Hey all. Long story "short". I sold a gun and bought another to replace it. I bought a Colt 1911 45 Auto XSE. Well, despite Colt being a top-notch manufacturer of weapons, mine had a flaw and it was irking me. So, I called Colt customer service in Hartford, CT... You all know the typical warranty experiences with ANY company: "Well, umm... hmmm... umm... did you do this or that?" "Do you have a copy of your warranty handy?" "How about a receipt of purchase?" "Can you translate your complaint into Arameic, if not, we can't help you"... Or in my specific car-related case (from the past): "Do you have a copy of the agreement?" "We want this specific guy to look at it... and even if he says our product blew up your f#@$ing engine, we'll want someone else to tear the whole damn thing down again for another opinion until we get the answer we want... oh, its at your cost, BTW." Basically a big F#@ you. Anyway, I called Colt to figure out my gun issue... the conversation went something like this: ME: "I bought a Colt 1911 and there's an issue with..." COLT (literally cut me off): "Send it in buddy. We'll fix whatever it is, just include a letter that explains the problem. Its a Colt; we stand by our product". That was pretty much it folks. No questions asked, no 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinions... nobody asking for an original copy of my warranty, no one asking for a receipt. No 'he-said, she-said' bullshit. Nothing. Nobody avoiding my calls. Nobody blaming ME for the problem. COLT was apologetic that their product wasn't perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My specific 1911 could've been 99 years old, made in, well, 1911 (the name-designator of this gun is the year it was designed and first produced). COLT didn't give a crap. SEND IT IN! Its 99 years old? Who cares! SEND IT IN!It gets fixed. No hassle, no fuss. Just take the time to ship it and we'll send you a gun that's up to our highest of standards. THAT is how to run a business. THAT is a reason why Colt has been around for 160 years. THAT is a reason their products actually GAIN value over time. THAT is why I will go back to them for another gun in the future. THAT is a reason I will recommend them to the day I die. They instill confidence in their customers and they don't f@$# them. Is Vortech still a vendor here?!?! I once had one of their blowers on my car that they installed and tuned. Just curious...
Colt does top notch work... I sent in my Colt Frontier Six Shooter 44-40 to have them look it over and validate age, and no lie came back fully lubed and functioning better than it ever had before. Now yes it is a single action but they still took good care of me with my 120+ year old gun
This is great info... I'm in the market for a pistol NOW, probably a 38 revolver, IF they sell those and I'm surely gonna put COLT to the top of my list! Thanks for the info!
No pun intended but bang for the buck, get a 1911. I have a .38 and meh... 1911 will give you good feel and whatever is on the other end of the barrel will be gone... I am about to build a 1911 myself... I do plan on using a lot of colt parts...
My next gun, whenever that is, will be the Single Action Army in 45 Colt. Probably a new one (3rd generation). Colt doesn't make "modern" double action revolvers anymore... although you can find 'used' or like new, in box, ones at gunbroker or your local dealer. A used Colt is as good as any new revolver... and it'll hold/gain value. Just get it inspected before buying, as some idiot could've beaten it to death and neglected it.
Probably only costs them a $100 to make the gun so it's not a big deal to them. Any problem with the gun can easily be fixed or the parts replaced for next to nothing (their cost). As a large company with lots of guaranteed military contracts they have some resources (unlike a niche manufacturer with low production numbers). If Colt were on the hook for a $6000 engine (which they would have to buy at retail) and labor (someone elses) they would probably give you a bunch of crap too. Nothing against Colt, actually what you said was quite impressive and commendable, but their situation is much different from a supercharger vendor for example.
Oh jees, Jeff. I could tell from Momo's first post in this thread that he was over all that, put it behind him, moved on, was at peace with himself. This might bring back some of his car anxiety now...
While I get what you're saying, customer service is customer service. If you knew the whole 'other' story, you'd get my point more clearly. Colt hasn't been around that long because they treat people like shit. Quite the opposite. Some other companies need to learn this. Regardless of the cost of something a company provides, they have an 'obligation' to back it up... IMO even more so if you're giving them big money... Hence vehicle warranties from the factory.
great story momo. kinda reminds me of my cusotmer service.... "what, your leg/intake does not fit......" "are your sure it is mine???" "i'm perfect and my stuff is too..." heheheheheehehehehhehe
Best bolt action, action ever made to this day is a Colt Sauer. Decent accuracy, but the action movement is second to none. Can't remember when they sold the patent to Sako, but the current version doesn't hold a candle to the original. You can beat a 1911 design, I reallllly want one...actually, i really want to build my own. It's the Mustang GT of semi-auto pistols...like the Colt AR15, and Ruger 10/22 also. Boo koo accessories and modification to be had to make it your personalized version. Colt is probably THE best American firearms producer.
Roger that. They've been doing it for 160 freakin' years and have basically created many of THE Great American firearms that have served our nation and its citizens since then. Best semi-auto pistol ever made? Colt 1911 (all other manufacturers simply produce clones). Best single action revolver ever made? Colt single action army. Best double action revolver? Colt Python/Anaconda lineup. Needless to mention the M16/M4... As for the 1911, its been around for about 100 years and its still the most popular design of a semi-auto. Go figure. If the US Gov wasn't so U.N. conscious, our millitary would still be carrying a Colt 1911 45 auto and throwing bowling balls (230 gr. 45 auto bullet) at Tangos, not baseballs (9mm). Why our Gov figured a full metal jacket (FMJ) 9mm was anywhere as good as a .45 caliber FMJ is beyond me. Bigger holes make for faster dying Tangos. As the old sayings go... A 9mm might expand, but a 45 will never shrink! Q: Why do you carry a Colt 45? A: Because they don't make a Colt 46! Plus, you can knock the shit outta someone with a solid 1911 after you run outta ammunition! As for building a 1911, that's a great way to do it. For me, I bought my Colt XSE and am gradually going to do things to it, not that a Colt has alot of things to have done to it. All parts are forged except for like 3 items that are easily replaced. If you look into the Colt Special Combat Government model, you don't have to do a thing to it at all. Important thing to remember: even custom guns like Les Baer, Wilson, Ed Brown, etc. that cost big $$$ won't retain their value like even a starter Colt. Also, Colt has their own custom shop to do whatever it is you want. So in essence, if you keep your documents from them, even a customized Colt can still be 100% Colt! That is a huge bonus down the road for collectors and/or resale.
I hear ya Dave, but it actually is. As far as selling any firearm i own...NOT gunna happen. EVER, PERIOD, END OF CONVO. My kids kids kids will have them to cherish and enjoy. Thanks for the tip MoMo, when i get ready, i'll have to look into the Colt Custom thing. Gov. modles are sweet...My cousin who is LEO, for AGO just got one as a Christmas gift...bastard!
BTW: Rick and I were cheering the Saints on! Congrats! Colts especially are investments. They may not yield HUGE dividends for me, but for my son... if they stop making a particular model, then look out! Prices will SKYROCKET. Example: Colt Python. Stopped making them in the 1990's. Once sold for about $1000. Now, you can't touch a real nice kept one for less than $1600. In 10 years it did that. Why? Because its a Colt. *Did I mention their customer service rocks?!?! LOL
Thanks, but I had nothing to do with the Saints winning...But it was a surreal event for us here. Long time coming. Man, i know about the Pythons all to well. When my dad had his FFL and shop, we used to give people $200.00 trade in on them and have to beg someone to buy one for $350.00. This was back in the 80's...about the time when Glock, Beretta, HK and Sig 9's were all the craze. People just didn't want revolvers of any kind, you couldn't sell a stainless 6" 686 for $150.00. All the LEO were switching over and the market waas flooded..except single action Colts...they have and will always be sought after.
Single action army is on my list of must haves. I've actually started buying some 45 Colt ammo for a gun I don't own! Crazy? Sure. But, California, I believe as of January 2011, will no longer allow mailorder ammo purchases!!!!!! Friggin' commies won again. So, I figured I'd start stock piling shit, because the gun stores here will start raking us over the coals to get stuff. Cabela's is having a free shipping promotion until March 9 on orders over $150. So I bought 100 rounds of 45 Colt and 300 rounds of 45 ACP.
