I don't disagree that PD should consider taking returns if a customer is unsatisfied with the final product, but to say they don't back up or don't stand behind their products is a little misleading as you can still exchange your tripod if there is something not working or have it fixed under warranty. They are still supporting the tripod, just not allowing returns.
They stand behind their products and the lifetime warranty is the real deal.
When the zipper on my everyday backpack broke, I submitted an online form with a photo of the broken zipper...next thing you know I'm getting an e-mail with tracking info for my new bag (and a pre-paid label to send the old one back).
molson wrote:
Designing bits of string with plastic disks on the end is not the same as a designing (and manufacturing) a tripod.
Those bits of plastic are holding heavy camera set-ups....
But they are unproven as a tripod company....which is why a kickstarter made sense. It's an opportunity to test if there is a market for their product before investing in the mass production of it.
Established companies test market stuff all the time. It doesn't say anything about their ability to deliver on a product, rather, they are testing the viability of the market and their brand in a particular product category. i.e. Popeye's market tested their chicken sandwich out here in Houston in the early part of 2019. We all know how that went.
Just for the record... they were not "political" emails. Climate Change is a very real problem that has been heavily politicized, but is not itself a political issue.
IMHO, this tripod was far from innovative. All they did is use carbon fiber to make the same kind of wonky POS aluminum extrusion tripods we see in bargain stores for decades. Being an aluminum extrusion, they didn't have to be tubular, and thus could be extruded in shapes that save space. But they usually suck in every other regard.
darrellc wrote:
Pretty sure Peak Design has a 30 day return on all products purchased via their website. I see no language in their return policy excepting tripods or any other product.
The issue is returns for Kickstarter products which I feel has always been clear (no returns) and part of the risk you take participating in a kickstarter and for which you typically receive compensation thru lower prices and earlier access to the product.
Looks like the tripods were 289/479 on Kickstarter instead of 349/599 retail or thru pre order on peak design.com where the return policy is added to the lifetime warranty. ...Show more →
read the attachement and I have an email from Peak Design customer service that says the same thing no they do not accept returns for their tripod.
I sold it twice this morning and had to refund the guy on ebay so if anyone wants to sell theirs if they are unhappy with it mine sold twice for $479 in an hour which is what I paid so all good.
Cool, thanks for confirming I was correct about no refunds for Kickstarter. So now we know: refund if bought via pd.com at full price, no refund if bought at discount via Kickstarter channel.
As expected but disappointing for those who gambled on Kickstarter and feel they lost...
trstahly wrote:
read the attachement and I have an email from Peak Design customer service that says the same thing no they do not accept returns for their tripod.
I sold it twice this morning and had to refund the guy on ebay so if anyone wants to sell theirs if they are unhappy with it mine sold twice for $479 in an hour which is what I paid so all good.
Mystik wrote:
Those bits of plastic are holding heavy camera set-ups....
But they are unproven as a tripod company....which is why a kickstarter made sense. It's an opportunity to test if there is a market for their product before investing in the mass production of it.
Established companies test market stuff all the time. It doesn't say anything about their ability to deliver on a product, rather, they are testing the viability of the market and their brand in a particular product category. i.e. Popeye's market tested their chicken sandwich out here in Houston in the early part of 2019. We all know how that went. ...Show more →
But when Popeyes or McDonald's market tests a product they don't take your money on a bet that they might cook you a chicken sandwich in 6-12 months. You get the sandwich. You're not fronting them money to develop the receipt for a new batter for the chicken.
Then buy it from the store when it's finally released. Not Kickstarter.
wittyphrase wrote:
But when Popeyes or McDonald's market tests a product they don't take your money on a bet that they might cook you a chicken sandwich in 6-12 months. You get the sandwich. You're not fronting them money to develop the receipt for a new batter for the chicken.
Jman13 wrote:
Then buy it from the store when it's finally released. Not Kickstarter.
I didn't order it from Kickstarter and won't support Kickstarters from established companies. I was just pointing out to the person I quoted that there's no analogy between Popeyes market testing and the instant case we're discussing.
wittyphrase wrote:
But when Popeyes or McDonald's market tests a product they don't take your money on a bet that they might cook you a chicken sandwich in 6-12 months. You get the sandwich. You're not fronting them money to develop the receipt for a new batter for the chicken.
Yes and this is why I don't do kickstarters.
Only pointing out that a company testing a market before they pull the trigger on full-scale production says nothing about their ability to deliver a quality product.
darrellc wrote:
Cool, thanks for confirming I was correct about no refunds for Kickstarter. So now we know: refund if bought via pd.com at full price, no refund if bought at discount via Kickstarter channel.
As expected but disappointing for those who gambled on Kickstarter and feel they lost...
It wouldn't BE a gamble if people could just return it! Hey, I wanted to try the tripod but didn't want to risk the money. Why should someone else get to buy it cheaper, try it for free, and then return it...
shadow9d9 wrote:
It wouldn't BE a gamble if people could just return it! Hey, I wanted to try the tripod but didn't want to risk the money. Why should someone else get to buy it cheaper, try it for free, and then return it...
Ummm...people have been doing this with camera gear for years. Buy...try...return within 30 days. Seems like standard practice for many.
chez wrote:
Ummm...people have been doing this with camera gear for years. Buy...try...return within 30 days. Seems like standard practice for many.
With certain stores, not kickstarters with early bird pricing based on the whole premise of paying before you have the product and not knowing for sure.
philodelphi wrote:
Just for the record... they were not "political" emails. Climate Change is a very real problem that has been heavily politicized, but is not itself a political issue.
Climate change is an issue and in a vacuum it is not political but scientific. Man made climate change and advocating specific methods to deal with it is political. I just prefer that my relationship with vendors not include such things. I want these relationships to be about needs, products, services and price. That is all.
trstahly wrote:
I got mine and as soon as I saw the size of the box and lifted it up I knew I was dissapointed.
DaveTCC wrote:
Note that humans are much more perceptive of density than actual weight. This is why the PD tripod feels heavy in hand when folded up and lightweight when fully set up. At 2.75 lbs the PD tripod is certainly not on the ultralight end of the range, but is very light when compared against tripods of similar height.
philodelphi wrote:
A very good point was made on another thread:
I'd encourage you not to be rash, but try the tripod out for awhile. It's different, so it's alien at the start. As I use it more, I'm LOVING it.
I've never seen an airline check the density of anything. Buggage allowances are always based on weight.
I have to chime in here because I just ran into a buddy (wedding videographer) and he was carrying the new PD carbon tripod.
I asked to see it and attempted to release one leg to extend it and inadvertently released the thin aluminum sleeve that is (supposed to be) securing the outer leg to the next slimmer one.
The aluminum sleeve looks *very* similar to the tabs that you release to extend the tripod.
His jaw almost hit the ground when I extended the leg and it CAME OUT OF THE TRIPOD COMPLETELY
I have to say... what a HORRIBLE design, especially for an expensive tripod.
It was also quite heavy for a CF version, he was also bummed about that.
gheller wrote:
I have to chime in here because I just ran into a buddy (wedding videographer) and he was carrying the new PD carbon tripod.
I asked to see it and attempted to release one leg to extend it and inadvertently released the thin aluminum sleeve that is (supposed to be) securing the outer leg to the next slimmer one.
The aluminum sleeve looks *very* similar to the tabs that you release to extend the tripod.
His jaw almost hit the ground when I extended the leg and it CAME OUT OF THE TRIPOD COMPLETELY
I have to say... what a HORRIBLE design, especially for an expensive tripod.
It was also quite heavy for a CF version, he was also bummed about that.
Anyway, just food for thought.
G...Show more →
I wish I would have weighed mine before I shipped it I was blown away by how heavy it felt. I cannot imagine it weighs what they say 2.75 lbs. it felt like twice that if not more.
1bwana1 wrote:
Climate change is an issue and in a vacuum it is not political but scientific. Man made climate change and advocating specific methods to deal with it is political. I just prefer that my relationship with vendors not include such things. I want these relationships to be about needs, products, services and price. That is all.
In a perfect world, I'd agree. But this is not a perfect world, so I respect PD for making their voice heard.
What about you? Will your descendants wonder if/how you made your voice heard? What about mine?
philodelphi wrote:
In a perfect world, I'd agree. But this is not a perfect world, so I respect PD for making their voice heard.
What about you? Will your descendants wonder if/how you made your voice heard? What about mine?
As a Geologist my understanding of time, stability of the planet, and importance of man on it is a bit different. The planet and it's climate is dynamic. It will change no matter what we do. I don't see man as a particularly durable species. Man has been here a very short time. Man will likely be extinct in a geologically short time no matter what. The planet will seek equilibrium no matter what we do.
To me it appears that carbon based climate change is a politically expedient substitute for the true problem which is over population of the human species.
You don't gain political power advocating drastic solutions to over population. But you do by substituting reducing carbon by controlling industries, and behavior.
You don't make money by advocating reducing population. This is especially true in debt heavy economies that depend on growing GDP to service debt, and pay postponed bills. You can get rich by putting a value on carbon, and controlling what is now essentially a new currency. Carbon credits.
Take a moment and think about most of the iconic landscape images we travel to and take with our expensive cameras. Many (if not most) are the result of sculpting that occurred during the last ice age. The most recent warming period that started about 12 thousand years ago melted the ice, and exposed these features for our pleasure. The global climate we now enjoy is sometimes refer to by geologists as "the long summer". Your area of the country was likely covered in ice year round before the current warming period. Why should the planet stabilize because you chose to build a house in a newly temperate place? The whole climate change panic is mostly another case demonstrating the hubris of man.
I am comfortable that the fate of the planet is in the good hands of physics, and thermodynamics. The future generations of man will have to make the best they can of this. In the end it is out of our hands.
