Flexifoil
 

I purchased three kites from Extrem kites, an 8.5, 12 and a 15m the 15 meter was leaking from the valves on the leading edge the first time I put it in the air. I called Extreme and got nowhere with Rob at the time maybe he was very busy...He said he called Flexifoil and he also said he sent me an Email?



Email from Flexifoil


Hi Scott

I’m sorry, this is the first I have heard about the problems with your bladder.

In order for me to replace the bladder, I would need to see a photo or have the bladder back before I send a replacement out to you. This is our company policy for all warranty items.

I will also need your address so that I can get the bladder out to you.

Please contact me if you have any queries.



Kind regards



Wendy




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Wendy Brook
Customer Services Manager
Flexifoil International Ltd.
QC & Repair Centre
82D Fred Dannatt Road
Mildenhall
Suffolk
IP28 7RD
United Kingdom


tel +44 (0) 1638 715 968
ddi +44 (0) 1372 849 324
email Wendy@flexifoil.com
web www.flexifoil.com


I sent the kite to Texas they fixed the valve and are sending me a new bladder and paid for all shipping.. Thanks Jeff
Jeff Howard
Prokitesurf.com
Largest kitesurf shop in Texas
RETAIL, LESSON, REPAIR
623 N. Chaparral St
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
361-883-1473 ph
361-883-1539 fx
info@prokitesurf.com

I know that I have read nothing but good about Extreme, just may want to keep intouch with the customer a little better.

I am just curious how many times you called EK.
Did you call back or only talk with them once and then send out to Jeff?
What's fairly odd is the Jeff and EK are in fairly close communication, so it seems like Jeff would have mentioned it to EK.
Anyway, I am just curious if you only called once and bailed.
If you called more than once and they dropped the ball, they screwed up, that simple.

I called Rob, gave him the info and waited three days, (he has my number and email) I called back, he said he was waiting to here back from Flexifoil and that he had sent me an Email, he did not..I emailed Flexi and they took care of it. bottom line

Hi Scott,
If you could sit in the back room of Extreme Kites for one day and see what goes on during our regular hours of operation you would be surprised :confused:
We have several phone lines that ring constantly with kite related questions, warranty issues, inquiries, directions to the shop, people trying to sell us replacement windows... you name it. Also the amount of merchandise going in and out of that place is mind boggling. When I started working there I had no idea I would be breaking a sweat working at a kite shop.
We are a tight-knit group here and we all love our jobs and take them very seriously. Those praises you see on forums are what makes us work even harder, it means everything to us. After all, why would I still be at the shop at 9:30pm typing this?? :)
If Rob told you he was waiting to hear from Flexi then that was the case.
I have forwarded this link to Jeoffrey at Flexifoil so hopefully he will be chiming in.
What can we do to make this right? Please give us a call at the shop tomorrow

Scott
Sorry your experience here was not a good one. I and all of us here try really hard to please everyone of our customers the best we can. I take our customer service very serious and it really bugs me when something goes wrong like this.

However, I did send you an email as well as Flexi about the bladder. I have copies of them here with the dates on them. Somehow your bladder issue got messed up along the way and I will take the blame for that. Some times there is a LOT going on here and sometimes things get screwed up. I would of preferred you to just call me again on the phone and say "Hey Jackass whats up with my Bladder?" Once again sorry for your frustration with this and if we can make it right somehow just let me or anyone else here know.

Rob A

Those are excellent responses!!!! I wish we could report that all companies respond with such clarification and empathy to customers needs. Consider this, it’s a busy time of the year for the kite industry and you may find that your request for action may go over looked. Its hardly and attack on your need to find a solution to the problem. Have patients this time of year and give the shops the benefit of the doubt. Its not easy filling the needs of all of the customers they come upon.

I enjoy my Flexifoil and I’m sure you will to. I’ve never had to deal with the directly on anything but have had many dealings with EK with fantastic results. Keep in mind this time of year, we are all busy and people do make mistakes.

IM NOT USUALLY A BAND WAGONER BUT I THINK EVERYONE CAN USE A LITTLE FORGIVINGNESS THIS TIME OF YEAR...MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Maybe I should have called back one more time, so I do take the blame for that and the fact that there have been so many responses tells me that you do give a damn about you business, sorry If I acted a bit hasty, but if you had been in my shoes you may have done the same…anyway All is Well

Yeah those guys at EK will go above and beyond what is necessary or even expected if you just give them a chance.

I once mentioned on a forum that best was out stock on the 2007 bars and that I was waiting around for them to deliver a bar... out of nowhere the great "Daryl" calls me on my cell to grant my wish. He had 200 of them in stock and shipped one out immediately so I could have it the next day. I heard they get them before Best which is sort of funny.

Anyway good bunch of guys over there... stop in sometime and watch how busy they are. It's sort of fun to watch because the phone never stops ringing. No surprise they get backed up occasionally.

Agreed, EK has always gone above and beyond for me, I was very surprised to hear this news. Scott, I am sure your next experience with EK will be a much better one. The guys that work at kite shops work really hard and everyone makes mistakes, it is human nature, especially during the busy holiday season. It sounds like it turned out well for all and that both Flexi and EK are making efforts to make it right.

It always sucks to have a situation like this, especially when something is brand new so we can all sympathize with your situation and definitely yet unfortunately have all been there before. Hope to see you all on the water soon... :)

Hey thanks guys for all the compliments! That really means alot to us :D

Time to visit Codder.

What I really about EK is that Daryl has sure hired some sexy guys to work in that shop. It should be called Extreme Beefcake.

Thanks Bone.. you're not so bad yourself ;)

In case it's even remotely in question .... I am a hetero. :cool:
I don't need some dude jumping me at the SW on a dawn patrol. lmao

Leave it E Bone to totally knock the train off the track.

kite valve problems
 

hey all

i have been helping many of my bros replace their valves on many different kites (different manufacturers too) - i have seen more bad valves on new kites recently than older kites - and i have seen multiple failures on the same kite

it appears to me that they (bladder manufacturers) have made a significant change in the way they are attached - used to be just glue now it looks like they are pressed with heat or something and also glued (which IMO is not as good as the old way ESPECIALLY when it comes to replacing the valve with a new stick-on)

just my opinion based on what i have seen - 1st hand so to speak

os/srq

I have never seen a Flexifoil bladder go bad.... ever. ;)

Some kite companies did seem to make a really bad move in 2004 with a different approach to bladder/valve attachment.
We had a lot of frustrated locals for a couple seasons, especially if it got hot. :(

Are you seeing a particular brand go bad? or just kites in general?
Brand new kites, or a couple years old?
I haven't had a problem in a couple years, since I switched away from the electrostatic or whatever method of the valve attachment.

I know Toby probably had it worse than any of us with his kites there for awhile.

I've spent the past two months resealing and testing all bladder and strut valves on 04-06 slingshot fuels, diesels, octanes, and machines. I have also helped out with the same malfunction on some 06-07 flexi's. (two of the most quality companies in the biz in my opinions) the best solutions thus far to valve re-application has been krazy glue or an airtime replacement valve/bladder.

Krazy glue wont corrode the bladder materials and provided you do not leave cracks, folds, or creases in the bladder when applied, it should hold untill the kite see's its doomsday. Airtime has a new east coast warehouse/shop located in ft. lauderdale and specializes in the similar fixtures. Alex and Josh there are extremely talented and will fix any sort of kite to the point that it looks factory born. If your too lazy to do it your self check them out at http://www.airtimekite.com/, or just go to the hardware store get the krazy stuff and be prepared to pull your hair out, its a standard side effect to hours of bladder work.

Not trying to pimp anything here just stating facts, marine grady epoxy's/ glues either don't stick adequately or corrode thin bladders.

(make sure to lightly sand area as well as wash with alcohol/water prior to application to ensure solid fixtures.)

Alot of nipples can be removed by simply soaking them in hot water. They literally peel right off. Not all, but alot of them. Anyway, with moisture and heat, it can take its toll on the glue they use. I spoke to some shops in Texas, similar climate, and they experience the same problems with bladders. Best advice, don't pack up your wet kite and leave it in your hot car.

I would encourage anyone in need of any type of repairs to use my link at Airtime Kite Repair which is http://www.airtimekite.com/map_tw.html . Yes, I had some VERY bad luck during the last couple of years but since I have moved to Eclipse have had very minimal issues. Thing is, I NEVER leave my kites in a hot car and would say that I take pretty good care of my kites and always have... If anyone ever needs help replacing any Airtime product, I would be more than happy to assist as I have been given step-by-step instruction by my contact at Airtime (plus, I have MORE than enough personal experience replacing bladders of my own!!!). :)

Crazy glue will also fix kite tears...

Only had one bladder leak in 3 years... fixed it with a patch in 5 minutes.

I leave my gear in my car for long periods of time.

Guess I'm just lucky.

Valve replacement
 

I had a valve detach from a strut bladder on my 03 Airush Lift Pro kite. It just peeled off when I took it out of the kite. I used Pattex contact cement to re-attach it after lightly roughing up the bladder and the valve and cleaning it with alcohol. When I first put the cement on the bladder and the valve, they wrinkled up some and I though I had ruined everything. When I stuck it on and sealed it up it was fine and held air overnight. However, the next time I will probably use an Airtime replacement valve. I also keep all my kites in my house (not in the garage) to keep the heat from deteriorating them.