Milwaukee denies warranty claim because "tool split in half"

[vwishndaetr]

I don't normally cross-post as I just partake in the discussion on the originating forum, but since this is where a lot of tool nerds live - had anyone here had similar experiences with milwaukee tools? I am in the DeWalt ecosystem but there are some tools that aren't provided by DeWalt so naturally Milwaukee has been the second option.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MilwaukeeTool/comments/1u98vxv
Some context from the OP:

A lot of people were interested in my last post so I figured it would only make sense to follow up here. I was using my multi-tool to cut some T1-11 siding and it began oozing lubricant out of the side. No abusive use at all. I shut it off and as I went to unlatch the locking mechanism, the head fell off the body. Very clearly the internal screws holding the casing together sheared off which I didn’t even think was possible.

I tried to push the head back in thinking it just disconnected, let go, and the head flopped off and the wires snapped so it was definitely broken at that point.

After posting in here, a lot of helpful people told me to warranty it, as it was only ~2yrs old. Talked to the Reddit rep, paid to print my shipping label and box, sent it in, and I was just informed that they’re denying the warranty claim because the product was in two pieces.

Reached back out to the Reddit rep who checked and said the same thing, even though my photo/original post clearly showed it connected by the wires (which was the only thing holding it together after the screws sheared).

I’ve been a loyalist to Milwaukee for many years now, owning an assortment of batteries and tools of theirs but I’ve gotta admit, this has really soured my view of their brand reputation. Clear screw failure, followed proper procedure, and they deny the warrant anyways.

No real purpose for this post other than to provide yall with an update. Just be careful, for some reason Milwaukee is no longer taking care of customers in regard to fulfilling warranties.

Who owns Milwaukee brands now? I know a lot of the brands tend to be in bed with each other... Curious who the mac daddy is that's screwing this all up.

Edit: I am not the OP. Just here to discuss the "best tools on the planet".

 

[four.cycle]

Milwaukee / Milwaukee Tool, 13135 West Lisbon Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005 / https://www.milwaukeetool.com/ / est. 1924 acquired 2005 by Techtronic Industries /

 

[vwishndaetr]

Milwaukee / Milwaukee Tool, 13135 West Lisbon Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005 / https://www.milwaukeetool.com/ / est. 1924 acquired 2005 by Techtronic Industries /

Yea I was being a little lazy. I dug into it after my post. Oddly enough, looks like Milwaukee turned for the better after the acquisition. Companies that don't honor warranty claims rub me the wrong way though.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Sounds as though you need to pursue it directly through the manufacturer, not an online forum. Nobody here or on Reddit can fix it.
I'm not sure exactly what the circumstances were, but I've run my cheapie HF oscillating tool for HOURS - in the hot sun - up on the roof - dropping it repeatedly from the top of the ladder - going through blades like they were made of butter - and the damn thing just won't die.
We were removing shingling nails that were all covered with tar and roof gick. Really messy. Very hot. Those things will tolerate a fairly good dose of abuse generally. That yours "came apart" is somewhat bizarre.

 

[ecotec]

Milwaukee is part of TTI, like Ryobi and a shitload of other brands.

They say that three companies produce the vast majority of cordless tools made today. I would assume TTI, Stanley and another one.

 

[The Cobbler]

a tool repair guy on you tube that I watch is dissing most of the major brands these days due to poor quality, unavailable parts etc.
He seems to lean to like Makita , even tho he does have some complaints about them .
Dean Doherty is who I am referring to

 

[NUTTSGT]

Was it bought from an authorized Milwaukee Distributor ? Was it registered ?

This is probably the reason for the denial...
This warranty does not apply to damage that MILWAUKEE determines to be from repairs made or attempted by anyone other than MILWAUKEE authorized personnel, misuse, alterations, abuse, normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or accidents.

They probably determined it was dropped and broken.

 

[vwishndaetr]

^ Sounds as though you need to pursue it directly through the manufacturer, not an online forum. Nobody here or on Reddit can fix it.
I'm not sure exactly what the circumstances were, but I've run my cheapie HF oscillating tool for HOURS - in the hot sun - up on the roof - dropping it repeatedly from the top of the ladder - going through blades like they were made of butter - and the damn thing just won't die.
We were removing shingling nails that were all covered with tar and roof gick. Really messy. Very hot. Those things will tolerate a fairly good dose of abuse generally. That yours "came apart" is somewhat bizarre.

Probably worth mentioning since my disclaimer dropped form my original post. I am not the tool owner. Sorry for not making that clear in the beginning.

Just here for discussion and to see if anyone has had similar experiences, or if this is could be attributed to being an isolated incident.

 

[manwithtools]

Well the original poster on Reddit has the handle "iEatSwampAss" so there is that

I'm sure he's a stand up tool user who would never abuse something like a cordless multi-tool

 

[PCustoms]

Probably worth mentioning since my disclaimer dropped form my original post. I am not the tool owner. Sorry for not making that clear in the beginning.

This is the second thread this week where someone brings another forum discussion, that they don't have a stake in, here to discuss.

What is the purpose? Are we somehow solving something?

From what I see, "ieatswampass" likely abused the tool or used it in partly damaged condition for some time and then tried to RMA it somehow, possibly through incorrect channels.

How the hell do you expect to have a legitimate business transaction when communicating under that username?

 

[zendriver]

This is the second thread this week where someone brings another forum discussion, that they don't have a stake in, here to discuss.

What is the purpose? Are we somehow solving something?

Just here for discussion and to see if anyone has had similar experiences, or if this is could be attributed to being an isolated incident.

 

[PCustoms]

I can read, thanks

 

[zendriver]

I can read, thanks

You ask a queston, that you already know the answer.

You a Lawyer, by chance?

 

[PCustoms]

You a Lawyer, by chance?

Yes.

I want ieatswampass on the stand, I bet you can guess my first question

 

[neophyte]

Yea I was being a little lazy. I dug into it after my post. Oddly enough, looks like Milwaukee turned for the better after the acquisition. Companies that don't honor warranty claims rub me the wrong way though.

After the acquisition, Milwaukee moved production out of the USA for a number of items, and quality went down.
Milwaukee did “improve” their cordless tool lineup, bit that had more to do with better battery technology, (mainly lithium based packs which Milwaukee introduced to the market), and even the lithium battery introduction had some major issues, including two? cancelled battery systems, (the original 24v lithium system, and then the replacement 18v lithium system, which had to be discontinued and replaced with an alternate 18v system).
The other improvement was brushless motors, but other manufacturers had been switching to brushless as well, with Porter Cable being the first I remember, using a brushless motor in a 120v sander.
Milwaukee also changed their chick arbors to a non-standard thread size and diameter, and a bunch of models went with cheaper internals.

 

[john.k]

Acquire a broken tool free ,and try to parlay it into a new one........close relative of the ebay '' broken in transit'' scammer .

 

[Ohio Andy]

Probably worth mentioning since my disclaimer dropped form my original post. I am not the tool owner. Sorry for not making that clear in the beginning.

Just here for discussion and to see if anyone has had similar experiences, or if this is could be attributed to being an isolated incident.

I have had one or two subpar Milwaukee Tools, but none of them have ever broken on me. Like a sander that doesn't work great... A design issue.

 

[neophyte]

^ Sounds as though you need to pursue it directly through the manufacturer, not an online forum. Nobody here or on Reddit can fix it.
I'm not sure exactly what the circumstances were, but I've run my cheapie HF oscillating tool for HOURS - in the hot sun - up on the roof - dropping it repeatedly from the top of the ladder - going through blades like they were made of butter - and the damn thing just won't die.
We were removing shingling nails that were all covered with tar and roof gick. Really messy. Very hot. Those things will tolerate a fairly good dose of abuse generally. That yours "came apart" is somewhat bizarre.

OP has a tool that failed, presumably within the warrantee period, and the manufacturer allegedly denied warrantee coverage.
This is literally the type of place to complain about this sort of issue, or the giant “robot” forum.

As for why the tool failed, best guess would be the oscillating nature of the tool, and maybe bad alloy choice for where the screws mount, or maybe bad processing of the alloy, although thst is a guess.
I think someone on GJ complained that the wire connection point with the Fein multimasters would fatigue and break over time, which I presume was due to metal fatigue from the vibrations.
The picture of the Milwaukee oscillating tool seems to show screws mounted into a metal casting, and I would presume similar metal fatigue could happen in that location, particularly near the oscillating head.
The ay oscillating tools were originally designed was fairly simple, but the quick change blade feature has significantly complicated the designs.

 

[PCustoms]

OP has a tool that failed,

Read it all again...

 

[neophyte]

Well the original poster on Reddit has the handle "iEatSwampAss" so there is that

I'm sure he's a stand up tool user who would never abuse something like a cordless multi-tool

Industrial power tool are supposed to be able to handle abuse, at least below the “I left the tool on railroad tracks and it was run over by a train” level of abuse.
This is the reason drop tests are part of tool testing, and have been for decades.
Some Milwaukee drills used to have a reputation for being able to be dropped a story or two, and continue working.

 

[neophyte]

Read it all again...

Fine, someone had a Milwaukee tool fail, that was presumably under warrantee, and Milwaukee refused to honor the warrantee, or to repair the tool.
Maybe OP just wants to know if anyone else has had issues with this sort of breakage.
The tool in the pics looks clean, other than what ever that **** on the side is.
I’ve seen older USA made Milwaukee tools, that looked like they’ve been pilled thru moles of sewers, and those tools still functioned.
I use to use a Sawzall that was a couple decades old, that had a cracked foot that nobody bothered replacing, and that still worked fine.
That saw had significantly mire wear on the tool body.
This oscillating tool looks like it could have only gone thru a couple days of work in its life judging by only a slight amount of dust on the tool body rubber.
Any significant impact could easily leave marks, but there aren’t any in the pictures.

 

[whateg01]

Yes.

I want ieatswampass on the stand, I bet you can guess my first question

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

 

[Zewnten]

Milwaukee isnt what it used to be plain and simple. Look at the 1/2 impact fiasco a few years ago, then they cut the warranty windows on batteries to almost half of what they were.

 

[Firebrick43]

Yes.

I want ieatswampass on the stand, I bet you can guess my first question

If his taste are that bad, does he stoop so low as to put ketchup on his hot dog? We already know that the hot dogs are not kosher.

 

[PCustoms]

If his taste are that bad, does he stoop so low as to put ketchup on his hot dog? We already know that the hot dogs are not kosher.

I enjoy ketchup on a nice chared Jordans red over the campfire, but I draw the line at swamp ***

 

[finn]

I enjoy ketchup on a nice chared Jordans red over the campfire, but I draw the line at swamp ***

Not much lower, as far as immorality goes, than ketchup on on a hot dog.

It’s a crime against nature.

 

[PCustoms]

It’s a crime against nature.

Other than the casing, there's nothing natural about hot dogs

 

[L.Cheapo]

Other than the casing, there's nothing natural about hot dogs

You may be right, but the novelty of a $1.50 lunch at Costco proves strong.

 

[finn]

You may be right, but the novelty of a $1.50 lunch at Costco proves strong.

I didn’t think Costco wieners were natural casing.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I didn’t think Costco wieners were natural casing.

Do we ever really know what is/isn't in a hot dog?

 

[PCustoms]

Do we ever really know what is/isn't in a hot dog?

It's all there, don't worry

 

[zendriver]

Do we ever really know what is/isn't in a hot dog?

Well, they probably don't contain bull pizzle any more.

That's now made into high dollar dog chew treats.

Bully Sticks Party Pack - All Natural & Grain-Free

Shop Bully Sticks for dogs — single-ingredient, high-protein chews made from beef pizzle and slow-roasted for flavor. Great for dental health and strong chewers.

www.redbarn.com

 

[rooster59]

My theory- Made in China or similar, batches of bolts and screws can be iffy. Alloy not on spec, heat treatment questionable. Not 100% QC in the entire supply chain. Milwaukee is owned by TTI, a Chinese company. Milwaukee sounds more Heavy-Duty than Hong Kong Tool Ltd.

 

[ChevyEFI]

So did they even try and replace the screws before sending it in? We may never know.

 

[vwishndaetr]

Other than the casing, there's nothing natural about hot dogs

We're here for Milwaukee. Focus!!!

 

[neophyte]

So did they even try and replace the screws before sending it in? We may never know.

I can’t tell from the image whether the issue is the screws or the casting the screws thread into.
I also don’t know how easy it would be to disassemble the tool to replace the screws, and it is unlikely most tool users would know the proper grade or other specs of the screws if they could disassemble the tool.
Further, if the tool was purchased new, and should be under warrantee, a purchaser should not have to fix their own tool.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I can’t tell from the image whether the issue is the screws or the casting the screws thread into.
I also don’t know how easy it would be to disassemble the tool to replace the screws, and it is unlikely most tool users would know the proper grade or other specs of the screws if they could disassemble the tool.
Further, if the tool was purchased new, and should be under warrantee, a purchaser should not have to fix their own tool.

One might add to this a user of a tool that's already using it sufficiently for it to just fail like this is best served by buying another and continuing work vs. posting on Reddit.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

We're here for Milwaukee. Focus!!!

Okay so what kind of hotdogs do they have in Milwaukee?

 

[Sumboodie]

I had no idea they had a warranty even. I view them as throw away tools. By the time it's acting up, version 27.0 has come out anyhow.

 

[vwishndaetr]

One might add to this a user of a tool that's already using it sufficiently for it to just fail like this is best served by buying another and continuing work vs. posting on Reddit.

That's what after-hours are for.