Kel-Tec's customer service not so good anymore!

[ScottD]

Straight from the horse's mouth when I contacted KT about my P3AT... No more HACKING on the pistols will be allowed. That's the "final" answer about the home rampectomy!! And you must be the ORIGINAL owner... Used P3 buyers beware as warranty work will now factor into the cost...perhaps all KT firearms are headed for the same policy? Note the LAST paragraph of KT's email. What constitutes unreasonable use? I thought you shoot 'em 'til they break and KT would fix... I guess my "unreasonable use" was broken mags (requiring the "home" rampectomy) and less than 1000 rounds fired. Personal auto trip to KT where it was "repaired" and the HC swap done, to boot...and now it's with KT again... Mine was NOT abused. Perhaps their business model won't support that anymore...
-ScottD
p.s. KT's exact email, but my "bolding" for emphasis...

------------------ Attention: Kel-Tec First Generation P-3AT Owners------------------
As of 2/21/2005 Kel-Tec will no longer offer a Hard Chrome upgrade for the First Generation P-3AT pistols. This coincides with the introduction of the Second Generation P-3AT pistols.
First Generation P-3AT's will not be replaced, exchanged, or "upgraded" to the Second Generation models. Kel-Tec CNC Inc. offers a lifetime warranty to the original owner of all P-3AT handguns and will continue to honor this warranty.
Should there be some difficulty with a First Generation P-3AT and you are the original owner please return it to Kel-Tec, following the directions in the owner's manual. To expedite service, please include your name, address, phone number, copy of the bill of sale in the owners name, or a copy of form 4473, indicating the date of purchase must be included, difficulty experienced, model, serial number, and the brands and types of ammunitions used. No return authorization number is required.
Warranty claims (in writing) and the gun concerned should be delivered (transportation charges prepaid) to:

Kel-Tec CNC Inc.
Attn: Service Dept.
1475 Cox Road
Cocoa, FL 32926

Transportation and insurance charges via U.S. Priority Parcel Service for return to owner will be paid by Kel-Tec if the claim is covered by the warranty.

Kel-Tec will not be responsible for defects resulting from careless handling, unauthorized adjustments or modifications, defective of improper ammunition, corrosion, neglect, abuse, ordinary wear and tear, or unreasonable use.
Thank You,
Kel-Tec Customer Service
1-800-515-9983

 

[Deavis]

Sounds like a pretty sane warranty to me. That is no different than what you get when you buy a high dollar gun like an H&K. I bought mine used and after a few thousands rounds the firing pin was light striking so I sent it back. They replaced the hammer spring and charged me since that sort of wear wasn't covered under warranty.

Nobody else takes back products that have been fiddled with, why would Kel-Tec? I'm sure they mean that you can't go shooting (in the case of their P11) +P+ ammo through it and get mad when they charge you to fix it.

 

[marshall3]

KT customer service is STILL really, really good!

I just Fedexed my KT p3at to KT 3 weeks ago, for some issues involving the assembly pin walking out, etc. I got it back IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, and instead of fixing it, THEY SENT ME A WHOLE NEW PISTOL! I'm a happy camper! Go Kel-Tec!

 

[BucksDC]

I am glad i sent mine in a couple of weeks ago. I bought it used at a gunshow. Low serial 3AT. The gun would not eject, even with the upgraded extractor they sent. I sent it back and got a completly new gun with the old serial restamped. Plus they reimbursed shipping. Having said that: I only bought the 3AT cause it was a good deal and KT's cusomer service got high reviews. I doubt I'll buy anymore KT products if the warrenty isn't there

 

[Onmilo]

Kel-Tec Warranty is still there.
Nothing has changed except the finish upgrade.
If you are the original owner they fix the gun free of charge.
If you are not the original purchaser they will charge you a nominal fee to repair the gun.

 

[ScottD]

And this is based on your actual phone calls and physical presence at the KT factory???

 

[MICHAEL T]

ScottD said was from e-mail from KT. Maybe they will improve their QC at factory so people won't be tinkering with them. They seem to know about their problems but it takes forever for them to correct them.

 

[denfoote]

Oh Lordy!!!

I just sent my P3AT off to be fixed!!!

I hope I don't run into many problems!!
This is only the second time I have ever had to do this.
The first was with Taurus. They were excellent!! They promised three weeks and on the 21st day, the little brown truck delivered my revolver, all fixed and stuff!!

I hope KT is just as good!!!

 

[TxCajun]

KT's warranty has NOT changed at all. They have always been overly generous in their interpretation of said warranty, and have generally given the customer the benfit of the doubt. Once, my p32 developed a crack in the slide. Although I have purchased new KT products, I must admit that I had purchased that one used. It had seen a few rounds. I sent in the whole gun so they could replace the slide and test fire it, etc. They sent me back a brand new gun with my old serial number stamped on it. Additionally, they sent me a free mag to off-set my shipping expense. I didn't ask for any compensation. Turn around was under 3 weeks. Should I need small replacement parts such as extractors, pins, springs, guiderods, etc, a phone call gets them shipped out for free. I know of no company that offers better customer service (period). IMO, a customer's attitude often dictates the quality of customer service rendered.

 

[AF_INT1N0]

ARe they still doing the Hard Crome slide on the P32's??

If so how do you get that done?

 

[c_yeager]

If this is so bothersome to you maybe you should consider paying more than $200 for your next NIB pistol. Honestly the warranty seems awfully reasonable to me from ANY manufacture.

 

[denfoote]

Since this is an "old" post...

Some of you may want an update on my ailing "AT".
Kel-Tec replaced the frame, assembly pin (earlier), slide, barrel, rebuilt the gun, and did a factory "fluff and Buff"!!!

So much for crappy customer service!!!

The gun was re-broken in and is now my carry pistol.

How are your Kel-Tecs fairing, Scott???

 

[ScottD]

Denfoote, my KT's are faring quite well. I recently received a bevy of free parts (HC assembly pins, recoils springs and guide rods, mag catch sets, etc...). Great service. My beef is if they made the pistols correctly in the first place, then they wouldn't have to "spray" free parts to the public at large and need such a "great customer service" department in the first place. NOBODY likes to have to send their gun back, even once... But that's mostly a right of passage for new KT owners. At least with the P3AT and that includes the "new" version which tries to correct the deficiencies of the "old" one. Yet, some, still seem to prefer the "old" one... KT is just going in circles with the P-3AT.
-ScottD

Also, for fleas and scoobers... I didn't get the "tour" from Marty. They have more than one gunsmith/employee, y'all know, right? Does the name Valerie ring a bell, hmmm? SHE gave my wife and I the tour and POINTED out parts that looked a whole lot like a FG P-3AT, but wasn't...a single stack 9mm chambering for a pistol that was NOT a P-11...I know...I have a P-11.

The info below about KT not "divulging" new products is complete dog squeeze. Maybe I was extremely lucky.

George Kelgren is extremely strict with the employees when it comes to product development information. An example of this was the lack of information regarding a newly re-designed P-3AT until it showed up at the last SHOT Show.

KT is always involved in some type of product development or refinement. However, any word of new products for release will come through the normal industry channels -- not from an "unknown" who might have claimed he visited the factory....

As to the above, I called it first! We'll be seeing that single-stack 9mm at next year's SHOT Show. I guarantee it and y'all can bank it.

BTW, shhhh.... KT's redesigning the P-32 and it will look very similar to the 2nd generation P-3AT... Larger, heavier, uglier...

Ooops... Maybe I just got Valerie fired...

 

[Mal H]

Note to all

If you want to talk about what happened somewhere else on the internet, then go somewhere else. If you want to talk about the original topic of this thread, then please do so.

Several will notice that I have edited or removed some of their posts. I won't do that again.

 

[ScottD]

No problem, Mal... Sorry. It's just that "some" have decided to follow "others". Thanks for your services on an otherwise excellent forum.
-ScottD: and YES! I like my P3AT and P11...

 

[mrapathy2000]

never have been impressed with the warranty service. sent in a badly pitted p11 barrel got a p3at barrel back sent that in at my own expense asked for compensation received none though hear lots of other folk getting compensated.
got a used barrel back in fair condition.

http://www.kel-tec.com/news.htm
ATTENTION ALL KEL-TEC FIREARMS OWNERS:

As of 2-21-05 Kel-Tec has suspended all finish upgrades for all firearms. If your upgrade request was made before the above date it will be processed. Kel-Tec will still produce firearms in parkerized and hard chrome finish but no more finish upgrades will be performed. (posted 3-17-2005)