Customer Reviews

Gunvault MV500-STD Microvault Pistol Gun Safe

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I am happy with GunVault's 'mini' safe product, and decided to purchase this model as an additional and portable safe to hold my carry pistol. I can't recommend this safe. The buttons are mushy and feel poorly engineered. I have to make entries sometimes twice before the keypad 'reads' them, which effectively eliminates the option of silencing the 'entry accepted' beep that accompanies each successful key press. Not to mention that in a pinch you don't want to be jabbing away repeatedly at a cheap key system because it can't do its (quite simple) job.

Instructions are not particularly necessary for this simple safe, but are terribly written nonetheless. Who vets these things, and who let them out of the 8th grade?

Finally, a flat head screwdriver would make quick work of this little gem I am sure. The locking mechanism gives plenty of play when engaged.

I'm going to keep the safe, because it accomplishes what I bought it for: Non-pressure situation storing and securing of a pistol and extra magazine-- for that extra barrier against unauthorized and curious hands. Had I known what I'd be getting I would have looked elsewhere.

Since I ordered it close to christmas, and was not expecting it before 25 Dec, shipping took longer. Product was as described. Some reviews stated it was flimsy?!?? I do not think so. Had no problem putting batteries in, setting up code, and testing it a couple dozen times. You just have to read the manual!!!!!! Have 4 and 6 yr old boys and wanted to keep gun close, but locked up. This is in my nightstand with my small hand held 75 lume flashlight. It holds my 40 cal and 3 extra magazines. You need to practice opening it up and getting the gun out. Do not want any surprises when you really need it to count / work.

I purchased the MV500 so that I could safely and securely store my weapons in my SUV (no trunk) when I will be entering a building where Concealed Carry is prohibited. The center console, or underneath the seat is not considered secure storage under state law. You have a big legal/liability problem if your weapon is stolen from your vehicle because you were negligent and it was not properly secured. The MV500 is also great to secure valuables (Radar detector, GPS, etc) when you Valet park. The MV500-STD easily fits a 1911 .45 ACP, a widescreen Garmin GPS, and a Radar Valentine Detector. The unit is very easy to open with one hand using the combination lock, and has a backup key lock if the battery dies. To secure valuables, you simply wrap/loop the included steel cable around a front seat attach point, and slide the cable end into the cutout on the side of the safe. When you close the lid, the safe is secured to the fixed point on the vehicle. The cable could be cut with large bolt cutters and some time, but the chance of smash and grab type thefts is greatly reduced. It's also smart to hide the safe under the seat, or on the floor covered with a jacket, etc. The safe has a great anti-tamper feature that will let you know with a beep, and flashing red LED if an incorrect attempt to open the safe has been made since you locked it. Easily busts curious Casino Valet's! I have used the safe daily for 2 months, and I haven't yet discovered any negative aspects to owning and using it. Completely satisfied at this point! It is TSA approved for Airline travel too.

Will never buy another product from Gunvault, and sorry I bought this one.

Keypad failed completely after a little over a year of light use, leaving pistol inaccessible with no warning.

Surprise! You weren't counting on this thing to help you in an emergency were you?

Customer support asked for the serial number, then declined to do anything whatsoever. No repair option, paid or unpaid, no credit, no advice, nothing.

Perhaps early, silent failure is normal for Gunvault products? How would you feel about a smoke detector that did the same thing?

Never again.

I own two of the "mini" line of gunvaults, and have had good service from them. The Deluxe model failed after 3 years in service, but they are sending a replacement.

Now, for the "micro" vault, this thing has been nothing but failure. The orginal one quit functioning after a few weeks. Gunvault sent a replacement, that one lasted for two weeks, sent it back, the replacement they sent the 2nd time never did work. After two calls with tech support, they are sending a replacement for the "mini" vault that failed and they are currently backordered on the "micros" tell sometime in march. Hopefully the fourth one will be a charm.

Customer service is good, the buttons in the "micro" series are mushy and unreliable. These things have so far been 100 dollar thin sheetmetal boxes that require a key. If I always wanted to use the key, i'd buy one of the $20 dollar ones.

Not impressed at all. Did not buy from amazon and I wish I had because it would be going back. Would not open till I got the pen grinder out and make adjustments to the cheap plastic parts inside. If some one were to enter your home uninvited this safe offers no protection from someone getting your gun period. Chinese junk. Might keep the kids out but dont count on it. Buy a real safe.

UPDATE, January 3, 2012: I can no longer recommend this product. About two months ago while traveling, I tried to open the safe and found that one of the buttons that was part of the combination would not function (i.e., when pressed there was no beep and the safe would not open when the correct combination, including this button, was pressed). When I got home, I opened the safe with the key and then the button suddenly began working again (I don't think opening it with a key had anything to do with making the button work again; it was probably just a coincidence). I thought this was just a fluke, but then the same thing just happened about a week ago and the button still doesn't work. I purchased this safe in order to have quick access to my firearm in a self-defense situation, but this is impossible if you can't rely on the buttons working all the time. Sure, the box can still be opened with a key, but that defeats the purpose of "quick access".

I plan to look for another similar device that uses a mechanical combination lock, such as those from Fort Knox. I would give this Gunvault zero stars if I could. I haven't yet contacted the Gunvault customer service to see if they will repair or replace the device, but that's irrelevant to me since I still won't feel I can rely on it to work when I need it to work.

--------------------------------------
ORIGINAL REVIEW:

I've had this item for just a few days, so take what I have to say in that context.

So far this devices seems perfect for keeping my loaded pistol in my home in a manner that makes it relatively quick to retrieve in a self-defense situation, yet inaccessible to children. For that I think it serves its purpose well. Additionally, I use it to secure my pistol in my vehicle when I'm traveling and am unable to carry it on my person due to local laws, as well as to secure my pistol while in my hotel room rather than just leaving it laying on a table. Along the same lines, it's great to secure your pistol when visiting family that may have children in the house.

However, as other reviewers have said, it does not provide much theft-deterrence. First, because the construction does not lend itself to resisting forceable entry (you could probably pry it open with a strong screwdriver, but I'm not going to try it on my own device!). Second, someone could just steal the box itself with your pistol inside it, giving the thief all the time in the world to break into it at another location. It does come with a security cable (similar to those sold to secure laptops and other electronics) that can be wrapped around a stationary object then attached to the inside of the case, but this would only prevent a casual theft because the cable could probably easily be cut with bolt cutters or a good pair of wire cutters.

A couple of other negative points:

-The buttons do seem a bit mushy and flimsy. You definitely have to press them more or less directly in the center.

-The foam lining does not press tightly against thin pistols when closed, allowing them to slide around if the box is tilted - I have a 1911 in mine with which this occurs. This is kind of a pain since the box is meant to be portable. I have my pistol in its holster inside the box, which prevents it from sliding around, but of course may require another second or two to remove it from the holster to make the pistol ready to fire.

-The instruction pamphlet is a little confusing and does not explain well the steps to program a new code. It took me a few minutes to figure out the correct button sequences required to program it.

I can't comment on the long-term reliability or durability, since I've only had it for a few days. Provided the device doesn't wear out from use, I think the positives out way the negatives and it will serve the purpose I described above. Bottom line, it's great to secure a pistol against children's fingers and casual snoopers, but get a real safe that you can bolt down if you want to deter a serious thief.

One day after I got this, two of the buttons stopped working, forcing me to rely solely on the key to open the safe. When I tried calling Tech/Customer Support, I rarely ever got through to a person, usually I got a recording telling me to call during normal business hours, even though that was exactly what I was doing! I left a message to call me during the morning because I work at night, and...you guessed it. Tech support called me in the evening during work! I had to ask Tech support to call me back the next day in the morning and they never did. I am trying to return this for a refund, but my attempts at correspondences have gone unanswered.

With Cannon's name behind the brand, you expect instant reliability. At first the MV500-Std would only open with a key, the keypad would signal correct entry of the code and try to open, but the latch has a weak spring design. Now the weak or broken spring can't keep the lid closed. From cool and exciting product to paperweight in a couple of days. Have contacted customer service, will post if I learn anything.
Made in China

Revised to three star
Phoned technical support. Tech support was quick friendly and knew what the problem was. Small problem in initial assembly, there is a linkage next to the motor which binds and prevents the latchwork from operating. In a couple of minutes with a screwdriver and adjustable wrench (slide the motor and re-fasten), the gunvault is put right and seems to be working fine. Better than shipping back for repair.

1. The web page for this says, "GunVault Bio uses biometrics, specifically fingerprint recognition, to access the safe contents." But this model doesn't use biometrics... another model does!

2. I agree with everything B. Ripley says... in fact, the buttons are so unsensitive/weirdly sensitive that it's impossible to program the damn thing because I can't enter the same thing twice (it thinks)!

3. You have to keep it unmuted because the buttons are so bad

4. there's no drilled holes in the bottom to use to attach it to something, which means that someone can just walk off with it... unless of course you use the joke-of-a-security cable they give you, which you could probably cut with a nail clipper

Thank goodness I got this at Amazon so I can return it.