolution on things that turn out not to be as simple as they should be, or how we hope they will be.

Unfortunately dealer cost on the shield they offered me is in the $270 range. Not to much a gun dealer will work with me on there. I already tried that route.

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[Michaeljlee1980]

Consider this a learning lesson. Do you know what I do when a company fails to resolve something to my satisfaction? I no longer give them my business.

Take what they will give you for free, sell it, then go buy something you want from another maker. I hear Beretta makes a fine PX4 in 45. I love my compact in 9mm.

This is why I have a problem. If I want to get a gun comparable to the gun the warranty I have to still be a customer and pay them an additional $220 plus fees. I won't be buying anymore s&w because of this whole ordeal.

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[Michaeljlee1980]

I had a bad barrel in my 9 CORE, sent the gun back on their dime, 2 weeks later I got the gun back with a very accurate barrel. No complaints.

And if they no longer were able to fix your current gun they would offer you a gun of much less value. Would you be OK with that? As I have stated before there warranty work was good when I had the same part replaced 2 times in the past but the gun replacement is the issue this time

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[JAREDSHS]

well.........so what are you going to do...?

I see some 457's listed on several sites for $200.00 and up to $389.00 or so......just say'in.

 

[Michaeljlee1980]

well.........so what are you going to do...?

I see some 457's listed on several sites for $200.00 and up to $389.00 or so......just say'in.

I'm in the process of trying to contact James Kelly he is the director of customer services. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time finding his contact information. As soon as I know I've reached the top of the chain and get an answer set in stone I will then make my decision. I will keep everyone posted on the outcome. I just have a hard time settling for something that is nothing like my original purchase. Let's just say I settle and get the shield and s&w decides to discontinue that firearm soon and it needs to be replaced for whatever reason. Then I get another downgrade. I mean I'll be in an air rifle before I know it.

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