zildjian warranty - anyone sent anything back?

[Sesh]

hi,

I bought a set of 14" Zildjian Z custom mastersound hi-hats to use for heavier rock gigs, which arrived about 6 weeks ago. I've hardly used them (2 short rehearsals and 1 gig) and now just noticed a 1 inch crack from the outer edge.

Needless to say, I'll be sending them back to zildjian - but I've been reading up on zildjian's warranty policy...

If you're in the US, it's simple - you send them back to zildjian direct, and they have a look and decide whether to send you a new set or not within 4-6 weeks. As I'm in the Uk though, it seems I basically have to go back to the shop that sold them, who'll then go to zildjian and the whole thing will probably take ages.

So, my question is - has anyone had any experience sending zildjians or any (major brand) back, preferably in the UK, but anywahere in the world? My worry is that because it's not an obvious manufacturers fault (like a crack along a hammering mark or whatever), and so could be down to abuse, they'll have to send my cymbals although way to the US for evaluation and I'll be waiting ages. To me, it's obviously a manufacture problem - I mean it's a heavy duty bottom hi hat (so no over tightening risk there!), which has barely been used out of the box - but because it's an outer edge crack it does look more like it could be an abuse wound from beating the crap out of them.

Anyone any stories/experience with this?

[Skitch]

hi,

I bought a set of 14" Zildjian Z custom mastersound hi-hats to use for heavier rock gigs, which arrived about 6 weeks ago. I've hardly used them (2 short rehearsals and 1 gig) and now just noticed a 1 inch crack from the outer edge.

Needless to say, I'll be sending them back to zildjian - but I've been reading up on zildjian's warranty policy...

If you're in the US, it's simple - you send them back to zildjian direct, and they have a look and decide whether to send you a new set or not within 4-6 weeks. As I'm in the Uk though, it seems I basically have to go back to the shop that sold them, who'll then go to zildjian and the whole thing will probably take ages.

So, my question is - has anyone had any experience sending zildjians or any (major brand) back, preferably in the UK, but anywahere in the world? My worry is that because it's not an obvious manufacturers fault (like a crack along a hammering mark or whatever), and so could be down to abuse, they'll have to send my cymbals although way to the US for evaluation and I'll be waiting ages. To me, it's obviously a manufacture problem - I mean it's a heavy duty bottom hi hat (so no over tightening risk there!), which has barely been used out of the box - but because it's an outer edge crack it does look more like it could be an abuse wound from beating the crap out of them.

Anyone any stories/experience with this?


My experience isn't recent or outside of the US, but I did have to send a splash cymbal back one time and had no problems. I understand your concerns, but I think you will be OK on this!

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com


http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=drummermikemccraw

[Sesh]

My experience isn't recent or outside of the US, but I did have to send a splash cymbal back one time and had no problems. I understand your concerns, but I think you will be OK on this!

Mike



Cheers, fingers crossed. I spoke to the retailer today and they want the pair back so they can forward them to zildjian and hopefully get a replacement - they reckon a couple of weeks and it shouldn't be a problem. We'll see - my biggest worry is just them saying no on the basis of abuse, probably not a problem but I'm worried anyway because of the look of the crack. It just looks the same as other cymbals I've cracked after a couple of years hard playing, rather than being along a fault line or hammer line.

Anyway, hopefully zildjain value their customer service and will agree with me it's their fault!

[DamoSyzygy]

To me, it's obviously a manufacture problem - I mean it's a heavy duty bottom hi hat (so no over tightening risk there!), which has barely been used out of the box - but because it's an outer edge crack it does look more like it could be an abuse wound from beating the crap out of them.

They may think its abuse, but will probably give you the benefit of the doubt this time round. If youve only used them twice and were able to put a crack in them one inch long, they will probably put it down to technique.

[Ozzy Biz]

I had a similar situation with a crash that cracked after being used a couple of times (and I only ever used 5As on it). I had a horrible time getting that replaced. The store was (apparently) told by some people at Zildjian that it wasn't under warranty. Basically, talked with them for maybe 8 weeks with no luck. Everyone I had spoken to agreed it was a warranty case (that icludes a couple of Zildjian sponsored players and other shop owners). In the end I emailed one of the people pretty high up in Zildjian and they said it was a simple warranty case and to just return it to the store i bought it from with receipt and they'd replace it. They had to contact the store to tell them to take the broken cymbal off me. In the end I got a replacement around 12-13 weeks after I first tried to claim a new one.

I'm not sure if that is a problem with the Zildjian company's warranty or a simple (but serious) communication problem.

Biz

[Sesh]

They may think its abuse, but will probably give you the benefit of the doubt this time round. If youve only used them twice and were able to put a crack in them one inch long, they will probably put it down to technique.

Yeah, except it's the bottom hat - never even been touched by a stick iteslf so not down to technique. But I know what you mean, I'm worried they'll just say "you must have had it set-up as the top hat, beaten the crap out of it and have bad technique" - all of which are untrue, but also unproveable.

We'll see, hopefully it'll be straightforward and easy...

[Sesh]

I had a similar situation with a crash that cracked after being used a couple of times (and I only ever used 5As on it). I had a horrible time getting that replaced. The store was (apparently) told by some people at Zildjian that it wasn't under warranty. Basically, talked with them for maybe 8 weeks with no luck. Everyone I had spoken to agreed it was a warranty case (that icludes a couple of Zildjian sponsored players and other shop owners). In the end I emailed one of the people pretty high up in Zildjian and they said it was a simple warranty case and to just return it to the store i bought it from with receipt and they'd replace it. They had to contact the store to tell them to take the broken cymbal off me. In the end I got a replacement around 12-13 weeks after I first tried to claim a new one.

I'm not sure if that is a problem with the Zildjian company's warranty or a simple (but serious) communication problem.

Biz

yeah, could be either. Thanks for the post - I think the shop I'm dealing with are ok (used them for years and generally pretty good), but that doesn't mean zildjian will roll over.

Thanks for the input, that's the kind of experience with this I'm interested in - I've never sent anything back before (which is a credit to xildjian in some ways, been playing their cymbals for about 5 years and spent a lot on them).

[DamoSyzygy]

Yeah, except it's the bottom hat - never even been touched by a stick iteslf so not down to technique.
Actually, if you lay into your hihats, its very possible that the bottom hat is getting hit, and often against the edge.

The size of the sticks doesnt make a huge difference as to whether the cymbal will sustain damage. More often than not, player who grip their sticks and dont allow for rebound will tend to 'lay into' the cymbals and put unnecessary force into the stroke.

For me, returning cymbals and claiming warranties from suppliers is sometimes a weekly task through my drum deptartment, but I must confess the Z Customs and A Customs have been coming back a lot more than other brands I stock.

[altered_beast]

A friend of mine sent a Z Custom Crash back to Newcastle Drum Centre when it cracked, he has absolutely appalling technique and they replaced his for him. I think you'll be fine.