Mix Warranty Problems

[tkmalan]

Received my new ALP's Jan 7th. On initial inspection there was one edge that appeared to be slightly seperated. Rode them 4 times since and although they were fantastic, the edge seperation started to be more noticeable each time. Took them to local ski shop and the confirmed that both skis and all four sides were delaminating and that moisture was getting into boards. Sure enough they now have started to warp and are unskiable. Initial I thought no big deal as I assumed Seth would stand by his word and his product and replace them. It is undestandable that a few bad skis will be produced. However, I have sent several emails to Mix which have all gone unanswered. Their phone number is a recording "No one is available to answer your call" then hangs up without allowing a message. I thought that Mix was going to be a reliable company that would stand by its product. I waited 3 months for these skis and now they have screwed me..

[tkmalan]

Seth contacted me by email tonight. They are working on getting me a replacement. I will gladly retract once I have a new pair of skis. Again, the ALP's are an outstanding design and the best skiboard I have ever used and I understand that a few flawed ones will be produced. As I havent heard of any other problems I assume that my next set if they arrive will be ok. I am just pissed at the effort required to get a response from MIX.

[Kelli]

on mix's behalf they have been extremely busy trying to get all the preorders completed. they have also been working really hard to keep customers happy. They are a new company with few people doing a lot of work give them time, it all takes time

[tkmalan]

I was wondering when Mix's official cheerleader would reply

[Kelli]

thank you. unfortuantly if u ask anyone i dont fit the description of a chearleader, i am not the type that could be a chearleader

[Jonny W]

in all fairness kelli that song has been heard a thousand times on this board. i understand tkmalan, and can see why he would be upset, and he has every right to. when you spend your hard earned money on something you expect to get your moneys worth and expect good customer service. if i was spending money on skiboards i would be pissed as well.

[Kelli]

what song? i know he worked hard for them but it doersnt mean u have to down a company

[Jonny W]

downing a company. who came to the defeance of all the other companys bashed for not doing the job they we're expected too. i'm not saying mix doesn't have sick boards cause the do. every company has board problems that need to be fixed, i just want to see someone out of anyone fix them

[DirtyStirFry]

why wouldn't you 'down' a company that hasn't lived up to their own expectations as well as their customer's? i'd be crazy pissed if my boards were supposed to be under warrenty, but took forever to get the problem straightened out.. especially if the problem were to happen at the beginning or middle of the season.. and if 'downing' MIX was the only way for tkmalan to get his stuff straigthened out, then how are you gonna say that he shouldn't have done that???

kelli.. are you on MIXs payroll or something? just curious

[PureVenom]

Manufacturing is hard and problems arise frequenly but.....you must have good customer service at least. Ya gotta keep in contact with the people who are having problems with your product so you can take care of it or at least reassure them that it WILL be taken care of.

[tupacalive35]

all in all, mix is doing great for their first year. it's there first year and they have a following, 4 great boards and im sure they made some money that will be able to go into advancements for next year. i think we can all agree that mix is going to be one of the biggest companies ever to change this sport, and it's really exciting to think about what will happen in the next 5 years.

[Kelli]

nope not on mix's payroll sorry cant help u there

[tkmalan]

There is a new posting on the sb.com website in which another rider has experienced the same problems with his new BWP's. He also has tried many times to reach Mix by email and phone.

As I stated here, I received an email last week with an apology from Mix and that they were working on getting me replacements. I answered back requesting an RMA number and an address to mail skis back but have not received any answer back from this email. Yes the ALP's were fantastic while they worked and I accept that with a new company a few bad skis will be produced but what good are they if the company doesnt honor its warranties. I have reported this violation of sales agreement to my credit card company and luckily have the disposable income and a great attorney and will be seeking legal action unless the skis or my money are replaced with in 10 days. Sure it will cost me more than what the skis are worth but its a matter of principal. I hope that Mix is able to get their act together we certainly need another core Skiboard company however a core company must be reliable and trustworthy. As for all of you Mix Cheer Squad members, I suggest you send an email to Mix to let them know that you and others have been supporting them through out their production delays but expect that they should at the very least honor their warranties. This would be far more productive then continuing with the same old "Mix is trying their best just be patient" crap.

Todd K. Malan, M.D.

[kirk]

Fuck that shit, this is why small companies cant compete in America. There goes mix. I know im being an asshole, but thank you, you're going to kill off one of the things that could have helped our sport greatly. You're gonna run mix bankrupt, and destroy a part of skiboarding. No new companies are gonna want to start up because the risk. We're gonna be stuck riding shitty ass releasables on line, and even crappier plastic bindings.

Compare mix to other companies: I know Alex had a problem with his M7s, and couldn't get ahold of canon. It took him a couple of months to get new boards, and he is one of the most dedicated skiboarders I can think of. Instead of being an ass and trying to sue or somthing, he just waited until he got new boards.

I know you're mad that you're boards had problems, but I had the same thing with some crappy salomons back in the day that broke too. Each time they broke, I had to wait weeks for a new pair, and I wouldn't hear anything about when I'd get new boards. I spent more time that season waiting for boards than actually riding.

If you sue mix, all you are going to do is FUCK OVER SKIBOARDING. Go ahead, go for your 'principles' or whatever, make Mix bankrupt, and scare anyone away from starting new core companies. That will really show them. I was supposed to get a pair of Mix boards the beginning of this season and I haven't yet. But you know what? I don't care. They are doing more for our sport than ANY company has done in years. If you want to do that, have fun, but ill be the first one to formally say FUCK OFF.

Sorry, this was a very angry post, and one that I never thought I'd put in a skiboarding forum, but I sueing mix on 'principle' could have awful reprocussions throughout skiboarding.

Sorry again,
Kirk

[DAVE LYNAM FAN]

Please don't kill MIX, they still have to make the DAVE LYNAM PRO MODEL! Anyone else like the sound of that?!

[shantz24]

wow, im speachless....but ill get some words out. why the hell would you even consider suing mix? ive been waiting for canon for replacement boards since december. yea its been a while but i have two other sets of boards. even if i didnt have other boards i may pursue the matter a little more and push to get my boards but i would never sue someone for anything like that. they probably should work on communication i wont deny that but why step it up to this level? you'll get your boards. im not sayin much more because i find it ridiculous, but whatever man.

[SBtx82]

I think we all just need to relax. i dont think sewing mix would be a good idea at all. they're a new company and experiencing difficulties but they will just learn from their mistakes. You've got to expect this kind of stuff out of new companies. I'm sure this isn't mix's fault. They just went to the wrong person to produce their boards. Let us all just let mix work out their problems and be patient. it's already february let's just put this season behind us. It was a bad season for board production. Next season should be a whole lot better. It's okay Kirk tkmalan was just kidding. were'nt you tk it was all just a big joke just say it was a big joke. Save skiboarding by doing the right thing.

[Jonny W]

Dude i love how the only time you dropped the M.D thing in your name is right then, hahahaha. what the hell is that...laaa de da i'm going to come off as a complete asshole, just to touch it up, oh, oh, wait, yup....M.D. take that bitches! now i can go to bed with my bmw in my driveway knowing that i can't wait a few weeks for a pair of replacement boards, and fuck over a good thing for a bunch of people.
i break boards all the time, i have them delame all the time. i complain about how shitty the stuff is but it ends up working out in the end.
if the shit is going to work out i don't bitch about it like a little bitch. he said your getting your boards, stop being a bitch and wait.
Jonathan gary white S.O.B

[tkmalan]

Kill Mix? Bankrupt them?
You are being a bit dramatic. The best I could hope for with an attorney is a refund and forcing Mix to pay my legal fees. I cant believe that you are defending their actions. Why arent you outraged at their lack of duty to honor their agreements. Small buisness that cant honor their warranties shouldn't be in buisness. As I have said all along, I wish only the best for Mix but they need to get their act together. If you also want to see them succed, send them an email encouraging them to honor their warranties and wish them success on futures batches. info@mixskiboards.com
Instead you get mad at the customers who were screwed over and fought back?

[tkmalan]

I do feel that I need to clarify something and apologize to the readers of these posts. I admit that I am using this post more as a means of getting Mix to listen to me then to try and ruin their reputation with future customers. The day I made this original post was the day Mix finally recognized my complaints. My post worked as expected. I agree that the Legal action thing and throwing in that I am a Doc who has the money to make them honor their warranties is lame but I hope that Mix reads these posts and realize that it is in their best interest to do the right and honorable thing.

[tupacalive35]

Mix is swomped dude. if they don't have the time to read all the emails that you, and everyone else who has a problem/suggestion/or compliment to their company than why would they read the message board. someone probably close to them called or contacted them about your post and then they got their, they aren't reading saying "Shit lets get him boards our we are screwed" They are still thinking how the hell do we fix everyone's problem. Do what's best for the group not the individual.

[DanielB]

Instead of Spending your money on an attorney, why don't you find a good deal on another pair of boards to use for the next month or so. Even someone without the $ (me) would do that while waiting for my new boards.

You say it's the principle, but what principle? That you come first over anyone else?

There are sick deals on New '01 Line boards out there right now, on the internet. You can be riding an awesome board for $200 total. Take the bindings off and sell them on Ebay for $75. Put your bindings for your ALP on that board and for $125 you are riding in style. Then when your Mix boards come back, it's just gravy.

But you aren't thinking in this fashion. Your thinking of how you can get them back for not backing up their claims.

Your the one who paid top dollar for boards from a new company who was obviously going to be swamped (There site has said so even).

To be honest the right thing to do, using good principles, is for you to wait patiently for the boards to come in.

I had your back when you wrote your initial posts. Mix got word of your problem, said IN WRITING that they intend to fix your problem, and you are still complaining again. Sounds like you have nothing better to do.

If you need help finding a great deal on a backup pair, let me know. But it seems money isn't the issue here, principles are, and your coming off all wrong now.

[PureVenom]

Nobody should "sue Mix" for anything. That is the WRONG way to go about this. Kirk is right don't go out and try and ruin the guy's reputation or company. I know how hard it is to start a business and believe me you get super busy. If he does not have a staff to help him out(which I'm sure he doesnt yet...too keep costs down) then it is very hard to keep up. I'm sure Seth will get you taken care of. Give the guy some time. His manufacturing was super slow this whole season and laced with problems. Mix's Fault? To a degree but the fault is mostly on the people actually constructing them with their own two hands. They are the the ones not putting together every set of boards with the same standards as the next. Dude just recognize that it's a new company...give them time to iron out the kinks..they tried their best to get ALL of you boards as fast as they could. They did a pretty good job as far as i'm concerned. In doing that you lose some quality in a few boards. So.....DON'T HATE ON MIX!!!!

[Kelli]

Ok now boys lets chill the tempers.

Yes maybe there are some mixed up ideas on principles but there is also some mixed up expectations for a new company. Yes i am young but i have worked with a computer repair company as the have grown into one of the largest in my area. We at this company have had our problems and had peoples complaints but we also had what we call a first come first serve basis. Which has served us well

If u pay attention to mixes contracts and statements, they are trying to do a first come first serve basis. they filled everyones preorders in the order they came as the board production would allow. Some of the boards may have gotten manufactured poorly but they are working on fixing that problem. I have talked to seth and he states that they are having an inbox that is overflowing. I am currently also waiting for a reply to an interview from the company but i am not going to push they have a lot on their plates and taking legal action would only harm the company not help it.

PLEASE just give it time. Seth will honor his word and send u the boards.

btw with normal RMA some companies want u to recieve the new product before u send the old. and then others dont want u to send the bad part at all. (a lot of computer parts are like this also)

[tkmalan]

The statement about me having bought skis from a new company that obviously is struggling just to get started is a damn good point. I will "Chill" for now and try to find a decent deal on a a set of older lines.

[FLYhigh1013]

hmm idk if mine are "delaminating' but my cores are like going all stringy on the sides with the stuff peeling off, and it looks a little like the metal sides are getting rusty, idk what to do

[tkmalan]

Thats how it started with mine. Moisture gets into the boards, the edges begin to rust and the boards start to bow from swelling.

[tupacalive35]

on a better note, how are your phiokka's holding up? did anyone get them here and can tell me if they are holding up real well?

[PureVenom]

Do you wipe your boards off when your day is done? The rusted edges part is something you will get on any boards if you don't. The delam can happen for that reason as well. Wipe all moisure off of your boards and they will last a long long time.

[DirtyStirFry]

my vote is to sue.. sue the bastards! haha.. playin.. but seriously.. that's fugged up what mix is doing to it's customers.. i understand that they're a new company.. blah blah blah.. but still.. talk to the guy for christs' sake! let him know that they're atleast trying.. now i have a serious dilema for next season.. what to replace my canon's with.. hmmmm..

btw.. that napoleon dynamite song in the rail vids was sick..

[tommy]

companies change, they dont stay the same, next season get new canon boards, mix boards, loken boards. theres more.

[valmorel]

I have been following this post and other similar ones with interest as I originally had ordered Mix too, but cancelled and moved on when it became obvious that it was not going to happen.
Seems there are two problems here. Firstly, Mix have been overwhelmed first because hardly anyone else is making boards, and secondly because they have obviously been let down by their manufacturers. Well, that is hardly their fault.
But secondly, there seems to be a profound lack of communication between Mix and their customers. That IS their fault. If there is a warranty problem, and replacements will not be available for 10 weeks or whatever, they need to SAY so. Then people will wait knowing it is in hand. Ignoring customers just leads to more radical action.
Frankly, saying that a company is too overwhelmed to deal with their post is simply lame.
I still want a Mix board. Guess I am going to have to wait till next year though.

[tupacalive35]

I still support them just as much as i orgininally did but did not want the risk of a new company to supply me with boards that im gonna use for 3-4 years hopefully. Mix, im sure, can't really fix the problems for their boards being faulty (just to make sure, it was the bwp's that are having the delam. probs right?) They are not jsut sitting around ignoring the emails. im sure they will announce something to everyone soon enough.

[zenderfall]

Make an awesome product and about a million people'll want it.

Sadly, the excellent products that Mix makes may be its downfall, similar to Groove's BG Pro's, Line's MN Pro's, and maybe even Canon's Neal Lyons may doom themselves. Not because their products suck, its because the companies didn't have what it takes to make it in BUSINESS.

There's something you guys are missing. Making an awesome board has very little to do with making it in business.

McDonald's doesn't make the greatest hamburgers. Microsoft doesn't have the greatest programmers or the best operating system, and Saloman doesn't make the nicest skiboards in the world. But damn, they're still in business and going on strong!
And they'll be here tomorrow. Canon and Mix may not be.

You might really flame me for what I'm about to say, but dig in yourself, and pass up the thought of benefiting yourself:

Mix really should've charged more for their boards. A board that awesome in its rarity should cost a lot more than what it does.

Now, don't start throwing bricks at me (getting ready to dodge), hell, personally, I'd like a Mix board to be $0.99 each, or $1.49 for the pair, but, to keep the business and the sport alive, aside from major investments in advertising and promotionals (paying famous peopleto ride or sponsoring mega events) the only thing that can stop people from overswamping and backordering their boards is to hike up their prices BECAUSE ITS a truly great product. Later on, with the money they make they can make MORE boards and start lowering the prices.

Can you really blame a company that only made what, maybe 20 boards and made them cost about the same as another inferior company's boards? Then they're like, damn, too many people want it! No shit, I'd want one too if something was ten times better and cost the same!

And with that mistake came the problems. Can't keep up with demand. Can't replace boards, because didn't make enough of them. Can't replace a defective board when you're backordered about one thousand, can you?

And what if a set of ALP boards was $499.99 for the pair?

Yeah, people would at first say WTF!!!! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MINDS?!?!? This skiboard is $499.99!!!! F that!!! But what if it WAS worth 3 times the cost for 10 times the experience, quality, ride, and more importantly, the rarity? It would take only a few people to ride, believe and say shit, it IS worth that much (or whatever cost that board really is) and people will buy into it.

Its called VALUE. What you pay for should be what you get.

Imagine what value a Ferrari had if it only costs $10,000.00 each. In bare essence, that is what Mix has done, more or less. Made a Ferrari $10,000.00 and can't make enough because they didn't know people would want a lot of them.

Well, don't worry, the price is fixed, it won't go up just because of one post. It's my $0.02 as to why things are the way they are. Think about it very carefully. Hope it makes sense to you.

[zenderfall]

Oh, and BTW, here's something to notice:

A cheap Snowboard can be gotten for $100.00, and that includes bindings and sometimes boots (really POS junk board though) while the awesome snowboards can cost about $1,000.00. Really.

And you guys know skis, some skis are pretty cheap, and some may range in the many thousands.

Have you noticed the differences in price between the nicest skiboards and the (ahem) not-so-nice skiboards? maybe what, a few hundred maybe? If that? Is the range in thousands? No.

The manufacturers may be doing us consumers a favor in the short run, but they're really killing themselves and the sport in the long run. And now that we're used to it, I don't think anyone out there has the nuts to say it:

The best skiboards are too CHEAP in price to justify their real VALUE. You really CAN afford to replace thousands of defective skiboards and respond to complaints for decades if you made them cost more, allowing you to MAKE MORE OF THEM.

[DanielB]

Originally posted by zenderfall
Oh, and BTW, here's something to notice:


The manufacturers may be doing us consumers a favor in the short run, but they're really killing themselves and the sport in the long run. And now that we're used to it, I don't think anyone out there has the nuts to say it:

The best skiboards are too CHEAP in price to justify their real VALUE. You really CAN afford to replace thousands of defective skiboards and respond to complaints for decades if you made them cost more, allowing you to MAKE MORE OF THEM.

Hmm. Or you can just make them better and charge the same price they're charging now.

If the only fully sintered base, pro quality boards started costing $400 without bindings I would be one of many who would make sure everyone knew where to buy comparable(Fully Sintered base, wood core, 4x4, steel inserts, 360 edge, true twin tip, center stance) older model year boards for Dirt Cheap. You can always get your hands on new old model stuff, especially since the first Skiboard boom ended with back stock aplenty just 3 years ago.

If you own 2 grooves and 3 Lines (for example) then you can use some specifically for big air, and some specifically for rails. Still have some waiting in the wings.

The only way you can justify doubling new Skiboards price w/o bindings would be if huge technological advances were applied to the boards. None that I have see in the last few years, and good, because it's really not needed right now. The top quality boards ride great, are light, and perform great tricks.

I would definitely like the bindings to keep getting lighter and tougher though. There's Bombers, then a drop off, then FFPros that aren't made anymore, then another drop off.

I don't think skiboarders have a problem with spending $200+ on new non-release bindings, if the manufacturers are taking it to a whole new level, but $200 more just for the boards....no way! THAT would put them out of business.

It's Supply and Demand, you know? The Boards are out there already. Heck, the Bombers are out there. I just want somone to come along and one-up the Bombers. I bet that's the next true progression.

[kirk]

Snowjams are super cheap and they seem to be doing fine. I probably wouldn't pay over 200 for boards. Rollerblades have about the same price difference as skiboards, and they don't seem to be having any trouble keeping the companies around.

Salomon just has the luxury to their crappy boards everywhere in the country that their skis end up. Most ski shops around me wouldn't carry line until they started making long skis.

[PureVenom]

Man...this is getting crazy.....Something you also have to remember. If you think they need to charge way more for boards to stay in business Zenderfall then that means they have to charge the people who carry their boards way more as well. That could very well kill Mix as too. No one is going to pay huge money to stock anyones boards if they arent going to sell. As I said before....The communication issue is the fault of Mix but the problems with the boards is not their fault. You can't predict how many pairs the manufaturing is going to fuck up and and neither can they. Outside all looks good but its in the construction/pressing that determines how good the board is going to be. Fibers in the glass can fail,resins can bubble,cores can crack,and all this(again)is inside and cant be seen. The only way to assure quality would be to test ride each set of boards to make sure they are sound. But as you well know nobody is going to want their boards arriviving on their doorstep used and certinly will not pay HUGE dollars for someone else to be the first to ride their boards. So give Mix the benefeit of the doubt and see if they come up big and maybe change to a different manufacturing company or just correct all the problems. They wanted to come out BIG this season and they did but just with an unexpected inferior manufacturing company. By the way Canon is who TRULY started this sport (not line) and will be here and producing boards. Too many people keep thinking they are going under. ..THEY ARE NOT!!!

[mrn8]

Count me as another disappointed customer. I rode mine 2 days in a row for maybe 12 hours total. I wiped them down very well after each day. They are delaminating (and appeared to be even before I used them).

The thing is, they ride awesome. I am kind of sad to have to return them, because they are the best skiboard I have ever ridden. :(

I hope Mix gets things going in their favor, soon.