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Equipment Boards => Track => Topic started by: psaunders300 on May 13, 2005, 04:10:21 AM

Title: Buyer beware!
Post by: psaunders300 on May 13, 2005, 04:10:21 AM: I have had a bad experience with my Animal Untamed and I wanted to warn anyone out there with a similar experience that Track will not replace a defective ball if it has been plugged. I bought an Animal Untamed last June in Reno at the ABC tourney and after a few months of use it developed cracks around the finger holes. Because I did not have the vendor's contact info, I went to my local pro shop to see if anything could be done. They recommended trying to remove the cracked part of the ball, fill and redrill the ball. But after a few weeks of use the cracks developed once again. I took the ball back to the local pro shop they tried once again to fix the cracks, but after the fix, the cracks came back. I had pretty much given up until recently when I contacted Track directly about the problem. The customer support person responded to me as follows:

"We have a one year warranty on our bowling balls, however, the warranty on the box clearly states that a plugged ball voids the warranty."

My response was that I never saw the box and therefore never saw the warranty, but this did not make a difference to Track (I even requested that the problem be escalated to the customer support manager to no avail).

So the lesson learned is that if you have a defective ball, contact Track before doing anything to it!

After years of loyalty to Track, this has been a frustrating experience for me -- to the point where I have decided to move on and look else where for my equipment needs...
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: DP3 on May 13, 2005, 12:15:40 PM: quote:
Track will not replace a defective ball if it has been plugged.

Neither will any other company. Sorry about your loss but that's just how it goes with plugged equipment.
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-DP3
Respect the Game
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: 700Virgin on May 13, 2005, 12:20:28 PM: DP3 is accurate. Every ball I've purchased has a one-year warranty that was void once the finger inserts were put in.
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: C-G ProShop-Carl on May 13, 2005, 12:20:45 PM: psaunders,

I am sorry to hear about your bad experience. The problem was simply the plug. There is not a ball company out there that will replace a ball once it has been plugged. Another thing, I would bet that you use finger grips. Every manufacturer actually states that they will not warranty a ball once finger grips are used as well. Usually they overlook that, but it is in the warranty.

The problem with the cracks was more than likely caused by the ball driller not beveling the finger holes well enough before putting the grips in it.

Once again, I am sorry that things could not be worked out, and hope that you will eventually give Track another try.

-EX-
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C-G Pro Shop (owner/operator)
Youngstown Ohio

Track Intl.-Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: T Brockette on May 13, 2005, 12:23:12 PM: If you took to your pro shop guy, he should have known about the warranty. If he didn't, he should have contacted Track to find out. I would be more put out with the service from my shop guy than Track. Just my .02 worth.
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Tracy
If you want to play, train your body
If you want to win, train your heart
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: clintdaley on May 13, 2005, 12:33:40 PM: Pro shop guy probably was trying to get something out of it or didn't care since the ball was not purchased from him. I apoligize as well, but I have never had any company take a ball back and warranty it with plug in it. Ask Doug Sterner about MoRich when he plugged a Ravage in a thread from about a month ago.

Clint
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: DanR on May 13, 2005, 02:01:41 PM: Would Track replaced the ball if the ball wasn't plugged? I would think Track would of appreicated the bowler trying to correct the defect himself. Is it me or are Track balls cracking easier than others? My Rule cracked before my first shot was thrown
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: clintdaley on May 13, 2005, 02:04:55 PM: When I worked in a pro shop before I owned my own, I once saw a ball crack on the press as well. WHY? It was from the owner drilling the ball too fast, which heated up the ball WAY too quick, and snap. I learned (and so did he) that you need to take your time as bowling balls can be fragile. By the way, we were a VERY high traffic shop and was always trying to punch out as many balls as possible.

And to answer the warranty question, although I can NOT speak for anyone in San Antonio, if I was a betting man I would put the smart money on yes, they would have replaced if the ball was not plugged.

Clint
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF

Edited on 5/13/2005 1:58 PM
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: psaunders300 on May 13, 2005, 02:17:29 PM: Guys,

Thank you for the feedback. I do blame my local pro shop for not contacting Track, but he did not have a stake in this since I did not purchase the ball from him. I am mostly mad at having lost the $230 plus the $30 I paid to have the ball fixed (twice) and not having any recourse. I never knew about the policy pertaining to plugged balls because I never get the original box when I buy a ball - the ball goes directly into my bag and the pro shop keeps the box. I was merely posting this to inform the other bowlers of this policy as I have seen several topics in the recent past in the Track forum about defective balls...Who knows, maybe it is coincidence - but how many others have problems with Track balls? Is this because of pro shops incorrect drilling techniques or is this a general problem with Track cover stocks?
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: clintdaley on May 13, 2005, 02:23:42 PM: Since joining the Track staff, I have probably drilled at least 100 Track balls (last August to now) and have yet to see one crack. I take my time to not heat up the ball too much while drilling and make sure every hole is properly beveled. I can not say if this was the driller's fault or the company's, but, if you cared for it properly and did not put it in extreme temps, I would have to lean toward the driller.

It is a shame you didn't know about the warranty, but I know exactly what you mean, not many bowlers want the box even if offered to them.

Clint
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Clint Daley-Owner
Lets Go Bowling Daley
Salem, Ohio 44460
TRACK ADVISORY PRO SHOP STAFF
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: kayoung08 on May 13, 2005, 02:33:47 PM: I had the filler core in a rule break up and had no problem getting it replaced. even with grips and a weight hole, oops that seems to be a bad word nowadays.
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im an adult who likes adult movies,
the kiddie porn is for the kids

how does a right hander leave the 3-6-7-8?
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: tenpinspro on May 13, 2005, 02:51:14 PM: Hey psaunders, sorry to hear about your experience but there are many variables that can cause this. If the driller simply does not bevel the holes enough, does not drill the bridge wide enough or does not drill the proper laterals in the fingers and so on. These are just a few possibilities that can cause cracking and are not manufacturing defects or errors.
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Trackbowling.com
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: ashzero on May 13, 2005, 05:28:01 PM: well, there seems to be few people who's been getting cracks on their animal/untamed (me included).

my question is...my ez money with over 700 games with inserts is still going strong. but i've heard of this 'cracking' issue with animal. why is this. perhaps a bad batch?
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: Sactown863 on May 13, 2005, 06:53:23 PM: Ladies and Gentlemen, it surprises me too know that people in the bowling community don't know much about being LUCKY!!!!!!!!!! The way we treat out equipment is very important too how long it may last. Heat, Cold, Heat,Cold will make balls crack.
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TRACK REGIONAL STAFF MEMBER
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: LuckyLefty on May 13, 2005, 07:12:54 PM: I think your pro shop OWNER...not you should have gone to bat with Track letting them know that he plugged the ball and recommended it to fix cracks that could have been remedied under warranty.

And that you the client should not be penalized.

THat is what i would expect and I believe Track SHOULD listen in this case due to the REASON for the plug work and who recommended it. There representative in teh field....Your pro shop.

I would feel as you do!

REgards,

Luckylefty
PS this is a classic catch 22 if I ever saw one!
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: tenpinspro on May 14, 2005, 02:15:28 AM: quote:
I think your pro shop OWNER...not you should have gone to bat with Track letting them know that he plugged the ball and recommended it to fix cracks that could have been remedied under warranty.

Just for discussion sake, no fighting please.

1) If the ball were truly a defect, I agree with you 100% LL. However,
2) If it were caused by faulty workmanship as I mentioned can also happen, the manufacturer shouldn't be liable or at fault, right? Too hard for any manufacturer to accept complete responsibility for all the poor workmanship that happens out here and we know already there are a lot of drillers who should not be "drilling".
3) As a shop owner, the only true defective ball to me that I KNOW I can get replaced (from any manufacturer) are those that crack half-way to all the way around a ball within a calendar year of the purchase.
4) Cracking in the bridge area can also happen to a bowler who has high speed or a very high track(near fingers). Even if they are installed correctly. I have 3 customers that literally roll over the fingers and will crack "ANY" ball they throw in a short time. They know this and don't want to or care to change.

Last bit psaunders, I offer a guarantee on my work. If your bridge cracked again like it did, I wouldn't have charged you the 2nd time but if I notice that your track is high and maybe your roll was creating this, then I'd explain it and let you know that this will probably happen again and I would have to charge you. Sorry psaunders, not much of a consolation here for you but just trying to share info as you are.
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Rick Leong - Ten Pins Pro Shop
Track Intl. - Amateur/Pro Shop Staff
Vise Inserts Staff
Trackbowling.com
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: wasted talent on May 14, 2005, 11:33:09 PM: The pro-shop you took it to should have told you about the warrenty before plugging it. In my shop, I would have offered to warranty it for you even though you didn't buy it from me. Of course you would have had to pay the shipping cost back to my distributor or manufacturer. In doing this you would have most likely have had me drill the new one for you and I may have gained a customer for life.
Title: Re: Buyer beware!
Post by: Klugh on May 14, 2005, 11:47:46 PM: In defense of Track, having never had a problem with them, my friend Kyle's Animal Untamed is perfectly fine . . . It doesn't have many games on it due to the fact that it is to strong for most lanes in our area, but it shows no problems at all.
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