Oakley fails big time here:
In 2017, Oakley was the 'Official Bike Helmet of the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship' awarding an ARO5 and an ARO7 helmet to the age group athletes with the fastest bike split.
This and the winners of the award is listed here: http://eu.ironman.com/...test-bike-split.aspx
So far so good, in November 2017, I got this mail:
"The IRONMAN `Ohana and the official eyeglass partner of the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship; Oakley congratulates you for your amazing performance on October 14, 2017 at the IRONMAN World Championship! What you achieved in Kona is incredible. With your fastest bike split time in your age group you will be receiving Oakley Aro7 TT Helmet featuring a Prizm Road shield and an Aro5 aero road helmet by March of 2018."
On March 27th 2018, there is some follow up:
"We have exciting news! We are following up on our message from a few months back to let you know that the Oakley helmets will be arriving soon. Please let us know which size you prefer, Small Medium or Large. We also have two colors to choose from, white or black. "
I responded right away that I would be happy with white helmets. No more news after that. By the end of April I asked for a status update and got this answer on May 3th 2018:
"HI Sam – we looked into it and the helmets are in the process of being shipped to us right now. As soon as we receive them we will ship them out immediately to all the athletes that are to receive them."
Around May 20th 2018 I finally receive a box. But instead of a white ARO5 and a white ARO7 helmet it contains a black ARO3 helmet. So I inquire on May 28th 2018:
"Instead of an Aro 5, an Aro 3 has arrived. I had opted for a white one but despite that it came in black. Is the Aro 5 not available?
Any idea about the Aro 7? And will that one be delivered in white?"
My question got forwarded to the IM AWA team and the answer is quite shocking:
"Sam, Good morning.
I wanted to let you know that Oakley had some production problems with the other helmets.
They only sent us black helmets, and we were advised that we would only receive the Aro 3 helmets.
Unfortunately, I do not have any control over what they sent. I mailed out the helmets as soon as I received them.
Truly sorry that I cannot do anything else for you."
Take home message: Ironman staff was very prompt with follow up. I thought Oakley was a serious company but that doesn't appear to be the case.
What bothers me most is that they get a lot of marketing out of this initially, put our names up as winners of a contest paired with their brand name but just say: sorry, we don't deliver what we promised...
Well, Oakley, good luck helping make America great again but compared to the excellent customer service, communication and product delivery of Rudy Project, the former 'Official bike helmet of the IMWC' from Italy you truly suck.
Think again before ordering and Oakley helmet...
Sam
In 2017, Oakley was the 'Official Bike Helmet of the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship' awarding an ARO5 and an ARO7 helmet to the age group athletes with the fastest bike split.
This and the winners of the award is listed here: http://eu.ironman.com/...test-bike-split.aspx
So far so good, in November 2017, I got this mail:
"The IRONMAN `Ohana and the official eyeglass partner of the 2017 IRONMAN World Championship; Oakley congratulates you for your amazing performance on October 14, 2017 at the IRONMAN World Championship! What you achieved in Kona is incredible. With your fastest bike split time in your age group you will be receiving Oakley Aro7 TT Helmet featuring a Prizm Road shield and an Aro5 aero road helmet by March of 2018."
On March 27th 2018, there is some follow up:
"We have exciting news! We are following up on our message from a few months back to let you know that the Oakley helmets will be arriving soon. Please let us know which size you prefer, Small Medium or Large. We also have two colors to choose from, white or black. "
I responded right away that I would be happy with white helmets. No more news after that. By the end of April I asked for a status update and got this answer on May 3th 2018:
"HI Sam – we looked into it and the helmets are in the process of being shipped to us right now. As soon as we receive them we will ship them out immediately to all the athletes that are to receive them."
Around May 20th 2018 I finally receive a box. But instead of a white ARO5 and a white ARO7 helmet it contains a black ARO3 helmet. So I inquire on May 28th 2018:
"Instead of an Aro 5, an Aro 3 has arrived. I had opted for a white one but despite that it came in black. Is the Aro 5 not available?
Any idea about the Aro 7? And will that one be delivered in white?"
My question got forwarded to the IM AWA team and the answer is quite shocking:
"Sam, Good morning.
I wanted to let you know that Oakley had some production problems with the other helmets.
They only sent us black helmets, and we were advised that we would only receive the Aro 3 helmets.
Unfortunately, I do not have any control over what they sent. I mailed out the helmets as soon as I received them.
Truly sorry that I cannot do anything else for you."
Take home message: Ironman staff was very prompt with follow up. I thought Oakley was a serious company but that doesn't appear to be the case.
What bothers me most is that they get a lot of marketing out of this initially, put our names up as winners of a contest paired with their brand name but just say: sorry, we don't deliver what we promised...
Well, Oakley, good luck helping make America great again but compared to the excellent customer service, communication and product delivery of Rudy Project, the former 'Official bike helmet of the IMWC' from Italy you truly suck.
Think again before ordering and Oakley helmet...
Sam