New Alpinestars Tech T, Faulty

[toneh]

After many months waiting for the release of the new alpinestars trials boots I finally got a pair

I'm now very dissapionted

After only two rides ( second trial in stream section)they've started to go funny on the side and the white leather effect is bubbling up on the side , looking like it's gonna peel off

After nearly a week of contacting all the relative parties no solution or exchange is forth coming

Not good for two ride old boots

Funnily enough the stylmartin boots I purchased while waiting for the alpinestars have held up far better and been subject too all conditions

I've heard rumours that there's been issues with the new boots but not confirmed yet

[toneh]

This is the side of the boot, not looking good for longevity

[heffergm]

Any product can have the odd abnormal failure. Get it replaced.

[toneh]

I'm trying but no one seems to be rushing to sort the problem

Alpinestars asked me to pay to post back to the dealer and dealer return it to alpinestars Italy for inspection and decision about a warranty claim

Not a response that is customer friendly

Considering its very obvious there's a problem with the boot , btw it's only 1 of the boots that's affected

Edited September 15, 2016 by toneh

[cleanorbust]

Your rights are such that you should be able to return faulty goods to the dealer for replacement or refund without a problem. Your local Citizens Advice or trading standards office can be helpful in levering the seller into acting correctly.

Edited September 15, 2016 by cleanorbust

[toneh]

The issue is the dealer is nowhere near me

And they then want him to sent the boots back to them for inspection

So after I've spent money , they then want me to spend more money shipping them back

And then sit and wait while they make a decision on replacement

When to me it's obvious something is wrong

None of my other boots have done it

And certainly not after 2 rides

[2stroke4stroke]

I'm assuming you are in the UK. If the dealer won't comply with the rules (and I'm not sure of the detail about paying for sending back) then contact your credit card company if you used such.

[toneh]

It's not the dealer that's the problem

It's alpinestars themselves

He's still waiting for a response from the UK distributor to get back to him

Alpinestars keep saying they want them back

I suggested point me to the nearest official alpinestars dealer , ill take my boots to them , they say yeah they faulty

( which it's obvious summats not right)

They report back , distributor sends new boots , I collect

Thus saving me having to mess about posting and waiting for them to be posted here there and everywhere

But they're having none of it

It's like they want them back at hq and don't trust anyone to make a decision on replacement

[cleanorbust]

Sounds as though the dealer is trying to evade his responsibilities by saying it's not up to him, but the manufacturer, to meet a claim for the faulty nature of the goods. The Consumer Rights Act makes it clear that is not the case - your right is to claim against the dealer and it is then for him, not the manufacturer, to resolve the issue by replacing or refunding the goods. See the Which.co.uk website, section on Consumer Rights Act. As in above post its not clear who is responsible for the return postal cost but a call or visit to Citizens Advice should sort that out.

Tell your dealer you are invoking your rights under the Consumer Rights Act, he may not like it but cannot evade his responsibility to resolve the situation. If he refuses to do more then Trading Standards office will persuade him otherwise. Do take advice and make use of the free statutory services if you need to.

[toneh]

I don't think they are to be honest

I think it's who's gonna make the decision as to what or does the fault require replacement

In my opinion yes

The dealer has only seen the pic so can't commit without seeing and probably without consulting with his supplier , which is obviously uk distributor

It will ultimately be down to me to foot the bill to ship them back to the dealer and sit waiting for decisions to be made

[toneh]

To be honest I thought alpinestars would understand the situation, send me to the nearest dealer , not to absolve the supplying dealer of any responsibility but

To help me out with the quickest , cheapest , easiest solution

But nope , it's not happening

[guys]

Some cooperation and patience might get you better results than digging your heels in. (no pun intended)

[toneh]

Regarding patience, I'm lucky that I've spare boots to use if they are away on a tour of the world ( there's been times I haven't ) not everyone's got a couple of pairs of boots

Especially folks new to the sport , what happens then

Ride in your socks ?

Or spend another couple of hundred to replace the faulty ones that you also purchased for a couple of hundred

Or maybe turn up at a trial and ask total strangers to borrow some boots

I've had numerous emails stating ,exactly

What they will and won't do

As for digging heels in , I don't think im being unreasonable by not wanting to pay shipping costs to return virtually brand new boots and wait for who knows how long to find out what they intend to do

Edited September 15, 2016 by toneh

[micm]

I have the latest pair, the sizes of mine were out of whack. I ordered mine and in the dealers swapped them at once for a larger size which I have never needed for anything else.

So with these I suggest 'Try before you buy.'

 

I agree with comments that a diplomatic approach usually unlocks the doors quickest and easiest. 

[toneh]

I'm done with diplomatic nearly a week to get just a decision on where or how to send them is too long

Recently purchased a car that developed an issue , one phone call and it was in and

A relitivley expensive and complex component was removed sent away repaired and refitted in 5 days

The same time it's took to try and find out what to do with a pair of boots

What a joke