How long should a cricket bat last?

advent1122

I bought a cricket bat from JJB for £25.
Granted it is not the best bat in the world but I thought it would be ok for a 14 year old.
Anyhoo. It split after a few practices sessions and 1 game.
I took it back to JJB was told it must be "knocked in".
I know zero about cricket so was unaware it needed to be "knocked in".
The guy swapped it for a new bat "even though I dont have to as it has been misused".
Now my boy took this bat with him to practice. I asked the guy who runs the cricket team about "knocking it in". He said it consists of hitting it with a mallet and rubbing oil into it. He could see my vacant stare so he said he would do it for me and bring it back to the next practice session.
He was true to his word and when he brought it back next time it looked a beaten and bruised work of art. He said it is supposed to look like that.
So off my boy goes with his bat and after the 30 minutes of practise the new bat splits.
I am off to the store again tomorrow with the damaged bat but I imagine they are going to be awkward as it is the second bat.
Surely, even a cheap bat should withstand a bit of wear and tear before it splits.
Wadda ya reckon.

mc33033

advent1122 wrote: »

I am off to the store again tomorrow with the damaged bat but I imagine they are going to be awkward as it is the second bat.
Surely, even a cheap bat should withstand a bit of wear and tear before it splits.
Wadda ya reckon.

If it's that critical that it requires extensive "running in" procedures they should have given instructions with it! Go back and ask for refund at this stage as the goods are not of satisfactory quality under SOGA 1979. You don't have to accept another replacement.

advent1122

Thanks for that.
I have no intention of replacing it, as it is obviously a piece of junk.
I wonder how many simpletons there are in the world, like me, who did not know a cricket bat must be beaten with a mallet before it is good to go?..... and even then it splits.
The thing is, this was classed as an adult bat so I can imagine it would take much more of a pounding if used by an adult rather than a 14 year old. I suppose it is the old saying, you get what you pay for.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

Tell your Son to stop mugging the local grannys with it.

Their metal hips split wood.

scullster

Yup, you're supposed to knock bats it but I wouldn't suspect it to split so quickly - you're 14y old is hardly facing Brett Lee is he? That said, I've never knocked a bat in or broken a bat.

I'll warn you now - their staff aren't the brightest I've come across so don't expect them to understand SOGA. I once despaired with them over a faulty pair of shorts I'd bought on a 2 for £20 deal (or £15 each) - I took one pair back faulty, they exchanged it and then tried to charge me an additional £5 as the single item price was £15 - They wanted me to go home and get the other pair despite the fact that they weren't faulty.

I got my one back though, when the next pair developed the same fault, I took back a rather damp sweaty pair which had cooked and soaked in the boot of my car on a sunny day!

Don't email their customer services using their customer services email address, they claimed never to have received my email.

Don't know if your bat is branded, I'd trade up and pay an extra £15 - £25 if you can afford it.

robgoingcrazy

I bought a Gunn & Moore Cricket bat in 1989. It split in about 2000, but I taped it up with masking tape and it still does a passable job.

Any cricket bat that splits like this is only designed for playing with tennis balls :rolleyes:

advent1122

They refunded me - no questions asked.
I was all ready with my argument and was prepared for war.
In I stroll.
Me "Excuse me. I bought the bat and it has split, this is the second bat and I followed the instructions given for knocking it in".
Saturday Kid "I will have to get the manager".
Manager arrives. I repeat my speech.
Manager "Do you want an exchange or refund"
Me "Errrrr..... Refund please"
Manager "Certainly Sir"

Off I trot, slightly dissapointed that I wasn't allowed to have an argument in a shop full of customers on a Saturday morning.

mc33033

advent1122 wrote: »

Off I trot, slightly dissapointed that I wasn't allowed to have an argument in a shop full of customers on a Saturday morning.

Manager wouldn't want to mess with an angry customer with damaged bat - anything to get that bat out of your hands just in case.... you know he was probably thinking along the lines LinasPilibaitisisbatman suggested

Well done though for a consumer getting the correct redress without a major fight :T

Halloway

advent1122 wrote: »

Off I trot, slightly dissapointed that I wasn't allowed to have an argument in a shop full of customers on a Saturday morning.

What a splendid attitude.