Spalding The Beast
3 reviews
Customer Service Woeful – Instructions were very difficult to follow as the parts werent labelled correctly. Assembled the whole thing then there was a puncture in the base so I couldnt fill up with water. Rang customer service, they have advised I now need to tell my kids they need to wait up to 20 days for a replacement base, then disassemble the whole system and reattach the new base. I asked if they could send their assembly guys under the warranty to fix the issue and re-install the new warranty base and they said no that is my cost. Thats hopeless customer service.
Well made AND portable with 4 wheels! – The instructions state that this system requires two competent adults for assembly. Found that it can be done with one competent adult, one keen 10 year-old, and one disinterested wife!
Takes time and effort to assemble, but all worth the effort when all completed – Absolutely love this system. However was very difficult to assemble. The instructions were good, and all the bolts and nuts were packaged very clearly in order. Initially had problems with the two main posts not fitting in (even with use of WD40) and some serious pounding by dropping the two posts together on the ground with wood at the bottom. Spent a couple of hours trying to get that part done. Rang up Spalding - great customer support, who immediately shipped a new pole to Slater Gartrell (the company I bought from). Even the staff at Slater Gartrell was excellent and delivered my posts immediately again. Would highly recommend the company.
The new replacement poles were so much easier to fit over each other (not sure whether it was because the internal surface wasn't coated heavily and the fact I used heavy duty grease as well). Still took several hours (in the summer heat of over 30degs). Initially thought of using sand to fill base but was very difficult to funnel it through, especially trying to tip the board up and down to move the sand further down. In the end, gave up and filled with water....
Also make sure you have some serious long socket extension (at least 20cm) as you will need it at the very beginning of installing the post to the base.
The two top bolts of the ring was also difficult to tighten to the backboard.
Despite all the difficulty of installation (which took about 5hours with 2 adults and sometimes even a third adult at certain stages), the boards and hoop is amazing to play on. easy to adjust. Hardly shakes. If I were to get another system, I would still get the same system. Great customer support/service, Awesome large glass backboard. Cost. Problems with two posts not fitting.
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Further to my Review above, I agree with the comments from Jason35, that this system took a fair amount of effort to build. I had the same problem getting the two main posts fitted together but I persisted on a concrete slab with a scrap piece of timber. Took a good 45 mins to get the posts connected deep enough to get the connecting bolt through. Also, getting the backboard connected takes a bit of fiddling. I used a small A-frame ladder to support the post and base at an angle and lowered it down onto the backboard that I had supported horizontally about a metre above the ground. Bolted it all together and then lifted into position. Finally, this system comes in two boxes. I have a Toyota Prado 120 Series, so folded the back seats down and then slide one box into the back of the car and one box on the roof racks. If you don't have an SUV, then either get a trailer for the pick up or have it delivered. Quality is very good and seems very well constructed. I expect to get many years of use out of this system.