Faulty Golf Club Refund - American Golf

gb17

Hi,

I was hoping someone could advise me on my rights. I would ideally like a full refund and I think I am entitled to one under the Consumer Rights Act due to the product being faulty and not fit for purpose but I have had some repairs so I’m not sure how that effects things?

(Apologies for the long story but I wanted to give you all the information)

I brought a set of Cobra golf clubs from American Golf the back end of last year and received a partial delivery as one club wasn't ready in time. I accepted it at the time and it’s not part of the issue but I thought it might be important as I'm not sure when the 6 months starts for the purposes of the Consumer Rights Act. I paid a deposit (between Xmas and New Year I think) and the rest on finance with the 1st finance payment being the 1st Feb.

I think I'm right in saying that the 1st club snapped within the 1st 6 months of me owning them and so I took it back and accepted a repair as per the warranty. I carried on playing with them for a few more weeks and then another club snapped. This time they sent the full set back to the manufacturer to be assessed/repaired.

This week a third club snapped. As you can imagine I'm not best pleased and I am worrying what’s going to happen when the 12 warranty runs out and they stop repairing them for free so I'm keen to cut my losses, get my money back and try another manufacturer (had Taylormade previously with no issues). I’m sure that American Golf aren’t going to do that willingly so it’s going to be a bit of a battle and I would be keen to know where I stand legally before I head in to the store.

Any help you can offer would be massively appreciated

Manxman_in_exile

Graphite or steel shafts? I think (although I may be wrong) that if a graphite shaft is weakened, from say contact with other clubs or the lip of the bag, it can be susceptible to snapping. The only steel shafts I've seen snap were done deliberately after the umpteenth wild shot into the trees!


I think I'd go and see the pro at my local club (or clubs) for advice. They may know if it's a common problem with this Cobra model.


You could also try asking on one of the golf magazine forums.


I'm not sure of the legal position. You had one shaft snap possibly within six months but that was satisfactorily(?) repaired. Then two different shafts failed after six months was up(?). I don't know how the law applies to "sets" of things made up of several individual items. I'm sure others will know.


EDIT: I've always found my local American Golf staff very helpful. Also, do you know what Cobra said when they assessed the clubs?


I suppose a PGA accredited golf pro might be able to give an independent report as to whether the clubs were inherently faulty

Manxman_in_exile

PS - any report from a pro as to whether the clubs are faulty or not would have to be independent - I presume this would exclude anyone who has given you lessons and also the pro at your local club (if you are a member and not pay as you play.)

gb17

Thanks for coming back to me.

They are steel shafts so I don’t understand why they keep snapping. One snapped at the range with the pro in the next bay (not quite watching but he’s taught me and knows my swing) and he was surprised that it was possible.

They are light shafts by design and my opinion is that they probably weren’t quite right for my swing speed from the outset but I went with the advice I was given by AG staff. That said they still shouldn’t snap with normal use.

The staff at AG have been good I’m just sure they are going to be trained to avoid refunds where possible meaning their first standpoint is going to be no until I convince them otherwise so knowing my legal standing would be useful.

Manxman_in_exile

I think you'll have to wait to see what other more knowledgeable posters suggest. It might also be helpful to have dates of purchase and shaft failures.


I'm not sure if it's relevant, but were these custom fitted for you by AG? If so I would certainly expect them to be suited to your swing speed - otherwise what's the point?


I think if you part paid on finance it may be that you have a potential claim against the finance co. but you need advice from others on here about that.

bris

It would be helpful for you to find other reviews of the same model of clubs having similar problems.


To have 3 snap under normal use would be very rare indeed bit if there are other complaints about this model then it helps you cause.


So basically you need an independent expert to write a report saying the clubs and inherently faulty because poor quality making them not fit for purpose. It might be difficult if no one else is complaining.

DoaM

I used to have a set of steel-shafted clubs ... the shaft of my pitching wedge snapped when I took a somewhat hefty divot. (I got it replaced OK under warranty - I can't remember where I got them from: it was a looooong time ago, long before graphite shafts became almost commonplace).