Canik customer service issues so far

dmarbell

dmarbell

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While in FL for exhibition baseball, I found a NIB Canik SFx Rival S in a gun shop at a reasonable deal. I paid for it and had it shipped to my FFL in NC. The gun won't function, and drops the magazine out about 1/2 inch after almost every shot, and fails to load the next round. I sent a customer service inquiry to Canik and received a return authorization. The problem is the return stated "use the shipper of your choice."

I called two FFLs in this area, and both stated they could not ship back to Canik if I didn't buy the gun from them. With the recent changes at Fedex and UPS, I couldn't ship the gun through them. Off to a Raleigh shipper who said they would ship a handgun. I took it there yesterday, in an unsealed box to be put into another box and shipped, and was told a handgun had to go overnight Fedex at a cost of $271.00. I declined this kind offer. Apparently this caused some concern at the shipper, because they called back to say it could go 2nd day for $140 and 3rd day for $119. I told them I'd keep it in mind. The FFL who received my gun for me is about an hour away, and said he can send the gun through USPS for me.

My issues are:
Why would Canik require me to pay to ship a defective firearm back to them for warranty service? I've only shipped to Sig for the trigger upgrade a couple of times, and they paid for everything and sent me a label, which at the time could be done using their account at Fedex.

Why can't the local FFLs ship a gun back to the manufacturer if you didn't buy it through them? Is it a federal rule? Is it just an FFL rule to teach you a lesson for not buying the gun through them? If it's this latter, they are failing miserably with me, but hey, that's just me.

Are the issues I'm experiencing enough to swear off any Canik purchases in the future?
 
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Was the gun NIB at the shop in FL or was it used?
 
I haven't owned a canik for a long time. When I did it was back when they were still super cheap guns. Before I even bought the thing I just assumed that sense they are imported by century arms I would probably be SOL if I ever had a problem with it.

What is the location that it needs to be returned to? My understanding is that if it is under warranty from the place you purchased it from there's a good chance they would take care of that for you. If you want someone else to ship it for you then you would need to pay them for the service. It's not their problem that a gun you bought somewhere else is having issues.

Now with that being said there is no reason why any FFL can't ship that gun for you. It sounds to me like your dealing with a shop that has bad policies. Not a shop that has a legal restriction.

The prices you quoted seam high but it's hard to tell without knowing where it's being shipped to. The location of where the gun is going may be the reason it has to be sent air mail.

If your having a different dealer ship the thing $119 might not be too terrible of a price. What's the breakdown of that cost? If it's their transfer fee + insurance + actual shipping cost that's probably not a bad rate for 3 day air mail.
 
There are no rules like that. Many FFLs will happily ship ANY firearm for a reasonable fee. And, they can ship it by USPS.
 
Use ā€œShip My Gunā€ to send it back to them. Or, call them and they will probably send you a new catch and spring.

This is a very common issue with the Rival S. Just do a search for Rival S mag dropping or Rival S over insertion.
 
The Canik warranty address is Fairfax, VT.

I didn't expect any shipper to not add additional costs for handling the shipment, but the first quote of $271 to ship a $1,000 pistol for warranty work made my head explode.

I see Canik's warranty shipping requirement now. I guess I should have read that before buying a Canik? LOL

I just looked at Sig's warranty page, and it specifies a return has to be shipped prepaid. I guess I'm learning a lesson about not buying from my LGS, who would most likely handle something like this for me. But, this is the first real non-ammo related issue I've ever had with a handgun purchase. I guess I've been really lucky.
 
Supermatch said:
Use ā€œShip My Gunā€ to send it back to them. Or, call them and they will probably send you a new catch and spring.

This is a very common issue with the Rival S. Just do a search for Rival S mag dropping or Rival S over insertion.
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Ok, so two of the FFL vendors on Ship My Gun search are the ones I called who said they couldn't ship back to the manufacturer. So maybe I should just start a Ship My Gun shipment and choose one of them and see what happens?
 
dmarbell said:
Ok, so two of the FFL vendors on Ship My Gun search are the ones I called who said they couldn't ship back to the manufacturer. So maybe I should just start a Ship My Gun shipment and choose one of them and see what happens?
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We would be more than happy to facilitate this for you , should be under $50 to ship
 
Supermatch said:
Use ā€œShip My Gunā€ to send it back to them. Or, call them and they will probably send you a new catch and spring.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm missing something, but Ship My Gun looks like it requires an FFL as the shipment receiver. Century Arms, Canik's warranty center name, is not on the list.
 
dmarbell said:
The Canik warranty address is Fairfax, VT.
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Gee, I wondered about that and tried to look up what FFLs were in that town. None seem correct.

Surely, Ship My Gun has been used to return firearms for repair there? This is mighty odd.
 
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Derek8404 said:
Why do you think you need an FFL to ship the gun back to them?
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I wouldn't if I lied about what was in the shipment. Non-FFLs cannot use USPS to ship handguns, for the longest time, and recently Fedex and UPS changed policies to not allow non-FFL shipments of handguns.
 
dmarbell said:
I wouldn't if I lied about what was in the shipment. Non-FFLs cannot use USPS to ship handguns, for the longest time, and recently Fedex and UPS changed policies to not allow non-FFL shipments of handguns.
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Sure about that? I could be wrong or things may have changed but I have definitely sent a couple handguns back to the manufacturer just through UPS/FEDEX (canā€™t remember which) and that was the instructions from the manufacturer.
 
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dmarbell said:
The Canik warranty address is Fairfax, VT.

I didn't expect any shipper to not add additional costs for handling the shipment, but the first quote of $271 to ship a $1,000 pistol for warranty work made my head explode.

I see Canik's warranty shipping requirement now. I guess I should have read that before buying a Canik? LOL

I just looked at Sig's warranty page, and it specifies a return has to be shipped prepaid. I guess I'm learning a lesson about not buying from my LGS, who would most likely handle something like this for me. But, this is the first real non-ammo related issue I've ever had with a handgun purchase. I guess I've been really lucky.
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$271 shipping? What?
 
dmarbell said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but Ship My Gun looks like it requires an FFL as the shipment receiver. Century Arms, Canik's warranty center name, is not on the list.
Derek8404 said:
Iā€™m pretty sure it is.
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things have changes in the shipping business for ffl's and non ffl's!
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dmarbell said:
Thanks to Scott and @divisionarmsllc , the problem is solved. The staff are courteous and helpful, and might have helped talk me into an additional purchase while there. Not that I take much coaxing. I highly recommend Scott and crew.
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It was a pleasure meeting you today, and thank you for your business we truly appreciate it.
 
dmarbell said:
Maybe I'm missing something, but Ship My Gun looks like it requires an FFL as the shipment receiver. Century Arms, Canik's warranty center name, is not on the list.
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If Canik doesnā€™t have a FFL then they cannot receive the handgun. I have not used ship my gun, but wonder if there is a way to have Canik added to their list? Itā€™s obvious they have a FFL.
 
Average Joe said:
If Canik doesnā€™t have a FFL then they cannot receive the handgun. I have not used ship my gun, but wonder if there is a way to have Canik added to their list? Itā€™s obvious they have a FFL.
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Century Arms themselves are an FFL.

ā€œIf you would like to ship your firearm to a FFL dealer which does not currently appear on our list, please contact the dealer and ask them to send us a copy of their FFL license via fax 800-804-5569 or Electronically.ā€

Donā€™t know why theyā€™re not listed, though.
 
Average Joe said:
If Canik doesnā€™t have a FFL then they cannot receive the handgun. I have not used ship my gun, but wonder if there is a way to have Canik added to their list? Itā€™s obvious they have a FFL.
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Glad the situation is resolved.

Yup, it's more work being the first to set up the inbound FFL information, but I did find the FFL for Century Arms on line, so they are (obviously) legit.
All that's needed is for Ship My Gun (which is Bud's Gun Shop) to log the Century Arms FFL record in their database, and that would be that.

When you use Ship My Gun, they are the outbound FFL.

You pay them and they send you a pre-paid shipping label as the FFL, and that's all that is needed at UPS / FedEx.
Same as if the manufacturer sent you a prepaid label; they are the outbound FFL and the inbound FFL.

Of course you must physically go to the carrier's customer counter, you cannot use their agents.
Depending where you live, that can be a royal pain.
 
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Sleazy P. Martini said:
Since when are Caniks $1,000 guns? Or is that due to Bidenomics?
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I read that the prices remain as before but Shrinkflation has reduced the chambering from 9mm to 380. šŸ¤“
 
I have delt with Canik's customer service. Mind you it was for a replacement case (nine had a broken clasp) for my rival-s nothing wrong with the gun. Took about a month to get the new case which came with a surprise used magazine just sitting there in the case. I don't know if Canik intended for that magazine to be there as the invoice said something along the lines of "Warranty case replacement with no accessories" but a magazine is more of a part than an accessory so šŸ¤·šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø

Then case also didn't come to me from Fairfax but somewhere near the West Coast. Don't remember which state off the top of my head. So you might have a wait ahead of you after it gets there maybe not but I thought I'd share my experience. I also found the people that I had the pleasure of emailing to be very professional, polite and, prompt.
 
Intreresting. A couple of years ago I had to ship a pistol to Ruger for repair. I had to pay to ship to them but they paid the return. I sent it from a FedEx shop and received it back at my house. Have things changed that much?
 
Sleazy P. Martini said:
Since when are Caniks $1,000 guns? Or is that due to Bidenomics?
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Canik SFx Rival S Darkside. MSRP $899.00, but hard to find at that price. I paid $999 out the door and shipped from a shop in FL, which is just over MSRP plus taxes and shipping.

You have to ask Nils Jonasson why the prices are so high on these.

nilsjshooting.com

Guns

Equipment and gear information. Limited Minor ā€“ Production ā€“ Carry Optics ā€“ TacOps ā€“ ESP ā€“ SSP The Canik SFx Rival-S 9mm. Basically stock. Iron sights by day, Red dotsā€¦
nilsjshooting.com nilsjshooting.com
 
Curmudgeon said:
Intreresting. A couple of years ago I had to ship a pistol to Ruger for repair. I had to pay to ship to them but they paid the return. I sent it from a FedEx shop and received it back at my house. Have things changed that much?
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As Barf has posted, both shipping companies have made it impossible to ship without a label sent from the manufacturer and at 2nd day rates.
They still make money because the FFL now ships it for you.
 
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Canik needs to step up and fix their warranty program to generate the shipping label. I sent my used P229 to Sig for warranty repair, they invoiced the $50 shipping fee and sent the label.
 
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Button Pusher said:
Canik needs to step up and fix their warranty program to generate the shipping label. I sent my used P229 to Sig for warranty repair, they invoiced the $50 shipping fee and sent the label.
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Agreed, especially if Canik prices are starting to equalize with the rest of the playing field.
 
Update. I complained to Canik about the shipping issue, and they sent me a UPS label. Didn't say whether they would bill me later or if they paid.

But, too little too late. Scott and crew took care of me. I'll let you know the final outcome.
 
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