New gym built and B&R bar issue

[zergrusher2010]

Hey guys,

I posted a while back about a Rogue R-3 rack and it took some time to clean up my garage and complete my gym. Here is the finished product (see attached photos). At least it's mostly finished. I plan to construct my own plate tree from 2x4s and metal rods and I am going to hang the boxing bag from the ceiling as well as clean up all the dust on the floor and garbage on the right side of the garage.

I got the utility bench from Christian's Fitness Factory for $106 (Black Friday), a decent 300 lbs CAP rubber grip plate set with crappy black bar for $200 used, and a B&R closeout for $250 + s/h and taxes. I already had the R-3 rack and all the accessories, six 4x6 horse mats and OFW bumpers and the rings for about $900. Those rubber grip plates are not bad and the holes are not too big and clangy.

Finally tested it out yesterday. I did a few power cleans yesterday and noticed that the bar is very loud when dropping it with the bumpers on 3/4" rubber horse mat. Not as loud as a cheap crappy ass bar, but louder than other chrome general purpose bars I've tried at Gold's. I noticed that both sleeves have quit a bit of up and down play and about 1 mm of lateral play. I believe this up and down play is making it loud. It also does not spin much with no plate on it. I am trying to post a video but links are rejected since I do not have enough posts.
w w w . y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h?v=h3pAl6m2BP8

You can remove the spaces and it should work. Sorry.

Anyone think this is an issue? My brother has a B&R and says it's not right. His spins much better and does not have the up and down movement. That up and down movement is causing the crashing sound when it's dropped. I've sent an email to Rogue but I'm not sure what they are going to do since it was a closeout item and it's York's 1 year breakage warranty.

Anyway, I'm a little disappointed if the barbell is defective out of the box. I used it once and I'm pretty sure it came this way.

[keyboardworkout]

Embedded.

It's a York B&R Bar. Did it ship directly from York?

[zergrusher2010]

Thanks for embedding. I got it from Rogue during their Black Friday deals.

Embedded.

It's a York B&R Bar. Did it ship directly from York?

[keyboardworkout]

Thanks for embedding. I got it from Rogue during their Black Friday deals.

Right, but I thought Rogue said they were no longer stocking the York B&R bars and they would ship directly from York.

I heard those bars were the most returned bars that Rogue sold.

[zergrusher2010]

Just checked the label. It says it shipped from Rogue at Venture Ct in Columbus Ohio with an ATTN of the Returns department. Don't think it shipped from York directly.

Right, but I thought Rogue said they were no longer stocking the York B&R bars and they would ship directly from York.

I heard those bars were the most returned bars that Rogue sold.

[keyboardworkout]

I would make Rogue take it back.

It appears to have some sort of issue with the bushing. I wonder if it was a previously returned bar?

[Ramcharger310]

Just checked the label. It says it shipped from Rogue at Venture Ct in Columbus Ohio with an ATTN of the Returns department. Don't think it shipped from York directly.

I would make Rogue take it back.

It appears to have some sort of issue with the bushing. I wonder if it was a previously returned bar?

Me too.

The part where the bar shaft and the bushings meet looks weird.

edit: Nope, it looks like that from the mfg.
https://southbaltimorecf.files.wordp...5/img_0151.jpg

[zergrusher2010]

I intend to try, but I don't know if they will pay return shipping or not since it's a closeout and it's a York product. I'm pretty disappointed they would send me a defective bar. B&R bar has a good rep from everything I read about it. This is the first thing I have ordered directly from Rogue and I'm not impressed. They should check these things before they ship them.

I would make Rogue take it back.

It appears to have some sort of issue with the bushing. I wonder if it was a previously returned bar?

[stonecold123]

I intend to try, but I don't know if they will pay return shipping or not since it's a closeout and it's a York product. I'm pretty disappointed they would send me a defective bar. B&R bar has a good rep from everything I read about it. This is the first thing I have ordered directly from Rogue and I'm not impressed. They should check these things before they ship them.

thanks for the heads up on the closeout bars from ROGUE. i ddnt knw they were so crappy.

[zergrusher2010]

Rogue has said they are checking with York to see if it is an issue. Not looking good but fingers crossed.

[dieselmike]

Me too.

The part where the bar shaft and the bushings meet looks weird.

edit: Nope, it looks like that from the mfg.
https://southbaltimorecf.files.wordp...5/img_0151.jpg

This area where the shaft meets the collar on my Canadian York B&R bar looks nothing like this picture.

[Garage Rat]

Don't know if this is the case with your bar but York sold to someone who bought the name and most of the product these days comes from China.
Ive had more issues with chinese products than any others and will never buy if i know it's made in China.
They make things at a low price but it comes at the expense of quality.
You might be stuck with that bar if it's a close out.

[dieselmike]

Don't know if this is the case with your bar but York sold to someone who bought the name and most of the product these days comes from China.
Ive had more issues with chinese products than any others and will never buy if i know it's made in China.
They make things at a low price but it comes at the expense of quality.
You might be stuck with that bar if it's a close out.

Not that bar. Most (if not all) York bars these days are Canadian made. The B&R bar is defiantly a Canadian made bar. Now, Rogue has had the exclusive selling rights to the B&R bar for years. They would sell, York would produce it, and the bar would ship directly from the Canadian factory. I know all this from when I got one last December (2014).

The fact that OP's bar shipped from the returns dept in Ohio (Rogue), tells me that this was probably owned and returned by another consumer prior.

note to readers (searchers) in months/years from now:
Everything I mentioned above pertains to the original York made B&R Bar sold by Rogue. Not to be confused with the Rogue B&R Bar 2.0 which IS made by Rogue in the US of A and went into production replacing the original in December 2015 just in time for the holidays.

This is why the original is a "closeout bar" at the time of this writing.

[Synthetickiller]

Not related, but...



Do you play SC2? I need more people to play against!

[zergrusher2010]

Don't know if this is the case with your bar but York sold to someone who bought the name and most of the product these days comes from China.
Ive had more issues with chinese products than any others and will never buy if i know it's made in China.
They make things at a low price but it comes at the expense of quality.
You might be stuck with that bar if it's a close out.

The Rogue page did not indicate anywhere on the B&R purchase page that it was inferior, busted, or defective or "as-is" or used. If it said that, I would've passed. You can check their site-- the closeout deal is still there for full price. If I have to, I will ship the bar back at my own cost to Rogue and file a dispute with my credit card. I guess Rogue support takes Fridays off since calls are going to voicemail and they are not replying to emails.

I already posted on the Starting Strength forum in addition to here and have confirmed reports from B&R owners that their sleeves are "nice and tight." That's in addition to my brother's testimony. Looks like my sleeves are looser than a two bit whore.

If Rogue does come back and take care of me, then I will be sure to update here. I'm pretty pessimistic at this point and quite frustrated and I'm sorry if I offended any Rogue or York fanboys.

[keyboardworkout]

I'm pretty pessimistic at this point and quite frustrated and I'm sorry if I offended any Rogue or York fanboys.

No offense will be taken since the old B&R bar is neither a York Barbell or Rogue product.

It is made by York Fitness in Canada and sold by Rogue.

Rogue has acknowledged the problems with these bars and took them in house with the 2.0.

[dieselmike]

You're not the first (and certainly not the last) to get all worked up over Rogue doing "wrong" by it's customers on a bad product before even seeing what they say.

I've seen this story before (filing disputes w/ credit cards, etc). Only to find out that Rogue made the customer nice and whole in the end.

I have a feeling you are going to be ok. The bar currently is NOT on the closeout page. You still have to get to it by searching through the Men's 20kg bars. And at that point you see the word "closeout"

No where does it say all sale are final. No returns, etc. Maybe you did agree to that during the checkout process. But it doesn't sound like it. See what they say. They are big boys and very reputable.

I can confirm my bar does not do what yours does in that video. (if you are taking surveys)

SK - I had to Google "SC2" I am showing my age.

[zergrusher2010]

Well, not anymore. I'm playing Fallout 4 lately.

Not related, but...



Do you play SC2? I need more people to play against!

[zergrusher2010]

You're not the first (and certainly not the last) to get all worked up over Rogue doing "wrong" by it's customers on a bad product before even seeing what they say.

I've seen this story before (filing disputes w/ credit cards, etc). Only to find out that Rogue made the customer nice and whole in the end.

I have a feeling you are going to be ok. The bar currently is NOT on the closeout page. You still have to get to it by searching through the Men's 20kg bars. And at that point you see the word "closeout"

No where does it say all sale are final. No returns, etc. Maybe you did agree to that during the checkout process. But it doesn't sound like it. See what they say. They are big boys and very reputable.

I can confirm my bar does not do what yours does in that video. (if you are taking surveys)

SK - I had to Google "SC2" I am showing my age.

Thanks Mike. I just heard that Rogue spoke with York and I will learn the outcome soon.

[MonkeyT]

Hope they take care of you. That slop in the sleeve looks crappy, I´d be annoyed without doubt.

[Stasher1]

I would make Rogue take it back.

It appears to have some sort of issue with the bushing. I wonder if it was a previously returned bar?

Weird. Looks almost like the bushing is missing.

[GarageIron]

Is that a snap ring in there?

[PtReyesGreg]

Is that a snap ring in there?

It sure looks like it. Look right around second 33 in the video and it definitely looks like a snap ring.

Edit: deleted pic of bar I included as I don't think it was correct bar.

[GarageIron]

The B&R does not have a snap ring. That bar has been butchered. My B&R was constructed exactly as my 32004 was (B&R middle, 32004 left)

[zergrusher2010]

Hey GarageIron,

What is a snap ring and how was it butchered? So basically it looks like this bar was a return, they modded it and they refinished the surface to clean it up? I can post a more detailed photo of the inside.

Anyway, I waited all day for the Rogue supervisor to call me back and he never did. Evidently York did talk to him and I was supposed to get a call or email. Well, they're closed now.

I just sent an ultimatum for repair or replacement at no cost to me or I'm shipping it back at my own cost (and will expect full refund) on Monday. I'm giving them the weekend to fix this and then I'm moving on with my life.

[GarageIron]

A snap ring the the C-Clip looking item you can see on the inside of the sleeve of your video. Rogue and other manufacturers us them to secure the other end of the sleeve. The B&R is not made this way. Where you see that clip, there should be a bushing. I can't tell by the video if there is a bushing in there or not, but that bar has been messed with. It looks like it might just be a few snap rings stacked together to emulate a bushing. Does the other sleeve have a snap ring in the same location?

You can see a snap ring on the outer edge of this end cap...

[zergrusher2010]

Gonna head home and take photos and post.

[chadsalt]

Anyway, I waited all day for the Rogue supervisor to call me back and he never did. Evidently York did talk to him and I was supposed to get a call or email. Well, they're closed now.

I just sent an ultimatum for repair or replacement at no cost to me or I'm shipping it back at my own cost (and will expect full refund) on Monday. I'm giving them the weekend to fix this and then I'm moving on with my life.

One business day since your first contact and you're issuing an "ultimatum", giving them the weekend, when I doubt anyone is working....then moving on with your life? What exactly would have them do, issue an immediate replacement paying overnight freight both ways on the bars? I doubt I'm the only one who thinks you're over reacting, and if I was the guy at Rogue it would certainly factor in to my willingness to help you.

Have you considered decaf?

[keyboardworkout]

I've attached a pic of the snap ring that garageiron spotted.

See if there is one on the other sleeve as well.

[zergrusher2010]

One business day since your first contact and you're issuing an "ultimatum", giving them the weekend, when I doubt anyone is working....then moving on with your life? What exactly would have them do, issue an immediate replacement paying overnight freight both ways on the bars? I doubt I'm the only one who thinks you're over reacting, and if I was the guy at Rogue it would certainly factor in to my willingness to help you.

Have you considered decaf?

Haha, well for starters, a response would be nice on what they will do. So far, I got nothing. They blew me off today and I drank four fully caffeinated cups. I think they are biding their time on this because they know what the real issue is.

I believe this bar to be a return now based on what people are saying. You can see the snap rings which means this is a modification or "repair" based on what GarageIron and others are saying. I am no barbell expert obviously. I also noticed wear on the sleeves which I thought was just a "bare steel" feature but now I think it's wear. So is Rogue pawning off this used bars as new? If they are, well, then I am speechless.

Here are the attached photos.