Shield service delay?

[charliehustle77]

I really don't want to beat a dead horse but....

For those who have called S&W to send their shields in for trigger service for the most recent trigger safety problem. Has anyone received service yet?

I called 2 weeks ago and a service rep said that they would ship me a fedex return label and it could take up to 2 weeks. Haven't received anything yet. I called this morning and asked where my return label was and a rep told me wait a few more days and if I still hadn't got it yet to call back.

Just wondering if anyone had gotten the process started at all. This is my first time dealing with s&w customer service. I'd like to think if it's a safety issue then it would be taken care of quickly.

 

[N4KVE]

Twice I had to ship S&W guns back to them for warranty work. I shipped them on my dime & didn't wait for them to send me a free mailer. Having my gun repaired quickly was more important than free shipping to them. GARY

 

[charliehustle77]

Thanks Gary for the quick response. I might just do that. Did they ship the gun directly back to your door or did you have to pick it up at your FFL or hold at location at FedEx?

 

[N4KVE]

In my case I worked for a company where UPS stopped daily, delivering & picking up packages. I shipped the gun to them, & they shipped it back to my work. When you send a gun for repair, no transfer of ownership takes place, so a FFL doesn't need to get involved. Good luck. GARY

 

[RussC]

Gary

When I owned a Kahr I was quoted $70 to ship the gun.

I can wait if its on someone else's dime when its more than lunch money to ship.

Russ

 

[Hoya7127]

I just shipped my shield to them on Tuesday. It's faster if you request that they email you the shipping label. I received mine in 2 days. I actually received 2 labels since I emailed and called them. One came faster than the other, so I would do both.

 

[N4KVE]

Russ, I never paid more than a couple slices & a Coke to ship. Sorry you were quoted so much. GARY

 

[JustAnotherGunGuy]

I called also about a week and a half ago and got the same responce, give it a few more days and call back if I don't get it by mid next week. This Is my first time having to send any of my firearms in for service. I have other carry options so I can afford to wait a little.i was told that about a one week turnaround is what is to be expected.

Edit: I was not given the email option!

 

[RobzGuns]

For those that don't want to deal with UPS or FedEx and don't want to wait for an RMA sticker, take the pistol to ANY gun shop willing to ship to S&W (doesn't HAVE to be the shop you bought it at).
Gun Shops do not have to ship UPS/FedEx. THEY can ship via USPS for about $10-$15 (well under $20 anyway).

Mine does not need to go back, but if it did, my closest LGS is only a couple miles away and said they could send it back for me, for about $10 and have S&W return it to me (Adult signature required, of course).

There are various ways to work around this issue.
Simply depends on convenience/cost/time. Either way you go, when they ship it back, it's gonna need to be signed for.

PS: Springfield is using FedEx, so if you decide to ship on your own, using them, they won't bat an eyelash at seeing another pistol come through the door.
And... The pistol does not need to be shipped back in the S&W box. FedEx has FREE 'Express' boxes (and padding) that will work.

 

[charliehustle77]

Thanks, I used to work at FedEx so I could ship it overnight for probably around $10. But, I'm probably going to call when I get home and see if they'll just email me the RMA so I can get it done. I know for a fact that if an RMA doesn't get used the company doesn't get charged so they it wouldn't hurt their bottom line for them for me to throw one away.

 

[robkarrob]

I think if you check the law, shipping a handgun requires 2nd day air, whether you are sending it back to the factory or any other FFL, unless within your own state. You are not allowed ground shipping, like FedEx or UPS. You can ship through them, but only by 2nd day air. I checked the rates for 2nd day air, and the roundtrip charges are around $70. If it was me I would wait for the S&W shipping label, on their dime.

I agree that the best and fastest way to get the label is to contact S&W and have them email it to you. That was the way they used to do all their shipping labels, but some time ago I read that they started mailing them out. Seems like a waste of money (stamps) and time. If you can get it emailed, then just print it out, affix it on the shipping box, and get a pick up scheduled. That is how I returned my Shield 40, with the mag drop issue. They picked it up at my door, and shipped it back to my door by FedEx 2nd day air.

Bob

 

[RussC]

I think if you check the law, shipping a handgun requires 2nd day air, whether you are sending it back to the factory or any other FFL, unless within your own state. You are not allowed ground shipping, like FedEx or UPS. You can ship through them, but only by 2nd day air. I checked the rates for 2nd day air, and the roundtrip charges are around $70. If it was me I would wait for the S&W shipping label, on their dime.

I agree that the best and fastest way to get the label is to contact S&W and have them email it to you. That was the way they used to do all their shipping labels, but some time ago I read that they started mailing them out. Seems like a waste of money (stamps) and time. If you can get it emailed, then just print it out, affix it on the shipping box, and get a pick up scheduled. That is how I returned my Shield 40, with the mag drop issue. They picked it up at my door, and shipped it back to my door by FedEx 2nd day air.

Bob

Thanks Bob I knew I wasn't loosing my marbles at the $70 price tag to ship.

Not going to mention the gun manufacturer but I was told to declare the content as machine parts to reduce the cost to ship when I sent another brand back for warranty repairs.

The lifetime warranty is a great deal in my opinion if shipping is included otherwise it isn't worth it.

Sorry but I am not going to pay $70 shipping for a $400 gun and worry about an adult home to sign or arranging to pickup at the UPS hub 30 minutes away because my local UPS store will not sign for a gun.

I am close to an excellent gunsmith at Impact Guns in Ogden Utah who knows more about guns than 95% of the gunsmiths at S&W and for the $70 shipping he could fix the Shield trigger with money left over.

Russ

 

[RobzGuns]

Even if you get an RMA from S&W, when they send it back to your home, an adult still needs to sign for it, or you'll still be driving to pick it up.
If you're close to an excellent gunsmith/gunshop, why not have THEM send it in for you? As mentioned earlier, the shop does NOT need to use FedEx/UPS. They can send it via USPS (Priority Mail) for 1/7th the price of UPS/FedEx.

sent from my Commodore64 & acoustic modem

 

[rwsmith]

As I said before......

I want my gun to go the fastest way so there is less chance it will sit around and be noticed by someone with sticky fingers.