Bodyguard 380 Replacement - Frustrated

[PeteCamp]

My daughter gave me a laser equipped Bodyguard 380 she bought when they were first released. She told me it flew apart when she shot it and had since purchased a Sig P238 because she had no confidence in it for EDC.

I checked and discovered it indeed had problems - the take down pin problem and the junk integrated laser. I haven't had to deal with S&W customer service ever for the many revolvers I've owned or my wife's Shield 9mm.

They got me a return shipping voucher and back it went. That was early April. About 10 days later they called and said they could not repair the gun and it would be destroyed. Said they'd ship out a new gun. Fine. I sent an FFL dealer info and asked when they might ship. "Four weeks" Well not good, but maybe the best they could do.

I called 4 weeks later and was told "another four weeks." Called a week later and same story. I must say I didn't expect that from what used to be a great American company. I'm wondering now if they will ever build another Bodyguard 380. I'm also wondering why a company would string loyal customers along when they could send a voucher for a gun, or just issue a refund.

It seems to me they care more about a production schedule than about loyal customers. One clear lesson learned: no more S&W purchases until things change.

Sorry to vent, but I had to let others know.

 

[Fastbolt]

They make production runs of the various models. Sometimes that means if nothing's sitting in their vault, you have to wait. The M&P's have been selling faster than they can make them, so it wouldn't be surprising if you had to wait for the next production run to be scheduled if nothing was sitting around in their vault 'unsold'.

Are they replacing the original laser-equipped model with another one, or are you getting the new M&P branded Bodyguard made without the laser? That might complicate waiting on a production run schedule, too.

If you'd wanted a refund instead of a new replacement, that might've been something to bring up and discuss earlier.

FWIW, I've been told they've been running 24/7 production shifts trying to meet demand for their M&P pistols, so it's not like they're loafing. I'd only suggest remaining patient.

I wanted a specific configuration M&P 40c a few years ago (with a mag safety). I was ordering it under the now-defunct armorer direct purchase program (received through a FFL, of course). I'd called a few times to check on the progress, and after a couple of months I was told that they were so back-logged with existing orders for other model variations that I could either wait yet another 3-4 weeks (it had been 8-10, as I recall), or, I could take a different model variation.

The gentleman said a LE production run was currently underway for 40c's with night sights and no mag safety, and I could have one (for added cost of night sights) piggy-backed off that run ... unless I wanted to keep waiting for my original model variation to be scheduled for production. I agreed to take one off the LE run. I'm sure some folks might be happy to learn that my armorer discount/individual officer order had to get in line behind other commercial orders.

 

[PeteCamp]

I was told it wouldn't make any difference - laser model or M&P.

I discussed refund on the first conversation with them 6 weeks ago. They said they couldn't refund.

I'm going to be patient. But, as a S&W customer since the 1960's, I'm going to find it difficult to lay out any more expenditures for their products. I wish it were otherwise.

 

[ocinsomniac]

I also had a BG with the Insight laser that was so bad, S&W agreed to replace it with the then newer version MP without the laser -

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-pistols/379706-defective-bg-380-s-w-cs-rescue.html

Took about nine weeks after they told me it was their decision to replace it that I finally received it. The replacement MP was ok for awhile, but after a couple hundred rounds it started the light strike syndrome which got progressively worse. Sent it back to S&W for the repair, but at that point, I was so frustrated with the BG platform that I decided to sell it and relieve myself of all these BG headaches.

Picked a Ruger LCP Custom and it's been great, everything I wanted the BG to be and then some. It's really weird how some BG owners have had great luck with theirs, swear by them, yet on the other hand there have been others like myself that have had nothing but problems, in my case with two different generations. It's like there is no middle ground - either they've been great for some or total disasters for others. Hope S&W can resolve your problem.......

 

[RV4driver]

Your problems mirror mine. Also a client of mine that I transferred the same type gun to.
Sending back to Smith didn't resolve a thing, same problems.
My wife and I went to LCP's and have had NO issues at all with either of these pistols.

Sad. Just Sad.

 

[Fastbolt]

Sorry to hear about your experience, and hope you finally end up with a good replacement.

Of the guys I know who have bought Bodyguard 380's, I had to replace a broken firing pin on one (very early production model) and the other one was sent back for a mag catch problem. I haven't heard back about the mag catch issue, but the owner of the repaired Bodyguard has been satisfied with it since then.

The other guys seem satisfied with theirs ... but so do the guys with the LCP's.

Sometimes with a new gun there can be some teething issues for the first year or two. A couple of our guys bought LC9's, and both of the had light-strike problems with duty ammo.

One of them returned it for repair (which they said was repaired, and they also listed making some other repair - mag catch?? - that he wasn't aware had been a problem). Unfortunately, the light-strike issue remained, so he traded it in on a Shield 9. I don't know the outcome of the other LC9 owner's light-strike issue, but I'd hope it was resolved, or maybe he ended up with a LC9S (or bought a Shield 9). Dunno.

Of course, now Remington has announced their foray into the .380 market with the RM380. Wonder how theirs will do out of the chute? (They're trying again with their R51, right?)

 

[PeterWD]

BG380 problems

It was indeed a sweet looking platform. Too many common problems with too many owners although, as said, not all owners. I experienced most all the problems, gave up, traded mine in and got a Shield 9. That type of solution is a common message among so many previous and current posts.