Taurus customer service story

[pspinc2003]

I bought a Taurus M44 44 Mag revolver on this forum not too long ago.  When I received it, the cylinder was very difficult to open and the thumb piece was loose and would not tighten.  Decided that instead of sending it back through 2 FFL's, etc, and wasting more $, I would try the Taurus Lifetime No Questions Asked Warranty!
I packed it up and sent it to Taurus in Miami, just like the website says to do, along with a written explanation.
A few weeks passed and I checked their online "repair status" tool.  It showed no record of my gun.  I called customer service and was told they no longer use the online feature, don't look at it.  He also couldn't confirm receipt of my gun, even though I had a delivery confirmation and signature conf. with the name of the signer.
2 days later, I received a letter via US mail that they had it and would begin work on it in 2-3 weeks.  A few days later I again checked the online tool and lo and behold, it showed the gun awaiting repair.  3 days later, I received an email stating the repair was done and the gun was being shipped via Fedex overnight to me for delivery the next morning in WI.
The next day, my Taurus showed up as promised with a brand new extractor, cylinder pin, and working perfectly, in a new Taurus cardboard box.  The invoice was enclosed thanking me for my business and NO CHARGE written across the page.  VERY SATISFIED WITH THE EXPERIENCE

[Squib]

I had the same thing happen to me (almost)

I bought a used 608 4" w/ported barrel from a gun/pawn shop in town (8-shot 357 so you can see how that cylinder would get some abuse).
I took that thing out and fired it, nothing really bad except once the hammer got stuck to the rear, after taking it home and tearing it apart for cleaning it was good for awhile but it started up again and if not thoroughly cleaned it would continue happening, also the cylinder would lock up a lot of the time, especially with the full power 125gr bullet data for H-110.  I disassembled the cylinder assembly to clean it out and debur anything that looked funny (other than greasing it up I accomplished nothing) and when I put it back together I jump the thread on the ejector pin as it fed into the extractor.  Needless to say I went B.F.A.I. (brute force and ignorance) on it and broke the ejector right off.  I sent it to them with a note telling them what I told you, plus literally telling them that I am a retard, and they pitied me.  I was nice to the lady on the phone and let them know I was sending it, got it shipped to miami and while it took about 7 weeks for them to get it done, I got it back with no bill or notice- a good looking delivery woman just beat on the door one morning and guess what I got in the mail, a functional gun

look up the data for 125gr xtp .357's with 22grs H-110, that's nasty and 8-shots at a time make it easy to put some rounds through the gun- because it's FUN!  three hundred through it since then (maybe a bit less but not much) and it's going strong.  they backed a USED, NEGLIGENTLY BROKEN, mailed in a brass tumbler box VOIDED WARRANTY (I'd have told them I shot reloads if they asked me, they didn't) and it came back to me for FREE.  I'm glad the last owner believed all the talk of taurus being the only ones that puts out a lemon time to time- because he got me a discount on my gun.  Glad to hear yours is good to go now.  Get some (deer, coyotes, whatever)

[rawhidekid]

My experiance with customer service is as follows:  Bought a new PT1911 38 Super.  The owners manual was entirely 45 ACP.  Called and asked for the bullet weight and velocity recommended, (the owners manual shows this for the 45 ACP).  Was told 130 grain and the "usual" velocity.  When I asked the borre diameter, (38 Supers have been made in .355, .356, and .357), I was told they didn't know as it was made in Brazil but it would handle any factory ammo.   They were polite and responded right away though of little help.

[Squib]

I think someone at taurus usa forgot to update the pamphlets/booklets when they started shipping other than .45acp over here

they have 19rd .380 auto 1911's too from what I've heard but not here in the us that I'm aware of..... hell that's what I wanted when they first came out but nothing yet.  they have brought out the doublestack .45's though, so that rumor got proved... I hope the 380's come but then again that might just be for the countries (like mexico) that don't want people having military calibers (oh yeah, obama.. he'll probably get 9luger labeled as armor piercing or assault-something so who knows)

man I forgot to ask how the 38super is shooting (i get busy with my rants sometimes, I'm sure you'll figure that out sooner or later)

[rawhidekid]

The 38 Super is shooting really well.  I have a hunch they sized the bore at .355 same as the 9mm.  I will still be able to use the lead in .356 but am leary of jacketted .356.  In the 90 grn you can shoot up to 1550 fps, 115 grn up to 1362 fps, 124 grn up to 1312 fps, 147 grn at 1122 fps and lead 158 grn at 1133 fps.  As you can see it has versatility.  I sent Buffalo Bore Ammo a e-mail asking if they are planning some 38 Super offerings and they said, "as soon as this ammo rush settles down."  It will be interesting to see what they come out with.  I had the other model Taurus in 38 Super in the past and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it, I am glad I gave the PT1911 38 Super a try.  The $504.00 price tag allowed me to get it.  I have seen it as high as $715.00 in this town.

[Squib]

even with the employee discount (not buffalo bore), I quit shooting .45acp because the brass is so expensive.. over twice as much money for 500 .45 brass as for 1,000 9 Luger brass, and 9mm luger is such a high seller than all the equipment at any factory that's set up for 9mm anything is gonna stay set up for luger

try again in february or march, it's supposed to calm down then some (supposedly)

or start loading now

[rawhidekid]

I used to work at a shooting range.  I have ammo cans full of 9mm, 45 Colt, 38 spl. only have about 100 .357 and 150 38 Super Brass.  You just don't find 38 Super brass laying around.   But I am loading my own ammo do to the cost of factory.  Just thought it would be interesting to see what they would come up with.    rawhidekid

[Squib]

then you'll have to let us know how it wears in another 500rds? 

I keep telling people that all taurus aren't junk (although the only one I had that was a p/o/s was a brand new 1911)

[omcforever]

even with the employee discount (not buffalo bore), I quit shooting .45acp because the brass is so expensive.. over twice as much money for 500 .45 brass as for 1,000 9 Luger brass, and 9mm luger is such a high seller than all the equipment at any factory that's set up for 9mm anything is gonna stay set up for luger

try again in february or march, it's supposed to calm down then some (supposedly)

or start loading now

My son is a deputy sheriff and He gets me buckets and buckets of range brass especially 9mm/40 s-w/38 spl/45 acp/223,,,

[omcforever]

As for Taurus customer service, it sucks! I faught them for over a year to get a broke 608 fixed. It went back this time with a regional company rep following it and it finally got almost fixed(still too much play in the cylinder). But I traded it . I will never own another just based on the experiance I had with CS. I own a few Taurus firearms and have never had an isuue with them.(except for the SS 608)

[rawhidekid]

You are correct that not all are junk.  My wife owned a 40 S&W Taurus PT140 I believe,  had it for five years with 1000 rounds with no problem.  Was still shooting 2 inch groups at 25 yrds when she came down with fibromylagia and could no longer handle recoil.  I had a PT92 that was also fine for 2 yrs shooting every weekend until I traded it for a P226 w/nite sights, Sig.  Had the six inch 44 mag w/ported barrel, most acurate mild shooting 44 I have ever owned, just felt to big for my small hands.  Felt like a Roger Rabit gun.   It also got traded but not for any fault of the firearm. ( that one I actually miss).  The only bad Taurus I ever owned was a new PT38 38 Super  I mentioned before that was entirely inaccurate.  Luckully I took a nother chance with this PT1911 38 Super wich so far is great.     rawhidekid

[AtlLaw]

As for Taurus customer service, it sucks!

That has been my experience also.     I HOPE they aretrying to change that... 

[Squib]

I'm not trying to offend anyone with the derogative term.

I straight up told them that I am a RETARD and I was told to send it in for a free repair... that's what I got and my warranty was definitely voided in three separate ways that were obvious because I sent the broken gun in a tumbler box, had a note saying that I'm the one that broke it, and it was screwed up before I tried to gunsmith it because it was a used gun.  this was only about a month and a half ago (when I got it back, sent it about 6weeks before that)

if you're waiting for the change, I assume you're speaking of customer service from a year or two ago?  it was good two months ago (for me)

like when you get a speeding ticket, don't tell the cop a story, tell him you're a doofus and didn't watch the speedometer-
don't try to justify something with an explanation because it makes people mad, just claim stupidity (I do it all the time when I want to get something done instead of being right)

[rawhidekid]

That my friend is sound advise.   Problem is most of us are to proud.

[Squib]

ME TOO!  but when I am trying to get out of a speeding ticket, or SENDING A GUN IN FOR REPAIRS I will kiss some butt...
if you're a proud and independent man that's gonna stand up like charlton heston "out of my cold, dead hands" then you need to have something in those hands other than a paperweight

maintain the armory at all costs!

[uncowboy]

I have several Taurus guns and have liked them all . I have had problems with My TI 41 Tracker and My 218 Raging BEE . I sent them back with instructions and spelled out the problems. I called and talked to them amd I am totally frustrated with them. I sware the repair crew can't speak english. They took my letter with the complaint and made a work order that says DONT shoot!  Jambs under recoil! No description of the real problem. I called and asked to talk to the gunsmith because I didn't want the Raging BEE back if they didn't replace the cylinder. The one chamber was throwing a bullet off the paper. When I got the guns back the 41 Ti had the cylinder replaced( It needed a new bolt stop and spring) It shot great 1 hole groops when I sent it back and a 8" plate at 100Yds was doable.Now I can't get better than 3" at 25 Yards. The raging BEE can't be reloaded for. They sent a letter saying they changed the chamber on the R Bees so that the brass is rendered unusable after firing. Nothing in the lititure said this ,I wouldn't have bought it. 218Bee ammo is $68.00 a box here when you can get it. I only bought the gun to reload the 218BEE . I know that they have regular chambered cylinders and I want one on the gun but they won't do it. So I feel I have a $800.00 boat anchor that gets shot 50 rds every few years.
 If the service has goten better all I can say is it couldn't have gotten worse! J.Michael

[doncisler]

my experience was the same as omcforever.  i have owned two taurus and each sucked - bad.  my .38 special would shoot 4 rounds to one group and the other two to another.  every load.  they told me that since it was not a safety issue they would do nothing.  gave that one away to a "gunsmith".
second was a .17HMr revolver.  it can't keep 10 rounds in a 4 inch circle at 25 yards (yes, i can with all other handguns) and one chamber always has the shoulder and into the neck split.  sent it to them with a note that i didn't clean it so they could see the soot around that cylinder and a couple of the fired cases.  got a note back from that said "firearm must be cleaned after each use.  cylinders are intentionally bored oversize to facilitate extraction."  what a bunch of crap.
will never own another taurus.

[Basicguy]

Don
I had a similar experience with a Taurus 17hmr revolver. It would spray bullets all over the target. 10 inch group at 15 yards. Brass was ballooned out at the neck. I sent it in with some samples of the ballooned out brass. Mentioning that it needs a new accurately bored cylinder and they put a new sear in it. Trigger is a bit better but shoots no better than patterns on a target. It has so much potential but so little is there in reality. I refuse to spend another 56 dollars to send it in to them again.

my experience was the same as omcforever.  i have owned two taurus and each sucked - bad.  my .38 special would shoot 4 rounds to one group and the other two to another.  every load.  they told me that since it was not a safety issue they would do nothing.  gave that one away to a "gunsmith".
second was a .17HMr revolver.  it can't keep 10 rounds in a 4 inch circle at 25 yards (yes, i can with all other handguns) and one chamber always has the shoulder and into the neck split.  sent it to them with a note that i didn't clean it so they could see the soot around that cylinder and a couple of the fired cases.  got a note back from that said "firearm must be cleaned after each use.  cylinders are intentionally bored oversize to facilitate extraction."  what a bunch of crap.
will never own another taurus.

[44 Man]

Well fellers, I have three fine shooting .45 Gaucho's that I am very happy with.  Two of them have been back to customer service for piddly things.  One of my stainless guns would not line up the cylinder hole when on half cock, (much like a Ruger).  I could have repaired that myself by building up the half cock notch (as I have on two Italian guns) to line up the cylinders.  They sent it back with the problem corrected, having put in a new hammer and trigger and doing a trigger job.  Second problem was a blued Gaucho that I picked up for less that half price used.  The front sight was too short, it was .357 hight instead of .45 hight. (measured from my other two .45's, it was .300 instead of .330)  So I talked to them and they offered to fix it or send me a new sight.  I opted for the new sight but they were out of stock.  I waited a bit, then decided to send the gun in.  I called them and they said it would spoil the finish to just replace the front sight so they were replacing the barrel.  I fussed a little about that as it was an excellent shooter (all three are).  When I received it back with a new barrel installed, it also had a test target included that was impressive.  I'm happy to say I was able to duplicate that target.  To say I'm very pleased with Taurus and their Gaucho would be an understatement.  Now I'm waiting to find a cheap .357 that I can convert to a short barrel .44 spl.  Sorry about your experiences, I did follow through with the gunsmiths at Taurus when the guns were their, but I'm happy.  44 Man