Update on my Rumparooz Issue!

If you missed my post about my Rumparooz delamination issue, I'll get you up to speed.

• Saturday, July 31st - I noticed that my two Rumparooz (purchased December 2009) were delaminating.  Sent an email to customer service late that night.
• Sunday August 1st - Received an email acknowledging the issue and asking for receipts, forms & photos, which I sent the same night.  Received an auto reply saying that my replacement diapers would be sent within 48 business hours.
• Saturday August 7th - Received an email asking for photos of the diapers right side out.
• Sunday August 8th - Sent requested photo (claim form didn't indicate these were needed but I obliged.) Indicated in my email that the photo didn't have the claim form in it, but I could see if it was still in my recycle bin, or print another if needed.  Received auto reply.
• Wednesday August 11th - Received perplexing email requesting very similar information to what I was originally asked for.  Except, this didn't include the form, indicated I'd need to mail the diapers back, and had additional info on diapers that should not be sent, including ones with contrast lycra tabs (which one of mine was.)  The reason given was that these diapers were not affected, but clearly, mine was.  Responded expressing my confusion and was told this was not intended to be sent to me.  So it appears that there is a new process for handling these claims now.  Not sure why it said none of the lycra tab diapers were affected when mine was.
• Wednesday August 11th a few minutes later - Received a reply that the form didn't need to be in this photo and that they ask for additional photos from time to time. 
• Tuesday August 17th - Received an email stating that my replacement diapers would be sent out the next day.
• Friday August 20th - Two brand new Rumparooz in my hot little hands!

So, certainly not 48 business hours, unless they only work 4 hours per day.  But, less than 3 weeks to receive replacements is pretty good in my book.  Especially since I didn't have to incur any expense.  I can't stand when the consumer has to pay shipping to have a defective item replaced!

This was my first time receiving something directly from Rumparooz, so I thought their Eco Enclose packaging was pretty cool!  It is 100% compostable/biodegradable, but looks just like other poly mailers.

 I knew that they had changed the tabs around the time I purchased the two I have (my snap closure diaper doesn't have the contrast tabs, and they were purchased within days of each other.)  It also looks like they improved the aplix, which is awesome!  I really didn't like it because I felt it was a little too "sticky."  The tabs are slightly different and the laundry tabs appear to be improved as well. edit: Ah yes, the closures and laundry tabs are so much better!

The new diapers also have a patch of fabric reinforcing where the Rumparooz logo is sewn in (this is where my monster print diaper peeled away.)  In addition, the TPU (same as PUL only it is bonded by a heat process instead of a chemical process) actually feels different.  I'm unclear on when they actually started using TPU vs. PUL, or if they always have, but the old diapers looked and felt like other PUL diapers I have.  The new ones definitely look and feel different.  So hopefully this will be the end of this saga and I won't have any other problems!

So there you have it, phew!

My Rumparooz Delamination Issue

I couldn't make a long story short to save my life, but I'm great at making short stories long.

I recently had an issue with Rumparooz PUL delamination, and I wanted to share my experience with you, in case you have Rumparooz, or had heard anything about this issue. 

Let me very clearly state: While the delamination problem is a known issue, it is a small portion of the diapers that are affected.  If you are not having problems with your diaper.  Good.  Don't worry about it.  If you are having a problem, contact Rumparooz.

I have been using Tide (which Rumparooz and a few other manufacturers recommend, but many do not.)  I typically hang my shells to dry, but occasionally throw them in the dryer on low for the last 20 or so minutes with the inserts.

Saturday, I took my diapers down, and a few were a bit damp on the inside, so I turned them inside out.  This was totally by chance, since I don't normally do that.  I immediately noticed "bubbles" where the water resistant PUL lining had pulled away from the outer.  I checked the other Rumparooz I have, and that was the same way, but had actually torn free in some places.

Here are some photos, I know I have mad MS Paint skills, don't be jealous, LOL. 

Rather hard to see in photos, sorry.

I sent an email from their website around 11 P.M. on Saturday and I had a response by 3 P.M on Sunday!  Sunday!

I received a polite response acknowledging the issue, with instructions on how to receive replacements.  I thought that was great.

I asked to post the explanation of the issue in their words, but they declined.  They seem to want to handle problems as customers bring it up, rather than issuing a statement about it.  Personally, I think they would have been much better off to issue a statement when they discovered the issue, to assure people who did have a problem, that they would stand behind their product.  To let everyone know that they have corrected the issue, and don't forsee any problems in the future.  By keeping it so "hush hush" it's just led to discussions about how "my Rumparooz fell apart."

In fact, I was ticked off, complaining, and wasn't sure I should even bother contacting them...but after a few other moms in an online cloth diapering group had a similar problem, I thought I'd try.

Since they will not allow me to actually post their explanation of what went wrong, what was affected, how they have fixed the problem, how to know if your diapers are affected and so forth, I will paraphrase.  They know of a delamination problem with some diapers.  It wasn't all diapers, but they aren't able to pinpoint which ones it was, until the problem arises with an individual diaper.  It usually shows up after tumble drying.  They have a new PUL supplier and do not expect this to be an issue again.  Some of the affected diapers are still out there.  If you have a problem with your diaper, contact them.  Obviously, if you do not have a problem, you don't need to contact them. 

In addition to the claim form, there were instructions on how to complete it, take photos and send it along with my receipts.  Once submitted, I immediately received an auto-reply explaining that they would send my replacement diapers within 48 business hours.  Since then (4 days ago, as of the time this post is being published), I haven't received any correspondence.  No claim approval, no shipping notice.

For any rotten folks out there, you have to contact them to receive the claim form, then send your receipt as well as photos that show the defect, with the completed claim form also visible in the picture.  So no sneaky borrowing pictures to try to pull one over on them!

My reason for sharing this with you is two-fold.  One is that I was not happy with Rumparooz Saturday night.  However, I am glad they are standing behind the product.  It's just a shame that all companies can't be as up front as Rockin' Green was with their recent recall. 

Not all companies are even this responsive to problems.  I contacted Blueberry in January after my Minky Aplix diaper had one of the laundry tabs pretty much shred off of the diaper.  Keep in mind I'd had this diaper less than two months when I sent the email, and the laundry tab had started coming off almost immediately.

This is the response I received:

Maria:

Good afternoon!!!
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately Velcro is a beast. I prefer snaps myself, just due to the no maintenance aspect. We have tried many different varieties/brands of Velcro and have tested many different scenarios. Either we can have soft velcro that looses it stick or one like that is too stiff and will scratch the baby. We are always looking for way to build a better mouse trap.

Thanks again and have a greta day!!!

Bet regards,

Casey

First off, I am so guilty of typos, especially reversing letters or leaving one out.  However, receiving a typo-riddled response made me feel less than important.  I also felt very brushed off.  Like this was no surprise and no big deal to them that my THIRTY THREE DOLLAR diaper was a hunk-o-cr...junk.  No request for more information or photos, nothing.  I clearly explained that I'd had the diaper about a month and that the velcro was so "sticky" that it was nearly impossible to remove from the laundry tabs, and that one laundry tab had torn almost completely off.

Needless to say, I haven't been able to bring myself to buy any more of their diapers, even though I like the snap closure diaper I have.  Yes, I spent $33 on a diaper.  I'm appropriately ashamed.  Isn't it interesting that the 3 most expensive diapers I've bought are the 3 with the biggest problems?

OK, the second reason I wanted to share this with you is to urge you to check your diapers.  If you have a Rumparooz that you purchased in the past year or so, turn it inside out and look at it. 

If you have washed your diapers many times, occasionally tumble drying them and you do not have any problems, you do not need to contact Rumparooz, your diapers are fine!

The worst of my delamination (the torn part) is in the back, but if it were in a wet zone, the diapers would likely be leaking.

In case you didn't notice, customer service is a pet peeve of mine.  When I initially thought that RaR had identified the issue and was owning up to it, the tone of this post was much more positive (and had a different title.)  Hopefully this post will help spread the word, so that people who have diapers with problems can get them replaced (since RaR doesn't seem to be planning to go "public.")