Broken Win and Win Xpert Riser

[Fenbilly]

Hello, I have a Broken Win and Win Xpert Riser, The alloy has snapped near the top end of the bow, this is a major design fault, typically the riser broke at full draw, thankfully my limbs are OK.
I have tried to contact Win and Win Direct with no response. Has anyone made contact with this company with a similar issue?. Can anyone recommend any new contact details other than those on the web site....
This company seriously needs to sort out it service and customer care....
No wonder the Olympic champion has switched to Hoyt.......

[Whitehart]

Originally Posted by Fenbilly

Hello, I have a Broken Win and Win Xpert Riser, The alloy has snapped near the top end of the bow, this is a major design fault, typically the riser broke at full draw, thankfully my limbs are OK.
I have tried to contact Win and Win Direct with no response. Has anyone made contact with this company with a similar issue?. Can anyone recommend any new contact details other than those on the web site....
This company seriously needs to sort out it service and customer care....
No wonder the Olympic champion has switched to Hoyt.......

W&W work through Distributors and Certified Dealers, first port of call is the dealer you bought the riser from.

[Harrison Ooi]

Originally Posted by Fenbilly

Hello, I have a Broken Win and Win Xpert Riser, The alloy has snapped near the top end of the bow, this is a major design fault, typically the riser broke at full draw, thankfully my limbs are OK.
I have tried to contact Win and Win Direct with no response. Has anyone made contact with this company with a similar issue?. Can anyone recommend any new contact details other than those on the web site....
This company seriously needs to sort out it service and customer care....
No wonder the Olympic champion has switched to Hoyt.......

Wow!!!! How did it break?? I mean, clean off?or what?

[Fenbilly]

I recently approached Win and Win concerning my Xpert Riser breaking as a result from a serious design fault. I cannot believe the snotty response recieved from the so called Global Marketing team.
I will no longer purchase any W&W kit as a result.
The response came back stating my bow was over six years old (which it is not 2.5 years to be exact), W&W said my bow was 3 years out of production, strange as Quicks and other dealers sold them up to last year?.
For a top flight riser I would expect this to last atleast 8 years without serious fault?, or am I being unreasonable?
For all those considering or owning a W&W riser please read comments on the customer care page, this makes worrying reading.
I will now sell all my recurve kit including Winex Limbs............and buy a compound instead from an American company with a solid reputation and service back-up. No wonder the Olympic champion has defected to Hoyt!!!
Anyone wanting more information on this subject please write, I am seriously unhappy especially at this time (mid season)..

[Fenbilly]

Hello, the riser broke with a sudden crunch, hard to describe the sensation as I was shooting 90 metres at the time, I could not gain a consistant group, initially I thought the long rod was working loose, or top damper. I ended the session somewhat confused as I usually shoot pretty well. I also noticed my draw length had changed i,e longer, as a result of the riser flexing back (50ibs draw)...Luckily my Limbs are OK.

[greygoose]

Originally Posted by Fenbilly

I recently approached Win and Win concerning my Xpert Riser breaking as a result from a serious design fault. I cannot believe the snotty response recieved from the so called Global Marketing team.
I will no longer purchase any W&W kit as a result.
The response came back stating my bow was over six years old (which it is not 2.5 years to be exact), W&W said my bow was 3 years out of production, strange as Quicks and other dealers sold them up to last year?.
For a top flight riser I would expect this to last atleast 8 years without serious fault?, or am I being unreasonable?
For all those considering or owning a W&W riser please read comments on the customer care page, this makes worrying reading.
I will now sell all my recurve kit including Winex Limbs............and buy a compound instead from an American company with a solid reputation and service back-up. No wonder the Olympic champion has defected to Hoyt!!!
Anyone wanting more information on this subject please write, I am seriously unhappy especially at this time (mid season)..

Hi Fenbilly,
This is a shocking state of affairs.
Your first approach should be to the dealer you bought from. They are the ones who have your money and would certainly, (I would hope), give you a much more polite service.
A riser should not break, ever.
In view of the age, and guarantee period, it would depend on the good will of the dealer as to what they chose to do.
In spite of this I would not sell up and buy all new. It would cost a fortune and not "teach W&W a lesson" at all.
Greygoose

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Fenbilly

I recently approached Win and Win concerning my Xpert Riser breaking as a result from a serious design fault. I cannot believe the snotty response recieved from the so called Global Marketing team.

No excuse for a snotty response, and sorry to hear you've had a problem, but:

The response came back stating my bow was over six years old (which it is not 2.5 years to be exact),

It may have been manufactured 6 years ago and sat around until you bought it 2.5 years ago. The year of manufacture can usually be traced by the serial number.

W&W said my bow was 3 years out of production, strange as Quicks and other dealers sold them up to last year?.

Doesn't matter if dealers are still selling them - production may well have stopped 3 years ago but shops will still have stocks of them. I've got an 02 plate VW Golf - Iirc production of that particular model finished in 1999/2000.

For a top flight riser I would expect this to last atleast 8 years without serious fault?, or am I being unreasonable?

Unfortunately nothing seems to be built to last anymore

So what was the serious design flaw and what happened? Has this happened to anyone else?

[JohnK]

Nothing is unbreakable. While it is true that risers should undergo a certain amount of testing to ensure the design and materials can withstand normal or even heavy use, there is no production process that can ensure every one is perfect.

Just watch high-speed film footage of how much a riser flexes during the shot and you will see that they are susceptible to a great deal of stress.

I have heard of or seen problems with metal risers from every archery company I can think to name. Anyone who believes a riser should never break under normal use is setting themselves up to be surprised every time they hear of one breaking. It's an impossible standard to meet.

Back to the topic - as Dave points out, the riser is well out of normal warranty and so W&W aren't obliged to do anything for you. Personally, I think it's a shame they didn't think to offer you a good price on a current model as a replacement as a good will gesture. I know other archers who have had success when contacting W&W within the warranty period for their goods, and others who simply haven't had a reply. At least they took the time to actually trace the riser and contact you.

This isn't much consolation I know, especially as it seems you bought a riser that had been sitting gathering dust for ages. I would suggest that you talk to the shop and politely ask whether you can get a good price on a replacement. After all, it's in their best interests to retain your good will.

Best of luck, and glad to hear you weren't injured when the riser failed.

[Murray]

I agree with the guys above. Go back to your dealer as a first point of contact.

[darthTer]

What is the standard warranty on the W&W risers????

Personally, I can't understand your thinking.....especially if the std warranty is 12months.

You say that you bought the riser 2.5 years ago. I am assuming that you have not been reckless/careless with it in this time. The manufacturers warranty has lapsed. The riser has not been produced for 6 years. The riser has now developed a fatal flaw ie. it broke.....as far as I can tell, the manufacturer or even the supplier have absolutely no obligation to provide a replacement, either free or reduced price....

I for one would never even consider contacting the manufacturer or retailer under these circumstances....

Dave mentioned his 02-plate Golf.....would you go complaining to the Manuf/Retailer if someting broke, demanding a replacement or a reduction (without trade-in), on a new model - of course you wouldn't, it would be accepted as normal wear & tear on the vehicle...unless YOU can prove that it is indeed as a direct result of a design flaw.

Can it be proved that the riser failure was actually a result of poor deisgn, or even poor manufactuing???? If the answer is yes, I can then understand your position, or if the product carries some extended warranty which covers breakage.

Personally, I think your only option is to accept the breakage as a matter of course, and go out & get yourself a new riser.....

[Rik]

Originally Posted by greygoose

A riser should not break, ever.

Hmmm. That's a touch unreasonable....
I saw a YTSL break after a good 25 years of use. It had apparently developed a hairline crack from an earlier "ding" on the handle (post-mortem analysis). Things break.

2 and a half years does sound like an unreasonably short lifespan for a riser that has not been mis-treated, however.
First step, as ever is to speak to the dealer. Whatever you think of W&W, there is no contract with them. Their obligation ceases at "goodwill".

[sunmouse]

This worries me as my husband has a W&W Pro-accent riser and they aren't cheap things. Mine is a Hoyt and very well made.

First question to ask is whether you still have the receipt and all the warranty/guarantee information that went with the riser. If you're paying that much for a riser, then KEEP all the documentation that came with it and read it thoroughly. You may find, having read all their documentation, that you can't get any joy out of W&W even if you treated the bow with the best care imaginable. This may apply if it is out of warranty.

I'd have a chat with the dealer you bought it from and ask their advice. If you get absolutely no joy even out of the dealer, then buy another riser from a different company and chalk it up to rotten experience.

Best of luck with whatever happens.

[sunmouse]

I know this sounds like a daft (and rather pointless) question, but did you check the riser BEFORE you shot your 90M with it? Was there any indication before it failed that it was going to fail?

This sounds like a pretty serious manufacturing fault. This sort of high quality kit should stand a pretty heavy pounding before it goes and Win and Win's quality control (if it is worth anything) should have picked something like this up long before now.

I bet you're doing your nut! I certainly would be, but then I'm not particularly keen on the company's risers, as I prefer Hoyts. I think Earl Hoyt's gear has a higher standard of quality control, from what I've read.

[Fenbilly]

The breakage was concealed, i.e the aluminium that broke was covered by the carbon front only at full draw did the riser flex back and reveal the breakage.. Now the bow has relaxed, the alloy has remained racking back, revealing the 10mm square section of snapped alloy.
I have conserns for the latest carbon technology, as this surely cannot stand the test of time?. Your right Hoyt make some damn good kit, i chose Win and Win as I liked the weird looks and handling of the riser, it was very good but too neutral in the hand, almost dead feel.

[Whitehart]

Originally Posted by Fenbilly

I have conserns for the latest carbon technology, as this surely cannot stand the test of time?.

Proper carbon handles, not those that just use the material as a covering shell are stronger than most Alloy handles.

The FiberBow 5.99 is warantied (2 years) to 100lb draw @ 28" the only modification at this sort of weight is replacing the aluminium limb bolts with steel ones.