Thinking about buying a safe, read this first!!

[RemMan700]

Not sure if it is true or not but I heard the digital safes had a higher fire failure rate then a mechanical lock. I think it was because the fire burned through the keypad and let heat in through the hole were the wires go into the safe.

[Tarleton Jake]

My Canon has the digital keypad....keepin my fingers crossed!

Jake

[1 Cor. 10:31]

Thank you for sharing! I will be buying a gun safe in the next 6 months and I promise you I will not be buying a Winchester... Very disappointing. This could've ended a lot differently for them if they would have just stood behind their product..

[Mike D]

Lots of speculation as to what happened on that thread. There's a very good chance with all of the moving and beating that he did on the safe that he fired the re locker.

I suspect that his wheel was in a bind for whatever reason and he panicked and caused further damage.

Regardless, unless you pay for a higher end safe, they buy the cheapest lock they can regardless of the manufacturer. There is a difference in both electronic locks and manual dials. The more you spend, the better quality (and warranty) you get.

If anyone believes that any of the mainline safes on the market (Winchester, Liberty, Cannon) are any better than the other then you are kidding yourselves. They are all cheap for a reason.

Do your research when buying a safe and buy quality the first time.

[Z7_Matt]

Dang close! I almost purchased a 24 gun winchester. Glad you posted this!

[txsteele]

A safe sales-lady also informed me that when thieves try to access a digital safe they will often break of the key pad off thinking that will disable the locking mechanism, thereby keeping you out also.

[Mossback]

I like the Old school KISS method for getting to my guns, whoever came up with electronics in btwn you and your firearms is an idiot.

[Bily Lovec]

lots of fail on that thread and this thread
as Mike D mentioned, unless you buy a true gunsafe, there isnt any difference.
It also seems like a lot of the RSCers in this price range are made by the same people.

I happen to have a 24 gun Winchester safe with electronic key pad.
At the time, winchester used 2-3 different keypad manufacturers depending on customer due to cost savings for the customer. (cheaper aint always better )
I also open/close it a minimum of two times a day.



Ive had mine for over 5 years, with only one problem.
I had a keypad malfunction after about 6 months, I emailed the Dallas office of winchester safes and they shipped me a new one out that day.

As far as Im concerned, Winchester has GREAT Customer service.
(see how the internet works )

After reading some of the OPs post on the other thread,
Im willing to bet the OP on the other thread caused the malfunction.

[mfloski]

he probably did cause the relocker to fire....but at that point, not sure what choice he had since Winchester wasn't helping him at ALL, and not everyone can shell out hundreds of dollars for locksmiths. If they had delt with him properly in the first place he wouldn't have started "tinkering" with his safe! IMO

[lbbf]

Lots of speculation as to what happened on that thread. There's a very good chance with all of the moving and beating that he did on the safe that he fired the re locker.

I suspect that his wheel was in a bind for whatever reason and he panicked and caused further damage.

He stated that he didn't move or hit the safe in any way until AFTER Winchester told him that they wouldn't help.

[BTLowry]

I got locked out of my Canon. Called them and they went through the proceedure to get me back in. Not easy but it worked on the phone.

This is the most troubling thing I have read on this post

I sure hope they verified in some way that you were the actual owner before they told you how to get in


Never have been a fan of electronic locks and this is just one of the reasons

[Mike D]

He stated that he didn't move or hit the safe in any way until AFTER Winchester told him that they wouldn't help.

That's really irrelevant. If the safe was out of warranty, what should they have done? If you ask me, based on what he said about laying it down and hammering on it the lock system did exactly what it was supposed to do and fired the re-lock device.

When my first dial went out they covered it because it was within the warranty period. The second it was out of warranty. No big deal. I ponied up and bought a better lock instead of going on the Internet and sniveling and whining about poor me and big bad Winchester is evil.

Like most things in life you get what you pay for. I bought this safe knowing it was just a temporary until I get my new house built and do a significant upgrade.

[47]

note to self

[lbbf]

That's really irrelevant. If the safe was out of warranty, what should they have done? If you ask me, based on what he said about laying it down and hammering on it the lock system did exactly what it was supposed to do and fired the re-lock device.

When my first dial went out they covered it because it was within the warranty period. The second it was out of warranty. No big deal. I ponied up and bought a better lock instead of going on the Internet and sniveling and whining about poor me and big bad Winchester is evil.

Like most things in life you get what you pay for. I bought this safe knowing it was just a temporary until I get my new house built and do a significant upgrade.

Actually I believe it is relevant. He didn't do anything until Winchester denied to help. At that point than he did what ever he thought might get him in the safe. Winchester coming back and saying that it is NOW his fault is what gets me. There response, in my opinion, seemed to imply that "we were going to help but you messed it up so now it's no longer our problem." They denied helping him BEFORE he laid it over and pounded on it. I understand it is out of warranty and that's that. Still a safe should provide a reasonable amount of protection while STILL allowing me to get inside. I'm glad I went with another brand and a dial lock on mine.

[medic151]

I have a smaller safe, 14 gun. It has the digital pad and if that fails, you take it off and there is a skeleton key that fits in behind the pad to open it.