My comment about not reading the instructions was mostly a joke. I had watched G2's video and skimmed the instructions to see if there was anything additional. Also, the confusion about 50lbs of pressure came from your post:
You seem to have gotten really defensive from the one jack*** arguing with you, who red has probably deservedly banned by now . The vast majority of people here appreciate your post. However, Your repeated posts make the platform seem fragile and that isn't my experience. I have repeatedly put more pressure on the platform than you stated you did when it broke. And my wife can attest that I am one of the most safety conscious people out there as she constantly tells me to "stop worrying about things. And this platform doesn't worry me. I understand you lost confidence in the platform because it broke on you. I probably would be upset also but, please don't attempt to discredit my opinion because it is different than yours. I haven't done that to you.
I'm not discrediting your opinion. I value it. And I know you're "mostly" joking. Because you assume you know enough about this type of hunting, and platforms, that generally you can use it without breaking it or getting hurt. My entire point is just that - the spectrum of what people "know" and what's "generally accepted or ok or right" in this little niche is still pretty wide. I value your opinion, and your life. I'm not discrediting anyone. I'm hoping people who are jumping on this bandwagon with no experience, or with a bunch of experience treating the process of putting most platforms in this industry on a tree with a little more force, will read it, and before they take it out to hunt, consider what I said, and not destroy their platform or get hurt.
I'm not defensive, and I promise I don't mind if you or anyone else likes it or not whether I hunt with that tool. All I care about is that the momentum of a new product release doesn't cloud people's perspective and judgment - and that results in someone getting hurt, or a company who's success means better hunting for me, fails. I have not spoken in generalities. I have offered a detailed account of my experience, as well as trying to provoke thought on some "what ifs" that aren't just one in a billion coincidences.
I am sorry if you think that my post was in any way belittling you. I promise it is the opposite - I'm aware of how easy it is to misread instructions, not read instructions, misread a post that clearly was aimed at getting clear instructions - and somehow read it BEING instructions, to always overtorque or overpressure things(guilty as charged here, I simply cannot manage gear that takes finesse, and that's on me), etc. I'm also aware that there are people who are going to buy the equipment and not get on this site and learn about how to do things "right".
I have a couple of opinions - one is that I don't think it's the best idea to build a product that doesn't take all of those things into enough consideration. The other is that I really wanted this thing to be just right for me, and it wasn't. The thing that made it so I described with facts. I also made it very clear I did not think people shouldn't buy it or cancel an order - in fact I feel the complete opposite. I'm one guy. I had one experience. The company, and our community, can't figure out whether we have a winner on our hands, or how to tweak or fix a product, without feedback. They need you all trying them and giving that feedback, good or bad.
I don't think the platform is "fragile" because fragile can't be quantified. I had no issues standing on top of the platform. I don't think it will break. I also don't think that if the failure I experienced happened at height, I would get hurt - because I can manage the process of climbing responsibly, and because, as Ernie stated, the platform just turns into a seat. But I'm not everyone. What I can quantify is that I can take my platform, and put it on the tree according to the instructions provided, the repeated posts and videos and information provided, and with less than my body weight, break the platform. The tune has changed around here, but again - not everyone will get on this site.
For me - that is not strong enough to hunt with. It's got a little to do with safety, and a lot to do with wanting to know I can rely on my equipment when I'm 1000 miles from home and 2 miles from another option when I'm on precious time.
I offered opinion as well on what I'd like to see done to improve - a little overbuilding to eliminate those types of failures. My opinion on that is to get what I want, for sure, but also because I think it's the right business decision. It's not my business what they do with their Business, but the last time I checked, that's kind of the point of the forum - it's a feedback loop.
I'm sorry if I offended you. I'm sorry if what I am saying doesn't feel good to read. I'll leave you guys with this - the perspective of the one fish swimming against the tide is often quite valuable.
