I just received my Rogue Operator Bar but is this normal?

[ubernoob]

Most of the bar was fine but one sleeve was opened somehow at that packaging as it was pretty banged up. Initially the sleeve wouldn't move but now it does just not as smooth as the other side.

Here are pics.






Another turn on sleeve

[StephanBB]

I have the rogue bar and it arrived in the same packaging except without damage.

[Northernmoris]

If the sleeve was all banged up and frozen call in the morning. That's $300, I'd want a perfect bar.

[ubernoob]

If the sleeve was all banged up and frozen call in the morning. That's $300, I'd want a perfect bar.

For 300 bucks I expected brand new too. I plan on calling their customer service tomorrow and sending pics.

[jdforsy]

def not normal. Have them send you a new one.

[Synthetickiller]

If they are shipping via fedex or ups, they should have insurance. Show it to them. The carrier should cover the charge due carrier caused damage.

That's unacceptable for any amount of money. You paid new, so get new.

[Northernmoris]

For 300 bucks I expected brand new too. I plan on calling their customer service tomorrow and sending pics.

How's the consistency in the knurling?

[morebarbell]

If the sleeve was all banged up and frozen call in the morning. That's $300, I'd want a perfect bar.

^^

...Initially the sleeve wouldn't move but now it does just not as smooth as the other side.

Sounds like it isn't a Smooth Operator.

[AttyGuy]

Well played, morebarbell. And bonus points for the Sade vid.

[ubernoob]

How's the consistency in the knurling?

Its the same as my rogue power bar which I love.

What sux is the color green is consistent without patches which is rare for this bar.

[Bench905]

Sade is the deal closer.

[ubernoob]

Odd response from their customer service rep as they cannot tell if it is scratched. Really the photos appear very clear to me. Let's see how this plays out for me but so far I am a bit disappointed to say the least as they are questioning the damage.

[morebarbell]

Odd response from their customer service rep as they cannot tell if it is scratched. Really the photos appear very clear to me. Let's see how this plays out for me but so far I am a bit disappointed to say the least as they are questioning the damage.

Try taking close up photos with the macro button (flower icon) enabled, using indirect natural light (outside or at a window). Don't use a flash. It'll be much easier to get a sharp photo that way. A tripod might help too if you're shaky.

[thejosef]

Odd response from their customer service rep as they cannot tell if it is scratched. Really the photos appear very clear to me. Let's see how this plays out for me but so far I am a bit disappointed to say the least as they are questioning the damage.

Their customer service can be spotty depending on who you talk to. Bottom line, if your product came damaged, keep on them (they usually just need a couple photos, may need to try calling them) and they'll make it right. My Rogue bar came the same way. Rogue's tubes are definitely not as thick as when I purchased an Ivanko bar.

[ubernoob]

When I took the pictures it was at night as the bar arrived just after 6 pm. I will try taking pictures today with my 35 mm camera.

Here are a few more pictures from this morning.

[ubernoob]

The update from Rogue customer service, they are sending me a replacement bar along with a return label to correct the issue.

[Synthetickiller]

Can the sleeves be removed? Is it possible to swap them?

That would be a cheaper option for everyone & you get to keep your uniformly colored bar. Nice green btw. I love it!

[ubernoob]

Can the sleeves be removed? Is it possible to swap them?

That would be a cheaper option for everyone & you get to keep your uniformly colored bar. Nice green btw. I love it!

Th bigger issue for me was the spin compared to the non damaged side was not as smooth. I love the green color myself so I chose this over the ohio bar. I would rather have blemishes and a perfectly shipped bar but I knew this would be too good to be true. What I wonder is did the ups guy mark the delivery as box possibly damaged. They should have to take two pictures of each product as I don't know if it was them or wherever it was stored had water exposure. The inside was damp near the opened piece as evidence by the darker spots. I know it wasn't here as we don't get much rain.

[ironwill2008]

Unfortunately, your experience with a damaged bar isn't unusual; there have been several similar posts stating the same issue (and from other suppliers as well, not just Rogue). Apparently, those cardboard tubes, thick as they are, are sometimes not up to the rough handling they get from some delivery companies.

Anyway, good deal with Rogue stepping up to correct the problem.

[Synthetickiller]

Th bigger issue for me was the spin compared to the non damaged side was not as smooth. I love the green color myself so I chose this over the ohio bar. I would rather have blemishes and a perfectly shipped bar but I knew this would be too good to be true. What I wonder is did the ups guy mark the delivery as box possibly damaged. They should have to take two pictures of each product as I don't know if it was them or wherever it was stored had water exposure. The inside was damp near the opened piece as evidence by the darker spots. I know it wasn't here as we don't get much rain.

Oh that sucks. Sorry to hear that.

I see why you wanted a new one. I have the same luck as you, so don't think it's an isolate incident. If I get a product that looks like the pic, it's a win for mas so long as it works.

[rpark]

Problem could be solved with a bigger tube and tube ends fitted to hold the end of the sleeves. My eleiko came packed similar.

Considering your bar is a bushing bar, the sleeves won't spin a tremendous amount anyway...... I would have kept the bar as is, a few scratches??? Yeah that'll happen.

[ubernoob]

Problem could be solved with a bigger tube and tube ends fitted to hold the end of the sleeves. My eleiko came packed similar.

Considering your bar is a bushing bar, the sleeves won't spin a tremendous amount anyway...... I would have kept the bar as is, a few scratches??? Yeah that'll happen.

I disagree especially when I had to forcibly make the sleeve spin to start. As mentioned above I bought it brand new and any dings incurred by me are no issue. But I prefer to have my bar earn those scratches rather than some shiity packaging create them. I own the rogue power bar and the spin is great. The only difference with these two bars is color schematics and center knurl. So yep I would say returning the bar that was damaged for one that will perform like my other bar is worth the wait.

[GarageIron]

Problem could be solved with a bigger tube and tube ends fitted to hold the end of the sleeves. My eleiko came packed similar.

Considering your bar is a bushing bar, the sleeves won't spin a tremendous amount anyway...... I would have kept the bar as is, a few scratches??? Yeah that'll happen.

I disagree. Bushing bars have great spin. Elite level weightlifters have trained for competition on $300 bushing bars (not rogue of course).

These tubes are pretty crappy. Rogue, Capps, Cap, and even the inner tube of Pendlay bars are similar. Most of the time this damage can be prevented by wrapping a few wraps of packing tape around the sleeve flange a few inches towards the center of the bar (a trick I learned from Bill at Lifestyle Sport with TPBs) The tubes usually split right where the OP's tube did, at the point where the tube is fitted tightly around the flange when pressure is put on the middle section of the tube.

Looking at the photos, it looks like someone at Rogue has caught onto this and they have starting to wrap the flange in tape. This one does not have enough based on my trials, but it helps. However... it is clear this tube had failed before it was shipped and started to separate. Someone did a half assed repair job with tape and sent it out. Anyone who has ever opened one of these tubes by peeling away the spiralling cardboard would know that once it's started to separate, it does not take much to rip these apart. York has a far superior tube, one I'm guessing I could drive over with my truck without damage, but they do not put end caps on it (just tape) which leads to other issues.

I'd send this bar back also. But this time I'd ask for a bar that is actually made by them and not a third party. I'm not sure these bars (Ohio, Chan) are any better but at least they are making them out of the quality of steel that rivals what others are doing for the same price.

[daniel327]

I would have kept the bar as is, a few scratches??? Yeah that'll happen.

If I pay for brand new then I have the privilege of applying custom scratches. If my goods are already customized, that should be reflected in the price.

[rpark]

If I pay for brand new then I have the privilege of applying custom scratches. If my goods are already customized, that should be reflected in the price.

Not saying I wouldn't ask for a discount or refund, but those scratches are cosmetic and in a lot of gyms.... Will eventually occur anyway.

Yes if the bushing is really that "bad" then I understand..... But I also wonder how much of the lack of movement may have been from the frigid temps recently, you know ups doesn't keep their packages in controlled temps. And judging from the pics I'm not sure how anyone can say rogue is aware of the packaging problem, that could have easily been a ups tape job.

[GarageIron]

Not saying I wouldn't ask for a discount or refund, but those scratches are cosmetic and in a lot of gyms.... Will eventually occur anyway.

Yes if the bushing is really that "bad" then I understand..... But I also wonder how much of the lack of movement may have been from the frigid temps recently, you know ups doesn't keep their packages in controlled temps. And judging from the pics I'm not sure how anyone can say rogue is aware of the packaging problem, that could have easily been a ups tape job.

Yeah, I blame UPS for the poor packaging and freezing one sleeve of his bar too.

[smokeater]

Odd response from their customer service rep as they cannot tell if it is scratched. Really the photos appear very clear to me. Let's see how this plays out for me but so far I am a bit disappointed to say the least as they are questioning the damage.

That is very disappointing. Ask to speak with a manager and get as high up as you can. Ask about their return policy of a damaged item. If that doesn't work then perhaps make them aware of the fact that you've posted this on the largest bodybuilding site in the world and are keeping us updated. personally, I've been considering buying Rogue bar and if this is how they deal with you over an obviously damaged bar, I'm going to look elsewhere.

[smokeater]

Problem could be solved with a bigger tube and tube ends fitted to hold the end of the sleeves. My eleiko came packed similar.

Considering your bar is a bushing bar, the sleeves won't spin a tremendous amount anyway...... I would have kept the bar as is, a few scratches??? Yeah that'll happen.

If your credit card statement came with $50 of transactions that somebody else used, would you think that was ok? And when you contacted the customer service rep they said "a few dollars... that'll happen", what would your reaction be?

The barbell I've been using for over 5 years doesn't have the scratches on the sleeve and shoulder that his brand new bar has.

[rpark]

I guess I'm in the minority, no big deal. My thought process is 1) he ordered a bar with known paint issues (that's a whole different topic, yet it was apparently painted fine according to OP), 2) it's got a military style to it, so a few scratches add to it's character, military=perceived toughness (he want's to be a sissy cry baby, then order a pink powder puff bar... ok seriously I'm just kidding). Maybe he won't ever get any scratches on it using that foam over safeties? Give it a few months and I'm sure he'll start seeing wear on the black zinc sleeves, it's inevitable, so he had a choice 1) get a new bar or 2) ask for money back and live with cosmetic problems. Bottom line is he's getting a new bar by his own choice and that's fine.

It's not like Rogue doesn't forewarn people, maybe they need to add a shipping disclaimer too.... : DISCLAIMER: Some minor blemishes in the protective coating may occur, the process is setup for military plating.

[Stasher1]

I guess I'm in the minority, no big deal. My thought process is 1) he ordered a bar with known paint issues (that's a whole different topic, yet it was apparently painted fine according to OP), 2) it's got a military style to it, so a few scratches add to it's character, military=perceived toughness (he want's to be a sissy cry baby, then order a pink powder puff bar... ok seriously I'm just kidding). Maybe he won't ever get any scratches on it using that foam over safeties? Give it a few months and I'm sure he'll start seeing wear on the black zinc sleeves, it's inevitable, so he had a choice 1) get a new bar or 2) ask for money back and live with cosmetic problems. Bottom line is he's getting a new bar by his own choice and that's fine.

It's not like Rogue doesn't forewarn people, maybe they need to add a shipping disclaimer too.... : DISCLAIMER: Some minor blemishes in the protective coating may occur, the process is setup for military plating.

Blemishes in the surface coating due to the process and damage to the coating due to shipping and/or inferior packaging are two completely different things.