Safe Space Episode 4: Industry Lies & Manufacturer Sales

Safe Space Episode 4 is in the books. Thanks for joining us during our weekly video-podcast with world-class delivery and installation experts. Since 1988, our family-owned and operated business has been selling and delivering safes in the greater Pacific Northwest. Our staff has more than 100 years of combined experience in the gun safe world.

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Episode 4 Transcript

1. Question: What is the Biggest Life in the Safe Industry?

Kael: Oh, the biggest lie. The first thing that came to my mind was that the customers often say, “I want a fireproof safe.” That term of something being fireproof, which we know there's no such thing.

There are different fire ratings based on duration and temperature. Alongside that, you can also say waterproof. That's probably an even bigger false statement: "I want a fireproof and waterproof safe.”

These statements have been put out by companies that sell stuff on Amazon. Cheap, typically Chinese-built stuff, waterproof and fireproof. There are components of a safe that can give it a better fire rating and be more watertight.

I think consumers believe there's such a thing as a waterproof and fireproof safe. It doesn't exist.

We can help you invest in higher-rated stuff, but that's the first thing that comes to my mind.

David Jr.: The first thing that comes to my mind isn't so much an outright lie. It's just dishonest. And this is plaguing the safe industry, in my opinion — brands using their name and American flags to trick somebody into thinking that safe is made in the USA.

We've never brought in one of those safes made in China with a big American flag on the front. That’s a thing we won't do.

Kael: Your dad is adamant against that. We've wanted to, and he's like, we're not doing that.

David Jr.: You had Stella saying, “This is our best seller, this particular size with this flag.”

Or one of the worst is brands like Remington and Winchester. Winchester is a big one where people just tie it with America. And consumers assume the safe is made in the USA.

For example, I was at the Shot Show. Winchester had a new safe out, the Winchester Grand American. Big American flag on the front. I’m looking at it. It’s a plate steel safe and a little bit different construction than their typical safe, and I was thinking, is this actually built here?

After looking into it, I see that there are still no Winchesters made in the USA. It was made in China. That is something that bothers me about the safe industry. Using this imagery and names to fool people into thinking you're safe is built in the USA, or not asking the question, “Where is this made?” And a lot of people get it home or order it online, get it, and it's only upon unboxing that they see that little tag — ‘Made in China.’

Kael: Yeah. It's a facade.

David Jr.: It's definitely a facade. That's a really good point. People are being tricked at these box stores with these names that have long been associated with America.

And we used to be a big Winchester dealer, back when they were made in the Midwest by MyLink. They were an awesome safe. But then they figured out they could take this brand name. It has some push. And gosh, we'll just bring it in on a cheap Chinese safe and sell a ton of them. They've really grown since we carried them when MyLink made them.

So, an old commercial safe manufacturer. But, yeah, it used to be an awesome safe. Now it's just kinda cheap and lightweight for the most part.

Question: Can I buy my safe directly from the manufacturer?

David Jr.: It depends on the manufacturer. Most of the time, when people go online and buy a safe from Rhino or Liberty — that order is being processed by someone in their dealer network.

So, whether you live in California, Florida, or New York, that order will go to the nearest dealer even though you order it directly from the factory. With Liberty, and many of these places, you used to be able to drive up and buy something. But I don’t think you can anymore.

I think you could probably do that at Fort Knox.

Kael: You can. Yep.

David Jr.: American Security, I don't think you can do it with.

Kael: Amsec was the one I would say you can't buy directly. They do an awesome job of sending people to the dealers, for the most part. So the answer to the question is, it depends. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't.