I'm not sure if this model is made the same as the ones that we bought 2 years ago. We purchased a set for our daughter and and a set for step-son. The daughter's set didn't last long. 2 of the heads broke when hitting the ball after just a couple of games. she took it back and exchanged it towards a tent at LLBean. they used her very well so as far as LLBean's service--excellent. rating on the set--not so great. How's the step son's working out? I asked him and he said he's never used them. guess that was the wrong gift choice. hahaha
I purchased the Croquet Set for my husband for Father's Day. He has an old one we bought over 15 years ago which has held up amazingly well with much use each summer. The old set came with a sturdy L.L. Bean bag that is still in pretty good condition for it's age & the amount of use its gotten. The bag that came with the new set however, ripped after trying to put in the first ball. It is less than half the size of the old bag and requires taking the heads off the mallets to fit into the bag each time you pack it up. Customer service was wonderful and is sending us a new bag but we don't know if it will be used...
Received as a birthday present and returned. Wickets, balls and stakes are OK. Two mallet heads stripped after two days of light use. Case is too small to store mallets without removing heads, so stripping of heads is very likely if you plan to store mallets in bag. Mallets also have a lot of putty covering knots. Not a good value.
Response from L.L.BeanBy L.L.Bean Product Team, June 8, 2012
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry you were disappointed with this set. We'd like you to know that thanks to customer feedback like yours, the croquet heads in the sets we currently sell have metal threads to prevent stripping. It certainly sounds like you have a set from a previous year, and we'd like to help. Please give us a call so we can arrange an exchange or a complete refund.
We'd also like to note that because these mallets are made from natural wood, they are prone to small imperfections in the grain and appearance. Putty is sometimes sparingly used to address this, and each mallet is inspected to be sure this does not diminish overall quality and appearance. We're sorry this did not work for you.
Above all, it's important to us that you're happy with every purchase. Quality remains a top priority at L.L.Bean, and you can always count on our 100% satisfaction guarantee when this is not the case.
Thanks again for taking time to post your comments, and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Overall rating
1/ 5
MainiacMe
fromFalmouth Maine
Gender:Male
How often do you shop at L.L.Bean?Frequently
When did you purchase this item?Within 6 Months
Croquet
PostedApril 4, 2012
I bought a set a few years ago and still use frequently with great satisfaction, based on quality, finish, durability and American maple wood. I recently ordered a set for my daughter and her family. It is no where near the same quality, obviously imported wood and just not well made for this price. One of the heads had a knot filled with putty. I returned it and will look for American made quality.
