Unfortunately I have given up all faith in Burnwater and their products. I tried to give Arin and Burnwater the benefit of the doubt but after months of non-communication and poor service I have decided to no longer use Burnwater.
I originally purchased a Reactor (first generation) which bubbled in the blade portion of the paddle. I e-mailed him about this issue on 9/13/08 and he mentioned that he will be at the San Francisco DBF race to replace my paddle. I went to see his booth and Arin graciously replaced the paddle for me with the exact same model.
Hi Arin,
My name is Mike and I paddle with LARD down in Los Angeles. Today I
noticed that my carbon paddle is bubbled at the blade. Several other paddlers on my team who got their paddles in my batch had the same issue. Is there anyway we can resolve this? Let me
know, thank you.
Mike,
Will you be at the tI race in SF? I will have a loaner that you can use
for the race.
I will need to take a look at it and I do not have any inventory to deal
with the situation at the moment. I will have some inventory arriving
just before the race. So stop by and come and see me.
Arin
Everything is fine until I head down to Los Angeles only to notice the same issue. I only used this paddle for 4 race heats that weekend to have the paddle bubble AGAIN. I thought this was ridiculous but I would have been fine if he offered to replace the paddle like he did the first time.
I e-mailed Arin of Burnwater on 10/19/08 (the weekend after San Francisco DBF) to notify him that my paddle was once again defective. He responded to me on 10/20/08 that he would take action but would not have stock to replace my paddle until Jan or Feb of 2009. This was fine since it was off season and I would not need a carbon paddle.
Hi Arin,
I appreciate your service in replacing my paddle. Unfortunately the
new paddle has also bubbled. Is this a reoccuring problem among this
style of paddles? I only used the paddle during the race weekend for
4 races. Any input would be appreciated, thank you!
Mike,
Sorry to hear that. With that model you had that issue was a predominate
one. I am working on the new one piece, new construction method now.
Once I have everything squared away I will contact you. If you do not
hear from me, drop me another e-mail in jan/feb or when you start
practicing again.
Arin
I e-mail him 1/7/09 to see the status of a replacement. No response.
Hi Arin,
You wanted me to drop you an e-mail regarding the defective paddle
during Jan. Any word on a possible solution or replacement?
I e-mail him again on 1/26/09 and he responds 1/27/09 telling me he is still working on it.
Hi Arin,
Did you get my previous e-mail regarding the Burnwater Reactor paddle?
Mike,
Still working on this. Sorry it is taking me so long.
Arin
I e-mail him 3/13/09 and no response.
Hi Arin,
Any word on a fix for bubbled paddles?
Thanks,
Mike
I confront him at the Arizona Dragonboat Festival on 3/28/09 since he has a tent there and he tells me that he is getting my e-mails and he is still working on a resolution. He tells me to try back in April.
I give him some time and e-mailed him 5/12/09 and no response.
Hi Arin,
Is there any sort of resolution on this? When I spoke with you at Tempe, Arizona you said you would have something in April and now it is mid May.
Thanks,
Mike
I e-mailed him 6/8/09 and still no response.
Arin,
Do you have any feedback for me? It has been almost 9 months since this issue occurred. Do you have any sort of resolution?
-Mike
I have been fed up with this and I am no longer going to use a Burnwater product and will definitely not recommend his products to anyone else. After beating around the bush for about 9 months and still no resolution or a hint of communication I have given up hope. This has been ridiculous service and I will not support his products any longer. He cannot even stand behind his product and he expects people to buy it?
