UPDATE!! Shoei / Revzilla Helmet warning

I am pretty much like you. I tend to wear out the helmets in that timeframe anyway.

But I will admit a helmet in good shape with little or no wear that is past it's expiration date wouldn't bother me in the least.

Wow, investing thread. Glad RevZilla stepped up!

Hey, i might be interested in buying that S2 for my wife if you put it in the flea market - we aren't newlyweds. Do you know how much warranty it has left??

Schberth North America says,
"5 years from the date of purchase, in the United States of America or Canada, by the original buyer"

In reality, I don't know if they ask you to show the proof of purchase, or not.

Now, about the original topic.
I was kinda hesitant to post this, (because this may "open up the whole can of worms") but decided to post anyway.
Here you go.

About "recommending to replace after 5 years" thing

First of all, I want all of you to understand that this is what SHOEI North Amarica, who is a distributor, NOT the actual helmet manufacturer, says.
(Yes, yes, I understand that for us who live in US and Canada, SHOEI North America IS SHOEI (since SHOEI Helmet in Japan won't directly communicate / do business with us), but still, you have to understand that what they(SHOEI North America) say is NOT exactly the same as
what SHOEI Helmet in Japan (as a manufacturer) says.


Now ,...

Let's get clear about the fact that SHOEI North America NEVER said the helmet is not safe to use after 5 years from the date of manufacture.
What they say, is

Even if none of these is applied, we, SHOEI, recommend replacement in 5 years after it's first purchased at retail.

(exempt from here

Helmet Replacement
Ultimately, the useful service life of a safety helmet is dependent on the intensity and frequency of its use. Helmet replacement is recommended even if only one of the under-mentioned points applies:
1. The helmet was subjected to an impact.
2. The comfort padding or the retention system has become loose due to heavy use or display signs of deterioration. Test: with the retention system fastened, the helmet turns to the side when you gently shake your head.
3. The EPS liner has come away from the helmet shell.
4. The EPS liner shows signs of wear and is beginning to break up, or if it has been exposed to heat or a solvent and has melted. There are indentations in the EPS liner and/or white scratches can be seen on surfaces with black paint.
5. Even if none of these is applied, we, SHOEI, recommend replacement in 5 years after it's first purchased at retail. )

The "5-year" time frame is NOT based on the research (of how much deterioration happens over the years).
It is decided that way for the sake of convenience (5-year limited time warranty).
(Arai North America, Schuberth North America, they all do the same. 5-year limited time warranty, recommending the helmet replacement after 5 years of use.)

You know what Arai and SHOEI (and OGK) say, in Japanese domestic market?

Let's take a look at the manuals of JDM version.


Arai






SHOEI



Yes, I know you can't read them.
But, you can see "SG" (ＳＧマーク= SG mark = SG sticker) in both Arai and SHOEI's manuals.
You can also see "3" in SHOEI's manual.
(In Arai Manual, it is writeen in Kanji character, "三" (means 3)).

What they are telling you is that they recommend to replace the helmet
AFTER 3 YEARS from the date of purchase.




Yes, 3 years.

They are telling their customers in Japan to replace their X-14 after 3 years from the date of purchase.

WHY?

Because of these.



Close Up











Can you see this ?



This is the sort of "insurance" system they have in Japan that expires after 3 years from the date of purchase.

These things have "SG sticker" ...



These things (folding walking cane) have SG sticker ...



They (the manufacturers of motorcycle helmet, boys baseball helmet, walking canes ) have to pay fairly huge amount of money and get their products certified. Otherwise, the products cannot be sold as "motorcycle helmets" or "baseball helmets" or "walking cane".
(Without certification and SG sticker, these things can be sold only as "for decoration", it's illegal to sell them as motorcycle helmet / baseball helmet / cane / cooking pot / whatever ....)

So, they tell their customers (in Japan) that they recommend to replace the helmet after 3 years, based on this system.
Not because the helmet gets deteriorated and becomes unsafe after 3 years.



As far as I could remember, this (3-year time frame for recommending helmet replacement) has not changed from all the way back to the early 1980s (when I started wearing motorcycle helmet).

So, the helmet manufacturers NEVER said the helmet is unsafe to use after 5 years from the date of manufacture.
The distributors (SHOEI North America, Arai North America, Schuberth North America, etc etc) NEVER said that either.

I’ve been wearing Shoei helmets for years. Always purchased discontinued discount. I wear them for ten years. Never had any problems other than hardware. And that includes s favorable crash test. Just sayin’!

Thanks to the OP for the heads-up on this issue. I was totally shocked at Revzilla's initial reply because I buy tons of stuff from them and they've been absolutely fantastic with the very few issues I've had. I'm glad to see they reconsidered.

Whoa, that's kind of dirty. Both of Shoei and RevZilla.

RevZilla sold you an old helmet. If you had noticed upon receipt, they probably would have refused the return because it was on closeout. But you didn't catch it so they ran to the bank.

Shoei should have supported you. They're getting many hundreds of dollars for helmets, (even on close-out!) they can afford to take care of their customers better than that. At least offer to fix it free if you send it in. Not just cover their ass with "It's old; replace it".

Management got involved.

There is no such policy regarding returns of new closeout items at Revzilla. Right off the shipping and returns page of a closeout Schuberth currently on the site at over 50% off.

“Doesn't fit or just not happy with it? You can return any new, unused and unaltered item within 30 business days of delivery receipt of your item. We will issue a full refund to your original payment method.”

I am surprised they sold a new helmet that was that old. Glad they took care of everything in the end.

Arai Helmet factory tour (well, sort of... skip to 9:35)

It feels like I've been reading this thread for 5 years

Probably the single worst attempt I have read so far. I have quoted it, but if you delete it, I will delete my quote.

On top of that, the OP and the OP's lady have a convoluted story about contacting a manufacturer hoping for a discount for no good reason, then they become angry and swear off the manufacturer due to the actions of a 3rd party.

I have a headache trying to untangle the shitty logic from multiple directions.

There's always one who knows it all.
There is no convoluted story, and no one became angry UNTIL we realized that we purchased a helmet that should have NEVER been sold in the first place.
Apparently the Revzilla agreed.
You don't have to agree because your opinions carry no weight.

OP, good buyer beware story and glad you got closure from Revzilla, now time tell a mod to close this thread as it's derailed.

CLOSE THIS THREAD

Never been sold by Revzilla, perhaps. Your anger, at least at some point in time, was directed at the manufacturer. As I stated.
The attempt to procure a replacement part at a discount, for no verifiable reason, begins the chain of buffoonery.

I did not slog through the hogshyte of this thread enough to see that Revzilla has made things good-- and I applaud them for it.

However, that does not absolve you of several sins, mostly logical, some splenetic.

PS: neither of you are allowed to don that brand of helmet from now on since, like a poorly behaved monkey, you flung your poo everywhere.

I am quite sure you would enjoy that. And I am sure your motivations are clear as crystal to the readers.

Good day, Sir.

Yes my motive is very clear to " most".
Btw she's ordering an Arai XD-4 from Revzilla today. They're getting their money back and keeping a customer.

BTW it's not lack of quality why she's choosing another brand.
It was their lack of customer service.
"Sorry your helmet is old and not under warranty"

Handled properly : Ma'am
Something isn't right. I see the manufacture date in the helmet, but I also see your receipt stating you just bought it 3.5 years ago. You really need to contact Revzilla because this is an issue on their.

That would have changed everything.