Emailed Evenflo about knob damage and bruising

[Mommy0608]

Well, I did it! Yesterday afternoon I emailed Evenflo about the damage to my vehicle seat from the knob as well as the constant bruise on DD's back. I haven't heard back yet, but hopefully they'll reply soon. Anyone else email them? How long did it take to get a response? I attached a picture of the vehicle seat damage to the message. I'm curious to find out what they say. I'll be sure to post an update when I hear back from them! :thumbsup:

[Maggie]

Somewhere on the site it said within 48 hrs. Mine was almost 48 on the dot. I got an email from Stacey Blaine, it said she'd contact me via phone. Which she did within the next 24 hrs. They were VERY helpful.

[Mommy0608]

That's good to hear! I forgot that it said 48 hours... now that I think about it, I do recall seeing that. Hopefully I'll have a good experience like you did. :thumbsup:

[NannyMom]

I'm interested to hear what they say.

[Brycen'sMommy]

I emailed Evenflo yesterday too about our EFTA. We bought it a few months ago and the red tabs irritated my DD's neck and the harness adjustment knobs were completely inaccessible RF in our car. I wanted to return it but my DH threw away the box. So it has just been sitting in my house while I decided what to do with it. I'm disappointed because I really liked the seat but it just needs a few minor adjustments to make it better.

[NannyMom]

I emailed Evenflo yesterday too about our EFTA. We bought it a few months ago and the red tabs irritated my DD's neck and the harness adjustment knobs were completely inaccessible RF in our car. I wanted to return it but my DH threw away the box. So it has just been sitting in my house while I decided what to do with it. I'm disappointed because I really liked the seat but it just needs a few minor adjustments to make it better.

Where did you buy it? I know BRU doesn't require a box for returns (at least the one here).

[Brycen'sMommy]

Where did you buy it? I know BRU doesn't require a box for returns (at least the one here).

I bought it at Target.

[Kat_Momof3]

the poster whose child got an actual welt got a refund... all she had to send was a piece of the straps.

not sure if you two will get that same great service, but I'd be pushing for it if I were you guys, since these are very real and valid concerns you have

[Maggie]

I was able to get a full refund (not including tax) I had to cut the straps off and mail them in so they knew I wasn't getting a refund and still using (or selling) the seat. Yes, if it is a problem let them know! That's the only way they'll know that it's a concern and problem.

If they could do something to remedy the problem I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

[Mommy0608]

I'm glad the service was so good! I hesitated to contact them because I'm not usually one to complain about a product, but since it's leaving a bruise on my DD (it's always a light purplish color, and when she's wearing very thin clothes it also has a big red welt over it) and damaging my vehicle seat, I figured it was worth alerting them.

Hopefully I'll get a response tomorrow, and I'll post an update. :thumbsup:

[Judi]

Can't wait to hear!

[Brycen'sMommy]

the poster whose child got an actual welt got a refund... all she had to send was a piece of the straps.

not sure if you two will get that same great service, but I'd be pushing for it if I were you guys, since these are very real and valid concerns you have

Actually, I didn't email them expecting compensation. I just wanted them to be aware of the problems I had, which I know are common, so that they could correct them.

[Kat_Momof3]

Oh, I know that... I'm saying that based on the history... this not being a thing with only one child and them having a history of compensating.... I'd change my expectations and try for a refund.

[stephie1012]

let us know if they get back to you...i got the envelope to mail the straps back to them the other day im going to put it in the mail tomorrow. Everyone was really nice there. My friend on another board her DS (hes 3.5 RFing) also gets a bruise on his back, shes going to call them as well. I called them and had everything taken care of in less then 15minutes.
The knob damaged your cars seat? thats crazy!

[Mommy0608]

It's nearing the 48 hour mark, and no response yet. :(

I don't know what I had in mind as far as a solution. I just really want them to consider these issues; hopefully with enough people bringing it to their attention, they'll consider redesigning the seat. Overall I think it's a great seat for the price, so I'm bummed that it has these problems that could potentially effect a large number of their customers.

I'll start a new thread when I get a response. I keep refreshing my inbox hoping for a response. :p

[solmama]

The red tabs on the EFTA irritated my ds, as well. I contacted Evenflo and they refunded my money. I had to cut off the straps of the seat, but since we weren't using it anyway, not a bad deal. And the Learning Curve 50% off coupon code was out that week, so I got a TF for half off!

[Mommy0608]

A TF for half off?!? :jaw:

49 hours and counting... :rolleyes:

[Maggie]

I just checked my email and I was wrong, it was a bit longer than 48 hrs. I sent the email Friday afternoon and got a response Wednesday afternoon. So not including the weekend it was 3 days, not 2.

Also, the email sender didn't say Evenflo. It said Cole, Jessica.

[Mommy0608]

Oh okay. I will wait until tomorrow, and if I don't get a response by then I will call. Thanks!

[jewlsvern]

I've always just called and they are always very accomodating on the phone. I would want to wait 2-3 days for an email. So I always just call.

[Mommy0608]

Question for those of you who received refunds... how long had you owned the seat? We've had the seat for about 13 months, so I'm not sure what to expect in terms of reimbursement. I didn't really notice how bad the vehicle seat damage was until recently because we never have to move the car seat. :rolleyes:

[Maggie]

We'd only had ours for about 1.5 months. I don't remember them asking me though.

[Mommy0608]

Did they require the receipt? I have the receipt, but bought it at Burlington Coat Factory and the receipt doesn't give a description of the item. I bought a few clothing items in the same transaction, and every item rang up with the description "Kids" followed by the item number (presumably the UPC).

[Maggie]

Nope. They asked where I got it from. They probably know how much each store sells it for? They never asked how much I paid for it but told me they'd refund me for $140, which is what I paid.

They sent me a self addressed, self stamped envelope. I had to cut off the straps and mail them the straps, buckles and chest clip.

[stephie1012]

i had mine about 3months i think maybe less..no receipt they asked where i bought it and if i remembered how i much paid that was it..what did it do to ur seat

[Mommy0608]

Well, I broke down and called just now. :o

First of all, the representative was very nice. :thumbsup: She asked several questions, including the age of my "baby" and was very surprised when I gave her birthdate. ;) Anyway, I described the vehicle seat damage and bruising, and she requested a pic of the seat installed in the vehicle showing how the knobs hit the seat. I will be sending that later. They are going to send me a refund after I send in the straps.

This part shocked me though. She INSISTED that I put a blanket :eek: or towel under my car seat (for their products or ANY car seat, regardless of manufacturer!) to protect the vehicle seats. I explained that as a certified CPST, I will not do that because of compression. She said she used to be certified (certified in what?) and that they recommended this for everyone. Um, no thanks. :thumbsdown:

So.... now I get to pick out MATCHING SEATS! :whistle: I was already in the market for a new seat for when Tyler outgrows the SS1, now I need two. This Friday I'm trying out the Radian and True Fit (thanks Brie!) and will decide between the two.

[Mommy0608]

I posted this thread (http://car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=77338) a few days ago with pics of the damage.

[Maggie]

I'm glad they offered you a refund but EEEK on the blanket. The person I talked to, Stacey, was very supportive and told me it was awesome when I told her the age of my "baby". She first asked if the seat was RF or FF. I said RF and then she asked the age. She was glad to hear she was RF.

I sent my straps in last Thursday, so I'm hoping to get my refund soon.

[snowbird25ca]

I think the thin towel or seat protector thing is becoming more and more widespread. It's in every Graco manual now, so I wonder if it's going to start becoming a more common recommendation? I think her choice of words was poor because we think of a blanket as thick, but there's no risk is using a thin towel. ;)

I'm glad you've been able to get a satisfactory resolution. I've always had good service whenever I've talked to Evenflo on the phone.

What are you planning to do about the spot where the SS1 base has rubbed? Do you figure that will just disappear with time? I've be half tempted to contact Honda and complain to them since both your seats caused upholstery damage...

[Mommy0608]

I spoke to someone different and she was glad to hear that my "baby" of this age was still RF. :thumbsup:

I haven't decided what to do about the SS1 base yet. I haven't called Graco, but DH thinks I should. The damage isn't quite as bad, but it will get worse the longer I use it, I'm sure. I never thought about contacting Honda... I wonder if they'd just blame the car seats? Hmm. I'll see what DH thinks, maybe he'll want to call. He's pretty upset about the damage from both seats.

Thin towels under seats are fine of course, and receiving blankets, but when I told her that a blanket could be too thick, she said that it doesn't matter, it's to protect the vehicle seat. She didn't seem to think there was a risk of compression. :( I didn't pursue it any further, I told her what I think, and she disagreed. I think the worst part is that she's recommending this for ALL car seats, regardless of manufacturer, which could be a liability issue for them.

I feel kind of bad destroying the seat. :o I think I'm going to offer it to the local Safe Kids (cough-Carrie-cough) to see if they want it for training purposes. It won't have straps of course, but it could still be used for installation practice.

[Maggie]

I had a hard time taking scissors to a 3 month old seat and then throwing it away.

[Mommy0608]

I had a hard time taking scissors to a 3 month old seat and then throwing it away.

I would too. :crying:

Hopefully I can find a good home for it, where it can live out it's life gloriously teaching future CPSTs about installation.

[hsjwmom]

You could also see if someone needs a spare cover. :shrug-shoulders:

[twinsmom]

Oh my gosh hsjwmom, your siggy pic is SO cute! I love the little baby seat between the Regents!:D

[Kat_Momof3]

I agree.. sell the cover or let your dd use it as a tv chair when it's fully upright and against a wall?

I'm glad you're getting a refund... and I vote for truefits!

[veggiegirl228]

I'm glad that you are getting somewhere on the issue. I called them about a yr ago since the red tabs was leaving red marks on dd and I didn't send the straps in as I didn't have another seat (before TF) to chose from.

[hsjwmom]

Oh my gosh hsjwmom, your siggy pic is SO cute! I love the little baby seat between the Regents!:D

Thanks. :) The girls take turns buckling their toys into the Joovy seat. I can't fit anything else there, so I didn't mind using the space.