Sunday, April 30, 2006

Dillon Precision is OUR friend!

When I started adding "Resources I Recommend" to my sidebar, it somehow just didn't occur to me to include Dillon Precision to the mix although I can't think of a single 'resource' which is MORE intrinsic to IPSC competition in the US.

In fact, even though I cited Dillon as a new source of the previously 'unobtanium-rated' Gargantuan Gunsite Gossip books, I remained blissfully clueless about the need to provide an easy-access link, or to reinforce the legendary "No Bullshit" Dillon Guarantee.

Okay, these Scottsdale Suppliers are much to dignified to give their guarantee the name which best describes it, but it's true. If you have a problem with anything you buy from Dillon, even if it's not something they build themselves, they'll make it right for you no matter what it costs ... to them. It won't cost YOU anything, except possibly shipping charges to return the item in question.

If you're a Dillon customer, you have already read the many testimonials in their monthly catalog. The ones that come to the front of mine are the 550 (Square Deal, whatever) loading presses that were damaged by user neglect, misfortune, accident or nobody's fault and returned with the hope that Dillon would consent to repair it and charge the customer for parts and labor ... but were instead either completely refurbished OR REPLACED at no charge to the customer.

Dillon calls it the "No Fault" or "No Hassle" warranty, but you know in your heart that it's the No Bullshit Warranty.

This is tacit acceptance that they only stock the best, they only ship the best, and if there's anything wrong you don't have to deal with weasel-words such as "please contact the original manufacturer and provide proof of ownership" ... if you bought it from Dillon, it's repaired or replaced by Dillon, even if you are the Dork that broke it by misuse or misadventure.

Example: over ten years ago, I managed to crunch a primer in my XL650 while loading 9mm ammunition. The primer exploded, as did a few others in the primer column. No damage to me or mine, but the charge shot the plastic primer-follower rod into the ceiling, and the pieces that I DID find were twisted like a corkscrew.

I called Dillon to ask for replacement parts.

The said I had a 'obsolete design' of the primer-feed assembly, lacking the safety features of current releases. (The press was about 5 years old at the time.) They sent an entire new-design primer assembly, with instructions on how to install it, and asked only that I return the old primer assembly to insure that it would never be used by another unsuspecting customer.

Price to me: the phone call ... and it was a 1-800 number which means it didn't cost me a cent. And they shipped it to me by air express, no charge for expedited shipping. Dillon understands that we often wait until the last minute to reload for an IPSC match, and we NEED to get our loading press back online quickly.

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The incident that prompted this unsolicited testimonial, however, is much more recent.

Last week I wrote that I discovered Col. Jeff Cooper's "Gargantuan Gunsite Gossip" (Volume 1) was available directly from Dillon. Not only that, but Volume II was also available. This was Good News to me, because I had lost my Volume I in a burglary some years ago, and I had only read it once. The best prices I could find on Amazon.com were totally unacceptable. Current offerings ... one at $95.27 and another at $199.00!) Dillon had Volume I listed at $29.95 and VOlume II listed at $39.95. I ordered one copy of each the same night as the original post!

They had them in stock, too, and I received my book order within five business days.

The only problem was, instead of receiving one copy of each, I received two copies of Volume II.

Arrggghh!

I went to the Dillon website, found the 'contact us' email address, and explained my problem. I offered to return the extra copy of the book if they would give me a "Return Merchandise Authorization Number" (RMA) so I would get credit. I cited the invoice number, which clearly indicated that I should receive one of each volume, and also included my Customer Number, my name, address and telephone number.

Not reply from email, no phone calls. For three days I was curious about whether Dillon actually monitored their "contact us" traffic.

Then, on the third business day (last Friday), I received a shipment from Dillon.

Inside was Col. Jeff Cooper's "Gargantuan Gunsite Gossip: Volume I" in it's familiar blue binding. Also, an invoice with "no charge", a shippping label made out to Dillon's "RETURNS" department, and a pre-paid postage label for $8.50 ... the Parcel Post rate, not the "Books" rate.

Five minutes after I got home and opened the box, I had put the superfluous copy of GGG II into the box, written "You Done Good, Guys!" on the invoice and laid it on the GGG II copy, replaced the packing, sealed the box and affixed the address label and supplied postage to the outside. Saturday Morning I went to the post office and explained that I was not shipping a bomb but returning a book (the post office is very particular about the big, heavy boxes they ship now-days) and was assurred that it should arrive at its destination in five business days.

Cause of the shipping error: clearly Dillons.

Expenses incurred: entirely Dillons.

Credit for making good on a simple, common slip: entirely Dillons!

With any other vendor, I would have had to prove everything, and they wouldn't have shipped the correct volume until they had received the superfluous copy. Not Dillon. They didn't ask any questions, they assumed I was an honest man and a valued customer, and did what was necessary to make it right with a minimum of paperwork, delay and complication.

Heck, I could have kept the extra copy of GGG II and sold it on Ebay, to my advantage.

But I AM an honest man, and I DO value my given word.

The same can be said of Dillon Precision.

It's amazing how simple Trade can be, when all parties assume each other to be operating on the Good Faith Principle.

Bottom line: if you need a thing, and you can get it from Dillon or you can get it from some other vendor -- buy from Dillon. You will never regret it. In seventeen years of buying both via phone and via the internet, I have never regretted it.

You have The Geek's word on it.

And more important, you have Dillon's word for it.

Take it to the bank.

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