I reported earlier that my B70 Nero comp legskin developed a tear. I bought it the last day of LCM Nats in Portland on August 17. I swam 2 events in it there, one meet and 5 events in November, and finally 4 events at a meet in December. At the last meet a teammate noticed a tear developing. The hole looked like a seam or lamination in the fabric was letting go. The attached thumbnail shows the tear, which was above the stitched crotch seam and below the zipper. The stated warranty is 90 days, so I was about 3 weeks outside that when the tear developed.
I am 6'2" and 195, and the suit was a 30, so I was more or less within the guidelines. I also bought the size recommended by the vendor, Kastaway.
I didn't warm up or practice in the suit at all, and was pretty careful putting it on. When I looked at the tear closely, I didn't see any sign that I'd snagged it on something or torn it somehow.
I sent an email to blueseventy in Seattle, got a prompt response from Shawn Lucas and (indirectly) Roque Santos, and after I sent the picture, an RA#. I sent the torn suit back, and today received a brand spanking new replacement under warranty via UPS, no charge.
Excellent customer service, gentlemen, thank you!
I've mentioned before that I love the suit. I did not like my FS Pro full suit for breaststroke, but the B70, even with the full leg, works for all strokes.
I'm even happier with it now.
I've also had great customer sevice with Blue seventy with my Reaction wetsuit.
I started to get a tear in the seam under one of my arms. The suit was nearly 12 months old but I explained to them to them how I treated my suit when swimming and when it was in my closet just to verify that I hadn't done something wrong. I wanted to make sure that more tears wouldn't appear before race season started.
I was offered to get a return post slip and they would repair my suit for free.
Hi,
As a retailer, swimmer and triathlete, I have been consistently impressed with Blue Seventy on many fronts, most notably customer service at both the dealer and consumer level.
We (are small) but of our 50 Nero suits so far, we have had 3 suits either break a seam or tear. In every case the swimmer ended up with a new suit.
They are nice folks and really do seem to have their heads in the right place.
We can get bogged down with the rights and wrongs of modern tech-suits, but it seems that Roque (with Shawn on the inside warranty/CS desk) and his people at BS are really trying hard to do good and be good.
Tom
I recently, to my disappointment, had my first bad experience with customer service at B70. Three weeks ago, after only 4-5 swims, my almost new B70 got two rips. And it was not due to improper sizing or putting the suit on improperly. As everyone knows, I have an abundance of experience with B70s. I emailed the company and got a prompt response. I sent the suit back consistent with their directions the next day. And then nothing. Two follow up emails and nothing. I was told they were following up with the shipper and heard nothing. I had noted that I needed the suit to swim in a meet this weekend. As it turns out, I'm not swimming this weekend, but I am swimming next weekend. And I don't have a suit for Nats or other meets. Not thrilled with this development. I feel like I have no choice but to buy another suit as I have 3 more SCY meets coming up. But it likely won't be from B70 at this juncture.
I realize B70 has been around for awhile in the TRI world, but it was new to us in the last couple of years. I know people have disappointments, but overall I'd have to say that they are a phenomenal company that has earned an excellent reputation (for the most part), in USMS in a VERY short amount of time.
I'm still impressed with this company.
(nope, I'm not a paid employee!)
I realize B70 has been around for awhile in the TRI world, but it was new to us in the last couple of years. I know people have disappointments, but overall I'd have to say that they are a phenomenal company that has earned an excellent reputation (for the most part), in USMS in a VERY short amount of time.
I'm still impressed with this company.
(nope, I'm not a paid employee!)
Yeah, I agree. But when they promise a replacement in writing, they should mail the damn thing put. There was no indication whatsoever that they were out of my size.
My one, and only (and last), experience has been over the last 5 weeks. I ordered a $100 Nero Comp Swimskin in a 32. A few days later a package shows up.....its someone elses order from California! So I call their number, talk to someone and they say (as I suggested) I got his order, he got mine. So I say "email me a prepaid UPS label" and they say no problem. No email, no nothing. Call again, and again, and again.
Finally talk to a Megan and explain my ordeal and how I'm really pissed at B70 and its unacceptable. Of course they are now out of 32 Nero Comps so she got me a 10K (just a bigger zipper according to her) and threw in a pair of free goggles. Got it the next day. So SHE did her part, and I'm thankful. But the rest of the lot (including the one name I remember, Seth Raymond) can stick it. I won't be pushing your stuff.
Are they even manufacturing these suits anymore? If the failed suit happens to be out of stock, there might not be much B70 can do about it, short of a cash refund.
