OB2 - Pictures

If it matters, I'm glad the op posted this. I'm definitely going to get one of these ob's one day because of threads like this (i'm a 314 shooter). It seems there is no such thing as bad press if you truly have good customer relations.
 
I apologize if the title is offensive, but I already tried to change it to just "OB2 (Pictures)" but it is not working.

I asked for precautionary measures because it's always good to have more evidence than not have enough. It doesn't matter who you are dealing with, having clear and concise photographs and documentation makes any process go smoother. If you are offended by this then I don't know what I can do.

For me, the price of shipping the shaft back is a burden. I'm a student and I live in Canada, for me to post this to the states would cost me a pretty penny via Canada Post, so I coordinate a day when I go to the USA to save just that little bit. Sending this cue to OB costs me $13 from the states, not to mention the time and money I spend on gas (I pick other things up so I don't mind), and it will cost me $12 to have it returned. Before I go through with this process which is 20% the value of a used OB-2, I'd like to know that it may possibly be a manufacturing defect so I don't waste everyone's time and my own money.

I will keep everyone updated with my experience, but whoever I talked to over the phone at OB wasn't terribly friendly once he heard that I had posted a thread on AZ. I won't elaborate further since I don't want to be labelled as "anal" when I'm just trying to cover my base.

so is this a second hand shaft ? is the warranty the same for 2nd 3rd owners ? thats a pretty good warranty if so . i have 3 , 2 i bought new (one is probably 7 years old, when they were taking orders only ) the other is used. this would be handy to know.

carl shealy
 
so is this a second hand shaft ? is the warranty the same for 2nd 3rd owners ? thats a pretty good warranty if so . i have 3 , 2 i bought new (one is probably 7 years old, when they were taking orders only ) the other is used. this would be handy to know.

carl shealy

No, mine was a brand new shaft that I barely played with (I have another 314 pre-cat). They require the original receipt when I send it in so I'm not sure if the warranty transfers.
 
I called and spoke to Royce directly when I had an issue. He sent me a new shaft with a postage sticker so I could send him the old shaft in the same box. I paid no shipping either way.

For future reference, call before posting a thread. I'm not surprised the person on the phone wasn't terribly friendly, they probably love their company and got a little defensive.

"rbc" is Royce's forum handle... or you can call and ask for Royce, he's usually there and willing to work something out to satisfy any customer within reason.
 
when I sent in my OB-1 into OBCues because of a splintering issue (first generation OB-1s were constructed slightly differently where splintering happened), they sent me back a new shaft at no charge, not even shipping. But I think your situation is different due to international shipping charges.

The person I talked to did not ask where I was located, as far as they were concerned, they said "Oh, you're the guy who posted on AZ" so I don't think it is an international issue.

In fact, that was the first thing said when I told them..

ME: "Hi I'm [Barney] and I would like to know how OB deals with shipping"

OB: "Oh, you're the guy from yesterday that posted the thread"

ME: "Yes, what's your typical procedure with shipping? Do I pay for shipping there and you cover return... or?"

OB: "Yes, the return shipping is $12"

ME: "Do I put the money with the shaft?"

OB: "Some people do that but we can always take your CC info over the phone"

ME: "Okay I will do that"


Thanks to everyone who posted their good experiences with OB, but I would say that it is definitely not their policy to cover shipping on warranty shafts.
 
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It's delamination or a split in the wood itself. It happened to one of my OB shafts too - in the same spot in fact, but it's not very common. It first appears as a dark line in the
new shaft, then it slowly opens up after playing for awhile - probably the impact loosens it. Seems the wood in certain cases is defective and will not hold the glue.

The funny thing is, the crack in mine didn't affect the hit, sound, feel or play one bit - so I didn't bother doing anything with it.

My experience is OB stands behind their stuff.

Chris

Chris, if it was delamination, the line would be straight. It looks like this guy bridged over a metal backing on a Gold Crown and followed through HARD and gouged his shaft.
 
Chris, if it was delamination, the line would be straight. It looks like this guy bridged over a metal backing on a Gold Crown and followed through HARD and gouged his shaft.

Please see my pictures on where there are two "scratches" on both sides of the "pie" wedge used in the construction, and note how the line runs down the shaft all the way to where the varnish is applied (see post on pg.2)
 
Spider, I'm going to disagree, doesn't look like at all. I have seen the metal tables claim it's victims and it isn’t anything like it.

On another note I’m about to find out about Predator customer service. My 314^2 that is 3 weeks old just blew up internally.
 
Chris, if it was delamination, the line would be straight. It looks like this guy bridged over a metal backing on a Gold Crown and followed through HARD and gouged his shaft.

When I looked at it again closely, I agree that it's not a delamination. I then thought it might be a defect in the wood itself, which sometimes causes these shafts to catch an edge near the lamination and pull a splinter off.

Then he posted a picture of the other side. Looks to me like this shaft actually has split in it.

They'll be able to tell once they see it. If it is a split, I'm a little perplexed as to what would cause a shaft to split like this, especially one built the way the OB is built.

If I recall, don't these shafts have a phenolic pad under the tip to protect the ferrule?

Chris
 
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Spider, I'm going to disagree, doesn't look like at all. I have seen the metal tables claim it's victims and it isn’t anything like it.

On another note I’m about to find out about Predator customer service. My 314^2 that is 3 weeks old just blew up internally.

I just called predator a minute ago and spoke to George about my 314-2 shaft that actually measures to be 13.3mm FAT! He told me that his manager will be in touch with me because he is on leave and that I could probably swap it at one of their retailers near where I live. Funny this is all happening to me.


When I looked at it again closely, I agree that it's not a delamination. I then thought it might be a defect in the wood itself, which sometimes causes these shafts to catch an edge near the lamination and pull a splinter off.

Then he posted a picture of the other side. Looks to me like this shaft actually has split in it.

They'll be able to tell once they see it. If it is a split, I'm a little perplexed as to what would cause a shaft to split like this, especially one built the way the OB is built.

If I recall, don't these shafts have a phenolic pad under the tip to protect the ferrule?

Chris

Yes, my shaft still has the carbon fibre backing pad as I was still using the stock everest tip until it fell off, which is why I thought maybe I'll ask people on AZ whether my issue is legit and perhaps I can RMA it.

Yes, I know having a tip fall off reflects poorly of my tip care since it's very unusual for a properly installed tip to do this, none of my other shafts have had this issue. But hey, y'all are free to judge me regardless of what I purport anyways.

I am 100% sure that I did not gouge this shaft stroking, that is really dumb and I would never post something like this if I knew it was my own negligence.
 
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Funny I just talked to George a minute ago too.
It will cost $35 Canada Post to ship it to him they will fix it and ship it back at their cost.
8-10 working days in their shop.
So, I sould have it back under a month. I don't want a replacement shaft but a fix to this one.
This shaft was perfect and at 4.4oz weight you don't see many 314^2 like this.
 
Funny I just talked to George a minute ago too.
It will cost $35 Canada Post to ship it to him they will fix it and ship it back at their cost.
8-10 working days in their shop.
So, I sould have it back under a month. I don't want a replacement shaft but a fix to this one.
This shaft was perfect and at 4.4oz weight you don't see many 314^2 like this.

Very solid shaft you have, I have a 4.2oz precat 314 that I adore very much, but this "Fat" shaft is a wimpy 3.5oz lightweight! (for a 13.3mm shaft)
 
3.5 oz, that's a new record for light weight especially with such a big tip.The lightest I had was 3.6 oz, didn't like that. Your other 314 sounds very good as 4.2oz is nice and solid.
 
My first Ob-1 was made from a partial.I had it with me at SBE and showed Royce the micro-splinters on the shaft. He told me to bring it downstairs to Blackburn and have it polished at his cost. Brought it back upstairs and it was nice and smooth.He was still not happy with it and he gave me another shaft and told me to keep the origional one.
 
gives some idea how many problems they have

The person I talked to did not ask where I was located, as far as they were concerned, they said "Oh, you're the guy who posted on AZ" so I don't think it is an international issue.

In fact, that was the first thing said when I told them..

ME: "Hi I'm [Barney] and I would like to know how OB deals with shipping"

OB: "Oh, you're the guy from yesterday that posted the thread"

ME: "Yes, what's your typical procedure with shipping? Do I pay for shipping there and you cover return... or?"

OB: "Yes, the return shipping is $12"

ME: "Do I put the money with the shaft?"

OB: "Some people do that but we can always take your CC info over the phone"

ME: "Okay I will do that"


Thanks to everyone who posted their good experiences with OB, but I would say that it is definitely not their policy to cover shipping on warranty shafts.


Gives you some idea how many problems they have to deal with when they instantly know who the caller is. Royce and the folks at OB always seem like outstanding people that will go the extra mile. I called them once or twice when somebody wanted me to whittle on an OB shaft and they were happy to talk to me and tell me exactly what I could and couldn't do.

The only thing better for most customers than them having outstanding service is knowing you probably won't ever need it.

Hu
 
For future reference, call before posting a thread. I'm not surprised the person on the phone wasn't terribly friendly, they probably love their company and got a little defensive.

I'm disagreeing with all the people saying to call first. For one, we better know after threads like this that problems exist, and the more threads like this the better we can get a feel for how many. Second, we see how solid OB is in responding. I think these reasons are some of the most important functions of a forum.
 
I'm disagreeing with all the people saying to call first. For one, we better know after threads like this that problems exist, and the more threads like this the better we can get a feel for how many. Second, we see how solid OB is in responding. I think these reasons are some of the most important functions of a forum.



I agree that there are positive and negatives sides to these threads. But it isn't rocket science to also realize that in the end the manufacturer is the one who you will have to contact if a problem does exist so why not call them first because who has more accurate information than they do.

Then if you are not satisfied with their service or if their service is out standing you can post tell everyone how things went if you want to.

But lets face it, the manufacturer is going to correct the problem if a problem exists so the longer you wait before contacting them the longer it will take to get your shaft fixed and back in your hands ready to use.

Like I said above no one on this forum know more about a product that the manufacturer. The most important thing is not the second hand information received in threads like this one, where some is correct and some is not, the only thing that is really important is getting the problem resolved as quickly as possible.

So that is why contacting the manufacturer first is important, if you don't understand that is OK with me.

Have a nice night
 
I agree that there are positive and negatives sides to these threads. But it isn't rocket science to also realize that in the end the manufacturer is the one who you will have to contact if a problem does exist so why not call them first because who has more accurate information than they do.

Then if you are not satisfied with their service or if their service is out standing you can post tell everyone how things went if you want to.

But lets face it, the manufacturer is going to correct the problem if a problem exists so the longer you wait before contacting them the longer it will take to get your shaft fixed and back in your hands ready to use.

Like I said above no one on this forum know more about a product that the manufacturer. The most important thing is not the second hand information received in threads like this one, where some is correct and some is not, the only thing that is really important is getting the problem resolved as quickly as possible.So that is why contacting the manufacturer first is important, if you don't understand that is OK with me.

Have a nice night

I do understand. Perhaps threads like this make companies react quicker, so in essence you could possibly agree with me. :)
 
I do understand. Perhaps threads like this make companies react quicker, so in essence you could possibly agree with me. :)


I don't really disagree with you, but it is a fact that in most cases people who have no part or knowledge will give meanless opinions that will keep these threads alive and waste time.

Kinda like mine and your's because our opinions don't get the cue fixed so therefore they really serve no purpose, man I feel like a Nit!!!!!:(:grin:
 
I don't really disagree with you, but it is a fact that in most cases people who have no part or knowledge will give meanless opinions that will keep these threads alive and waste time.

Kinda like mine and your's because our opinions don't get the cue fixed so therefore they really serve no purpose, man I feel like a Nit!!!!!:(:grin:

NOBOBY, in this thread has given me a 100% definitive answer to what the issue is or what caused it. Nor has OB told me whether they will warranty this or not, only that they will "take a look at it" Therefore IMO, my question is still unanswered and the only thing I have done is send the shaft at my own expense, and because I have done this people automatically assume that I should have done this from the beginning.

The purpose of the thread was not to hate on OB or raise awareness for customer service. I just wanted to know WHY my shaft has done this and still noboby knows exactly why, and I wasn't willing to pay to send this shaft back if I can just get an answer from other players, the reason I started this thread.

That being said, whoever I spoke to at OB looked at this thread as a negative and the treatment I received was not top notch like everyone else has been posting. Maybe Royce can post a response? If he does not know about this thread then perhaps the CS reps need better training.

In my book the customer should not have to hunt down the CEO of the company in order to get decent customer service, and service from individual to individual should not vary based on community seniority or whether you visit the store. I value consistency when I purchase a product.

I will still keep everyone updated on the progress.

________________________________________________________

What I wanted for this thread was something along the lines of the discussions taking place on other forums such as the links below:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/582608-x220t-issues.html
http://forum.notebookreview.com/len...y-has-light-bleeding-burn-low-brightness.html

Where the forum discusses the issues, members report their experiences, and people can come to their own conclusions on whether it is acceptable or whether they want to send it out.

Instead, what some of I got was (if it was in terms of the X220 thinkpad thread)

- You should have contacted Lenovo from the beginning, instead of posting this, and only post it when they won't solve your problem.
- You must have dropped your screen for that to happen. DROP
- Lenovo has been great to me, if you talk to the CEO I have gotten nothing but excellent service.
- I went to the Lenovo factory and they just swapped a new one for me!

Of course, I have also received excellent replies from members such as TATE who gave me their experience and opinion on this issue. I may have been biased towards other users who insisted it was a scratch when I KNOW that it is not.

__________________________________________


Gives you some idea how many problems they have to deal with when they instantly know who the caller is. Royce and the folks at OB always seem like outstanding people that will go the extra mile. I called them once or twice when somebody wanted me to whittle on an OB shaft and they were happy to talk to me and tell me exactly what I could and couldn't do.

The only thing better for most customers than them having outstanding service is knowing you probably won't ever need it.

Hu

Hi Hu,

Not to be disrespectful, but it could mean a plethora of other things as well: such as how much of the current LD shaft market OB occupies, just to name one. I hope that Royce may contact me sometime and I hope I don't need to take the initiative to hunt him down.
 
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