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The purpose of our forums is to share information... Helpful. Productive. Constructive. Informative. Complaints are welcome as well. We learn a lot from forum feedback

I just received a strange message from Hobie:

"This is a warning regarding the following post made by you: viewtopic.php?f=11&p=301824#p301824 .

This is really getting old. I am not going to put up with blatant Hobie bashing in multiple forum topics on this site. This is kinda getting to be like your old days in the KFS forums. You and Riddler... geeze. What you are doing is evident to other forums users as well and they too are bored with the attitude."

If anyone has info, please share it.

Even the worst warrantys for other kayak companies are 3 years.

Hobie has the worst warranty in the industry. Ocean Kayak? Lifetime. Pelican? Lifetime. Wilderness Systems? Lifetime. Perception? Lifetime. Cobra Kayaks? Ten years. Hobie? 2 years???

So, I'm not very impressed by the "good faith".

Sure, I'll be happy to share my opinion. I'm really amazed -- that Hobie didn't can you sometime ago when you were on your deleted name calling binge. Being a member of the forum is a privilege, not a right, and Hobie has tried really hard to endure your crap. Bashing? Just talking factually, right? Lets see, in less than 3 dozen posts you've bashed Hobie's hatches, handling, boat design, plastic formula, Vantage seats (you don't even have one), warranty and Hobie's business practice. Not only have you bashed products you don't own, you make up your own "facts" to generate your bashing.

Let me give you an example.

As one who appeared to have done an industry wide survey this is obviously a lie.

This warranty doesn't hold a candle to Hobie's. Does Hobie require that you register within 2 weeks to get the warranty? Nope. Does Hobie even require you to register this boat? Nope. Do you even have to be the original owner or have a receipt? Nope.


Looking at all these other great "lifetime" warranties that you're bragging about. There is no warranty for non registered, non receipt, non original owners. Plus, Look at the list of exclusions -- essentially whatever they want. A LIMITED, excludable "lifetime" warranty that's mostly marketing hype?

So Hobie is the only one what I know of that actually warrants the product against almost anything, period. Your fake facts attack -- totally warrantless and seemingly designed for no other purpose than to deliberately bash. To add insult to injury, after Hobie gave you a brand new boat after yours was well out of warranty, your comment was predictably Incredible!

That was just one example, but is typical of your M.O.

I don't really understand, with all the boats you've allegedly had and complimented on this forum, why you even have a Hobie instead of one of these other great boats? You've taken full advantage of every kindness they've given you and bashed them for it. I'm only shocked that Hobie has let you get away with it!

kross57 -- You do understand that warranties are marketing tools? Any company knows they will make mistakes and reputable companies will fix those problems. Any company also knows that some people will try them on with questionable claims. You want a warranty that covers the first and denies the second and is written in a way to attract customers. Most customers understand this equation and will accept, maybe not happily but will accept, the decision of the company. A certain percentage of customers won't accept that the company doesn't cover everything. For a recent company discussing warranty issues, take a look at L.L. Bean.

For example, any product left in the sun will deteriorate. Guess what happens with any boat? It's out in the sun, in a brutal environment, and it will eventually fail. No company will promise a lifetime, unlimited warranty. It might end up later, but they will go broke at some point. Some people don't understand that sun damage can occur very quickly even if the manufacturer does everything right if the product receives no protection.

Pointing out that some Hobie products fail is no more meaningful than pointing out that some cars break, some planes break, and my list could go on forever. Pointing out that sometimes Hobie will not cover the costs of repair to that product is also not meaningful. To assume that all claims are Hobie's responsibility is illogical. Some people don't take care of the things they buy. I don't want to buy a product where I'm paying for those people to have their product fixed. It's going to cost more.

You should read warranties before you buy. If you don't like Hobie's warranty, why did you buy the product?

I'm a moderator on another site. We have posters like you that do not provide any benefit to the community. If I was in Matt's position on this forum, I'd be thinking of banning you. Web sites are not free, but are paid for by their owners. The owner has the right to impose restrictions, even if they are not reasonable. Your goal here seems to be mainly to bash Hobie. Why should Hobie let you?

Jim Clark-Dawe