Broken Feisol tripod

I have a Feisol tripod CT 3401 with Feisol CB_50H Ballhead that I used without problems for more than 3 years.

After a trip to Colorado, I noticed some cracks in the casting that attaches the carbon fiber tube to the base. One piece of the casting fell off.

Since the tripod was out of warranty I contacted Feisol to see if they can fix it.

They did the repairs at no charge. My only cost was 22 $ for the shipping to Taiwan.

They also updated my base with a hook that was not available at the time of purchase.
They sent me spare springs for the ballhead QR plate, I lost one.
Thanks Orion at Feisol.

All in all i am very happy with the service. As far as the tripod goes, I can not fault it.

When I shoot low angles, with the legs spread out, I think that I use the legs at times to help myself up, and since it is not rated to 180 lbs, something had to give.
I'll have to stop that.

This is my only tripod, so I can't compare the quality and ease of use to the big money tripods out there, but for 350$, tripod, ballhead , 2 plates and a free monopod
I can't complain.
Julius

Good to hear that. Feisol actually makes very good tripod/monopods. "Almost" as good as the top brand at quite much lower cost. Can't say the same of their ball head though.

carlk said:

Good to hear that. Feisol actually makes very good tripod/monopods. "Almost" as good as the top brand at quite much lower cost. Can't say the same of their ball head though.

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Yes, Feisol does stand behind their products but how often do you see a metal failure like this on a Gitzo?

Fran

Good question. I don’t really know but I’m not sure if Gitzo will be fixing it for free out of warranty. I’m not even sure if Gitzo will be fixing it under warranty since op stated he applied weight way higher than the rated load. I know Canon will not honor their warranty if you dropped the camera or immersed it in wafer.

Another thing is don’t forget you can buy two or even more Feisol with the same cost of a Gitzo of the same quality. I think it’s a great buy.

fsmith said:

carlk said:

Good to hear that. Feisol actually makes very good tripod/monopods. "Almost" as good as the top brand at quite much lower cost. Can't say the same of their ball head though.

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Yes, Feisol does stand behind their products but how often do you see a metal failure like this on a Gitzo?

Fran

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carlk said:

Good question. I don’t really know but I’m not sure if Gitzo will be fixing it for free out of warranty. I’m not even sure if Gitzo will be fixing it under warranty since op stated he applied weight way higher than the rated load. I know Canon will not honor their warranty if you dropped the camera or immersed it in wafer.

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Sorry, it was a "loaded" question. I have had 2 feisols and both failed. Each time Feisol more than made up for the failures. Want an upgrade? Just send it in when it breaks and they will fix the problem and give you something extra (upgrade model, extra center column, etc). Nice, but I got tired of waiting for it to fail. Feisol is a good product for the money but I'm pretty hard on my equipment. Since switching to Gitzos, I have had zero problems and I do apply weight higher than rated, immerse in mud/water, drop them once in a while, etc. lol -that's what tripods are for, right?

Fran

There was a thread somewhere on here about a Gitzo ball-head falling apart after little use...

When I saw this " Broken Feisol Tripod ", I know what' s broken ! I bought three years ago the same tripod, used three times and exactly the same part broken. I contacted its LA agent where I bought it; no answer; I sent a mail to Feisol Co. in Taiwan; no response. Yes I lost US$ 240 but I don't feel bad to get rid of this kind of so called " Professional Tripod ", poor craftsmanship, shabby material quality and totally unsolid to use ( it dose have bigger size legs with lighter weight, yet failed to provide " solid " fell or support, the most important points for a professional tripod. I since then use GITZO G1297 Basalt, and more than happy with its quality, easy use and solidness, also the service ( I once lost a rubber legtip and GITZO / BOGEN in NJ sent me free replancement immediatly ). I know there are many happy users with FEISOL, but for me, I won't touch any FEISOL product even given free.

….. but it sounds a little fishy to me. I don’t question what happened to your tripod but what you described of Feisol’s customer service is against everyone’s experiences. The description you made about quality of the tripod does not fit what we have seen either. I don’t want to go as far to say you made up the story but I kind of suspect you did not tell the full story.

….. but it sounds a little fishy to me. I don’t question what happened to your tripod but what you described of Feisol’s customer service is against everyone’s experiences. The description you made about quality of the tripod does not fit what we have seen either. I don’t want to go as far to say you made up the story but I kind of suspect you did not tell the full story.

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The full story: 3 or 4 years ago, there was no FEISOL North America Sales Site but only an On Line Store in LAX who was selling FEISOL products describing this tripod, in Chinese, as " Bottom price but higher valued "; in order to save US$ 100 + to get a "Carbon Fiber Professional Tripod, " I ordered one 3401 at US$ 240, free shipping from LAX to NYC paying VISA Card ( they did not take AE ). I used Bogen 488RC2 head with this tripod for 3 times and that Iron Casting Part was proken ( this part can not be repaired but only replaced whole ); I called that LAX store immediately, no one answered the phone but only voice message in both English and Chinese, asking to leave message and that someone would call back; no one called back; and I then sent at least two emails to FEISOL TAIWAN office asking for replacement, no one replied, I gave up and bought a GITZO tripod. That's the whole story.

No need to make up a story to be against FEISOL; some people may say that possibly I " did not buy or contact the right people for this product/issue ", but this kind of break on iron casting support part is either serious material defect or manufacturing problem or both; if my TOYOTA car's metal chaissi were broken after one year, I would not drive TOYOTA anymore; if my Head tennis raquet frame missed one central part without any reason, I would switch to Wilson immediately.

As said, I am very happy with GITZO tripod and have bad feeling for FEISOL product, but not for those people who are happy with FEISOL.

I still have that broken FEISOL 3401 at home and the only parts I took are the three leg covers which I put on my GITZO tripod. If any one who wants this broken FEISOL 3401 ( you may try to have it repaired by FEISOL TAIWAN or just use it handicappedly ), please contact me at " [email protected] ", come to my home in NYC and pick it up for free, no leg covers but a FEISOL tripod bag..

The full story: 3 or 4 years ago, there was no FEISOL North America Sales Site but only an On Line Store in LAX who was selling FEISOL products describing this tripod, in Chinese, as " Bottom price but over valued "; in order to save US$ 100 + to get a "Carbon Fiber Professinal Tripod, " I ordered one 3401 at US$ 240, free shipping from LAX to NYC paying VISA Card ( they did not take AE ). I used Bogen 488RC2 head with this tripod for 3 times and the casting iron part was broken ( this part can not be repaired but only replaced. ) I called that LAX store many times, no one answered the phone but only voice message; I sent at least 2 emails to FEISOL TAIWAN Office, no reply. I gave up and bought a GITZO.

No need to " make up any story " to be against FEISOL; I have bad feeling to FEISOL, not to any happy FEISOL customer. Someone may say that I did not buy or contact the right people for this product/issue; but for a tripod, this kind of break on central supporting part made of iron casting is either serious material defect or manufacturing problem, or both. If any one who wants this broken FEISOL 3401 tripod ( you may try to have it replaced by FEISOL TAIWAN Office or use it handicappedly ), please contact me at " [email protected] " and come to my home in NYC to pick it up, free , along with a FEISOL tripod bag, but no leg covers which are the only parts I am able to reuse on my GITZO tripod.

There are many opinions comparing quality of Feisol and Gitzo but yours is just too extreme. Granted you don't pay Toyota price and expect to get something that matches Mercedes in every way but your description of Feisol make it sounds like a Chinese made junk which it of course isn't. It's a real good product and the best that kind of money can buy. I'm talking both Feisol and Toyota. If you are fortunate enough to own a Mercedes or Gitso it's all good for you but there is no need to beat down the others to justify the money you spent.

I feel sorry for your experience with Feisol services but I really have some question about what actually happened. I and most people that have dealt with them know how responsive and helpfu they usually are. Could it be there's some problem with you email that it has never reached them? Tell you what how about let me send them an e-mail and see what will happen? You got my curiosity up I really want to find out.

LI said:

The full story: 3 or 4 years ago, there was no FEISOL North America Sales Site but only an On Line Store in LAX who was selling FEISOL products describing this tripod, in Chinese, as " Bottom price but over valued "; in order to save US$ 100 + to get a "Carbon Fiber Professinal Tripod, " I ordered one 3401 at US$ 240, free shipping from LAX to NYC paying VISA Card ( they did not take AE ). I used Bogen 488RC2 head with this tripod for 3 times and the casting iron part was broken ( this part can not be repaired but only replaced. ) I called that LAX store many times, no one answered the phone but only voice message; I sent at least 2 emails to FEISOL TAIWAN Office, no reply. I gave up and bought a GITZO.

No need to " make up any story " to be against FEISOL; I have bad feeling to FEISOL, not to any happy FEISOL customer. Someone may say that I did not buy or contact the right people for this product/issue; but for a tripod, this kind of break on central supporting part made of iron casting is either serious material defect or manufacturing problem, or both. If any one who wants this broken FEISOL 3401 tripod ( you may try to have it replaced by FEISOL TAIWAN Office or use it handicappedly ), please contact me at " [email protected] " and come to my home in NYC to pick it up, free , along with a FEISOL tripod bag, but no leg covers which are the only parts I am able to reuse on my GITZO tripod.

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I have been driving TOYOTA Highlander V6 for 5 years, it never has any iron casting chassis part broken; I spent US$ 325 for GITZO G1297 which is just as solid as my TOYOTA; as for my US$ 240 FEISOL 3401 with such almost impossible part broken after just 3 time use ( how many people ever see any iron casting part broken from a tripod or ball head ? ) Shall I still consider it a TOYOTA ??? Maybe I should say that MY FEISOL 3401 is just a junk regardless it's Chinese orTaiwanese made. ( I do have some Bogen / Manfrotto products made in China, never break )

If your FEISOL tripod never breaks, then you are lucky to have a TOYOTA quality like product; me, I had enough with FEISOL; yet I don't feel sorry for myself as I have learnt a lesson. As for your curiosity, you may send all my writings to FEISOL to continue the story; but let me make it clear, I have no more time or interest to follow up this issue as I have laready waisted US$ 240 and much time, yet I am willing to do a free recycle and give this broken FEISOL tripod to anyone, prefereably someone who likes FEISOL product, who would send me an email and come to pick it up, free.

LI said:

I have been driving TOYOTA Highlander V6 for 5 years, it never has any iron casting chassis part broken; I spent US$ 325 for GITZO G1297 which is just as solid as my TOYOTA; as for my US$ 240 FEISOL 3401 with such almost impossible part broken after just 3 time use ( how many people ever see any iron casting part broken from a tripod or ball head ? ) Shall I still consider it a TOYOTA ??? Maybe I should say that MY FEISOL 3401 is just a junk regardless it's Chinese orTaiwanese made. ( I do have some Bogen / Manfrotto products made in China, never break )

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Sure I had cheapo Chinese made Kmart tools that break at the first use but you got what you paid for I have no problem with that. Feisol is not even close to that level and it’s not really cheap except when compared to the (unreasonably?) expensive Gitzo. Taiwanese do make very advanced CF products. You will know that if you’re into bicycling. I think that’s part of the reason you can buy a very good CF tripod/monopod from there that will not cost you an arm and a leg.

LI said:

If your FEISOL tripod never breaks, then you are lucky to have a TOYOTA quality like product; me, I had enough with FEISOL; yet I don't feel sorry for myself as I have learnt a lesson. As for your curiosity, you may send all my writings to FEISOL to continue the story; but let me make it clear, I have no more time or interest to follow up this issue as I have laready waisted US$ 240 and much time, yet I am willing to do a free recycle and give this broken FEISOL tripod to anyone, prefereably someone who likes FEISOL product, who would send me an email and come to pick it up, free.

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Yeah right. Now you don’t even care when there is a chance that the problem can be fixed? All you are interested is just bad mouthing a product/company? Good story anyway.

I use some Chinese made tools, without break; I use Head / Prince Tennis Raquets made in China, never see any frame cracks; I drive Toyota Highlander for 5 years, the only problem is air input pipe got loose and fixed with US$ 25; I use GITZO tripod for 3 years, lost a US$ 8 rubber legtip and replaced by GITZO within 5 days, free.

if I should buy another bike, I may or may not buy a TAIWAN made one. but one thing for sure, I WILL NEVER BUY FEISOL.

Read my writings again and see the photos for the very problem on the FEISOL 3401,

that iron casting part broken just can not be fixed, or welded or sticked, it can only be replaced with the whole part. I have kept silence for my broken FEISOL for 3, 4 years until now I see another exact same problem, so that I have the reason to believe that there is or was some serious material / processing defects for FEISOL iron casting part. Shall I spend more time and possibly US$ 40 ( I know that FEISOL charge US$ 40 to ship from TAIWAN to USA ) or US$ 80 to have my FEISOL tripod replaced, probably not.

You first said that I possibly " made up a story ", then asked to compare TOYATA to Mecedez, now saying that I don't care of " fixing the problem but bad mouthing a company ", that's your right to say so, yet please also respect other people's right .

That's nothing interesting, that's not a good story; the FEISOL 3401 I bought was not a good product, no one from that LAX dealer or FEISOL TAIWAN offie ever replied to me for my claim, and now it really becomes a piece of junk. End of the story.

It just sounded too extreme and unrealistic to believe. It does look you have some agenda but I don’t really care what you’re trying to bash. This is internet forum after all and I’ve seen enough of your kind.

LI said:

I use some Chinese made tools, without break; I use Head / Prince Tennis Raquets made in China, never see any frame cracks; I drive Toyota Highlander for 5 years, the only problem is air input pipe got loose and fixed with US$ 25; I use GITZO tripod for 3 years, lost a US$ 8 rubber legtip and replaced by GITZO within 5 days, free.

if I should buy another bike, I may or may not buy a TAIWAN made one. but one thing for sure, I WILL NEVER BUY FEISOL.

Read my writings again and see the photos for the very problem on the FEISOL 3401,

that iron casting part broken just can not be fixed, or welded or sticked, it can only be replaced with the whole part. I have kept silence for my broken FEISOL for 3, 4 years until now I see another exact same problem, so that I have the reason to believe that there is or was some serious material / processing defects for FEISOL iron casting part. Shall I spend more time and possibly US$ 40 ( I know that FEISOL charge US$ 40 to ship from TAIWAN to USA ) or US$ 80 to have my FEISOL tripod replaced, probably not.

You first said that I possibly " made up a story ", then asked to compare TOYATA to Mecedez, now saying that I don't care of " fixing the problem but bad mouthing a company ", that's your right to say so, yet please also respect other people's right .

That's nothing interesting, that's not a good story; the FEISOL 3401 I bought was not a good product, no one from that LAX dealer or FEISOL TAIWAN offie ever replied to me for my claim, and now it really becomes a piece of junk. End of the story.

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Sounds you have certain agenda with FEISOL, public relationship ? Quality reputation control ? what's you kind calling someone "extreme " for telling such experience of FEISOL product with such "extreme defect" ??? You don't believe my story, it is your business and you don't have to believe. My story is to tell people that FEISOL's Carbon Fiber tripod was and possibly still is having some problem, not on its Carbon Fiber legs , but on its Iron Casting Parts and that my 3401 was one of them; that anyone wants this broken tripod, send me email and come to pick it up, and you have the equal chance if you want to " prove the story."

You know full well I won’t be flying to NYC just to to get your lousy broken tripod. I will however collect the purchasing info and description of problem sand send it to Feisol if you are willing to provide them. I will just tell them there is a problem and nothing else. I will copy you on all the communication with them. There is no way I think I will be ignored. I’ll send you my email address if there is a go. What do you say?

Now it sounds more decent: Good product should get good treatment; piece of junk could only get louzy treatment: You may send all my writings to FEISOL as I think I told the whole story, let them reply to me and see what can be done next; one thing is for sure, I will NOT SPEND ANY MONEY TO SHIP IT TO ANYWHERE, so that FEISOL mush supply me a prepaid shipping lable via FedEx, UPS, or any other transportation means, boat, horse, bike, etc. when FEISOL receives that broken tripod, they may exam it to see if it is fake or genuine, then FEISOL can have full authorization to do with it: they may dump it away, or to repair it, they may resell or give it to anyone, anywhere ( including you since you are doing something on behalf of FEISOL ).

Fair to every party ? If FEISOL is a real good company, it should not care of a prepaid shipping lable of US$ 40.00, as it is the maxumun cost; if FEISOL acknowledges its defect and wants to show its " excellent service " by repairing it and sending it back to me, then I would say " give me a US$ 40 check with acknowledgement, that's enough ; I don't need that tripod anymore. "

The above is what I can do, nothing else; if in the future I see another guy telling the same story about his iron casting part broken on FEISOL tripod, then, sorry again, I may possibly retell my story also, that's my right; if the above should really be done, then I will have more to add in my story.

Read my above writing carefully please if you really want to make FEISOL do something about " louzy broken tripod " and I don't believe that FEISOL will ignore you for the whole process.

...so just let off. I do not know why anyone would question your story. People have a lot of different experiences with the same vendor/shop and even the same sales person. That's life.

I am a happy FEISOL customer myself. I had a problem with a delivery and they responded quickly and even threw in an extra part to make up for the delay (the original item was lost somewhere in transit).

LI said:

The full story: 3 or 4 years ago, there was no FEISOL North America Sales Site but only an On Line Store in LAX who was selling FEISOL products describing this tripod, in Chinese, as " Bottom price but over valued "; in order to save US$ 100 + to get a "Carbon Fiber Professinal Tripod, " I ordered one 3401 at US$ 240, free shipping from LAX to NYC paying VISA Card ( they did not take AE ). I used Bogen 488RC2 head with this tripod for 3 times and the casting iron part was broken ( this part can not be repaired but only replaced. ) I called that LAX store many times, no one answered the phone but only voice message; I sent at least 2 emails to FEISOL TAIWAN Office, no reply. I gave up and bought a GITZO.

No need to " make up any story " to be against FEISOL; I have bad feeling to FEISOL, not to any happy FEISOL customer. Someone may say that I did not buy or contact the right people for this product/issue; but for a tripod, this kind of break on central supporting part made of iron casting is either serious material defect or manufacturing problem, or both. If any one who wants this broken FEISOL 3401 tripod ( you may try to have it replaced by FEISOL TAIWAN Office or use it handicappedly ), please contact me at " [email protected] " and come to my home in NYC to pick it up, free , along with a FEISOL tripod bag, but no leg covers which are the only parts I am able to reuse on my GITZO tripod.

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