2010 Martin Shadowcat *Updated 5-08-10* Replacement bow - Wrong Again!

[dreamingbig]

True, very true.  Sorry because of the pain and suffering he has dealt with when he should have got a Hoyt from the beginning.

[haus]

True, very true.  Sorry because of the pain and suffering he has dealt with when he should have got a Hoyt from the beginning.

Only pain and suffering is Martins. As for me I'm just pissed off    It's one of the oldest bow companies around and they're bein' bush league amateurs. This is the kinda crap I'd expect to happen if I bought a bow from a new company like Strothers for example     I almost have to laugh now. I almost asked them if this was just some kinda joke and they're just yankin' me chain, cuz this is too rediculous, you have to try to screw up this bad, I don't think it could happen without some level of deliberate effort involved.  Or a lotta beer maybe?

[Lowedog]

Strange thing about this is I have always heard how great Martin's customer service is.

[haus]

Strange thing about this is I have always heard how great Martin's customer service is.

Their customer service representatives are good. I'd give them a 5/5. The CS isn't the problem.

[Ratdog68]

Strange thing about this is I have always heard how great Martin's customer service is.

Their customer service representatives are good. I'd give them a 5/5. The CS isn't the problem.

Agreed... I've had very good C/S from Martin. However, there does appear to be a hiccup in communication between the folks you speak with on the phone and the guys on the production floor doing the assigned "fix".  Last year I received a take down bow that had nothing more than the riser and two limbs in the box... no mounting hardware... no string... no rest.  They assured me they were on it... sent parts off immediately (wrong parts)... apologized for the mix up and sent the wrong parts again... apologized for the mix up... and sent the correct parts and a few extras they weren't required to send.   

[haus]

  I'll say again, Martin's held up their end of the deal in continuing to try to fix the problem or reimburse me, but the later requires that the funds flow through the PRO SHOP. It's always interesting to see who keeps their word when things go wrong. Martin has, the PRO SHOP did not.

Apparently I'm an idiot and can't see nor read nor remember the PRO SHOP policy....NO RETURNS, Good luck buddy hope it works out have a nice day'  When I asked the PRO SHOP, can we do a credit and I'll buy a Hoyt from you....I was told tough **** no returns period. EVER. 

Here's the best part, I didn't know this at the time, but I do now....Martin Pro Series and Rytera bows come with Stone Mountain strings on them. My original Shadowcat had a cheaper string on it, the same one found on the Gold Series bows. Come to find out, the 'PRO SHOP' new this, the PRO SHOP attempted to sell me Stone Mountain strings instead of informing me and Martin that the bow had been assembled with the wrong strings on it. The PRO SHOP shop had ample opportunity on several occassions while I was at the shop with the bow to inform me that it had the wrong strings on it. There is a very visible difference between the strings found on Pro Series/Rytera bows and Gold Series bows.

At every turn over the course of these limb failures and last weeks warranty return the PRO SHOP has been informed of the situation by me. I had the warranty returns being delivered through Wholesale Sports in Federal Way because I live 2 miles from WS, Martin was fine with this arrangement. The PRO SHOP knew that I was doing this each and every time. The PRO SHOP never said this was an issue.

The PRO SHOP on several occassions prior to purchase tried to steer me away from Martin and said on several occassions that Martin/Rytera bows were crap and that the limbs break all the time. The PRO SHOP bad mouthed Martin while I was having the limb issues with the bow of course. When Martin informed me that the new updated limbs for the Shadowcat would be from a well respected third party limb manufacturer (as seen on the Rytera Series), the PRO SHOP told me that Martin was lieing to me and that all of the Martin limbs were already made by this third party limb manufacturer.

SO NEEDLESS TO SAY IM ****'in ANGRY    I hope the pro shops happy with whatever money they made off me from selling me the Shadowcat.

[haus]

As for what bow I'm getting. Well I'll be working with Martin and trying another Shadowcat with the updated limbs or a Rytera Alien Z which they say they can get close to my 32" DL. At least 31 1/2". They informed me this time that the shop manager would assemble and test my bow before delivering it.

I will say again that through all of this Martin customer service has been good, the unfortunate disconnect between Martin CS and their shop has frustrated me greatly, Martin has acknowledged the problems, they've been very open about that, I hope for their sake that they get it all sorted out and find some form of quality control. Since my bows are tagged they know who the assemblers were, I was asked for that information too.

Man talk about an 'interesting' experience. sheesh. I'm really wishing I would have just purchased the bow through a Wholesale Sports that carries Pro Series. WS has been awesome at taking care of me and assisting me with Martin. They have treated me well since the first day I came into the store with my very first bow back in November, was just an old used Reflex Grizzly off of craigslist. I highly recommend their archery shop, which is a real pro shop far as I'm concerned. I'll recommend Martin too once they get their quality control squared away.  I hope this next one is gets the job done 

[CallMeBigPapa]

After all that your going for a third merry go round?



 

[haus]

After all that your going for a third merry go round?

Do I have another option?

[Ratdog68]

After all that your going for a third merry go round?

Do I have another option?

"Letter" time to the front office detailing your appreciation of the C/S staff's efforts and your serious gripe with the competency of the pro-shop staff... and the "unknown to you" policy that has you locked in to another go-round with their screw-ups... and your expectation of their assurance that the problem is addressed/fixed... and that you've earned a "perk" from the front office.

[garyltbh]

i wish you luck and hope in the end that you get taken care of i sure am glad that xXx archery isnt to far for me to go they have awsome custumer servise i no cory wouldnt have treated you that way good luck haus

[haus]

After all that your going for a third merry go round?

Do I have another option?

"Letter" time to the front office detailing your appreciation of the C/S staff's efforts and your serious gripe with the competency of the pro-shop staff... and the "unknown to you" policy that has you locked in to another go-round with their screw-ups... and your expectation of their assurance that the problem is addressed/fixed... and that you've earned a "perk" from the front office.

Sending inquiries to the BBB and state attorney general regarding the Pro Shop. Sending a letter to Martin detailing the communication between the Pro Shop and I. Per a phone conversation between Martin and I they're aware of some of it already.

Martin is assembling a Rytera Alien Z for me right now, scheduled to arrive by next Tuesday. Martin said they can get the Z close to 32" DL. Crossin' my fingers that it works out. I've never had the opportunity to shoot any Rytera before, Martin understands this and said if it ends up not fitting me well they will work with me on a different option, which pretty much means another Shadowcat.

[haus]

i wish you luck and hope in the end that you get taken care of i sure am glad that xXx archery isnt to far for me to go they have awsome custumer servise i no cory wouldnt have treated you that way good luck haus

Thanks Gary 
I met Cory and the rest of the guys from XXX down at the Portland Sportsmans Show, good bunch and have always been happy to answer my questions. If only they weren't 1 1/2hrs from me.  For some time we had been discussing a PSE Vendetta XL and the Hoyt Maxxis 35" since around that time Hoyt had announced they were putting a different limb on them to reach a DL of 32" or greater. Around the same time I had a chance to test a Shadowcat that an archery shop nearby had as a demo model, the specs were more in line with what I was looking for and after shooting one I went that route. In hindsight it was the wrong decision, but oh well whatcha gonna do. Hopefully in the end it is all for the better and the Z works out for me. I've certainly got to know the people at Martin/Rytera through all of this 

[Lowedog]

I think you should tell us who this "pro shop" is so we all know what kind of business they do.  Why in the world would they not give you a credit towards another bow if they were being refunded by Martin?!?

[jackelope]

sometimes a little drive is a small price to pay for good customer service.