I am getting run around by Makita's warranty department after my oil impulse impact went up in a cloud of smoke after 2 months of use. I've been using impacts daily for over 15 years now, but Makita seems to think I misused it. I am ready to drop the entire cordless Makita platform after this experience. The problem is where to from here? I need good customer service & I don't mind paying for quality. Also I'm more interested in finesse than brute force.
Impact Drivers & Makita Warranty Sucks
- Thread starter Shadytree
- Start date
Tom the Remodeler
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2007
- Messages
- 1,106
I've been using the HILTI cordless platform the last few years and have been quite happy with the tools. I have:
-- Impact Driver
-- Compact Drill
-- Full sized, break-your-wrist drill
-- Rotary hammer
-- Impact wrench
-- Drywall screwdriver w/collated magazine
-- Drywall router (rotozip)
-- Recip saw
-- LED lights
-- Vacuum
-- Jobsite radio (I mostly use this for charging my phone and iPad)
-- And I'm sure a few other tools I'm forgetting
-- Mix of older 18v batteries and the newer 22v (they're cross-compatible), mostly 3.0Ah mid-sized and 5.2Ah full-sized.
Each tool is well designed and performs well. Some tools are best-in-class, the rest generally land near the top in head-to-head tests. HILTI tools are definitely no-frills, they just work. The impact driver has nice trigger action and I've never found it wanting for power. The only problem I've ever had with any of the tools was the 1/4" hex tool holder on my impact driver got locked up a few years ago, dropped it off for service and had it back in service in about 3 or 4 days. I happen to live ~20 minutes from a HILTI center, so warranty coverage is a breeze, just drop the tool off.
If HILTI didn't exist, I might look at the Metabo impact driver. It may not be best-in-class, but there are some other amazing tools in that Metabo battery platform, including their grinders, as well as the Mafell saws.
-- Impact Driver
-- Compact Drill
-- Full sized, break-your-wrist drill
-- Rotary hammer
-- Impact wrench
-- Drywall screwdriver w/collated magazine
-- Drywall router (rotozip)
-- Recip saw
-- LED lights
-- Vacuum
-- Jobsite radio (I mostly use this for charging my phone and iPad)
-- And I'm sure a few other tools I'm forgetting
-- Mix of older 18v batteries and the newer 22v (they're cross-compatible), mostly 3.0Ah mid-sized and 5.2Ah full-sized.
Each tool is well designed and performs well. Some tools are best-in-class, the rest generally land near the top in head-to-head tests. HILTI tools are definitely no-frills, they just work. The impact driver has nice trigger action and I've never found it wanting for power. The only problem I've ever had with any of the tools was the 1/4" hex tool holder on my impact driver got locked up a few years ago, dropped it off for service and had it back in service in about 3 or 4 days. I happen to live ~20 minutes from a HILTI center, so warranty coverage is a breeze, just drop the tool off.
If HILTI didn't exist, I might look at the Metabo impact driver. It may not be best-in-class, but there are some other amazing tools in that Metabo battery platform, including their grinders, as well as the Mafell saws.
I had makita and switched to dewalt because makita seemed to be falling behind and making their better cordless stuff take 2 batteries, stuff like the circular saw I’m not using it to frame a house so I don’t need 36v. I think I have pretty much all the cordless tools that have anything to do with carpentry and not disappointed with any. The biggest draw for me though was the compact xr drill, it’s got a high rpm with plenty of power for anything I’ve used it for and is small and lightweight. The impact is a 3 speed which i actually find very useful and wouldn’t buy a single speed ever again. I have 2 sets of the drills and impact, one for the shop which lives a leisurely life and one stays in the trailer. the trailer set has taken falls from ladders, left out in the rain, cooked in the Florida sun, and lives in a hot trailer. Despite that they haven’t died so I can’t comment on their customer service. Their cordless finish nailers are also impressive so I’m happy with my switch to dewalt. only negative I can think of is the oscillating tool seems to have more vibration in the handle than the makita
I've been using a Makita impact driver for about 10 years, still as good as the 1st day. The newer models I'm not so sure about, the Makita quality is definitely not the same as the older Japanese made tools.When the day comes to replace it I'm not sure which way to. go.
Unlike Denovo, I've had nothing but great experiences with Milwuakee's warranty service. Anything under their 3 year warranty can be returned with online claims forms. I've returned one of the new hydraulic impact drivers, needlessly as it turns out, didn't read the manual, was used to my older model which was just pull the trigger. When I got the new hydraulic I was using it the same way only it would quit driving when I was drilling 3/8" holes in steel doors for sext bolts. Turns out the new ones have adjustable torque, and I was using it on the lowest setting. I sent two back before I realized my stupidity, both times they sent me a brand new one within a week...Central Pa from the repair center in LA. Lesson learned, always read the manual and don't assume.
I had a 18v vac that would work with their first generation batteries as well as the new ones. From rattling around in my service van, it would no longer take the old style batteries, and it was a couple months out of warranty. Again they sent me a brand new vac no questions asked.
I had a 18v vac that would work with their first generation batteries as well as the new ones. From rattling around in my service van, it would no longer take the old style batteries, and it was a couple months out of warranty. Again they sent me a brand new vac no questions asked.
rst, that's good to hear about milwaukee's warranty. Everyone I work with uses Milwaukee, I should probably just do that. Milwaukee has a stigma for me as being for rough carpentry where Makita & Bosch are for finer carpentry. I don't know where I picked up that.
I've had amazing experiences with milwaukee and every tool of theirs I have owned. Short of mayne Hilti, I would buy milwaukee over any of the major brands. The fuel series tools have held up to my punishment time and time again and everyone that has used the impacts and drills have been blown away by the power paired with the high output batteries. Good luck
Cheese
Member
Ryan2891 said:
I've had great experiences with Milwaukee Fuel tools. I purchased a Milwaukee Fuel RA grinder in Dec 2015. It gave up the ghost this December.
I decided to just purchase & install a new switch myself as I couldn't remember when I originally purchased it and did not have the original sales receipt.
I brought it to Milwaukee Service to purchase the switch and they told me I still had 30 days on the warranty and they said it'd take 2 weeks to repair it.
Well, 8 days later I received a BRAND NEW Milwaukee 18V Fuel RA grinder in the mail. [not worthy]
Jiggy Joiner
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- Joined
- Dec 25, 2018
- Messages
- 1,103
I recently had to call on Makita CS, and I have nothing but praise for the way they treated me. Real old fashioned customer service, so no complaints here.
Jiggy Joiner
Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2018
- Messages
- 1,103
Shadytree said:
That’s a real shame, Makita UK have always treated me in a very professional, friendly and helpful manner.
They even recently intervened and sorted a problem that had nothing to do with them, when I had damaged tools arrive from an online supplier.
Can you not speak to somebody else at Makita, as the person you’re speaking with may have been having an off day etc?
I really hope you get a resolve, it’s bad enough paying out good money for tools, and disappointing if a fault develops, then to get blamed for it is plain rude.
Michael Kellough
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- Joined
- Jan 23, 2007
- Messages
- 7,101
[member=25351]rst[/member] [member=44099]Cheese[/member] Do you send in the registration forms or do they (Milwaukee) just go by the serial number?
Cheese
Member
Michael Kellough said:
We're lucky to have a factory Milwaukee service center in the Twin Cities so he just went by the serial number as I never sent in any warranty registration.
Here in the US registering your product is not required BUT it could buy you additional warranty time. Without a registration or proof or purchase the manufacturer might be able to rely on the manufacturing date.
Let's take my van and pretend that it was a power tool and I had nothing to verify when I bought it nor could I find my receipt for it. The manufacturer would refer back to the manufacture date. But my van sat on a lot for 10 months before I bought it. I could have lost 10 months of warranty by my lack of action.
Peter
Let's take my van and pretend that it was a power tool and I had nothing to verify when I bought it nor could I find my receipt for it. The manufacturer would refer back to the manufacture date. But my van sat on a lot for 10 months before I bought it. I could have lost 10 months of warranty by my lack of action.
Peter
