Oceanic Fins Snapped

[pongo1976]

I have just been Diving today, and one of my fins snapped right trough the plastic, they are Oceanic Vipers, I have only done 11 Dives with them from brand new, they snapped when I was finning, I purchased them from the Dive show at the NEC in 2008, from a Dutch Diving Company, I was wondering if it was worth contacting Oceanic directly, to explain the situation as surely something like this should not happen to something that is so new and hardly used, I am gutted as I really liked these fins, any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ChristianG]

I have just been Diving today, and one of my fins snapped right trough the plastic, they are Oceanic Vipers, I have only done 11 Dives with them from brand new, they snapped when I was finning, I purchased them from the Dive show at the NEC in 2008, from a Dutch Diving Company, I was wondering if it was worth contacting Oceanic directly, to explain the situation as surely something like this should not happen to something that is so new and hardly used, I am gutted as I really liked these fins, any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
"2008" might, might, be a problem.

Nevertheless I certainly think it's worth contacting Oceanic. Explain (exact dates) when you purchased them, and from whom - very politely - you can get argumentative if push eventually comes to shove, and ask them what they might do about it.

With any luck at all they'll ask you to send in both fins (because they really should want to see what happened) and replace them.

Why would they do this? Have regard to the fact that your fins were likely to be made in China, or Taiwan, or some such, rather than the USofA so they should certainly be interested in such a problem.

Having said that, things do break, regardless of safeguards, which is why we habitually carry spares.

[Andy (treerat)]

It's always worh asking the question - they may resolve or they may say sorry due to the time.

But worth a phone call.

If they don't want them back can I have the fin straps and buckles off of one of them please? Wife broke one of hers http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_18_7.gif

[Roz]

As you bought what is technically a "grey import" because it was purchased from a Dutch company at a UK Dive Show, your best course of action is to contact the European Distributor based in Germany.

E-mail: office@oceanicnet.de
Web: www.Oceanic.de

(I suspect that if you contact Oceanic UK, you'll be advised to contact the European distributor because it's their problem).

As Christian commented, with any luck they'll ask you to send in both fins (because they really should want to see what happened) and replace them. Don't count on it though because of the time frame.

On the face of it grey imports seem to be a cheap deal. However there is a lot to be said from buying from your local Dive Store/UK Dealer because when you need backup and when things go wrong, you've got the local support you need. It might actually be cheaper for you to chalk this one up to experience and walkaway. Before you do that though, take a photo and write an honest account to Oceanic Europe and email it though. You might get a positive response.

[DRW]

Here's a ScubaBoard thread started by an Oceanic Viper user with a similar breakage issue.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/oceanic/280537-oceanic-viper-fins-tale-broken-fins-confused-customer.html

Sounds like he got the runaround at first from both his local dive store and from the North American branches of Oceanic, but he eventually got his fins replaced, largely, I think, because he exposed, and continued to expose, the companies' bad service on ScubaBoard, which has many diving equipment representatives among its contributors.

Incidentally, these fins are made in China, if the review is to be believed at

http://www.divernet.com/Diving_Gear/group_tests/158704/28_fins_on_test.html

The fin's review says that "(the Oceanic Viper's) light weight will make it appeal to those who pack to travel". Another case of airlines selecting divers' fins for them. I think I'll keep away from airports and continue enjoying North Sea snorkelling, shod with my traditional and unbreakable rubber-bladed fins. :)

[Roz]

Incidentally, these fins are made in China, if the review is to be believed

I am sorry to dissolution, but you'll find the vast majority of diving equipment is manufactured in China. However there are some brands to manufacture in Italy.

[DRW]

I only mentioned China because ChristianG remarked:

Have regard to the fact that your fins were likely to be made in China, or Taiwan, or some such, rather than the USofA so they should certainly be interested in such a problem.

I don't know about "modern" diving gear, but the kind of traditional snorkelling gear I use is even nowadays still manufactured in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, France, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Japan as well as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia.

>you'll find the vast majority of diving equipment is manufactured in China. However there are some brands to manufacture in Italy.<

And the diving equipment companies who outsource manufacturing to the Far East have a responsibility to ensure the fitness for purpose of the goods that ultimately bear their name. Chinese-made products can be perfectly acceptable so long as the commissioning company elsewhere in the world takes its own responsibilities for safety and quality control seriously.

[pongo1976]

I posted my fins back to Oceanic uk on Wednesday night, and I have just got home from work this evening and a parcel from oceanic was waiting for me, I opened it up, and there was a brand new pair of fins inside the box, with a lovely letter inside as well.
I think Oceanic are absolutely brilliant, their after sales and customer service and the speed at which they dealt with my query is first class.
I highly recommend and endorse their products, and will be puchasing more equipment from them for sure.
Well done Oceanic, I couldn`t be happier. Thank you so. so much. Thank you Roz for pointing me in the right direction. I can`t thank you enough.