We are honest souls and there are some things that you should be aware of when purchasing an English Willow cricket bat.
Bat Warranty only covers issues caused due to manufacturer's defect/fault. Cricket Bat is subject to outside forces, deteriorate over time and can be damaged accidently even in normal use. Such damage does not warrant the product as faulty.
- Bats are made of a natural material & have an incredibly hard task of hitting a solid Cricket Ball repeatedly.
- A cricket bat is not going to look new forever & cracks will appear.
- Cracks can occur during the knocking-In process & do not necessarily resemble a fault/defect
- Cracking may be an indication of insufficient knocking-In, improper preparation/use, soft willow etc.
- A small amount of cracking is normal & has no impact on the performance of the bat. These can usually be sanded down.
- The lifespan of a bat depends on the amount of use & care taken.
- Added protection such as Protective/Anti-Scuff & Toe Protection is highly recommended for enhanced longevity
- Some bats may require more/less preparation than initially advised.
- Knocking-In time is a general guide & does not mean that once you have completed the hours that your bat is ready, for example, if your knocking-In has not been performed up to standards you could spend 20+ hours on your bat and it may still not be ready.
- The price of a bat does not reflect the potential longevity of the willow. In fact, the more expensive bats are made of softer willow & though they will outperform cheaper bats, they may not last as long.
BAT WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER
- Yorker damage to the toe of the bat
- Damage that occurs due to lack of knocking-in/playing-in or inappropriate play.
- Damage that occurs due to poor preparation/maintenance (e.g. lack of toe guard, over/under oiling etc.)
- Damage due to moisture (wet weather) or heat (do not leave in car boot/direct sunlight etc.)
- Damage from non-leather or composite balls (including bowling machine balls)
- Improper use (including hitting things others than cricket balls – e.g. stumps, ground or other objects.
- Performance of the bat - because each bat is hand crafted and made from natural willow, the performance of each bat is unique and we make no warranties on the performance of the bat.
- Not Transferrable - If you happen to buy a bat we sold to someone, the Bat Warranty does not transfer. Bat Warranty claims can only be made by the original buyer after showing proof of original purchase.
BAT WARRANTY PROCESS
- When you purchase an English Willow Cricket Bat from Highmark Cricket, you can rest assured that your bat is covered by 12 month warranty for any manufacturing faults.
- The Cricket Bat warranty is a goodwill agreement offered by bat manufacturers to repair or replace a bat that has suffered damage deemed to be a manufacturing fault and no fault of the consumer. However, all warranty decisions are at the discretion of the manufacturer. Highmark Cricket will collect the information from the customer and discuss the warranty claim and the circumstances with the manufacturer.
- Approved warranty claims for broken handles and/or any other repairable damage may either be sent back to the manufacturer for repair or repaired locally, at the discretion of Highmark Cricket. It takes an average of 10-15 working days to assess and/or repair the problem in conjunction with manufacturer. If the bat is not deemed to be fixable to a reasonable standard then it may be replaced at the manufacturers discretion. It is important to note that a replacement handle will not affect the performance of a bat.
TERMS OF BAT REPAIR / REPLACEMENT
- Damage caused by dampness, swelling of toe or moisture damage – This is not a manufacturing defect and there is no obligation to replace or repair such damage.
- Edge or Toe cracks – Cricket Bats are made from natural material and cracks are normal and acceptable occurrences. This is not a manufacturing defect and bat will not be replaced or repaired under warranty. Customer may have the bat repaired at their expense.
- Handle Breaks – If the broken handle is deemed to be a manufacturing fault and no fault of the consumer, it is very likely the handle will be replaced and the bat repaired. The bat will NOT be replaced. In some instances, we may not be able to replace the original bat stickers after replacing the handle.
- Shoulder Crack – likely to be caused by a mis-hit or ball hitting the shoulder on the full. This is not a manufacturing defect and bat will not be replaced or repaired under warranty. Customer may have the bat repaired at their expense.
- Surface cracks and damage on the bat - Cricket Bats are made from natural material and cracks are normal and acceptable occurrences. This is not a manufacturing defect and bat will not be replaced or repaired under warranty. Customer may have the bat repaired at their expense.
- Major crack/break across the blade (excluding the toe) – if the crack across the blade is deemed to be a manufacturing fault and no fault of the consumer, the bat may be replaced or repaired under warranty.
RELATED TOPIC: Bat Care Instructions