Solas propeller return policy & warranty info
First thing you should note!
Propellers are a consumable item. Like a spark plug, or engine oil, a propeller isn't designed to last forever. It can, and eventually will, need to be replaced or repaired. It works in a harsh environment and it cops a hell of a beating its whole life. Think of it like a longer lasting tyre on your car. It has a rubber bush that keeps things smooth but it can eventually perish and fail. The metal the prop is made out of can wear, especially in shallow, muddy water. The prop also has to deal with hot exhaust gas running over its blades its whole life, which can wear the paint or tarnish the finish somewhat. The prop also doesnt like coming into contact with things such as the bottom of the ocean, rocks, reef, jettys, sunken boats, moorings, ropes, fishing line, anchor chains, your boat trailer, even the courier van behind you at the traffic lights.....it may be rough and tough and designed to take a beating, but belt it hard enough and it will bend, maybe even break.
Please choose your new prop carefully!
We highly recommend you do your research thoroughly before buying a new prop for your boat that is markedly different from what it has now. The wrong prop can really cause you some issues and as a prop is a consumable item, our return policy doesn't come without cost. If you are having trouble selecting a prop for your boat, please send us the following details on your combination via the contact form and we will try to assist before you purchase.
Please note:
There is a belief that changing a prop can make a small motor bigger, you know, add horsepower. This is always 100% wrong! Generally, changing a prop to a different pitch just moves the effective rev range of the motor. If you move the rev range away from where the motor makes its most power, it will feel like you have lost power. The power is still there, you just have the wrong prop! Please check out our prop FAQ page for more info.
Warranty:
We provide warranty on all manufacturing defects, faults and material issues for a period of 7 years. This covers anything that is wrong with the prop from new and doesn't cover anything that may have happened to it after use, such as:
- Impact damage of any kind
- Melted, spun bushes
- Normal wear and tear - yes, props do wear with use
- Scratches, marks, gouges from use
- Paint wear on aluminium props
- Corroded brass bushings from lack of regular scheduled maintenance (greasing)
- Any modifications made to the prop after purchase (cupping, blade trimming, anti cav holes)
To claim warranty on a new prop, please contact us as soon as you identify the issue! leaving it for a week, a month or a year can make it extremely difficult to warranty the prop. Contact us straight away if you think you have an issue!
We will do our best to assess the claim and provide a solution as quick as we can, but please note, it isn't an instant process. Please allow us the time to get it right for you the first time. We dont send out replacement props until we have adequately assessed the original prop. That usually means it has to be sent back to us.
Returns:
We only accept returns and offer refunds in the following circumstances:
- A faulty prop from new
- An unopened, still in the original sealed box new prop
Any prop that has been used and has any signs of wear, damage, scratches, tarnishing, chips, marks, worn blade edges, worn paint or any other condition that wasn't there when it was new in the box cant be returned for refund or replacement as it is no longer new.
Returns and restocking fee:
If a prop has been used once and isn't the right pitch, it can be returned if it presents as new (none of the above issues) but the purchaser will need to cover the return freight and pay a 20% restocking fee. The restocking fee covers the cleaning of the prop (including the cleaning of grease from the prop bush), removal of the prop bush (where applicable) and repackaging for sale to the next customer. Return approvals must be approved by us and paid in full before we can accept the return and supply another prop or offer a refund. If another prop is supplied, then the buyer will need to pay the second prop freight as well as the return prop freight.
If you just change your mind:
If you buy a prop from us and just simply change your mind, for whatever reason and don't want it anymore, we legally have no obligation to offer a refund or replacement. That is clearly stated in Australian consumer law. Whilst big retailers will let you return stuff whenever you like, us smaller guys just cant absorb it like they do. Change of mind returns hurt us, both in monetary terms and in time wasted.
If you do change your mind, the return policy above, with the freight terms and restocking fee will apply.
If you have any warranty or prop return questions, please complete the inquiry form and let us know straight away. We will get back to you in a timely fashion with info, help, advice or instructions.
Freight:
Propellers are a crappy product to ship. Not because they don't come in a real nice, sturdy box, but because that nice, sturdy box is huge!
Solas Propellers come packed in an oversize carton, which is designed to protect the prop blades during transport. Due to the odd shape of an outboard or sterndrive propeller, there is a lot of empty space in a lot of the boxes. What this means is, a 5kg alloy propeller will cube out at 8kg when calculating the freight cost.....guess which rate they charge us for that 6kg propeller......hint, it isn't the 6kg rate!
So freight on props can be a little high compared to other products of similar weight. Yes, you are paying to ship a bit of fresh air. So what's the alternative? We can remove each prop from its box, wrap it in bubble wrap and then shoehorn it into a smaller box.....is this cost effective? Hell no!.....it also makes it a nightmare if you needed to return the prop.
So, what are we doing about freight cost? Well, the simple fact is the more props we sell, the cheaper it gets, so as we grow, we can reduce freight costs. We are also happy for you to arrange your own freight. You may have a business that gets a really, really good deal on freight, or your employer may even let you use their freight account. its cool with us, just select pick up instead of delivery and we will label your prop and provide the warehouse pick up address for your freight company to pick up. Simple!
We use a range of freight companies to ship propellers, with Australia Post still being our first choice. Why? because they have the best location coverage Australia wide, extensive tracking and are still reasonably priced for most locations.
We can get cheaper freight from a couple of foreign owned transport companies, but we refuse to use them......why? Well, basically they don't really give a stuff about your freight, how long it takes and where it gets delivered to.....That makes us look bad.....which is bad.....We dont want to name them, as we dont want to end up in court, but the start with A and C.....we will let you figure it out.
if you have any specific freight needs, such as an urgent delivery when ordering your propeller, feel free to select pick up and contact us to discuss. We are happy to help where we can, when we can. Just ask!