Newly (damaged) Babolat APD 2013 & Trap Door Picture

kimbahpnam

kimbahpnam

Hall of Fame
I got my newly ordered Babolat APDs but they arrived damaged from TW, probably by the stringer...on both frames and at the exact same spot. Yea, yea they'll end up chipped anyway, but when I buy a new car I don't want any blemishes on it even though one day it will have some. I'm the one who should damage it!
m226910432.jpg

m226910431.jpg




I noticed they changed the inside of the handle. It used to be split into two columns down the middle but they took that out and now it's a big open space. This will make it easier for me to add silicone.
Also notice it looks like there's a bar attached to the top and bottom which might have to do with the dampening?
w226910430.jpg
 
C

Crozzer95

Hall of Fame
send them back. The new trap door system looks pretty good, but means no silicone can really be used in the handle now
 
Chotobaka

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
No way you should keep these unless you receive a meaningful discount. I have always found TW to be reasonable when problems arise, so I sure they will work something out with you. You might even prefer products (strings, over grips, etc.) with a value greater than whatever cash discount they might offer (since they are paying with wholesale dollars in that scenario).
 
canadad

canadad

Semi-Pro
I agree, send it back or inquire about some sort of amicable solution. I am so fussy about my stuff, that would bother me very much. The sooner the better so there is not doubt it is from their end.
 
D

Deleted member 232704

Guest
I'm not sure if i remember correctly but when i recieved my AeroPro Lite, it was split into 2 columns. Hmmm......
 
A

acura9927

Semi-Pro
My local shop did a scratch like that on my new racquet and
the mgr give me a new one and put the scratched one as a demo. Those 2013 are so nice feeling and looking I want one as a museum piece.
 
D

Deleted member 232704

Guest
acura9927 said:
My local shop did a scratch like that on my new racquet and
the mgr give me a new one and put the scratched one as a demo. Those 2013 are so nice feeling and looking I want one as a museum piece.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you went to Avanti Sports?
 
C

corners

Legend
Yeah, TW needs to replace or refund. And I'm sure they will. But you've got no business posting this here, publicly. This is between you and TW.
 
D

Deleted member 232704

Guest
Its not a big deal but when you pay for something new, you expect it to be new. It's no problem if after you buy it that you can do whatever you want with it. Its the fact that they weren't being careful with someones purchase from TW which can effect future purchases from TW and wouldn't look so great in there reputation.
 
grimmbomb21

grimmbomb21

Professional
Seth said:
Am I the only one who doesn't think it's that big of a deal?
Click to expand...

TW requires you to state chips and scratches to racquets you post in the for sale section. And they pay less money if there are paint chips on frames you sell back to them. So I think it's important to most.
 
T

tennisnut09

Rookie
The paint is very to chip and scratch on these new babs. My local stringer did scratch my PDR at the same area but it is much smaller and hard to notice so I let him get away with it. I would send these rackets back to TW. I think they will replace them.
 
db10s

db10s

Hall of Fame
Davis Cup Fan said:
Normally I would agree but he said it was at the exact same spot. Which I would assume then that the chips were cause by a mounting post. Probably taking it off or on the stringer.
Click to expand...

But when the paint is that crappy, is there anything the stringer can really do?
 
S

sundaypunch

Hall of Fame
db10s said:
But when the paint is that crappy, is there anything the stringer can really do?
Click to expand...


Ummm....how about if they don't gouge the racquet while they are stringing it? If you string racquets, you will realize that this looks like the person used a starting clamp to tighten their knots. This is a careless, amateur mistake and not something to be blamed on Babolat.
 
UCSF2012

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
That's not a paint chip. It's friction rub. Something rubbing against that area took off some paint with it. Happened because the frame ended in an almost knife-edge, so the mounts have to stabilize the frame using such small surface area. It's bound to happen sooner or later. Even if you exchange the frame, it'll happen again very soon.

I still have no reason to buy Bab. They crack, and now the paint rubs off.
 
Last edited:
UCSF2012

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
sundaypunch said:
Ummm....how about if they don't gouge the racquet while they are stringing it? If you string racquets, you will realize that this looks like the person used a starting clamp to tighten their knots. This is a careless, amateur mistake and not something to be blamed on Babolat.
Click to expand...

No, it's more Bab's fault than the stringer's. All the stringer did was mount it in a 6-point suspension stringing machine. Just so happens that frame design made it more susceptible to movement, because there's so little surface area for the mounts to grab on to. ...so the paint rubbed off.
 
firefox

firefox

Semi-Pro
I thought TW is still using Neos.? Neos mounting would not cause chips at that area. Even a proper 6 point mounting system should not cause damage to that spot.
 
db10s

db10s

Hall of Fame
IIRC TW uses a NEOS because when they did the low tension test he (can't remember who) found out how low the NEOS could go...
 
Chotobaka

Chotobaka

Hall of Fame
No matter the cause, brand new racquets should have never gone out the door in that condition. I have had a few new racquets strung over the years at TW with no imperfections at all. So, this is not their normal MO.
 
S

sundaypunch

Hall of Fame
firefox said:
I thought TW is still using Neos.? Neos mounting would not cause chips at that area. Even a proper 6 point mounting system should not cause damage to that spot.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what they say. Regardless of how it got scratched, they should have never packed those up and shipped them.

I am surprised as I have purchased many, many racquets from TW and never had a problem.
 
UCSF2012

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
They gave you a return label. Use it if a paint smudge matters that much to you. You spent $200 on a Babolat. That means you already got ripped off big time, so you might as well get a museum quality finish...even if it'll crack next week.
 
db10s

db10s

Hall of Fame
UCSF2012 said:
They gave you a return label. Use it if a paint smudge matters that much to you. You spent $200 on a Babolat. That means you already got ripped off big time, so you might as well get a museum quality finish...even if it'll crack next week.
Click to expand...

That was funny... but true...
 
UCSF2012

UCSF2012

Hall of Fame
db10s said:
I think it would be of benefit to use one type of machine, and people have asked before, and the answer from TW has always been a NEOS.
Click to expand...

Not to point out the obvious, but the implication here is that they don't exclusively use one machine.
 
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