STI Warranty (Or Lack Thereof)

[gfavaron]

I am growing seriously attracted to the STI Trojan in 9mm. But the following quotation from their online manual makes my hair stand on end:

"Due to the complexities of complying with federal warranty law, STI
International offers no expressed or written warranty on its products.
We continually strive to stand behind out products and satisfy our
customers, but we cannot make guarantees or warranties of any kind.
Please contact us immediately should you experience a problem with any
of our products."

Anybody have any problems getting STI to service malfunctioning pistols? Or vice versa?

[taxlawmax]

Relax.

I remember seeing the same thing in a Ruger manual, and I think I also saw it in an H&K manual. Product liability and warranty law aren't my areas, and I'd love to know why they all do that. But the relevant question tends to be whether the company actually takes care of its customers, not whether they assume a responsibility under Federal law to do so. In the case of STI, it seems that they do. My experience is limited, though.

[gfavaron]

Thanks for responding Max. I am fortunate enough to live within reasonable driving distance of the STI factory complex so I could become a real nuisance to them should it become necessary. Still one is comforted by a warranty, no matter how faint the ink. Have you sent a gun back to them - or know someone who has?

[MacEntyre]

I've had pistols repaired in the last year by four manufacturers: Kel-Tec, SA, STI and Kimber. Only with STI was the problem not fixed the first time. Also, STI took far longer to get the pistol back to me (months as opposed to weeks).

[taxlawmax]

I was concerned with customer service before I ordered my gun, so I looked into this a lot. (Keep in mind that I haven't even received my gun yet, so this is all second-hand.)

I've gathered a few things from this forum, 1911forum.com, and the Brian Enos forum. Generally, it sounds like the STI guns are reliable pistols. They're made to such tight tolerances that you might have to shoot it in a little before it achieves optimal reliability. If there is a problem, STI will fix it, and problems beyond 1000 rounds are quite rare. STI is backlogged for production, so a few people (but not all) have posted about waiting some time for repairs. It seems that when they do take a while, STI tries to make it up to you one way or another.

One solution to all this is to get your gun through places like Brazos or Dawson, and have them check the gun, do a trigger job, etc. They'll probably be able to prevent any hiccups the gun might have before it gets to you, and for a very reasonable fee.

Again, my experience is very limited, so if I'm off, someone do me a favor and correct me!

[MacEntyre]

Sounds like a reasonable explanation.

I like the idea of having Brazos or Dawson provide the pistol.

[taxlawmax]

Brazos or Dawson are also more likely to have what you're looking for without having to wait 5 months for a gun from STI.

I started looking for a Tactical 4.15 in .45 about a week ago. Assuming all goes well -- and I have no reason to think otherwise -- Brazos will get me one in mid-June.

[gfavaron]

Thanks guys. Having the distributor sort out the pistol prior to delivery sounds like a fail-safe idea to me too. I am only about a 40 minute drive from Morgan, TX, so I guess Brazos is the place to go. Of course Morgan is such a huge metropolis that I might have trouble finding the gunshop.

[taxlawmax]

Hehe... I actually looked at the Google Earth picture of Morgan. Kinda reminds me of my usual haunts: DC, NYC, Miami, etc....

[jaysouth]

If you buy from Brazos, DO NOT pass up their $75 trigger job.

Brazos or Dawson can usually get you a gun quicker than direct from STI. Both will inspect your gun and make sure it is shipped in good operable order.

[taxlawmax]

I went with the $125 "performance package" (or something like that). Includes a trigger job and lots of adjustments/replacements, as well as a thorough check of the gun and (I think) mags.

It sounds like a good deal to me too: you're basically paying for Brazos to apply a good deal of their experience with STI's to your gun to make sure it works great before you get it. And, if I remember correctly, it doesn't add more than a couple of days to your delivery date.

[wooderson]

Hmm, had no idea Brazos Custom was that close to Lake Whitney, I assumed they were well south.

They have a storefront where you can drop in and pick up your purchase directly?

[taxlawmax]

I'm hardly the guy to ask: I live in Maryland, and I'm moving to Miami. Not exactly Morgan, TX. :) Maybe someone else here knows...?

[Conqueror]

MANY companies in MANY industries make that "no warranty" statement. Most of the time (STI included) they don't want to be legally bound to a warranty, but they usually operate on a "gentleman's system" - if it breaks and it's our fault, we'll fix it.

CQ

[gfavaron]

And NOW I have found out through an exchange of emails, that Brazos does not have a showroom, and does not welcome customers at their Morgan location. Despite the fact that I only live a half hour's drive from them, I shall have to order via phone or email and receive my gun through some FFL dealer up in Ft Worth or Dallas (a bunch farther from me than Brazos!) That is simply bizarre!! What's so complicated about having a display case and a cash register?

[taxlawmax]

It might not be so bizarre at all. First of all, there are often zoning issues that become very complicated as soon as you welcome the public into your space. Then there are potential liability issues. Not to mention anything about Federal firearms law, although I assume that Brazos is itself an FFL.

[gfavaron]

Oh what the heck Max, I shall probably jump through all the hoops (real or imaginary) because I WANT the confounded thing.

I just had my heart set on ambling down to Morgan and playing with a bunch of neat pistols, and am grumpy because the toystore is locked away. BUMMER!!!

[taxlawmax]

Yeah, I know. There's not enough playing and too much waiting for the childish satisfaction that we're both looking for. But the more grown-up part of you will eventually enjoy the gun!

I thought about it a little more, and I suspect that Brazos doesn't want to transfer the gun to you directly because (if I recall correctly), it's the FFL who actually transfers the gun to the buyer who assumes responsibility for complying with federal transfer laws. Brazos may not want to take on that kind of responsibility if local sales aren't really a big factor in their business.

[gfavaron]

Not a problem! I have had another email from Brazos, and they tell me to just drive on down the road a few miles farther to Georgetown, TX to the STI factory. STI doesn't sell retail, but will let a visitor handle the various models. Life is good!

[taxlawmax]

Shame that I can't do the same. My local gun shop has a few STI's, but I don't think there's a Tac 4.15 in .45 within miles of here. "Here" (unfortunately) being Maryland.

[res1b3uq]

I only live a few minutes from CDNN, but they won't sell out the door either. Everything has to be shipped. I'll bet it has something to do with BATFE paperwork. (besides, they don't get to hit you with the freight)

[irq23]

I thought I would tell my STI story. I got an STI lawman not long ago and the mag that came with the gun had a week spring. I called STI and asked for a new spring and they told me they were sending me an entirely new mag. So I basically got an extra mag for the price of a Wolff spring. This was several days ago and I have not received the mag as of yet.

[taxlawmax]

This was several days ago and I have not received the mag as of yet.
If you don't mind me asking, how many days is "several"?

[gfavaron]

Well Max . . . I finally timed out. We are talking about TOYS here, and part of the joy of a toy is immediate gratification. STI and it's distributors aren't into "immediate."

So yesterday, I gratified myself with a 9mm Colt Combat Commander. Maybe I will try again with STI down the pike. In the meantime, I am happily exploring the innards of my new plaything.

[taxlawmax]

Well Max . . . I finally timed out. We are talking about TOYS here, and part of the joy of a toy is immediate gratification. STI and it's distributors aren't into "immediate."


Tsk, tsk. Success in every endeavour, even the enjoyment of toys, is enhanced by discipline. By which I mean: I'll start gloating HARD in a few weeks when I get my Tac 4.15. ;)

Enjoy the Colt!

[gfavaron]

Aha!! The spelling of endeavoUr gives the game away! No ordinary Maryland tax attorney could exhibit such unworldly patience. Mayhap we have a transplanted solicitor hiding behind that otherwise respectable mask?

[taxlawmax]

No, no... I'm from Long Island. You're lucky I didn't type "indevah". I lived in London as a kid, but more to the point, I'm prone to affectations.

[irq23]

If you don't mind me asking, how many days is "several"?
probably 3 or 4 days.

[taxlawmax]

Gotcha. Don't forget to post if/when you receive (and test) the new mag.

[irq23]

I received the mag on Monday, it was shipped UPS ground. The spring seems much stronger then the mag that came with the gun.

[taxlawmax]

I received the mag on Monday, it was shipped UPS ground. The spring seems much stronger then the mag that came with the gun.

Glad to hear. Please post again when you test the mag. It's always good to get follow-up to see whether the companies take good care of customers when problems occur.