Browning Warranty - second hand buyers beware

[stevewall968]

I recently bought a 3 month old 525 XS Pro from a private seller. It has developed a small issue in that the cross pin in the fore-end works loose every time the gun is used. I contacted the UK importers BWM and was informed that the 10 year warranty on the action only covered the original purchaser and whilst they were prepared to look at and carry out the repair works, this would not be covered by the Browning warranty and I would have to foot the bill. When I protested that this was clearly a manufacturing defect I was rather abruptly told to like it or lump it. Unlike Beretta, whose warranty is transferable to subsequent owners, the Browning one is not. So Ladies and Gents you have been warned, if you are considering buying a second hand Browning from a private seller, even an almost new one, it can go wrong and if it does BWM/Browning won’t want to know😱😱

Steve

[clangerman]

with the gun only being 3mths old brownings ad should be banned from the forum as the product is clearly unfit for purpose appalling attitude and even worse customer service 

[Gordon R]

A bit like the Snap On lifetime guarantee. 

[Gerry78]

It’s not the first time I’ve heard about browning after sales attitude towards buyers of there guns Not very professional by a international company 👎👎👎

[mellors]

3 hours ago, stevewall968 said:

I recently bought a 3 month old 525 XS Pro from a private seller. It has developed a small issue in that the cross pin in the fore-end works loose every time the gun is used. I contacted the UK importers BWM and was informed that the 10 year warranty on the action only covered the original purchaser and whilst they were prepared to look at and carry out the repair works, this would not be covered by the Browning warranty and I would have to foot the bill. When I protested that this was clearly a manufacturing defect I was rather abruptly told to like it or lump it. Unlike Beretta, whose warranty is transferable to subsequent owners, the Browning one is not. So Ladies and Gents you have been warned, if you are considering buying a second hand Browning from a private seller, even an almost new one, it can go wrong and if it does BWM/Browning won’t want to know😱😱

Steve

Just get the original purchaser to take it back to the shop. Doesn't mention in the warranty anything about ownership. 

[stevewall968]

57 minutes ago, mellors said:

Just get the original purchaser to take it back to the shop. Doesn't mention in the warranty anything about ownership. 

Unfortunately the original purchaser is 70 miles away from me. I would agree that the warranty doesn’t actually say anything about it being limited to the original purchaser. That makes no difference to BWM, they just don’t want to know. 

PS anyone got any suggestions for a fix for a slipping metal taper pin. Tried loctite but that didn’t work.

PPS I really like shooting the gun, just frustrated that it’s falling apart

Steve

Edited September 2, 2021 by stevewall968

[TIGHTCHOKE]

8 minutes ago, stevewall968 said:

Unfortunately the original purchaser is 70 miles away from me. I would agree that the warranty doesn’t actually say anything about it being limited to the original purchaser. That makes no difference to BWM, they just don’t want to know. 

PS anyone got any suggestions for a fix for a slipping metal taper pin. Tried loctite but that didn’t work.

Presumably the wrong size or profile of taper pin is fitted.

Get it fixed as you bought the gun and it is now your problem, not the previous owner or BWM.

[stevewall968]

12 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Presumably the wrong size or profile of taper pin is fitted.

Get it fixed as you bought the gun and it is now your problem, not the previous owner or BWM.

Never suggested it was the previous owners problem just pointed out where he was living. The pin definitely looks like the correct size and was clearly supplied by Browning as part of the new gun 3 months ago. So in my view it’s heir moral duty to supply a new one. The fact that they are refusing to do so means that I will get it sorted at my expense. The purpose of my original post was to highlight the fact that a 10 year Browning warranty isn’t at all what it seems.

 

Steve

[TIGHTCHOKE]

20 minutes ago, stevewall968 said:

In my view it’s their moral duty to supply a new one. The fact that they are refusing to do so means that I will get it sorted at my expense. The purpose of my original post was to highlight the fact that a 10 year Browning warranty isn’t at all what it seems.

So it would seem, I wonder if anyone has challenged BWM legally?

[Smokersmith]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

So it would seem, I wonder if anyone has challenged BWM legally?

Can’t imagine anyone would have any motivation to if it’s in black and white. 

[mellors]

2 hours ago, stevewall968 said:

Unfortunately the original purchaser is 70 miles away from me. I would agree that the warranty doesn’t actually say anything about it being limited to the original purchaser. That makes no difference to BWM, they just don’t want to know. 

PS anyone got any suggestions for a fix for a slipping metal taper pin. Tried loctite but that didn’t work.

PPS I really like shooting the gun, just frustrated that it’s falling apart

Steve

Try john nibs they do spares. Will be a cheaper fix to do it yourself. 

[stevewall968]

Thanks Mellors, unfortunately the part, no. 15, on the diagram is not one that Knibbs list on their website. Looks like it’s a trip to my local gunsmith to see if he can help.

Steve

Edited September 2, 2021 by stevewall968

[billytheghillie]

Yes it pays to shop local with your dealer.

[mpmilo]

I had the same isssue with a 525 purchased second hand that had very little use 400 cartridges, pin would move out about  1 - 1 1/2 mm after 200 shots, i used to tap it back in , after i would say 2000 catridges it stayed put and hasnt moved since.

 

[stevewall968]

30 minutes ago, mpmilo said:

I had the same isssue with a 525 purchased second hand that had very little use 400 cartridges, pin would move out about  1 - 1 1/2 mm after 200 shots, i used to tap it back in , after i would say 2000 catridges it stayed put and hasnt moved since.

 

Thanks mpmillo it’s heartening to hear that this is a problem others have experienced even more so that it might well resolve itself after a bit more use. Like you I have used a punch and tapped it back in after every outing. I’ll wait for a few more weeks before taking further action👍👍

Steve

[mpmilo]

Hi Steve, From what i heard from other shooters and google,  Google "Browning forend pin problems"  there was a fair bit came up on all models. Mine was a 525 sporter 1 2019. Good luck with yours,

Marcus

 

Edited September 2, 2021 by mpmilo

[stevewall968]

Thanks Marcus. I’ll keep a close eye on it. 👍👍😊

[TRINITY]

If you could definitely prove the gun was only three months old I would have thought you would be covered by the sale of goods act. Contrary to what browning say all goods sold in this country must be fit for purpose. However any lawyers out there may no more about this

[sam triple]

I’d be contacting Browning direct not the importers , and telling them of your experience with their product and how woefully you were treated by their importer , can only be worth a try , 

[Charliedog]

I had the same problem on a 725, took it to local gunsmith, he fixed it free of charge in about 10 mins while i waited, think he just heated it up and squeezed it a bit, not saying you will get this level of service but its likely to be a cheap one off fix, mine has not moved a jot in the 5 years since done and that after a lot of rounds.

[stevewall968]

3 hours ago, sam triple said:

I’d be contacting Browning direct not the importers , and telling them of your experience with their product and how woefully you were treated by their importer , can only be worth a try , 

Trouble is, are we talking Browning USA, or Belgium or even Miroku in Japan? That’s the trouble with trying to deal with a major multi national Company. I’ve tried their official UK customer service arm and been given short shrift.

1 hour ago, Charliedog said:

I had the same problem on a 725, took it to local gunsmith, he fixed it free of charge in about 10 mins while i waited, think he just heated it up and squeezed it a bit, not saying you will get this level of service but its likely to be a cheap one off fix, mine has not moved a jot in the 5 years since done and that after a lot of rounds.

I think I’ll give that a try. 👍

[stevewall968]

11 hours ago, TRINITY said:

If you could definitely prove the gun was only three months old I would have thought you would be covered by the sale of goods act. Contrary to what browning say all goods sold in this country must be fit for purpose. However any lawyers out there may no more about this

I quoted the sale of goods act at the BWM chap and he was very dismissive and implied that I was welcome to try as I wasn’t the original purchaser and their in house policy overrode this. 

[Diver One]

Sale of goods act.?  If it's only 3 months old from new surely this should apply..?

i think a call to Trading Standards may be in order as surely the Law and the sale of goods act Top Trumps any "in house policy"?

[Windswept]

It's been the Consumer Rights Act since 2015. You would also need to claim against the seller not the manufacturer and being 2nd hand also complicates it.

 

[Newbie to this]

1 hour ago, stevewall968 said:

Trouble is, are we talking Browning USA, or Belgium or even Miroku in Japan? That’s the trouble with trying to deal with a major multi national Company. I’ve tried their official UK customer service arm and been given short shrift.

Browning USA, go straight to the source.

It's got to be worth an email, you have nothing to lose.