I will preface this by saying this normally isn't my style, but I'm posting this to potentially save others the same hassles I am having with a Brand New SmartReloader Mark XVI Reloading Press...
Now I bought this press about 3 months back now - it sat on a shelf for a bit over two months, while I finished building a new reloading area; then it was bolted to the bench. It's a mighty impressive lump of metal; probably the heaviest of all the presses I looked at (RCBS, Lyman, etc) so when combined with the claimed 'lifetime guarantee' and positive reviews on US sites, looked like a good buy.
BUT after depriming/necking 26 cases and seating 6 projectiles - it BROKE! Both Toggle Arms broke (and the half the thing ended up landing on my foot - thanks again, Steel Cap Boots
).
Contacting the reseller was useless - "Warranty is the responsibility of the Manufacturer". Contacting the manufacturer has been even more useless! They've told me they can only send me replacement arms, but I have to remove the retaining pins first... The problem with that is, the instructions supplied to remove the retaining pins (by driving them out with a hammer) don't work (they seem rivetted in). In fact, driving them with a hammer seems only to have sealed them in even tighter!
Now Ive been emailing back and forth with these guys for two weeks, trying to explain this fact and get the thing repaired or replaced - but "We can definitely provide you with both toogle links and the parts but we cannot replace the whole press".
So, just a word to anyone contemplating a SmartReloader press (or any of their products for that matter) - i) don't beleive the claimed/printed warranty/guarantee (the box says 'Lifetime', but in email's this magically becomes '2 years parts only') and ii) if it breaks, you're on your own!
For me, 6 loaded rounds does not constitute a lifetime!
Dan
Now I bought this press about 3 months back now - it sat on a shelf for a bit over two months, while I finished building a new reloading area; then it was bolted to the bench. It's a mighty impressive lump of metal; probably the heaviest of all the presses I looked at (RCBS, Lyman, etc) so when combined with the claimed 'lifetime guarantee' and positive reviews on US sites, looked like a good buy.
BUT after depriming/necking 26 cases and seating 6 projectiles - it BROKE! Both Toggle Arms broke (and the half the thing ended up landing on my foot - thanks again, Steel Cap Boots
Contacting the reseller was useless - "Warranty is the responsibility of the Manufacturer". Contacting the manufacturer has been even more useless! They've told me they can only send me replacement arms, but I have to remove the retaining pins first... The problem with that is, the instructions supplied to remove the retaining pins (by driving them out with a hammer) don't work (they seem rivetted in). In fact, driving them with a hammer seems only to have sealed them in even tighter!
Now Ive been emailing back and forth with these guys for two weeks, trying to explain this fact and get the thing repaired or replaced - but "We can definitely provide you with both toogle links and the parts but we cannot replace the whole press".
So, just a word to anyone contemplating a SmartReloader press (or any of their products for that matter) - i) don't beleive the claimed/printed warranty/guarantee (the box says 'Lifetime', but in email's this magically becomes '2 years parts only') and ii) if it breaks, you're on your own!
For me, 6 loaded rounds does not constitute a lifetime!
Dan
