Should I bite my tongue or complain? (Charles Daly Hipower)

[Snowdog]

I recently purchased a Charles Daly HiPower from CDNN that was advertised as having Uncle Mike padded grips. It arrived with hard-plastic grips.

I recently sent it back to KBI/Charles Daly for repairs and pointed this out in the included letter detailing the mechanical problems with the handgun. It was returned six weeks later with the same hard-plastic grips and unfortunately, the same malfunction (multiple failures to extract).

I would very much prefer the padded grips advertised over the hard plastic grips it currently wears and was debating whether I should purchase these on my own.

Being this was purchased from CDNN, would they be ultimately responsible for the inaccurate advertising or is this something that should be addressed by KBI/Charles Daly?

What would you do?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Feud]

It may be tough since you sent it in already, but I would suggest checking out the latest Reader's Digest. They have a whole section detailing some of the best ways to get positive action out of non-responsive customer service.

 

[AirForceShooter]

I don't know what you're referring to as "padded grips".
The Uncle Mikes are standard on the CD Hi Power.

AFS

 

[atblis]

Well

Sounds like that would be more on CDNN than CD.

 

[Snowdog]

Thanks for the advice my friends.

As for the nomenclature of the grips described, here’s the verbatim grip description used by CDNN’s catalog I placed the order from (Volume 2008-1, page 7):

“Uncle Mikes Padded Ergonomic Black Checkered Grip Panels”

So what they’re referring to is what I’m referring to. I’ve seen Daly HPs with these grips and they’re certainly not the hard plastic grips mine came furnished with and this irks me.

I was suspecting culpability would be on CDNN as it was their description of a product they were selling in their catalog. I guess my request will go to them, though I suspect little will come of it. However, I can't say I won't purchase from them again as I've had nothing but absolute pleasure dealing with them in the past.

You make a great suggestion, Feud. Reader’s Digest certainly does have valuable kernels of knowledge that just about everyone can apply to daily life. Though I must admit I seem gravitated primarily towards That’s Outrageous and Humor in Uniform while my wife reads the rest.

 

[VHinch]

If if were me, it probably wouldn't be worth the effort and frustration. There are a million choices for Hi Power grips, I'd just find what I wanted and buy those.

 

[Snowdog]

VHinch, I must admit that I'm already somewhat resigned to doing just that. There's currently a reliability issue I'm attempting to have addressed by CD/KBI and afterwards I plan on investing some time improving the trigger that currently borders on "ugly" in terms of grit and pull weight.
My primary drive for pursuing the proper grips is that believe I'd likely purchase something very similar to what the HP was advertised to come with, on my dime.

However, as you imply, I question whether it would be wise to invest much time and effort on something that yields a pyrrhic victory at best.

 

[DPris]

Your complaint would be entirely with CDNN.
The guns they sell are leftovers, closeouts, trade-ins, over-runs, and wholesale dumps from makers, distributors, PDs, and so on.
They are neither agents nor distributors for Charles Daly, and CD has zero control of, or responsibility for, anything CDNN does.
Whatever configuration the batch your pistol came from had, it was what it was when CDNN bought it. CD has not mis-advertised & has no obligation to "make good".
CDNN is a close-out house & is not a distributor for anybody.
When a maker or distributor has a bunch of inventory that's not moving, or a number of discontinued models or variations that they want to dump, they'll discount it out to CDNN just to get rid of it & create at least some cash to move on with.
That's why you saw those FN-marked HPs a while back. FNUSA decided to stop competing with the Browning brand (both owned by FN Herstal), and wholesaled much of their inventory to CDNN.
Denis

 

[Jim K]

Hi, DPris,

You worte, "CD has not mis-advertised & has no obligation to "make good".

I don't agree. IF CDNN advertised that gun with one type of grip then it is their responsibility to ship it as advertised. If they can't do that, they can so notify the customer and let him decide if he wants the gun in some other configuration, or let him return the gun.

The problem for the customer is that if they no longer have the guns with the grips as advertised, he might have to settle for what they have or do without.

It might be less problem for the customer to just buy the grips he wants, but IMHO, CDNN does have an obligation to "make good."

Jim

 

[Brian Williams]

You have two problems
1, the grips, Call CDNN and check with them about that.
2, The gun, The president of the importer of the CD line is a member here. Call them and have them make the gun right.

 

[DPris]

Jim,
I think you mis-read what I posted. You appear to be confusing two very different & separate companies. Charles Daly (CD) had nothing to do with the CDNN ad or the CDNN transaction, and has no obligation whatever, legally or morally, to "make good", as far as the grips go. Function is another matter.

The entire responsibility lies with CDNN. They advertised the gun, they sold the gun, they delivered the gun in an other-than-advertised configuration. CD (Charles Daly) had zero connection with the deal once they sold that gun to CDNN, and has no responsibility to correct CDNN's error.

If I put an ad in the local paper here to sell a gun, described it with orange grips, and then sold it to a buyer with purple grips on it, the maker of the gun would not & could not be held to "make the buyer whole". The maker had nothing whatever to do with that sale.

Denis

 

[lee n. field]

What would you do?

Call CDNN. If they won't send the grips along, I'd say just stop complaining and buy the grips you want. It's not worth spending a great deal of effort on.

 

[Monkeybear]

DPris- don't forget he also has problems with the functionality of the firearm, this is what is being referred to as a CD matter.

 

[DPris]

Monk,
I said, "...as far as the grips go...", and "Function is another matter."
I was responding to Jim, who was talking about the grips.

This should be pretty simple to understand.

CDNN's issue on the grips, CD's issue on the malfunctions.

Denis

 

[mattk]

Sadly,
Uncle Mike's no longer makes these excellent grips.

 

[Snowdog]

Thanks for the replies!

I received a call this morning from the chief technician from KBI and we spoke at length about these malfunctions. I am to shoot it until it malfunctions, clear the firearm and send it back (pre-paid) to KBI for inspection along with the fired case guilty of remaining in the chamber.
I was also informed an attempt would be made to locate these "padded grips" and if they find any, will replace my current grips with those.

Overall, I am quite please with the proactiveness of KBI. This individual sounded sincere in "making things right" with this Charles Daly HP.

 

[DPris]

If CD will try to cover CDNN's error, they're going above & beyond for you.
Still don't know what "padded" grips are, though. If you're refering to the rubbers, they haven't been made for quite a while now.
Denis

 

[Charles Daly]

Snowdog: Charles Daly will have you satisfied with your HP.

I just want to make one comment. Your post reads as if you should leave the offending fired case in the chamber when you return it to us. Please do not do that. Remove the fired case from the chamber, put it (the fired case) in the carrying case, then ship it back to us. OK?

Otherwise, you could give the guy that unpacks our packages a heart attack!

 

[Snowdog]

Thank you Michael for getting the ball rolling on these repairs.

The technician I spoke to yesterday concluded the best thing to do was to clear the weapon and place the offending spent casings in a bag (chamber & magazine empty). I plan to run 100 or so various rounds through the HP today as to have 3 or 4 malfunctions so the casings can be inspected for clues as to the culprit.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[DPris]

MK,
Have you figured out what he's referring to on those "padded" grips?
Denis

 

[Snowdog]

Dpris,

Here are the grips I have been referring to (see post #5 for details) are those that are on the CD HP pictured below from Gundirectory.com:



It appears only CDNN has advertised them as "padded", for whatever reason. They appear to be rubber checkered grips marketed by Uncle Mike.
I hope this answers your question.

 

[DPris]

OK, that helps.
I have a set on my '94 Browning, but Uncle Mike's dropped them a while back.
IF CD can scare up a set for you, that'd be great, but I wouldn't hold my breath over it.
Have you tried Ebay? I understand they turn up now & then.
Denis

 

[res1b3uq]

I had a CD with those grips on it. I really liked them. No problem with the pistol, either, except it wasn't a .45.

 

[Snowdog]

I recently received my now flawlessly-operating HP back from CD/KBI and it was returned with these very Uncle Mike grips I was asking about. Talk about generous!
Not many manufacturers out there will cover the mistakes of retailers that incorrectly advertise their products.

Snowdog: Charles Daly will have you satisfied with your HP.

You're not kidding, thanks!

 

[Gator]

Nice to hear a story about good customer service!