What I think should be done by manufacturers if they wanted to sell the "ideal" 1911 would be:
1) Quit telling us what we need and sell us what we want - example being roll marked warning labels (Ruger, Taurus), inapropriately engineered safeties (Kimber Series II, Winchester 94 cross bolt, S&W hammer block) or solutions to problems that don't exist (take your pick... possibly the .45GAP)
2) Realize they are selling perception and not reality - the reality may be that some technoligy is better for us, but if we don't perceive to be as safe we won't want it. The reality is MIM may be as good as tool steel, but the preception is tool steel is better - plastic vs. steel guide rods, plastic vs. steel MSH, external vs. internal 1911 extractors, forgings vs. casting...
3) Understand that sometimes right & wrong has nothing to do with anything - many manufacturer's customer service complaints stem from the customer being told it's all their fault and just stonewalling the customer on the other end of the phone to get rid of the problem. Usually the customer knows if they are right or wrong even if they won't say it... if a customer service rep treats me with the respect of a customer that maybe spent $1,000 to $10,000 in a year on their handguns, maybe I'd be more tolerant of a fluke defect. Whatever happened to "the customer is always right", and don't tell me "you can't do that in business anymore". How many people here have ordered from Brownel's? When was the last time you heard anyone complain about Brownell's customer service? You don't hear complaints because they treat the customer with a great deal of respect, try to do right and don't talk down to them... many years ago my gunshop caught on fire because of a stupid mistake that I made and should have known better; but, I did follow the instructions and all the products involved came from Brownell's... two days after the fire Brownell's delivered a couple thousand dollars worth of equipment to get me back in business as quickly as possible - I didn't demand anything or place blame, but they stood up when they didn't know if I would ever be back in business again, much less spend another dollar with them. Last year I spent over $20k with Brownell's and I will order anything I ever need that they carry from them... if something breaks that I think shouldn't or doesn't work like I think it's supposed to work (i.e. Nowlin Glock 21 guide rod that caused every round to jam, 2 Sorbathane recoil pads that cracked in two pieces after shooting, etc.) I don't send them back to Brownell's because I know Brownell's will only sell #1 products and there are times when even #1 products have a fluke defect... but I have trust in Brownell's so I know they would never knowingly send an inferior product. Another example is Wilson Combat... there is trust with their customers, trust makes us more receptive to new ideas...
Bottom line? If I were a manufacturer, I would figure out a way to give the customer what they perceived they wanted... if I knew there was actually a better way that would be a benefit customer - I would explain to the customers why it was better before forcing it on them (and I don't mean putting spin on it - i.e. plastic msh is self lubricating, smart people want external extractors... meaning if you don't want one you must not be smart).
So, if I were a manufacturer, my "ideal" 1911 would be forged frame/slide, tool steel parts, nothing plastic that is trying to imnpersonate metal, fixed sights that can be moved for adjustment, reliable without excuses, semi-tight tolerances, made as intended by JMB without forcing "better" engineering, and backed by customer service that may not always give you what you demand, but will at least not talk down to you and will be respectful and open minded, making me feel as if they were involved in solving the problem instead of placing blame.
But then, I'll probably never be a manufacturer...
1) Quit telling us what we need and sell us what we want - example being roll marked warning labels (Ruger, Taurus), inapropriately engineered safeties (Kimber Series II, Winchester 94 cross bolt, S&W hammer block) or solutions to problems that don't exist (take your pick... possibly the .45GAP)
2) Realize they are selling perception and not reality - the reality may be that some technoligy is better for us, but if we don't perceive to be as safe we won't want it. The reality is MIM may be as good as tool steel, but the preception is tool steel is better - plastic vs. steel guide rods, plastic vs. steel MSH, external vs. internal 1911 extractors, forgings vs. casting...
3) Understand that sometimes right & wrong has nothing to do with anything - many manufacturer's customer service complaints stem from the customer being told it's all their fault and just stonewalling the customer on the other end of the phone to get rid of the problem. Usually the customer knows if they are right or wrong even if they won't say it... if a customer service rep treats me with the respect of a customer that maybe spent $1,000 to $10,000 in a year on their handguns, maybe I'd be more tolerant of a fluke defect. Whatever happened to "the customer is always right", and don't tell me "you can't do that in business anymore". How many people here have ordered from Brownel's? When was the last time you heard anyone complain about Brownell's customer service? You don't hear complaints because they treat the customer with a great deal of respect, try to do right and don't talk down to them... many years ago my gunshop caught on fire because of a stupid mistake that I made and should have known better; but, I did follow the instructions and all the products involved came from Brownell's... two days after the fire Brownell's delivered a couple thousand dollars worth of equipment to get me back in business as quickly as possible - I didn't demand anything or place blame, but they stood up when they didn't know if I would ever be back in business again, much less spend another dollar with them. Last year I spent over $20k with Brownell's and I will order anything I ever need that they carry from them... if something breaks that I think shouldn't or doesn't work like I think it's supposed to work (i.e. Nowlin Glock 21 guide rod that caused every round to jam, 2 Sorbathane recoil pads that cracked in two pieces after shooting, etc.) I don't send them back to Brownell's because I know Brownell's will only sell #1 products and there are times when even #1 products have a fluke defect... but I have trust in Brownell's so I know they would never knowingly send an inferior product. Another example is Wilson Combat... there is trust with their customers, trust makes us more receptive to new ideas...
Bottom line? If I were a manufacturer, I would figure out a way to give the customer what they perceived they wanted... if I knew there was actually a better way that would be a benefit customer - I would explain to the customers why it was better before forcing it on them (and I don't mean putting spin on it - i.e. plastic msh is self lubricating, smart people want external extractors... meaning if you don't want one you must not be smart).
So, if I were a manufacturer, my "ideal" 1911 would be forged frame/slide, tool steel parts, nothing plastic that is trying to imnpersonate metal, fixed sights that can be moved for adjustment, reliable without excuses, semi-tight tolerances, made as intended by JMB without forcing "better" engineering, and backed by customer service that may not always give you what you demand, but will at least not talk down to you and will be respectful and open minded, making me feel as if they were involved in solving the problem instead of placing blame.
But then, I'll probably never be a manufacturer...