Re: SWFA 110% GUARANTEE ??????????????
Lots of good points on this thread.
If one is going to make an accusatory post one should have their facts strait, and make sure you have a cooling off period, don't go posting while you're still pissed. More good people have made poor posts doing that than not, I know I've done it in the past. Maybe even run it buy a couple people not involved and see what they think. It does keep companies from having a verbal presence on the boards, and that's unfortunate. As lowlight said you can bet many of the companies are reading stuff about their products here. If you do post, get your facts strait, and post a rational logical complaint about how things were handled.
People do need to read the details of these things work, you can't just see 110% guarantee and assume it's how you think it is. Advertising is designed to be sensational and sound better than it really is, consumers have to be smart enough to do the math, read the limitations and make an informed purchase. These days you have to read the fine print. It's pretty obvious to those of us that have been here awhile that SWFA goes way out of their way for customers, and does a lot for the shooting sports.
That said, and this in no way pertains to SWFA, every purchase I've made from them has gone smoothly.
Personally, I may be too negative/demanding/etc., perhaps it's because I don't make a lot of money so these are huge purchases to me and I expect a lot of value for my money. If I had tons of money I probably wouldn't care as much. I think way too many high end companies in a lot of industries (not just firearms) are getting away with way too much and not being called out on it. A lot of people think you should give the company the chance(s) to make it right, but it should have been done right the first time. Especially at the prices most of us are paying for a lot of this gear.
If I go down to walmart and buy a Remington 700 and it's not perfect I accept that. If I go buy a $300 nikon and it has issues, I accept that. However, if I order a $4000 custom rifle, scope, mountain bike, etc. it better be absolutely perfect 100%. It better have been tested, inspected and make sure it's perfect before it leaves. Anything less IMO is totally unacceptable at that level.
Now I understand we all make mistakes, every company no matter how expensive and careful lets one slip by now and then, maybe even with a little help from shipping damage. When that does happen, it's important to give the company a chance to make it right. To be polite and civil with them, at least the first time. Lately though I've been hearing, seeing, and experiencing way too many problems with companies that charge near the highest prices in their industries. Products that take multiple trips back to be fixed, with way too much downtime, and no concern or compensation for the customer. Products that were not properly tested before coming into the market, or obviously were not checked over/tested properly before leaving.
Customers need to start demanding that level of workmanship and quality control from these higher end companies and our money. When companies don't provide quality products and service after the sale, especially at this level it's just unacceptable.
On the topic of fanboys, while the fanboys from one group/company might beat up on another group/company, there's also the problem of certain companies you can't say even a slightly less than positive thing about without being crucified by said fanboys. So it goes both ways. While some problems are being over exaggerated, others are being kept quiet. When issues do come up, they are shrugged off as being second hand, someone just trying to make trouble, or repeating an issue they read somewhere else etc. Certainly the opposite is true as well, some problems are blown out of proportion.
In the end I don't think there's any way to fix that, best to try and keep a calm head, give the company at least one chance to make things right, then make a logical rational post of your issue and stay civil.
