Or my Kel-Tec experience anyways....
I have always wanted a PMR-30 since it became available. With mixed reviews, I decided to go with a used one to start. Finally, a couple of months ago one came up on the EE at a good price. It had about 1000 rounds thru it and the seller did tell me up front that the firearm wasn't that accurate. When received it appeared to be in mint condition, hard to tell one box went thru it let alone 20.
When I did get it to the range, it was very exciting to shoot. Lots of noise and fire coming out of the muzzle. I did find out and confirm what the seller had told me, that it was not accurate at all. I purchased several brands and different grains of ammo and all of them had 16"-24" groups at 25 yards.
I read about the PMR-30 on various websites and discovered that they had problems with barrels in a certain production run. Also I found the barrels were $68 US on the Kel-Tec website.
Kel-Tec has a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. When someone buys a used Kel-Tec, there is a nominal fee for warranty to cover basic parts and shipping. The kicker is it has to be sent to Florida and we all know that doesn't work very well for us Canadians.
So March 12th I get on the phone with Kel-Tec and explain my situation. I spoke with a female on the customer service line and she told me it would have to go back to the importer and be sent back to Florida for service and that the nominal fee would apply. Fair enough.
I quickly estimated that shipping and repairs would be in excess of $100, and as well I would be without the firearm for an extended period of time. The time part didn't really bother me as the firearm was safe, just not accurate and I wanted it fixed. I figured it would be easier and most likely cheaper just to buy a new barrel and see if it solved the issue.
So March 13th I call Kel-Tec back and this time I get a male customer service rep. I tell him my story, 2nd owner, 16"-24" groups, and the hassle and expense of returning for service etc. and that I might as well just purchase a barrel and asked him where in Canada could I buy one.
He asked me what province I was in so he could find somewhere close. When I told him, he said "Oh, that's where my girlfriend is from" said he visited here before and loved it and wanted to come back. The world seemed a bit smaller as he took my shipping information and told me he was putting a new barrel in the mail for me, fully covered under warranty as "Keyhole barrel replacement".
Today, March 28th I find a First class USPS envelope in my mailbox, and what was inside? My brand new barrel! I'm impressed they covered it under warranty as I had no issues paying for it. It's different style of barrel, my old one was fluted and this one is not.
Now off to the range to see if this new barrel changes my PMR-30 from Spray to Stream.
How's that for customer service, not to mention International customer service.
I have always wanted a PMR-30 since it became available. With mixed reviews, I decided to go with a used one to start. Finally, a couple of months ago one came up on the EE at a good price. It had about 1000 rounds thru it and the seller did tell me up front that the firearm wasn't that accurate. When received it appeared to be in mint condition, hard to tell one box went thru it let alone 20.
When I did get it to the range, it was very exciting to shoot. Lots of noise and fire coming out of the muzzle. I did find out and confirm what the seller had told me, that it was not accurate at all. I purchased several brands and different grains of ammo and all of them had 16"-24" groups at 25 yards.
I read about the PMR-30 on various websites and discovered that they had problems with barrels in a certain production run. Also I found the barrels were $68 US on the Kel-Tec website.
Kel-Tec has a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. When someone buys a used Kel-Tec, there is a nominal fee for warranty to cover basic parts and shipping. The kicker is it has to be sent to Florida and we all know that doesn't work very well for us Canadians.
So March 12th I get on the phone with Kel-Tec and explain my situation. I spoke with a female on the customer service line and she told me it would have to go back to the importer and be sent back to Florida for service and that the nominal fee would apply. Fair enough.
I quickly estimated that shipping and repairs would be in excess of $100, and as well I would be without the firearm for an extended period of time. The time part didn't really bother me as the firearm was safe, just not accurate and I wanted it fixed. I figured it would be easier and most likely cheaper just to buy a new barrel and see if it solved the issue.
So March 13th I call Kel-Tec back and this time I get a male customer service rep. I tell him my story, 2nd owner, 16"-24" groups, and the hassle and expense of returning for service etc. and that I might as well just purchase a barrel and asked him where in Canada could I buy one.
He asked me what province I was in so he could find somewhere close. When I told him, he said "Oh, that's where my girlfriend is from" said he visited here before and loved it and wanted to come back. The world seemed a bit smaller as he took my shipping information and told me he was putting a new barrel in the mail for me, fully covered under warranty as "Keyhole barrel replacement".
Today, March 28th I find a First class USPS envelope in my mailbox, and what was inside? My brand new barrel! I'm impressed they covered it under warranty as I had no issues paying for it. It's different style of barrel, my old one was fluted and this one is not.
Now off to the range to see if this new barrel changes my PMR-30 from Spray to Stream.
How's that for customer service, not to mention International customer service.
