Suggestion for Colt...

[rnjj1219]

Colt's customer service probably receives tons of calls requesting manufacturing dates on pistols based on serial numbers. Any ideas why they don't automate this service by allowing people to input a serial number on their website and getting the information? It's probably nothing more than cross referencing the same database the customer service representatives use when the phone calls are made. Sounds simple but maybe there's a lot more to it.

Anyone else think it's worth bringing up to Colt??

[rnjj1219]

Another thought, this would also help our overseas friends that can't connect with a 1-800 number.

[Hawkmoon]

Actually, when John and I toured the Colt factory a bit more than a year ago, we offered to put that information on the M1911.org web site to make it available in order to save the Colt customer service reps a lot of time. They thanked us for the offer but they declined. Their reason was simple: They want to talk to their customers.

What a novel idea! Yes, in some ways it may be less convenient for us, but the next time you NEED to speak with a customer rep for your cell phone/bank account/toaster oven/laser printer or whatever, and all you get when you call the "customer service" number is an endless series of "Press 1 to hear the temperature in Dallas, press 2 to hear the temperature in Omaha" selections -- the notion of a company that actually encourages live employees talking to customers in real time suddenly becomes very appealing.

[rnjj1219]

That's a very good point. I too dread calling customer service numbers with the new high speed voice activations rather than the press a button method. Seems if you don't have dead silence around you the call gets routed to something completely off topic and God forbid you clear your throat or sneeze during the process! "I'm sorry that was not one of the options, good bye"

[R-W]

Their reason was simple: They want to talk to their customers. What a novel idea!

As a new member here, one of my first questions was how to gain production date/model info regarding my Colt 1911's. I got numerous responses from Hawkmoon and other moderators with the Colt 800#. I called, spoke with Carol, had a great chat, got her email address and within 24 hours had the date of manufacture and original finish type for 5 of my Colt's.

Thank you to all of you that helped steer me in the right direction. I for one enjoyed the polite and friendly personal service I received from Carol at Colt.

Heck... When I call AT&T customer service, I either get voice mail or get to speak to someone in India!

RW

[dakota1911]

I also think a lot of their records are on microfiche and maybe even paper. On the other hand I have had nothing but great experiences talking with the folks from Colt.

[Hawkmoon]

Heck... When I call AT&T customer service, I either get voice mail or get to speak to someone in India!
IMHO AT&T sets new records for dismal customer "service." I received a call from one of their barely-speaks-English customer reps yesterday. He informed me that I had a bill that was overdue in the amount of $45. He virtually demanded that I pay it over the phone by credit card, and it was only when it was obvious I was going to hang up that he "agreed" to allow me to pay it electronically, as I always do.

The kicker? The call came in about 09:30 of Friday. The bill arrived in my mail at 2:00 p.m. They've gotten to the point that they start dunning you for the bill before you even receive it.

If ONLY there was another choice. But I refuse to deal with the local cable TV pirates, so AT&T DSL is the only fast Internet option available to me. (Or, to my wife. When I "upgraded" from dial-up to DSL, they didn't tell me my "old" AT&T account is somehow different from "new" AT&T accounts, so by upgrading to DSL I lose the e-mail address I have had for 15+ years -- and on which I run my consulting practice. Doesn't make sense, but that's what technical "service" told me when the upgrade wouldn't recognize my account. So my wife has DSL and I keep the dial-up so that I am still me to my clients.)

[BT2012]

It's still a good option to search for your serial number if you don't need to speak to customer service. Sometimes customer service may be overwhelmed and it becomes like calling to get "hot tickets" at Ticketmaster and always getting busy signal.

[dakota1911]

Hawkmoon. I know the pain. I am in the computer bizz. Guns are but a serious hobby / addiction / tool. I have AT&T DSL for the onramp, but use a local company for my ISP, thus my eaddy, mailservers, etc. They are a couple miles from my house, so I can go over there and "talk" to them if there are issues, plus one guy is a member of one of the ranges I go to. Know this is off topic, but you might look for another and local ISP. Keep your older eaddy for a time and start a new one.