How fast have your warranty communications and repairs been?

CcwSigma

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I posted a thread recently about whether or not duracoat would void my warranty and got some great feedback, thanks for that guys. I actualy striped my duracoat off before shipping, and did a very thorough detailing of the slide. There is not a single speck of duracoat anywhere on or in the slide, even if your able to get a dental mirror and inspect any grooves or corners anywhere inside, it's just not there. I used some tiny screw drivers and hooked dental tools to loosen up the hard to reach areas without scratching- I wrapped them with safari land cleaning patches and a dab of stripper or acetone to get it all and followed it all up with a very thorough cleaning and oiling, and then rubbed in and removed excess oil. It looks great, I'm glad I did it. But that is kind of an entirely different thread, my apologies.
I shipped my gun this monday the 13th and it was received and signed for this wednesday the 15th at 9 a.m. I haven't heard anything from Smith and Wesson yet, I don't know if they just haven't gotten to it yet, are still inspecting it, slapped some new sights on it and shipped it back already or found another reason to void my warranty and sent it back or threw it in a pile of "get to later" sigmas. I doubt most of that as I have heard stellar feedback on their customer service, but wanted some feedback in everyone personal experience with their service. Does S&W generally contact you when doing repairs? Or do they not reply and just assess the weapon and your included letter, do whatever work is appropriate and ship it back. Do they notify you that it is being shipped and to watch for it? I included a laundry list of complaints about the gun, I figure if they're going to look it over and work on it I should get a very thorough inspection and "tune up", I've had reliability issues with my Sigma, loose rear sights that could slide out of adjustment by firing the gun, the slide locking back on loaded mags during fire, the slide slamming into battery by inserting a mag and a couple other concerns. I've always felt like I kind of got a lemon with this gun and envy all the positive reviews I hear about them, reliabilty being one of the most often praises mentioned. I don't want to jump the gun and start calling or emailing them when they've only had it a few days and I don't want to come off as a problematic or high maintainance customer that keeps calling or " just can't be satisfied". Incidentally I paid $420 for this gun out the door in 2009 and as a noob I thought I was getting a good deal and the gun said Smith and Wesson on it. I just want to feel I got my moneys worth as that price actualy puts a few good competitors on the table and at the time I also could have easily thrown down another $150 towards a handgun but didn't feel the need to as I was buying a Smith and Wesson and really didn't know the rules of fun buying, shoot one first? I just knew it felt good in my hand and was a good size and weight for carry. I've since caught the bug and love to go shooting and have learned alot since then. These days however going out and buying a new gun is not an option, if its not groceries, formula or diapers I'm not buying it. Anyone want to share their experience, advice or what to expect?
 
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Last S&W warranty work I had done, the gun was back in 2 weeks, no charge, gun fixed. Suited me just fine. I'd rather get the gun back quickly than get a flock of mail about exactly what "progress" is being made. I suspect the gunsmith spent less than an hour from picking it up to checking it off for return, once he got his hands on it.
They do warranty work ASAP while custom work may wait a bit.
I'm a real fan of S&W's warranty work.
 
I posted a thread recently about whether or not duracoat would void my warranty and got some great feedback, thanks for that guys. I actualy striped my duracoat off before shipping, and did a very thorough detailing of the slide. There is not a single speck of duracoat anywhere on or in the slide, even if your able to get a dental mirror and inspect any grooves or corners anywhere inside, it's just not there. I used some tiny screw drivers and hooked dental tools to loosen up the hard to reach areas without scratching- I wrapped them with safari land cleaning patches and a dab of stripper or acetone to get it all and followed it all up with a very thorough cleaning and oiling, and then rubbed in and removed excess oil. It looks great, I'm glad I did it. But that is kind of an entirely different thread, my apologies.
I shipped my gun this monday the 13th and it was received and signed for this wednesday the 15th at 9 a.m. I haven't heard anything from Smith and Wesson yet, I don't know if they just haven't gotten to it yet, are still inspecting it, slapped some new sights on it and shipped it back already or found another reason to void my warranty and sent it back or threw it in a pile of "get to later" sigmas. I doubt most of that as I have heard stellar feedback on their customer service, but wanted some feedback in everyone personal experience with their service. Does S&W generally contact you when doing repairs? Or do they not reply and just assess the weapon and your included letter, do whatever work is appropriate and ship it back. Do they notify you that it is being shipped and to watch for it? I included a laundry list of complaints about the gun, I figure if they're going to look it over and work on it I should get a very thorough inspection and "tune up", I've had reliability issues with my Sigma, loose rear sights that could slide out of adjustment by firing the gun, the slide locking back on loaded mags during fire, the slide slamming into battery by inserting a mag and a couple other concerns. I've always felt like I kind of got a lemon with this gun and envy all the positive reviews I hear about them, reliabilty being one of the most often praises mentioned. I don't want to jump the gun and start calling or emailing them when they've only had it a few days and I don't want to come off as a problematic or high maintainance customer that keeps calling or " just can't be satisfied". Incidentally I paid $420 for this gun out the door in 2009 and as a noob I thought I was getting a good deal and the gun said Smith and Wesson on it. I just want to feel I got my moneys worth as that price actualy puts a few good competitors on the table and at the time I also could have easily thrown down another $150 towards a handgun but didn't feel the need to as I was buying a Smith and Wesson and really didn't know the rules of fun buying, shoot one first? I just knew it felt good in my hand and was a good size and weight for carry. I've since caught the bug and love to go shooting and have learned alot since then. These days however going out and buying a new gun is not an option, if its not groceries, formula or diapers I'm not buying it. Anyone want to share their experience, advice or what to expect?
I sent mine the same day you sent yours. They got it on Wednesday morning as well. Today I got a letter from S&W saying it will be done in 2-3 weeks. You'll probably get the letter on Monday.
 
Cool. Thank you, sounds like two weeks is a pretty solid average with warranty work.
 
I have used the warranty 2 different times on seperate handguns.Once was 10 days and the other was 14 days before being returned repaired.S&W has excellent customer service and quick turn around on repairs from my experience.
 
phone call about the roughness of a used Sigma's trigger

got an email the next day (return postage)

got the gun back in 10 working days

can't beat it with a stick
 
Last edited:
Monday it is

IH8- got my letter today like you said. 2-3 weeks. Sweet. I'm excited about this one, hope my poa and poi come together, I know I have to do my part, but if I'm happy with my sigma I'm going to start accessorizing it a little. Looking at the limb saver grips recommended by another member, after that thinking about the armalaser stingray sr3 for sigmas when I can save some $$..
 
That's awesome man. Hey I have some good news of my own. Looks like my Sigma was shipped today, I just got the fedex tracking number. I'll have it back in my hands on Wednesday. This has to be some kind of record. :)
 
Sent mine in on the 10th. Letter came on the 20th saying they just got it. Letter was post marked the 16th. It says a two or three week turn around time is normal. Sounds to me like yours was just and easy fix with a part likely on a bench. Simple in and out. Mine will likely need someone upstairs to yes or no a replacement of my cracked frame Airweight. I'm assuming mine will take longer.
 
I'm guessing the dude who sold me my newer 40ve tried some amateur smithing as the trigger and/or firing mechanisms are failing to reset. They said they'd fix mine for free, but I'm worried they may try to make me pay for it since I'm not original owner, which they've been told twice, once over phone once thru email. Guy on phone said no charge. Hmmm.....
 
Maybe this is the big positive to the no more super experienced level of hand fitting done by trained gunsmiths. Since MIM is making parts near drop in, it seems that more of this can be done with a very low overhead. So even if you do get a bum gun or something snaps, its and easy fix and suddenly you are all warm and fuzzy inside again. And it's a heck of a lot faster turnaround time to drop in a stamped or MIM'ed part than it is using a stone… I would be willing to bet they could take the parts from my 637 and just pop them into a fresh frame. And the Sigma, SD, and M&P have got to be next to no hand fitting. I'm thinking the barrel to slide fit is the only slow down in slapping them together. And none of them are that tight anyways.
 
I'm guessing the dude who sold me my newer 40ve tried some amateur smithing as the trigger and/or firing mechanisms are failing to reset. They said they'd fix mine for free, but I'm worried they may try to make me pay for it since I'm not original owner, which they've been told twice, once over phone once thru email. Guy on phone said no charge. Hmmm.....

You know my striker broke 2 years ago. Anyway I emailed them, then a few hours later I called them. Guy on the phone told me I was going to have to pay for the repairs. Then I got the email and it said they were going to fix it for free. That was strange.
 
You know my striker broke 2 years ago. Anyway I emailed them, then a few hours later I called them. Guy on the phone told me I was going to have to pay for the repairs. Then I got the email and it said they were going to fix it for free. That was strange.

That is bizarre. I'm hoping I wasn't getting smoke blown up the bum, but ya know, I was told by an employee and reiterated that before shipping today. I assume they got the point..."this dudes getting free labor."
 
I've read a couple posts from members who have sent their sigmas in for warranty work and had done their own trigger job and still got their work done for free. One of them was on this thread I think..they got their work done but had the "trigger job" undone when they got it back...kinda funny. I have done a little polishing myself but didn't mess with any of the springs so I hope they don't try to make me pay for repairs. I made no mention of the trigger in my email to customer service, my main complaints were feeding issues and loose sights. But the letter inside my gun case when I mailed it in mentioned a gritty mushy trigger..they might be nice and work on that for me too or they might not but I bet they have a box of sear assemblies sitting there, probably already polished so the can just switch it out when a sigma comes in with a complaint about a gritty trigger and ship it right back out.
 

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