Wilson wrote:flintknapper wrote:This time.. the thieving #$%^&^*'s at UPS ripped open the end of the box and steal the slide! I call Kel-Tec immediately to have them file a claim. They agree to do this and then tell me they will be sending a blued or parkerized slide to replace it. I told them that was not acceptable, that I had sent them a highly customized slide. They acknowledged as much, but still refused to send anything but a regular slide back. At this point I lost it. I told them I would be sending the rest of the pistol back to them, and they could reimburse me or not, I really didn't care. I told them that I would not make it my life's mission to "slam them" but if anyone ever asked my opinion or brought the subject up....I would happily share my experience. They sent me a check for the amount I purchased the pistol for, and I just had to "eat" the cost of the "smithing".
Let me see . . . if I buy a widget from you then add a million dollars in diamonds to it . . . then send it back to you to add an extra screw . . . and then it’s lost. Why in the world would I expect you to reimburse me for the lost million in diamonds.
Now if I had notified you in advance that I expected you to add a million dollars in additional insurance out of your small profit for adding that screw, you could decide whether you wanted to add that screw or not. I seriously doubt that you advised Kel-Tec in advance you would require Kel-Tec add extra insurance at their own cost to cove your improvements to your slide.
While I can’t excuse Kel-Tec’s other errors, I consider their action on the slide replacement absolutely correct, except I wouldn’t have offered a repurchase. Anything more would be a stupid business decision.
I pointed out to friend recently not to have his pistol hard chromed by other than the factory until it was absolutely perfect. Any defective part replaced after it was hard chromed would be replaced with a part in the pistols original finish. He decide to gamble anyway
Wilson,
I am going to forward this post to Kel-Tec just in case they're looking for someone. Sounds like you're "just their kinda guy".
Thank you, for your point of view...but lets get rid of all the "diamonds" and "million dollar" posturing, and bring this back down to earth.
The cost for Kel-Tec to
insure the item I sent them is exactly what it cost ME to insure it when I sent it to them (a whopping $1.20)! UPS will insure items valued over $100.00 up to $300.00 for an additional $1.20 and then .40 per $100.00 after that.
And yeah, I expect to get back what I sent you. If upon receiving the item... you have any issues about insurance or your ability to perform the services requested, call me. Gunsmiths deal with this all the time. However, if you accept the package and agree to work on the item, then yes, you are responsible for it.
Certainly, it was not Kel-Tec's fault that someone at UPS stole the slide (the empty box actually arrived), but it remains their unfortunate responsibilty to file the claim and to have the item properly insured.
I was not trying to take advantage of Kel-Tec in any way. In fact, I paid the shipping three separate times to return it to them for warranty work. By the time I shipped it to them and Jack Fuselier (4 shipments total... just to get a gun that would function), I had about 1/4 the cost of the gun tied up in it.
I even gave my business address to them for return shipment, so it would save them money. I live in the country and it would have cost them more to deliver to a rural address. I did everything I could to be reasonable.
I dealt with the same service rep. each time...so he was familiar with my problems, the attempted remedies, the customized features, and how many times it had been shipped.
Now, if George Kelgren, his service rep. and you.. all went to the same business school and conclude that a $1.20 and a meager amount of personal service is just too much effort to put forth, then don't expect alot of repeat business from me.
You may take some solace in knowing that you made the proper business decision though!
Now thats a proper rant!
Just my .02 on it. Nothing personal.
