Quoted:
Yup. To boot, I'm floored that they haven't responded in this thread - I'm sure they know about it and have read it (then again, maybe not, given the derpage in the custserv response). Their silence says a good bit.

Quoted:
Interesting read, I have been looking at bump helmets today and the OC was at the top of the list until I read this.  I dont see any reason to buy a product that wont be supported by the manufacturer when it doesnt look like it was abused (and will drop my $2K+ NV Device).

Quoted:
...and will drop my $2K+ NV Device

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I got my pvs14 and helmet right before TW came out. I have never really had a good nights hunt with the OC on my head. (I think i have a weird shaped head) I think i might look at buying a TW just for the  hell of it. I hate that i spent that much money on a helmet that can be broke by "user error" not once but twice in the exact same spot.

Customer service does alot for me. Ill spend a considerable more amount of money somewhere if i know that if something goes wrong, my shit will be fixed. OC, looks like you failed at that simple business model.

Quoted:


I didn't really start this thread to personally bash OC, but did so more to just report my personal experience with them.  When I sent the first one back (I bought used of the EE) they really took care of me- considering it was a non-transferable warranty.  I came here and posted that experience too, and was quite happy with them.  That being said, no, I didn't really want to have to pony up for another bump helmet and got a hell of a deal on a TW from a buddy.  I'd like to think that I'm not so biased against OC that my bias would change my opinion on which helmet is more comfortable.  TW is definitely more comfy on my extra large noggin than the OC is.  And TW has a metal shroud (for the most part).

Quoted:
In October 2012, my first OpsCore Fast Base helmet broke while using a single PVS14 with a standard legacy USGI Rhino mount.  I contacted Ops Core and they had me send it in to take a look at it, and about a month and half after first contacting them, they sent me a replacement.  Here are pictures of the first helmet and the break:

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/Shroud1.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/Shroud3-1.jpg

As was well and good for about 18 months, during which the helmet saw maybe 30 nights' worth of hog hunting, always using a single PVS14 and either a Rhino legacy mount or a Rhino II Ti mount.  I usually left the Rhino attached and unhooked the 14 at the J-Arm.  The Rhino was mounted and re-mounted maybe a total of 15 times, and that's overstated.  

On August 4th, I was rearranging some stuff on the helmet and removed the Rhino II mount (using the release lever, not a hammer), and when the mount released, a piece of the shroud came with it.  The EXACT same piece as on the first one.

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/break1.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/Break5.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/Break4.jpg

So, I sent an e-mail to OpsCore using their website's contact us form on August 5th.  I got a quick reply asking to send some pictures, which I did the same day.  Again, got a quick response and was told that the pictures would be sent to engineering to see what could be done.  I followed back up with e-mails on August 7th and August 12th and left a voice mail on August 12th.  I received a call back on 8/13 requesting that I supply them with the Return Authorization # I received from them in 2012 when the first one broke.  All I could come up with was a copy of the e-mail I received from OpsCore in October 2012 stating that I didn't need a RA # to send my first one back, which I forwarded to OpsCore's customer service rep on 8/13.  I sent a follow up e-mail on 8/18, and finally got the following as a response on 8/26:  

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/8-26-14Emailp1.jpg

I'd already sent them one that broke in the exact same place and manner, and the helmet didn't pass the military's drop test since the shroud kept breaking (from 3 or 4 feet, IIRC), but "Engineering has not heard of the shroud breaking in the manner ".  I replied the same day stating that I would like to get a RA, but that I didn't get a "sales number" when they replaced the first one.  No response, so 3 days later, I asked again for an RA # to send the broken helmet in for review.  

On 9/2, I got a response asking for me to send a picture of the break so that "our team to look at the helmet".  So, I sent the same pictures I sent on August 5th along with two more.  The next day, I received the following response:

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m548/ncorry/9-3-14E-mail.jpg

Trying hard to keep this post to the facts and keep opinion (and my default mode of smart ass) out of it.  In short, I started this process on 8/5, and 4 weeks later, was asked to send the same pictures I initially sent on 8/5 to finally be told that a review of those pictures "determined that use of the helmet caused the damage which would not be covered."  Use of the helmet caused it to break, as opposed to what, rust?

I'm thinking about trying some metal JB Weld and/ or screwing a Rhino into the shroud might get it to work.  Or maybe something involving a mannequin head and some tannerite.....


BTW, my new Team Wendy ExFIl is better all the way around.

ETA: Chip and Jaime at at TNVC did all they could for me, and I feel that they went above and beyond and that should be noted.  I bought the first one used off the EE here, and couldn't find the seller's invoice.  They really, really tried, and I appreciate it.

Since this thread keeps getting mentioned or linked elsewhere even though it seems to be a very isolated incident, I feel compelled to ask a question of the OP since there may be relevant information omitted.

In the pictures of both of the helmets, there appears to be some form of adhesive residue inside the shroud.

Did you insert some form of non-factory shim between the mount and the helmet within the shroud in an effort to tighten up the fit of the interface?

Doing so quite possibly put excessive preload on the shroud leading to a creep induced failure since you mention that you typically left the mounts in place.

Looking forward to your candid response so that we can all better understand the real issue.  Thank you.

ETA - I am not defending OC's CS, but neither have I had any issues with my multiple Fast Base Jumps after a good bit of use.

Quoted:
I've stated this elsewhere.  We have sold hundreds, if not a thousand of these helmets since they've been released and  we have not had one return for anything breaking in this fashion. I could only hope one of our customers would have informed of such a defect, but it's never happened.   Could it happen? Sure, anything can break and anything from a mold can get defective when you're talking thousands of pieces.

To be completely transparent, we were told this original EE sale helmet was supposedly purchased from us and we tried extensively as Ncorry mentioned to gather who the original owner was so we could try to run interference like we do with all our products if the need arises when a situation exits. In this case we could not ascertain who the customer was and if was indeed purchased from us.  


Vic

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The shroud on the first helmet fit great.  I don't remember it coming with a piece of foam, but then again, I don't remember the adhesive residue-looking thing on the helmet either, but it sure does look like it in the pics.  The  shroud on the second one was loose- the same Rhino that fit nice and tight in the first one was sloppy in the second one.  When extended (i.e. 14 over eye), the 14 would move side to side maybe 3/8" each way if you wiggled it.  The little piece of foam took care of that, but it is not like I had to push hard to compress the foam to get the Rhino to snap into place.