My 642 cratered so I send it back to S&W. They said it couldn't be fixed so they are gonna send me a new one.

OK, got no problem with that, and even with their backlog it didn't take an unreasonable amount of time to get the gun to my dealer.

Being its a new gun and new serial number it has to go through a dealer. Again, I have no problem with that.

But here is the caveat, while I'm filling out the paper work wife is walking around the store and comes up with a Model 637 w/CT grips.

So my no cost replacement cost me over $650. Not to mention that I also have to buy her a holster for her new gun.

Besides that, S&W guns come in cardboard boxes now, not the hard plastic cases. I sent my old 642 to S&W in its original plastic case and it doesn't come back, plus wife's new 637 comes in a cardboard box.

Life just isn't fair, next time I send a gun to S&W I'm gonna wrap it in an old sock, next time I go to the gun store I'm gonna make the wife stay in the truck.

Some people pay a lot of money for those cardboard boxes. Take it out and roll it in the dirt and put dings in it and then sell it as a vintage box.

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Still Running Against the Wind

A couple of errors to avoid the next time.

1) If you send a gun back to the manufacturer for repair/replacement, don't use the original box. Additionally, if you replaced any stock parts with aftermarket parts, put the stock parts back in. I've never had it happen, but others have had S&W replace aftermarket springs to bring the gun back to "as manufactured" condition. When I sent my 442 back because of the frame crack, I took out the Wolff rebound and main springs and put the original grips back on.

My 442 came in a cardboard box, which is sitting on the shelf next to the cardboard box the replacement came in.

2) NEVER bring your wife to a gun store. If she has no interest in guns, she'll have an interest in prices. Which means that you won't be able to convince her that your shiny new 1911 only cost $150.00. I don't have to tell you what happens if she does have an interest in guns. My wife has started talking about buying her first gun and I'm terrified of what will happen if she ever walks into a gun store.

I would call S&W and see if they could send you a plastic box. Those things are worth about $50 to replace.

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Luke 22:36

My Bodyguard 380 came in a cardboard box - but my M&P 45 has a plastic case and a buddy's recent M&P 22 also has plastic case.

I believe the instructions from most manufacturers on return indicate that you should NOT include any thing but the firearm and possible a single magazine (although that may depend on if the issue may be related to the magazine).

It would be nice if a shop would as a courtesy to the customer keep track of everything that arrived in an RMA package and keep it all together to make sure it is all returned. Not sure about damaged or broken parts that are replaced, but whenever I have had automotive work done there was generally a check box on the estimate indicating that you wanted any removed parts returned to you. Of course in the automotive world broken parts often have a core value or at least scrap value.

I am an engineer. I had lightweight springs made for my Model 27-2 that yielded a 2# trigger pull. I sent the gun in for shaving lead and the rascals replaced that spring and did not return it.

I have heard of folks sending their guns without the magazine and they get it returned with a new mag. Doesn't seem like a big deal at the receiving dep't. to note that a mag was not included. I have had several people say this works.

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Luke 22:36

I have sent a gun(s) back in a basic cardboard box using their Fed Ex shipping. It is returned in a nice cardboard heavy box with padding. I have saved those so any gun that goes back goes in one of those.

ALWAYS remove any extras you put on the gun, they will fix it back to SW specs. Like springs, removed IL etc. Always write a letter with exactly what you send in and why. I type mine.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Cpt Kraig ... I would be livid about the $650 expenditure to get your 642 replaced. Yes indeed I would be. So much so that I would double down and spend another $650 on a replacement for the replacement. That'll show them.

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I'm with the banned ...

Love is a beautiful thing. Nobody said it was cheap.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Write a letter to S&W telling them about how much they cost you and demand a reimbursement, or at least a coupon.

Man, that sucks. Sent a Beretta back wrapped carefully in just a cardboard box, they sent it back in a new plastic case. Guess now i know better than to ship a S&W in a good case!!

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NRA Life member

Gee, I remember the good old days back in the 1950s when if you ordered a gun ( rifle or shotgun) from Klein's Sporting goods in Chicago, the mailed you the gun unwrapped and stuck an address label on the butt stock, and it came right to your door, courtesy of the USPS ! For $15.95 I ordered two rolling block Remington 7 mm carbines, Mexican revolution battle field pick ups that way,and one came COCKED AND LOADED all the way to San Diego from Chicago. The gun had probably been that way for 40 yrs. in a pile of same in some Mexican arsenal. Ed.

I take my wife to the gun store all the time. She usually tells me I need to buy this because WE don't have one like it. I don't see a problem there.

As to the box. I got an email questionare from Smith & Wesson once, asking me if I liked the plastic box, or cardboard better. I told them the plastic boxes were too bulky to store, and too nice to just throw away. I said I'd just as soon have a cardboard one. So you can blame me for that.

If you really have to have a plastic one, ask at your local gun store. They've probably got one they'll give you. I know mine does. If nothing else, the usually have an aftermarket one for about $5.00-10.00 that will be the same thing as the plastic ones Smith & Wesson used.

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John 3:16 .

Good luck with making her stay in the truck.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Smith and Wesson still sells the hard plastic cases in their online store. They're $10.58 for the small size and $12.05 for the large size.

I'd hope that they would send one to you at no cost as you sent one in with the gun.

A 637 with CT grips followed me and The Common Law home just last week.

Not sure that's actually the case.

Yep, boxes are cheap.

Product: Blue Plastic Handgun Case Small

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Sure you did

Last month I bought a new S&W686+ and it came in a nice plastic case. Yesterday I bought a S&W performance center 1911 and it too came in a nice big plastic case.