I need help getting info on Taurus warranty

[Pond, James Pond]

I have read that Taurus have a life time warranty. On the gun!

I understand this to mean that they will fix a Taurus, regardless of age or whether the current owner is the original owner or not.

However, I have queries about this. If I am to take a punt on a cheapish second hand 85. I want to know what back-up I have from the company.

Now, before members answer they need to understand and take into account that I do not live in the USA. I live in Europe, and one little corner of it, at that.

So far the only information I have gleaned is from the Taurus International Manufacturing site. However, this is called Taurus USA dot com
This seems like a bit of an oxymoron.
Is it the USA site, or the international site?

In other words, I have no way of knowing is the terms they offer on that site are worldwide, or only for the USA affiliate.

So can anyone confirm for sure that this is a worldwide warranty policy?
Can anyone confirm whether they charge for parts under those terms, or labour hours etc...?

Over here I am almost 100% certain that a gunshop will take my gun, say they will fix it in house, then charge me a pretty penny for the parts and labour.
I want to be able to tell them that I know what I am entitled to and not to pull the wool over my eyes!

[rodfac]

Taurus, if you believe the anecdotal evidence on this and other like sites, has a spotty reputation for warranty work...shoddy work in some cases and lengthy delays in others according to reports...for those reasons, I've never bought one, preferring S&W's instead...your experience may be different tho...but in my mind it's a crap shoot.

I see that this post is similar to one farther down in the que...regarding Taurus in a snubbie...let me say that, my wife's S&W M-36 went 26 years before needing some work (the cylinder stop had worn causing cylinder drag)..a call to S&W got me a Smith paid for FEDEX shipping label overnight and I had the gun back in my hands in a week...a 2nd Smith, a M-637, new at the time, had lock up problems with the 5 round after less than a week since new...again, a call to Smith got me the shipping label and I had it back in 6 days. Should they have caught it before shipping it originally from the factory...of course. But they made good on it in quick time. We live in KY, about 800 miles from their plant in Springfield, Mass too.

They couldn't have been better..courteous, quick and both guns were slicked up by them before shipping back to me, too, almost custom slick if you get my drift...and at zero cost. They paid for everything including the work on that old war horse M-36. Hence, my recommendation for S&W over Taurus.

HTH's Rod

[Pond, James Pond]

Thanks for posting, but I have to clarify that there is no connection between this thread and my earlier thread about snubbies.

The same potential purchase is at the root of this, but the question is very different.

I am simply trying to establish if the "appealing on paper" lifetime warranty by Taurus International extends internationally or is just for US customers.

In addition, I want to know if they do any work F.O.C, or are there are charges for parts or labour.

This is not about how good Taurus guns are.
It is about the scope and limitations of their after sales care.

I'm hoping for the best, but planning for the worst, if I do decide to get this Model 85 (ps, the S&W has seemingly been sold).

I appreciate the input, but I just want to keep the thread on topic.

[johnbt]

"All firearms must be shipped prepaid to our factory in Miami, Florida for repair, and must be accompanied by a Work Order."

www.taurususa.com/repair-policy-shipping.cfm

I suppose my first concern would be the cost of shipping a gun halfway around the world to Florida. No, my first concern would be if shipping is even possible.

Seems like a lot of trouble for a Taurus. I've never owned one though. I have an old H&R Premier .32S&W break-top you might be interested in if you were closer.

John

[Pond, James Pond]

Thanks for the link.

I had read that already and that does seem to lean in favour of US based customers.

I can't find out who is the European importer at the moment, to see if they offer the same....

There must be an EU importer if some shops here are selling new Taurus firearms.

[Don P]

So can anyone confirm for sure that this is a worldwide warranty policy?
Can anyone confirm whether they charge for parts under those terms, or labour hours etc...?

You will be responsible for round trip shipping and repairs will be covered unless the gun was gun smithed at the kitchen table by the owner.

[Budda]

...but in my mind it's a crap shoot.

Pun intended?????

[Shadi Khalil]

James,

I owned a Taurus revolver that was purchased used and needed repair some years back. Taurus agreed to fix the gun, per their warranty (they never fixed it) but I had to pay shipping both ways. The total shipping cost were somewhere in the neighborhood of $120. Keep in mind, I live right outside DC in N. Virginia. I can't imagine what it would cost to ship from Estonia to Miami!

[Pond, James Pond]

Thanks for the pointers, folks.

Yep, it looks like any life warranty is restricted to the US, so I think this is a purely academic point, now. Shame as it would have been a good fallback option.

I don't think I can legally ship any "strategic goods" as they call them outside the country, let alone the continent, without a specific services licence, which I lack...

All this means it that if I get this little snubbie, and it goes wrong, I'll just have to foot any bill through a gun-shop...

Oh well....

On a slight tangent, it is truly a shame that Taurus do not have a better after sales service, if the stories are accurate and are to be believed. Such a warranty would surely be a boon to any buyer. It seems people greatest worry, is not so much if their gu will fail, but rather if they will be able to get it fixed as promised...

[dyl]

From the Smith & Wesson website:

How can I get my S&W handgun repaired?

Please use our Warranty Repair Shipping Form to enter your information to receive a prepaid Fedex return label to return your S&W handgun for repair. Customers outside the USA may contact the International Warranty Service Center nearest you.


UNITED KINGDOM

SHIELD PUBLIC SAFETY & DEFENSE
PO Box 7633
BRIDPORT, DORSET U.K. DT6 9DW
Phone: 44 -1297-678233
Web: www.shieldpsd.com

- there are a TON of other service centers, but in other countries like Belgium etc.... I didn't want to flood the page by copying them all.

I've been wanting to say this for a little while in your other thread but my internet cut out before I could post.

In addition to the build/pressure/design of a particular handgun, we must consider how durable the company-to-customer relationship is too. I've had springs etc sent to me free, even a few small odds and end pieces I simply requested as backup. Parts that were worn with regular use (not abuse.. revolver hammer and hand) have been replaced - even though they could be considered consumable and I would be willing to pay for them. Customer support didn't mean much to me until I experienced what a benefit it was and tried to imagine the hassle without it. Communication is key too - can you reach them by phone? Can you ask where your gun is and how the progress is?

Sorry this is not an answer about Taurus, but I had a suspicion S&W would have a service center closer to home for you.

Best wishes.

[dyl]

whoops, I assumed you were in the UK. Here are the rest of the Europe contacts.


Europe:

AUSTRIA
DSCHULNIGG GMBH & CO KG
EHRING 7
LAMPRECHTSHAUSEN, 5112 AUSTRIA
Phone: 43-662-870-891
Fax: 43-662-873-866
Web: www.dschulnigg.at

BELGIUM
S.P.R.L. JACQUES NICOLAY
CHAUSSEE DE CHATELET 64
B-6060 GILLY BELGIUM
Phone: 32-71-421551
Fax: 32-71-422782
Web: www.smith-wesson.be

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
SHOT d.o.o.
DR. GOLDERBERGERA 9
72000 ZENICA, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Phone: 387-32-440320
Fax: 387-32-247777
Web: www.shot.com.ba

BULGARIA
ISD - BULGARIA
44 RAKOVSKY STR.
SOFIA 1202, BULGARIA
Phone: 359-2-983-5014
Fax: 359-2-983-1469
Web: www.isd-bg.com

CROATIA
LOVAC TRGOVINA d.o.o.
VARSAVSKA 4
HR-1000 ZAGREB, CROATIA
Phone: 385-1-483-0100
Fax: 385-1-483-0101
Web: www.lovactrgovina.hr

CZECH REPUBLIC
BANZAI SPOL S.R.O.
BLAHOSLAVOVA 10/293
130 00 PRAHA 3, CZECH REPUBLIC
Phone: 420-271-771-204
Fax: 420-271-771-208
Web: http://www.banzai.cz

DENMARK
TOP GUNS/ISAD APS
PO BOX 41
9100 AALBORG, DENMARK
Phone: 45-9630-0870
Fax: 45-9630-0970
Web: www.topguns.dk

FINLAND
NORDIC DISTRIBUTION OY
PATRUUNATEHTAANTIE 15
6210 LAPUA, FINLAND
Phone: 358-6-4310-307
Fax: 358-6-4310-295

FRANCE
SIDAM
ZAC DE LA PETITE CAMARGUE
AVENUE MAURICE PRIVAT-BP 57
30600 VAUVERT, FRANCE
Phone: 33-4-6688-2906
Fax: 33-4-6688-3762
Web: WWW.STE-SIDAM.FR

GERMANY
WAIMEX JAGD-UND SPORTWAFFEN G
BENNO-STRAUSSE 41
90763 FURTH, GERMANY 90763
Phone: 0911-3766320-
Fax: 0911-37663233
Web: www.waimex.com

GREECE
BARREL ADVANCED ARMAMENT
564B VOULIAGMENIS AVENUE &
ETHNIKIS ANTISTASEOS 14
ARGYROUPOLI 164 52, ATHENS, GREECE
Phone: 30-210 9945 161
Fax: 30 210 99 41956
Web: www.barrel.com.gr

GREECE
KLISTRO CO.
CHARILAOS D. CHARALAMPOPOULOS
PROUSOU 11, AMPELOKIPOI
ATHENS, GREECE 115 22
Phone: 30-210-6470-529
Fax: 30-213-0404-706
Web: www.klistro.gr

HUNGARY
Z-BOLT KFT.
SZTARI TER 1
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Phone: 3673344200
Fax: 3673344200

ITALY
BIGNAMI SPA
VIA LAHN 1
39040 ORA (BOLZANO), ITALY
Phone: 390-471-803-000
Fax: 390-471-810-899
Web: WWW.BIGNAMI.IT

LATVIA
CONTACT HOLSTERS LTD.
MALMAVAS 15
RIGA, LATVIA
Phone: 37129415818
Fax: 37167257581

LITHUANIA
WEAPONRY FUND
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LINKMENU G. 26
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA LT-08217
Phone: 3-705-275-6162
Fax: 3-705-273-3555

LUXEMBURG
S.P.R.L. JACQUES NICOLAY
CHAUSSEE DE CHATELET 64
B-6060 GILLY, BELGIUM
Phone: 32-71-421551
Fax: 32-71-422782

MACEDONIA
ARSENAL
U. MARSAL TITO BR. 107
STRUGA, MACEDONIA
Phone: 389-782-072
Fax: 389-782-411

MALTA
DANKA IMPORT & EXPORT
548, ST. JOSEPH HIGH ROAD
ST. VENERA HMR 18, MALTA
Phone: 366-2123-3649
Fax: 356-2144-7346

NETHERLANDS
MIKX b.v. V
ROUAANSTRAAT 31
9723 CC GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS
Phone: 31-50-318-0948
Fax: 31-50-314-3820
Web: www.mikx.nl

NORWAY
WINGE VAPEN AS, INTL. DIST.
VARNAVEIEN 35, POSTBOKS 2117
1526 MOSS, NORWAY
Phone: 47-69-262-566
Fax: 47-69-262-565
Web: www.wingevapen.no

POLAND
KALIBER SP. ZO. O
UL M. KOLBEGO 16
02-781 WARSZAWA POLAND
Phone: 48-22-641-6046
Fax: 48-22-644-6046
Web: WWW.KALIBER.COM.PL

PORTUGAL
ESPINGARDARIA CENTRAL, A. MONT
AV. SANTA IRIA NO.10
ST. IRIA DE AZOIA
2685 SACAVEM, PORTUGAL
Phone: 351-21-9533750
Fax: 351-21-9566391
Web: WWW.AMONTEZ.COM

ROMANIA
ARROW INT'L
STR. APUSULUI, NR. 5
SAT CATELU, COMUNA FLINA, 077105
JUD. LLFOV, ROMANIA
Phone: 0040-21-221-069
Fax: 0040-21-221-121
Web: www.arw.ro

SERBIA
SITO DOO
NJEGOSEVA 6
BELGRADE, SERBIA
Phone: 381-11-3629968
Fax: 381-11-3629969
Web: www.sito.co.rs

SLOVAKIA
VELKOOBCHOD-ZBRANE
ZELENA 11, PREVADZKA
SIKARSKA 11
949 05 NITRA 5, SLOVAKIA
Phone: 421-37-651-2405
Fax: 421-37-651-2407
Web: http://www.frano-zbrane.sk

SLOVENIA
KOPTEX D.O.O.
VODOVODNA POT 11
5000 NOVA GORICA, SLOVENIA
Phone: 386-53-308-650
Fax: 386-53-308-666
Web: WWW.KOPTEX.COM

SPAIN
BORCHERS, S.A.
INDUSTRIALDEA, B-22
48300 GUERNICA, SPAIN
Phone: 34-94-625-2029
Fax: 34-94-625-2366
Web: WWW.BORCHERS.ES

SWITZERLAND
GRUNIG & ELMIGER AG
INDUSTRIESTRASSE 22
6102 MALTERS, SWITZERLAND
Phone: 41-41-499-9040

[Pond, James Pond]

Damnation!!

Would you believe it? The one Baltic state that is not listed is Estonia!!

Still, it's good to know help is not too far away if ever I get an S&W!

Thx

[Kreyzhorse]

It is about the scope and limitations of their after sales care.

Keep in mind, just because they have a lifetime warranty, that doesn't mean that they will actually take care of the problem. Let's be honest here, their guns are questionable and so is their warranty work. My opinion is based on my NIB M85 that broke after 250 rounds.

Ruger on the other hand doesn't even have a warranty for their firearms but generally has some of the best made firearms backed up by a great customer service department that stands behind their products.

Don't get caught up in a paper warranty but research who actually backs their products.

[JerryM]

Probably 10 years or so back I had a M 85 that would not fire any ammo reliably. Sent it back to Taurus several times, and they were never able to fix it. Taurus did not pay for the shipping.

A friend recently shipped a handgun by FedX and the cost was about $75. It does not take many of those to justify buying a Smith or Ruger.

One might get a good Taurus, but I would not be willing to try considering my own experience.

Jerry

[orionengnr]

If you do some searching, you will find multiple examples of repeated shipments to Taurus, all trying to fix the original problem.

Some say that Taurus' "lifetime warrantee" means that it will take you a lifetime to get it fixed correctly.

Given some of the threads I have seen, I find that hard to argue with.

Given where you live and the expense of shipping it once (let alone several times)...I think you can see what my advice would be.

Save up and buy quality the first time. Buy once, cry once.

[James K]

When it comes to warranties, what a company says is far less important than what it DOES.

Ruger is generally acknowledged to have excellent customer service, yet here is what they say about a written warranty:

"Why No Warranty Card Has Been Packed With Your New Ruger Firearm?
The Magnuson-Moss Act (Public Law 93-637) does not require any seller or manufacturer of a consumer product to give a written warranty. It does provide that if a written warranty is given, it must be designated as "limited" or as "full" and sets minimum standards for a "full" warranty. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has elected not to provide any written warranty, either "limited" or "full", rather than to attempt to comply with the provisions of the Magnuson-Moss Act and the regulations issued thereunder. There are certain implied warranties under state law with respect to sales of consumer goods. As the extent and interpretation of these implied warranties varies from state to state, you should refer to your state statutes. Sturm, Ruger & Company wishes to assure its customers of its continued interest in providing service to owners of Ruger firearms."

Jim

[triumph666]

the warranty covers any firearm stamped taurus regardless of who bought it and when

i have had top notch service from them on warranty issues which was years ago........others have not...i am a taurus fan....others are not

[Prof Young]

I had a spring problem with my Taurus, called them and got them to send me the part free. If you can give them a call they can probably help you.
Live Well, Be Safe
Prof Young

[lee n. field]

Saying anything at all about Taurus USA service is irrelevant, because he wouldn't be getting his gun serviced by them. It's unlikely that the gun P,JP is considering was imported by Taurus USA. Thus, even if he could get it to them, they would not cover it under warranty.

Pond -- who would do the service? That's not something anyone here in the US is likely to be able to answer for you. Someone in Europe surely must service these things -- I know Taurus guns show up in England (grotesque long barreled things that meet an absurd length requirement).

----edit to add---

Question posted to Taurus Armed.