Why send in Smith "Product Registration" Card?

[davemercer]

I just purchased two smith revolver (642 and 442)and was about to send in their "Product Registration" Cards. I wanted to assure my warranty was in place. I did not intend to answer the survey questions just my name and address.

There is nothing on card to indicate serial number. I called and asked if number in upper right was code for my gun. Customer Service guy said yes. Got off phone and then looked at both card and number is the same.

Then I read this at bottom of cards, "Failure to return this card will not diminish your warranty rights". So I am thinking why send in cards?

But I thought I would post in case I am missing something. Your opinions and experiences, especially with warranty work is appreciated.

 

[ohiobuckeye]

I've only returned one gun for warranty work and that was several years ago. I don't know their current policy, but the card for that gun is still in the box with the gun, and the warranty work went through with no hassle whatsoever. The card may be just a way to get you on their(and possibly others) mailing list.

 

[Raider]

I have never sent in a Warranty card; they just stay with the box. Never had to send in a gun for warranty work either.

Charlie

 

[cobra44]

I have never sent a card in for the warranty. Did have one a few years ago that I had to return. Repair made with no problem.

 

[SteveG]

I had the same question and when I checked found the card doesn't really go to S&W but to some agency. From the questions it's a short leap to see that they're collecting information for targeted ad mailings or whatever. Didn't send the card, as you note, 'warranty rights are not diminshed' if you don't send so I couldn't see why I should. Just hold onto the receipt!
S

 

[Mitch_D]

Warranty Cards

My experience is that most "Warranty Cards" are just marketing research ploys (especially when sent to a third party marketing firm). I look carefully at the card and if doesn't go directly to the manufacturer and there is no reference to the item I have actually purchased - then I see no benefit & I don't send it in.

That said, one recent product that I purchased and found it valid and helpful to send in the Warranty Card was for a Crimson Trace Laser Sight. Got a life time battery supply, too. They're good people.

 

[tbury]

Most if not all Warranty cards are marketing surveys. Most state laws and maybe fed law make returning such cards unnecessary. If you want to register you gun you can do it on the S&W web site and keep your cards clean. The advantage of registration is 1. Your address in known for any recalls and 2. Your are connected in their records with the serial number of that gun.

Some would call #2 a disadvantage.

 

[Glock17]

#3 Then Big Brother will know who owns the gun at the present !!!!
And where you live and so on !!!!!

 

[jframefreak]

I leave the card in the box and register over the internet.

 

[balin]

Same here. I just do it on the interntet.

 

[bubbajoe45]

Most if not all Warranty cards are marketing surveys. Most state laws and maybe fed law make returning such cards unnecessary. If you want to register you gun you can do it on the S&W web site and keep your cards clean. The advantage of registration is 1. Your address in known for any recalls and 2. Your are connected in their records with the serial number of that gun.

Some would call #2 a disadvantage.

Agreed, but No. 1 could be important. For example, had you bought a PPK last year or a LH 624 in 1985. I guess it would depend on how 'in touch' with the industry you keep; some people probably wouldn't otherwise hear about recalls. They buy a gun, shoot a box of ammo through it, clean it (hopefully), and put it in their closet. They don't read gun rags or monitor gun forums, etc. My father is an example. He bought a used Ruger Blackhawk .357 in the 90s sometime that turned out to be pre-1973. I mentioned the recall to him this year - he knew nothing about it. Of course since he bought that gun used, he wouldn't have been notified, but the guy he got it from didn't know about it either and is not the type who would've sent in the card.

 

[K1500]

My father is an example. He bought a used Ruger Blackhawk .357 in the 90s sometime that turned out to be pre-1973. I mentioned the recall to him this year - he knew nothing about it.

What recall? Do you mean the transfer bar conversion?

 

[Pook]

Don't Send It In!

This warranty card has nothing to do with any warranties. It is one of many tools commercial data mining companies use to get personal information about you. Many people fill out these cards because the cards are worded in such a way to lead them to believe they are necessary to validate their warranties.

Most of these cards I have seen go to an address in Colorado, regardless of the manufacturer's location. That address is for a large commercial data broker that compiles the information about you on those warranty cards and then sells that information to other large commercial data mining companies. These companies then analyze all your personal data -- age, income, number of people in your home, whether you own or rent, hobbies, magazine subscriptions, and so on, and combine it with other sources of information -- public records, credit card transactions, credit reports, supermarket "discount/loyalty" card purchases, and others -- to develop marketing lists and other consumer profiling products. Those lists and products are then sold to the data mining companies' subscribers.

That is why your warranty card doesn't have a place to list the serial number. The data collectors are only interested that you own firearms, which they will combine with your demographic, income, residence, education, automobile, and other personal bits to develop or update your particular profile.

Two of the largest data mining firms, ChoicePoint and Axciom, have contracts with many law enforcement agencies and the federal government, which purchase large quantities of individuals' personal profile information.

I'm not trying to alarm anyone, but trafficking in personal information is a multi-billion-dollar a year industry in the United States, and most people are not aware of how pervasive it is.

 

[SteveG]

Pook nailed it.

 

[bubbajoe45]

What recall? Do you mean the transfer bar conversion?

Yes. My dad has kept 6 rounds in this thing for years

 

[srgvaz]

#3 Then Big Brother will know who owns the gun at the present !!!!
And where you live and so on !!!!!

They know all that either way!!! It just makes another entry for your file...

 

[SmithNWesson]

That is why your warranty card doesn't have a place to list the serial number. The data collectors are only interested that you own firearms, which they will combine with your demographic, income, residence, education, automobile, and other personal bits to develop or update your particular profile.

Maybe they updated their cards because my card has a serial number box. But thank you because i will not send in the card.

 

[BUFF]

I've been filling them out and mailing them in since 1975. I never put anything down but my name, address and the gun's information. I figure the rest of the information is really none of their business.

I have only been notified a couple of times about recalls. The first wasn't a recall, it was just an offer to recut the forcing cones in Model 29's to reduce the amount of **** jetting out of the barrel/cylinder gap. The very early Model 645 had a recall involving the magazine follower and magazine disconnect. There may have been one more, maybe the first S&W 1911, but some, like the Model 624, not a peep, even though I had 3 of them at the time.

I bought a new Model 642 in 1991, when they were first shipped. In 2011, the frame cracked. I called S&W. "My gun broke." Customer service rep asked for the serial number. I told him. Keyboard sound. He said, "Is this Mr. Buff? Still live at blah blah blah?" "Yes." "I'll send you a shipping label." "Thank you." Click. A week or 10 days later, he calls me back. "Your gun is broke. We can't fix it. We will send you a new one." "Can I get one without the lock?" "I'll check." Sound of keyboard at work. "Yes." "Thank you." Click. New 642 Pro arrived 3 days later.

I like warranty service like that.

My guess is that the company that collects the data from the cards sends the gun and buyer info to S&W as well as selling the demographic stuff to marketing companies.

 

[CajunBass]

The only time I ever see one is if the used gun I bought happens to have the "box and papers" with it.

I never send them in though.

 

[Old cop]

I'm a rule-follower by nature (military & LEO) but only fill in my name & gun info, but always suspected this was a data mining venture. I sent one gun in for minor repair and had it back w/i 10 days.