| Customer provided example of button tab breaking on Sanwa OBSC button (right side) | In this example, the tab was pushed in and broke during install. |
Arcade snapbuttons that are designed to install into metal panels utilize a unique method to hold itself into place. When the button is pushed into the panel from the top, plasic tabs on both sides give way just enough to snap back when the button clears the hole area and the tab, seating it into the panel.
While this works well enough, they are not as durable when handled by players or arcade enthusiasts. They are fragile enough to break when too much pressure is applied to them. This can happen especially when trying to remove the buttons. When the tabs are broken this way, customers turn to us for a replacement. So what is our policy on this?
Replacement or Refund on a Case by Case Basis
Please understand that this is not a defect of the product. We cannot control how customers handle them once in their possession, and therefore cannot always accommodate requests for replacement.
We will ask for photos of the damaged button, plus ask for a quantity of buttons damaged this way to determine a solution. When more than one button is damaged, we may issue a store credit only and not send a replacement. The reason is because we cannot control how players install or remove the buttons, and there is a cost to replace them. If one or multiple buttons is not handled well and breaks, we cannot afford to replace them all.
What about international customers?
A store credit is always issued in this case. The amount will depend on how many buttons have their tab broken, and will require photographic proof. We cannot send a replacement by international mail due to costs.
Please reach out to support@focusattack.com if you have a broken button tab from a recent purchase that falls under our 30 day your return policy.
We Recommend the Buttercade SnapOut Tool
File the Buttercade SnapOut Tool for Pushbuttons under "why didn't someone think of this before?"
Simply put, the SnapOut Tool - a novel design idea between John Buttero and Wei Louie - quickly and neatly pops out any 24mm pushbutton/snap button without the all-too-common risk of squeezing and breaking its plastic side tabs.
Snapout Tool: Push and Pop
Purchase for 30mm | Purchase for 24mm | Difference between 24mm and 30mm Buttons
A typical characteristic of snap buttons are their plastic tabs located on each side of the housing. These tabs give way slightly as the button is pushed into the button hole, leading to satisfying snap as it clears the 1mm or so metal plate. However, these tabs were not designed to handle multiple attempts to remove and insert the button. Additionally, removing snap buttons are frequently accomplished by squeezing the tabs together with your fingers and pushing down. Those fingers can push inward too hard, past the tolerances of the plastic tabs, and break them.
Instead, the SnapOut tool provides a gentle squeeze on each tab as the first portion of the tool - the base - is pushed onto the button - just enough to loosen the button's grip from the metal plate. Furthermore the pressure is consistent, thus meaning there is much less risk of squeezing too hard on the tabs. The second portion of the tool acts as a plunger. Simply slide the plunger into the hole of the SnapOut's base, then push down until the button pops out. This is best done when the FightStick is upside down, so the button falls to the floor. Buttercade provides a clear video showing the SnapOut in action, making quick work of Hori Hayabusa buttons and a Sanwa OBSC - a translucent model that is notorious for its fragile tabs.
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