[shy-guy]

Hi all, I just wanted to check in and share my frustration with Ruger. I made a post last August about an extraction problem with my Mini-14. Dave3006 warned me to just demand another rifle. He had the same model and the same exact extraction problems. I didn't think I had the leverage to make such demands at the time. Well now nine months later, I could have saved myself the same headaches. But instead, I have sent my Mini in 3 three times and Ruger's lame service department has returned it to me three times. But I still have the same extraction problems when the barrel heats up (after 30 rounds). It's with Ruger for the fourth time now. I have a feeling, my experience will be the same as Dave's. Send it in four times and finally demand a new rifle. I should have listened to Dave. I am an idiot!!!

Who knows, maybe I am the sap who bought Dave's original rifle that Ruger never figured out how to repair. Seems more likely there was a batch of Stainless Minis out there that were screwed up from the factory.

 

[Dave3006]

Dude. I feel for you. Hope is not lost. I negotiate for a living. It is what I do. They have not won this battle until you decide they have won.

My advice is to go as high up in the organization as possible. You might have to sound REALLY pissed off to get their attention. Don't swear or anything else. However, they need to feel your resolve. At a minimum, you want to be talking to the manager at least 3-4 levels up from the monkey that answers the phone. Don't stop this process until you get what you want or you have old man Ruger's dead body in your living room.

The fact that it has been back so many times is the precise leverage you need. This is a battle of wills. Document everything at get this to upper management. In essense, you want to make them give you a new rifle to make you go away.

My new rifle has not had one malfunction in thousands of rounds. I shoot Wolfe ammo too. It was worth the effort.

Good luck.

 

[quadfan]

Dave3006 is right,you must be very firm,but not vulger,kindof like it's already a given that you are getting your way.I'm really surprised you guys are having such a problem with Ruger,as I have seen some pretty amazing service from them. A friend of mine bought a screwed-up mini14 at a gunshow that looked like it was dragged behind a truck and then filled with C4. OK,maybe it was'nt quite so ugly,but it was way beyond repair! Anyhow,all my buddy did was send it to Ruger,and in a couple of weeks he had a coupon for a brand new mini14 in his hand! NO S***!! I think sending a rifle back for the same problem more than ONCE is unacceptable! And if it was me,I would'nt accept anything but a new gun,because as you say,it looks like nothing will help this defective mini you were cursed with!

 

[Dave3006]

Ditto on the firm, but polite approach. I was appalled at the POOR attitude from the customer service people. They tried to blame me, the ammo, my cleaning, and the mags. It helped to speak to the actual technician evaluating the weapon. The guy I spoke to was great. Get his name and use it in the letters you send to upper management as leverage explaining that you are going the extra mile. Also, put in your letter how much money you have spent on trips to the range, ammo, and shipping solving this problem. Itemize it and get it to upper management.

I was in utter disbelief that every time they shipped the rifle back stating that they could not find the problem. I put in BOLD letters not to ship it back without calling me if this happened. They never called.

Bottom line, most of the people at the bottom of bureaucratic organizations really don't care. Some do. However, they are the exception.

Good luck. Never quit.

 

[Dave3006]

One more thing. You have to demand a new gun. Nothing else is acceptable. You don't trust this gun anymore. You have to tell them how to fix the problem and make you go away. Be specific.

 

[cajungeo]

It always better to deal with the manager in a case like this, as they sometimes arn't aware of a problem like this. They have the authority to get it done, whereas dealing with a peon, he has no authority. Like Dave says be firm, but civil. Good luck!

 

[Nighthawk]

Sorry to here about your trouble,Ive had good service from Ruger other than being told different things by different employee's.A guy on another forum works for Ruger,and speaks highly of the pride put into their other guns.But claims Ruger uses different tooling on the production line for the Mini-14.He claims Ruger could not afford to buy all new tooling and make every gun to the exact specs and sale the gun for the price range its in.I believe the guy because he knows it all about Ruger Products?Hope things work out for ya!


Best!!

 

[quadfan]

Originally posted by Dave3006
One more thing. You have to demand a new gun. Nothing else is acceptable. You don't trust this gun anymore. You have to tell them how to fix the problem and make you go away. Be specific.

Exactly right, stress the safety issue! And don't be appeased by anything less than getting what you want and deserve.

 

[Mengo]

Hi,
I worked a shop for eight years and it seems to be whose got it and who actually has it in their hands working on it. I've dealt with Colt and Interarms and had the same experiences. I've dealt some with Ruger on a very limited basis, the guys who gave me the best service was Savage. I've found the bigger they get, the smaller YOU become. Two to six monthes was the norm, occasionally eight. Basically they all hate to replace a gun, it eats the profit margin. My bro-in-law bought a Beretta 96 .40, it just wouldn't run right, I replaced the recoil spring, we tried all sorts of ammo etc, by now I knew it was not a simple fix and did a very nice ramp job on it, Ber. have a small ramp at the edge of the mag well where it meets the barrel ramp. Here was the culprit, sharp, rough, not cut deep enough nor properly shaped. Now it feeds anything... my point being all of these guns are 'test fired' not really run. Running is where the problems arise and they hate to think it's their problem.

 

[cw2go]

It sounds like they have demonstrated that they are unable to repair this rifle on three separate occasions, therefore the rifle should be considered unrepairable, and completely unsuitable for its intended purpose.

You should demand either a new rifle or a complete refund of your purchase price, AND reibmursement for all expenses incurred in shipping and attempting to resolve the problem.

Also check to see if your state has any defective product laws, since they may be vulnerable to state-specific laws. The local office of consumer protection may be able to help you with this.

You should also enlist the assistance of the dealer you purchased from. If you bought it with a credit card, you have major leverage, and may be able to have the charges reversed, and some provide additional warranty periods. But this could hurt the dealer more than Ruger, so it is in their interest to help you. Also, write up your story to send them, and tell them you will begin posting it on every firearms-related board to warn other potential customers. Don't give up. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

-- cw

 

[Abendicum]

As we are all bearing our Ruger Souls I'd like to share mine...
I bought a wood stocked blued Mini-30 4-5 years ago at a local gun show... Paid $325 for it still new in box...
Kept it in closet for a few years til I got into my 6mm PPC project you old timers might recall...
When I bore sighted it I found the factory receiver mounts for the scope were 2-1/2 FEET off @ 60 yards !!! (YOU COULD "SEE" THE MISALIGNMENT WITH YOUR EYES IF YOU REMOVED THE FACTORY REAR SIGHT)
When I called the factory and told them of my findings I asked what they would do if they found the same problem I did...
TO MY SURPRISE THEY REPLACED THE RIFLE FOR FREE !!! I asked if I could pay the difference for a stainless steel ranch and they said don't worry we'll give you one at no additional cost...
THAT ORIGINAL BLUED GUN WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN I SENT IT IN AND I GOT BACK A BRAND NEW MINI-30 IN STAINLESS STEEL!!!
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL SERVICE... By the way I spoke to a lady in customer service and her name was CHRIS...
AB