Motorcycle Helmet Drop - AMX Superstore

niish150887 on 08/10/2022 - 15:22

So today at AMX Superstore, I was looking for a new helmet valued at $599 which I accidently dropped it on the floor (Lucky it was placed on the lower shelf). I immediately apologised to the staff on the floor who to seemed to be very angry and upset. He took the helmet off my hand and said that they would now have to write off the helmet as its been dropped and forced me to purchase it. When I said the helmet is not even my size , He told other two staff members who continued to wander around me which made me very conscious to touch any other helmet to try.

Unfortunately I apologised again and left the store - My question is does the store really need to write off helmets which are accidently dropped and it is there bad debt or the company provides them with a replacement or they check for quality and resell it ?

Automotive Helmet Motorcycle Accessory

Comments

  • Elegant Giant on 08/10/2022 - 15:30
    +83

    Typically, yeah. You wouldn't trust a helmet to protect you if it's been dropped. It sucks, but if they sold it potentially damaged, it may not prevent damage to the new owner.

    • SpotTheOzzie on 10/10/2022 - 13:16
      +32

      I don't get people today and how this is even a question. You break it, you buy it brother.

      This is the most important, critical safety equipment in motorsport, they're not going to jeopardise the next guy's safety because your accident.

      Which AMX Superstore is it? So I can give them 5 stars in Google reviews.

      EDIT* OP did you end up paying for it or not? Initially it says you were forced to pay, but later said you apologised and walked out..which is it exactly?

      • AustriaBargain on 10/10/2022 - 14:17

        If it's unsafe after being dropped, then how can they sell OP an unsafe product?

        • SpotTheOzzie on 10/10/2022 - 14:22
          +12

          Lmao are you kidding?

          Go back to the first line. You break it, you buy it.

          • AustriaBargain on 10/10/2022 - 14:27
            +19

            @SpotTheOzzie: It's not a crime to accidentally break something. If the store really wants to they can try to take OP to court over it.

              • AustriaBargain on 10/10/2022 - 14:58
                +14

                @holliday15: Accidentally breaking something sounds more like a civil matter, I doubt the cops would even show up if the manager called them.

                • holliday15 on 11/10/2022 - 10:56
                  -4

                  @AustriaBargain: Sorry, yes, initially illegal, not "criminal". Typically resolved as a civil matter - though definitely possible for police to become involved/escalate to a "crime" if they continue to refuse to pay for the damage etc.

                  • Torzz on 12/10/2022 - 16:37
                    +2

                    @holliday15: How to pursue payment if they don't have your details tho?
                    Hi I dropped a helmet… Here's my ID?

                  • Parentheses on 12/10/2022 - 20:00
                    +1

                    @holliday15: You are absolutely not legally obligated to pay for things you accidentally break in a shop. The shop has to prove that it was broken through your negligence - of which clumsiness does not count. The shop has to reasonably expect that people might drop things, and the shop therefore assumes that risk by placing products out for people to pick up.

                    If you were deliberately throwing them to the ground, or if you were doing something reckless like trying to juggle it and then dropping it, now you are legally liable, but if you are browsing and have butterfingers that is the store's problem.

              • Intoxicoligist on 10/10/2022 - 17:30
                +11

                @holliday15: Insurance should cover it right?

                • holliday15 on 11/10/2022 - 10:57
                  +1

                  @Intoxicoligist: Most likely. Though depending on the type of policy/applicable excess something like this would not be worth a business submitting an insurance claim. At the end of the day, they'll probably just need to wear the stock price.

                • Millikano on 11/10/2022 - 23:53
                  +2

                  @Intoxicoligist: The goods would most likely be insured by the store. There's a good chance a small claim like this (probably $350-$400 cost price) would be less than the claim excess they'd have to pay for the item (say an excess of $500), so they would just 'write off' the stock as a loss. This would be tax deductible but it's still someones wages for a day wasted by someone who wasn't careful. Accidents happen, and it's very reasonable for the team in the store to be angry with a customer who damages their stock.

              • willoz on 12/10/2022 - 06:27
                +1

                @holliday15: Can you back up your comments with a link to the legal framework?

                • holliday15 on 13/10/2022 - 10:53

                  @willoz: A claim can be brought would in tort for damaging another person's property. The exact law governing the claim against a customer would vary by state. Typically the question will be whether the person who broke the item was acting negligently, which is usually defined as "not exercising reasonable care".

                  As far as it escalating to a crime, section 195 of the Crimes Act NSW will apply if a person intentionally, recklessly or without lawful excuse, causes property damage. Obviously, this would not apply in practice to a situation like this. Though theoretically, a store could ask police to intervene (if it is worthwhile) for property damage if a customer was incredibly careless - as opposed to a genuine accident. I do recall seeing "you break it you buy it" signs at my local AMX in the helmet section. This doesn't carry any legal weight, but could contribute to a customer being aware that extra care should be taken.

                  Anyway, this has strayed far from the original point.

                  Dropped helmet = very bad, must dispose.
                  Customer = could offer to pay/contribute to cost but certainly not worth stores time to pursue.

            • skidexa on 12/10/2022 - 11:58

              @AustriaBargain: They probably have insurance for this stuff

        • gromit on 10/10/2022 - 14:57
          +3

          The entire point of a helmet is to absorb the shock and damage of impact and in the process potentially destroying itself rather than your head. a Helmet is considered a single impact disposable item. By dropping it he used that disposable item and hence he bought it.

          • ATangk on 10/10/2022 - 21:11
            +2

            @gromit: It might be damaged, but it’s highly likely it isn’t. Fortnine had a video, unless there was a melon inside when it was dropped, the foam wouldn’t be compressed at all.

            • gromit on 10/10/2022 - 21:46
              +2

              @ATangk: The foam is not the issue, it is the structural integrity of the shell.

            • knk on 11/10/2022 - 11:49
              +1

              @ATangk: Yeah maybe, but there's still the risk it doesn't protect you properly even if that risk is small. It's someone's life you're gambling with.

      • gdogdiggity on 11/10/2022 - 19:39
        +13

        You break it you buy it is not legislated in Australia.

    • macrocephalic on 11/10/2022 - 15:15
      +1

      Unless your head was in it when you dropped it then it's not a problem (within reason).

      • davery22 on 11/10/2022 - 15:35
        +1

        Wrong. Any impact, even a very light one, whether a head or any other object is inside the helmet at the time or not, compromises the protective integrity of the helmet.

        As many have already mentioned above. Helmets (At least racing/motorcycle helmets) are designed to protect against ONE impact. After that, they should be disposed of and a new helmet purchased.

        These helmets are made up of numerous layers of various materials. It's not just styrofoam with a plastic outershell like a stack hat or something.

        • macrocephalic on 12/10/2022 - 16:19
          +13

          Well, that's goes against the direct advice of Snell - and I'll trust them over a bunch of old wives tales from the internet.

          https://smf.org/faq#collapseFaqWhyReplace

          I dropped my helmet! Do I have to buy a new helmet?
          Generally the answer is probably not. If your helmet drops to the ground from your hand, off a seat or handle bar of a motorcycle, you do not have to replace it. In general, the real damage comes when the helmet contacts an object with a head inside. However, helmets are one-use items, so treat them with care. Frequent dropping, or spiking a helmet on any hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet's performance. Similarly if the helmet falls to the ground at highway speeds unoccupied, damage to the helmet may degrade its protective capability. Snell recommends that if you are participating in an activity that requires helmet use, you should pay attention whenever your head hitting things. Without a thorough inspection by a trained professional, it can be difficult to determine if a helmet has been damaged and its protective capabilities compromised. Some manufacturers may provide this service or direct you to others that can perform these inspections. If you suspect your helmet may be compromised, Snell recommends that you replace it. If the helmet has been involved in an impact while in use, replace it. Even good helmets cannot provide adequate protection the second time.

          Helmets, even motorcycle ones, pretty much are just EPS with a hard layer over the top to protect it and somewhat distribute the load and stop sharp edges poking through (although this very rarely happens in motorcycle crashes). Of course there's the liner for comfort - but that has no safety value against impact (does contribute to proper fit and reducing torsional injuries). The EPS is the thing that does almost all the work. Some manufacturers are using multi-layer progressive EPS, but most aren't.

          Basically, if something causes the EPS in the helmet to be damaged or "used", like an impact, solvents, too much heat, or lots of empty drops then it needs to be replaced; however one empty drop does not ruin the helmet.

          • Bunsen on 15/10/2022 - 20:10
            +1

            @macrocephalic: 100%, when i was a regular rider i lost count how many times i dropped my helmet, off the seat, the bar end, my hands, even wore it after an accident as it didnt cop any impact.

            Theres some full on know-it-alls in here that have probably never even ridden a bike, even as a pillion, lol..

  • Hybroid on 08/10/2022 - 15:34
    +34

    Helmets are critical safety equipment so any drop or impact should mean they are replaced. This is because it could have compromised the expanded polystyrene liners within and could have serious consequences for the next purchaser if they were in an accident and the helmet failed.

    The store were correct in writing the helmet off and not selling it on to the next customer. That's a good precautionary move regardless if actually damaged or not, there's an unknown risk now so better safe than sorry.

    In terms of financial loss to the store, none of us will know their arrangements on that. They might have insurance the covers such incidents, they might not and thus take a huge loss on it.

    • zoner on 08/10/2022 - 15:40
      +3

      yep, and even with insurance its time wasted with paperwork and possible premium increases

      • Intoxicoligist on 10/10/2022 - 17:30
        +1

        But the entire point you have insurance is to cover for events like this. If you're not going to use it in situations its designed to be used in, whats the point?

        • cooni on 10/10/2022 - 21:38
          +4

          Maybe for events where some clown comes in a knocks 30 helmets on the ground?

        • zoner on 10/10/2022 - 22:07
          -3

          I'm not expecting you to understand my comment

  • coffeeinmyveins on 08/10/2022 - 15:54
    +37

    around me which made me very conscious to touch any other helmet to try.

    Lol dude you dropped a $600 helmet, ruining it and had the gall to continue browsing?????

    I'm surprised they didn't force you to pay for it. A lot of places have that written next to the helmets.

    How can you even drop one? If there's anything to be careful with, it's a motorbike helmet.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2022 - 16:49
        +1

        I couldn't not leave straight away so i just stayed

        Huh? Do you even ride a motorcycle or were you just killing time until someone arrived to give you a lift home?

        • coffeeinmyveins on 08/10/2022 - 19:45
          +3

          Motorbike riders can also drive cars, believe it or not ;)

          • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2022 - 20:11

            @coffeeinmyveins: Sure, then why not leave straight away?

      • JimmyF on 08/10/2022 - 16:50
        +23

        the issue I had was with the behaviour of the store staff

        So you're confused the store staff followed you and kept an eye on you after making them write off a $600 item?

        What would you do as a business owner when someone breaks something worth $600? Let them keep walking around dropping more items?

      • Narull on 10/10/2022 - 15:24
        +3

        No the store staff were fine the issue is 100% with you.

  • pegaxs on 08/10/2022 - 16:05
    +36

    Yes… Would you buy that helmet and trust your life to it knowing it had been dropped?

    Once a helmet has been dropped, it is a throw away. The action of dropping and it impacting the floor puts stress fractures in the shell, so the next time it hits something, it would not hold up to impact and just open up like Coles shopping bag full of watermelons.

    As a consumer, I would be SUPER pissed off if they sold me a helmet that has been dropped on the floor and not just thrown in the trash.

    But good on you for having the balls to drop a helmet, refuse to pay for the damages and go on shopping there like it was no biggie.

      • pegaxs on 08/10/2022 - 16:33
        +49

        So… If you were selling a phone and I just picked it up to look and dropped it, cracking the screen, and just said "oops, sorry, wrong screen size", you would be happy for me to continue picking your shit up to look at it and would not expect me to pay for it?

        There doesn't need to be signage, it is accepted that if you break someone else's shit, you make them whole again, as you have effectively denied that store with the chance to sell that item and they have a right to claim for damages.

        If you run into someone's car and damage it, your defence isn't "well, the car didn't have a sign on it saying 'don't run into me' did it?"

        You have enough money to buy a $10,000 LAMS bike, but not enough to cover damage to a helmet? How about you buy a $9,400 LAMS bike and take your helmet as a trophy and a reminder of not to drop another helmet.

        • Leggy on 11/10/2022 - 17:33
          +1

          Not everyone knows that dropping a helmet can damage it even if it looks fine from the outside and even from a low height. They should definitely have signage for that type of thing. (I'm sure he's learnt this the hard way though)

          • pegaxs on 11/10/2022 - 18:05

            @Leggy:

            Not everyone knows that dropping a helmet can damage it

            No, but everyone knows, even from a very young age, that picking anything up and dropping it has the chance to damage it. (I know I got enough smacks up the back of the head to remind me.)

            They should definitely have signage

            It doesn't require a sign to say "Dont drop these helmets as they might get damaged" because most normal people would know this. Picking up stuff comes with the inherent risk that, if dropped, that thing could be damaged.

            And I fully suggest that if OP doesn't know that "dropping stuff = damage", then OP should definitely avoid riding a motorcycle outside his garage. Or do roads need to come with signs "If you drop your motorcycle here, it may damage it"??

      • coffeeinmyveins on 08/10/2022 - 19:46
        +10

        r or have signage which clearly said you drop you pay - something along those lines.

        you sound like an absolutely horrible customer.

        You really need a sign to tell you that if you drop something - that is designed to protect your head by absorbing impact damage - you need to pay for it?

        Do you regularly go into a supermarket and eat the fruit and say "well they didn't have a sign saying don't eat the fruit" ?

      • jacross on 09/10/2022 - 08:24
        +12

        You keep trying to defend your ego by deflecting the issue onto 'the staff were mean to me about it'. You need to look within yourself and accept that you did a bad thing that hurt others. That's the only positive way forward.

      • UberIsCool on 10/10/2022 - 17:50
        +1

        Would you expect the same signs in an antique store? What about if you dropped an Apple laptop and smashed it up? Would you just walk out?

      • dji1111111 on 11/10/2022 - 00:00
        +4

        This guy is so thick. Why dont you be honest and stop putting on a charade here? You would have never paid them regardless of whether the signage is there or not.
        So if the signage was there, you think that would have prevented your clumsiness to somehow disappear and you would not have dropped the helmet? Shame the store staff didnt hold you and force you to pay up.
        You are a disgrace. If another store sold you a helmet and you later found out they sold you one that had been dropped on the floor, im sure you will be on Ozbargain in a heartbeat whinging why they didnt do the right thing and write off the dropped helmet

        • ChatCPT on 21/10/2022 - 10:05

          +1000

          so much scum around with imaginary crowns on

      • ChatCPT on 21/10/2022 - 10:02

        no YOU did the wrong thing niish150887!!
        you could have behaved better - also increase your knowledge!

  • bobbified on 08/10/2022 - 16:16
    +11

    Yes, helmets are not supposed to be dropped because they may suffer stress fractures that are not visible to the naked eye, that then compromises it's ability to protect.

    Accidents do happen so, while customers must be careful, I think stores should also take measures to protect their inventory.

    • Kangal on 10/10/2022 - 22:26
      +6

      I understand this, but isn't that the case with a medium-impact or drop? Dropping a helmet from 30cm height (or less) shouldn't cause any internal fractures because it had low potential energy/velocity for that stress.

      Any engineers here want to chime in?

      PS: the analogy with the phone isn't quite accurate, one is a small but dense device, with no shock-absorbance and a fragile glass build. The other is a much lower density, larger surface area, in an egg shape, built for shock-absorbance, and mainly a plastic build material.

      • Yawhae on 11/10/2022 - 07:09
        +5

        Not an engineer. I'm on the fence about this one. A drop from knee height with no weight (head) in the helmet isn't going to cause any meaningful damage. Not even close to enough force to compromise the foam liner.

        What will actually cause damage to those helmets is them sitting on the shelf having people sweaty heads going in and out of them all day.

        • spaceflight on 11/10/2022 - 09:53
          -1

          Not an engineer.

          So then you don't know what you are taking about

          I'm on the fence about this one. A drop from knee height with no weight (head) in the helmet isn't going to cause any meaningful damage. Not even close to enough force to compromise the foam liner.

          How do you know?
          You cannot look inside the helmet to check the structural integrity of the foam inside.
          As it is a critical life safety place of equipment you need to assume that the inside has been compromised, which is what is supposed to happen when you are in an accent (like a crumple zone in a car)

          What will actually cause damage to those helmets is them sitting on the shelf having people sweaty heads going in and out of them all day.

          No it won't.
          Helmets are designed to be put on and taken off, that will not damage their ability to protect you (unless you drop it while you are doing it). Neither will sweat.

          • Kangal on 11/10/2022 - 14:46
            +1

            @spaceflight: Actually he is correct. Sweat and general friction/wear will age out the inserts quicker. But it won't have any effect on the structural integrity, not unless it is abused.

            While I'm not with the OP and his carefree attitude, I definitely am not siding with the store-owner without an evidence-based look into his claim of structural damage. And that's the attitude people should have on this matter, many have come to side with the store-owner, perhaps they believe that OP is lying about the height it was dropped (if it's 1.5m then that's a huge difference to mere 30cm drop).

            • spaceflight on 11/10/2022 - 15:16

              @Kangal:

              But it won't have any effect on the structural integrity, not unless it is abused.

              As I said "that will not damage their ability to protect you"

              I definitely am not siding with the store-owner without an evidence-based look into his claim of structural damage

              The only way to determine structural damage would be to physically dismantle it, maybe x ray it assuming seeing the damage was possible via x ray
              Neither are practical.

              A helmet is a safety device, it would be irresponsible to assume it still offers the same protection after it has been dropped, and the store could open themselves up to liability by selling a helmet which they know has been dropped and may not offer the correct protection.

              • Kangal on 12/10/2022 - 17:28

                @spaceflight: But dropped is a very vague term.

                You can drop it from a height of 1cm, from a height of 30cm, and from a height of 300cm. And each test will yield different results.

                The more neutral stance is to not-side with the store owner. If he makes claims that the structural integrity has been compromised, then he needs to substantiate those claims. An X-ray is a good way forward, or sending it to experts. Other means can be achieved if this particular helmet was drop tested in a study, and if the findings were shown that the particular height will not cause issues until a certain level (eg 150cm).

                There's A LOT of old wives tale when it comes to any hobby out there (golf is notorious). So we can only take them with a pinch of salt until proven beyond reasonable doubt. The onus is on the store-owner to prove damages (was their costmetic damages? Do they count?). Also is their prior history for similar cases?

          • Leggy on 11/10/2022 - 17:36
            +1

            @spaceflight: Where do you draw the line, what happens if you lightly bump it on something? What about a medium bump? How can someone measure whether it's been damaged or not?

          • Yawhae on 13/10/2022 - 23:59
            +1

            @spaceflight: That's right I'm not an engineer and I'll assume you aren't either. So all these points you made are equally as baseless as mine.

  • MS Paint on 08/10/2022 - 16:59
    +8

    When I said the helmet is not even my size

    It doesn't matter. You shouldn't wear it anyway.

    This is why you don't buy secondhand child seats for cars. They too are comprised if they have been involved in a collision.

    Nice to look at
    Nice to hold
    Drop this helmet
    Consider it sold

    • Jackson on 10/10/2022 - 13:44
      -1

      Are ou the Muzeeb that's going to sort me out?

  • Kranbone on 08/10/2022 - 17:36
    +2

    If you accidentally damage something, it doesn't remove your accountability. I too would've asked you to cover the cost of the helmet as there's no way the helmet should be sold onto a potential customer considering it's been dropped.

  • apsilon on 08/10/2022 - 19:05
    +15

    forced me to purchase it.

    Did you pay for it or not? Your post says you were forced to purchase it but then other replies seem to indicate you didn't. Dog act if you didn't. I would've kicked you out right away, not bothed wasting other staff time following you.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 08/10/2022 - 19:47
      +6

      Based on their comments, I'm thinking they didn't pay for it and got off extremely lucky

    • Diesmile on 08/10/2022 - 19:57
      +3

      "Unfortunately I apologised again and left the store ". i think he just left the store without paying.

    • 82norm on 10/10/2022 - 09:15

      Dog act…..fair dinkum, stop being dramatic about it.

  • lordra on 08/10/2022 - 21:52
    +4

    Outdated, Dangerous and Dead : When to Replace Motorcycle Gear F9 makes some comments on this.

    • pegaxs on 08/10/2022 - 22:21
      +3

      While I love Ryan's videos and I think in some cases, a dropped helmet isn't an issue, it depends on what it was dropped onto (carpet floor vs concrete) and what the helmet is made out of (plastic/composite/carbon fibre).

      If the helmet is a cheap $59 Aldi bucket made of ABS plastic, meh, get away with it. My $1,200 carbon composite helmet onto a hard surface, yeah, I'm not risking that. It only needs one small crack in the shell, either outside where you can see it, or inside where you cant, and that thing is coming apart like an egg shell against a fry pan.

      A helmet's shell has 2 purposes, 1: to protect the squishy and soft foam layer from just turning to dust on impact with an abrasive surface, and 2: to mitigate impact forces around the entire helmet shell.

      If there is a crack in the shell, all of the force traveling around the shell will get to the crack and basically explode at that point, because these forces cannot just "jump" or "ignore" the crack. It is an induced weak point in that shell.

      I guess it's down to individual risk factors, if you are happy to wear it after you drop your own helmet, fine. If you are the owner of a helmet shop, the potential for a customer to buy this helmet, have an accident and they determine the helmet had a flaw in it from being dropped, the lawsuit alone would send you broke. For them, they cannot take the risk, even if Ryan says it's ok.

      • Jackson on 10/10/2022 - 13:46
        +2

        You can get helmets xrayed to check for cracks if they are worth enough, I don't know anyone who's done it I just heard it can be done

        • cille745 on 10/10/2022 - 23:33

          I've only seen Shoei offer that service

    • RMBC on 09/10/2022 - 09:08
      +8

      Disagree completely. How can they possibly mitigate that risk without having the helmets encased and boxed, or the floor made out of a giant air cushion.

      Actions have consequences, and people need to be held responsible for their actions, regardless of intent

      • jam scone on 10/10/2022 - 07:57
        -6

        Look at all these negs, thanks guys.

        My point is this situation was created by the shop, not the customer. The guy went in and tried a helmet, was likely encouraged too. The inevitable happened (as is will) and the staff are jumping up and down.

        Yes, a padded floor would be a great start, maybe a staff members needs to assist the fitting/handling etc.

        • Kranbone on 10/10/2022 - 09:37
          +4

          I didn't neg you but the situation was created by the customer, he dropped it. The situation wasn't created by the store.

          • Jackson on 10/10/2022 - 13:49
            +4

            @Kranbone: Its fair to argue that eventually, with enough people picking up and trying on helmets, someone will drop one. Things get dropped, helmets less than other things as people are being careful, but eventually it will always happen, and it won't be deliberate

          • Kangal on 10/10/2022 - 22:42
            +3

            @Kranbone: Well, yes the customer caused the drop but the shop bears some responsibility for the incident. All the motorbike stores I've been to have their helmets out of reach.

            Some behind the counter, above on the high-shelf, locked in a display case, sitting inside their sales boxes, or otherwise they have a metal wise running through them to prevent them from drops.

            Now, I don't know if this was the case since OP doesn't provide all the details. Maybe it was locked, and they unlocked it for him, and he was the one to drop it after the fact. In which case, there's not much the store could have done, and the brunt of the responsibility shifts mostly on the customer.

            With that said, I have met a couple jerks too, where they tell at their employees and tell them if they drop the merchandise it would come out of their pockets. But they would be far less careful. So since this happened publicly the owner would've had to write it off, and he was probably angry at the loss of sale. That's why business insurance covers these things, but they may not deduct it if it has happened before and the owner didn't act and put mitigations in place.

        • jam scone on 16/10/2022 - 09:26

          This forum should be renamed "any opposing viewpoint will be neg'd"

          I assume the neg vote is for rude or offensive comments, and I've posted neither.

    • BigBirdy on 09/10/2022 - 09:56
      +31

      Ideally they should have helmets just for trying on, where it doesn't matter if they get dropped, and the actual helmets sold come in a sealed box, never tested.

      • Jackson on 10/10/2022 - 13:50
        +13

        I think someone has hit on a solution here. That helmet is still useful to the shop as long as they don't sell it

        • GordonD on 10/10/2022 - 17:38
          +4

          Yep, that helmet could be set aside for display - who cares if it gets dropped again - and for customers to try on to get the size right. But not sold. Except maybe to an indoor karting business, the helmets they use aren't seriously there for protection.

      • DarwinBoy on 11/10/2022 - 17:33

        Helmets are like shoes. They continually change and improve. And the prices of good helmets mean that a store would be writing of 10s of thousands of dollars a year.

      • leiiv on 13/10/2022 - 12:53

        This is what every store must do. All helmets on the shelves are display only and not for sale. No every drop incidents will can be noticed. And minor drops and bumps will not leave behind any marks.

    • smartazz104 on 11/10/2022 - 08:37

      inevitable

      You mean, stupid people?

    • Leggy on 11/10/2022 - 17:40
      +1

      I agree, ozbargain must be full or motorbike riders or cyclists. There should definitely be something in place to stop it from happening in the first place.

  • transum10 on 09/10/2022 - 09:33
    +11

    Good on you for owning up that you dropped the helmet, many would just leave the store and not say anything.
    In terms of the having to ‘write off’ the helmet this would most likely be the case also.

    Will AMX be out of pocket? NO, they are part of GPC (Repco/NAPA) and have warranty/sullage clause in all contracts with suppliers.
    Suppliers then factor this into pricing matrix 1-6% in general.

    The person who ends up paying for it is the end user with out even knowing.

  • alxr0101 on 09/10/2022 - 10:57
    +14

    OP next walks into bike shop, gets on a new bike and it falls over.

    oops..sorry its not even my size. cya.

  • backpaqer on 09/10/2022 - 12:34

    Do the right thing by the store and they may have even done the right thing by you by saying you accidentally dropped the helmet as you were leaving the store… Which might be covered by credit card insurance. (Dodgy).. Or you might already have coverage under some other insurance policy as most home and contents policies have 3rd party liability insurance that covers clumsy people outside their home. They may then have offered to sell you a replacement one at a really good price.

  • 82norm on 09/10/2022 - 12:38

    It’s a store, who cares.if they’re so paranoid about this, then have the helmets behind the counter. Sh1t happens.

    • backpaqer on 09/10/2022 - 12:40
      +7

      Or have the real ones in storage and display ones as display ones… Could be the helmet supplier provides demo helmets that expect could be mistreated/dropped etc.

      • Jackson on 10/10/2022 - 13:51
        -1

        They need to be in cloud storage, ain't nothing happening to helmets in there

  • iminabrons on 09/10/2022 - 13:57
    +22

    If a retailer has goods on display in such a way that makes it clear the customers can pick them up and check them out. Then a customer if they are acting normally and in good faith (not fooling around), should not be held responsible for dropping the item.
    Especially if an item is so fragile that being dropped would cause it to be unsellable.
    You only have to think of fruit at a market. It doesn't matter if the fruit is $1 or $1,000. The onus is on the seller on whether or not they want to take the risk of a customer inadvertently dropping it.

    • apsilon on 09/10/2022 - 14:16

      While I agree for some items, in the case of helmets how do you expect people to try them on? FYI helmets, like clothing and shoes, come in various sizes and different brands and models also fit differently. In other words, they're nothing like fruit.

      • iminabrons on 10/10/2022 - 08:56
        +8

        You're right helmets that are on display to be handled by the customer and examined are nothing like fruit except for the fact that they are on display to be handled by the customer and examined.

        I repeat, "The onus is on the seller on whether or not they want to take the risk of a customer inadvertently or accidentally dropping it."

        If the item they are selling is so fragile that dropping it onto the floor would render it no longer fit for purpose and unsellable then precautions should be taken.

        The irony of a motorcycle helmet that is being sold in a shop but has been manufactured in such a way that it could be rendered useless any time in the future after it has been bought and paid for if the owner should ever drop it on the ground or bang it against something with the same force as dropping it seems to be the height of silliness.

        • apsilon on 10/10/2022 - 15:05
          -2

          You clearly don't understand how helmets work. They're designed to absorb impact, any impact. They do this by distributing force through the outer shell and compressing the inner foam. Both the shell and the foam are single use. So once dropped the shell has potentially cracked and the foam has compressed doing their job. Bicycle helmets work the same way as do car bumpers for low speed light collisions and both also need to be replaced after an impact. If you know of a better way to make them you could be very rich.

          • GordonD on 10/10/2022 - 17:37
            +3

            @apsilon: Yes that's how they are designed to work. When there's a head in them. But I doubt he dropped it on the floor from knee height with his head in it, so the foam liner should be OK, but the shell may not be.

      • lachhelix on 11/10/2022 - 23:59

        This may sound like a stupid idea, but in my mind, a seller could always do something similar to what retail stores do with things like mobile phones - attach them to some kind of wire/tether to a 'demo' model so that if they are dropped they're not going to hit the floor (or will do so with an acceptable level of force)

  • 82norm on 10/10/2022 - 09:10
    +20

    I doubt a drop what seems like 300mm would result it being completely damaged. Get it xrayed for cracks. Store should have some form of insurance anyway and if they don’t, it’s bad luck for them. Furthermore, it can still be used for demo purposes and fitting, just not sell it.

    Noone can tell me this doesn’t happen all the time. Again, if there so precious about their goods, put them behind the counter.

  • CalmLemons on 10/10/2022 - 13:14
    +3

    Does the same apply to normal mtb helmets? I drop my cycling helmets all the time and the kids do too.

    • That Guy on 10/10/2022 - 13:28

      Not to the same extent. The speed/force that a motocycle helmet endures is far greater than your usual pushy stack.
      General rule of a mtb helmet is replace after a big hit as the force from the ground as well as the internal force from you head will compromise the integrity of the foam which is designed to compress under pressure.

    • apsilon on 10/10/2022 - 16:31
      +1

      Essentially yes. The issue is the foam under the shell compresses and doesn't bounce back but you can't see it. A helmet that has been dropped will absolutely be less effective at absorbing a second impact. You can get away with a little more as bicycle helmets tend to be extremely light and so even if dropped don't take the same force as a motorcycle helmet. Most people also don't realise helmets have a lifespan and should be replaced even if they don't take an impact. IIRC 5 years is the typically quoted time. Multiple drop plus and old helmet equals time to replace.

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