Why Won't S&W Sell Replacement Walther Label?

Perhaps someone can tell me, maybe someone from Smith & Wesson itself, why Smith & Wesson will not sell a SINGLE/ONE (1) replacement label for my Walther PPK/S .380? I originally bought the pistol with the large storage box, with the gray foam lining, and the printed out label with UPC code on the side. I since found the smaller, injected molded box, which is shaped in the pistol's outline, and also came with a cleaning rod, which I like infinitely better as it is more compact. The problem was, the box I bought (at a really good price at a gun show) has the serial number of the Walther PPK/S .380 that originally came in it. I contacted Smith & Wesson/Walther, and I was told though they HAD such blank labels, they could not sell me one and gave me no explanation. One would think that as a "spare part" and non-federally-controlled-by-law item, they would sell me just ONE (1) LABEL to slap on my "new" case, but no. When I inquired as to why not, my email went without answer. I'm 65, and retired from the US Army, and just want a label for the firearm I own- what gives? I was able to buy a blank one for my Walther TPH .22 on eBay of all places. This after some 24 years of use, wear and tear, etc. had left the original label smudged and dirty. I don't understand why if someone could sell a blank label for the Walther TPH .22, the same type of label for the Walther PPK/S .380 should be treated as if it were covered by the NFA, lol Can anyone help with any info, or better yet, with a blank label itself?

Welcome!

Edit: Per the Walther website, S & W still makes the PPK for Walther, and my guess it for this reason they still have the labels.

History - Walther Arms

Since they still make the gun, I suspect they don't want to send out blank labels. eBay sounds like a good idea.

The fact that they would have no control over what box onto which that replacement label was affixed is probably as good a reason in our litigation-happy society as any.

Ed

The marriage between S&W, & Walther is over. Could you contact GM, & ask them for a blank VIN # plate for a Chevy? I think not. GARY

They may have some limited quantity that show up on the computer when the CS person looked, but are reserved for warranty, or as mentioned above, no longer be legal for them to distribute.

N4KVE said:

The marriage between S&W, & Walther is over. Could you contact GM, & ask them for a blank VIN # plate for a Chevy? I think not. GARY

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Come on, guy. Not EVEN close to being the same thing. There's no law saying you have to have a label on the case. There ARE laws mandating VINs on vehicles, and tampering with THOSE is against the law. As far as I know, there is NO actionable cause that could arise from selling a blank label, just as there is no actionable cause that could arise from selling a case for it, spare parts for it, etc. That is probably why there is some guy on eBay selling blank Walther labels for the Walther TPH .22 for $6.99 and $1.99 shipping. That's NOT me, btw. I'm in New Mexico. That eBay seller is out in southeastern USA. I asked him first about the blank label, but he only has them for the TPH .22 Tthanks for the input all the same!

hoc9sw said:

They may have some limited quantity that show up on the computer when the CS person looked, but are reserved for warranty, or as mentioned above, no longer be legal for them to distribute.

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OK. Let's take those one at a time. If "for warranty", what am I and my pistol, chopped Saturday Night Special? lol Chopped Liver didn't quite seem to fit. If no longer "legal" for them to distribute, then I imagine that it would also not be legal for them to carry the trademark on their web site, OR sell parts for the weapon, so that doesn't exactly seem to fit either. The only thing I can think of is that someone is HOARDING them with the intention of doing the same thing that the seller of Walther TPH .22 labels on eBay is doing: Selling them at $6.99 plus $1.99 shipping each. And THAT would also be OK with me. I just want to buy one (1) as a replacement. Not go into competition with them, lol. But THANK YOU for the reply all the same!

inuqienankh said:

Come on, guy. There's no law saying you have to have a label on the case.

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How about the direct answer. How will the operation of your gun be affected by not having this label? Will your gun FTF, will there be safety issues, could the gun have accidental discharges? I just got a wheel bearing from the Chevy dealer, but the label on the box was damaged from shipping, but the part, & box are perfect. Can I ask GM to sell me a blank part # decal for that wheel bearing to replace the marred label. Get real. LOL. GARY

inuqienankh said:

Come on, guy. Not EVEN close to being the same thing. There's no law saying you have to have a label on the case. There ARE laws mandating VINs on vehicles, and tampering with THOSE is against the law. As far as I know, there is NO actionable cause that could arise from selling a blank label, just as there is no actionable cause that could arise from selling a case for it, spare parts for it, etc. That's a bit too far fetched, lol But thanks for the input- I think.

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Actually, risking your label being affixed to the box for another company's product could negatively influence a person unfamiliar with those products about your company. I'm straining my weakened memory to recall the specifics but I recently requested something from a company and was politely told they could not do that for the reason I stated. If I could remember the details, it would support my point and make it clear to everyone but alas, memory was the second thing to go and I forget what the first one was.

Damn, I hate it when this happens. The incident is right on the tip of my brain but I can't get my hard drive to find it.

But I can tell you of a kinda-sorta similar Smith & Wesson-involved request that was declined. I asked how many of a particular limited-production handgun were made and was told that they no longer reveal that information because S&W stock is publicly-traded and that data could influence someone to buy or sell their stock, which is a no-no in the stock trading world.

I'm not sure I buy that as every automaker's week-, month- and year-to-date production numbers are listed in every issue of Automotive News, the weekly trade journal for franchised auto dealers and most of those companies' stock is publicly-traded as well. But that's what I was told.

Ed

inuqienankh said:

OK. Let's take those one at a time. If "for warranty", what am I and my pistol, chopped Saturday Night Special? ...

The only thing I can think of is that someone is HOARDING them with the intention of doing the same thing that the seller of Walther TPH .22 labels on eBay is doing ...

But THANK YOU for the reply all the same!

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I have seen that some (not all, SA being one that does not) manufacturers put s/n labels on the boxes when they come back for warranty service, with a code that shows how many times it has been back. That is what I referred to - for use in the warranty process. If you have issues with the gun, call and send it back in the box you want a label on. But of course the issue has to be with the function of the pistol, not cosmetic or packaging.

I can't see that a manufacturer would allow an employee to prevent sending out a part so he could later steal / sell it on eBay. Around my parts that would be a criminal offense.

You can probably buy all the fake blank labels you want on eBay.

hoc9sw said:

I can't see that a manufacturer would allow an employee to prevent sending out a part so he could later steal / sell it on eBay. Around my parts that would be a criminal offense.

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My other hobby is ham radio, & I have numerous Motorola walkie talkies. Some were built from parts, so there is no serial # decal to fill in the indentation on the back frame. I tried to buy some blank ones from Motorola, but was told this is not a serviceable part, & not sold. But a few years later I saw a guy who had a roll of these decals. I bought what I needed, & asked him how he got them, as Motorola wouldn't sell me any. Sure enough he told me he worked for Motorola in Chicago, & "borrowed" the roll years before. I don't doubt the same thing happens in other industries too. Merry Christmas to everyone. GARY

Last I heard, S&W still had an agreement with Carl Walther for the manufacturing of the PPK guns for Walther's US sales. I can easily understand them not being willing to start sending out blank labels made for use on the boxed pistols produced for Walther.

I am going to say that it just doesn't make any business sense to do so.

The cost of storing, handling, and shipping one out does not make it worthwhile, unless you want to pay the real cost of doing so.

Bob

Fastbolt said:

Last I heard, S&W still had an agreement with Carl Walther for the manufacturing of the PPK guns for Walther's US sales. I can easily understand them not being willing to start sending out blank labels made for use on the boxed pistols produced for Walther.

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Hard to argue with that basic business logic.

Don't we get mad when someone combines a firearm with non-original packaging, claiming its all original? That gun didn't ship in that box, period. I know it sounds picky but I think that may be part of the reason.

jag22 said:

Don't we get mad when someone combines a firearm with non-original packaging, claiming its all original? That gun didn't ship in that box, period. I know it sounds picky but I think that may be part of the reason.

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I totally agree. Some guns are worth $50 more in the original "as new" box. To others, a box is just a device to protect a gun on it's way to the original buyer. I'd say that half the used guns we take in at work have no box because the owner threw it out, & couldn't care less. GARY

I can no longer get parts for my SW99 from S&W they tell me to call Walther.

The box your wheel bearing came in was intended to be discarded. The box that the Walther pistol came in was not. Even if an owner is short-sighted enough to discard it. The box ALREADY has a label on it, but with the incorrect serial number. I am seeking a blank one so that I can enter the correct (mine) serial number on it. Nice try. But "thanks" for the reply.

The label is being affixed to a Walther/Smith & Wesson Product, the carrying case for such pistol. There is no attaching it to another product. I tried uploading my image on here, but it only allows me to use an image from the web. So I can't .
The same 'interesting' argument could be made for a part meant for a Walther PPK/S being attached to another pistol, smh. "Thanks".