Dotco: what's what? Cooper Tools / Apex

[Vinko]

Hey All,

anyone had to send in a Dotco die grinder in for repair? My last experience was 2009 and all my contacts are no longer there. Email addy's bounce back. I'm going to try to contact the regional Dotco office in California directly, but the new return procedure is a little bit more involved:

http://apexpowertools.com/service/servicefiles/PROCEDURE FOR RETURNING PRODUCTS FOR REPAIR.pdf

You've got to send in $60 and a PO.

I guess the regional centers might be closed:

The Americas Apex Power Tools organization made the difficult decision to close the five service centers located at ATG sites in Los Angeles, Seattle, Lexington, Auburn Hills and York, however some of those facilities will remain open as follows:
• The Auburn Hills, MI, Lexington, SC, and York, PA service facilities are now closed.

The trigger was never great on the model I had (it had what I thought was a poorly designed trigger support with a cheap plastic lever and spring supported by the larger metal trigger itself. (I think there was a thread about this way back).

Now the thing is not turning off -- it's a sporadic problem but enough of a concern to send in for a repair.

At about $400 (as I recall) I guess it's given good service for the last 6 years of relatively steady use - I'm not really sure what to expect for tool life as this was my first Dotco (it was that for Dynabrade).

Hell, the electric Milwaukee lasted from 1991 to now. And I replaced that with a heavier-duty Metabo.

 

[Vinko]

I've gone through an absurd week of attempting to get someone at Dotco to authorize a repair. It's a Catch-22: you have to have an account to get an RMA number (and then send in a PO for repair). But you can't get an account no. unless you have bought through Dotco direct. I bought through an authorized dealer in about 2008/9 but can no longer find the original invoice.

I've been through about 6 or 7 people in the Dotco/Cooper Tools/Apex organization. All for naught.

Ridiculous.

 

[Ign]

Wow, you'd think Dotco would want to streamline repair a bit as they serve heavy industry almost exclusively.

 

[Vinko]

Yeah -- I'm wondering if should have gone with Dynabrade. We're not a huge organization but we use these grinders quite a bit. And they ain't cheap. Compared to the ones we've used in the past, they're excellent. They've really held up.

 

[Vinko]

Well, finally got someone to email me back from Dotco. They asked for the serial no. It's no longer on the tool. It was on a reflective foil sticker which is still on the tool, but majority of the numbers have worn off. I sent photos and model no.

Haven't heard anything further in 3 days. This has become absurd. Hell, I don't mind paying of the rebuild but you can't even get that far to find out what it would cost to have it fixed (if it's even worth it). Man, you spend close to $500 on a tool and you wonder what the heck is happening.

Anyone using Dotco or Dynabrade? I need another grinder (maybe two) and I'm seriously considering Dynabrade, but the Dotco's been such a good unit.

 

[neophyte]

Is there an independent tool repair center in your area that's been around a while?

An independent tool repair center that that's been around a few decades or more can probably handle brands and get parts even if they're not authorized by the specific manufacturer. This is especially true if they used to be an authorized repair center for a specific brand.

EreplacementParts also lists Dotco parts if you want to try it yourself.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/dotco-parts-c-132416.html

 

[emeraldcoupe]

is it under warranty? if not send it here http://www.fixthattool.com/

I used to work there, I fixed many dotco grinders while I was there.

 

[metaldad]

hugo's equipment repair in addison, il.
they have corded power tools, stacked to the ceiling in places.
they're also a ridgid warranty center.
no web site
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hugos-equipment-repair-addison-2

 

[Vinko]

Good ideas guys.

Those independent tool repair places (if they're using good parts) shouldn't be under-estimated. I've used Fejes Tools (IR 231C guns) in the past. And Minit Tool for repair of a Metabo drill. Haven't used Fejes in a few years, but Minit in the last year or two.

http://www.minittool.com

 

[Vinko]

Finally got a return authorization number and sent the unit in. Read another thread on here about re-organization and moving of factories within the Apex Group so perhaps that explains it. I had to send it to (I think) Kentucky or South Carolina (can't remember which). They used to have 6-7 repair offices in the USA.

That said, when it was operational, it was a hell of a grinder. I'm thinking of getting another and perhaps one with the extended nose. Maybe go the Dynabrade make for the latter.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I'm too lazy to look right now, but I know I've seen Dotco rebuild kits on eBay for pretty dang cheap. A guy in San Diego had a bunch at one time.

I haven't rebuilt one yet, but wouldn't this be the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way? Or are these things rocket surgery? (Serious question) As in super exact tolerances or something? Don't you just press bearings in and out and what not?

EDIT: yea, rebuild kits for like $20.....http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...build+ki.TRS0&_nkw=dotco+rebuild+kit&_sacat=0

 

[Vinko]

Got my Dotco back after 4 or 5 months. The grinder's been a hell of a tool (though I think the trigger isn't build nearly as well as the Dynabrade's).

Anyway -- had the Dynabrade truck out here and they dropped off a few tools for us to try. 4.5" angle grinder and a few other things. Super impressed.