ANOTHER shoddy Dorel product?

[Misty-Bug]

Ok this is from MY experience but if you have the following product DO NOT use it. DO NOT recommend it or buy it.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/pTRUCA1-4319064dt.jpg

so my husband and I were installing it (tricky location in his van). We didn't even have the DANG THING tight when THIS happened:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/June11007.jpg

Yep you are seeing what you think you are seeing. It SHEARED right off. Completely broke. It wasn't even fully tight yet! My husband is a mechanic and it is pretty straight forward how to do this but I couldn't believe it!

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/June11004.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f12/Misty-bug/carseats/June11002.jpg

Dorel will be getting a call from me tomorrow. I can't take it back because I am using the big washer and the hook itself. My husband used stainless steel bolt and nut this time around and that sucker is not going anywhere. But I couldn't BELIEVE this happened!!!

[ketchupqueen]

You should probably also report that to TC.

[snowbird25ca]

It's worth reporting to TC, the tough thing is we don't recommend the use of those tether anchors anymore because there can be problems with metric vs. standard bolts vs. pre-drilled holes. As a result we've moved to telling everyone to get the hardware from the manufacturer even if installing it for themselves.

Parents obviously still buy these though, so it's definitely worth reporting. I'm honestly not sure if there's any kind of regulation in regards to that or not though. I could see it technically being considered an aftermarket product. :confused:

[Misty-Bug]

anyone have the TC phone number because I definately will report it!

I went to get it done at the dealership but the guy told me because the van was a '93 it was not free. That there is a 10 year limit. (First I heard) so we didn't have the money to pay for it. It was going to be expensive.

so did I do wrong by using it? I would rather use the tether though...

[amyd]

Can you get the dealership to order you the part & your DH can install it? I suspect that it's not the part that's $$, but the labour, right? Then at least you'd know you had the proper one rather than an aftermarket of questionable quality/safety.

I assume your seat is still RFing, right? If you must turn your DS before you get a tether sorted out, you can tether to a seat belt in the third row. I have a friend in a similar situation & the dealership is giving her a hard time about getting an anchor installed as well.

[Misty-Bug]

Cooper is FFing.
it is a 93 Chevy astro van. They wouldn't let me buy the part without pre paying. Then they said the service department has to install it. That it wasn't free because it was older then 10 years. Still have to talk to TC on that one.

it was a tricky place to get the top tether. We have to have the rear seats out for our vacation but I did have it tethered to the back seatbelt, while locking the seat belt.

[amyd]

Ahh, that's a pain that they won't just order it for you:thumbsdown:

[ketchupqueen]

Uh... That's just plain wrong! I hope you do get some help from TC with that. I'd report the problem AND the situation that led to it. :thumbsdown:

[snowbird25ca]

Misty, I emailed TC asking about both the dealership situation and the broken bolt. From my point of view a dealership can't refuse to sell you a part - lots of people buy alternators and starters etc. and then install it themselves... have you tried another dealership?

[Misty-Bug]

I guess they can sell me the part but won't do it for free because their shop has to install it for free.
I couldn't afford the $8 let alone $45 for the part!

ETA:
oh and you are having better luck then me. I can't get through to ANYONE

[Misty-Bug]

WHAT THE HECK!! apparently I have to contact the manufacturer of MY carseat because she can not replace the "Tether Anchor Assembly" if it is not being used for one of THEIR carseats. How the HECK does that make ANY sense!
wow....Maybe I need to fork out the bucks. Or Put the van seats back in and use the seatbelt as an anchor point. This is pathetically rediculous.

Plus I can't get a hold of TC

can SOMEONE help me! I know others of you have ties and know how to go about this. This just isn't right! How many people use these and how many are on the roads? I am frustrated. The tether anchor assembly is COMPLETELY different from the tether anchor!!

[Loves2sing]

WHAT THE HECK!! apparently I have to contact the manufacturer of MY carseat because she can not replace the "Tether Anchor Assembly" if it is not being used for one of THEIR carseats. How the HECK does that make ANY sense!
wow....Maybe I need to fork out the bucks. Or Put the van seats back in and use the seatbelt as an anchor point. This is pathetically rediculous.

Plus I can't get a hold of TC

can SOMEONE help me! I know others of you have ties and know how to go about this. This just isn't right! How many people use these and how many are on the roads? I am frustrated. The tether anchor assembly is COMPLETELY different from the tether anchor!!

Sounds to me like someone does not know what they are talking about... It is their product, and it shouldn't matter what seat it is being used with. Keep trying TC, this is SO not right. (Maybe try emailing someone at TC as well?)

[Misty-Bug]

ok......update......

do not buy this product!

TC told me there was NOTHING they could do because it is an aftermarket product and they weren't even going to take note of it or report it or anything. He said his hands were tied.
So I will have to go to the dealer anyway and get this done properly I think. Maybe they can just use the hole we put in. It was a hard spot too.

needless to say I feel like an idiot right about now....I just don't have the $45 right now. I will take it back to Canadian Tire and get my money back but please if you are reading this and you use it go to the dealer and look in to the proper part.

sigh

[Misty-Bug]

ok I talked to someone this morning at TC that knows what they are talking about!

I am sending the bolt and the packaging to them and they will go from there. Guess it is out of my hands but it is better then the broken bolt sitting in my house. Good thing I didn't throw it out after talking to the other guy!

sure it could be just my bolt but if it isn't there are tons of people out there that use these things. I have seen it......

so we will see what happens from here. Sending off the package this morning.