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Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 4th 03, 12:50 PM
BeeCharmer
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Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

Well, I talked to Jenex on the phone after not getting a reply to my
email (complete with color glossy photos of the torn shaft) and I was
told the following:

A. I'm too heavy for the ski
B. They couldn't possibly warranty a ski that was a year and a half
old
C. Maybe if I shoved some oak down the shaft it would work better for
me
D. They would gladly sell me two more shafts for $160.

No where, not even on the website, does Jenex give a weight limit for
their 150's. I remember they did so for the 125's after all of the
tire/wheel issues. A year and a half doesn't seem like a long time to
me. The 150 frame has been redesigned with dimples in the area that
ripped on my ski (where the fork makes a bend upward). I laughed at
the idea of making the ski even heavier with oak inserts and I don't
think that would actually help the area on the shaft that failed.

Here's the kicker, though. I called my dealer back and after calling
for a price from Jenex, said he could sell me the shafts for 120.00.
Jenex was going to make 40 bucks off me in addition to refusing to
warrantee their product?

I've been very nice with folks during the process, but I feel like I'm
being taken for a dupe. I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company
that uses its customers as test dummies. My ski failed on an easy
downhill; what if it had failed on a run down a coulee? Len wouldn't
be dealing with an irate customer, he'd be dealing with an irate
customer's lawyer.

My two cents and, boy, do I feel better.

chris
ne iowa
Ads
  #2  
Old December 4th 03, 02:13 PM
Fitzgerald
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Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

What a load of crap. How does Jenex get away with this.Did you talk to Len
or Robin?
Fitzgerald


  #3  
Old December 4th 03, 06:39 PM
Jeff Potter
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Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

Devil's advocate as always: not all companies give long warranties. If a
warranty is for a year and it breaks at a year and a half, don't ya just go
buy a new item? Why is it complicated? Sometimes things break, sometimes not.
Small outfits can't all give big warranties.

I just had a Vasque boot totally fail on me in normal use after a couple
years. My previous pair of the same boot lasted 12 years. That was my idea of
what a $150 boot should do. I'm peeved at the 3-yr implosion of the new pair
but what can I do? Vasque offers a one-year warranty. Sure they're part of
the huge RedWing but they're probably a small division, especially the hiking
dept. In any event these devices---boots and skis---see tremendously varied
use and sh*t happens and they break sometimes. A craftsman-made product will
typically be much better than a cheap one but "better" doesn't mean "eternal"
nor does it include warranty beyond the warranty. Buy another brand next time
if you like. I don't know what to do about the boot. I suspect I'll buy
something similar and face the same kind of failure odds. Se la vie.

Also, if a device fails and one is hurt, that too is life and good equipment
can't totally protect us from this when we go out rolling on devices.

A small company can't go thru FDA-level or Ford-level testing.

Don't use any device that doesn't seem safe to you.

I read a lady's report about bicycling that said she didn't ride any faster
than she felt safe if something bad happened. This was a woman who had no
insurance and did not believe in litigation. Her view seems entirely sensible
and realistic. If you go fast on something and you are hurt, whose fault is
it really? Did someone MAKE you go fast?

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... more radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national "Off the Beaten Path" travel forums! HOLY SMOKES!


  #4  
Old December 4th 03, 11:32 PM
Me
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

"I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company that
uses its customers as test dummies."

Testify brother, testify. I've got 125s with numerous wheel problems -
soaking wet I might weigh 160lbs, so it can't be the weight. What bothers
me is the attitude at the other end - i.e. if there's a problem, it must
have been caused by something you did wrong. When I first got the 125s, I
was a little surprised by the instructions they came with. There was a one
page insert which stated that it was impossible to scrape the bottom of the
ski - unless YOU had weak ankles, improperly installed bindings, blah, blah,
blah.

I work in a customer service industry, so I would never say "the customer is
always right", but Len, buddy, there not ALWAYS wrong.
"BeeCharmer" wrote in message
om...
Well, I talked to Jenex on the phone after not getting a reply to my
email (complete with color glossy photos of the torn shaft) and I was
told the following:

A. I'm too heavy for the ski
B. They couldn't possibly warranty a ski that was a year and a half
old
C. Maybe if I shoved some oak down the shaft it would work better for
me
D. They would gladly sell me two more shafts for $160.

No where, not even on the website, does Jenex give a weight limit for
their 150's. I remember they did so for the 125's after all of the
tire/wheel issues. A year and a half doesn't seem like a long time to
me. The 150 frame has been redesigned with dimples in the area that
ripped on my ski (where the fork makes a bend upward). I laughed at
the idea of making the ski even heavier with oak inserts and I don't
think that would actually help the area on the shaft that failed.

Here's the kicker, though. I called my dealer back and after calling
for a price from Jenex, said he could sell me the shafts for 120.00.
Jenex was going to make 40 bucks off me in addition to refusing to
warrantee their product?

I've been very nice with folks during the process, but I feel like I'm
being taken for a dupe. I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company
that uses its customers as test dummies. My ski failed on an easy
downhill; what if it had failed on a run down a coulee? Len wouldn't
be dealing with an irate customer, he'd be dealing with an irate
customer's lawyer.

My two cents and, boy, do I feel better.

chris
ne iowa



  #5  
Old December 4th 03, 11:34 PM
Me
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure


"Me" wrote in message
ble.rogers.com...
"I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company that
uses its customers as test dummies."

Testify brother, testify. I've got 125s with numerous wheel problems -
soaking wet I might weigh 160lbs, so it can't be the weight. What bothers
me is the attitude at the other end - i.e. if there's a problem, it must
have been caused by something you did wrong. When I first got the 125s, I
was a little surprised by the instructions they came with. There was a

one
page insert which stated that it was impossible to scrape the bottom of

the
ski - unless YOU had weak ankles, improperly installed bindings, blah,

blah,
blah.

I work in a customer service industry, so I would never say "the customer

is
always right", but Len, buddy, they're not ALWAYS wrong.
"BeeCharmer" wrote in message
om...
Well, I talked to Jenex on the phone after not getting a reply to my
email (complete with color glossy photos of the torn shaft) and I was
told the following:

A. I'm too heavy for the ski
B. They couldn't possibly warranty a ski that was a year and a half
old
C. Maybe if I shoved some oak down the shaft it would work better for
me
D. They would gladly sell me two more shafts for $160.

No where, not even on the website, does Jenex give a weight limit for
their 150's. I remember they did so for the 125's after all of the
tire/wheel issues. A year and a half doesn't seem like a long time to
me. The 150 frame has been redesigned with dimples in the area that
ripped on my ski (where the fork makes a bend upward). I laughed at
the idea of making the ski even heavier with oak inserts and I don't
think that would actually help the area on the shaft that failed.

Here's the kicker, though. I called my dealer back and after calling
for a price from Jenex, said he could sell me the shafts for 120.00.
Jenex was going to make 40 bucks off me in addition to refusing to
warrantee their product?

I've been very nice with folks during the process, but I feel like I'm
being taken for a dupe. I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company
that uses its customers as test dummies. My ski failed on an easy
downhill; what if it had failed on a run down a coulee? Len wouldn't
be dealing with an irate customer, he'd be dealing with an irate
customer's lawyer.

My two cents and, boy, do I feel better.

chris
ne iowa





  #6  
Old December 5th 03, 01:15 PM
BeeCharmer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure


Also, if a device fails and one is hurt, that too is life and good equipment
can't totally protect us from this when we go out rolling on devices.

A small company can't go thru FDA-level or Ford-level testing.

Don't use any device that doesn't seem safe to you.


I hear you Jeff, and I'll continue to ski on 150's, though with more
of an eye on the state of the shafts. What's galling is that this
month in Silent Sports, there's a long article about Jenex and the
massive success they've had with the Aeros. Thousands have been sold.
Seems that standing by your hugely successful product once in a while
is not a big thing to ask. It's not like this little company is going
to go down because of shaft replacement and improved customer service.
Note: in the last thread about this, a fellow mentioned that Elpex
simply replaced his shafts when they failed. They don't have a
lifetime warranty either, but that didn't stop them from making a
customer happy.

chris
ne iowa

where it's finally snowing!
  #7  
Old December 5th 03, 03:02 PM
Joe K.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

Here's my broken ski story, quite different from yours but worth posting
nonetheless! Last week I broke the frame on my 6600's. I weigh 165lbs. the
skis were 3 years old and had about 2400K on them. Len at Jenex replaced
both skis at no cost. I believe my skis were a prototype 6600 but he
replaced them no questions asked.

What I did learn from the experience was replace the frames before they
fatigue. When I held the frames with all the components taken off I was
quite surprised they last as long as they do. Those baby's are light - no
extra material anywhere. The stresses that roller ski frames are subject to
are quite amazing. Unfortunately I never thought of it until I was walking
back to pick up half of my ski after my fall. I plan on replacing my new
frames two years from now.

John Wayne once said, "My fault, your fault, his fault, anybody's fault,
your going to be the one who dies!" I feel that applies well here.
--
Thanks,
___o
_\ _
(*)`(*)


Joe Korzenecki



"BeeCharmer" wrote in message
om...
Well, I talked to Jenex on the phone after not getting a reply to my
email (complete with color glossy photos of the torn shaft) and I was
told the following:

A. I'm too heavy for the ski
B. They couldn't possibly warranty a ski that was a year and a half
old
C. Maybe if I shoved some oak down the shaft it would work better for
me
D. They would gladly sell me two more shafts for $160.

No where, not even on the website, does Jenex give a weight limit for
their 150's. I remember they did so for the 125's after all of the
tire/wheel issues. A year and a half doesn't seem like a long time to
me. The 150 frame has been redesigned with dimples in the area that
ripped on my ski (where the fork makes a bend upward). I laughed at
the idea of making the ski even heavier with oak inserts and I don't
think that would actually help the area on the shaft that failed.

Here's the kicker, though. I called my dealer back and after calling
for a price from Jenex, said he could sell me the shafts for 120.00.
Jenex was going to make 40 bucks off me in addition to refusing to
warrantee their product?

I've been very nice with folks during the process, but I feel like I'm
being taken for a dupe. I love the ski and it is the only one that
will work for my area roads, but I don't like dealing with a company
that uses its customers as test dummies. My ski failed on an easy
downhill; what if it had failed on a run down a coulee? Len wouldn't
be dealing with an irate customer, he'd be dealing with an irate
customer's lawyer.

My two cents and, boy, do I feel better.

chris
ne iowa



  #8  
Old December 5th 03, 03:25 PM
birkebeiner
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

News Group

I think it's time we collectively do something about the Aero problems
we are all dealing with. I own a pair of 125's they have less than
5 km on them and I have owned them for 2 years...the first year..after
100 yards I blew a tire..waited months to get new tires..which arrived
in the winter..not the split rim version but some wheels they said
were tested and good...3 km on the tires and I blew a tire...took a
nice fall. I weigh 185...have logs massive kms on my Marwe's never a
problem.. Jenex never told me or anyone else I know about weight
limits on 125's prior to selling them..and now I find they won't work
for me...

Send Jenex mail..

I'm ****ed. I called and was very nice..all I want are safe skiis...
now the shafts aren't strong enough and I'm out the cash.. they
wouldn't even replace the 125's wheels with 150's for safety reason.

Jenex.. I do not understand why you continue to sell a product with
nothing being said about weight limits, or why you refuse to honor
your warranty of merchantability....

It's time to step up to the plate Jenex and do the right thing.
  #9  
Old December 5th 03, 03:32 PM
birkebeiner
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

Hey Mr. Potter

I believe in your right to be the Devil's advocate on this Aero fiasco
but answer this.

When does the 1 year warranty start...
1. When your buy the defective product.
2. When the defective product part is replaced by another defective
part.
3. When the company admits it's product is not for people 185 lbs.

I bought the Aero's in good faith..they fell apart... The company told
me they were defective and replaced the part with another defective
part..it took them months to do this..years went by while they f%$^#ed
around replacing defective parts..and now they say how can they
possibly warranty a product for more than one year... this is bull****
and we all know it.

I say...the warranty should start when the company provides you with a
complete product that is safe to use...just because it sat in my
basement waiting for them to fix their problems shouldn't give them an
out.
  #10  
Old December 5th 03, 06:31 PM
Jeff Potter
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Follow up: V2 Aero 150 Frame failure

Some companies are just geekier I guess and others more PR-savvy. Maybe Len is
more of an engineering type, less customer-oriented. Good stuff comes out of his
shop, tho. Elpex seems smarter, of course. I know of thriving ski and bike shops
that have crabby staff. I hate em, but some love em I guess. I suppose I would
like a cranky-but-good shop guy. Those types are out there as well. ...They work
miracles as long as you don't say a thing, bow and scrape, whatever magic formula
is required. A famous shoprat type, eh?

--

Jeff Potter
****
*Out Your Backdoor * http://www.outyourbackdoor.com
publisher of outdoor/indoor do-it-yourself culture...
...offering "small world" views on bikes, bows, books, movies...
...rare books on ski, bike, boat culture, plus a Gulf Coast thriller
about smalltown smuggling ... more radical novels coming up!
...original downloadable music ... and articles galore!
plus national "Off the Beaten Path" travel forums! HOLY SMOKES!


 




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