i use "stormsure". it is a type of glue, you dont need a patch with it, i recently repairs a hole about that big, i put some tape on the inside of the bladder and stuck the bladder in its proper position, then smeared this stuff over the rip, i was going to put a patch on top but it wasnt needed. i get it from clark rubber for $17.

WOW
I never expected a response like that. Brownee you are the man. I have sent you an email.

I have recently heard of an attatchment that you can put on your hand pump to measure the PSI. Is this true ??? How much are these???

and cliffor123 thanks for the stormsure tip.

quote:

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Originally posted by windangoesoff
My question ... how did this happen?

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A possibility, on the 2005 Yargas, near the leading edge valve, there is a written warning: 'Do not over-inflate'. Perhaps you did? As Brownee said, 6psi would be plenty, probably less when using with a 5th line.

Anyhow, by the sounds of it, you're gunna get it fixed quickly cost effectively. As always, outstanding customer service from BEST

Bo

Thanks Steve (kitepower) for responding

When I rang up I pretty much said what was written in the first post and the young guy I spoke to said it must of been how I rolled it up and it would cost me $50 to fix. Admittedly I didn't mention warranty (even though that is what I was thinking).

The size of my kite is a 13m. It was only the inner bladder that burst. How would this have been visable before it burst without pulling the bladder out through the zip and looking at it? How would assess that this is a warranty job or not?

I did think that $50 was a bit steep but now that you mention that it is guaranteed, thats a different story.

Do you fix it on the spot. If I do bring the kite up, it would be a special trip for it and it takes me over an hour to get to your shop. I would not want to make two trips.

I would like to add that when I bought the kite (off Peace) I was extremely happy with the service. Your shop is awesome.

quote:

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Originally posted by windangoesoff

Thanks Steve (kitepower) for responding

When I rang up I pretty much said what was written in the first post and the young guy I spoke to said it must of been how I rolled it up and it would cost me $50 to fix. Admittedly I didn't mention warranty (even though that is what I was thinking).

The size of my kite is a 13m. It was only the inner bladder that burst. How would this have been visable before it burst without pulling the bladder out through the zip and looking at it? How would assess that this is a warranty job or not?

I did think that $50 was a bit steep but now that you mention that it is guaranteed, thats a different story.

Do you fix it on the spot. If I do bring the kite up, it would be a special trip for it and it takes me over an hour to get to your shop. I would not want to make two trips.

I would like to add that when I bought the kite (off Peace) I was extremely happy with the service. Your shop is awesome.

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If it is a warranty, we will be replacing the bladder with a new one, and at this time of the year that would be done on the spot.
If I decide to repair the bladder, then I cannot do that on the spot usually, but at this time of the year there is a chance that I could because we are a lot quieter than in summer.
The problem would have been visible 100% for sure, there would have been substantial wrinkling or puckering of the leading edge bladder material in the area where the blow out happened. If you see this in future it is a sign that something is not right inside, so don't blow the kite up hard until it is examined and sorted.
Drop in with the kite, and I will sort you out, if by chance I cannot fix it on the spot then I will ship it back for you.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

quote:

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Originally posted by thetastate

quote:

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Originally posted by Kitepower Australia



The quote figure of $50 is reasonable as this would have covered removing and refitting the bladder and guaranteeing it too. All other brands of kites would have charged you at least triple to 5 times that for the bladder alone, and they would not offer a fast guaranteed repair service.

Steve McCormack

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Fair dinkum Steve, you are sounding more like an AlexShonkyGumballer spruiker with every post.

Can you not perceive the transparency of your propaganda? Other brands/distributors do honour warrantee claims, often including damage through misuse. Your shops and the Best brand do not have exclusivity on post sales support.

Perhaps I have misinterpreted your post Steve (I hope so), but to my reading there is a clear message: Don’t buy a kite from Kitepower if it is not a Best kite. They will not repair them (quickly) and will charge up to $250 for a replacement bladder.

Perhaps I'm missing something here, but the $50 quote was to repair the bladder, not remove and replace with new one. Why does it cost more to repair a bladder from brand x than a Best bladder? If it is a warrantee claim or repair, why is the price of a replacement bladder relevant?

Anyway, since when do brands offer a repair service? Specialist repairers yes, retailers perhaps, distributors perhaps. Excuse me Mr NobbyRash do you mind if I send my ripped X2 to your factory for repair...

FWIW - I have a Yarga 9. It’s fine. My Wipis (13.5 & 16.5) are fine, durable, and come with a gauge on the pump.

Mark

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G'day Mark
Hope you are enjoying your Yarga more than you seem to enjoy allowing me to try and help a customer.

You have taken part my message out of context, and misinterpreted it as well.

I can understand your misinterpretation of my meaning, but I cannot understand why you are so quick to accuse the owner of Best Kiteboarding and myself of being shonky? Or that I am always spruiking, or for that matter os is Alex Shogren?

I only want to help a customer. I am not implying that any other brand is inferior, or that they do not honour warranty. My comment did have something to do with the cost of most brands replacement bladders (and thats all) and I think that is obvious anyway.
I am not implying that I could not fix any other brand of bladder as easily as I can fix a Best bladder.
My posts on this matter had nothing to do with propaganda, you are imagining things.

I sell and service many different brands of kites, and will fix or service any brand of kite. I do not care where a person buys their kite, once they come into my stores.

I hope that has made things crystal clear for you.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

quote:

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Originally posted by thetastate

I thought this would be your position. I’ve read many of your posts here and on other forums. You clearly don’t struggle with language, but perhaps you were a tad sloppy on this occasion as the clear inference from your post was that other brands do not support repair of their kites.

You could not help but point out that other brands of kite are more expensive to repair with replacement parts. Why? The guy has a Yarga. The trick to marketing is to pimp your hoes without slaggin on your homies biatches.

I think I am struggling with the relationship between brand and retailer. The closer you align yourself to a particular brand the harder it is to offer credible independent advice. Just ask an IBM or HP management consultant.

Perhaps you meant that Kitepower offers a superior repair service to your clients and Best bladders are the cheapest…. or, perhaps you didn’t and Kitepower is actually Best Australia…

I think it’s great you are so active on forums and seem to genuinely try to help potential clients out. We all understand that you are running a business and not an NPO. FWIW You have offered valuable advice to me on a number of occasions. I am a client.

We are not Americans. Spruiking and pimping is often not as productive in this country. Why not leverage your vast experience in the industry by offering genuinely independent advice and service. Otherwise follow your current path and become a Best chain store. Just my opinion.

Mark

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Like I said Mark, I can understand your misinterpretation of my meaning, in the post of mine that you first replied to. However, your statement about "clear inferences" is pure conjecture on your part, and is something I have already denied, please let it go eh?

Kitepower recently repaired 2 04 SS Fuels, the kites were bought overseas, there was an issue with the bladders. SS Australia, replaced all the bladders - no questions asked. I could quote similar situations from all the brands we sell, have I made myself crystal clear yet?

I have a right to express or imply my opinion that bladder replacement prices are too high.

Kitepower represents Flexifoil, Ozone and Best in Australia, and sells North, Naish, Liquid Force, Slingshot, Peter Lynn. We service all these brands, and will repair any brand of kite. We have been providing independent advice to kiters for over 12 years, the only bias we have is towards good flight performance, top quality contruction and components, and backup/service.

Kitepower is an Australian company, family owned and run. I despise the "tall poppy syndrome" prevalent among Australians

I have no idea why you have something against Best or its owner, and I have even less idea why you have anything against me or Kitepower. If there is something you feel that you have been shortchanged on, please bring it to my attention, and I will do my best to sort it out to your satisfaction.

Otherwise I hope you can see that continuing to biatch about me or the owner of Best, is reflecting something about you more than it says anything about me or Alex Shogren of Best Kites.

There are no Best chain stores. If you continue to express your opinion and denigrate my family business, and others in the process, I have no choice other than to reply in the positive.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

Hello Windan-goes-off,
Slap a big piece of latex(old bladder) over the big hole and glue away dude. Keep on tweaking the repair until no more bubbles.
End of problem, happy kiter.

all that came from one guy asking about a bladder ?

quote:

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Originally posted by PsYLoR

OOOH - buy a Slingshot 'one pump' and you can shave 42 seconds off the pump time of your kite.

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Shave 42 seconds off your pump up time and then when you need to take that leading edge out expect to spend a good hour or two trying to put it back in and lineing up them f***ing outlet thingymajiggys

quote:

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Originally posted by PsYLoR

No way Matt, its all technique, SS are easy LE's to replace, feed it through nice & neatly exactly the same way you would do a North or Naish or Best then stick your finger in the holes along the LE where the outlets are meant to be and feel around for the valve then pull it through, easy.
Then pump up & check you didn't twist the LE when you pulled the valves through. I can replace a SS LE with 1 helper in less than 10min.

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The sequel to the original post ended today, windangoesoff turned up and I fixed his kite on the spot, teaching him how to repair and replace a bladder in the process.
Cost - NO CHARGE.

Your post could be seen to be an opportunity for a certain person associated with SS, to take over any thread containing a reference to the brand Best!



Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

All's well that ends well, good on ya steve.