C4 carbon fibre blades

EmicMalta · April 28, 2009, 14:15:02 CET

Quote from: Aquatica on April 23, 2009, 09:52:03 CET
Hi to everybody,

We just would like to make a few clarifications and explain to the forum members a few facts that i am sure will help you make a better choice when purchasing an item or just as general knowledge to have for any future reference.

Currently this is the situation in Malta - When an item is bought from abroad, even though there is a distributor in Malta, you are not automatically entitled to take advantage of any warranty scheme from the local dealer - even if the brand or product is issued with an international warranty certificate. According to the local consumer's regulations (at least in Malta) state that the distributor in Malta is not obliged in anyway to change the broken/damaged item. However the client has two choices a) resend the product to the original shop/supplier overseas that sold him the product to be able to get warranty b) contact the local dealer to see if he (and only from his own good will) would be ready to take responsibility and change the item that falls under warranty.

It's obvious not to mention that the second option would be the better solution for the consumer since it would be certainly of much less hassle.. However if you think about it when you purchase products from overseas you may get a better price but is it really worth it on the long run ? Especially when items fall under warranty schemes........but this is a question that can have different opinions and also according the various occasions.

However a good example of this is in fact what Emic mentioned earlier. I would like you to note that we had changed the omer fins not because they had an international warranty but because we agreed with omer to change he fins ourselves and eventually wait for omer to replace them the broken ones at a later stage.

If you would have it all one way i would have thought that if someone takes the "risk" to purchase a pair of fins 1/2 price then you would have your deal - then be ready to take the risk also regarding the warranty (so having to pay shipping back and forth for the warranty change.) Anyway as Emic himself had explained we had changed his fins without any hassle and he did not have to pay extra for anything - i guess that is what you would expect in the end of the day from an outlet that represents a respectful brand like Omer in Malta.

I hope that these points can give you more to think about and if there are some other opinions i will be glad to receive feedback.

Also i would to know, Have any of those posting on this particular subject have mentioned that if in the unlikely event that your fin would break (or maybe just get a cramp during your ascent - you know.... anything that can cause difficulty to reach the surface) the first thing to go off must be the weights? I guess not..... anyway i think you get the point - drop off the weights and get as buoyant as possible. That is why you should always have one hand on your weight buckle during ascents at all times.

Guys - be safe and think with your brains not your balls ;-)

Quote from: Aquatica on April 23, 2009, 19:41:04 CET
Quote from: baghira on April 23, 2009, 19:10:21 CET
Mellieha pls do not confuse. Be really carefull....!!!!!!!!
Whilst removing the belt is ideal for emergency cases whilst freediving, this is not the case during diving. Please try not to remove weight whilst diving.

Whilst some practices can be trained like buckle release, surfacing without mask etc, which is a great idea to practice, do not attempt to get entagled underwater for training freediving, so better practice is relaxation and attention, and examination of the area that surrounds you. A must is a good knife, or maybe even more than one.

Thanks Baghira, you just saved me from posting the same exact words.......

As long as i understand that there are allot of guys that want to help, suggest and comment on certain topics please be sure that you write is accurate and correct - especially on delicate topics as this case of the weight release - so i repeat "check and confirm your sources" because you can give the wrong advise to somebody who has just started diving or freediving.... or any other activity.

Also Baghira..... no, our post was i no way directed to you, we have tried to keep the post as general as possible so please put your mind at rest ;-)

And regarding the consumer/supplier responsibilities - i will state the same thing - If anyone has a different version i am all ears, but when we last checked that is what we were told.

Bottom line is that if it would be possible for us to accommodate a customer with a product under warranty we will do so, but we don't want to give the impression that what ever the client does there is the law backing him because that is an illusion.

I'm glad to see how many persons have shown interest on this topic and hope that we can all use this information for the better and educate ourselves.

Quote from: Aquatica on April 26, 2009, 16:43:26 CET
I see that this warranty issue has really attracted some interest and it's actually a very hot and debatable topic.

However even though there have been various points of views and opinions no one yet has stepped forward and took my invitation to supply official and attendable information to support the various "theories" about warranty responsibilities, particularly referring to any local representative of a brand.

Please do not misunderstand - i am not saying that items produced and sold within the EU do not have a 2 year warranty but i am saying (also as Skip mentioned) that the brand company is solely responsible for the product it has decided to produce and distribute.

Again as stated in my previous quote - it is a false pretension to think you are going to your local dive store and he will change the item for you under warranty just because you have the law backing you. This decision is left solely to the local trader discretion nothing else. Obviously if you have a good relationship and you're a regular customer it's quite obvious that the local trader will do his best to accommodate you but again he also should do the same even if you purchased the item from another place because the trader is a representative of that brand and it's in his own interest to represent the brand in the best way, however (and be careful to the words) he is "not responsible" or obliged by anyway to replace items under warranty.

Simply if you don't like the conditions under which you are being offered the warranty you can always send it back to the mother company for it to be replaced. As some other members mentioned the world is getting smaller and communication much easier. Even more if today's clients are not anymore being "jballawlu bil kuccarina" they should smarten up and know where they stand - know what are the regulations (not just pretend to know) and act with a certain proper behaviour code, but unfortunately there are still persons that are misinformed or even worse try to bend rules and circumstances to their own advantage.

Skip also mentioned a very good point which is that the items have a warranty on the product not also on shipping and extra costs involved in the case it needs to be changed / repaired and i think that this concept is still not fully understood by some shoppers.

i quated the above cos somewhere there is mentioned the need to supply official and attendable information

just had a call from http://www.camalta.org/sw/index.html. They second my opinion regards the 2 year guarantee within the EU and the respected mother companies.

Who need to check for more information can call on 21221901

They told me that if the agent in Malta is a representative of that firm, he needs to give his service as how other countries must do for the product he is selling. the most inportant thing is to have the VAT recite.

mellieha · April 28, 2009, 15:57:43 CET

Emic,

'if he has been given a franchise'. This is the key term here. I totally agree with you. If the firm has been given a franchise than the maltese trader is bound by the francising contract to remedie.

I think that in the majority of cases in Malta we only have an importer, with no francisee obligations. An example of francise would be Mc Donalds.

If however you have bought from a francisee then you are right. But I doubt how many there are left. Being a francisee entitles dealing exclusively in one brand.

No offense to anyone but just some clarifications to live in better mind.

skip · April 28, 2009, 16:07:05 CET

Emic, please make sure you have obtained consent from Mr. Farrugia to upload his response on to a publically accessible forum/site. This is important to avoid any issues, and applies to everyone who uploads a letter or information that was addressed to them.

Granitu · April 28, 2009, 16:42:17 CET

a Franchise not only entails in dealing with one brand, but also involves in standardizing the service too. A franchise often then requires to pay a premium price for the "goodwill" obtained from the mother firm.

i am sure than many firms in malta do not possess the required finances for such system. Aquatica, just like expo, the msida warehouse is an sme firm and doesn't satisfy the criteria.

misterfish, on the other hand is a form of franchise represented throughout italy north and some in the south for sure under the same logo and service. that is a franchise

EmicMalta · April 28, 2009, 16:54:13 CET

Quote from: Granitu on April 28, 2009, 16:42:17 CET
a Franchise not only entails in dealing with one brand, but also involves in standardizing the service too. A franchise often then requires to pay a premium price for the "goodwill" obtained from the mother firm.

i am sure than many firms in malta do not possess the required finances for such system. Aquatica, just like expo, the msida warehouse is an sme firm and doesn't satisfy the criteria.

misterfish, on the other hand is a form of franchise represented throughout italy north and some in the south for sure under the same logo and service. that is a franchise

as you said there is nothing personal but just clarification of our garantee terms.

Skip: My mail was addressed like any information request and I didn t mentioned any firms or any local shops. It s just a general question.

Granitu · April 28, 2009, 17:01:30 CET

in my opinion it is good to know our rights and clarify them with suppliers.

also emmanuel farrugia will not be disappointed about emic quoting him for sure.

it is a way of educating and surely if it helps them to inform the public about their rights, which in certain instances in malta it is difficult to do. a very positive contribution in my opinion, clarifies a lot of things and rights

mellieha · April 28, 2009, 17:11:38 CET

Thats the key word Francise guys so kindly keep in mind.

After all it seemed that everybody was right in his way. Conclusion very informed traders and very informed public but what might lack is the accurate precise info on both. In legal terms a word may seem to change the whole meaning.

Granitu · April 28, 2009, 17:14:50 CET

Quote from: mellieha on April 28, 2009, 17:11:38 CET
Thats the key word Francise guys so kindly keep in mind.

After all it seemed that everybody was right in his way. Conclusion very informed traders and very informed public but what might lack is the accurate precise info on both. In legal terms a word may seem to change the whole meaning.

exactly that is the goddam law. one word, one law, MANY INTERPRETATIONS