Question:

Delivery took place on Friday - many thanks. The Tradewinds parasol is great but I have a query about the Tradewinds base. The four bolts and nuts that hold the handles in place are all loose and stick up about an inch above the handles - the handles obviously have to be raised in order to move the base but should there be some things that fit under the handles so that they are raised permanently ? Nothing like this was included in the package and there were no instructions.

Answer:

Glad that you like the parasol. The bolts that you describe on the base are correctly positioned. The handles move up and down the bolt, so that the base can be stacked without damaging the handles, when the base plate is unbolted from the centre. Lots of restaurants and hotels stack and store the bases in this way in Winter, when they have multiple bases. The bolts are fixed and should not be loose.

Let me know if this does not explain all your queries.

Question:

Claire, Thanks.The bolts are loose - presumably they can be tightened but that would mean that it would not be possible to get one's fingers underneath the handles to move the base, and it would also mean that the bolts would protrude about an inch underneath and the base would therefore not sit properly on paving slabs. The photo of the base on The Patio Umbrella website shows the handles fixed in a position where they can be used to lift the base and there appears to be something between the handles and the base to keep them in place.

Answer:

I have checked again with the warehouse to check that I had the given you the correct instructions.

The concrete bases we now sell are slightly differently from those on the website. The handles on the old models were made from string and there was a problem with the string deteriorating over time. These newer bases have the metal handles that does not have this problem - they are a better buy. We are updating the image now and apologies for the confusion caused.

On the new bases, I mistakenly thought that the bolts could be tightened whilst still high in the base but have been advised that this was wrong. The "loose" bolts remain as they are, and the handles rise up the bolts when you want to move the base. There is no riser that goes under the handles. I double checked with my supplier whether there had been any problems with "loose" bolts coming out and they have advised that this has not happened to their knowledge in the 11 years that they have been selling them. I think, therefore that you have the correct base as it is. As I understand it, the view is that it is sufficiently easy to raise the handle to avoid the need for a riser. I think that they do work as I have sold these newer models for 2 seasons now without any customer saying that they are difficult to use or have broken.

Question:

Claire, That explains it !

I just thought that it was a strange arrangement and that something was missing in the package when it was delivered.

I hope that the parasol is waterproof as a lot of rain is forecast for the next few days !

Many thanks for your help.

Answer:

Good, glad all sorted. And I have learnt something as well. Enjoy the rain..... Best wishes Claire