Did you have a real "pulled plug"-issue, Herr Doktor, i.e. did yours protrude more than the ones in Gibran's pic?
Plugs, holes, protrusions, studs, rimshots, oversizes, forcing things in - we're with our usual topics here I fear. Poor Gibran will certainly gain an impression.
Mine were about at the same stage as Gibran's and were starting to deform the hole as they were pulled forward and up. I don't mean to make it sound like the end of the world! I just don't have as much patience for this stuff as I used to. My personal assessment is the hole is probably just a little too large for the inserts, allowing them to move as the strings put pressure on them.
The dealer should fix it at no charge, not a big deal. If the bass is more than a few months old, the dealer is almost compelled to make out right since Gibson's new policy is to not take any dealer returns over a month or so old (I can't remember the exact time, but it is very short!!!). It really squeezes the dealers and leaves Gibson free to make any sloppy product they like and stick the dealer with it.
Don't get me wrong, this is a great bass, well made and finished. Top of the line really. It's only weakness is the bridge and a shop tech with CA glue can fix it permanently. I'm just a crotchety old fart and didn't want to wait to have it fixed.
The other problem with Gibson these days is they have no stock. My dealer was willing to take mine back and get me something else, but when he called Gibson, they didn't one bass I'd want in stock and no schedule for future builds. I won't go into foreign wood and international laws here. So, i applied it to a new 4003.