Question about OPS and Warranties

[RNCCMU 0]

Just out of curiosity if this has ever happened to someone else.

I bought a brand new Sherwood Rhythm 5 comp stick 90 flex with Spezza curve. I was looking for nothing more than a #2 stick. Something durable, that was cheap because it is a #2 stick but yet still provide some performance. My #1 stick is a Easton SE6 Getzlaf 85 flex which by the way is my favorite stick of all time. Might not be the calibre of the S17, but give me this stick any day of the week.

Anyways, I buy this SWD with zero experience of sher-woods outside of a wood Sherwood stick I had when I was maybe 12 years old. I was told by a friend that the SWD sticks are durable and the employee at the counter said the same.

I use the stick for not even 30 minutes during a drop-in session and there are these huge thick, deep scratches in the blade. I don't have the slightest clue how they got there. I could see them getting there over time, but for a stick to get these with no more than 30 minutes of use is BS.

http://img32.imageshack.us/i/dscn0514h.jpg/

http://img25.imageshack.us/i/dscn0532r.jpg/

http://img16.imageshack.us/i/dscn0530i.jpg/

So has anyone had this type of experience??? Sherwood did say they would accept my warranty request, but is there anyway they could just change their mind last second. I got a RNA number back from them, but I would hate for them to somehow change their mind. They told me to cut the stick in half so it would fit in a box to mail.

SORRY FOR THE LONG POST. I'm just a little mad that I could have saved the hassle of not buying this stick and just buying the SE6 that I love.

[shotty 7]

first of all, if you're taking advice from someone who's standing behind a counter, you're in the wrong kind of shop. secondly, the RA# issued is simply a link between your claim and the product when it arrives at their office, it's never a guarantee that your warranty claim is going to be approved... however, since they're asking you to cut the stick in half, i'd say it's a fair bet that your stick is going to be replaced. thirdly, money talks. in a world of $250+ hockey sticks, you have to expect that your $90 one won't have the same performance and build quality... BUT, you get a second chance with a brand new one, so you can either use it again or resell it.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Are you sure you didnt get a skate on it? Looks identical. Also, is it still stiff? They appear just to be surface scratches.

[peck12 1]

I've never had that happen to me, but it just looks like some nice gouges from someone's skates. Don't really think it matters if you used the stick for 30 games or 30 minutes, it could happen either way.

Did you notice any difference in the blade feel after the marks? Or is it strictly cosmetic? If it doesn't affect the playability you may be better off just keeping it. It may not be worth the risk of cutting it in half and sending it in if the stick works fine for play.

When you spoke with SWD did you send them the pictures as well? If they saw the pictures and said they would accept the warranty claim I would THINK you would be alright.... But you're still taking a risk cutting the stick in half. You could maybe just pay a little more for shipping and send it in without cutting it. Then if they deny you they should send it back in one piece.

[shotty 7]

they're not going to ask him to cut the stick in half, then reject his claim. what does it cost them to make him happy??? $20 plus shipping both ways?

[Chadd 916]

If you don't want your stick to get scratched when you use them, you might want to find another sport.

what does it cost them to make him happy??? $20 plus shipping both ways?

Not this crap again.

[vitaminZ 0]

I'd still use it, thats not really something that will weaken your blade much it doesnt look like.

[uclahockey707 1]

Yeah man, thats not really a claim case type of problem, I mean, if your stick breaks then you send it in and get another, but getting scratches on the blade isn't something worth sending it in over. Why don't you try taping down to the toe if the scratches really bother you.

[Leafsrule16 5]

Yeah dude surface scratches are nothing. You should see some of my old blades.

[reyno2ac 0]

Yeah dude surface scratches are nothing. You should see some of my old blades.

Yea, some of my blades look like they should break the next time I take them out on the ice but they are holding up just fine.

I wouldn't cut my stick in half unless they guaranteed they were replacing the stick.

[shotty 7]

edited

[mickz 107]

Judging from the pictures you posted it doesn't look like you tape the toe portion of your blade. I tape my entire blade from heel to toe and I still get skates cutting through the tape job and onto my stick. Your pictures just look like normal wear and tear and I wouldn't be surprised if Sherwood declines the claim since I don't see the manufacturer's defect here.

Like another member said, the RNA number just gives them a reference for your claim and not necessarily a guarantee your claim will be honored.

[RNCCMU 0]

No, I should have put this down. I do tape the toe of my blade. The tape covered the first scratch and and half of the second scratch. I'm sorry. I was just curious how my Easton looks like it is in mint condition, but yet I got these huge scratches on the blade. I just guess bad luck.

I asked if this is a concern because I am a golfer and if you get scratches or cracks like this in the face of a club, it could hinder your shot.

I thought this was more than just a skate scratch because of how deep they go in.

As for the guy at the counter, I thought I could take some advice from a guy who works at Perani's Hockey World. I am far from an expert on hockey equipment. I am absolutely a retard when it comes to hockey equipment (pretty sure we established). I have been playing hockey for awhile, but I have been using wood or 2-piece sticks. With this being my 2nd time ever with a comp. stick.

Since I am retarded when it comes to hockey equipment, of course I'm not expecting this to perform like a IDK better stick.

I just hope Sher-wood does accept my claim. I was prepared to mail the stick in it's entirety, but the rep for SWD said I could cut it.

To Chadd, what is wrong with asking a simple question like this. I asked this because I don't have a lot of experience with composite sticks. Are you saying I should just quit playing hockey because I was curious about a scratch in the blade of my hockey stick?

***Also, I e-mailed a whole set of pictures to Sher-wood also. I e-mailed them these exact pictures and 13 more. They called me back within 48 hours so I am hoping they would grant my request.***

[chippa13 1844]

Yeah dude surface scratches are nothing. You should see some of my old blades.

Yea, some of my blades look like they should break the next time I take them out on the ice but they are holding up just fine.

I wouldn't cut my stick in half unless they guaranteed they were replacing the stick.

All cutting the stick in half guarantees is that the kid will spend less when he ships the stick to Sherwood, nothing more. Sticks sent to companies for warranty claims are never returned to the sender. They are quite clear about this in their warranty information.

[jimmy 194]

A misconception about composites is that they are somehow more durable, not true in all cases. One can break on first shot, or last 3 yrs. It all depends on the player, and the situation. Some players never go in the corners, the toes on their sticks will last forever. Some never slap shot, some have bad techniques, some have bad luck. I saw a defenseman on first shift with new stick almost cry when his shaft was broke in half by a shot. Oh, the guy shooting had a cannon of a shot. Bad luck, not the sticks fault. Likely any brand stick would have broken from that.

Some sticks are more durable than others, that is true and sales clerks prob know this very well as customers with broken sticks love to complain to the store about the stick they just bought breaking. It's not hard to figure out which ones break easier. I would put the SE6 in the same category as the Sherwood. You prob just had some bad luck taking a skate to your new stick. I hope SWD gives you a replacement, good luck.

[TBLfan 25]

To Chadd, what is wrong with asking a simple question like this. I asked this because I don't have a lot of experience with composite sticks. Are you saying I should just quit playing hockey because I was curious about a scratch in the blade of my hockey stick?

Hockey equipment gets damaged, scratched, scuffed, paint chipped off on a regular basis. You don't ask your dealership to replace your car when you wear out your tires from driving.

[Leafsrule16 5]

A misconception about composites is that they are somehow more durable, not true in all cases. One can break on first shot, or last 3 yrs. It all depends on the player, and the situation. Some players never go in the corners, the toes on their sticks will last forever. Some never slap shot, some have bad techniques, some have bad luck. I saw a defenseman on first shift with new stick almost cry when his shaft was broke in half by a shot. Oh, the guy shooting had a cannon of a shot. Bad luck, not the sticks fault. Likely any brand stick would have broken from that.

Some sticks are more durable than others, that is true and sales clerks prob know this very well as customers with broken sticks love to complain to the store about the stick they just bought breaking. It's not hard to figure out which ones break easier. I would put the SE6 in the same category as the Sherwood. You prob just had some bad luck taking a skate to your new stick. I hope SWD gives you a replacement, good luck.

I think your half right. However the assumption composites arn't as strong is wrong for some people. People like me seem to snap woodies left and right. I usually get a few months out of a composite before they lose there pop or go soft, or flat out break. Woodies ; no. I'd be lucky to get a game out of a woodie in most cases. I have a heavy wrist shot and i get a lot of flex on my stick, i can bend a 100 flex like it was a 65 when i take a wrist shot and i think thats what causes my wood sticks to fail so quick. They dont retain there pop or kick like a composite, get wet and go like a soft noodle on me and then snap. Composites dont last for some people but for me they've been more then superior.

It really depends on the person i guess. I've seen people get 2 seasons out of a composite stick and people get that long out of a woodie, again each person is different. To compare composite to wood in durability is really an unfair comparison. For me its more expensive to keep buying woodies then to buy one $250 stick every once and awhile. Material wise composite is far stronger, its just unpredictable and can break at any opportunity. Wood on the other hand is much easier to predict when a breakage is going to occur. I think thats why composites get this bad name that they break easy , they dont. For the most part if you use your stick right, have a proper technique and use tape on it it shoudln't break prematurely anyways unless someone takes a whack at it.

It would be nice if sherwood gave a replacement, and seeing as it woudlnt cost them too much and probably give them a long time customer, they probably would. I coudlnt see them rejecting it and keeping the stick, that woudlnt be good for business. Sherwood is usually pretty decent for customer service. My friend broke his rm9 in a few days after 30 and they still gave him another one.

[jimmy 194]

Umm, I never mentioned wood. But wood is totally different. Shafts hold up much better than OPS, but blades break much easier. Wood sticks aren't even in the picture anymore. They are dead, long gone. Yes a few stragglers use them, but no longer considered mainstream. Used mainly by the once a yr pond skaters in January.

The problem with OPS is people have the perception that something that costs more should be durable. Totally opposite when it comes to ops. The marketing really has people convinced they need a light stick. Light usually equals about a 31 day shelf life. :-)

Except for of course, the new sticks made of High Modulus carbon, now these sticks will last much longer tha a regular carbon stick. Google "High Modulus Carbon"

[Chadd 916]

To Chadd, what is wrong with asking a simple question like this. I asked this because I don't have a lot of experience with composite sticks. Are you saying I should just quit playing hockey because I was curious about a scratch in the blade of my hockey stick?

***Also, I e-mailed a whole set of pictures to Sher-wood also. I e-mailed them these exact pictures and 13 more. They called me back within 48 hours so I am hoping they would grant my request.***

This is the part that bugs me:

I use the stick for not even 30 minutes during a drop-in session and there are these huge thick, deep scratches in the blade. I don't have the slightest clue how they got there. I could see them getting there over time, but for a stick to get these with no more than 30 minutes of use is BS.

You're bitching and determining how the stick should hold up, yet you say you don't have a lot of experience with composite sticks. They will probably replace the stick if you send it to them. Given the current market conditions most manufacturers will do just about anything to try and build market share through brand loyalty. In the end it just makes their sticks more expensive to the consumers thanks to the bogus warranty claims.