Springfield Online Store

[penciljockey]

I don't know how many times I have to hear that. I already know that.

[Sumo99]

Maybe SA doesn't want to sell certain parts that may need to be fitted because they don't want the average joe to do the gunsmithing.

Say you order a new grip safety from SA, you fit it yourself, you go to the range and now it's no longer working properly. Then you send the gun back to SA under their lifetime warranty and expect them to fix it on their dime. They won't because you did your own modifications then you bad mouth them on all the forums for having bad customer service.

Or, you fit the safety yourself and do a poor job. You have a negligent discharge, shoot yourself in the foot and then sue SA. You'll loose the case, but SA is still out a bunch of money defending themselves. Plus the media gets wind of the story and slams Springfield as an unsafe firearm manufacturer.

You use another company's part, the same things can still happen, but at least Springfield can say, it wasn't their part that caused the malfunction.

Just my thoughts

[penciljockey]

Maybe SA doesn't want to sell certain parts that may need to be fitted because they don't want the average joe to do the gunsmithing.

Say you order a new grip safety from SA, you fit it yourself, you go to the range and now it's no longer working properly. Then you send the gun back to SA under their lifetime warranty and expect them to fix it on their dime. They won't because you did your own modifications then you bad mouth them on all the forums for having bad customer service.

Or, you fit the safety yourself and do a poor job. You have a negligent discharge, shoot yourself in the foot and then sue SA. You'll loose the case, but SA is still out a bunch of money defending themselves. Plus the media gets wind of the story and slams Springfield as an unsafe firearm manufacturer.

I guess other companies aren't so paranoid.

You use another company's part, the same things can still happen, but at least Springfield can say, it wasn't their part that caused the malfunction.

Just my thoughts

That's what I thought, but that can be avoided with a simple warning "All parts may need to be fitted by gunsmith or qualified person." Simple.

OK someone on this forum is offering me a stainless ambi thumb safety that came off the same gun I have. Do you want to bet it will drop in?

[penciljockey]

I guess other companies aren't so paranoid and have better lawyers in order to avoid anything like that from happening in the first place.

[penciljockey]

For those who think it would make SA 1911's less desirable. Does this mean Kimber is less desirable than SA? LOL!

[keenkeen]

That's what I thought, but that can be avoided with a simple warning "All parts may need to be fitted by gunsmith or qualified person." Simple.
?

Yeah...If they just put that warning on their website than they will avoid:

Senario #1
Say you order a new grip safety from SA, you fit it yourself, you go to the range and now it's no longer working properly. Then you send the gun back to SA under their lifetime warranty and expect them to fix it on their dime. They won't because you did your own modifications then you bad mouth them on all the forums for having bad customer service.

Senario #2
Or, you fit the safety yourself and do a poor job. You have a negligent discharge, shoot yourself in the foot and then sue SA. You'll loose the case, but SA is still out a bunch of money defending themselves. Plus the media gets wind of the story and slams Springfield as an unsafe firearm manufacturer.

Its so simple...why is SA so stupid!



Or perhaps, they are spending their limited time and resources building and selling complete guns...It is after all their business and they can choose to run it as they see fit.

[penciljockey]

Yeah...If they just put that warning on their website than they will avoid:

Senario #1
Say you order a new grip safety from SA, you fit it yourself, you go to the range and now it's no longer working properly. Then you send the gun back to SA under their lifetime warranty and expect them to fix it on their dime. They won't because you did your own modifications then you bad mouth them on all the forums for having bad customer service.

Senario #2
Or, you fit the safety yourself and do a poor job. You have a negligent discharge, shoot yourself in the foot and then sue SA. You'll loose the case, but SA is still out a bunch of money defending themselves. Plus the media gets wind of the story and slams Springfield as an unsafe firearm manufacturer.

Its so simple...why is SA so stupid!



Or perhaps, they are spending their limited time and resources building and selling complete guns...It is after all their business and they can choose to run it as they see fit.

Really I thought the customer was always right. Hmmmm....I guess it is their business. For awhile there I thought it was mine. My bad.

So how is Kimber so comfortable with this? Do you think Kimber sells more 1911's than Springfield does?

[keenkeen]

Really I thought the customer was always right. Hmmmm....I guess it is their business. For awhile there I thought it was mine. My bad.

So how is Kimber so comfortable with this? Do you think Kimber sells more 1911's than Springfield does?

The customer is not always right but they are always the customer...

Kimber sells more 1911's but what does that have to do with how SA decides to run their business?

Sales volume means very little in most cases...

Hyundai sells about 4 times as many units as BMW, Do you think BMW should start modeling their strategy after Hyundai?

I am sure SA is happy with its approach and customer base..they understand all customers are not alike and they have chosen the type of customers they want to target in the market. Their approach is working for them, Kimbers is working for them...Why the need to decide which is correct from your point of view?

Anyway good luck getting your custom parts to match each other and fit...sounds like quite a nail driver your planing on putting together.

[-hanko]

For those who think it would make SA 1911's less desirable. Does this mean Kimber is less desirable than SA? LOL!

The gun is about 10% of the shooting equation...i'd give the ammo 5% and the shooter 85%.

Desirable is in the eye of the beholder.

My most desirable .45's are my Colt's. Obviously, ymmv. I'd take a Kimber if Colts were not available, though I'm old enough to remember flying front sights and broken slide releases with Kimber's first 1911's. Otoh, if I wanted a gun made from non-US parts and perhaps only assembled in the US, I'd opt for SA. Again, ymmv.

This is an especially strange thread.

If you don't want to learn how to do the work yourself, have a gunsmith do the fitting.

-hanko

[penciljockey]

I see your point about Kimber, but doesn't SA make and assemble guns in Brazil as well? I do agree Colt is very diserable for those who can afford it and if your made of money a custom Wilson Combat would be nice.

All I'm saying is it would be nice if SA offered the same variety of SA parts as Kimber offers to their customers. This hasn't hurt Kimber at all and their sales are higher. Yes higher sales does say something about the product and as far as I know the modern Kimber and SA are about equal in quality and function.

Why is this so hard for people to grasp? I don't understand how providing your customers with more options is a bad thing. I don't want to have to send my gun just so they will sell me the part I want.

[penciljockey]

Sorry to bother everyone with petty concerns. I'm done with this thread.

[keenkeen]

All I'm saying is it would be nice if SA offered the same variety of SA parts as Kimber offers to their customers. This hasn't hurt Kimber at all and their sales are higher. Yes higher sales does say something about the product and as far as I know the modern Kimber and SA are about equal in quality and function.

Sounds like someone should just buy a Kimber and then all would be right with the world...