Degree33 Surfboards

Review: Prior purchasing a surfboard from Degree33 (D33)I asked [specifically]and was promised by D33's employee [redacted] that he will personally inspect the board and beef up their regular packing due to 2 shippers involved. D33 used PILOT comp. and I used our local shipper from MIA to the USVI. I was promised the reinforced packing and paid for the board in full. When the board arrived, I immediately noticed a puncture in the box and consequent crack in the deck of the board. My shipper will cover this repair. In addition, due to insufficient packing, the tail also got severely damaged and needs a professional repair priced at $90. I sent D33 pictures and they refuse to do anything to help.They told me: "oh, the damage is not that bad, just fix it and enjoy the board"I've communicated with D33 about this issue at least 15 times and they told me that they'd only reimburse me if the claim with their shipping company (Pilot) is successful, which may not be since D33 failed to attach $ value to the shipment, in which case Pilot may not reimburse anything. D33 failed to inform me about NO INSURANCE.I understand that things happen and the only thing I asked D33, was they cover the repair priced at $90, which I consider reasonable. D33 refuses to help.I've lived on this island for 10 years and have had many surfboards shipped to me via the same route. I've never seen a surfboard packed so unprofessionally and D33 confirmed in their emails that my board was packed 'exactly the same way as 100s of boards they ship every year" - fully admitting that their employee did not do what he verbally promised to do.D33 claims that I agreed to be fully responsible if anything happens to the shipment. How could I be?I've never been treated like this by any retailer in my entire life and the fact I live so far away allows D33 to treat me this way. I was a new customer who paid for their product in full ($445 +$99 shipping) and received damaged and unusable merchandise.Thank you

1. They do not admit anywhere on their website nor on the phone that their boards are made in China. They have claimed their boards are made in Australia and 'somewhere' in Asia.I had repeatedly asked them before purchasing where their boards are made...they never told me it was China. They said that their boards are made in the same facilities as the leading surf board brands. I was shocked when I opened the board and saw a sticker _ "made in China". They completely hid this very important fact.

2. They claim their boards are not mass manufactured and are hand made (shaped) from start to finish.Due to the damage, the foam was exposed and I can tell (I am an engineer) that the Styrofoam is very beady which indicates that the boards are pressed and not hand shaped.They may have a shaper in CA do the prototype and the rest is very likely a mass machine process to save cost.

I and many others in California surf community strongly believe that Degree 33 uses deceptive tactics and false advertisement. They informed me that if I decide to send the board back I will be responsible for all shipping to me and to them , which in my case amounts to $325, which I cannot afford.

Thank you for your helpDesired Settlement: My location has taught me to always do everything possible to prevent returns since shipping is costly and I did explain this to D33 very clearly and they promised to reinforce the packaging. They failed on several levels - the board's nose/tail were packed insufficiently and the board had a large free movement within the box - no surf board company ever packs boards like this.Due the D33's treatment of me, I'd like a full refund and D33 pay for the shipping the board back to them.Thank you

Business

Response:

I have contacted the customer directly and we have come to a mutually beneficial resolution.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.

Regards,