Originally Posted by
chaadster
+1. I think it's a stupid policy (from the perspective of the negative pressure it puts on profitability in the market), but yep, it's their policy, and if they don't want folks using it, they shouldn't put it out there.
Anyway, if the helmet feels clunky, it is. Replace it.
Obviously they've made a business decision that the extra cost is worth the goodwill. They also are factoring in that the majority of people are going to deal with them in good faith, and not abuse their generous policy.
Simply because you have the ability to do something doesn't mean you should.
If people take unfair advantage of such policies two things happen: 1) EMS's costs go up, which in turn increases costs to other consumers, 2) EMS is less likely to maintain such a generous policy, and exchanges become more difficult or impossible for customers in legitimate circumstances.
There's no free lunch; Someone has to pay for the helmet, and I would suggest that someone should be the person who used it for a year.