Lifetime Guarantee My Arse.....
- Thread starter Maine Sail
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But the pelican logo says, your break it we replace it....forever. Given that statement I assume the warranty is a full replacement no matter what. It doesn't say, we'll provide replacement parts forever. So I still have to wonder, why not ask for a replacement rather than parts. Now you have a brand new unit instead of an old unit with a new wheel. That would be my preference. So are they not willing to replace the entire unit? Did Maine ask? Chuck
Yes we discussed it and I was told if they still made the product, or they had parts or product, they would simply ship me the replacement. They no longer have any dinghy wheels or any parts for them. They are gone from the manufacturer and suggested I try Google to find some "old stock" to buy. Again I had no problem paying for the parts cause I don't know what the cause was but they can't offer them..
As it is I am going to be buying one set from WM and swapping product for another set. So despite statements like "forever and lifetime" I am covering the warranty myself. I would just like to have the confidence that the manufacturer still stood behind the product with parts or replacements..
The problem I guess is that "forever" and "lifetime" don't always mean the same thing to me & you and a manufacturer.
They make good products, I have some of their cases and these wheels lasted 7 years. My only problem is that when you SELL a product with that type of warranty, and it requires 8 holes drilled in an expensive dinghy, with a cored transom, that you at least try to find some sort of way to support, what you offered in writing, to the end user.
Again I don't expect the manufacturer to do anything, I only wanted to purchase parts, I just find what they sold me and what they do currently to be in totally opposite directions.
It is frustrating but I guess par for the course these days.. This post is simply a reminder that warranties are only as good as the company behind it or what that company can physically do (in this case). Not all companies are like LL Bean or Lands End. The words Caveat Emptor are more true today than ever it seems....
Years ago I purchased a set of BoatUS foul weather gear with a lifetime warranty. About three (3) years after purchase, one of the seams came apart on the jacket. I returned the jacket to the store for warranty repair or replacement. The manager informed me that BoatUS had discontinued the line of foul weather gear and no replacements were available. I asked, what about the lifetime warranty? His reply was simply, “Give me a few minutes”. A few minutes later he returned with the following solution, “The jacket sold for $xxx.xx when we discontinued it. I will give you credit equal to that price.” I picked out a nice Gill jacket, paid the difference and walked out of the BoatUS store a VERY happy customer.
To this day, my foul weather suit is made up of a 10 year old Gill jacket and a 13 year old BoatUS bottoms.
That is what I would expect from a lifetime warranty…. Maybe I am just nuts.
Garner
To this day, my foul weather suit is made up of a 10 year old Gill jacket and a 13 year old BoatUS bottoms.
That is what I would expect from a lifetime warranty…. Maybe I am just nuts.
Garner
I took a life jacket in to westmarine to buy a replacement CO2 cylinder after a dumb guest decided to see if the inflate would really work.
So they said they had discontinued that line of jackets.
Had me pick out a new one which was substantially cheaper than the original had been some years earlier. Gave me the new one and a $100 store credit to make up the difference.
I walked out with my problem solved, plus $100 credit and didn't even have to buy the replacement cylinder...
That's what I call service.
In my opinion Pelican Products is an outstanding company in all aspects and the Genesis of this thread has not altered my opinion in the least. The diving community has known this for nearly 4 decades and during that time other interests have come to realize it as well such as the military, law enforcement and the movie industry. The fact they even offer a lifetime warranty is amazing. In this day and age who would stick their neck out like that anymore? It seems most companies have their lawyers write the warranty, apparently not Pelican.
I own a variety of Pelican products and would not be swayed from buying more even if their warranty was for 10 minutes. I’m buying the product, not the fine print. I still have the first item of theirs I ever purchased, a Pelican float (the product that started the company). It has served me well for 33 years and counting.
The situation here was relatively unique. The lifetime warranty language puts them in a no-win position when a product is discontinued. In this case it had been discontinued for over a decade*.
* There’s been some dispute in the thread as to exactly when it was discontinued but it strikes me as splitting hairs. There’s no argument it was years ago. I trust my information source implicitly as they are in a position to know so in my posts it will remain “over a decade.”
I own a variety of Pelican products and would not be swayed from buying more even if their warranty was for 10 minutes. I’m buying the product, not the fine print. I still have the first item of theirs I ever purchased, a Pelican float (the product that started the company). It has served me well for 33 years and counting.
The situation here was relatively unique. The lifetime warranty language puts them in a no-win position when a product is discontinued. In this case it had been discontinued for over a decade*.
* There’s been some dispute in the thread as to exactly when it was discontinued but it strikes me as splitting hairs. There’s no argument it was years ago. I trust my information source implicitly as they are in a position to know so in my posts it will remain “over a decade.”
Unique that the company even offers a lifetime warranty, unique (or rare) that a product of theirs was discontinued.
A thing is either unique, or it is not.
hahaha...and to top it off....how do you know a product is good for fifty years when it has only been in the real world a year or two..
Like a lifetime warranty on pressure treated wood. My deck is made out of the stuff and carpenter bees are eating it and thriving. They love the stuff. What happened to the good old days when they pressure treated with real chemicals like arsenic and dioxins and nuclear waste?
Pelican Products has received a pretty thorough drubbing in this thread and I've presented an opposing opinion. Since the issue here seems to be their warranty rather than their product quality, can anyone report a single case of Pelican not living up to their warranty?
"What do you expect?"
Well, here's what I think would be reasonable. I'm VERY familiar with Pelican cases and the lifetime warranty is a huge selling point.
BUT, the company's position seems to be lifetime as long as we make that product. The wheels were sold through a nationwide retailer in '06 so they were obviously a production item at that time.
Once the decision was made to stop producing that item I would expect they would back stock complete sets of wheels and parts for warranty claims. This is NOT a huge expense for a company of their size and would be the least I would expect when paying a premium price, for a premium product with the words "You break it, we replace it ... forever" right in their corporate logo.
In fact it is the least I would expect of them.
In fact if you look at the warranty as written on their web site this SHOULD have been covered. At the least they should be paying for the wheels.
I'll tell you what. My opinion of Pelican is much, much lower now.
Well, here's what I think would be reasonable. I'm VERY familiar with Pelican cases and the lifetime warranty is a huge selling point.
BUT, the company's position seems to be lifetime as long as we make that product. The wheels were sold through a nationwide retailer in '06 so they were obviously a production item at that time.
Once the decision was made to stop producing that item I would expect they would back stock complete sets of wheels and parts for warranty claims. This is NOT a huge expense for a company of their size and would be the least I would expect when paying a premium price, for a premium product with the words "You break it, we replace it ... forever" right in their corporate logo.
In fact it is the least I would expect of them.
In fact if you look at the warranty as written on their web site this SHOULD have been covered. At the least they should be paying for the wheels.
I'll tell you what. My opinion of Pelican is much, much lower now.
We don't know they didn't do exactly that. What happens when the inventory is exhausted as at some point it will certainly be? Then what?
As a result of this thread, correct? Is it fair to say you held them in high regard until now? What would it take to rehabilitate their reputation?
They should refund Maine Sail the price of the product and pay for him to buy a new dinghy to replace the one he drilled holes in. This will be far cheaper than the legal fees they will pay when he sues them for failing to honor their warranty.
Just think how Maine Sail would be gushing about what a great company they are if they bought him a new dinghy, the word of mouth benefit would be worth millions to them. Instead to save a hundred bucks they have soiled their reputation in the marketplace and had it cost them millions instead. In fact at this point about all they can do is change their name and try to build a new reputation as a new company.
Just think how Maine Sail would be gushing about what a great company they are if they bought him a new dinghy, the word of mouth benefit would be worth millions to them. Instead to save a hundred bucks they have soiled their reputation in the marketplace and had it cost them millions instead. In fact at this point about all they can do is change their name and try to build a new reputation as a new company.
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