Have you ever heard anything so rediculous

ann-jen

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 December 2004
Messages
3,601
Location
co durham
Visit site
I have a Charles Owen H2000 hat which has a hook and press-stud fastening on the harness. Basically the press-stud has fallen off so I rang Charles Owen to see if they could send me a replacement - all that needs doing is a new bit pressing onto the little post that pushes through the leather. I was told that I would have to courier the hat to them for it to be repaired and then have it couriered back. I'm not sure how much that would cost me but I suspect nearly as much as a new hat but definitely a lot more than a press-stud. I explained to the lady that I couldn't be without a hat for a long time as we are competing nearly every weekend. But no go. Apparently they are worried that if I bodged the repair on the press-stud and then fell off and the hat came off that I would sue them - just seems rediculous. I think I'm going to see if I can get a press-stud at a dressmakers that would fit and do it myself anyway.
 
Does sound a little ridiculous!! Can understand them wanting to cover their asses a little but couriering back and fourth is hardly practical and in all honesty it is quite likely the hat will be dropped at some point and thus negate it being safe to ride in anyway . . . .
 
I had exactly the same problem with my Charles Owen H2000, although never sent it back, just carried on riding with it broken
shocked.gif
for several years. It never came undone! I have a new one now though, so hopefully the same thing won't happen with this one!
 
I can understand your frustration...but after all hats are such a very important piece of our equipment... I would advise you to have the repair done professionally.
Better to be safe than really very sorry.
 
My Charles Owen has a harness hook and a press stud- It fell off after 3 months and i hand sewed one on that i got in a sewing shop. As long as the press stud is used in conjunction with the clip then should be ok as its only there to stop the clip jumping out. Officially you should replace the hat or have it repaired by them- its so very common on Charles Owen hats i wish they would use better quality fittings as they are expensive hats
mad.gif
mad.gif
 
If you can find a place that repairs/replaces car soft tops they should be able to replace the popper for you for a few pence
wink.gif
There's plenty of them around...look in't yellow pages
tongue.gif
 
yup mine did that after a week of owning said hat so i took it back to the shop to try and get full refund. He wasnt interested and said I'd have to take it up with the manufacturers.
 
Contact your local tack shop(if they sell Charles Owen) they are all trained to fit the hats so they might be able to fix them too? Just a thought.
 
Sadly in such a sue-or-be-sued world, they are acting purely to protect their interests. theoretically they are doing the right thing, but I know that doesn't help with the no-hat situation for you!
Do they not have an approved person close-by who could do this quick job for you and have them sign to say it's done?
 
Try popping to your local Timpsons (shoe repairers) They were always fixing my leather muzzle with rivets and stuff. I used to walk in with it saying my husband had got loose again
 
Hi, thanks for all the great ideas. I tried Timpsons yesterday and they were a non-starter but I'm going to try popping into Woolworths and see if they do a similar sized press-stud and if not stitch one on. Failing that I suppose it will have to go to the manufacturers.
frown.gif
or a new hat which is rediculous as its less than 6 months old. I always replace my hat after a fall so I am a lot more safety conscious than a lot of my other riding friends but I'd be reluctant for something as trivial as the popper breaking.
 
If you've only had the hat six months, why not take up your problem with the shop you bought the hat from?
They should be able to replace it for you instantly, and then take it up with CO themselves.
It seems to me as though this is a commonly occurring problem that CO should be aware of.
 
Unfortunately tack shops these days are not often able to do this, but have to send the item direct to the manufacturere for their instructions, and cannot simply replace the item. Obviously huge stores like Robinsons can.
OP - Do you have a local saddler, he/she would be able to this quickly, cheaply and safely for you.
 
Top