FAIL!! PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FAIL!!! THIS ...

FAIL!! PRODUCT AND CUSTOMER SERVICE FAIL!!! THIS SITUATION REALLY HAS ME UPSET...because I believe that Gaiam might actually believe (like so many companies) that the policy they are sticking to in this situation is 'great' customer service and 'great' product representation. if it's not that it's simply a lie to protect their pennies. - - - I bought a ball chair June 2016. Worked fine for a few months. One of the side braces broke off Nov 2016. Apparently a pretty common issue with these as easily found all over he web. Gaiam said they'd send a replacement part ASAP. Then soon after said the part was on back order til Jan. Now late Jan the say another 4 to 6 weeks maybe. AND now, SO GREAT OF THEM.........they'll LET ME PAY to ship it back to them for an online 'store credit', to do what??!!....get another chair that will break and I'l have to go through this again? That's like eating a bad meal and having the manager send over the wait-person to say "sorry. but here's a voucher for next time you come in". They say they "can't" refund because it was an AMAZON purchase, but that is a lie isn't it? Is there ANYONE with even a moderate IQ who believes that Gaiam (a sales organization) cannot figure out how to refund a customer, no matter WHERE they bought the GAIAM product if they TRULY wanted to stand behind their product?????? Amazon IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS is a recurrent defect with GAIAM'S PRODUCT. Further Gaiam thinks they are generous in offering the option that I can ship the item back AT MY COST for a web store exchange, but they "can't" set up a paid return shipping label. HOW MANY THINGS ARE WRONG WITH THAT POLICY/STATEMENT IN THIS SITUATION? 1.) that's not true either. any company with a UPS/FedEx/ USPS/or other account CAN generate a paid return label or a COD label for their client. 2.) EVEN IF IN SOME IMPOSSIBLE UNIVERSE GAIAM DOES NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT WITH ONE OF THE NAMED PARCEL COMPANIES they could offer to reimburse me for my cost shipping it back, or go to UPS (et al) store and pay for a label and send it to me, or ANY NUMBER of other actions that show they are truly interested in 100% customer satisfaction as their web site claims.

How can it be so difficult to get a new piece of bent rod with thread on the ends? Funny thing is I could go spend $10 at the hardware store and make a new part myself. Overall crappy impression of product and company.

GAIAM FAILS AT CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE TRUEST SENSE, OFFLOADING THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT PROBLEM ON ME. IF YOU ARE TRULY INTERESTED IN CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND THE QUALITY REPRESENTATION OF YOUR PRODUCT, YOU WOULD WITHOUT HESITATION TAKE ACTION TO OFFER TO RELIEVE THE CLIENT (me) OF THIS SITUATION IN THE MANNER THEY PREFER (within reason) AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COST OR INCONVENIENCE TO THEM. THAT would be genuine customer service and standing behind your product.