Smith wants you to register to view an event, email sent a few weeks before for some hype. 7pm the day of the event no releases on their website, no emails what it is etc

Ruger sends an email with pics and videos of the new gun, web site ready to go and lists of accessories that works as well as holsters. And a review by Colion Nior…

I prefer the Ruger model of releasing a gun, smith got shown up in marketing today for sure, will have to see the products themselves of course to see which firearm is better

I noticed the same thing today as well, and I concur. If you're bringing a new product to market, shouldn't your goal be to make sure as many people as possible know about it?

It’s pretty annoying that smith and Wesson can’t seem to come up with new names for stuff.

I can see it now. Customers coming in looking for a shield and not realizing there are 8000 different shields that are completely different.

When Springfield decided the XDs needed more capacity they decided Hellcat was good.... just don’t understand why you would name so many very different guns the same thing

Also I got blasted this morning with Ruger’s new product... had no clue smith we doing anything until I read this thread

If your product marketing is working, The formula should be who knows bout the product in lieu of who you know~ knows about the product.

Yup. I got an email this morning and then saw it on their FB page with links to the product page on their site.

I found out about the S&W release in another thread here on SF. Still don’t know anything about it except it’s another shield.

agreed 100% - I've found out about, pursued and purchase Rugers that were never on my radar because of their marketing.

With Smith's, when and if I'm inclined, I'll start my search and maaaayyyybe find something I'm willing to then start the hunt for.

quote:

Originally posted by mhughes:
Smith wants you to register to view an event, email sent a few weeks before for some hype. 7pm the day of the event no releases on their website, no emails what it is etc

Ruger sends an email with pics and videos of the new gun, web site ready to go and lists of accessories that works as well as holsters. And a review by Colion Nior…

I prefer the Ruger model of releasing a gun, smith got shown up in marketing today for sure, will have to see the products themselves of course to see which firearm is better

I have to agree Ruger did their release much better.

I did sign up and watch Smith's virtual event. Way more fluff than substance.

If it were Sig marketing, the company would have claimed you're not part of some elite group once you made a firearm purchase and that anyone can buy their civilian products... Oh wait, that's not what happed with the Legion pistols.

If it were Sig marketing, they would release rifles that everyone knows would be supported years in the future... oh wait, they've never done that.

If it were Sig, they would go on their largest intergroup website and announce new models, all of or even a majority of which would come out in a year's time.... wait, that never happened either. In fact, I've been told they aren't pursuing models that they said years ago they were going to release.

So in Marketing: Ruger > S&W >> SigSauer

S&w with a small comeback, tfb review, website finally updated, and somehow a story on front page of Fox News

I like Ruger's way of letting us know if a new model is out.

I've lost interest in S&W which is kind of a suprise as I have had every snubbie they made before the IL and every 357/38 revolver, too.

But, the LCR is so much better, I think, than even the older S&Ws. we have 4 and love all of them.

I have only one S&W to my name now, a 3" Model 60 from pre-lock era. Prolly won't have another. But am a little curious to hold the new Ruger 9.

Bob

My dealer already has the Shield Plus.
He had not yet heard of the Max 9.

Yeah, the Shield Plus went live...because dealers get advanced notification and then order them DIRECT from S&W. Meanwhile those same FFL dealers have to go and beg with distributors in order to get the Max-9 because Ruger doesn't sell direct to dealer.

Never a good idea to be an early adopter. Of all people, SIG forum members should understand that. By then you will have heard about it ad nauseum, and have end user reviews not just youtube shills.

S&W must be doing something right. I have seen the Videos on the new Shield. I never heard of the Max-9 until I saw it mentioned this thread.

quote:

Never a good idea to be an early adopter. Of all people, SIG forum members should understand that. By then you will have heard about it ad nauseum, and have end user reviews not just youtube shills.

Normally I would say sure, don't be that guy. But the Shield Plus is kind of a different animal since it's more or less based on the existing bones of the well-proven Shield. The only real 'unknown' with the gun are going to be the magazines, and even there S&W contracted with lil' ol' Mec-Gar, which is certainly not a bad way to help kick off a "new" design with.

I will hand it to s&w, they had product ready to sell at dealers which might be the best way to release a gun, initial reaction looks to be wrong

In general I agree with this. I said the same thing when the P365 came out. But it this case I'd modify that policy a bit.

This is far from an all new gun. Most of the moving parts are straight out of the existing M&P 2.0 version of the Shield. I don't think the new gun risk is as high with this gun as it was with a clean sheet of paper design like the P365. If I wanted one, I'd wait 2-3 months and see if there are any substantial number of complaints. If not, I'd be okay with buying one.

quote:

Originally posted by sg:
Never a good idea to be an early adopter. Of all people, SIG forum members should understand that. By then you will have heard about it ad nauseum, and have end user reviews not just youtube shills.

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
In general I agree with this. I said the same thing when the P365 came out. But it this case I'd modify that policy a bit.
This is far from an all new gun. Most of the moving parts are straight out of the existing M&P 2.0 version of the Shield. I don't think the new gun risk is as high with this gun as it was with a clean sheet of paper design like the P365. If I wanted one, I'd wait 2-3 months and see if there are any substantial number of complaints. If not, I'd be okay with buying one.

Even then, I would have no reservations about buying one. IMO, Smith and Wesson has the best customer service out there. I was one of the first to buy a M&P .40 when they first came out. I called S&W when an issue was discovered and they sent me a Mailing label. When I got the pistol back, they even included an extra magazine. I have not had the same experience with Sig or Glock. While Glock is good about taking care of you once the gun is in their hands, getting it there will be on your dime unless you really make an issue of it. Sig. Customer service is hit or miss for me.

I didn't know of the Plus until the first videos began popping up on YouTube and LinkedIn. S&W, ( I believe ) beat Ruger off the blocks by getting a bunch of their new pistols out into the hands of reviewers first.

I didn't find out about Ruger's Max until after watching one of the Plus videos and it was merely mentioned in comparison. I had to look it up and eventually found a video or two on it.

quote:

Originally posted by mhughes:
Smith wants you to register to view an event, email sent a few weeks before for some hype. 7pm the day of the event no releases on their website, no emails what it is etc

Ruger sends an email with pics and videos of the new gun, web site ready to go and lists of accessories that works as well as holsters. And a review by Colion Nior…

I prefer the Ruger model of releasing a gun, smith got shown up in marketing today for sure, will have to see the products themselves of course to see which firearm is better

I agree!