Think Evo - Experiences

Three comments:

1) All the Think skis I've paddled or seen in Australia have been of very good quality. The Chinese ones seem particularly good.

2) If your a manufacturer you'd be mad responding on a forum to a complaint like this. Besides the two parties involved, no one really know who said what....but for some reason manufacturers always seem to come out second best.

3) You really do have open packaging and inspect before signing off on a transporters delivery form. Regardless of whether your buying a ski or a refrigerator. Once you sign that form stating that the item was received in good order it's a battle for anyone (buyer or manufacturer) to seek recourse from the transporter. It is not fair that the manufacturer should have to bare costs if it was genuinely damaged in transport. The Wal-marts of world may be able to do so, but cottage industries can't afford to.

Manufacturers who don't stand behind their products come out second best (at best).

Any manufacturer that has done the right thing and responds with honesty, can only come off better in the face this forum.

If you have skeletons in the closet, then who's fault is that.

A frank admission of letting a faulty product slip through the net, and the action of fixing the problem promptly, can only enhance their reputation.

Things like telling a customer to get some epoxy and fix it himself?
Well, need any more be said.
Shot yourself in the foot comes to mind.

Something like a leaking rudder shaft may be very difficult to detect, unless there is obvious damage to the packaging.
Especially for a buyer who has no idea of it's construction.
If there is no damage to packaging, then damage in transport falls to the manufacturer for poor packaging.

I have no stake in this, I don't own a Think ski, the only Think ski's I have seen have been rather nice.

Maybe manufacturers simply need to learn how to communicate with their customers better, follow up better to ensure that problems are solved and expectations are met.
If a manufacturer thinks that there isn't a problem when the customer clearly thinks there is? What to do?
You gotta follow through until you are both on the same plane.
If either side holds out with honesty, then how can the relationship work?

I was the guy that started this discussion thread a few weeks back. I wanted to let everyone know for the record that Think Kayaks and the dealer fully refunded the money I paid for the Think Evo that I returned.

I have check a Think evo in Spain. The same big problem with the holes around hull and on cockpit. I think do to the fact that epoxi is not as sure as gelcoat I am afraid.
The after service in Spain a real disaster They only take a container and when finish sales they ask for an other container for the next season. Meanwhile, if you have any claim or question they normally don´t replay. Sales in Spain has not the support of anybody. The owners of the distribution lives in Portugal ?¿?¿?¿

After reading all this bad experiences that confirm my own experience I have decided to buy a Zedtech Griffin ** in gelcoat. Zeztech is a very well known Portuguese manufacturer of racing K1, all over the world.His quality is perfect and the price is also very competitive.

I could not well understand why a surfski made in China that has a cost approx of 350 euros, no more, the same surfski in Spain is commercialised at 1800 euros . Transport or to much distributors profit?

slim white wrote: After reading all this bad experiences that confirm my own experience

Slimwhite, what experience have you had with a Think Evo, you were just asking 2 weeks ago about how it went on flat water?

slim white wrote: I have decided to buy a Zedtech Griffin ** in gelcoat. Zeztech is a very well known Portuguese manufacturer of racing K1, all over the world.His quality is perfect and the price is also very competitive.

Great and I hope you enjoy the ski, but don't you think it's a bit rude to post this under a rival manufacturers problems thread, it sounds like you want to give Think a kick and then point people to another brand

No , absolutely NOOOOO. If so many problems as described in that forum and my own experience, you will clearly understand that I am totally afraid to end and follow with the problems and inconveniences, as occur to the other friends, with a rubbish brain. The reason to describe my chance in mind, is only and exclusively as a general information and also pointing that Zedtech surfskis are made in Portugal, no in Chine.

My own experience sailing was enough good, but I am only mentioning holes in hull and cover, and also, remembering now, issues of water thought the ruder system

Interestingly enough, for me, this thread and the couple around since this thread on the same subject, have only left me with a mindset that I would be happy to purchase a Think ski.
(Certainly considering to do so right now)

The manufacturer come on board and has since engaged with the community in a way that others haven't.

The only problems I have heard about locally have been dealt with in an exemplary way.

Unlike my current ski which is in limbo at the moment.

Hello All,
The distributor of Think Kayak in Spain is KDM Levante, based near Valencia. I know very well that their level of customer service, and commitment to providing a quality product is very high. Are you certain you are contacting the correct people? Please send me your direct email, and I will make sure they get in touch with you. As to the cost of producing the product; carbon, kevlar, honeycomb, epoxy, etc, have a similar cost all around the world. The team in China building the boats is highly skilled at what they do, as I'm sure are the builders in Portugal. Please don't suggest we build boats cheap, and then charge too much money. It's simply not true.
Best regards,
Daryl

I don´t want polemics. I have hear commentaries from users of Think Evo, not addressed directly to KDM Levante, they mention only the after service from who sales them the surfski. I have not any problem with KDM Levante that I have contact with Paola,one year ago, once only for information about a Sea-kayak.