The Baack Paack

For those of you who are looking for a headlamp for outdoor activities from a company that stands behind their product –  I can say hands down, Princeton Tec is the company you want to buy from.

I used one of their “Fuel” headlamps during my latest Ragnar Trail race here in Arizona.

It is very light weight, easily adjustable for angle, comfortable, runs off three AAA batteries, and has a few different brightness settings (no red or green LEDs), and has great battery life.

SPECIFICATIONS

Well, during the race, I ended up breaking the battery latch cover, as I dropped the headlamp when in camp- and wouldn’t you know it, I caught the edge of the door latch on a rock, breaking the ‘locking tab’ that keeps the battery latch closed.  This meant that the batteries would not have a solid contact, and the light would not work.

Sigh.. Great.

I ended up winding black electrical tape (What.. you don’t have black electrical tape in your Ragnar trail running kit?) to use it for the rest of the event.  By the time it was over, the tape and the condition of the lamp was a sticky gooey mess from the tape sliding around, mixed with sweat and dirt, etc.

I threw it in my bag before my last early morning run for the race and figured I would toss it when I got home, as I only paid around $15 bucks for the lamp on one of the discount sites as it was the color scheme and pattern of last year’s model, not the latest color upgrade. (I never see the color while I am wearing it, so I didn’t care.)  I ended up getting a few when I ordered it, one for Vicki, who wore her headlamp for the entire Ragnar relay as well.

So, about a week later I was digging through my race bag and found the lamp.   Holding it in my left hand, aiming for the trash can in the bathroom, reaching my arm back to toss it across the room to the trash.. when something made me pause.  Maybe it was the thought of my grandparents living through a time where they fixed everything.  Maybe it was my own angst about throwing something away that “worked”…  Regardless, I paused, set the lamp down and picked up my phone.

I did a quick search for Princeton Tec and their warranty / repair ability.  If a replacement door was a few bucks, I would order one and fix it.  Heck, it is only a bit of plastic and the battery metal connections, it would only set me back a few bucks – and would be cheaper than getting a new one.  I found their contact page, http://www.princetontec.com/contact_form/contact_us  and sent them off a quick message, explaining I was in the race, dropped the light.. only paid about 15 bucks, bought it from a discount site, no – I didn’t have the receipt – and can someone quote me what it would cost for a replacement door so I can fix it.

A few days later I got this reply:

Hi Jay,
Sorry about the door on the Fuel
I will be happy to send you a door kit with instructions
What is a good address to get the parts to?
Thank you

Customer Service
(800) 257-9080 Ext 314
Princeton Tec
PO BOX 8057
Trenton NJ, 08650
www.princetontec.com

SCORE!

Within a few days I had a package with not one, but two door replacements (I guess he thinks I might break it again?) and directions for the replacement.
I am happy to say I know have a working headlamp again, worthy of all night running events or other outdoor activities.

This company really stepped up.

They could have easily said, “Ennh.. no paper work – tough luck, throw it away and buy another.”  Instead, they sent me the parts for free, and guaranteed a life long customer in the process.
Well done Princeton Tec, I always liked your products, now I love them.

Thank you Sean!