s&w warranty isn't bullet proof

[NucPhysics]

I believe the OP did what many would have done and just paid for the new one. Not because it was the right thing, but because after each company would have blamed the other, months later he would have still been out his firearm and no closer to a resolution.

Not that I expected S&W to go way out of their way on this situation, but all they did was cover their own. There is no good reason other than covering their own that they couln't have sent his old broken gun back so he could have taken it to Federal to reimburse what he had to pay for the replacement. After all, if it was clearly an ammo failure as S&W claimed, there would be no reason for S&W to retain it. The OP probably only agreed to S&W's lousy deal just to move on and be done.

 

[keakar]

Maybe they'd be willing to ship it directly to the ammo manufacturer - worth asking, after you talk to the ammo company.

bad idea,

you lose the chain of custody and they can say "sorry, it was lost in transit and we never received it"

get the gun along with all associated evidence back into your possession along with "documented proof" from smith that it is an ammunition failure issue and then you can make copies or everything and then ship it to federal so it can be tracked with guaranteed confirmed proof of delivery. its also a good idea to tell smith you will be taking legal action against federal for the failure and they will need to back up any claims they are making that the gun itself is not at fault.

always assume a company will try to lose your evidence if given the opportunity to do so send it to federal yourself by documented shipment with delivery confirmation because once its gone so is all of your leverage to get a satisfactory resolution to the issue.

 

[JNewell]

bad idea,

you lose the chain of custody and they can say "sorry, it was lost in transit and we never received it"

get the gun along with all associated evidence back into your possession along with "documented proof" from smith that it is an ammunition failure issue and then you can make copies or everything and then ship it to federal so it can be tracked with guaranteed confirmed proof of delivery. its also a good idea to tell smith you will be taking legal action against federal for the failure and they will need to back up any claims they are making that the gun itself is not at fault.

always assume a company will try to lose your evidence if given the opportunity to do so send it to federal yourself by documented shipment with delivery confirmation because once its gone so is all of your leverage to get a satisfactory resolution to the issue.

Great ideas.

 

[Blueduck]

But unless S&W kept it for legal reasons (any lawyers here?), I'm not sure I agree with S&W's offer to keep the gun if he wanted a new one at cost. I could just be conspiracy theorist, but to me it sounds fishy. IMO, S&W returning the gun with full documentation as to why it was not a gun-related failure would be excellent customer service.

Not a lawyer, but I can tell in you in Paul Barrets best seller "Glock:Rise of Americas Gun" he went over in detail how Glock dealt with blown up guns. The legal department had 3 goals "Get the gun, Get the GUN, and GET THE FREAKING GUN!". Customer service was to do whatever it took within reason (and sending out a new pistol that business week estimated cost them under $60 to make was more than reasonable) to get the gun back in Glocks possesion.

 

[BillyMagg]

Not a lawyer, but I can tell in you in Paul Barrets best seller "Glock:Rise of Americas Gun" he went over in detail how Glock dealt with blown up guns. The legal department had 3 goals "Get the gun, Get the GUN, and GET THE FREAKING GUN!". Customer service was to do whatever it took within reason (and sending out a new pistol that business week estimated cost them under $60 to make was more than reasonable) to get the gun back in Glocks possesion.

EXACTLY! Billy

 

[JFR]

Worthy of a bump due to recent Shield / Ammo activity.

JFR

 

[vinny77]

You may want to wait and settle with Federal before accepting the offer from Smith. BTW, based on your experience I am going to weigh all of my federal just purchased from /wally's, just to make sure there are no "heavies". At the rate these ammo mfgrs are pumping out ammo to fill demand, their QC is stressed out!

 

[s&wbest]

Is it possible to weigh your ammunition to detect powder overload? I have an M&P Shield 40 with SN begining in HPJ7.... unfired and would like to take every precaution to avoid the possiblity of explosive failure. I would purchase a 9mm barrel and take my chances on using this in my 40 for range use and keep my 40 barrel for carry. I know that this has been done by others before. There have been many thousand M&P Shields sold. Only 3 or 4 reports of explosive failure on this site so far. I am new to shooting. My first two purchased handguns were S&W for a reason. (quality and brand name) My used Hi Point has a lifetime warranty. I know that I have touched on many points here. I am practical and looking for any answers to improving my Shield.

 

[s&wbest]

Thanks vinny77. It took a bit of time to compose my note and you have answered my first question when I refreshed my screen and viewed your post. We are thinking along the same lines.

 

[ammodave]

This thread is over a year old and the OP hasn't commented for some time. What finally happened?