Redding's new policy - Make junk

[cbrick]

This thread also posted in "Casting Equipment".

Redding products in the toilet? They doubled their prices on most everything and out-sourced quality off-shore.

Well, are they in the toilet? . . . I bought their micrometer adjustable case trimmer. The cutter head was so far off a straight wall case (357) couldn't be cut any closer than .007" to square. Sent it back 5 or 6 weeks ago, haven't received it back yet.

Bought their case neck thickness gauge, between .002" and .003" off center so there is no way to know within .002" and .003" just how thick your necks are. It's now in the junk drawer, didn't bother sending it back yet just because the letter I would send with it wouldn’t be very polite.

Bought their T-7 turret press and three additional die plates (four total plates). The ram and thus the shell holder and the cartridge case are not centered (aligned) on the die. Run a case into a sizer die and watch your case tip over to the side by up to .015"+. Took it back to the store, they replaced the three extra die plates and there was no improvement. Took the whole thing back to the store and they replaced the press and all four die plates. Neither press with any of the 8 die plates is aligned. I have three days swapping dies in the die plates, changing the plates and screwing in countless dies and several hundred dollars invested and the entire thing is junk. I called Redding customer service and was told that “at least I didn’t have to call China or India”. Really? Well great! Now I fully believe in buying American but what good is it when the product is crap.

Bought SAECO #446 four cavity mould. All four bullets that drop from it are a different length to the extent that seated bullets vary considerably. Four different diameters and none are round, not even close to round. Four different bullet weights by 8 grains.

Bought SAECO # 441 four cavity, special order from Midway and waited 60 days for it (it arrived today) and it’s worse than #446. One cavity has a center band that mikes .4245”; all four base bands vary from .4268” to .432”. My Ruger has .431” throats.

Neither mould is useable, $132.00 plus $10.00 shipping for each and I have nearly $300.00 worth of paper weights. Add this $300.00 to the $350.00 for a junk press and extra plates plus the trimmer and the case neck gauge and I have about $900.00 invested in pure Redding Crapola. All five of these Redding Products were purchased new in the past 6 months.

Any company can mess up and let something slip past quality control but it's not a mistake when five straight products are all junk, it's intentional. Redding used to be the premiere reloading tool . . . No longer; they now specialize in manufacturing extremely expensive and useless junk. I shudder thinking about recent Redding die purchases.

Rick

[Three44s]

I would opt for the Lee Classic Turret ...... a lot less money and it will be RIGHT!

AND for molds ....... try LBT

Three 44s

[cbrick]

hhmmm . . . LBT? Yep, I have them, and NEI, Lyman, Hotch, RCBS, Lachmiller and more. About 60+ moulds in all. I've got 20 or more SAECO's from before Redding bought SAECO to the present. I have two bad SAECO's . . . The last two.

Rick

[azrednek]

That is terrible news to say the least. Pardon the colloquialism but please say "it ain't so"!! I don't have allot of Redding tools but those I do have are absolutely some of the best.

The two Saeco moulds I have are top notch, quality on par with 1960's Lyman. I've cranked out tens if not hundreds of thousands of powder charges from my Redding measurer. I wouldn't trade it for a brand new measurer of any brand. My very old Redding scale, so old it is oil and not magnetic dampened but it what I use to verify the accuracy of other scales.

I would like to believe your experiences are a fluke but after several items I can surmise somebody is bleeding the assets out of the Redding name. Reminiscent of Winchester in the 70's when they turned out some of the biggest pieces of junk I've ever handled. Hopefully Redding, like Winchester after becoming USRA, brought back the quality synonymous with their name. Might take an "under new management" approach to get Redding back on track.

[Geraldo]

Sounds like they made (or had made) a bad run of turrets. I bought a T-7 last summer and everything is true. I've been looking for a spare turret and they're are none to be found. I thought it was part of the post-election frenzy, but now I'm wondering if they were recalled.

[monadnock#5]

I think the term boycott should be discussed in this matter. I know, impossible to enforce amongst the membership, and for some, Redding is the only name on the shelves. However, 7000 voices have to count for something.

The Redding products I own are some of the best, but I won't buy more until cb has $900.00 worth of Redding products that he's proud to call his own. What say ye all, aye or nae?

[Bret4207]

I posted a reply in another forum Rick posted this in. My Mom is friends with the owner of Redding, says he's an above reproach kinda guy. I think before we go too far Rick needs to make a phone call and talk to a supervisor there. Could be a problem they aren't aware of or something they will correct ASAP.

[flutedchamber]

I have used Redding products years ago with great results, but that has absolutely no bearing on your horrible experience. I would just like to say that what happened to you sounds like an experience that I had with RCBS dies about 25 years ago. Their handling sounds like what you got from Redding, and needless to say I have bought NOTHING from RCBS since, nor will I ever buy their products again.

You have done more than you should have had to. Return the part and follow up with a phone call. If I may, I would like to recommend some steps that have helped me in similar situations in the past.

1. Keep a log of all events. Sales slips, shipping receipts.

2. Phone calls. Number called. Date and time. Who talked to. 99.999% of the time you have to ask for a name. If it's a common first name, I ask for their last name. If they are reluctant to give the whole last name, get the first 3 letters.

3. If you are promised an answer in 3 days, ask for a time to call back and who to talk to. Apply step #2.

4. If you get no satisfaction from phone communication, follow up your calls with a letter to the head of the company concerning the treatment you are getting. Supply names, dates, time and all info gathered. I HAVE FOUND THAT GETTING SOMEONE HIGH UP ON THE LADDER INVOLVED GETS THINGS SOLVED FAST.

To make things easier I have taken to recording my phone calls in such instances. Not only do you get the information that you need, but it gives an accurate depiction of the persons attitude. Just remember it also records your attitude, so be polite and courteous.

The taped conversation came in handy when I had to get a furnace part replaced under warranty. To say that the people I encountered on the phone were ignorant would be an understatement. Two weeks and 6 phone calls later I sent a letter to the head of the company along with a tape of all of my conversations with the personnel.

The part was shipped to me next day air, along with a check for $50 for my aggravation and an apology from the company head along with a note stating that 3 people were fired for their actions, or lack thereof.

If you go thru all of this and get no satisfaction, don't hesitate to lodge a complaint with the BBB in the hometown of the business that you are dealing with.

I wish you luck in your adventure. Hopefully you will not need it.

[Leadforbrains]

I have been seriously eyeballin the saeco molds in anticipation of my tax refund check. I am going to wait and see how Redding adresses this problem. If it were me having this problem I would take Brets advice to contact them straight away and tell them whats wrong to give them a chance to make it right. All the manufacturers of gun and reloading equipment are feeling the crunch of the increased demand due the Obamapanic buying. No excuse to let bad stuff out the door, but it seems like it is happening all over.

[BD]

I'm sorry to here of this. All of the cartridges I use on a regular basis are built on Reading dies. I'm glad I bought them when I did.

They did the custom sizer for my high power service rifle and it is as near perfect as any die I've ever used. The sizer that came with their set of .223 competition bushing dies wouldn't touch the shoulder on the cases from my DCM. I sent it back with 5 fired cases and $25 and they made me a die that would do the job.

In my opinion the past good work by the company should at least earn them a call to the owner prior to any group action. However, If it's true that they've gone to Chi-com manufacturing then I'm done dealing with them.

BD

[Geraldo]

To make things easier I have taken to recording my phone calls in such instances. Not only do you get the information that you need, but it gives an accurate depiction of the persons attitude. Just remember it also records your attitude, so be polite and courteous.

Some states require that both parties consent to taping a telephone conversation. Even if you live is a state that requires only one party consent, I would be careful if you're calling a company in a state that requires both parties to consent.

I think a call for a boycott is uncalled for at this time. First, we've heard only one side of the story, and it may yet be cleared up by Redding. Second, it's hard to boycott what is already backordered into eternity.

[flutedchamber]

[QUOTE=Geraldo;477107]Some states require that both parties consent to taping a telephone conversation. Even if you live is a state that requires only one party consent, I would be careful if you're calling a company in a state that requires both parties to consent.


When I looked into taping a phone call I was told (at least in NJ) that it is legal if you are part of the conversation and it is on your own phone, ie not wiretapping.

[cbrick]

I have called them once already and will again at 5 AM Monday west coast time. I spent most of yesterday trying to get a good bullet from my latest piece of Redding cast iron crap and they were closed (2 PM here is 5 PM east coast time) or I would have called then. When I talked with them a couple of weeks ago I got a canned speech about how everything is American made and I didn't have to call India and besides, they only have a 1 tenth of 1 percent return rate. The store at the range where I bought the press has called them 2 or 3 times already plus it cost me $40.00 to ship a useless lump of cast iron to the opposite coast.

If they really have a 1 tenth of one percent return rate can you imagine how bad my luck would have to be to get 5 straight (6 if you count it as both presses) bad products? Redding is peddling junk on what was their good name.

This is a bit depressing to me, I have been a huge fan of Redding in the past. Their stuff did cost a bit more (2X now) but you had the very best tool you could get. I have over 20 SAECO moulds, many different calibers of dies that all say Redding on them. All top notch tools and this is why these last five purchases were all Redding.

Rick

[cbrick]

Bret, I'd like to make a suggestion if you don't mind, call your Mom and ask her to call her friend and ask him to read these threads. If she would do this and he reads this perhaps something would change.

6 straight bad products is not an accident. One bad product is an "oops" sorry bout that. 6 straight with 5 different tools is peddling junk.

Rick

[Recluse]

I'll second the suggestion that the owner or higher-up(s) at Redding read this thread. They would be absolute fools not to. There is no faster or cheaper way to gleam customer and consumer opinion, feedback and experience than by scanning internet forums such as this one.

In fairness, you can often take a lot of what you read with a grain of salt. But it would only take someone from Redding or Dillon or Lee or RCBS less than ten minutes to realize the caliber (yes, it is an intentional pun ) of shooter and reloader that hangs around here.

THESE are the customers that Redding, Dillon, Lee, et al need to do whatever possible and/or necessary to keep happy because THESE are the shooters/reloaders that others in the hobby/sport look to for opinion and guidance. As such, the influence such groups have is almost immeasurable

However, If it's true that they've gone to Chi-com manufacturing then I'm done dealing with them.

BD

Agreed, and I include India/Pakistan in there as well. People can laugh, but Made in USA is a big selling point for me and it is why I continue to gravitate more and more to solely buying Lee and Dillon products.

Maybe a Sticky on "Made in the USA" with updated information?

[mtgrs737]

I have been telling folks that the Redding Boss is the way to go on a reloading press ever since I heard that RCBS when chi-com. Talk about being mis-informed! When will Americans stand up for themselves? I always look for the made in America products, however it is increasingly hard to find if not impossible. In my opinion manufacturing = prosperity and strength for a nation, do we really want to hand it to the Chi-com's.

Keep calling, writing Redding about your products, they should make it right with you. They may be working out the dimensional problems with the manufacturer now. I have been considering some Saeco mould purchases, but I have heard that they most always cast on the small side but it seems that may be only part of their problems. Thanks for posting, I wish you luck with your product problems.

[flutedchamber]

Agreed, and I include India/Pakistan in there as well. People can laugh, but Made in USA is a big selling point for me and it is why I continue to gravitate more and more to solely buying Lee and Dillon products.

Maybe a Sticky on "Made in the USA" with updated information?

"Made in USA should mean only one thing...made in the United States of America by United States citizens. Anything sold in the US shoud have to be tagged with a country of origin. Let the buyer decide.

As of late it seems to be more common for companies to drop quality and trade on the good name that they made for themselves 20 or more years ago. As soon as they lose enough sales they will wise up...or not.

[hemiallen]

My FIL is going to Oroville to get some OLD RCBS dies replaced, they are 1985 44 mag carbides that is splitting cases. He never reloaded with them until last fall, and we measured the sized brass and it is 0.010" undersized over his and my old non carbide dies. RCBS verified they had a bad batch, but couldn't get ALL of them off the shelves, obviously.

Here is a reply on another thread from 2007
Subject: RE: rcbs.com - Ask RCBS Form

Thank you for contacting RCBS with your concern. Most of our products
are still produced right here in our factory in Oroville CA. However,
we do purchase some items from China or other countries around the
world. Any items we source outside of our operation are closely
monitored to insure they meet our quality expectations. The only reason
we choose certain items to be produced over seas is to provide our
customers with the best possible products for the lowest possible cost,
or in other words, to give you the best value for your hard earned
dollars.

It is important for us to here from our customers and we appreciate you
taking the time to provide us with your input.

Allen

[ddeaton]

Nothing from Lee is outsourced is it?

[Buckshot]

...............I'm going to say they have nothing made overseas, but have not called and asked. I know they made a point of making sure folks knew the Classic Cast Press was made here.

..............Buckshot