Bad experience with RacketAid... anyone use them?

[initialize]

I heard about them through the YT channel Tennis Spin, so I figured they must be decent since they're sponsoring them. This was my first time using a mail-in stringing service.


Anyway, I sent in a Yonex Rd-7 and a Head Youtek Microgel Prestige with my own strings a few weeks ago. They say their turn-around time is just a few days, but I still haven't gotten my rackets back. No emails or anything. I tracked the shipment to their facility using USPS and my rackets definitely made it there a couple days after I shipped them.

I talked to someone through their online messenger and they said they'll get back to me (this was last week with no follow-up response from them yet) as well as an email... they don't appear to have a phone number listed that I can see.


Needless to say I'm pretty pissed... what can/should I do at this point?

 

[blablavla]

I think you posted in the wrong forum

 

[Rabbit]

I think the forum is fine. Do you think pursuing a claim with UPS would be appropriate at this point? I think you get $500 in insurance.

 

[CosmosMpower]

I think the forum is fine. Do you think pursuing a claim with UPS would be appropriate at this point? I think you get $500 in insurance.

If the receiver signed for them there's nothing UPS will do about it. The racquets weren't lost.

That's what you get for listening to that hack on tennis spin. I'd send a strongly worded email and threaten some legal action if they don't respond.

 

[CosmosMpower]

hope you get your rackets back.
The guy is an absolute joke. This morning, he ignored a 1 cm balance discrepancy in 2 identical Blades only to draw a conclusion about grip overlap.

I remember when he posted a video about a leather grip adding a bunch of SW and then to prove it, he took off the stock grip, put on a leather grip and was confused when it didn't add any SW points.

 

[GrandSlam45]

I was wondering about this service after hearing about recently. Is it really $49 per racquet? That's a lot more expensive than how much I pay for stringing locally.

 

[norcal]

I remember when he posted a video about a leather grip adding a bunch of SW and then to prove it, he took off the stock grip, put on a leather grip and was confused when it didn't add any SW points.

I always thought adding weight anywhere, even when making the balance more headlight, makes the swingweight go up. So adding a heavier grip *should* add SW points. Right?

 

[CosmosMpower]

I always thought adding weight anywhere, even when making the balance more headlight, makes the swingweight go up. So adding a heavier grip *should* add SW points. Right?

Nope

 

[CosmosMpower]

I was wondering about this service after hearing about recently. Is it really $49 per racquet? That's a lot more expensive than how much I pay for stringing locally.

That better include shipping both ways. I'm sure they get a huge shipping discount too. Probably 50% for ground.

 

[Irvin]

I always thought adding weight anywhere, even when making the balance more headlight, makes the swingweight go up. So adding a heavier grip *should* add SW points. Right?

Yes it will but not very much. The reason being that weight added to the handle increases inertia but it also lowers the balance. SW is measured 10 cm from the butt so the lower you more the balance the lower your SW will be. I don’t mean adding weight lowers SW but lowering balance does. Adding weight always increases inertia. Hope that’s not too confusing.

 

[norcal]

Yes it will but not very much. The reason being that weight added to the handle increases inertia but it also lowers the balance. SW is measured 10 cm from the butt so the lower you more the balance the lower your SW will be. I don’t mean adding weight lowers SW but lowering balance does. Adding weight always increases inertia. Hope that’s not too confusing.

I know what you mean, it's counter-intuitive. I tailweight my rackets quite a bit so it feels lighter to swing even though the swingweight has gone up - heavier yet more maneuverable.
My Yonex's go from 312g/312sw strung to 347g/328sw weighted but the headlight balance makes them swing lighter.

As for OP - learn to string, it will save you lots of $$ and hassle.

 

[GrandSlam45]

It's funny. I agree, yet i still watch him on occasion.
And cringe...

His shop looks pretty nice though. If it was a little closer to where I live, I'd probably go there to buy gear. I believe that's the shop in Marin owned by Brad Gilbert, correct?

 

[Wes]

His shop looks pretty nice though. If it was a little closer to where I live, I'd probably go there to buy gear. I believe that's the shop in Marin owned by Brad Gilbert, correct?

That seems to be the prevailing consensus.
I have no way of knowing for sure.

Interesting that he never mentions this little tid-bit, huh?
He just allows people to think that, by default, he must be the owner.

 

[loosegroove]

That seems to be the prevailing consensus.
I have no way of knowing for sure.

Interesting that he never mentions this little tid-bit, huh?
He just allows people to think that, by default, he must be the owner.

Ha, I don't really watch his videos, but I always assumed he was the owner of the shop. I guess I have way too much time on my hands because I decided to quickly internet sleuth to substantiate your claim. And here you go! First screenshot is taken from Tennis Spin's tour of the store video.

 

[struggle]

Makes sense, doesn't it?....Brad being Brad and all....

 

[CosmosMpower]

Ha, I don't really watch his videos, but I always assumed he was the owner of the shop. I guess I have way too much time on my hands because I decided to quickly internet sleuth to substantiate your claim. And here you go! First screenshot is taken from Tennis Spin's tour of the store video.

No wonder he just throws racquets on the floor and randomly unwraps frames to check specs and do videos, it's not his stuff.

 

[Jster]

If the receiver signed for them there's nothing UPS will do about it. The racquets weren't lost.

That's what you get for listening to that hack on tennis spin. I'd send a strongly worded email and threaten some legal action if they don't respond.

It is perfectly legal not to threaten Racketaid.
Just do it without warning.

 

[Rabbit]

So....I'm getting the idea that Brad Gilbert is not much of a business man and that his shop is more of a hobby than a money making enterprise.

 

[GrandSlam45]

So....I'm getting the idea that Brad Gilbert is not much of a business man and that his shop is more of a hobby than a money making enterprise.

That's probably not too far from the truth. I think he opened the shop not so much to make money, but for his passion for the sport. Most tennis shops in the Bay Area are a joke -- catering to kids and hackers, and only carry The Big 4 - Babolat, Prince, Wilson, and Head.

Yonex?? Uh, I think we can special order that. Volkl? Never heard of it... is that a car? You want the Pro model? How could anyone play with a racquet heavier than 11oz??? You must not be a kid or a hacker. Off to Tennis Warehouse you go!

Seriously though, the first thing I noticed about Brad's shop is they carry high quality gear. So I'm sure he has a say about the inventory at least.

 

[norcal]

Ha I used to play on Brad Gilbert Court! Nice little facility in the Oakland Hills.

 

[smboogie]

I like his videos but agree I find some of his 'data' a bit odd and easy to shut down.
There is a nice shop in Mtn View, CA, Swetka's that is nice for those in the Bay Area.

Overall the Tennis Spin guy talks like he is some amazing tennis player, then I see him swing and move.

 

[esgee48]

I stay away from Swetka's Tennis Shop because of his used racquets bin. [Racquetholics!] And he matches online prices too.

 

[Rabbit]

Overall the Tennis Spin guy talks like he is some amazing tennis player, then I see him swing and move.

Yeah, I'm going to be 63 in a couple of weeks and he makes me feel good about my game and movement.

 

[struggle]

Ha I used to play on Brad Gilbert Court! Nice little facility in the Oakland Hills.

Where is this? I lived in Oakland for a bout three years, 20 years ago. Was on tennis hiatus at the time.

 

[struggle]

Seems like for a few racketaid services, a man could just send it to Tennis Spin. Guy seems to have time on his hands.

 

[Rabbit]

@struggle

LOTS.....OODLES.....paid retirement!

 

[norcal]

Where is this? I lived in Oakland for a bout three years, 20 years ago. Was on tennis hiatus at the time.

It's called 'Davies Tennis Center', it's right around the border of Piedmont and Oakland in the hills. Almost impossible to find if you don't know it's there (which is probably why you never saw it).
My employer has an office in Oakland so I used to play there when in town for work. Nice public facility. Pic of me pre-covid (haven't been since).

 

[Rabbit]

@norcal - that is SWEET! I grew up in California. I miss it terribly now. The weather and natural scenery is just magnificent.

 

[Stefanm]

Seems like for a few racketaid services, a man could just send it to Tennis Spin. Guy seems to have time on his hands.

It seems like he spends more time shooting videos than managing the shop

 

[loosegroove]

@norcal - that is SWEET! I grew up in California. I miss it terribly now. The weather and natural scenery is just magnificent.

Almost all the courts by me now are right off of busy roads, with Harleys, dump trucks, and tuned exhausts screaming by. In the Bay Area I'd be playing surrounded by friggin redwoods! Though I barely played tennis when I lived out there.

 

[Papa Mango]

It's called 'Davies Tennis Center', it's right around the border of Piedmont and Oakland in the hills. Almost impossible to find if you don't know it's there (which is probably why you never saw it).
My employer has an office in Oakland so I used to play there when in town for work. Nice public facility. Pic of me pre-covid (haven't been since).

Unfortunately they have let most of the staff go. I think there is only the tennis director and one more person there. The courts still look pretty clean in your pic. Played there a few weeks ago, they are dusty and slick now.
It is fun playing on these courts though, on a nice warm day there is usually a 10-15 degree difference between the sunny and shady sides

 

[CosmosMpower]

I like his videos but agree I find some of his 'data' a bit odd and easy to shut down.
There is a nice shop in Mtn View, CA, Swetka's that is nice for those in the Bay Area.

Overall the Tennis Spin guy talks like he is some amazing tennis player, then I see him swing and move.

His swing looks like he’s having a major medical event that requires emergency personnel to attend to him