Just saying... This happened with 2023 board that has been assembled once and ridden twice, by somebody who's been through over 20x boards without ever having a single hardware issue (lost hardware doesn't count):
While board's disassembly for a flight, one of the pads screws decided to have it - its own way.
Uncounted cursing, some lubricant, some brute force and dare persuasion later - this was the result:
I'm blaming this either on an issue with the screws supplied or a manufacturing defect with the insert affected. In all honesty these screws don't feel particularly inspiring when compared to these used with my older Shinn boards. Further inspection did produce at least one other screw with some kind of debris or damage of/in the thread. That's 2/4 or 50%.
According to the halfwit named Brat at Shinn's customer service - however - this isn't a subject to warranty (basically f@#k you - it's your fault) and it can be solved with an M6 bottoming tap (not that this chap knows terms of such technical level) and some new M6X20 screws. At your own expense that is, after paying full retail at today's rates.
I'd actually pay to see this gifted individuum trying to locate a bottoming M6 tap, in North America. Nevermind some very specific type, material and size metric screws.
I did manage to make an M6 bottoming tap by grinding down a regular one (which was part of a waaaaay larger kit).
I did manage to make the affected insert's threads - functional (term "restore" does't apply in this case).
I did manage to source some screws - albeit - I had to order a f@#$ load of them. Due to minimum order q-ty. At least - I'm replacing all of them, and will be able to do so upon every board's disassembly for the next few seasons.
Do I have full faith if this board? Given my style of riding - not anymore.
Will I buy another Shinn? Thanks to Shinn's step down in both hardware and customer service quality - this is rather unlikely. Not at Today's prices. Thank you very much!
Word of advise to all other current production year Shinn boards owners - you might want to check these screws, just in case. And if heading on a kitetrip - you might want to do so a few days before your departure date. I had a decent spare - not everyone does.
Cheers!