Rip Curl watches only last a short time after warranty.

lukerips's picture
lukerips started the topic in Tuesday, 23 Jul 2013 at 7:06pm

I think Rip Curl r cutting more corners than Bbg, but I can understand that quality needs to be reduced as indicated in the share market. This watch made it JUST one week past it's 1yr warranty(very suss) then this happened. I am a proper surfer who wore this as a proper surfer would, so my belief is that RC only make products for "fashionable consumers". As Bbg would say "Only a consumer knows the feeling(patent pending)". Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely yours, Luke Jones. I have photo's but can't upload here cause S'net r primitive.

singkenken's picture
singkenken's picture
singkenken Sunday, 1 Jun 2014 at 2:52pm

The original purchase price was around $200 odd, and was definitely on sale. At that time, I was training in my chosen career, and was getting about $135 - 160 / week in wages, so it was equivalent to paying about 2grand in today's freight I imagine.

singkenken's picture
singkenken's picture
singkenken Sunday, 1 Jun 2014 at 2:54pm
udo wrote:

SingKen, what was the original purchase price ?

The original purchase price was around $200 odd, and it was definitely on sale. At that time, I was training in my chosen career, and was getting about $135 - 160 / week in wages, so it was equivalent to paying about 2grand in today's freight I imagine.

Supergk1's picture
Supergk1's picture
Supergk1 Monday, 9 Feb 2015 at 3:13pm

The RC GPS surf watch looks like a piece of cheap techno junk. What can you gain by reviewing the tech data on the waves you have caught, especially since 99.9% of surfers aren't pros anyway? Kind of like the tech trend with bicycle computers and carbon frames. They offer very little to the recreational cyclist. Your surf watch reckons you covered 6 Kms at at avg speed of 4knots. How does that actually help? The point of it is? If you want an honest watch for the surf that isn't too expensive and you don't subject it to alot of battering try a CASIO protrek or pathfinder. They are feature rich. However the band pins have a tendancy rip thru the plastic body if you get it caught, like they would with the RC watch. Or go for a basic divers watch, like a Orient Mako, or a Seiko Monster. Great robust auto watches that go for 20 years without maintenance or batteries, available on the net for under $150. Just soak in fresh water atfer coming out of the surf.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 9 Feb 2015 at 3:31pm

Had my Casio Moon and Tide Graph Sports Watch for over 2 years and it hasn't really missed a beat.

Surf nearly every day with it, not making an effort to rinse after surf at the shower/tap.

Wore it in well below 0 temperatures in Japan as well and continued to work fine.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Monday, 9 Feb 2015 at 4:40pm

Yeah ive had a rip curl tide watch $500 good till it broke down,fixed under warranty,broke down again just after warranty.......got a casio now and had it for 3 years divers watch ,cost 70 $ on ebay and still going strong.

pointy's picture
pointy's picture
pointy Tuesday, 10 Feb 2015 at 11:05am

We've had three rip curl watches in our family and all were poor quality but their tide watches are the worst.

I've had three seiko divers watches in my life and they have lasted from 10 - 15 years each and being automatics there is no need for batteries or winding.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Tuesday, 10 Feb 2015 at 11:27am

I've got a Seiko Sports 100 going on 30 years old now. Hasn't skipped a beat apart from a band change and a battery replacement every 5 years or so.

Currently wear a G-Shock Gulfman as my everyday surf/snowboard watch. Solar powered, bought in 2006 for about $200. Sets it's own time and apart from the band and case fading a bit, has been the perfect watch. As others have mentioned above, I don't think you could go wrong with a Casio.

loungelizard's picture
loungelizard's picture
loungelizard Tuesday, 10 Feb 2015 at 2:31pm

have tried the "waterresistant" type(sometimes accidentally), never worked for more than 1 or 2 surfs. the tide watches are a little chunky for my delicate (actually deformed post football) wrist.
as above good seiko/citizen around $150-200 waterproof.
i looked at this a lot years ago and got a swiss "luminox" - waterproof and tough, battery, has the slightly "military" style but a little more refined look (i think ) and a little smaller than the excellent g-shock, also has the wrinkle of self fluorescing face (handy in the bowels of an indo boat or just in the dark wherever you are) online was about $300 when the aussie dollar was walking a little taller, but it has been a great watch. they have a good website showing the range (with funky day-night feature)
also has the rotating bezel you can time sets with (doesnt seem to work for me but a friend who gets all my waves swears by it in indo)

eel's picture
eel's picture
eel Wednesday, 11 Feb 2015 at 5:45pm

I've had a few rip curl watches and have all lasted a long time. My current $150 one is on its 5th year and I wear it every surf, swim and shower. I never take it off. Very happy with it

Mdoe22lost's picture
Mdoe22lost's picture
Mdoe22lost Saturday, 2 Dec 2017 at 3:21am
lukerips wrote:

I think Rip Curl r cutting more corners than Bbg, but I can understand that quality needs to be reduced as indicated in the share market. This watch made it JUST one week past it's 1yr warranty(very suss) then this happened. I am a proper surfer who wore this as a proper surfer would, so my belief is that RC only make products for "fashionable consumers". As Bbg would say "Only a consumer knows the feeling(patent pending)". Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely yours, Luke Jones. I have photo's but can't upload here cause S'net r primitive.

I️ agree, ripcurls tech company kept my watch for 6 months and my money order without notifying me of anything, after 6 months and the back and forth follow up with the tech they sent me the watch back, kept my extra money that I️ sent and blessed me with a cheaper replacement of the watch ! What a company !

snickers's picture
snickers's picture
snickers Monday, 4 Dec 2017 at 2:04pm

Have a 2 year old Rip Curl tide watch (rifles model). It's been sent back to Rip Curl 3 times and replaced under warranty once, so reliability is an issue. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking to buy one. If anyone has the same or similar model, hold all 4 buttons for 10 seconds to do a complete reset if it acts up.
Having said that, I do like having the tide movements accessible in the surf. I'm usually in too much of a rush to check the phone before paddling out and I have a memory like a goldfish. Very handy in tide dependent breaks. Also works well OS when internet access is patchy.

savanova's picture
savanova's picture
savanova Tuesday, 5 Dec 2017 at 8:28am

Ha I bought a RC watch off ebay $100 older model (top of range when it came out), sent back for new battery, got it back, went surfing with the crown undone and it got water logged. Sent back to RC under warranty as THEY changed battery and BOOM sent me back a brand newwy worth $400. No complaints here, you just know how to play the game.

graham yard's picture
graham yard's picture
graham yard Tuesday, 12 Feb 2019 at 8:02pm

got a nice new gps , 6 months on all good

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Tuesday, 12 Feb 2019 at 9:19pm

I have the Ripcurl Trestles watch and I've had it a few years now, battery has been replaced twice, and I'm using it more and more. Not to look at the time so much as the tide. Latest game is to note differences in how a break works very closely compared to how the tide changes. A couple of times I've left it on the tailgate of the car (drove home once with it still there!) and I reckon I'd really miss it if I lost it.
Probably more surfs without the watch than with still, but I'm using it more often.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Wednesday, 13 Feb 2019 at 8:53am

My experience is similar to savanova. I think I'm onto my third watch, this current one is around four years old. Only ever paid for the first one and always send it down to Torquay for battery replacements. Once you're in the system they look after you.

eat-your-vegies's picture
eat-your-vegies's picture
eat-your-vegies Friday, 12 Feb 2021 at 1:42am

.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Friday, 12 Feb 2021 at 8:40am

I dropped my old RC Pipeline model watch on the floor, thought it was done for.
Bought the Nixon pro tide watch in the colour no one wants for about $125. Good watch but the detailed tide information is imperial only.
Anyway sent the RC watch back to Torquay, didn't say much, just 'please assess', another new battery and it's working fine again.
Now I have 2 tide watches, doh :-)