Limited Warranty Information
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. d/b/a Combat MFG (together with its affiliates, collectively “Combat”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) prides itself on the quality and performance of its products, which meet, and often exceed, industry quality and durability criteria or guidelines. However, all materials are subject to fatigue and possible breakdown over time. For certain products, Combat offers a limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship as outlined below (the “Limited Warranty”). For any products not listed herein, the products are sold on an “as-is” or “without warranty” basis. Note that this Limited Warranty is available for products customized directly through Combat to the extent that there is a manufacturer’s defect.
This Limited Warranty applies to products purchased after the last revision date set forth herein.
Purchase and/or use of any product identified herein will be deemed an acknowledgement and acceptance of this Limited Warranty.
This Limited Warranty only covers products purchased from authorized Combat dealers with a copy of the original sales receipt.
MANDATORY ARBITRATION NOTICE AND CLASS ACTION AND JURY TRIAL WAIVER: This Limited Warranty contains a binding arbitration clause, class action waiver, and jury trial waiver. Please read these sections carefully as they require you and Combat to arbitrate certain disputes and claims.
General Exclusions
This Limited Warranty does not cover:
- Normal wear and tear
- Cosmetic damage (e.g., discoloration, color fastness, or natural fading of colors, minor scratches, and paint chips from normal handling, etc.), burns, or abrasions
- Products that have been damaged due to accident, negligence, or excessive collision
- Products purchased from non-authorized Combat dealers or individual resellers
- Products purchased at auction or via third party marketplace websites (unless sellers are authorized Combat dealers). Note that SidelineSwap is not an authorized Combat dealer.
- Products found to have a usage history that is inconsistent with the claimed history
- Products that are not accompanied by an original sales receipt or for which the supplied proof of purchase is inconsistent with the product in the claim
- Products that have been transferred from the original purchaser
- Products that have been physically altered (including the removal or defacement of a serial number), doctored, abused, mistreated, or tampered with in any manner whatsoever or used without observing the care instructions. Any suspected alteration of a product will nullify this Limited Warranty.
- Products that have been customized after-market by a third party
- Products that have been improperly cared for, maintained, or stored (e.g., exposed to moisture, flooding, fire, electrical problems, pet chewing, etc.), not at the fault of Combat
- Stolen or lost items
- Products on which repair attempts have been made by anyone other than Combat
- Products that have been damaged or modified through the use of parts or accessories that were not certified or approved by Combat (e.g., hardware modifications, etc.)
- Counterfeit products
- Products received as a gift without proof of original sales receipt
- Products won through a promotion (e.g., sweepstakes, raffle, contest, etc.)
- Products that have been damaged or products with defects discovered after the Warranty Period
- Products purchased “as-is”, “used”, “without warranty”, or as “demo” products
Products, Warranty Periods, and Product-Specific Exclusions
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Product |
Warranty Period*^
*Commences on the date of purchase unless otherwise stated
^Replacements do not re-start or extend the applicable warranty period. |
Product-Specific Exclusions |
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Aluminum or Composite Bats |
1 year |
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Senior Softball Bats |
There is no warranty unless otherwise noted. |
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Clothing / Apparel |
60 days from purchase date (stock) 60 days from delivery date (custom, direct-to-team orders) |
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Batting Gloves and Sliding Mitts |
60 days |
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Bags |
90 days |
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All Other Items (e.g., Grips) |
Contact Combat Customer Service at warranty@combatmfg.com for more information. |
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Authorized Retailers
This Limited Warranty only covers products purchased from authorized Combat dealers with a copy of the original sales receipt.
The Limited Warranty does not cover any products purchased from a non-authorized seller, including but not limited to sellers operating on a third-party auction site, unless the seller is an authorized Combat dealer (note that SidelineSwap is not an authorized Combat dealer). To ensure warranty coverage, be mindful when selecting your retailer and make sure they are an authorized Combat dealer. If you need clarification on whether a particular retailer is an authorized Combat dealer, please contact Customer Service prior to making your purchase at 1-800-429-7557 or email service@combatmfg.com.
Falsified Claims
Any attempts to submit falsified information or documentation for purposes of obtaining a replacement product will invalidate this Limited Warranty. Combat reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to invalidate a Limited Warranty on the suspicion of falsified product information or documentation.
The presence of a trademark of a third-party certifying entity (e.g., USSSA, NOSCAE, etc.) on a product indicates that the product is compliant with or certified according to the standards of that particular certifying entity as of the date of its manufacture and not at a later date. In the event that the product loses its certification subsequent to the date you purchased the product from an authorized Combat dealer, Combat may, in its sole discretion, opt to repair, replace, or retro-fit the product. These remedies shall be the sole and exclusive remedies available to the greatest extent permitted under applicable law. Notwithstanding, if the product has lost its certification due to misuse, alteration, or doctoring, this Limited Warranty will be voided, and no such remedy will be offered.
Bats: Proper Use and Care Instructions
Proper Use Instructions and Warnings
Combat bats are high-performance products. To deliver peak performance, these bats are not indestructible. In fact, each bat’s useful life is partly determined by the number of hard hits it takes over its lifetime. For this reason, our bats are designed with the intent of individual use. They are not designed or intended to be used as a team bat by multiple players or as a "loaner" bat at a commercial facility.
WARNING:Hitting metal cleats, rocks, or anything other than a ball can damage your bat, cause injury to you or others, and will void this Limited Warranty.
WARNING: While composite and metal bats are more durable than wood bats, composite and metal bats also can break, so use with care. Further, deep scratches, nicks, or dents can cause these bats to break at any time. Breakage can cause injury to the batter, to other players, and to spectators. Inspect your bat regularly for cracks, nicks, dents, surface damage, or excessive wear and replace the bat as needed. DO NOT USE YOUR BAT IF IT IS CRACKED, EXCESSIVELY WORN, OR DAMAGED.
WARNING: Avoid using your bat in cold weather. Temperatures below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) significantly increase the hardness of the ball.
Cleaning and Care Instruction
Use only mild soap and water. DO NOT use solvents or any ammonia-based products for cleaning.
To extend the useful life of your product, Combat suggests the following:
- Use with leather-covered balls only
- Ideally, baseballs/softballs used in games are the best option to use for practice
- Limit the bat to your individual use only
- Rotate the bat ¼ turn each at-bat
- Store in a cool, dry area, away from direct sunlight
Bats: Coverage Under the Limited Warranty
This Limited Warranty is limited to one (1) bat per original purchase and can be redeemed only by the original purchaser. There is not a warranty on senior softball bats unless otherwise noted.
Under this Limited Warranty, Combat will provide a one-time repair or replacement of your aluminum or composite bat within one (1) year from the date of purchase for defects in materials and workmanship. This Limited Warranty does not apply to any representations of bat weight* or size.
*We list a “weight drop” or “drop” for certain bats. This normally takes the form of a negative number; for example, we may offer certain bat models in “drops” of -5 and -10, among other “drops.” Typically, a lower drop will feel heavier than a higher drop of the same model and length, so a -5 bat will feel heavier than a -10 bat of the same length. Drop is intended to give you a relative idea of how heavy or light a bat feels. But drop is not intended to and should not be relied upon to calculate the actual weight of a bat. Many factors may affect the actual weight of a bat. Further, as a result of differing certifying entities, requirements, standards, or procedures, bats with varying finished weights may be certified as a certain “drop”. Moreover, Combat’s internal manufacturing tolerances coupled with any finishing materials added to the bat such as grip tape, paint, glue, stickers, and decals, may affect the weight of Combat bats as they are sold to the consumer. These and other factors may mean that, by way of example only, a 30” bat certified as a -10 drop may be more or less than 20 oz. if placed on a scale after purchase, and it may feel heavier or lighter when swung and may perform or sound differently than another 30” -10 bat. Ultimately, the best way to know whether you feel comfortable swinging a bat is to try it out first.
Bats: Submitting a Warranty Claim
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Bats Purchased in the U.S. with a U.S. Address |
Bats Purchased Outside of the U.S. with a Non-U.S. Address |
Bats Purchased in the U.S. with a Non-U.S. Address |
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Do NOT return the bat to your sporting goods dealer! Initiate a bat warranty claim by completing and submitting the Warranty Claim Form below: Note: Any bats purchased in the U.S. must have a U.S. address (non-P.O. box) for shipment of a replaced or repaired bat.
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Do NOT return the bat directly to Combat! Return the bat along with the proof of purchase to the sporting goods dealer from which it was purchased. If the dealer determines that the bat is eligible for coverage under this Limited Warranty, the dealer will provide you with a replacement bat currently in stock or will order one from Combat if the desired model or size is temporarily out of stock. If the dealer deems the bat is not eligible for warranty coverage, the bat will be returned to you. |
Do NOT return the bat to your sporting goods dealer!
Initiate a bat warranty claim by completing and submitting the Warranty Claim Form below: Note: Any bats purchased in the U.S. must have a U.S. address (non-P.O. box) for shipment of a replaced or repaired bat. |
Bats: Additional Assistance
For further information, please contact a Bat Warranty Representative via phone at 1-888-429-7557 or via email at warranty@combatmfg.com.
Non-Bats: Submitting a Warranty Claim
A warranty claim for all other, non-bat products may be initiated via email at warranty@combatmfg.com or by calling the Non-Bat Warranty returns line at 1-888-429-7557 option 2.
Claim Review and Determination of Coverage
For claim requests submitted directly to Combat, Combat will review the claim within a period of fifteen (15) business days to determine if the product is eligible for coverage under this Limited Warranty, and a Warranty Representative will notify you of your authorization number (“RA#”) via the email address included in your submission. Please check your email, including spam folders, for further communication regarding your submission. Your RA# will be required for all further correspondence regarding your claim.
Although return of your product is not immediately required to initiate a claim, Combat reserves the right to request that the product be returned for physical inspection. Therefore, we recommend that you keep your product unless or until otherwise notified.
Claims that are incomplete and do not include all of the required information and documentation will not be reviewed. If Combat requires additional information to make a determination of eligibility, you may be notified via email and have the opportunity to supplement the missing information.
If Combat determines (in its sole discretion) that an in-person inspection of the product is necessary, a prepaid shipping label will be provided to facilitate the product’s return to Combat.
Warranty coverage will be determined exclusively by Combat. Combat cannot guarantee warranty coverage of your product until it is inspected (whether via photographs or in person).
If Combat determines that your product is covered by this Limited Warranty, then Combat will, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, do one of the following:
- Repair your product and return it to you
- A repaired product will not count against the 1-time replacement that is available for eligible products under this Limited Warranty.
- Any products purchased in the U.S. must have a U.S. address (non-P.O. box) for shipment of a repaired product. Combat will not ship to a P.O. box.
- Replace your product
- With the same model product, or
- With a comparable product, should your item be discontinued or otherwise unavailable (e.g., limited-edition models may be replaced with an in-line model).
- All replacements will be products with the same drop and size and within the same sport as the returned product (e.g., returned baseball bats that are accepted for warranty coverage will be replaced with a baseball bat, fast pitch for fast pitch, etc.) and, if applicable, for the same certification type/standard as the returned product (e.g., returned bats approved for use in the USSSA that are accepted for warranty coverage will be replaced with a USSSA-approved bat, USA Softball-approved bats for USA Softball-approved bats, USA Baseball-approved bats for USA Baseball-approved bats, etc.).
- If Combat requests that you return your defective product, you will have ten (10) days to send it to the Combat Warranty Center using the prepaid shipping label provided by Combat. If Combat specifies that no return is necessary, you should immediately dispose of the defective product. Any continued use of an item deemed to be defective may increase the risk of injury. Combat will not be responsible for any injury resulting from the use or misuse of a defective product, nor will a defective product be subject to further warranty coverage.
- The provision of a replacement product does not extend an existing Warranty Period or start a new Warranty Period.
- Any products purchased in the U.S. must have a U.S. address (non-P.O. box) for shipment of a replaced product. Combat will not ship to a P.O. box.
NOTE: Combat has the right to conduct any testing on a returned product to determine whether it has been altered in a way that invalidates this Limited Warranty. Combat will not be responsible for the condition of a product after any such testing and reserves the right to mark any product that it deems has been altered.
If Combat deems that the product is ineligible for warranty coverage, the product may be returned to you as-is with an explanation of the claim denial. Notwithstanding, if a product has been deemed to be doctored or altered and/or a receipt has been deemed as faked or doctored, Combat may opt to return your item to you only at your expense or may otherwise opt to destroy it.
Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties; Disputes
Combat reserves the right to refuse coverage under this Limited Warranty to any person who, in Combat’s sole discretion, abuses its products or warranty policy. All decisions regarding coverage under this Limited Warranty are final.
No statement by a Combat employee or agent directly or indirectly admitting liability under this Limited Warranty shall be binding unless it is made (1) in writing; and (2) by a representative of Combat authorized to do so. Combat does not represent or warrant that the information posted at authorized retailer locations is accurate, complete, or current.
Limited Liability
COMBAT’S LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF YOUR PURCHASE AND/OR USE OF THE PRODUCT(S), WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED, IN THE AGGREGATE, THE GREATER OF, AS APPLICABLE, (A) THE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT(S) PURCHASED GIVING RISE TO THE LIABILITY, OR (B) FIFTY DOLLARS ($50).
CONSEQUENTIAL AND INCIDENTAL DAMAGES AND EQUITABLE RELIEF ARE NOT RECOVERABLE UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.
You acknowledge that Combat may be irreparably damaged if the terms of this Limited Warranty are not specifically enforced and that damages at law would be an inadequate remedy. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of any provision of this Limited Warranty by you, Combat shall be entitled, without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that may be sought under the mandatory arbitration provision of this Limited Warranty, to an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach, without being required to show any actual damage or to post an injunction bond, and/or to decree for specific performance of the provisions of this Limited Warranty.
Disclaimer of Warranties
THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE WARRANTY FOR THE PRODUCTS SET FORTH HEREIN AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE PRESENT, THEY ARE LIMITED TO THE APPLICABLE WARRANTY PERIOD NOTED HEREIN. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. ANY PRODUCTS NOT LISTED HEREIN ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. ANY THIRD-PARTY GOODS OR SERVICES PROVIDED ARE SUPPLIED AS A CONVENIENCE TO YOU AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE SPONSORSHIP, AFFILIATION, PARTNERSHIP, OR ENDORSEMENT. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, COMBAT DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
BY PROVIDING THE PRODUCTS THROUGH COMBAT’S WEBSITE, RETAIL OUTLETS, AND THIRD-PARTY RETAILERS, COMBAT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY PROMISE THAT THE PRODUCTS WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE TO YOU. COMBAT IS ENTITLED TO TERMINATE ALL OR PART OF THE PRODUCTS AT ANY TIME, IN COMBAT’S SOLE DISCRETION WITHOUT NOTICE TO YOU.
Mandatory Arbitration; Class Action and Jury Trial Waiver
Most questions can be resolved quickly and to your satisfaction by contacting the applicable Combat team member using the contact information set forth herein.
In the event that you and Combat are not able to resolve a dispute, and with the exception of claims for injunctive relief by Combat as described above and to the extent allowed by law, you hereby agree that either you or Combat may require any dispute, claim, or cause of action (“Claim”) between you and Combat arising out or relating to any aspect of the product, including without limitation, your purchase and/or use of the product and/or this Limited Warranty, to be arbitrated on an individual (non-class) basis, whether such Claims are based in contract, tort, statute, fraud, misrepresentation, or any other legal theory, and regardless of when the Claims arise. However, both parties retain the right to seek relief in a small claims court (or a state court equivalent) for a Claim within the scope of its jurisdiction so long as the small claims action does not seek to certify a class, combine the claims of multiple persons, recover damages in excess of the limit for a small claim under applicable state law, or is not transferred, removed, or appealed from small claims court to any different court. Additionally, if you are a California resident, you retain the right to obtain public injunctive relief from any court with proper jurisdiction.
THERE IS NO JUDGE OR JURY IN ARBITRATION, AND COURT REVIEW OF AN ARBITRATION AWARD IS VERY LIMITED. ADDITIONALLY, ANY ARBITRATION OF A CLAIM WILL BE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, AND THEREFORE, YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE WAIVING THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS A CLASS REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS MEMBER IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. AS PART OF THIS WAIVER, YOU AGREE THAT YOU WAIVE THE RIGHT TO ACT AS A PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN AN ARBITRATION; THAT EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, CLAIMS BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST YOU MAY BE JOINED OR CONSOLIDATED WITH CLAIMS BROUGHT BY OR AGAINST ANY OTHER PERSON; AND THE ARBITRATOR SHALL HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT A CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION, PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARBITRATION, OR MULTIPLE-PARTY ARBITRATION. THIS CLASS ACTION WAIVER APPLIES TO ALL CLAIMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS ARISING UNDER THE TELEPHONE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (the “TCPA”), THE CAN-SPAM ACT, OR ANY OTHER FEDERAL OR STATE LAW GOVERNING TEXT MESSAGE OR EMAIL MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS.
You and Combat agree that your purchase of any Combat product involves interstate commerce, and that this arbitration agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) set forth in Title 9 of the U.S. Code to the fullest extent possible, notwithstanding any state law to the contrary, regardless of the origin or nature of the Claims at issue. The arbitrator must follow, to the extent applicable: (a) the substantive law of the state in which you entered into the transaction giving rise to this arbitration agreement; (b) the applicable statutes of limitations; and (c) claims of privilege recognized at law. The arbitrator will not be bound by federal, state, or local rules of procedure and evidence or by state or local laws concerning arbitration proceedings.
If either you or Combat elect to arbitrate a Claim, the dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered under the applicable rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). Either you or Combat may elect to resolve a particular Claim through arbitration, even if the other party has already initiated litigation in court related to the Claim, by: (i) making written demand for arbitration upon the other party; (ii) initiating arbitration against the other party; or (iii) filing a motion to compel arbitration in court.
If this is a consumer-purpose transaction, the applicable rules will be the AAA’s Consumer Arbitration Rules. The applicable AAA rules and other information about arbitrating a claim under AAA, including how to submit a dispute to arbitration, may be obtained by visiting its website at https://www.adr.org/ or by calling 1-800-778-7879. If AAA will not serve as the administrator of the arbitration, and you and Combat cannot then agree upon a substitute arbitrator, you and Combat shall request that a court with proper jurisdiction appoint an arbitrator. However, Combat will abide by the applicable AAA rules regardless of the forum. Arbitration shall be conducted in the county and state where you accepted this Limited Warranty, you reside, or another reasonably convenient place to you as determined by the arbitrator, unless applicable laws require another location. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Except as provided in applicable statutes, the arbitrator’s award is not subject to review by the court and cannot be appealed. The parties will have the option to request and receive a statement of reasons for the arbitration award.
If you elect to file the arbitration, and this is a consumer-purpose transaction, you will pay the filing fee to the extent required by AAA’s Consumer Arbitration Rules but not to exceed the cost of filing a lawsuit. Any amount above what it would cost you to file a lawsuit, Combat will pay. All other arbitration fees and expenses shall be allocated to Combat according to AAA rules. Except for the arbitration fees and expenses, each party shall pay its own costs and fees incurred (including attorneys’ fees), unless the arbitrator allocates them differently in accordance with applicable law. This paragraph applies only if this is a consumer-purpose transaction.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Limited Warranty, and except as otherwise set forth in this section, the agreement to arbitrate may be amended by Combat only upon advance written notice to you. If Combat makes any amendment to this agreement to arbitrate (other than renumbering the agreement to align with any other amendment to the Limited Warranty) in the future, that amendment shall not apply to any Claim that was filed in a legal proceeding or action against us prior to the effective date of the amendment. The amendment shall apply to all other Claims governed by this arbitration agreement that have arisen or may arise between you and Combat. However, Combat may amend this arbitration agreement contained in this Limited Warranty to which you agreed to continue to apply to you and Combat if no amendments were made.
If any part of this arbitration provision is invalid, all other parts of it remain valid. However, if the class action limitation is invalid, then this arbitration provision is invalid in its entirety, provided that the remaining Limited Warranty shall remain in full force and effect. This arbitration provision will survive the termination of your use of the product, the expiration of the Limited Warranty, and any other actions with Combat.
ANY CAUSE OF ACTION OR CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LIMITED WARRANTY AND/OR YOUR PURCHASE AND/OR USE OF THE PRODUCT MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES. OTHERWISE, SUCH CAUSE OF ACTION IS PERMANENTLY BARRED.
You may reject this arbitration provision within thirty (30) days of making the applicable purchase by emailing Combat at legal@combatmfg.com and including in the subject line “Rejection of Arbitration Provision.”
Except as may be required by law, neither you nor Combat nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration under this Limited Warranty without the prior written consent of you and Combat. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, BY PURCHASING AND USING YOUR PRODUCT, YOU AND COMBAT ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.
Warrantor Information
The warrantor of this Limited Warranty shall be Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. d/b/a Combat MFG with an address at 111 Westport Plaza Drive, Suite 1100, Saint Louis, Missouri 63146.