Kapex - send it to service or not?

[BillG]

Recently while working with my Kapex, I noticed a couple small pieces of black plastic fall out from the blade cover and land on the table.  I looked the whole thing over as closely as I could.  Everything seems to be in working order.  Inside the blade guard I did manage to find what looks like the remains of a small ledge just above the dust collection port where these pieces could have come from.  I called service, and their response was that I really should send the saw back so they can check it out.  I understand their desire to make sure everything is in working order.  It is under warranty, so that should not be an issue, and they sent me a box right out to pack it up.  

I got it packed up, weighed it, and called for a price to ship it.  This is going to set me back $98.00 in shipping via UPS!  [eek]  Since the saw is older than one year, I need to fork out for shipping.  If the saw were not cutting properly, or the lasers were all boogered up, I would not even blink at spending that.  But I can't really see where there is anything really wrong, so I am on the horns of a dilemma.  Do I save the money, attribute the damage to a little rough treatment, and run a slight but real risk there is something else I missed, or do I spend it to find out the damage is essentially cosmetic?  All the controls still work the way they are supposed to.  Before I haul it off to the store to ship it, has anyone here experienced this or a similar problem that might have some advice to offer?  

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I show $49.64 from your location based on a weight of 60 pounds which should cover the box and declared value of $1300 using UPS.

Shane

 

[BillG]

That's interesting.  The closest UPS hub is a real pain to get to, and a fair distance away, so I called the local UPS store.  That makes for quite a markup.  Fifty bucks I can spend, but I am not exactly sure how to get them to come to the shop without me sitting around all day long.  

ETA:  If I print out a label and wait for UPS to come to me, I am getting a price of $74.00. 

 

[wubears71]

Don't get prices through th eUPS store as they will gouge you.  Print a label and drop it off there.  It should be $49.64. 

 

[BRONSON]

There's been similar stories. Here's one: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-problems/broken-plastic-on-kapex-dust-guard/msg208938/

 

[mlfaber]

Did you check the dust shroud to see if you nicked it with the blade. I have done that before!

 

[BillG]

There's been similar stories. Here's one: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-problems/broken-plastic-on-kapex-dust-guard/msg208938/

Thanks for the link.  Whatever broke on my saw broke inside the cover.  It was tough finding it with everything black inside, but I am pretty sure of my location. 

Did you check the dust shroud to see if you nicked it with the blade. I have done that before!

The dust shroud seems to be fine.

Thanks for the responses.  The mystery of the different shipping cost has been solved.  Putting in the weight of the package without dimensions gives a price of $49 and change.  Adding the dimensions boosts the price by just about $25.00.  Fed Ex will ship it for me for $66 and change, so guess where I am going?  They have a nicer parking lot for getting in and out of, and not only that, they are a little closer to home and shop.  I suspect the damage may be cosmetic, but I have been known to be wrong in the past.  What is a killer is that today my truck is in the shop for at LEAST $1700 worth of new tires and ball joints.  [crying]  I need to get the cash flowing in the other direction here.   

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I feel your pain, Bill. Looking at about $1000 of rubber to put on my truck soon. 20" tires aren't cheap.  [mad]

Sorry about leaving out the dimensions. Apparently UPS charges a surcharge for it being oversized.

 

[BillG]

I feel your pain, Bill. Looking at about $1000 of rubber to put on my truck soon. 20" tires aren't cheap.  [mad]

Sorry about leaving out the dimensions. Apparently UPS charges a surcharge for it being oversized.

No problem on the dimension thing.  I'm just glad I figured out where the difference was.  I hate it when I am oblivious to the obvious. 

Yeah, the big chunk today is tires.  I have 20" tires too, and the price for 50,000 mile rated tires today is about $10 more per tire than the 70,000 mile tires I bought two years ago.  They are setting me back $238/tire.