Ebony, Gone Wrong

What's wrong with this picture? 

The first time using my Lantern Moon ebony double points, I noticed something was drastically wrong.  It took me a few rounds before I realized the flaw noted at the left.  Yes, it is most definitely a flaw.  If you look closely, you can see the bit of alpaca snagged to the raw edge of the barb-like defect.

I have often wondered how I would go about exchanging or returning my beloved Addi Turbos, with their comforting lifetime guarantee, should anything happen to them.  I don't keep receipts for needles.  Do you?  Should I keep those receipts?  I have enough things to keep track of, I feel.  Knitting should be fun; I shouldn't have to itemize my needles, or even my stash.  That's stressful to me.  Of course, if I did do that, I wouldn't end up with three pairs of size 7 double point needles which I never use, but I refuse to be anal about my knitting.

This isn't the first time I have had a problem with wooden needles.  I bought a pair of Crystal Palace bamboo circulars, which not only had rough joins, coarse tips, and stiff, inflexible cords, but they actually separated at one of the joins while I was knitting.  Even the replacements were inferior, and still come apart whenever I have the misfortune to use them.  This event is unlikely in the future, however, now that I own my new love, the KnitPicks Options Interchangeable needles. 

I have had these Lantern Moon needles for months, but this past weekend was the first opportunity I have had to knit with them.  The other four needles in the set are not flawed, and are most pleasurable to use.  I love their color.  They are warm and soothing in my hands, and beautiful to look at, besides.  And then there is needle number five, with the jagged edge.  Face it, Lantern Moon needles cost a pretty penny.  I inspect all of my needles thoroughly before purchasing, yet I was unable to detect this flaw visually or by palpation. The alpaca found it immediately.  The picture above is enlarged to see the barb. 

The yarn shop I purchased these from has strict policies.  Oh joy.  I get to call them to break the news that I would like my Lantern Moons replaced because one is defective.  Will they say no?  Will they make me wait four months for a replacement?  Will they say why didn't you save your sales slip, this would be easy on all of us if bubble headed bimbos like you saved your receipts? (And they might).  I'll let you know in the next installment. 

Comments

[Brigitte]

Ugh! I NEVER save my receipts... I've had my issues with bamboos as well - I had one snap at the join in the middle of a row (lace no less).

Good luck! My favorites are the Addis, and Aeros (from the UK) - which are my all-time favourites.

[Angie]

Who has time to save receipts! Good luck with the return. I'm glad to hear another report on the knitpicks set, I have been resisting, but ....

[The Fluffy Ewe]

Arrrgh!! I don't save mt receipts, either, and it has come back to bite me in my proverbial bum. I have a set of sz11 DPNs and there is a rough spot in the wood where there was that bump in the bamboo plant. Pieces of wood actually come out of it. No receipt, no sleeve anymore either. Gah... I'd take them back, Trish. Those LM needles aren't cheap!!

[Smariek]

I don't save receipts either, are you kidding? With my limited free/personal time, I want to spend it doing something FUN! Not meticulously organizing paperwork, etc.

Good luck with the return!

[bets]

Like I am not a packrat already....screw receipts. Take it up with Lantern Moon, and see if you can't get a replacement thru them.

[Jane]

I think you can send your Addis back to the company all by yourself, which is a good thing because my LYS refused to do it for me. She didn't want to pay the postage, despite the fact that I have spent literally thousands of dollars in her shop over the last oh too many years. I bet you can send your Lantern Moons right back to them by yourself, too, though.

[Kathy]

Either many of you live in my town, with my horrid LYS, or a number of stores around the country are stinky. I inadvertently contacted the president of a company that made some circular needle with join problems. After a couple of e-mails, it came out that he had been trying FOR A YEAR to replace these defective needles with good ones at my barfy LYS. Keep in mind that this would have been at no cost to the LYS. The story gets worse but I'll leave it to your imagination. Anyway, I wish you the best with your return!