PDA

View Full Version : Dillon "No BS Warranty"...it really is true.



FISH4BUGS
01-23-2024, 10:34 PM
I hope this doesn’t sound like a Taylor Swift fan letter, but I am compelled to post my experience and thanks for going above and beyond Dillon's “No BS Warranty”.
My customer number is 19XX (current number is around 50,000 from what I understand), so I have been a customer for many years. My memory tells me that I purchased a 450 originally 25 or 30 years ago (maybe even longer), and it was upgraded to a 550b at some point. As a high volume shooter, I have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds on this press and have replaced a few parts here and there over the years....always at no charge. Not a big deal...they were mostly small parts.
Through my own ignorance, in trying to replace a part, I cracked the frame of the press. In calling Dillon's tech support, they suggested I simply pack it up and return it for repair. I fully expected to pay for the replacement of the frame and associated parts because the damage was MY fault. 100%.
I sent it back and patiently waited. A couple of weeks later, I received notification of shipment. What I did NOT receive was a notice that I owed money for the repair. Again, because this was MY mistake, I fully expected to pay for the repair, and it would only have been fair to pay for it. But nooooooooooo….. Dillon's “No BS Warranty” is exactly that. No BS....and boy was I full of BS in my efforts to replace a part. :)
I eagerly watched the tracking and waited for delivery…..it came to me packed securely in a box with an invoice….for ZERO dollars. I felt like a kid on Christmas Day!
In my earlier working life, I ran a 300 employee manufacturing company and I also managed a large retail sporting goods company. I learned that there are precious few companies that 1) make and sell top quality equipment and 2) stand behind their products with unsurpassed customer service as they do. I can’t thank them enough for first, making the best reloading equipment on the planet, and secondly, standing behind it 100%...even in the face of people making stupid mistakes like I did.
If you ever want to buy a new progressive reloading press, Dillon is, without a doubt, the best on the market. More expensive? Yes it is. But quality always costs more....and you will never get better customer service.

jmorris
01-24-2024, 12:07 AM
Dillon has set the bar so high, many mfg's are much better than in other areas. Lee, RCBS and Hornady are not too bad, by Dillon's example. Although the others have had history of obsoleting more machines. Lifetime of support is different than lifetime of the equipment.

Kind of wish they made a truck, one could use as a truck, with a lifetime warranty, they certainly wouldn't go down in value as much as all the ones these days do.. Maybe even a diner where you buy one meal and eat the rest of your life for free...

I'll be honest and didn't see it lasting that long and the prices have gone up but there is a reason they can still get asking price and have a back log of orders. My first SD was $120, that was a lot back then though, <$0.70/gal for gas back then.

dverna
01-24-2024, 12:09 AM
Good to hear. I had a 550 that I wanted to send back for a rebuild but the lady I talked to refused to help me. I was willing to pay for the parts and labor…but no way. I ended up purchasing the parts and doing it myself

I had owned three 1050’s, two 550’s, two SD’s, a 650, and an SL 900 so was a bit irritated. I still think highly of their metallic presses, but the SL900 is not very good. I am down to a 1050 and 550 and still recommend them.

Maybe the lady I dealt with was having a bad day.

Big Wes
01-24-2024, 08:36 AM
I got a used 1980's SDB many years old from a friend and it had a clicking sound so I sent it to Dillon for a going over., a week or so later - They sent me a new press. Can't beat Dillon! I own 4 Dillon presses. First press was a new 550b back in early 90's. Later I got 2 SDB's and a 650 all used.

rancher1913
01-24-2024, 08:54 AM
the 1050's and up are not covered by the no bs warranty because they are considered commercial machines, just fyi

15meter
01-24-2024, 09:04 AM
Dillon has replaced numerous small parts over the years on the two SDB's and the 550B I've owned. One of the SDB'S ended up with a cracked frame. They suggested sending it back for rebuild. Pretty sure they sent me a new unit. Sold that one to a buddy. I still have one SDB and a 550B. Don't use them much, but not likely to get rid of either one anytime soon.

They are just too good a tool.

Only issue I ever had with Dillon was years ago, I was in their show room shortly after the SL900 hit the market. I asked a guy about changing from 8 point crimp to 6 point. He told me quite rudely that their never were any 6 point crimped 12 gauge shells.

Guess he never loaded any paper hulls or hunting loads.

Still like to load Federal paper hulls when I get my hands on them. They just smell so good.

A manly cologne :kidding:

Sig556r
01-24-2024, 11:44 AM
Dillon continues to honor warranties for all 3 of my 550s (all bought used) & all I hear from their reps is “what’s your address? Parts will be in the mail by tomorrow”
No BS is truly no BS…however, getting hold of a rep? be patient is all I can say

rbuck351
01-24-2024, 12:31 PM
I have a 550b, bought about 2002 and an SD that I got used a couple years ago. So far I don't know whether their no bs warranty is good or not as I have never had any issues with either.

Bill Allen
01-24-2024, 01:27 PM
the 1050's and up are not covered by the no bs warranty because they are considered commercial machines, just fyi

Plus the price of parts will clean your clock. Still a very good machine but need your wallet open if there's a problem

Kai
01-24-2024, 02:58 PM
Good to hear. I had a 550 that I wanted to send back for a rebuild but the lady I talked to refused to help me. I was willing to pay for the parts and labor…but no way. I ended up purchasing the parts and doing it myself

I had owned three 1050’s, two 550’s, two SD’s, a 650, and an SL 900 so was a bit irritated. I still think highly of their metallic presses, but the SL900 is not very good. I am down to a 1050 and 550 and still recommend them.

Maybe the lady I dealt with was having a bad day.

Are you sure you dialed the correct phone number??

stubshaft
01-24-2024, 06:29 PM
I have rebuilt the guide rails on my SDB press at least 5 times with parts from Dillon that were sent free of charge. The BEST customer service in the industry!

gns4me
01-24-2024, 06:56 PM
years ago (1988) I started reloading on a Rockchucker and a Dillion 450 "B" jr . always had q? that were promptly answered by both Co. They were always helpful with new purchases and setups for their machines ( not as much info online back then as is now) Lost it ALL (relaoding , casting ,Molds Lubreisizers , and guns ) in a divorce. after 15 years out of it I've been ramping up this last Year Bought a used dillion450 with a couple of setups and a broken powder Measure Dillion replaced the powder hopper at no charge and helped find all correct missing parts. i wish they weren't so expensive but I think their costumer service is great.

AZ Pete
01-24-2024, 07:21 PM
ask to speak to someone else, or be stealthy and call again another time and when you get a different person, ask the same question. There are rare occasions that Dillon has an employee that just doesn't get it.

dverna
01-24-2024, 09:13 PM
ask to speak to someone else, or be stealthy and call again another time and when you get a different person, ask the same question. There are rare occasions that Dillon has an employee that just doesn't get it.

Good advice. It cost me less than $50 IIRC so it was a not big deal, but it was disappointing to get the run around. I would have understood if I had sent back a few machines and was trying to use them.

Like I said, I am still a Dillon fan boy.

elmacgyver0
01-24-2024, 09:34 PM
Some people are complete... well, you know...I have had this on multiple occasions.
Some people will bend over backwards to help you, you never know.
Perhaps the jerks are just having a bad day, been there myself, you never know.
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes it is really hard.

nidrab
01-26-2024, 06:28 PM
I have no blue presses but testimonials like this one makes me think I need to get one or more.

dverna
01-26-2024, 08:18 PM
I have no blue presses but testimonials like this one makes me think I need to get one or more.

IMO, having owned many of them, the parts that fail are cheap little plastic bits due to old age and crystallizing and getting brittle. I have never broken a “major” part. Compared to what ease is out there, they are very reliable and easy to set up/use.

You will not regret getting one, but if you do, they sell rapidly and you will not lose much.

I no longer shoot as much as I used to and have done a lot of downsizing. If I was forced to only have two metallic presses, the Co-Ax and Dillon 550 would be my choices. I like having the others, but I would be fine with those two.

45DUDE
01-26-2024, 10:07 PM
I cracked a 550b frame and took a photo and e mailed without talking to anyone. They sent me repair parts on their dime.---I bought two more.[smilie=l:

cpaspr
01-27-2024, 12:49 AM
I was changing calibers on my 550b (bought used maybe fifteen years or so ago from the club I belong to) a couple of years ago, and had set the powder measure on the floor. At some point I rolled back in my chair, and the wheel of the chair caught the powder measure activator rod and rolled with it. Flipped the measure up and right back down hard on the hard base of the chair. Broke the see-through plastic hopper. I took pictures, and sent them an e-mail asking how much it would cost to repair. Told them exactly how it happened. They said send it in. I did, and a week or so later I got a new one, with a taller hopper back. No charge.

Iowa Fox
01-27-2024, 03:38 AM
I'm at the point in life my Dillons are going outlast me . In 40 years I've only needed a couple small things. I keep them clean, lubed. and go a little slower so I don't tear stuff up.

Rapier
01-27-2024, 09:25 AM
I was telling my son about Dillon, said he was going to Vegas to Nellis the next month and was going to the Shot show to visit the Dillon guys. He had an appreciation plaque and letter to deliver to them from the Guardian Angel Research and Development Center. Mike Dillon bought a Mini Gun and it kept jamming on him, so Mike re-designed the feed system, made the modified parts in his shops and gave the mods and parts to the USAF rescue units for use on their combat rescue choppers. No telling how many lives Mike and the Dillon Company saved by turning the mini gun from a 60% gun to a 99% gun. So they have great customer service and do good for the GIs as well.

FISH4BUGS
01-28-2024, 09:10 AM
I have no blue presses but testimonials like this one makes me think I need to get one or more.

If you are willing to pay for the quality and the world class customer service, do it.
It's really that simple.

dverna
01-28-2024, 10:14 AM
A while back I bought a Lee 6000 as a project and to give Lee a fair shake. Life got in the way, so I need to get back to it but so far this is my experience.

I have had to fiddle with, and order and replace more parts on the 6000 than I did on eight Dillons (2 SD's,2 550's, 1 650, 2 1050's, 1 SL900). I have loaded about 500 rounds on the Lee and over 250k on the Dillons. The parts on the Lee were clutches and the silly springs, the primer seating stem would seize and jam and was a free upgrade, and the primer shuttle did not work well and was another free upgraded. "Free" parts don't impress me because you are down until they arrive. I paid to get 3-4 spares of the cheap stuff that I seem to break and bend.

I am 90% sure I can get the 6000 running at an acceptable efficiency for my current needs of 2000-3000 rounds a year. But I am 100% sure it will never be a Dillon.

When I was competing, and shooting over 15k rounds a year, there is no way I would be dependent on a Lee. Back then I was working, and time was at a premium. As an old retired man, who shoots a lot less powder burners, I think the Lee will be OK.

I am a prepper and my contribution to "the tribe" will be to cast bullets/slugs/buckshot and produce pistol, rifle and shotgun ammunition. I may sell the last 1050 I have, but I will never sell the 550. I would not want to be dependent on a Lee when the SHTF.

rbuck351
01-28-2024, 12:53 PM
I have about 30 presses as I buy most used at very low prices. If I had to get rid of all but three, those three would be an RCBS rockchuck an old bonanza co=ax and last a Dillon 550b. The absolute last would be the 550b. That would not be because of it's no BS warranty but because I haven't needed the warranty for anything on either the 550 or my Square Deal. I also find it interesting that many Dillon owners would keep their 550 to the last.

dverna
01-28-2024, 03:05 PM
I have about 30 presses as I buy most used at very low prices. If I had to get rid of all but three, those three would be an RCBS rockchuck an old bonanza co=ax and last a Dillon 550b. The absolute last would be the 550b. That would not be because of it's no BS warranty but because I haven't needed the warranty for anything on either the 550 or my Square Deal. I also find it interesting that many Dillon owners would keep their 550 to the last.

You must be my brother. If I had to live with only three presses I would pick the same ones. Actually, I could ditch the RC as I only use it to size machine gun brass from 5.56 and 7.62, and now have enough rifle cases to last the rest of my life.