Statutory Right to Cancel
As a consumer you have a right to cancel the contract you made with us within 14 working days from the day after you received the goods. To do this you have to let us know via email to solitairecricket@gmail.com within the 14 days.
We will then give you a refund of your purchase price and any delivery charges you incurred, no later than thirty days after receiving your notice of cancellation. It is you responsibility to return the goods to us promptly and, if you are returning by post, this is at your own cost.
Our Warranty
Solitaire Cricket has built its reputation on quality and service to the customer. We believe we produce some of the finest bats available anywhere in the world and our aim as craftsmen is to get the optimum performance out of any cleft of willow that we transform into a cricket bat.
Willow and cane are natural materials used by Solitaire Cricket in accordance with the laws of the game; these materials naturally deteriorate with use and even with the best preparation, cannot be made impervious to the effects of poor quality balls, mistimed shots, yorkers, excessive tapping, general wear and tear etc. As a result it is impossible for any manufacturer to accurately predict the life expectancy of a cricket bat. Solitaire Cricket bats are warranted for 6 months from the date of purchase. The warranty covers manufacturing and material defects. It excludes damage caused by the use of poor quality balls, mistimed shots/yorkers, tapping and normal wear and tear.
Proof of purchase will be required to support any warranty claim.
Bats returned under warranty will be assessed by the Roger Weston at Solitaire Cricket. Following assessment, the bat will be either repaired or, if repair is not viable, replaced or part replaced (i.e. a new bat offered at a significantly discounted price) depending on the nature of the damage and its general condition. We pride ourselves on good customer service and we will always try to be fair and reasonable with the customer especially in ‘grey area’ cases. Advice on preparation, maintenance and remedial action should your bat suffer unfortunate damage can be given – please email us on solitairecricket@gmail.com for more information.
Returning a bat for assessment and repair
If you are making a warranty claim and you wish to send your bat back to us then please contact us via email or phone to discuss further action – then make a note of your order with the item(s) you are returning to us. For non-warranty work please see our repairs page.
Typical Examples of Damage
Shoulder damage occurs when the ball is struck hard on the relatively thin edge at the top of the bat. This can cause splitting of the wood but prompt repair will prevent further splitting and will not impair the bat’s performance.
Surface/edge cracking is common with use. Minor cracking can be sealed with superglue but if the cracking is excessive, the application of a facing and/or fibreglass edging tape may be recommended following repair.
Toe Damage: This can take several forms;
- Horizontal cracks / delamination may appear on the toe of the bat caused by moisture uptake from the ground, softening the fibres which then open up with repeated tapping. If the damage is severe the performance of the bat will eventually be affected. Prompt repair will reduce the risk of performance impairment.
- Yorker damage occurs when the ball becomes trapped between the toe of the bat and the ground. The severity of the damage depends on the power of the shot, the hardness of the ball and the hardness of the playing surface. Any resulting splitting should be assessed and repaired if appropriate. In the most severe cases the bat splitting is severe enough to render the bat unusable.
- Corner denting/cracking can be caused either by poor preparation of the bat or by severe impact or by a combination of the two. The damage is normally repairable without any significant loss of performance.
Handle Problems: Handle failure can be caused by material defects or can result from shoulder damage running into the handled region. In all cases the bat has to be rehandled. Sometimes the only effective way of repairing significant shoulder damage is to rehandle the bat even though the handle itself has not failed. Prompt effective repair work can prevent more serious damage (a stitch in time….) so, in the event of damage, the bat should be returned promptly to the retailer for advice. Leaving damage unattended until the bat is beyond repair may be construed as neglect.
Repairs carried out within the Solitaire Cricket 6 month warranty period are free of charge, though there is normally a return post and packing charge. Subsequent repair and servicing is chargeable. If you are uncertain about the damage and need advice before sending a bat to us please contact us on solitairecricket@gmail.com
We manufacture the bats very carefully to provide the highest levels of performance and durability, but we are dependent on you the owner and player to continue our work by preparing, protecting and maintaining the bat in accordance.