I got my tips changed after a couple thousand miles at a outfitter in Mammoth, CA. They charged me 15 dollars and handed me back my poles in worse shape than what I gave to them…I think the owner changed them too…After I told them that I wanted my old ones put back on because they were in better shape than the new ones they threw a hissy-fit. I finally got them to put on a new pair of non-chipped tips at no additional cost. I use leki titanium poles. After telling this story to a few other hikers the next couple of days, I met another thru-hiker that had his lowerpole section crushed by the vice that they put them in to pound in the new tips. My point is, you need to make sure the person puting the tips on is doing it right and inspect your poles for damage after they have been worked on. The same outfitter offers a percentage off to thru-hikers and I asked for the discount when I checked out, they said they already put on the discount and I said,“OK, thanks!” but when I was on my way back to Reds Meadow I checked out the recept and they didn’t put the discount on my purchase. I hope my rant helps. :nerd
Spigot