1" Pin Ladder Lock

Bolt stripped on install, two emails and no response

Ordered the 1" Pin Ladder Lock screw variant in gold. The allen bolt stripped while I was installing it. A normal install and not cranked down on resulted in a rounded out head. I contacted Austere twice about it and have not heard back either time. That is the bigger problem. The design and finish are genuinely great, which is why this is not a one star, but soft hardware plus no answer on a simple warranty question is a bad combination for a part at this price.

I thought the version with the screw post would be better but I think I'd like the variant with the press fit post better since the screw sticks out and detracts from the aesthetic.

Product doesn’t work and cannot get support.

I purchased these pin ladder locks because I liked the idea of switching my backpack’s to something that wasn’t plastic. They look beautiful and were easy to put on. Unfortunately installing them requires destroying the previous ones and after replacing them, I found my backpack straps will no longer stay at the correct position (the straps slowly slip over time). So these essentially made my backpack worse. Totally understood it could be my fault (despite seeing for almost 30 years and making bags for 20), so I contacted customer service. Unfortunately after messaging them on 6/26 I received no response, so I tried again 7/1 and finally received a request for a photo, which I provided same day. Since providing a photo I have received no reply despite contacting customer service an additional two times. Total times I contacted the company: 6/26 7/1 (received initial response) 7/2 7/8 7/14 I find this very frustrating and irresponsible, especially because as I said, replacing these with Austere’s 1) inherently involves destroying the originals and 2) nothing in the product description states it will only work with some straps or how to find out which it won’t work with (besides ensuring you have the correct size which I do)