I'm talking about the Mystic Kiteboarding Force D30 Impact Vest.
First time I bought this vest was late last year. Still under warranty, the stitches came off and 6 weeks ago I made a warranty claim through the UK dealer I bought the vest from. They came back to me writing: "Ok they (Mystic) are saying it is looking like general wear and tear. I am sorry but they will not be replacing it. I have tried my hardest but sorry it is a no."
The stitches are on both sides of the vest, right at the point where the harness puts most pressure onto the vest and rubs onto it most. It is an obvious design flaw. Would there be only one stitch in the front (on top of the navel) where the least pressure from the harness is, I'm sure such a problem would be avoided for a much longer period.
If I buy a car and the door hinges are falling off during the warranty period, I'm sure I would get them replaced. Obviously (from reading here in the forum) Mystic have big issues fixing problems during the warranty period.
Pretty much pissed off I had no choice but to purchase a new vest. To make sure I get the absolute latest model in the hope those problems are solved (and from the Mystic's website I can't see those stitches there anymore), I ordered a new vest through the same UK dealer I was very happy with in the past.
I specifically asked for the 2011 vest and no other and I explained to them why I wanted the 2011 vest.
My friend brought the vest with him from the UK.
I was shocked when I unpacked the vest seeing that it looked completely different as the photos on the Mystic website.
I sent photos of the vest to Mystic and to the UK dealer asking what model this vest is.
The dealer confirmed it is the Mystic 2011 model.
Mystic came back writing it is a pre-2010 model.
I forwarded that mail to the dealer. They replied Mystic sent those vests to them as the 2011 model, that the dealer sold many of them and they never had a problem. I guess no problem *yet*.
I asked both to either fix the faulty vest under warranty or to have this vest I just purchased replaced by either of them with the new model vest, and to covering the freight charges since it is not my fault.
This was declined by the UK dealer.
I never heard back from Mystic.
Below are two photos of this vest. The vest on the left hand side is the new vest, the other is the vest I purchased late last year.
Anyone else got the same vest sent as the 2011 model?
As you might understand I'm pretty upset about this whole issue (warranty declined, old model vest sent, no apologize offered, both keeping silent whose fault it is etc.)