Fritschi Tecton

[TahoeJ]

I guess some of us just got lucky?

[Havn]

I guess some of us just got lucky?

When did you contact BD about replacing the toes? Put in my inquiry on 12/17 via their website, but aside from the auto reply, have not heard back yet.

[Havn]

Just heard back from BD and received a similar response as TahoeJ. BD is sending out the new toe pieces and stated that I can send in the old toe pieces when they're swapped out. They also gave this advice too, "be sure to add a good two part epoxy in the mount holes when you install them..." I'm pretty grateful.

[kid-kapow]

I guess some of us just got lucky?

I do not think luck has anything to do with it, unless BDs policy is about to change.

I think it has more to do with BD hving a proactive policy - possibly due to liability laws in the US - while Fritschi in Euroland is less proactive. It seems like BD realizes that users contacting them over the knee fall issue more likely than not use their skis alot, and then use common sense to understand that left unchecked the knee fall issue will at some point be an issue if said person fall forward. As such, they do the sensible thing and replace the toes even before boots are either ruined or severly damaged. Here in Euroland - perhaps their approach is less proactibe - i do not know.

As mentioned, I expect to hear back from the local rep/importer/dealer. Not fixing a known issue seems like idiocy, and a sure fire way of burning goodwill. I have reached out directly to Fritschi as well, so expect them to get back to me before long as well.

[TahoeJ]

For once living in a ridiculously litigious society pays off? ;-)

[kid-kapow]

hehe. Actually, warranty laws are usually pretty strong in my neck of the woods. State law usually requires (at least) a 2 year warranty on these kinds of products, regardless of manufacturer trying to enforce limitations (like a one year limited warranty). The warranty also follow the product from it is sold, and is not restricted to the original owner. As such, the warranty is good for the duration of the warranty period, regardless of how many times the product changes hands.

To be fair, in this case it can be argued that the issue at hand is not really a warranty issue, but a design fault as the design was always intended to work this way - which is why BD's warranty enforcement surprised me.

Anyway, time will tell. I still greatly appreciate both Vipecs and Tectons, even if the replies thus far has been less than impressive.

[Havn]

Came home from work and was greeted to the replacement toe pieces from Black Diamond sitting at my doorstep. Got here in about 4 days from when I got the email from the BD rep.

[kid-kapow]

the official word from the local distributor here in northern euroland is no dice unless you have actually damaged your boots. I have yet to hear back from Fritschi.

[greasyslope]

^Tectons everyday for this guy too.

[TahoeJ]

I don't disagree with you guys - I'm a documented Tecton fanboi in this thread - but it'll be interesting to see how those pins hold up to everyday resort use after a while.

[cycology1]

guess I'll give the warranty site a try tomorrow. I'm in the Vulcan so likely fall in that category. I've never had a problem w BD support, quite the opposite actually which is why I still have them as my first go to

[kid-kapow]

I also have lots and lots of days on Vipecs and Tectons. Really like both and have had zero issues.

I made the swap to Shifts for my resort slayers though - mostly to be able to do some shorter, resort based hiking while being able to use full on alpine boots the rest of the time. Time will tell if that was a good decision or not

[TGReek]

Is the consensus to go through the warranty department and not customer service in order to get the new toes?

[TahoeJ]

Is the consensus to go through the warranty department and not customer service in order to get the new toes?

Yes, at least it worked for me and a few others.

[telemon10]

Just heard from BD warranty and they are sending me new toes as well. Instructed me to return the old toes after I swap the new ones! Awesome!

[Adrgha]

So I just noticed this on after a weekend of skiing my Tectons. I had a crash on Saturday in deep pow where one of the skis caught on a branch, so it must've happened then. It doesn't look like it'll affect anything, but I have to say I'm a little skeptical to the durability of the plastic construction.

[grinch]

Shouldn’t be too hard to get new toes

[kid-kapow]

to be honest, I do not really get why that extra loop is there in the first place. I guess it could be to add some torsional stiffness, prevent snow build up or something, but it seems kinda redundant. What am I missing here?

so i take it that the C&D, XTD + Tecton combo delivers?

and yes, just punch your boots and you'll get new toes. (snicker) The warranty handling is a bit more... stringent over here for some reason. Makes just about zero sense, but then again I haven't had the time to call Fritschi back up. A senior sales guy reached out to me last week or some such

[Adrgha]

Yeah I don't know, but that loop seems very prone to breakage. It's just a bit annoying since it was only the 2nd time I skied them.

The bindings are great otherwise. It released super smooth from the toe in that same crash, and they tour and ski great.

Are you talking to Fritschi directly, or are you talking to the Norwegian distributor? Frankly I'd like to get the updated toes as well, but I'm not ready to send these in and wait all winter for new ones.

[telemon10]

Yeah I don't know, but that loop seems very prone to breakage. It's just a bit annoying since it was only the 2nd time I skied them.

The bindings are great otherwise. It released super smooth from the toe in that same crash, and they tour and ski great.

Are you talking to Fritschi directly, or are you talking to the Norwegian distributor? Frankly I'd like to get the updated toes as well, but I'm not ready to send these in and wait all winter for new ones.

That's the beauty of how BD is handling the issue--they send the new toes first and ask that you return the old toes after swapping them out with the new ones. Might be worth contacting the Norwegian distributor rather than Fritschi.

I'm no engineer, but I agree that those little arms on the toe release device are probably to add some torsional rigidity. It seems to take a fair amount of force to lock the pins open.

[Adrgha]

That's the beauty of how BD is handling the issue--they send the new toes first and ask that you return the old toes after swapping them out with the new ones. Might be worth contacting the Norwegian distributor rather than Fritschi.

I'm no engineer, but I agree that those little arms on the toe release device are probably to add some torsional rigidity. It seems to take a fair amount of force to lock the pins open.

Yeah, it seems like BD is handling the issue great over in North America. Unfortunately we don't have the pleasure of having BD handling this here in Europe, and from what I've gathered, the local distributor hasn't been handling this as gracefully.

I sent them an e-mail with some pictures. We'll see what they say.

I'm sure it'll work fine without that plastic piece, but it looks a little ghetto.

[kid-kapow]

I've been in contact with both. I have yet to call their sales manager after he reached out to me, due to being busy elsewhere - as I am sure he has been too with the launch of the new bindings.

So far their official line has been "no damaged boot, no warranty" - which I find odd. If you ski enough and are engaged enough to have even discovered that this is an issue, then waiting for your boots to be damaged seems oddly reactive / defensive. Due to how it is handled elsewhere I would thing that that decision might make Fritschi/the importer liable for any damages incurred to the boots as well - though I have not read up on the applicable law (and prob won't). Time will tell eh.

still really like Vipecs and Tectons though

[riff]

I got the new toes in action this week and was stoked on the worthy increase in walking range of motion and etc of the redesign. I am curious to see which plastic bits shed first. I’ve been breaking lots of stuff this year


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Ted Striker]

So far their official line has been "no damaged boot, no warranty" - which I find odd. If you ski enough and are engaged enough to have even discovered that this is an issue, then waiting for your boots to be damaged seems oddly reactive / defensive.

I called the warranty dept directly, and they said that I was welcome to submit a claim even if I hadn't damaged a boot. After a 10 or so min conversation with them about which boots I use, and if modifying the bumper myself would void the warranty, I decided not to bother sending them in. Basically what Lee said earlier in the thread.

[Adrgha]

I've been in contact with both. I have yet to call their sales manager after he reached out to me, due to being busy elsewhere - as I am sure he has been too with the launch of the new bindings.

So far their official line has been "no damaged boot, no warranty" - which I find odd. If you ski enough and are engaged enough to have even discovered that this is an issue, then waiting for your boots to be damaged seems oddly reactive / defensive. Due to how it is handled elsewhere I would thing that that decision might make Fritschi/the importer liable for any damages incurred to the boots as well - though I have not read up on the applicable law (and prob won't). Time will tell eh.

still really like Vipecs and Tectons though

In contrast, I broke a heel lifter spring on a pair of G3 Ions just before Christmas. Sent the distributor an e-mail, and I literally had two new binding houses arrive in the mail the next day.

But perhaps Black Diamond is just being awesome about this, and the official line from Fritschi says otherwise.