On with the story. We kept it in the wrapper and it was getting near nationals time, so we took it out and started playing with the bat to break it in for Alabama. Well as luck would have it, in June DD snaps it in half at a tournament. Needless to say we were both upset about it. I just wrote it off as $100 dollar loss, got the bat off the clearance rack and then talked the manager down another $25.
We got home and I started thinking maybe Miken would honor their warranty for the bat. I called and spoke to a customer service rep. and explained my situation. I told them I had a dated bat and it had broken during regular use at a game. The nice lady instructed me to complete their on-line registration form and obtain an authorization number. She said that they would honor the warranty as long as I sent the original receipt along with the bat to their offices. GREAT! I went to get the receipt and I examined it. I saw that the serial number was not the same as the one listed on the bat. YIKES! Apparently the clearance barcodes are all the same and the store just uses some generic code for these clearance bats. I thought this matter was done. Miken was certainly going to think that I was just trying to scam them. Come on! 2005 Miken, clearance purchase, different serial number and this guy wants us to replace his bat. Yeah right! I threw the bat in the closet and darn near forgot about it.
Well October hits and I see the bat. I say what the heck. It is only a few bucks to send the thing and all they can do is tell me "no". I package up the bat four months after speaking to the customer service rep. and ship it with the receipt with the wrong serial number on it. I do send a letter explaining the discrepancy with the items and I wait. BAM!!! 5 days later a brand new Miken ICON is on my door step. I could not believe it and DD was swinging the thing in the living room asking to go hit at the ball park. I expected IF WE GOT ANYTHING it would be a bat that they manufactured a couple of years ago and still had in the warehouse. To get their newest model was very exciting.
I wanted to share this with all of you. With the way they treated me I feel that I owe them good words on a forum like this. I know Miken does not get the attention of Anderson, Easton or Louisville Slugger (TPS), but I have always liked their products and I am certainly impressed with their customer service. DD has not hit with the ICON yet, but we play this weekend
and she will take some cuts with it to be sure. Thanks for your time. Miken has my business!Ernest V. Robles
Houston Power 14u
