Gabrian's Customer Service
By Think Tank.
No Rhetoric Warranty
• definition: rhetoric \ n: insincere or grandiloquent language.
Let’s talk about the truth concerning bags and warranties.
The number one reason for failure in any type of bag from any manufacturer is the zipper or the slider.
You probably experienced some difficulties with the zipper or slider
(or both) if you have owned any photo shoulder bag or backpack for a
long time.
This
is why we use only YKK zippers. On the outside of our backpacks, we
only use the YKK RC™ (Racquet Coil) zipper, which is the most durable
coil zipper that YKK makes, with significantly higher abrasion test
results as compared to other zippers.
We
also use only nickel-plated zipper sliders, not because they’re a
fashion statement, but because they are the most durable and
long-lasting plated sliders available. You have probably experienced
chipping of the color or the surface of the slider being worn down if
you have ever owned a product with black sliders. That’s why we don’t
use black sliders.
The
second most common failure point in a bag is the fasteners, whether
metal or plastic, such as D rings, buckles, etc. This is why we use
top-grade Duraflex® fasteners and top-quality metal components.
The
reason why other companies use lower quality fasteners is because most
photographers can’t tell the difference when they purchase the product.
The result is that the companies don’t want to build cost into the
product that cannot be immediately appreciated by the photographer.
We
only use the highest quality fasteners because we want our customers to
be fully satisfied when they are in the field, and quite honestly, we
don’t want returns of our product.
“Lifetime” Warranties?
Although these warranties sound good, they do not reflect the truth.
The
truth is that most photographers replace their bags within four to 10
years. As they purchase new equipment, they also upgrade their carrying
system.
If bags are used by a professional on a weekly basis, they will become
tired, dirty, and worn out during this time period. This being said,
there are a small minority of hard-core photographers that continue to
use battle-worn bags from the 1980’s.
This
is why the lifetime warranty is really ridiculous. If you’re 30 years
old when you purchased a bag, are you really going to return it 30 years
later for repair? The only way this is possible is if the bag has
stayed in your closet the majority of the time. Remember the leather
cases in the 1960’s? Is anyone returning these bags for repair under the
“lifetime” warranty? This is why the lifetime warranty is more of a
marketing gimmick than the truth. Is it the life of the bag, or your
personal life? The normal life of a bag, if it is used weekly, is four
to ten years, which is not “lifetime.” If lifetime means your personal
life, when you’re dead, you won’t need the bag.
This is why we offer our No Rhetoric Warranty
with confidence. We build our products to last, with top quality
fasteners and zippers. We feel the best lifetime warranty is, in fact,
creating bags that don’t need fixing.
OUR WARRANTY To
the original owner, we guarantee and warrant our products against any
defects in material or workmanship for as for long as you use the
product. If you have any problems with the product, please contact us
for return authorization at [email protected]
before sending the product to us. We will evaluate the product. We
will repair or replace the product (at our option) if the damage is
covered by the warranty. If your product was purchased outside of the
United States, please contact the authorized Think Tank Photo
distributor for your country.
Damage
due to normal wear and tear, the natural breakdown of materials over
time, accident, improper care, or negligence is not covered by our
warranty. If a repair is possible, we will repair products at a
reasonable charge to you when the damage is not covered by our warranty.
“Normal wear and tear” includes the damage to zippers and fasteners
that is expected due to normal use over time, the damage to the product
has to be the result of a defect for it to be covered by the warranty.
This
warranty excludes claims to any incidental or consequential loss to
personal property such as camera equipment carried in Think Tank Photo
products. The No Rhetoric Guarantee is only for the product, not for any
equipment that may be carried.
Legal Stuff
The
No Rhetoric Warranty for the bag is broad enough that we must exclude
any implied warranties, including the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
Some
states, however, do not allow the limitation or exclusion of implied
warranties and incidental or consequential damages, so these limitations
or exclusions may not apply to you. Our guarantee gives you specific
legal rights and you may have other rights, which vary from state to
state.
Think
Tank® is a trademark owned and used by Think Tank Photo, Inc. RC™ is a
trademark belonging to the YKK Corporation. Duraflex® is a trademark
belonging to National Molding Corp.
