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| Sept. 4, 2011 Nutmeg | Topic: Bats Discussion: Miken's defective bats Hello, I am a 65-year-old rookie, a "Punch and Judy" hitter, who was told to buy a Miken Ultra II bat (MK-ULT2B26), so I did -- from Direct Sports, Inc. which offered the bat at $170.00 with no warranty. The bat shattered during my seventh CASSA game (Central Alabama Senior Softball Association)in 95-degree heat. No warranty or not, I just didn't think a $170-bat lifespan was fair (yes, this is one of the exceptions to the rule in the name of integrity), so I appealed to Direct Sports, Inc. I was disappointed that they chose to hide behind their "No Warranty"; however, they referred me to Miken Sports, so I sent them my broken bat for inspection. Their response: "The Ultra II baats are sold as is without a warranty; therefore Miken can not (sic) replace your bat." I don't want to get lost in semantics, but Miken must learn the difference between "cannot" and "will not." The next chapter in my journey for justice includes Corky Pellien, Field Promotions, Miken, who just happened to be peddling Miken gear at a softball tournament on August 20, in Vestavia Hills, Alabama -- and I just happened to have my broken Miken bat in my car. When he saw it and heard my story, he said, "No way!" And then he looked at the bottom of the barrel and showed me that it was stamped with an "M" which, he said, denotes a defective bat -- one that had been rejected by Miken Sports; I asked him how I was supposed to know that; he said that most people don't know what the stamp means; he said that Miken Sports usually gives those bats to players they sponsor. I asked him what Direct Sports (one of Miken's largest retailers, according to Mr. Pellien) was doing selling a defective bat; he had no answer. And then, he asked if he could remove the wrapper (the grip); stamped on the handle underneath it was the production date -- the bat was already two years old when I purchased it! (Per Mr. Pellien, the market shelf-life of Miken Ultra is three months.) He said that he would "make it right" if I faxed him all of my correspondence with both Sports Direct and Miken Sports; I did on August 20. I thought that I had finally found a decent Miken employee; however, don't rush to judgment. When I didn't receive a replacement bat for the defective bat that they sold me through Sports Direct, I called Corky Pellien and got his answering machine, requesting an RSVP ASAP. No RSVP, so I called again and got his answering machine once again, informing him that I deserved the courtesy of a return call; it's a good thing I am not holding my breath! For those who have stayed with me till the end of this story, I think Miken's and Corky's reactions speak volumes. So, BEWARE if you are getting ready to purchase a Miken bat -- they don't stand behind their product -- even if it is defective! And if you happen to see Corky Pellien peddling Miken gear at a softball tournament, tell him that I am still waiting for his return call and that I am disappointed that he failed to honor his "gentlemen's agreement," or better yet, give him a call (512-753-9625) and ask him about my story. By the way, I have pictures if I can find some place to post them. Thanks for listening, Nutmeg (aka, Rick) |
