bought the wrong pistol - MA Shield in WI LGS

[HDBeagle]

I just got home with my 40 Shield and dry fired it...trigger seemed awfully heavy...looked up the part # and it is the MA version...I'm in WI! Never thought to check that at a local store. Bugger. What's it going to cost me to fix this as I suspect the store is going to tell me to go pound sand!

Guess I learned my lesson.

 

[ColumbusJBR]

Was it sold to you under the impression that it was NOT an MA model? If so, you have a case for ax exchange, if not a refund. Dealer should have made it very clear that it was a MA model. If they made the mistake and missed it, that's on them.

I'd call them tomorrow. If they're an upstanding LGS they should help you out.

Good luck

 

[Jambayzie]

^^^I agree. They should have told you if they knew. If they did not know, they should make it right. I bet it is a simple fix, a different spring or other simple part. If they tell you to "go pound sand" you tell them the same. And tell them that you will be spreading the word about how "un-sportsmanlike" they would be if they do not make it right. Surely they are not the only gun store in Wisconsin ... I go up there quite often, there seems like plenty to me.

 

[Enzo]

I just got home with my 40 Shield and dry fired it...trigger seemed awfully heavy...looked up the part # and it is the MA version...I'm in WI! Never thought to check that at a local store. Bugger. What's it going to cost me to fix this as I suspect the store is going to tell me to go pound sand!

Guess I learned my lesson.

Welcome to Massachusetts where practically every new handgun needs a trigger job...

 

[mbullism]

The truly funny part is that there are waiting lists for that gun in MA

C'mon...tell the truth. You don't feel safer with the 10.5# trigger?

The LGS should make it right... no doubt.

.02

 

[Haverly38]

How do you tell if its a ma trigger or not?

 

[dimitri]

On the bright side, you could probably sell that to someone in MA for close to $500.
If the store doesn't refund you or swap it out, call SW and splain to them what happened. If they don't offer to send you the correct springs, I believe the cost is around $10. I believe all you need is the trigger return spring, the yellow one, not red. Do you currently have a red one in there?

 

[BNC04]

How do you tell if its a ma trigger or not?

Smith has recently come out with the mass compliant shield. The important difference to note is the mass compliant ones sku 180050 and 180051 have a 10.5 trigger pull. The shields made for other than mass sku 180021 and 180020 have a 6.5 trigger pull. The only reason this is important because some of the original m&p that were mass compliant with the same difference in triggers made there way to other states with out telling anyone.

hope that helps
Brett

 

[mrmike7189]

yeah welcome to mass!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is why we like to buy old used guns in mass.
All the new regulations make new guns no fun.
We also have loaded chamber indicators, and manual safeties added to the new guns for added no fun effect.

 

[forrestinmathews]

Call Apex Tactical Specialties and get their kit for the shield. You'll end up money ahead.

On second thought the loaded chamber indicator sucks. See if they'll exchange it.

 

[Der Biermeister]

First of all, I would be shocked if your lgs doesn't make it right. However -- instead of asking them to replace the gun, ask them to provide and install the APEX trigger mod for free as a gesture for your troubles. The trigger mod is something that many like, even with the standard (none MA compliant) Shield. I am one .. it made my gun from an "acceptable trigger" to something that is as smooth as sh*t through a goose.

 

[N4KVE]

I doubt it's the store's fault. While only Mass compliant guns can be sold in Mass, there's no law that prevents Mass guns from being sold in other states. I work at a LGS, & we are bombarded daily with distributors calling us saying they have X, Y, & Z guns for sale, & do we want them. I'm sure the distributor sold the Mass guns to the LGS. Shields are still a hot item, & the distributors will sell anything they can to fill orders, as long as it's legal. The guys at the store don't look at SKU #'s, they just know they ordered, & received 3 Shields, & recorded the ser #'s in their book. I own a M&P 40c that was purchased in Atlanta, but is California compliant, meaning it has the mag safety which is not required for a gun to be sold in Ga. To the OP, good luck, but don't blame the store. GARY

 

[Rastoff]

If the store knew and concealed the information from you, then it is their fault. However, that is almost impossible to prove unless they offer the info up.

I hope you can get it worked out. Obviously, as has been said, an Apex upgrade will solve your issue. The added benefit here is that the Apex trigger upgrade is better than the factory trigger anyway.

 

[Dream to Dream]

this is why we like to buy old used guns in mass.
All the new regulations make new guns no fun.
We also have loaded chamber indicators, and manual safeties added to the new guns for added no fun effect.

Or we make sure to buy non-compliant guns. Those 23-year old Glocks for $600 get a little tiresome...

 

[HDBeagle]

Lots of good ideas. Thanks for the input.

I called the LGS. The salesguy I talked to was clueless and asked me to call back and talk to the owner. The owner sounded clueless as well. He claimed these were the first Shields he had in stock. He claims he never checked the part numbers and passed the buck up to the distributor for bad channel distribution. His only acceptable solution was that I call S&W to get this corrected. (The disturbing part was that he suggested I call S&W to get the correct "setting". Like there is some dial I turn inside the weapon to get a different trigger pull!)

I got home too late to call S&W tonight so I will try tomorrow. I'll report back then!

My wife feels bad about this and is almost on board with APEX. Maybe I need to milk this!

 

[Rastoff]

That's poor customer service from your local store. If it were me I'd at least offer to call S&W for you. I'd also be checking my stock.

How sad is it when a dealer doesn't even know what he's ordering?

I understand why some might buy a gun with a mag disconnect. I don't like them, but I understand why some might. But, a 10.5# trigger I don't understand at all.

 

[Franklin]

What LGS......so others are informed

 

[N4KVE]

That's poor customer service from your local store.
How sad is it when a dealer doesn't even know what he's ordering?

I seriously doubt the LGS asked for a Shield with a 10 lb trigger. You seem to think the distributor informed the LGS that he would be getting a Shield with a 10 lb trigger. The LGS asked for Shields, & that's what he was sent. Since he's not from Mass, he's not aware there are different versions of the Shield. If anyone is to blame, it's the distributor who knows about what gun should go to what state, as they deal with gun stores all over the country. But again, it's perfectly legal to sell a Mass compliant Shield in Wi. I see this all the time at work. For whatever reason the distributor gets 50 Mass compliant Shields, & he sells them to whoever wants them w/o mentioning these guns have 10 lb triggers.GARY

 

[Smokin' Iron]

What LGS......so others are informed

I agree totally. Post the name of this LGS so others will be aware of how little they stand behind what they sell.

The best way to deal with a GS like this is to spread the word to anyone who will listen and take money out of their pocket.

 

[Rastoff]

I seriously doubt the LGS asked for a Shield with a 10 lb trigger. You seem to think the distributor informed the LGS that he would be getting a Shield with a 10 lb trigger.

No, I don't think the store ordered guns with a 10lb trigger at all. What I do think is there was a screw up somewhere. If it were my store I'd be ordering by SKU number and verifying that I got what I ordered, but that's just me. Maybe there are a lot of people who don't check to see if they got what they ordered.

Actually, this is one reason I don't buy guns from any place that won't allow me to pull the trigger. I figure it's part of checking the function of the gun.

 

[Rpg]

And you bought it without checking whether the trigger was OK?

Sounds like an apex kit is your solution.

 

[Wolfman-Iraq]

No, I don't think the store ordered guns with a 10lb trigger at all. What I do think is there was a screw up somewhere. If it were my store I'd be ordering by SKU number and verifying that I got what I ordered, but that's just me. Maybe there are a lot of people who don't check to see if they got what they ordered.

Actually, this is one reason I don't buy guns from any place that won't allow me to pull the trigger. I figure it's part of checking the function of the gun.

I agree 100%. It's up to the store person ordering the product to know what he is ordering. Even if he wasn't told by the rep, he should make it right with the customer, then watch what he's buying from that rep (verify).

 

[N4KVE]

I agree 100%. It's up to the store person ordering the product to know what he is ordering. Even if he wasn't told by the rep, he should make it right with the customer, then watch what he's buying from that rep (verify).

No, it was up to the customer to pull the trigger on the gun the minute before he handed over the cash. You guys obviously don't work in a gun store. 90% of all guns we purchase happen when a distributor calls up & tells us he has some guns for sale. He tells us what he has [no sku #'s mentioned] & we have seconds to say yes or no. If we say "we'll get back to you in 10 minutes" those guns will be gone, & who knows when more will become available. Nobody sits down with an order form & checks off boxes ordering only what we want. In our store, we only have room for one showcase for S&W guns. So we only have room to show 1 M&P 40c. It might be a model that has a safety lever. It gets sold, & it's replacement has no safety. That one gets sold next. Should the customer specify they need a 40c with a safety lever, we will go to the stockroom to look for one, but we only have room to show 1 40c, which ever variant is in the showcase. It is up to the customer to make sure which ever variant they get is the one they want. Most of you guys need to work in a LGS for a week & get an education on how the system works. A smart shopper is a wise customer. GARY

 

[Rastoff]

Well, that is interesting. You only get whatever the distributor sends you and you have no say in it whatsoever. That's a strange way to run a business. What if they are guns you can't sell?

You're right, I don't work at a gun store. Even so, I know all gun stores don't operate that way.

What I completely disagree with is the notion that it's only the customer's responsibility to know everything about a product. In this particular case the customer is not completely free from responsibility, but neither is the store. They should at least help him resolve it.

Further, regardless of how the inventory is obtained, the store should know what they have and what goes on display.

 

[vernSL]

I had the opposite happen. Got sold a non-MA compliant model here in MA. Nice little surprise when I realized.

 

[gnystrom]

Personally I would go with a Apex kit and you will probably end up where you were going to wind up anyway. The Apex kit really makes that gun a great shooter. It will prevent you from coming back here later and asking, "why does my Shield have a gritty trigger"
If you have the money, you may look at a better set of sights. Both those mods really make that gun a much better gun.

 

[Dream to Dream]

The APEX kit does not yield as drastic a change in a free-state Shield as it does in a free-state M&P. If you are truly stuck with that Shield, then it is a consideration, but personally I would be hailing fire and brimstone on my LGS for selling me a brand-new gun that I have to spend $70 to "fix".

Two more options for you... See if S&W will take the gun in and exchange it with standard parts, or see if you can find a buyer in Massachusetts. If it is unfired, I'd guess you can net about $450 for it.

 

[gkitch]

I seriously doubt the LGS asked for a Shield with a 10 lb trigger. You seem to think the distributor informed the LGS that he would be getting a Shield with a 10 lb trigger. The LGS asked for Shields, & that's what he was sent. Since he's not from Mass, he's not aware there are different versions of the Shield. If anyone is to blame, it's the distributor who knows about what gun should go to what state, as they deal with gun stores all over the country. But again, it's perfectly legal to sell a Mass compliant Shield in Wi. I see this all the time at work. For whatever reason the distributor gets 50 Mass compliant Shields, & he sells them to whoever wants them w/o mentioning these guns have 10 lb triggers.GARY

Wrong answer. Gun stores should be selling knowledge and customer service along with the guns. This Gunstore failed to know their product, failed to take any responsibility, and failed to look after a customer.

 

[N4KVE]

Well, that is interesting. You only get whatever the distributor sends you and you have no say in it whatsoever. That's a strange way to run a business. What if they are guns you can't sell?
You're right, I don't work at a gun store. Even so, I know all gun stores don't operate that way.

No, we only take what we want, but we have to remember the next call offering guns could be in an hour, or a week, & we want to keep inventory in the store. Eg, we take 10 Century AK's. Completely loaded with threaded barrel, & bayo lugs. The only description is 10 Romy Wasr's imported by Century. They sell quickly, & the next week we are offered 10 more. We assume they will be the same, but the next batch of Romy Wasr's imported by Century don't have bayo lugs. & the device at the end of the barrel is tack welded on. These guns were made for states with stricter laws, but this was never explained by the distributor. They still sold, but they weren't the exact same gun. I'm not taking sides here, just explaining how the system works. GARY

 

[Der Biermeister]

Personally I would go with a Apex kit and you will probably end up where you were going to wind up anyway. The Apex kit really makes that gun a great shooter. It will prevent you from coming back here later and asking, "why does my Shield have a gritty trigger"
If you have the money, you may look at a better set of sights. Both those mods really make that gun a much better gun.

exactly right on both counts