Remington 11-87 Rip-off!

[mossyhorns]

I went to a reputable sporting goods store yesterday and bought a new Rem 11-87 Super Magnum camo shotgun (Rem is offering a $75 rebate on these). The dealer took a new gun off the shelf, broke it down and put it back in the box. When I started to put the gun back together at home, I discovered the gun had been shot -- quite a bit from the looks of things. I'm PO'd! I paid new price for a new gun and got one that the dealer or one of his buddies slung steel with at ducks all season.

Comments, observations, advice?

[ez]

Call Better Business; call Remington; then go get your money back and tell him off in a civil manner. #@$%^&*&^%!!!



ez

[KYhunter]

The dealer owes you some money. It is up to you whether you want the gun you received or get a "another" new one. I suspect the dealer's license does NOT allow him to sell used guns, so he may be in violation of the law and I believe he will attempt to make it good. Keep us posted.

[yotekiller]

Mossyhorns i think you just let the turtle out of the trap!I heard about these things years ago and since then i have been extremely checking the guns out before i buy them.Seems in my neck of the woods an owner was letting his buddies rent guns and then get retail prices for them.Anyway you should talk to the dealer first and get your money back,then you should call Remington.Why not share the stores name?I would at least let the dealer know that through this thing called the internet you can cut his business down if they don't give you a refund or a discount.

[mossyhorns]

As a follow-up: I contacted the dealer and he was as surprised as I was. He contacted Remington and they told him that the gun had been selected for test fire at the factory -- 10 rounds or so. I took the gun back and we looked at other new guns. Some looked worse than mine. Remington told him that they clean the guns after test firing but these weren't clean. I plan to contact Remington myself. At this point, I don't believe the dealer is trying to pull a fast one. There may, however, be a lapse at the factory. I'll keep you posted.

[GSP]

I would stay with this one (contacting Remington). If in fact your gun dealer is blowing smoke and he has transfered that gun from new stock to a user and then back into his stock without FFL paperwork. He is in violation of his FFL.

If in fact his is telling you the truth, then maybe this is the reason for the $75 rebate.

[Walker]

all guns are test fired at the factory and cleaned before they are shiped but sometimes they miss one.some gun dealers will sell a used gun as a new one if it looks new and it has the original box and papers.so if you dont know the dealer or dont trust him you ought to check the gun out real good.

[mossyhorns]

The dealer is a very reputable dealer and has 3 or 4 stores in different locales. They contacted Remington and were told the same thing -- that all guns are tested and that some are randomly selected to have 10 to 20 rounds fired through them. They also said that the gun should have been cleaned.

I contacted Remington via email and got pretty much the same reply. Rem did not seem overly concerned. I also looked at other Remingtons at the store and they were also fouled.

My concern is what prevents the dealer or his employees from taking a gun out for a day in the field -- especially if it is a new model and they want to "test" it. I also suspect that some dealers allow regular customers to "test drive" a gun before they buy it. I doubt that guns used in such a way and returned will then be sold as "used".

I think someone has a problem here, either the dealer or Remington. Considering the price of guns like the 11-87 I would at least like one that is clean! I hate to start buying guns at Walmart, but at least if a gun is brought back it cannot be resold as a new gun.

[mossyhorns]

Here's the latest on the 11-87. I cleaned my 870 last night that I had used during duck season and it didn't show half the wear or crud as the "new" gun. I went to wallyworld and pulled a new 11-87 off the shelf and it showed signs of a test fire or two, but was otherwise clean. Next, I took the gun to another dealer and he said it had definitely been shot a bunch -- much more than a test firing.

The dealer has agreed to take the gun back and get me a new one. No one seems to know the deal on this gun. My advice to everyone is to make sure of what you are buying. If you pay full price for a new gun, make sure it is new!!

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

[ez]

Fishy fishy......this guy is still out there selling guns....no other action taken???? Hey Mossy.....what's up? You know this guy or is it worth taking more action so others don't get the same thing or was it just a mistake? A case of mistaken identity? Peter Gazinia; Ben Dover; or Phil McCrevis <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>? If he tried to take you, he'll try others that are easier prey!! Others may not be as buyer beware as you.


ez

[GSP]

I hope everything works out ok for you and you get the gun you paid for. I am still having some doubts about this "very reputable dealer".
Anytime you you advertise a gun as "NEW" (except factory testing), it must be NEW! Example, I bought a gun last year and I have never fired it. A FFL dealer takes the gun on a trade. He must display it as "used, unfired", not NEW! Anytime a gun leaves a FFL inventory, it must be accounted for. If it was "legally" transfered to another person and then taken back into the FFL dealership, it can not be declared NEW.
If he just "loaned" it to buddy to test drive for a week or so? He is risking his FFL and screwing his customers that buys his NEW guns later.

[mossyhorns]

The dealer has a small multi-state chain of stores and is very reputable. I don't want to think the store is at fault. From discussions with other dealers, it is most likely that the distributor is to blame. I have talked to dealers who have gotten guns from a distributor that have appeared to be used.

Evidently this is not an uncommon occurrence from what I've heard from others since I bought this gun. Someone can buy a new gun, use it for a while, and then return it. If the dealer gives a full refund, he is then compelled to resell the gun as a new one or return the gun to the distributor who will then resell the gun as new.

The store is being very cooperative at this point and I at least appreciate that. I have bought guns from them in the past and never had a problem. I hope this is an isolated incident for them. I intend to continue correspondence with Remington, however.

[GSP]

You are in the drivers seat on this one Mossy. I would keep in touch with Remington too. The distributor is probably the weak link here, as you said. I am sure they will make good. They can't afford risking the loss of a chain store and Remington Arms.
.........I don't know, but if I were you I would be thinking upgrade..........at least to cover my time and trouble........
<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - gsp on 02/25/2002 9:44:57 PM