Weatherbeeta blankets... Im so disappointed! Final Update...Post #37

[Tee]

I've found WB's to be the only brand that fits my Morgans well. I've had the one blanket on Remy now for - I think this will be its 4th winter. Washed many times and I've never waterproofed them. Even in the driving downpours we've already had this year I haven't had any issues.

[M'al]

Interestingly, I just tried to contact the manufacturer on the OPPOSITE problem!

I bought a brand-new, full-retail Orican midweight for my draftX. When I got him, he didn't have enough winter coat to be comfortable, so I quickly ran out and got him a blankie.

One day he was caught out as it started snowing and it melted on him ... barn owner towelled him off (even added hay under blanket, just in case) and blanketed him w/ waterproof breathable Orican. Other horses (w/full winter coats, so much wetter) got Schneider's or Dover's Rider blankets put on.

2 hours later, they were dry and he was still very wet. She pulled his blanket, took it in the house and dried it over a vent. He was shivering when she took it out again.

I, too, ran into the no-contact-info online so I called the tack shop and asked that they contact WB for me. So far, no response.

Since then, I have gotten yelled at for blanketing a wet horse (reality, here, we do it ALL the time) and also have not really had a problem since, as he's been dryer putting the blanket on. But again, not really impressed with the membrane.

[jnel]

I am also looking forward to the outcome to this. I used my brand new Weatherbeeta Orican for the first time last month and it rained. My horse was soaking wet, I even tested the blanket at home to be sure it wasn't sweat or something else going on. No, my blanket wasn't even close to waterproof and it was brand new. I got this blanket on sale last spring so I can't send it back. I'm just really miffed that Weatherbeeta won't stand behind their product. I will never buy another one.

[IfWishesWereHorses]

I have a weatherbeeta waterproof winter rug, which is maybe 20 years old??. Aside from replacing the straps a couple of times, Its never failed me. I love it. Cant find anything else like it that fits like that, and is as good quality.

Fast forward to the WB rug I bought last year. It lasted months and its a wreck. Fittings falling off, stitching coming undone, ripstop? no such thing any more! And its not waterproof.

WB down here (in NZ) are NOT known for their customer service. They do NOT stand behind their products, and their attitude is as bad as their products.

They no longer make the beautiful quality rugs they used to...now its all about cheap and volume!

I would never buy another WB rug, Rhino and Rambo are top quality an thats where I'll go next!

[hr]

What can be done to make them waterproof or at least water-repellant again? Is there something that can be put on the blanket?

[pinkpolowraps]

I just tried to call that number someone posted (as I too am having trouble with one of THREE Weatherbeetas we own) and no one answered. I doubt it's a business phone number as I would think that they would have a machine. Yep, no way to get in touch with them. We e-mailed them and NEVER heard a response. Chalk it up to the ongoing crappy customer service this world is coming to.

I won't buy another one especially after hearing about the waterproofing problems.

[M'al]

LOL -- it almost sounds like it's waterproof-breathable backwards. Water goes in, but never back out!

I'll continue to check the waterproofing on him ... I guess I'll try washing in Nikwax rug-proof if it seems bad.

This is only a midweight, so I also need to invest in a heavyweight for midwinter when it's cold enough to freeze your nostrils and eyelids shut. (Not kidding, sadly.)

I would love Rambos if they would do leg straps instead of an under-tail poop strap. (They are soooo spendy, though.)

I guess I'll look at the 1200D Heavyweight Rider's brand high-neck. They seem to be a good value, warm enough and hold up for 3+ years.

No more WB for me, though!

[ThoroughbredFancy]

LOL -- it almost sounds like it's waterproof-breathable backwards. Water goes in, but never back out!

I'll continue to check the waterproofing on him ... I guess I'll try washing in Nikwax rug-proof if it seems bad.

This is only a midweight, so I also need to invest in a heavyweight for midwinter when it's cold enough to freeze your nostrils and eyelids shut. (Not kidding, sadly.)

I would love Rambos if they would do leg straps instead of an under-tail poop strap. (They are soooo spendy, though.)

I guess I'll look at the 1200D Heavyweight Rider's brand high-neck. They seem to be a good value, warm enough and hold up for 3+ years.

No more WB for me, though!

Look at the Dover Northwind turn outs.

Also, I have a few Rambo's and Rhino's myself and it is very easy to remove the rear poop strap and use leg straps. I just had to sew in the pieces that go in front of the hind leg and you just use the rings that the old poop strap used to connect to. It was quite simple and works well. I had an old donor Weatherbeeta that I took the hardware and leg straps off of ironically enough.

[Showjumper28]

I got another short response this morning stating they are discussing resolutions. They will talk to me on Monday about it. So we shall see...

[Showjumper28]

I did not recieve a response from them last Monday like promised. I decided to give them more time due to the holiday. It is now more than a week later and I have not heard anything. With customer service like this, why would I ever buy anything from them again? Why even bother having customer service? Now I am even more disappointed...

[marta]

im so disappointed.

Sounds like the Weatherbeeta I knew and loved is no more. I will certainly think twice when it's time to replace my current Weatherbeeta sheet.

If any of you has any success getting through to customer service, please draw their attention to this thread.

[myrna]

I haven't read all of the responses,but at the store i work in we sell approx 250 WB blankets a year.If their is a problem,the customer comes back to us,we talk to our wonderful rep at WB(thanks Catherine) and the blanket is replaced if it is defective.

[KitKat987]

I actually had a new weatherbeeta in a bag when you first started this thread. After reading this and doing some further internet research, I took it back, didn't even try it on the horse.....

[feetofclay1678]

i only have one WB for my guy and that is the MW orican with detachable hood. Blanket it self fits fine, and is for the most part holding onto its waterproofness(its 1 year old), but how the neck piece attaches is aweful. Velcro and a zipper....yeah, lasted like two minutes before being broken due to normal horsey high jinx. So no way to reattach the hood. i ended up taking the whole thing to a tailor and having them install snaps, so that i could just clip the hood on. Dumb design all around. WB's are so overrated!

[Showjumper28]

I haven't read all of the responses,but at the store i work in we sell approx 250 WB blankets a year.If their is a problem,the customer comes back to us,we talk to our wonderful rep at WB(thanks Catherine) and the blanket is replaced if it is defective.

What happens to those of us that have lost thier local tack shop due to the economy? And what do they do if that tack shop decides to no longer carry the brand? Do they still honor it or are left out in the cold? All of my other local tack shops have dropped the brand (including bates and everything.) I think I understand why now.

[ivy62]

I must say that the Weathebeeta of old is much better. I have an old TAKA, bought in 2002 and I still have it and use it. It is still waterproof...My T/O sheet that I bought at the same time finally got retired...So it was 7 years old..The new one is okay not as nice a fit as the older one but so far it is still water proof..only 2 years old..
As far as contacting Weathebeeta..I called information in Edison NJ and got a direct number...you might try the same. Do not be so nice...They are a big company so some of the service agents are not always nice and file a complaint with the BBB and maybe they can help also..bad press always seems to work..
Good luck

[Showjumper28]

After a lot of argueing and some not so nice emails from Weatherbeeta. They had me ship my defective blankets to them, which was not cheap. I also kept checking up on them to get a status report and find out when I was getting my replacements.

However, I did finally get my replacements. Three brand spankin' new blankets! If anyone else wants to contact them, this is the email I originally used... info@weatherbeeta.com

[Invite]

I got EXCEPTIONAL customer service from WB!!!

I bought my mare a midweight TAKA on a clearance with no returns deal and I got a TAKA sheet on sale. WB sent me a brand new midweight...not sure of the kind, but it was a new model in a sort of herringbone pattern. I did not have to ship back the torn, leaky TAKA. The WB rep had me bring the sheet back to my closest WB dealer for a complete refund. The tack shop was only 20 minutes away and WB issued the tack shop a call tag and paid for the sheet to be shipped back to WB. I turned around and bought a Rhino sheet that was on clearance at the store, so I actually made money in the deal.

The WB customer service people were fantastic and I got satisfaction within a week

[murphyslaw]

I have owned several Taka blankets and sheets for several years with very few problems, however, after having all of my Taka blankets and sheets professionally cleaned this year, all Taka blankets and sheets disintegrated!!! The shop that I purchased them from is now closed. I have contacted Weatherbeeta in New Zeeland and here in the US, however, no response as of today. I am incredibly disappointed.

[ivy62]

Have you contacted them in Edison New Jersey? When I had a problem that was the office that fixed it for me.....If you have to scream a bit and see if that gets their attention, if not the BBB might....How long ago did you buy them. I think my warrantee is gone on mine because it has been about 7 years so I cannot complain But I have to buy new ones for a new horse and I am not going to be buying Weatherbeetas. I do not like the new ones. I however like the Shires and Schneiders blankets...