I sent an email to SA this morning because I cannot sort out in my head why we (customers) should have to pay the price for their marketing/sales shortcomings. The XDs pricing/value situation is a world-class blunder imho.
The subject of the email was - Why I may never buy another SA weapon
This email may only serve as mild therapy for a case of buyer’s remorse, but I thought I would share some customer perspective. I bought my first SA weapon about five years ago, a 1911 that I had been desiring for a while. I fell in love with the craftsmanship and truly appreciated owning such a historic handgun. I then went on to acquire my CCL and chose a small Kel-Tec as my first pocket gun. It wasn’t what I wanted, but I was on a budget.
Then came the XDs line… I saved up the money for a .45 and the love affair began. It became my EDC and I was stunned by it’s accuracy and shouted from the highest mountain that the perfect carry gun (for me) had been discovered. I was invited to try out a USPSA group by my son, so I staggered 5 and 7 rounds mags and strapped on my factory holster and mag holders. I felt good using my EDC in a practical training environment. My son is a graduate of the Police Academy so I expected him to finish ahead of me in our class, but the gap was smaller than either of us expected. That little black beauty was extremely accurate.
I lost that gun to a home invasion a year later. I can’t describe the emotions that flood a person when violated in that way. As soon as we received the insurance check I ran to my LGS and invested a little more in a new XDs bi-tone .45. Love was back... I struggled a little in understanding the differences between SS and black, but after a call to your CS I was squared away. Life goes on and I get a Glock 19. Nice gun, but I don’t prefer the grip angle. I was recently offered a straight up trade for an XDs bi-tone 9mm. I couldn’t resist even though I'm too old for twins. The 9mm is awesome, but this is where my frustration begins.
As a military service member, I try to buy “blue label” whenever possible. SA is the exception. As a SA fan who is not aware of any LE/Military pricing for SA, I bought on loyalty alone. When I started researching why a guy would trade me a $600 gun for a $500 gun I was disappointed to learn that your Essentials Pack program has driven the pricing down on my XDs’. I buy guns I can resell if our personal economy goes south. To find out that I am upside down on a gun I love was heartbreaking. How would I explain this to my CFO (wife)? And then I learn that new buyers in the $400 XDs range are getting three free mags… I don’t have the words. Your Gear Pack/Essentials Pack has cost me money. I can’t give either of my XDs’ away for $525 (I’ve tried) and now new owners get three mags that I paid $40/per for over the last two years. Wow! You may get new sales out of all this, but my loyalty is strained to say the least. My SA story has taken a turn for the worse on the alter of sales.
Respectfully,
The subject of the email was - Why I may never buy another SA weapon
This email may only serve as mild therapy for a case of buyer’s remorse, but I thought I would share some customer perspective. I bought my first SA weapon about five years ago, a 1911 that I had been desiring for a while. I fell in love with the craftsmanship and truly appreciated owning such a historic handgun. I then went on to acquire my CCL and chose a small Kel-Tec as my first pocket gun. It wasn’t what I wanted, but I was on a budget.
Then came the XDs line… I saved up the money for a .45 and the love affair began. It became my EDC and I was stunned by it’s accuracy and shouted from the highest mountain that the perfect carry gun (for me) had been discovered. I was invited to try out a USPSA group by my son, so I staggered 5 and 7 rounds mags and strapped on my factory holster and mag holders. I felt good using my EDC in a practical training environment. My son is a graduate of the Police Academy so I expected him to finish ahead of me in our class, but the gap was smaller than either of us expected. That little black beauty was extremely accurate.
I lost that gun to a home invasion a year later. I can’t describe the emotions that flood a person when violated in that way. As soon as we received the insurance check I ran to my LGS and invested a little more in a new XDs bi-tone .45. Love was back... I struggled a little in understanding the differences between SS and black, but after a call to your CS I was squared away. Life goes on and I get a Glock 19. Nice gun, but I don’t prefer the grip angle. I was recently offered a straight up trade for an XDs bi-tone 9mm. I couldn’t resist even though I'm too old for twins. The 9mm is awesome, but this is where my frustration begins.
As a military service member, I try to buy “blue label” whenever possible. SA is the exception. As a SA fan who is not aware of any LE/Military pricing for SA, I bought on loyalty alone. When I started researching why a guy would trade me a $600 gun for a $500 gun I was disappointed to learn that your Essentials Pack program has driven the pricing down on my XDs’. I buy guns I can resell if our personal economy goes south. To find out that I am upside down on a gun I love was heartbreaking. How would I explain this to my CFO (wife)? And then I learn that new buyers in the $400 XDs range are getting three free mags… I don’t have the words. Your Gear Pack/Essentials Pack has cost me money. I can’t give either of my XDs’ away for $525 (I’ve tried) and now new owners get three mags that I paid $40/per for over the last two years. Wow! You may get new sales out of all this, but my loyalty is strained to say the least. My SA story has taken a turn for the worse on the alter of sales.
Respectfully,