Dillon earns another Gold Star!

[georgerkahn]

I bought my RL550b in October of 1991 -- God knows how many times I operated the handle. Well, today I had perhaps my 2nd or 3rd failure in 27 years -- apparently the cast aluminum piece which hold the roller the powder measure gets actuated by broke off! While contemplating cutting some tin-can stock as a piece for the front and back; joining with super-glue or epoxy, and finishing with a couple of brass pins, I said, "what the heck?" and rang their 800 number. I got a genuinely pleasant chap, who chuckled that the three digit part number I offered has been "long ago" replaced with a 5-digit one, and he will put a new sheet with current numbers, AND A KIT INCLUDING MY PART WHICH BROKE -- in the mail to me tomorrow. NO CHARGE!
I've oft' heard of their "No B.S. Warranty", but never needed to use it. I had purchased their spare parts kit when that silly shell-plate ball rolled into never-land, maybe 25 years ago as my only parts need. (It's still missing ;) )
In this day of most questionable business practices by ever so many, Dillon has, in my book, joined RCBS as being in the #1 category!
geo

[Gregorious]

My experience also, with both companies mentioned. Well worth the comparative difference in money/cost for the benefits received. Nice to read comments like yours, adds to the knowledge base.

[Murphy]

Typical Dillon "No BS" warranty. They are at the top of my list along with RCBS.

Murphy

[kevin c]

IIRC! I've had my SDB just one year less than your 550. And over the past ~175,000 rounds, except for the dies and the ram, Dillon has replaced every part of that press, including two replacement frames, and all free of charge.

No complaints here...

[Petrol & Powder]

I'll join the praises to Dillon.
Their equipment rarely breaks and if it does they replace the parts or free.

After countless rounds loaded the bell crank on my 550 cracked. I called Dillon in an attempt to buy a replacement. They would not take my money and a new one arrived in short order.
Not only do Dillon presses work, work well and work for a long time - The company is great to deal with.

If you're in the market for a progressive press there's only one choice and it's blue.

[lightman]

I'll also join in praising Dillon's customer support. I have also noticed that Dillon will sometimes improve on a part if it proves to have repeated problems. One that comes to mind is the linkage arms on older presses.

[Taterhead]

These are cool stories. It would be nice if the appliance manufacturers were similarly oriented!

[wrench man]

NOT my experience!, talked to them on the phone twice, hope I NEVER have to again, all I was met with was attitude!
And I had to send the broken part back to get them to warranty it!, "no BS" is BS!

[georgerkahn]

wrench man -- I am sorry for you, reading your post! The two fellows who were "101%" at Dillon have the 1st names Mike, and Phil. Both were just ever so nice I wished there was a way for me to "tip" them :)! As a side note, a good friend named Charlie always touted a restaurant in an adjacent town to where we reside as the best! My wife and I went there and had quite the poor service and meal. Later, we learned on the day we were there, owner had just received some incredibly bad news involving his cook -- who, was no longer there (grand larceny/embezzlement)... We all have "lives" in our 16 non-working hours, and some have on-job challenges, too. Knowing it may not be smart business to just mail out parts, gratis, based upon what a stranger asks over the 'phone, I was in fact surprised that my sending the broken collar to them was not asked for. I had, should they wished it, planned on asking if I might, instead of sending it, take and send photos of the broken part with my cell 'phone. Perhaps this might be a suggestion if you re-ring them? Added, you would put broken stuff in the same box THEY sent -- which, to me, would be an added win-win -- their quality control can examine the defective part(s), and -- in my area we PAY for trash removal by the bag put out -- a savings there.
Good luck... I do hope you have a better experience in a future inquiry with them!
geo

[edp2k]

One reason that Dillon doesn't want the part back, or require some kind of proof that the part you are calling about is actually broken,
is because:

on some parts, Dillon knows from past experience, and 100's of other people calling, that the original design for part X breaks after
(lets say) 10,000 cycles, and they have long since re-designed that part for improved durability.

so when yours breaks,
its not surprising (actually its expected), and your customer service database entry doesn't show that they already replaced that part,
and you call about it, they just mail you out the free redesigned part.

[L Erie Caster]

One reason that Dillon doesn't want the part back, or require some kind of proof that the part you are calling about is actually broken,
is because:

on some parts, Dillon knows from past experience, and 100's of other people calling, that the original design for part X breaks after
(lets say) 10,000 cycles, and they have long since re-designed that part for improved durability.

so when yours breaks,
its not surprising (actually its expected), and your customer service database entry doesn't show that they already replaced that part,
and you call about it, they just mail you out the free redesigned part.

That is what happened to me. The ring that advances the shell plate broke completely in half on my XL 650. Dillon sent me 2 upgraded replacement parts and an alignment gage/tool free of charge.

[David2011]

NOT my experience!, talked to them on the phone twice, hope I NEVER have to again, all I was met with was attitude!
And I had to send the broken part back to get them to warranty it!, "no BS" is BS!

Hmmm. Not my experience ever. I've owned 4 Dillons- a Square Deal B, 2 550s and a 650 as well as 2 vibratory polishers, a scale, two media separators, a bunch of dies, a Super Swager, a Rapid Trim case trimmer and some other accessories. Even with all that I haven't had to call very many times. My first Dillon was a 550 purchased in 1981. They have never been anything but helpful and have sent me upgraded parts when I was only calling looking for a suggestion. First time I called I asked if they wanted the old part back. The gentleman asked, "What would we want that back for?"

[RoGrrr]

While loading 9mm, the carbide ring in my sizing die came out and stuck on the case. I called and asked what kind of LocTite I should use to resecure it. I was told that it is a 'press fit' and should NOT EVER come out. He put a new die in tomorrow's mail and asked for the old die, postage paid label included.
Next large problem came when I was changing from small to large primer feeder and the heli-coil in the platform came out with the allen screw. Sometimes 'it' happens. They sent me a new platform along with the alignment die to realign everything. Again, post paid return label for the defective platform.
Several other minor breakages and they IMMEDIATELY sent out the part.
Having had experience with other precision progressive (Gawd, I H-H--H-H-h-ate that word) shotshell loaders, coupled with their lifetime no B S warranty, I knew I wanted a case of that "blue flu" !
I don't regret is for a moment. Well over 40,000 with my 650 and going strong. FOOLPROOF, to the point I talked my sister into a 650, since she wanted to start reloading again and asked what kind of press she should get, and has absolutely no mechanical inclination, whatsoever. I set it up for her and schooled her in how to load 9's and change over to 45ACP. She's still going strong and hasn't blown up her pistols (like she might have done with some other presses, which require manually indexing the shell plate to avoid double-charging :bigsmyl2: ).

[garandsrus]

I have only ever had to return one part to Dillon, a 550 shell plate for 30-30. This is an accessory part that normally doesn’t break, so Dillon wanted the old one back. They sent a replacement promptly, at no cost.

I had an old style (spring, not fail safe) powder measure with a broken powder reservoir. I bought it used that way. I sent it back and they replaced the entire measure with the current style, powder bars, etc.

[Daver7]

I'll add my story. loaned my 550 out to an good friend. came back without the battery cover on the low primer alarm. We called Dillon. They replaced the whole primer assembly. My friend ordered a 550 because of the service I got.

[WinchesterM1]

One thing I like about Dillon is you can call them and ask about reloading related questions, ie my 308 is not shooting as I would like what would you do, and I have talked with them for over 45 min on reloading tips.. I will never buy anything but blue for the rest of my life so far I have 2 550s and one square deal one 550 is SPP and one 550 is LPP and I have a square deal set up for 9mm for the fact I own over 30 9mm pistols and rifles 3.6 grn of BE over a 135 grn fn just sings out of 7 rifles and 20+ pistols I own (sized to .358 of course)

[wrench man]

I have only ever had to return one part to Dillon, a 550 shell plate for 30-30. This is an accessory part that normally doesn’t break, so Dillon wanted the old one back. They sent a replacement promptly, at no cost.

They MUST have had a bad lot of this particular shell plate!??, that is exactly the same part I had to send in to get replaced!

[Kuffar]

Uh oh! I'm gonna go against the flow, and swear allegiance to Hornady. Let me explain.
A friend of mine, died years ago, and his wife gifted me, with his Hornady Projector. It sat there for a while, before I reassembled it, and started using it. It was great.
Then, I was talking to another friend, who had just bought a Dillon. He asked me if I wanted some presses, he had in his cellar. He gave me those. It took about a year before I finally got them. I had figured, they'd all be total junque, but they were in fair condition. There was an RCBS Green Machine, a Hornady Pro 7, a Multiplex from the 50's, a couple of shotshell loaders, and some other stuff.
I went to work on the RCBS. Got it working, but discovered it was very temperamental. My friend told me, do what you like, with these. The RCBS went bye bye, on eBay, and brought much more than I figured.
The Pro 7 was next. After I got it unstuck, I needed parts. I called Hornady. The lady I spoke with, took my part numbers down, asked for my address, and said they were on the way. I stopped her, and asked about my credit card info. She said it was under warranty. I told her that I had gotten this press, out of a cellar, and wasn't the original owner. She told me again, that it was under warranty. I thanked her profusely. Parts came, press was repaired. Needless to say, this tends to make you a loyal customer.
This all happened during the opening weeks of the ammo crunch. Since my RCBS had sold for a good bit, I listed my Lee Pro 1000, and it went for as much as I paid originally. So, I re-invested, in a new Hornady LnL, with the proceeds from the other presses.
I did look at a Dillon, but the shell plates were close to $100.00 each. The Hornady LnL inserts, were 10/ $50.00. So, considering that a 3 die set, would cost me $15.00, vs $100.00, I went Red. Plus I got $100.00 worth of .45 XTP's, with the press.
Change over time is about 3 minutes, to change the shellplate, if I work slow, and drop the Allen key. 30 seconds, if I'm going from .38 spl. to .357 mag. and using the same shellplate.
I'm not badmouthing Dillon, they are an excellent press. But, Hornady seems to have the same guarantees and support, with cheaper changeover prices.