So I've had this Caldwell (nowadays BOG, but I think that's a subsidiary) Fieldpod Magnum tripod for a number of years now. I haven't used it much (if at all...) but recently I thought to let it finally get some use .
The V's wherein the gun rests during use were all moist and a little slimy, from what I think was the plasticizer leaking out. After drying with some paper towels the what used to be a soft rubberised material, turned out to be now a very hard and very brittle plastic! (so it must have been the plasticizer leaking out indeed...
)
I reached out to the company to order some replacement V's, but they answered me that they don't offer any spareparts! They just offer a one year warranty, and after that: you're on your own, sayonara, tough luck for you, dispose of and buy new!!!
To me this is bad form of business, the tripod is, besides the V's, in perfect order, and with just two simple spareparts could have a long lifetime remaining. I would not mind if they'd ask top dollar for the parts, as I fully understand that it takes people and a warehouse to keep inventory.
But that is clearly not the case here, does the company involved really think that I'll just throw the tripod in the trash and fork out (pun intended) another 300 dollars (we're talking not a cheap disposable item here!) to buy a new one? I think not!
It's a shame cause the parent company (Caldwell) makes great shooting accessories and stuff, (I got loads of their thnigs myself)
So beware that if you own something for over a year, they offer really nothing like after sales care or anything...
The Magnum fieldpod .......................................................... The totally hardened and brittle "rubberised" plastic
The V's wherein the gun rests during use were all moist and a little slimy, from what I think was the plasticizer leaking out. After drying with some paper towels the what used to be a soft rubberised material, turned out to be now a very hard and very brittle plastic! (so it must have been the plasticizer leaking out indeed...
)I reached out to the company to order some replacement V's, but they answered me that they don't offer any spareparts! They just offer a one year warranty, and after that: you're on your own, sayonara, tough luck for you, dispose of and buy new!!!
To me this is bad form of business, the tripod is, besides the V's, in perfect order, and with just two simple spareparts could have a long lifetime remaining. I would not mind if they'd ask top dollar for the parts, as I fully understand that it takes people and a warehouse to keep inventory.
But that is clearly not the case here, does the company involved really think that I'll just throw the tripod in the trash and fork out (pun intended) another 300 dollars (we're talking not a cheap disposable item here!) to buy a new one? I think not!
It's a shame cause the parent company (Caldwell) makes great shooting accessories and stuff, (I got loads of their thnigs myself)
So beware that if you own something for over a year, they offer really nothing like after sales care or anything...
The Magnum fieldpod .......................................................... The totally hardened and brittle "rubberised" plastic