In a recent thread about CZ I commented on how much I like my CZ 527 but that the stock finish is lifting off the stock. Well today I called CZ and got Mike Eagleshit or something like that and he ackowledged that yeah, they had sent out some with bad finish, and yeah the large milky spots in the finish were the fault of CZ, but that I had waited too late and the stock finish was only under warrenty for one year. I've had the rifle two years. Bought it new and have the recept/warrenty card. It had slight spots when I got it but I didn't panic. The have got a bit worse in the last year. No dice. Not even a offer for me to send it in and pay for a new stock. I've always reccomended CZ 527 rifles on the boards due to my rifle being very accurate but I'm selling it now as no ammout of accuracy will take the bad taste out of my mouth on this rifle. Don't enjoy being afield with some rifle that the company's attitude is "Ha ha we screwed you!" Someone is going to get a very accurate .223 rifle cheap, this weekend, and CZ has lost a very good customer. FNMauser

quote:

Someone is going to get a very accurate .223 rifle cheap, this weekend, and CZ has lost a very good customer. FNMauser

hate it that you got fudged, now tell me how much you want for it. I also want their phone number because I am contemplating a new CZ purchase and I'll call those bastards and ask if that is how they operate and see what they tell me. send me a PM if you want, where you at in the Commonwealth?

I've never had to contact them for warranty work. Since there website talks about a 5 year warranty I wonder what is covered. Guess I need to reread my papers.

It's a shame. I've liked CZ ever since they were known as Brno. They produce some very accurate firearms at a reasonable price, but there's no way they'll survive with customer service like you mentioned. Sorry you got a lemon. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Hello,
Such a story is not the first time I have heard such treatment. Have been told the individual in charge of warranty is pretty much the Officer On Deck and his word is final. CZ needs to get into the matter for it will cost them business for sure.
Favor Center!!
dsiteman

My new CZ550 22-250 had extraction problems (extractor provided no grip on the case rim); Eaglesmith at CZ mailed me a new one w/o question, but the replacement extractor did the same thing. He asked me to send in the bolt, and I had it back in less than a week.
So their customer service ain't all bad....

I have heard that mike guy can be pretty unsimpothetic, and sometimes even kinda rude. It is my understanding that he is the only gunsmith CZ usa has and is too busy to take care of people the right way. I have heard of some getting good results talking to The main CZ people in the czech republic, is it czub?? I would talk to some other people before I would just take what mike said to be the gospel. Its a shame CZ is my favorite brand, and I have heard similar complaints by other people, you may also do a post on the CZ board too

I read on another post the new ones are being sold with plastic floorplate.

Terry

fnmauser, This is the web address for a CZ forum, you should post your problem there, I'll bet Bucky Eaglestuff reads it. www.czforum.com

Just a sec there, the rifle was already showing signs when you bought it, the warrantee period is 12 months, you waited two years before you contacted them. Seems maybe you should have contacted them immediately, or maybe not even have bought the gun.

Can't see as how CZ is at fault, especially as they had addressed the issue and replaced defective stocks within the warrantee period. You just missed the boat mate, ignored the fault until it was too late to get it fixed for free.

If the rifle shoots well and you like it, just get the stock refinished - no biggie.

FNMauser ,
You'd be crazy to sell a really accurate rifle just because the stock finish is crap . Sand it off and refinish it with Birchwood Casey Tru oil .It's so easy a kid could do it , looks great and you'll have some pride in having done it yourself .
Sell that rifle and buy yourself a new Remchester that shoots 1 1/2 inch groups and see if you reckon you're any better off ? Accurate factory rifles aren't that easy to come by . CZ aren't the only ones with quality control issues .

Right....dumping a known accurate rifle for cheap when a little elbow grease would refinish it has got to be the weirdest thing I've heard of....

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
I read on another post the new ones are being sold with plastic floorplate.

Terry

True that. My brand new 550 FS came with one.

Edit: I just called CZ-USA's parts department and spoke to CJ. I told him my rifle had a plastic floorplate and he said that if I sent the plastic part he would replace it with a steel one free of charge. I was fully prepared to pay for a steel floorplate, but he offered the trade before I even asked for it.

So much for customer service that "sucks".....

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
I read on another post the new ones are being sold with plastic floorplate.

Terry

True that. My brand new 550 FS came with one.

Edit: I just called CZ-USA's parts department and spoke to CJ. I told him my rifle had a plastic floorplate and he said that if I sent the plastic part he would replace it with a steel one free of charge. I was fully prepared to pay for a steel floorplate, but he offered the trade before I even asked for it.

So much for customer service that "sucks".....

MAYBE your rifle shouda never CAME with a plastic floorplate in the first place. Aluminum is bad enough, but plastic?

That guy probably had 100 phone calls that week bitching about the plastic floorplate. Easier to send you the steel one it should have had the first time then to argue about it.

My experience for the most part with manufacturers has been, when they roll before you ask, you ain't the first.

Put some mayonaise on one of the spots and leave it for a while.

i had the same experience w/ a 550 in 270 regarding the plastic floorplate. couldn't complain as was noted in several places that's the way they came but i also called and they also swapped it out free and that was at least 3 yrs ago. a coworker had one of (i don't keep up w/ the "little" rifles so forgive me) whatever model is in 7.62x39 and had a problem w/ sights or scope mounting and my recollection is he called, they said send it back and they sent him a new one.

if you know something is wrong and wait till the warranty expires, you don't have a very reasonable leg to stand on. i had an S&W m39 once and for various reasons didn't get to shoot it till had had way past warranty ran out and 1st time i tried adjusting windage the entire screw head popped off. had been run down too tight when the nut was staked in place. did i get anything out of S&W? nooooooo, the warranty had expired. those are the breaks. well, no pun intended.

but as to cz i've never had a genuine problem and have only ordered parts for various mauser type projects and service has always been just fine.

You waited till the warranty expired, and then call them a year later? What the heck you got
to gripe about? You screwed yourself!

Quoting from your own cliches at the bottom of your post: "He who hesitates is lost!"
You should read your own material.

I will still take a cz over some other brands..............I thought cz had gotton rid of the plastic al together after a heap of complaints ??

Are these still some of the older plastic bottom metal ones not sold out ??

I'm trying to understand why so many get their knickers in a twist over a plastic floorplate. IMO, if a handgun's frame can be made of plastic, I see not much wrong with a little non structural part.

In fact, being that the floorplate is where most of us grab the rifle when walking, it makes sense to make it out of something that is imprevious to friction wear and the corrosive effects of sweat.

I may change it, or I might not. It doesn't bother me that much.

my problems w/ the plastic floorplate are a) i don't like plastic pistols either. or shotguns or anything else. guns are to be made of steel and walnut. ivory or horn grips and fal stocks being the exceptions. and b) if they're the same price - and apparently were - don't give me plastic in lieu of steel. otherwise, you're right, who cares. those are my personal prejudices, not rational responses.

Savage and Remington have been selling some of their guns with plastic trigger guards for years. Don't like it, replace it.

yeah, complain about the plastic floorplate on a cz-550 then go look at a remington 710. plastic sells in this country; can't blame cz for running a business.

Got to agree with the others that pointed out that you waited too long. Why should a manufacturer make an exception to the warranty period for you....when you, indeed, suspected a problem from the start?

Any manufacturer's contact person must get tired of folks constantly asking to be treated differently.

quote:

Originally posted by Borealis Bob:
Got to agree with the others that pointed out that you waited too long. Why should a manufacturer make an exception to the warranty period for you....when you, indeed, suspected a problem from the start?

Any manufacturer's contact person must get tired of folks constantly asking to be treated differently.

Too bad for him.

The guy is in CUSTOMER SERVICE.
It is his job to treat people differently. When people call customer service it is because they HAVE A PROBLEM OR NEED.
If he gets tired of the public, he should transfer to a different department.

Here's an example of customer service.

Ruger has had a voluntary recall on there old model single-action revolvers for YEARS.
If I bought one today, USED from the 10th owner they would fix it free and send me back the original parts so it retained it's collector value.
That's CUSTOMER SERVICE.

If the guy that answered the phone at CZ told FNMauser they had a problem with the finish, but they won't fix or replace it because he WAITED TOO LONG, that's "CUSTOMER NO-SERVICE."

That's the kind of attitude that makes people NOT buy stuff. If that's CZ's intention, carry on!

quote:

Originally posted by willmckee:
yeah, complain about the plastic floorplate on a cz-550 then go look at a remington 710. plastic sells in this country; can't blame cz for running a business.

A 710 is NOT a very good example for anything, except possibly what not to make. They are a horrible example of "workmanship." (Or a great example of horrible wormanship?)

Judging by some the posts on this forum CZ might not really care what people think. Dangerous for a quality company to go this route.

As for plastic, I own one "plastic" framed pistol. It is a fairly expensive, state-of-the-art, name brand, quality weapon, or in other words, not a Glock.

I bought it because it was what I wanted, not because of or in spite of it being plastic.

If I had ordered the same pistol with a steel frame and the company had substituted plastic, I would probably have sent it back. I wanted plastic, I ordered plastic.

When you pay a fair price for something, you should receive what you paid for and what they advertise, not what the company feels like sending. Otherwise it is very close to bait and switch.

quote:

Originally posted by Flippy:
When you pay a fair price for something, you should receive what you paid for and what they advertise, not what the company feels like sending. Otherwise it is very close to bait and switch.

Show me where CZ advertises that their rifles have a *steel* floorplate.

Have you ever read the fine print in just about all product brochures? PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE..

quote:

Originally posted by Flippy:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Borealis Bob:
When people call customer service it is because they HAVE A PROBLEM OR NEED.

Or because they are just bein jerks.

Flippy...

There is a significant difference between a product recall and a warranty. The first applies to an intrinsic design problem that exists outside of the end user's control. A warranty is specific as to the time frame of a remedy for a situation which might ( or might not ) be the result of the end user's misuse or normal "wear and tear" and is not atypical of such abuse or "wear issues."

In other words, "if ya ain't happy, contact us within the specified time frame and we will gladly remedy the situation." If the consumer did not contact the manufacturer within the warranty period the assumption is that the product functioned fine.

Sounds fair enough to me. What is not to understand about this?

quote:

Originally posted by Borealis Bob:
Flippy...

There is a significant difference between a product recall and a warranty
The first applies to an intrinsic design problem that exists outside of the end user's control.
A warranty is specific as to the time frame of a remedy for a situation which might (or might not) be the result of the end user's misuse or normal "wear and tear" and is not atypical of such abuse or "wear issues."

In other words, "if ya ain't happy, contact us within the specified time frame and we will gladly remedy the situation." If the consumer did not contact the manufacturer within the warranty period the assumption is that the product functioned fine.

Sounds fair enough to me. What is not to understand about this?

A warranty is by definition a promise, as "We warrant this product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship...yada-yada-yada."

A recall would be when a entity pulls the product back from consumers, whether the defect is found inside or outside the "warranty" period.

Auto makers routinely "recall" vehicles that are far outside the warranty period.

The problem, Bob, is CZ knew they had a problem with the finish before FNMauser called.

So by your definition, Bob, if a company sells something to you, they don't have to correct any problems engineered into it from the beginning as long as you decide too late (by THEIR definition) that there is indeed something wrong with it.

That may be true, however it is TERRIBLE business practice. Especially from a company like CZ.

quote:

Originally posted by Leftoverdj:

quote:

Originally posted by Flippy:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Borealis Bob:
When people call customer service it is because they HAVE A PROBLEM OR NEED.

Or because they are just bein jerks.

No, that's only when YOU call...

no, cz never - that i could find at the time and i looked for it - advertised that their floorplates were steel, aluminum, silly putty or what have you. and this was also only on the standard caliber action, not the safari. it simply was what it was and i wasn't complaining to them; just wanted to know if could get steel instead and was willing to pay for it if that's what it took.

if manufacturers go around violating their own warranties the logical conclusion is "everything's guaranteed forever" and they'll all go out of business. suppose GM has a problem w/ paint on 2005 whatevers. finally sometime in 2016 somebody decides his car needs new paint so he goes to gm expecting a free paint job. is this realistic? not at all. is it reasonable? nope. but if you're going to expect them to honor a warranty that's 1 year out of date, then why not 2? 3? 6?

the warranty is the warranty and if you want it fixed within the warranty you act within the period of the warranty. if you don't have sense enough to that's not the mfgrs problem.

besides, i've had 3 cz's (well, one was a zkk) all bought new and before they were ever even fired they all got refinished. i've yet to see a factory gun made in the last 20-30 years that can't be improved w/ a little work. and yes, i know that's not the point. my point here is you got a good rifle that you're otherwise happy with and you're willing to dump it because of a little sprayed on junk on the wood?

and i'm not saying cz wasn't remiss in sending out guns w/ substandard finish either. but i bet if they'd been called w/in the year this thread would never have been started.

quote:

Originally posted by willmckee:
no, cz never - that i could find at the time and i looked for it - advertised that their floorplates were steel, aluminum, silly putty or what have you. and this was also only on the standard caliber action, not the safari. it simply was what it was and i wasn't complaining to them; just wanted to know if could get steel instead and was willing to pay for it if that's what it took.

if manufacturers go around violating their own warranties the logical conclusion is "everything's guaranteed forever" and they'll all go out of business. suppose GM has a problem w/ paint on 2005 whatevers. finally sometime in 2016 somebody decides his car needs new paint so he goes to gm expecting a free paint job. is this realistic? not at all. is it reasonable? nope. but if you're going to expect them to honor a warranty that's 1 year out of date, then why not 2? 3? 6?

the warranty is the warranty and if you want it fixed within the warranty you act within the period of the warranty. if you don't have sense enough to that's not the mfgrs problem.

besides, i've had 3 cz's (well, one was a zkk) all bought new and before they were ever even fired they all got refinished. i've yet to see a factory gun made in the last 20-30 years that can't be improved w/ a little work. and yes, i know that's not the point. my point here is you got a good rifle that you're otherwise happy with and you're willing to dump it because of a little sprayed on junk on the wood?

and i'm not saying cz wasn't remiss in sending out guns w/ substandard finish either. but i bet if they'd been called w/in the year this thread would never have been started.

Again, the problem Mr. willmckee, is just what you said. Those guns should have never went out with bad finish in the first place and the ones that did should've been fixed.

Funny you should mention auto paint recalls. The major auto makers just got hammered a few years ago for paint jobs that were peeling and chipping off. Some vehicles were over 5 years old when they were recalled. That is why the Gubment routinely steps in to force companies to "recall" products.

The reason the Gubment forced the automakers to fix these vehicles is the automakers KNEW about the problem before the cars went out and they refused to fix them.

Also, if I had as you said, bought several rifles from ANY company and the finish was so bad I felt I had to refinish them before I would be seen with them, I wouldn't buy another.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...

I have several rifles that are at more than 40 years old with the factory finish still intact, less normal field wear, of course. The finish never chipped off, clouded or otherwise appears defective an any way.

I have several nice rifles that are less than 15 years old and the finish is fine on those also. Maybe I've seen more weapons than you, but there are some nice rifles still made that have decent finish on them.

I never said or implied everything should have a “forever warranty,†however companies should stand behind their screw-ups. Otherwise they will lose customers in the long run.

If the guy at CZ wasn't going to fix the stock, he shoulda kept his mouth shut about the problem. Telling a customer about a known problem and then refusing to do anything about it is just plain bad business, regardless of the time frame.

I think FNMauser was simply upset at the arrogant attitude of the “Customer-no-service†rep. I really doubt he's going to sell the rifle, but I wouldn't blame him if he did.

It might leave a bad taste in his mouth everytime he looks at it. I know most people in the same situation would be a little upset. Upset at the company and upset at themselves for waiting so long.

Again, if you read the posts, I never said CZ advertised their guns with a steel receiver. What I said was:

quote:

MAYBE your rifle shouda never CAME with a plastic floorplate in the first place. Aluminum is bad enough, but plastic?

That guy probably had 100 phone calls that week bitching about the plastic floorplate. Easier to send you the steel one it should have had the first time then to argue about it.

My experience for the most part with manufacturers has been,
when they roll before you ask, you ain't the first.

With over 20 years in Customer Service management, I stand behind my observations and conclusions. It is better to have made a customer for life, than be “right†most times.

Have a nice day!

i really don't know that you've seen more weapons than me and it isn't a good idea to second guess somebody you don't know. not that it has anything to do with much of anything anyway. for all you know, i might own more now than you've ever seen. which still wouldn't mean a thing.

and i didn't say i refinished them because i was ashamed of them. i don't think i've ever actually owned a gun i was ashamed of except possibly one cheap spanish 25acp. i just don't prefer factory finishes on much of anything made by anyone. on rifles esp. and it has nothing to do with durability; is just one of those things.

and yeah the customer service guy should have just said "warranty's up; sorry" and kept his mouth shut.

i've got a pigeon grade superposed w/ salt in the f/e right now. should have been sent back by the 1st owner. wasn't. 35 yrs old. you think i'm gonna go whining to browning to fix it free because they had a problem and new it (true on both counts) and genuinely expect them to do it? 1 year out of warranty, 34 yrs, whatever. mfg is obligated to fulfill his warranty. if i were on a jury i'd hold him to no more than that. and sitting on a problem for 2 yrs....what was supposed to happen, heal itself?

quote:

Originally posted by willmckee:
i really don't know that you've seen more weapons than me and it isn't a good idea to second guess somebody you don't know. not that it has anything to do with much of anything anyway. for all you know, i might own more now than you've ever seen. which still wouldn't mean a thing.

I was referring to your comment:

quote:

i've yet to see a factory gun made in the last 20-30 years that can't be improved w/ a little work.

True, if you are not talking about Dakota, Weatherby Custom Shop, or any of the other premium-quality makers. Mass-produced, production rifles can usually be inproved some, however it usually takes more the a re-finish job to improve them. On most inexpensive factory rifles, it is the wood that is the limiting factor. That's probably another reason they don't put much effort into the finish.

quote:

and yeah the customer service guy should have just said "warranty's up; sorry" and kept his mouth shut.

Abso-gol-durn-lutley!

quote:

i've got a pigeon grade superposed w/ salt in the f/e right now. should have been sent back by the 1st owner. wasn't. 35 yrs old. you think i'm gonna go whining to browning to fix it free because they had a problem and new it (true on both counts) and genuinely expect them to do it? 1 year out of warranty, 34 yrs, whatever. mfg is obligated to fulfill his warranty. if i were on a jury i'd hold him to no more than that. and sitting on a problem for 2 yrs....what was supposed to happen, heal itself?

I recently sent a Weaver K10-C60 scope back to Weaver for repair. It was made in 1967-68 and goes on a 1955 vintage varmint rig.

While they are not going to fix it for free (which I did not expect at all), for $51 + 9 shipping, they are going to completely disassemble, clean, re-purge, and re-seal it.
It might even be BETTER than when it was new.

I was going to toss it because it fogged up and there was no warranty on a 40 year old scope. A friend told me he sent one back to Weaver and got it fixed.

I know I couldn't replace it with a new scope for $60, and even if I could find another K10, how reliable would an old scope be? I already had one bad one! Maybe one more could keep it company...
Besides, a "new" scope wouldn't look right on this rifle, either. That big ol' K10 just fits.

My point? Give them a call, you never know unless you ask!

this is kinda funny. It seems that several folks bought CZs and the first thing they did was to remove the original finish and put on what they liked.

In fact, some of the rifles had some real good looking wood that the CZ finish covered up. Even some tiger striping.

1 year warranty is a 1 year warranty.

My CZ 550 shoots less than MOA at 200 yards. Before I would send it back for a cosmetic flaw, I would get out the sand paper. I bought it for shooting, not for looking.

quote:

however companies should stand behind their screw-ups. Otherwise they will lose customers in the long run.

Some companies couldn't care less if you never buy another one of their products. Somebody else will. They got your money once, that's enough. Another customer is born every day.

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:

quote:

however companies should stand behind their screw-ups. Otherwise they will lose customers in the long run.

Some companies couldn't care less if you never buy another one of their products. Somebody else will. They got your money once, that's enough. Another customer is born every day.

Unfortunately, you are correct.

Regardless of the warranty being 1 year I think it is a shame they will not replace the stock. CZ is trying to become a bigger player in the US gun market. If they intend to compete with the big 4 then they better get their customer service problems fixed.

actually i do know brownings policy on repair/ replacement/ refurbishment of salt wood damaged guns and i don't fit the criteria which is original owner and warranty card having been filed so i don't need to ask. that's been their policy for several decades now and hasn't changed. except i gather that work is all sent to art's now and browning per se isn't doing it any more.

My CZ has a plastic follower, but a steel floorplate. Apparently most have a plastic floorplate. The plastic follower hasn't cost me any sleep, as it's a hunting rifle, not a nice custom rifle.