The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

I have a question.  I'm looking for life experiences here.

Has anyone bought a product based on brand name, word of mouth, reputation, etc, and found out that it sucks?  What recourse did you use?  Were you able to do anything about it?

I have two examples:
Many of you know I am in an adult softball league.  I bought an EASTON bat for $160 and used it for like one season.  Now, the EASTON bat is falling apart and EASTON won't allow me to return it under warranty because I threw my receipt away.  If I kept every receipt for every item I bought, my home would be filled with random slips of paper.

I also bought a set of knives, fairly nice 13-piece set, cost me $80 at Bed Bath and Beyond.  The instructions said "not dishwasher safe, hand wash only" so I soaked them in a sink of soapy water right out of the box for an hour or so.  Right after that, I pulled the knives out of the water and they're all rusted along the sharp edge.  This company is willing to take them back to examine them, but I have yet to send them since they refuse to provide me with RMA or any tracking.

So, in short, don't buy EASTON bats, and does anyone else have any stories where they were able to convince a company to make them happy regardless of their policies?

And oh yeah, don't buy anything from EASTON!

you could file a complaint with the better business bureau

Take the knives to Bed Bath n Beyond.  I mean I wouldn't look for Martha Stewart if my sheets fell apart after washing them according to the instructions, I would want a replacement or my money back.  Let the retailer deal with the manufacturer.  You'd be surprised what you can get away with at big retailers.

For the Easton bat, I'm guessing you didn't pay cash, right?  You can get your credit card or debit card bank provide you with a receipt equivalent.  Call the company and ask to talk to a manager...don't waste time with the regular customer service rep.  Keep at it, and you'll get what you want.

I usually stick with brand names for products such as shoes, computer parts/electronics, car parts.

Dunno if this is along the same lines since it's easy to test out these products before you buy, but I never buy games/movies by word of mouth/rep (including reviews). I have to watch a few movie/game trailers or test play a game by either renting, borrowing, or downloading it. I know ALOT of people who buy DVD's / games without knowing what the hell they're about. No sir no sir no sir, can't do that.

Speaking of DVD's, I would never buy a bootleg movie (no, not for moral reasons) but they look like ass, and even if they look decent it just still doesn't feel like it's the same quality.

I got my wife a Sony Vaios laptop for Christmas based mostly on brand. I was torn between getting her an Apple laptop or a PC laptop, and opted to go with the Sony Vaios, which they were trying to sell as the "trendy PC laptop equvalent" to an Apple- complete with snazzy colors like raspberry. So I got her the laptop, and after 2 days we were having major issues with the CD drive. I had bought it at Best Buy, and I did buy the extended warranty, but the thing was brand new, so I told them I wanted a new one, not a repair. It was a hot seller, so I had to go to like 3 different Best Buy's before I found one. I got that home, and had the same issue with the CD drive. I ended up returning it and getting her a Dell.

On the flip side, when we bought a new computer for our house several years back, I didn't go "brand name" and instead bought an e-machine at Best Buy and it was actually a great computer, and still serves its function.

People rip off the bat companies all the time.  All of them intistutued the reciept thing several years ago as far as I know. Prior to that I knew guys, as well as myself, that always had a new bat and never had to pay for them.

Brian,
Take your knives back to Bed Bath & Beyond.  We just registered there and they must have told us about a billion times that they have a "No Hassle" Return policy.  If you don't have your receipt, they will exchange them for you for whatever the cost is the day you return them (so just make that they are not on sale and you're good!)

I've written a really nasty email to the Easton customer service.  I wanna see how they respond.  I hate people like CF mentioned that play a whole season with a bat, then go swing at a fence-post with it and dent it and send it back and get a new one.  They're the ones that are making my defective product unreturnable.

As for the knives, I never thought to bring them back to the store.  I really like the set, and I'd take the exact same set but its been sitting on my kitchen counter for over a year and I don't know if its too late for the store to do anything about it.

As long as they have it in stock, they will replace them.

You had a product that was defective from it's first use and you let it sit around a year? I would have a problem making an exchange whether I was the manufacturer or retailer.

Dishonest people suck.

The problem is, so many people are dishonest now-a-days that every is expected/believed to be dishonest and it's the honest people who come off looking like schmucks.

A lot of people don't feel it is stealing if they are taking from a corporation.  Fortunately I'm no longer in the business of taking short cuts but I have done my share of dishonest things.

Yes, because I didn't know what to do and I was getting jerked around by the company that has a "lifetime warranty"...

Not only that but it was purchased from their website and they don't stock it in stores.  Its not exactly easy to return stuff to a web site.

That makes a bit more sense, but all you had to do was consult with BB&B rather than going to the manufacturer. Returns are always simpler that way.

Update: I took Phishy's advice and called BB&B's customer service line and she said "we don't have a date for return deadline so as long as you have the original packaging, bring them to the store and we'll take care of it"

Of course, I saved the box they came in...   She said I don't even need a receipt but if I have it, it would be helpful so they can see what I paid for them.

I'm going to go over there tonight and see how it goes.  That's a company that stands behind their products (unlike crap-ass EASTON)

A rant about overpriced crap that's "made in America" seems appropriate...  >:D

What actually bothers me more than "accidentally" defective stuff is the over-designed, under-engineered crap that's sold these days based virtually solely on their aesthetics. I'm the "proud" owner of a brand-name (flat) toaster than doesn't get hot enough to toast a piece of white bread (let alone warm some pizza) even when set to "high" and max timer. It's also IMPOSSIBLE to take apart, except for removing the bottom crumb tray, but unfortunately they decided to make the sides inside the damn thing slope at a 30% angle and that part cannot be cleaned (and is very visible). OK, maybe hard to visualize, but annoying none-the-less.

I also have an insanely expensive top-brand, high-end design electric kettle that requires 10-15 minutes between each use (it'll simply switch off otherwise, presumably because the boiling-detection mechanism gets too hot and needs to cool down).

Add to that a hand mixer with a pathetically high center of mass (when standing) and a cord that will twist and almost invariably provide enough torque to cause the damned thing to fall over.

Oh, and then there's the fancy kitchen weight that uses piezoelectric elements, but will sometimes "jump" an ounce or so. Annoying enough by itself, but it also causes the auto-off to be effectively disabled (the timer is presumably reset every time the readout changes). This annoyance is further increased by the design of the on/off button, which is a little whimpy button requiring little or no force, so it's easy to accidentally turn in on when stowing it away in a cupboard.

All these products are brand-name, ranging from fairly expensive to insanely expensive... they all look great (well, to most people anyway). Too bad they all SUCK.

And, I'm sorry, but the reason is simple: Consumers suck. People buy the pretty stuff and don't give a crap about things actually working or being practical. Sad state of affairs, really.

fyo - great rant.  See also: iPod, iPhone, etc.

Update: Packed up the knife set in its original box (even with all the little cardboard thingies over the blades) and brought it back to BB&B tonight.  They took it back, no questions asked, and exchanged it for another set (another brand) with 5 extra pieces I didn't have before!  The employee in the knife department even told me that if one blade in the set goes dull I can bring it back and get a new one.

So, in closing, Bed Bath and Beyond ROCKS!  Everyone should go there and buy stuff.

Sorry for the bump here...
But I thought about this for a little while,after looking around my house I realized there is something....
Vacuum cleaners....I've bought my mom like 8 or 9 Vacuum cleaners in the past 10 years....I've bought myself maybe 2 in that same period of time....I think they are now made of cheap plastic,designed to last 2 years at most (Or a year of rough treatment by my Mom).

Each Time someone had recommended one to me,Oh we've had our...For 3 or 4 years,and never had a problem wit it.....I've bought a Eureka,Bissel,a Dirt Devil, Hoover,even a way over priced Oreck brands,and they all seem to last about a year...Plastic motor casings crack,the handles strip out,can't get the bags,the filters clog,can't find the right filter.....Some have worked better than others for a little longer,but always with some flaw.....

Slight Hijack here
I have to say off the top of my head,the only real name brands products that I've never really had any problems with,and I've always been pleased with have been Kenwood (I've used their car stereo head units,and speakers for years),Klipsch My computer speakers,speakers in my 71 GMC,and surround sound speakers of my home theater),and maybe even E machines.....

My wife bought a Dyson vacuum several years ago. I thought it was insane to spend $500 on a vacuum. Its the greatest vacuum ever.

Sorry to bring up and old post but I have not been on in quite some time and you know I am a huge Softball Whore. I own three Easton Bats and they have lasted me quite a while. I have one that is over 2 years old and has close to 2500 hits on it and it is still going strong. I had one minor issue with a new Easton bat that felt really inferior when I swung it and I sent it back and they replaced it with a brand new one that felt true to form. Which model bat Easton are you having problems with? I may be able to help as I have a few contacts and friends who are sponsored by Easton. Did you purchase this on a CC? This is another route you could take. Let me know and I will see if I can help.

Yes, I bought it with a CC.  Its a Easton Stealth - not sure the model number.  Its red with a grey part in the middle.  Its a few years' old model, I got it on "discontinued" for $160 at Sports Authority.  It has developed a bad rattle in the center so I stopped using it for a while until recently, when I decided I'd try to do something about it.

The Easton Customer Service never returned my email.  Great "service"... ::)

BTW - welcome back - was wondering where you disappeared to...

QFT.

Our Dyson could vaccum up our cat and keep on going.  Don't ask me how I know this.

Brian - Stealth ran you, what?  Almost 4 bills, yes?

I am playing in two leagues this year.  A co-ed softball league and a men's baseball league.  Only allowed to rock wood in the baseball league, THANK GOD.

I'm swinging a Nike Aero Fuse this year in the softball.  It was actually a little cheaper than the Stealth. 

I have to tell you guys something, I forgot my Nike one night and realized I only had my wood with me for a softball game.  So I said 'screw it' and tried it.  I play with a Marucci in my baseball league and love it.

//end hi jack//

I did some digging - the Stealth is an old model, I bought it in 2006.  Its an SC888.  It cost me $160.  Not the MOST you could spend on a bat, but the most I'D EVER spend on a bat.  I don't think we're even allowed to use wood in our league - not ASA approved!

I guess I'm in the market for a new bat.  I like the new Demarini Steel series (White Steel, Black Steel) but I don't know how they hit.  I don't really know what is a good bat to get but I won't buy another Easton bat.  A guy on the team we played against last night had a different (newer) Easton bat than mine that had the same terrible rattle in it.  What junk!

If you picked up a Stealth for under $200 it should have been a good deal.  Go to a sporting good place and swing a Nike around, you might like it.

Our softball is a city league, I think you could probably pick up your kid and use them as a bat in a pinch.

Bri - also take a look at a Demarini Juggernaut.  I know some of them are not ASA approved but they have a whole line that are.

There was one guy that had a Juggernaut in the game last night and I liked it.  I didn't get to swing it but it seemed decent.

I play catcher for my softball team, so I always end up picking up the other team's bats after they run off...

Thanks...life has just been really busy and I have not had a lot of time to be on the computer much.

I looked into your bat and I have never heard of it but you said it was an older model so that does not surprise me. You should be able to send a copy of your cc statement in that says when you bought it with the bat and that should suffice. We have done this before. If they no longer have that bat available they will send you the next model available which will probably be an upgrade.


Now if your in the market for a new bat and you want something solid and you do not want to spend a lot of money the White Steel is a solid bat. I bought one for MS. AZ for and I have swung it quite a few times and it is solid. I hate the Juggernaut and I have yet to find a Nike bat that last long or has any decent pop to it. We are also required to use ASA standard bats from league play but in tournaments we can use anything we want with the exception of the Ultra II which is banned from all leagues no matter what. For an ASA bat that is solid I am swinging a Combat Anti Virus.

(http://www.justbats.com/images/products/item-cb07-vir98.jpg)

I have hit some absolute bombs (340+) with this bat. It will cost you upwards of $350.00 but you can not go wrong with this piece. They also have two options with this bat in "balanced" and "end loaded". Mine is the end loaded version and it was hot out of the wrapper no break in required.

You hate Easton so I will not offer you any of the Easton options I am swinging.

Worth makes a great Mutant bat in both ASA and NSA standards so be carefull in what you buy if you go this route.

(http://www.s2ksportinggoods.com/product_images/worth-jeff-hall-mutant-asa-softball-bat-mutjhasm.jpg)

This bat is solid I bought it on line through Ebay so I paid about $175 for it I am not sure what it retails for.

If you ever get the chance to play in a league that lets you use any bat you want you can not go wrong with the Freak Plus
(http://www.anacondasports.com/wcsstore/anaconda10/images/msfp_lge.jpg)

or my personal favorite bat of all time the Demarini Juice
(http://cdn.overstock.com/images/products/L10707364.jpg)

I have hit balls 360+ with this bat and it is a cut above anything I have ever swung that is stock I paid 160 for this bat new. Like I said I can only use it in the tournaments and batting practice. If you ever get to swing one though you will love it.

When you narrow down what kind of bat you are looking to buy let me know.

Wow, thanks for the advice.  I think I'm going to get a new bat, that way I can take my sweet ass time getting Easton to replace my Stealth, then I'll have 2 bats.

I requested the old CC statements, - do you think there's a time-limit on the warranty claim?

AZ - I can't believe that you haven't found a Nike with any pop.  I have no issues going 300+ with mine.  Have you really given one enough AB's to be sure?
//end hijack

Anytime B,....like I said...I am a softball whore. I was in 5 leagues last season lol. I think there is a 1 year time limit on new bats from Easton. I know that is the case with most of the other companies and from what I have heard it is the same with Easton. Within that 1 year period though they should not have any issues with a replacement. Let me know if you have trouble. The only Easton bat I have ever returned was done within 2 months.


Maine, a friend of mine was practically a walking swoosh....this bastard was Nike everything for the longest time and we did break in a few Nike bats that I liked to swing. Problem is as soon as they would get hot and start hitting hard they would crack and lose all pop. I liked the feel of the Nike bats a lot it was more of a durability issue. I have swung some great base hit Nike bats as well. Could be the heat out here as well that might help these bats to break down who knows? Just my experience with them has not been great. If you get a chance to swing any of those other bats....especially the Combat or the Juice let me know what you think. My guess is the Nike bat will end up collecting dust!!!!  ;)

I also read where you had used a wood bat....although we are required to use ASA standard metal bats we can use any wood bat we like in league play. I have a guy on my team that loves his wood bat and it is great as a base hit bat. You see less and less of them every year but they are still out there.

^^I play in two leagues - softball and a men's baseball league.  Wood bats are required in the baseball league.

(the one, by the way, that Maine tossed 8 innings of 1 hit ball last night...eat THAT f'ers!  When Maine's slider is working, watch out... :))

I'm only in one league, and our team sucks every year.  I want to get to be a better hitter myself, and would like to play in more leagues. 

My Easton bat is definitely older than a year, so I'm probably stuck.  I will look into a new bat, maybe I can find a deal on eBay.

Playing softball doesn't throw off your baseball swing. I have found that a lot of guys who play baseball have a hard time making the adjustments between the two when it comes time to hit?


If it is older than a year you might have trouble. You can find some good deals on bats on Ebay.  Do the research though and make sure they are ASA approved bats. The ASA illegal bat list can be found on their website.

http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp (http://www.asasoftball.com/about/certified_equipment.asp)

This site has a list of approved bats and a list of non approved bats both with pictures. I usually only look at the non approved list.

I've always wanted an illegal bat just to see if I can hit better with it.  I would like to get one of each ;)

You can find ASA approved bats on Ebay that are "shaved" and perform at the same rate as the illegal bats. If you get caught with it then you can possibly be banned for a year from league play. I personally do not use them because I hit middle a lot and I do not want that on my conscience if I annihilate a pitcher with an illegal or a "shaved" bat. They will have no time to react. A good umpire will recognize the sound the bat makes and the ridiculous speed the ball comes off the bat with and will throw you and the bat out of the game. The other team may also call for an inspection. If you play in the upper leagues most guys are swinging these anyways but in a rec league mid to lower division you will most likely injure an infielder with "shaved" bat. We played a team last night that was using a shaved Freak. They were hitting balls (340+) low and out of the strike zone and barely making contact. The contact sounded like a shotgun blast when the ball was hit. I have swung a few shaved bats in batting practice for shits and giggles and their performance it down right scary.

My POS Easton bat got tossed from the game tonight.  I hit a scorcher into center field and when I threw the bat down to run, it rattled pretty badly.  I heard it.  I turned back to tha plate after the ump called "time" and saw the guy batting behind me talking to the ump about my bat.  Come to find out, the ump said the bat was "damaged" and can't be used.

I'm pissed, now, cause its now not just a $160 busted bat, now its a $160 door holder-opener.