On 2011.08.06 I purchased a pair of Mares X-Stream Fins for $176.00 to replace a pair of heavy U.S. Divers fins I'd been using for 35 years, which I subsequently sold for $50.00 after purchasing my new fins.
With the big exception that one of the fins split at the end where they join two different parts of the fins together, I love the fins.
I even just purchased a new pair to replace them.
Now for the bad news...
I'm extremely disappointed that only after four years these fins split on the end. These fins probably cost four times what my original fins costs and didn't last but four years. To top that off, Mares won't do anything for me, since they are "out of warranty". I can't even find someone to send pictures to so I can show them what happened so they can try to do some quality checks on them and work to fix the problem in the future. They didn't try to help me out with any purchase of new fins. When I tried to contact the headquarters, which is very difficult to even find information to contact them, I've heard nothing.
I deal with a lot of companies and am always very happy and loyal when I find a company that you can contact, talk to, and they take care of you as a customer. That's NOT Mares. They are the complete opposite of say: SeaLife where I just spent $1,000 on a new camera. They talked to me, helped me with questions, and even sent me a free lens cover when I called an asked them about a situation. I called them several times and they always happily picked up the phone and helped me. Now that's a good company to do business with long-term. Another company I've had good dealings with is Reef - the company that makes sandals, just to name two.
What's up with Mares????
Why won't they provide a easy way to contact them and provide the ability to provide feedback on products that have quality issues?
I'd think they would want to work with their customers and take care of them, no?
Very frustrating.
If anyone knows how to get pictures of my split fins to them, I'd welcome the information.
If they won't help me, maybe it would help someone else in the future.
I now have a second pair of very expensive fins that I'm hoping the same thing doesn't happen to. Yes, I'm a wreck diver, a reef diver, a dry-suit diver, a Caribbean diver, I travel with the fins in a suitcase, etc. but for the price the fins should be bullet proof!
With the big exception that one of the fins split at the end where they join two different parts of the fins together, I love the fins.
I even just purchased a new pair to replace them.
Now for the bad news...
I'm extremely disappointed that only after four years these fins split on the end. These fins probably cost four times what my original fins costs and didn't last but four years. To top that off, Mares won't do anything for me, since they are "out of warranty". I can't even find someone to send pictures to so I can show them what happened so they can try to do some quality checks on them and work to fix the problem in the future. They didn't try to help me out with any purchase of new fins. When I tried to contact the headquarters, which is very difficult to even find information to contact them, I've heard nothing.
I deal with a lot of companies and am always very happy and loyal when I find a company that you can contact, talk to, and they take care of you as a customer. That's NOT Mares. They are the complete opposite of say: SeaLife where I just spent $1,000 on a new camera. They talked to me, helped me with questions, and even sent me a free lens cover when I called an asked them about a situation. I called them several times and they always happily picked up the phone and helped me. Now that's a good company to do business with long-term. Another company I've had good dealings with is Reef - the company that makes sandals, just to name two.
What's up with Mares????
Why won't they provide a easy way to contact them and provide the ability to provide feedback on products that have quality issues?
I'd think they would want to work with their customers and take care of them, no?
Very frustrating.
If anyone knows how to get pictures of my split fins to them, I'd welcome the information.
If they won't help me, maybe it would help someone else in the future.
I now have a second pair of very expensive fins that I'm hoping the same thing doesn't happen to. Yes, I'm a wreck diver, a reef diver, a dry-suit diver, a Caribbean diver, I travel with the fins in a suitcase, etc. but for the price the fins should be bullet proof!
