Thompson shipping replacement G2 frame to me?

[TRM-1]

I recently bought (7-4-08) a new G2 stainless .50 caliber complete and a stainless 30/30 barrel and forearm. I took it to the range and wasn't happy with the performance and was inspecting the gun a little closer and noticed the frame had two cracks or splits in it at the front where the two ears continue up. I called T/C and they sent a call tag for it. I enclosed a letter explaining the cracks and a copy of my dealers F.F.L. so  the gun could be shipped back to him. I called and spoke to the gentleman who I spoke to originally and he said they were replacing my gun and was shipping it back to me. He stated the gun could be shipped to me directly instead of my dealer and there would be a letter accompanying the gun to explain the transfer. I contacted my dealer and he advised me to have it shipped to him to avoid any chance of me wearing a orange jumpsuit in the future(jail). I was wondering if anybody has had a new gun shipped directly to them from a manufacturer. I know you can send a gun in for warranty work without involving a F.F.L. dealer, But this is a different frame and serial number.  Let me know your thoughts on this.

[yooper77]

I would trust T/C, they got you covered.

yooper77

[TRM-1]

My gun dealer advised me against it and I trust him. A couple of years ago I dealt with the same man at T/C and he replaced a new pro hunter for me, yeah I know I have all the luck, and this same guy called then and wanted to know where to ship the pro hunter because the gun had to go to a dealer and be transferred because it was a different frame yet on this G2  he claims it can be sent to me direct as long as a adult signs for the shipping.

[jason280]

The manufacturer can legally ship the gun back to you, but it will likely go UPS with adult signature required.  I am quite surprised your FFL did not know this, as they should be aware of this.  Any chance your FFL was going to charge you a transfer fee to "receive" the gun for you? 

I have had a few guns shipped back to me from the manufacture, including Ruger and H&R/NEF.  I shipped two Ruger revolvers back to be reblued at the factory, and both were shipped directly back to me.  With respect to NEF, I've sent two or three frames back to have barrels fitted, and in every case the guns were returned to me. 

Ask the guys in the NEF Handi forum, and they will also tell you that the manufacturer can return the gun directly to you. 

[Keith L]

I see his concern, but have no answer.  He is getting a new frame, with new serial number etc.  Who is going to do the appropriate paper work that makes it legit in his state?  Unless TC put his old number on a new frame, a possibility but an added expense on their part.

[TRM-1]

My dealer is going to charge $2.00 dollars for the call in on the background check. I understand about them shipping the SAME gun back I have done that before, but this is a different gun different serial number. I know you can legally ship your gun to the company for repair or warranty work and have it shipped back to you without involving a F.F.L. dealer. However this isn't the same gun I sent in. The man at T/C stated they would send out a letter with the gun for BATF and that if I wanted my dealer could then transfer it. My dealer says without a paper trail to him (shipping receipt F.F.L. number from T/C) He couldn't do it. It would have to be shipped to him to transfer it to me. which if you think about it he would write it up that he received the gun from me and then turned around and transferred it back to me??? Regardless the gun is supposed to be shipped to my dealer which is what I requested and T/C was happy to do for me.

[TRM-1]

Also T/C stated it would not stamp same number on frame!

[yooper77]

TRM-1,

I truly understand how you feel.

I would ask T/C to mail it to your FFL, this will give you peace of mind and only $2.00.

yooper77

[Graybeard]

You can ship a gun directly to a manufacturer or gunsmith for repairs or customization and they can return it directly to you. BUT if it was shipped by the FFL to them it must return to the FFL not to you.

[yooper77]

Graybeard,

I understand what you're say, but can it be mixed up this way.

He sent it T/C directly to not through his FFL, now he wants it sent to his FFL, because it is a different serial numbered frame.  (T/C swapped frames for him, because his other frame has a unrepairable crack damage)

yooper77

[JDMANN]

If YOU ship a firearm to the manufacturer, they can send the repaired firearm back to you.  If the firearm is unrepairable, they are allowed to send you a replacement for the original.  They will only send it to your address, not a different one. If an FFL ships, then he must receive the weapon.  Anyone can ship a firearm in for repairs, no FFL needed.  Firearms can be shipped USPS for repairs.

[TRM-1]

The gun should arrive at my dealer tomorrow not that it matters as I will be out of town for two weeks. I really am disappointed with T/C service this time as I had some issues with them. I forgot to state in the letter that I sent with the gun that I had forgot to mention the overtravel screw, as my frame had it and I understand they quit installing them on the new frames. As I wanted to make sure my new frame had a overtravel screw installed.  I called numerous times and left messages and no call back. I finally called one day and spoke to the gentleman and he informed me he had passed the gun on to a gunsmith under him that would be calling me about the gun and what he had found and the results. I NEVER received a call from anyone from T/C. I was told he thought the gun was ready and would be shipped out on 7-29-08. I explained to him that I was leaving town and really needed it by 7-1-08. if the gun had been shipped out on the 29Th it would have made it to me. I called back on the 30Th to get the tracking number on the gun and was informed it hadn't been shipped out it was still there. The lady I spoke to couldn't tell me what was going on and promised to call me back that day with info about the gun. She NEVER called me back. I called on the 31st and explained to the service person about the situation and the problems I was having and she asked me to hold, and while I was on hold I heard her make a snide comment to the service manager about how I was going on and on. Well maybe I was going on and on because of poor communications on their part. So as the service manager got on the phone he made the statement that he couldn't understand me being upset about my gun that His gunsmith had called and told me about the gun and the results. AS STATED I never got a call from him. I told him the man had not called me. He said the man said he had. I felt i was being called a liar. I explained again to him about leaving town and the shipping he explained because I wanted it shipped to my dealer it caused a two day delay in shipping. Also on the 31st I was told the gunsmith had just finished with the gun and was boxing it up to ship it, Yet I had been told the gun was ready to ship on the 29Th but wasn't.
       
     So as it stands I called a gentleman who is supposed to be over the service department to voice my concerns over the insult of being made out as a liar over the phone call from the gunsmith. The snide comment from the service lady. He returned my call unfortunately I wasn't available and he left a message on my machine. I returned the call and left a message asking him to call me back again. And as it has been 3 business days and no call back I don't expect him to.

      Before I end this let me state. I was nice when I spoke to these people. I understand that the turn around time of the service was extremely quick ( 2 weeks )  I understand this is a company and one person probably doesn't have a clue what the other is doing.

      I am NOT T/C bashing although I could I have had problems with them before on more than one gun. I had a problem with a new pro hunter when they first come out and sent it back and they replaced it.

     I just feel like I have a bad taste in my mouth.

    P. S. I really don't like to be made out as a liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!