Warranty

[gates559]

I wish Festool would step up their warranty. I would love to see 5 years. Dewalt does 3 and I would hope My Festools are better then the Dewalts.

Lately my tools last about what the warranty is. Makita is one year and thats what I got out of my tracksaw and 2704x1 table saw before the bearings went in both!
3 years out of my DW 735 and that thing is wrote off.

I really appreciate a company that will stand behind their tools, Stabila and Dynabrade both offer lifetime warrant which is Fantastic. Delta X5 series, gives you 5 years. I am not sure I will get my moneys worth in three years with a Festool, but five years I would feel a lot better.

Sure they probably will last longer than 3 years but what if they don't? With most tools a small repair after warranty doesn't make sense as it generally costs more than the tool is worth at that point.

That's my Festool wish!

I wouldn't mind if they wanted to do 7 years either, to really bring it to a new level.

 

[dsweetser]

gates, I beg to differ with you.  I had an out of warranty Trion 300 in need of a repair. The total cost to me including shipping was $65.  The jig saw was completely serviced and repaired & returned with a free blade & splinter guard.  Much more than I expected.  My experience is typical. You cannot do better than Festool service after warranty.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I'd like to know what the heck your doing with your tools that your killing the bearings in the Makitas like that, especially the table saw?

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I'd like to know what the heck your doing with your tools that your killing the bearings in the Makitas like that, especially the table saw?

Cutting Hardie?

 

[Julian Tracy]

Especially the table saw?  What about the tracksaw?

Makita's been making bullet proof circular saws for years - they're no stranger to solid, long lasting tools in my book.

Sounds like the OP might be one of those that drives em hard and puts em away wet mentality.

I've seen many folks store fine tools in the rain, just cause "They ought to be able to handle a little rain, hell!"

I certainly don't baby my tools, but I try to buy the best, and as long as I'm the only one to use them, I fully expect them to last me for all the use I'll need from them.  I'll be the one complaining when they need repair work 8 years out of warranty.  They made tools 20 years ago that work just fine now, so for the prices of Festool stuff, they damn well better still be working like new 10 years from now.

If you've got other folks using your tools, then watch out.  Folks that don't buy their own tools don't care for them either.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily work in opposite either - lot's of folks buy em and treat them like crap and complain when they die.

Look at some of the crap used tools you see posted - you wonder how folks could NOT once in a while blow or wipe a tool off before it was fully caked up.

JT

 

[gates559]

Do these look beat? They had a great life but were used daily, certainly never seen rain. My guess is Makita is putting in cheap bearings.  The problem is it is a throw away world. I would rather pay more and get a life long tool or something that will at least get several years before falling apart. I am the only user of these tools. I use them to make money but do care for them.

As for Festool, I have no idea what they cost to get fixed and hopefully wont have to find out.

 

[Timtool]

bearings are like coals and such, they wear out and it's possible to replace yourself. i dismantled 2 of my bosch routers completely to replace the bearings. it's "normal" and it doesn't make them bad tools. there is no warranty on them anyway, so im not gonna be sending them in if i can do it myself, especially since bearings cost almost nothing.

when bearings don't last long then there is usually a problem elsewhere, either careless use or excessive play or wear in another component.

there was a law in the making in europe that would force manufacturers to put a "life length" estimate on their electric products, because in fact they know exactly how many hours their products are designed to function. buttons are designed to fail after being pressed X number of times, bearings are molded in and cannot be replaced, more plastic parts etc...
because it's not good for business to make products that last too long. you need to sell them a new one after X number of time to keep the factories turning.
but the business lobby has put breaks on the project.

some stores sell warranty extensions, like festool or bosch do for free, the store gives you 3 years of warranty for a little more money and they make mountains of cash with it because in general only 3% of electric tools will need warranty service within the warranty period. so they sell you something you don't need.
just like with festool or bosch the extended warranty is likely a marketing move, verry few people will actually benefit from it. they get more sales and in return spend a little more on service.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Gates,
Makita certainly does not use cheap throw-away bearings. If you would like to PM me your contact info, I will personally hand it to my buddy at Makita who would be their most knowledgeable and honest person to answer your questions and offer you real solutions.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I recently had bearings fail on my bandsaw.  Don't want to name names, but obviously not Festool or Makita.  When I called, by chance I talked to a guy who buys parts for the company.  He said cheap bearings are killing them on the warranty, but he can't convince the powers that be to spring for better ones.  In any case, I'm entitled to five years of replacement bearings for free. [unsure] [embarassed]

We like to think that commercial decisions are made on a rational basis, but I suspect its often due to some totally irrational value, like keep that sales price low no matter what it takes...

When I was in management, we got lots of training in whatever the current management fad was.  One year it was 'go for quality, whatever it takes' couple of years later it was 'do it cheap, but not so anyone will know.'  Centralize one year, then decentralize and empower the next, and then back again.  And all this was in a well respected Fortune 5 corporation.

Somehow, Festool seems in it for the long haul and a little more rational than most of the companies out there.  Hope it stays that way.

 

[gates559]

Gates,
Makita certainly does not use cheap throw-away bearings. If you would like to PM me your contact info, I will personally hand it to my buddy at Makita who would be their most knowledgeable and honest person to answer your questions and offer you real solutions.

No of course not, I can tell by the length of time they last :

 

[fdengel]

Ridgid offers a lifetime service agreement free with most of their power tools, for the original owner, as long as you register it through the mail on time (send in UPC from the package and such).

 

[GhostFist]

Problem with Ridgid's lifetime warranty, especially their cordless garbage, is the crap is constantly in for repair if it bothers te even work properly out of the box. I think Ridgid cashes in on this lifetime warranty thing with their registry rigormarol  coz a lot of people don't even bother with it.

I've got a couple of ridgid tools that are worth the price i paid for them but I;ve bought enough to know never to buy from them again.

 

[fdengel]

Problem with Ridgid's lifetime warranty, especially their cordless garbage, is the crap is constantly in for repair if it bothers te even work properly out of the box. I think Ridgid cashes in on this lifetime warranty thing with their registry rigormarol  coz a lot of people don't even bother with it.

I've got a couple of ridgid tools that are worth the price i paid for them but I;ve bought enough to know never to buy from them again.

I have two of their tools (router and thickness planer) and really like them.

I haven't had any trouble with them, but of course, I don't really get to use them day in and day out either.

 

[pugilato]

because it's not good for business to make products that last too long. you need to sell them a new one after X number of time to keep the factories turning.

I dont know where this way of thinking comes from.  I like to think that it used to be that manufacturers were proud of their equipment, and if the machine I bought broke down in an unreasonably short period of time, the next one I bought would be from the competition.  If they sold good, reliable equipment, the next gizmo I bought would be their brand.  If I'm going to get throwaway products, I want throwaway prices.

This planned obsolescence baloney did the american auto industry in.  I dont believe its good for business.  And it annoys me...

 

[Alan m]

hi there

i dont like this situation anymore than the rest of us.
the sad fact is that tools (and most other things are built to last a certain lifespan)
my local dealer told me that the cheapo diy tools he has designed to only last a few hours - few days  of continues use. an electric hammer (diy crap) drill is designed maybe for a few hours. the diy customer buys it , uses it for afew minutes , puts it on the shelf, a few months later uses it again for a few minutes.
this happens for a few years and they think the tool is great in that it lasted 3 years but in reality it only lasted 3 hours. that drill might have cost them 30-50 pound . these people cant understand why we spend so much on our high end tools when there cheapo stuff does them

 

[justinmcf]

you are right alan.

my first and last el cheapo purchase was an ozito sds drill.
it lasted 2 days onsite. i was chipping away excess concrete for the renderer.
so it got pretty hot with continuous use. 5-6 hours per day. 10-12 hours total use.
once the smoke started coming out. i knew something was amiss!
you know, its very difficult to get the smoke back in, once it gets out!

justin.

 

[Kodi Crescent]

I've always wondered... why can't you put the horse away wet?

 

[pugilato]

google it

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I've always wondered... why can't you put the horse away wet?

Mold develops and no one likes a moldy mare.