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Para Ordanance Warranty

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
I own several Para 1911's. I have a Nite Hawg, a full size, and a LTC, which is the 4.25 length barrel. I bought the LTC to open carry. I ran about 50 rounds through the gun and broke it down to clean it. When trying to reinstall the slide, the plunger lever, a small piece attached to the trigger, would not let the slide move fully to the rear. I sent it back to Para, and after 3 weeks I called to find out where my gun was. They said they need $75 to repair it. I said it was under warranty, they said I broke it. I just want to give everyone a heads up about their lifetime warranty, I do not think it exist. I have a Keltec P11, had a problem with the follower in the magazine, they sent me a magazine out the day I called. No cost for shipping or the magazine. Warranties are only as good as the company and Para seems not to keep their word.
 

thebigsd

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
3,535
Location
Quarryville, PA
Hmm...how do you plan to pursue it? Maybe if they get enough pressure they will rectify the situation.

Did they say how you supposedly broke it?
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
Hmm...how do you plan to pursue it? Maybe if they get enough pressure they will rectify the situation.

Did they say how you supposedly broke it?
"It appeared to them (service department) that I pushed the slide back while the plunger was up". I said ok, but it should not be up during reassembly and I could not push it down. I talked to the service manager and got no satisfaction. As soon as it comes back, I will sell all 3 and buy a Sig 1911, Taurus 1911 and a S&W 1911. I have plenty of Colts. The money is not the real issue for me, even though I don't wish to pay for product defect, it is being told I broke it. They just will not honor their promise to repair the weapon as long as I own it if a defect exist. Their warranty is therefore worthless.
 

KYGlockster

Activist Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
1,842
Location
Ashland, KY
If you haven't done so, call and ask to speak with a manager. Inform them of the problem and how your offended by how the employee assumed you was at fault when you had no control over the issue. I would also inform them of your previous purchases and if they don't want to lose business they need to rectify the situation. Would they rather eat the price of the part, or the whole price of a future sell? I always find it works well to always get an employees name and tell them you want to speak to management, and they will normally fix it even if it was something you done.!! Haha.
 

thebigsd

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
3,535
Location
Quarryville, PA
+1 to KYGlockster. It seems silly that they want to argue with you over a part when a) they have a lifetime guarantee, b) you own multiple 1911s and know how to take them apart, and c) you've been a loyal Para customer.
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
The service manager is who I spoke too. Just basically told me to pound salt. After looking through several sites, it seems to be their modus operandi. I just will not due business with a company that will not hold up their end of an agreement. I just want everyone here to know my experience so that you can make a purchase based on fact rather than their fallacy.
 

09jisaac

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
1,692
Location
Louisa, Kentucky
All of this worries me because my brother-in-law just bought a para right before christmas. I really hope that he doesn't run into problems (I'd be right if he does) because he would be out a lot of money. He has already had to buy a new barrel bushing for it, something about a burr on the slide eating it up.
 

KYGlockster

Activist Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Messages
1,842
Location
Ashland, KY
I'm sure glad you have informed us of this, especially since you talked to a manager and they
Basically said to shove it. I was getting ready to buy a 14•45, but I do believe you have changed my mind. Thanks for saving me a hassle
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
I'm sure glad you have informed us of this, especially since you talked to a manager and they
Basically said to shove it. I was getting ready to buy a 14•45, but I do believe you have changed my mind. Thanks for saving me a hassle

KYGlockster, look at the Taurus 1911. Well built, shoots like a dream. I have a close friend who bought one and you can drive nails with it. I love the feel of a 1911 but I will never have another PARA product.
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
I thought I was done with Para, until a few moments ago. I called to find out where my LTC was and Doug answered said I had not paid for the repair. I told him to look again, because they had charged my credit card on February 2, 2012. I was on hold for 5 minutes and 15 seconds when he comes back and tells me that the accounting department did not forward the information to the service department. Again, what lousy customer service. Not even an apology for their mistake. Know who you are doing business with, it can bite you if you do not.
 

Hurley99

Regular Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
18
Location
Radcliff
I own a para myself. Just got it alittle more then a month ago and im really hoping I have no problems with it. Sounds like a pain to get anything fixed. Your post would of been helpfull a few months ago. :)
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
Mail or e-mail them a link to this thread.

Or, more precisely, find out who is the senior executive over sales, and mail or e-mail him a link to this thread. Nothing will get a service department's butt in gear like an angry sales staff who sees their sales and commissions negatively affected by bad service after the sale.

You can also hunt up their regional sales reps and do the same thing.
 

09jisaac

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2011
Messages
1,692
Location
Louisa, Kentucky
Mail or e-mail them a link to this thread.

Or, more precisely, find out who is the senior executive over sales, and mail or e-mail him a link to this thread. Nothing will get a service department's butt in gear like an angry sales staff who sees their sales and commissions negatively affected by bad service after the sale.

You can also hunt up their regional sales reps and do the same thing.

This is good advice, they can bet that we have not finished buying all the firearms we will ever have. Most of us would buy a firearm everyday if we had the money. And it is a HUGE negative mark against para when one of our own has a bad experience with it.
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
Mail or e-mail them a link to this thread.

Or, more precisely, find out who is the senior executive over sales, and mail or e-mail him a link to this thread. Nothing will get a service department's butt in gear like an angry sales staff who sees their sales and commissions negatively affected by bad service after the sale.

You can also hunt up their regional sales reps and do the same thing.

I have sent 2 emails and no one has answered. Your suggestion is very good and I believe I will do as suggested. Thanks
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
If you go to the Para website and register for the Para Owners Association (PAO) and post the same information you posted here you might get some assistance with this, even now. I did this with my problem and some of the members chimed in and suggested solutions. Some of them were very helpful.

Thanks Gutshot. I have not joined yet, but I will this weekend. I need to meet with you at some time in the future and discuss things with you. I want to pick your brain on some topics.

 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
One more time

Ok everyone, one more post on this boring topic. I called Para to find out where my 1911 was. It is still there and this time they tell me they found out last Monday that the frame is out of specification and would need to replace the frame and the slide. They have no royal blues available. I told them to use a black frame. Long story short, the worst customer service I have had from anyone.
 

hotrod

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
569
Location
Union, Kentucky, USA
They received the weapon on January 4 and I paid for the original repair on January 16. I have talked to them 3 times between Jan. 16th and Feb. 9th. I was told today when I called that they were trying to get a frame and slide from production. I asked them to just send a new 1911 and was told they want to attempt repair first. Again, worst customer service in the world. By the way Gutshot, thanks for the heads up on Cochise Stronghold, that was a sight to see.
 

Sig229

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
926
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
hotrod, I appreciate you posting your experience with Para. Im contemplating buying a P-12 and will do some more searching on that model and past problems with that model.

On a side note, I went to the NRA convention in Pittsburgh last year and spoke with the Para Ordnance guys at their booth.
They were helpful, but one of them working there didn't seem to know much about the product.
The other guy working the Para booth was knowledgeable.

What bothers me most is: These are firearms we are dealing with. Not toys for kids.
With the firearms we buy we put our lives on the line with them and granted, nothing mechanical can be expected to have flawless operation 100% of the time.
But when one of our firearms does break, it needs to be treated with the utmost care and professionalism.
I have never had to send my Sig's back, but did once send my Glock 19 for some work. It was handled very quickly and never got a run around from CS.
I understand that PO is a much smaller operation than Glock. But Customer Service for any business should be the top priority.
 
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