Need your opinion

[sharks25 9]

Hey guys, I just wanted to see what you guys would do in this situation. I got a new stick and played two games with it. While untaping it I see that the bottom of the blade and the forehand side is chipping and cracking. I sent it to the company after telling the person about the problem. He just said "I just received your stick and cannot find a manufacture defect."

Would you guys consider a blade cracking in 2 games a manufacture defect? I don't take any slappers in game. The blade on this stick looked worse in two games than my x60 did in 6 months. What would you do if this happened to you?

Thanks guys.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

I would just tell him; if the blade is cracked after only 2 games without any slapshots, That's a defect. Be kind but push if you need too

[Scotty 8]

Barring any massive slashes, improper shooting technique, or odd impacts, a blade that does not last two games without cracking is not up to par. As the other poster said, be polite about it, but push the issue if you feel they aren't going to handle it for you.

[sharks25 9]

I doubt it us my technique, the curve is the same as what I always use. I will try to talk to him about it, as like I said, the blade on my same flex/curve/lie x60 lasted for 6 months, compared to the 2 days that this one lasted. Hopefully he'll change his mind, as I was going to buy some more products from them soon. I may reconsider now though :/

[DolomaticDangles 13]

Ask him why he has any reason to doubt that it's a defect when it broke in two games, and that your X60 looks less used after 6 months of use. That's wrong of him to doubt you if he has no basis. Bad customer service

[wrangler 157]

I doubt it us my technique, the curve is the same as what I always use. I will try to talk to him about it, as like I said, the blade on my same flex/curve/lie x60 lasted for 6 months, compared to the 2 days that this one lasted. Hopefully he'll change his mind, as I was going to buy some more products from them soon. I may reconsider now though :/

Tell him all that, and what DD suggested. Ask him what else could it be, when it was treated the same as every other stick you've used, nothing unusual happened to it, and it's the only stick that started coming apart like that. If you've used the same model stick in the past, bring that up, too. The same model should react the same way to the same use.

[Drewhunz 3]

Ask him why he has any reason to doubt that it's a defect when it broke in two games, and that your X60 looks less used after 6 months of use. That's wrong of him to doubt you if he has no basis. Bad customer service

NOT bad customer service, but bad customer expectations of what a warranty guarantees to the user. Unfortunately, entitlement has led people to believe that a replacement is granted because the stick broke within 30 days, while the warrantly explicitly states that it is at the manufacturers discretion within these 30 days. Sometimes shit happens, but they aren't necessarily responsible for doing what you want because it's happened before, merely what the warranty covers. FWIW I've seen warranty issues go both ways.

[snipey 0]

Warranty should be honoured within 30 days regardless of defect IMO, if you're paying that much money for a stick and it breaks in 2 days that just ridiculous, then again i guess it protects people from just tacking an axe to it on the 29th day to get a brand new one

[Drewhunz 3]

If you can't afford to break a stick, you shouldn't be buying a stick. Accordingly buying a stick dictates that you agree to the terms of their warranty. If you disagree with any part of the warranty, walk away and send them an email. Complaining after the fact does no good.

[Stoop 1]

If you can't afford to break a stick, you shouldn't be buying a stick. Accordingly buying a stick dictates that you agree to the terms of their warranty. If you disagree with any part of the warranty, walk away and send them an email. Complaining after the fact does no good.

That's right, the manufacturer has a lot of discretion in ruling on a manufacturing defect. If a manufacturer isn't going to replace a stick that cracks after two games of normal use, it's their choice. But while it's not a question of obligation, it's a question of customer relationship. The only real leverage that customers have is the manufacturer's need for a strong reputation. Given that, I'm not sure why the OP was shy about stating the manufacturer's name.

These ubiquitous warranties are written so loosely that the real question is: what do your competitors do in practice? If the industry-wide answer is to say "If you can't afford to break a stick, you shouldn't be buying a stick," then so be it. Seems like I've heard of stick-makers being a little more reasonable.

[Drewhunz 3]

These ubiquitous warranties are written so loosely that the real question is: what do your competitors do in practice? If the industry-wide answer is to say "If you can't afford to break a stick, you shouldn't be buying a stick," then so be it. Seems like I've heard of stick-makers being a little more reasonable.

Or you could interpret that warranty as "Don't stake your $200+ on it" as the warranty is interpreted on an individual basis. Remember, costs continue to rise for the manufacturers as well. The more they are lenient, the more costs have to continue to rise to meet operations expenses.

[jcommeau91 2]

I've seen soo many sticks break with it not being the manufacturers fault and as long as it was within 30 days they always replace it. My blade got caught in the boards and snapped in half and they replaced it, so I don't understand why they wouldn't replace this.

[Scotty 8]

While Drew is correct as well, I think it is the fault of both the manufacturers and the consumers. The manufacturers began replacing most every stick broken within 30 days and as a result, the consumers now expect it regardless of cause.

However, I still consider a blade splitting in two games to be a defect.

[sharks25 9]

I agree with you drew, bit like Scotty said, a blade cracking in two games with no snapshots seems defective. I got a TO to replace it, and after a hard shooting session with many one timers and 5 games it shows practically no wear. The stick is a Revision Viceroy, for those that wanted to know. Good puck feel, decent kick, but I guess terrible durability.

[sharks25 9]

Just finished talking to him, he refused to send a replacement because "that wear is normal for 30 days. That may be true if I am getting sticks for free, but I expect a $170 stick to last longer than 2 games. It is still useable, but the blade is noticeably softer and splitting. Compared to Bauer who gave me a x60 after breaking a one95 that I got on sale. That made me want to buy from them again, and gave me a appreciation for their service. This situation.... Not so much.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

That wear may be normal for 30 days, but you only had it for 2 games lol.

[sharks25 9]

True, but he doesn't seem to aknowledge or believe that. Its frustrating, but he said that it didn't seem to affect the stiffness of the blade, even though I think it does. Although, he had mentioned about sending me some wheels, and if I get those, I will be content. I already got a Totalone to replace it so I was going to sell it to a friend.

[wrangler 157]

I'm glad you posted the company name. It's always good to know company warranty policy when considering a purchase of its products.

[Chadd 916]

I've seen soo many sticks break with it not being the manufacturers fault and as long as it was within 30 days they always replace it. My blade got caught in the boards and snapped in half and they replaced it, so I don't understand why they wouldn't replace this.

Manufacturers shouldn't be replacing sticks that aren't defects. For those of us that don't abuse our sticks, it would be nice to see the price come down if they stopped replacing non-defective product.

[DolomaticDangles 13]

Thats the problem though, Chadd. How do they even determine if it is a defect

[Chadd 916]

Thats the problem though, Chadd. How do they even determine if it is a defect

A truly defective stick will break after one or two shots. I've only seen a handful of actual stick defects in my life, and most of them were the Christian Torch lite. A stick that was pulled from retail due to a poor design.

[jcommeau91 2]

Manufacturers shouldn't be replacing sticks that aren't defects. For those of us that don't abuse our sticks, it would be nice to see the price come down if they stopped replacing non-defective product.

I don't abuse sticks and I normally make mine last all season or even 2 seasons believe it or not because I rotate through my sticks. I can't help that I sometimes have to play in crappy rinks where sticks can get caught in the boards haha. The only time my sticks see any abuse is during summer when I play roller hockey from all the hacks I take.

[chippa13 1844]

It isn't the manufacturer's problem that you play in a crappy rink. Why should the rest of us pay for it?

[DolomaticDangles 13]

Scotty said it best:

I think it is the fault of both the manufacturers and the consumers. The manufacturers began replacing most every stick broken within 30 days and as a result, the consumers now expect it regardless of cause.

[jcommeau91 2]

It isn't the manufacturer's problem that you play in a crappy rink. Why should the rest of us pay for it?

and it also isn't my fault that they replaced it now is it? I simply sent it in like any other person would and also you forget I pay for it too just like everyone else, so if I pay that much I might as well send it in and hope for the best.

If you say that you wouldn't send a stick in after it broke during any sort of usage that's a lie. If anyone pays top dollar they're going to want a stick to last and if it doesn't last they're going to want it replaced if it's still within the warranty.

If they wouldn't replace my stick because it was a manufacturer defect so be it, but as stated before both are at fault.