Editor’s note: We received the below press release from Black Diamond late this morning. (Some of you may have already received this notification.) The email is republished in its entirety. For now, BD is not referring to the potential malfunctions as a recall. Also, note that there’s a link to BD’s safety check procedures in the text below.
We’ll update you with additional information as we learn more.
PIEPS and Black Diamond Equipment Avalanche Transceiver / Beacon Safety Check
We have observed a small number of PIEPS and Black Diamond Avalanche Beacons with malfunctioning electronic components that may prevent it from switching between SEND and SEARCH modes. Our testing is ongoing, but it is important to us that we communicate this information promptly and ask that anyone in possession of the following beacons to immediately perform a safety inspection to ensure your beacon is functioning properly.
• PIEPS Micro BT Button
• PIEPS Micro BT Race
• PIEPS Micro BT Sensor
• PIEPS POWDER BT
• PIEPS PRO BT
• PIEPS DSP PRO
• PIEPS DSP SPORT
• BLACK DIAMOND RECON
• BLACK DIAMOND GUIDE
If you have one of these beacons, we ask that you immediately check and verify that the SEND/SEARCH/BLUETOOTH modes are working properly. If your beacon does not pass the Safety Check, you should retire it immediately and return it to PIEPS / BLACK DIAMOND for service, free-of charge.
Instructions to perform the Safety Check and related information can be found here. We will update you as more information becomes available.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service department at ski@bdel.com.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Jason Albert comes to WildSnow from Bend, Oregon. After growing up on the East Coast, he migrated from Montana to Colorado and settled in Oregon. Simple pleasures are quiet and long days touring. His gray hair might stem from his first Grand Traverse in 2000 when rented leather boots and 210cm skis were not the speed weapons he had hoped for. Jason survived the transition from free-heel kool-aid drinker to faster and lighter (think AT), and safer, are better.
4 comments
At least they released some sort of a pseudo recall or warning BEFORE getting big attention from incidents/fatalities due to their beacons not functioning properly. (This time)
I wonder how many recalls it will take before folks stop buying as Pieps/BD? The slider debacle and subsequent handling of the issue was certainly enough for me to swear off an unreliable and dangerous product- especially when manufacturers like mammut and arva are making such a great product.
I wonder how many lives BD gear has saved since Yvon Chouinard founded the company in 1957?
Expecting any company to have perfect products is a ridiculous standard.
BD has a long track record of great gear. This doesn’t change that.
I wish it were clearer whether:
A) Some devices have this behavior from the factory, meaning that you either have a bum one or you don’t, or;
B) Devices can begin displaying this behavior after having previously functioned normally.
My Recon works just fine. I’d like to have to not worry about whether all of a sudden it might not.
I will never buy one of their beacons. Two recalls like this – speaks to a company culture that doesn’t have its sh!+ together re: engineering or transparency.
I’ve got tons of BD gear that I live and that works well. I will continue to buy gear from them . However, I will not be adding a beacon that list.
At this point, I think they should probably sell this part of their business or part it out to other companies. There reputation is shot.