Milwaukee hand tool warranty

[nbpt100]

I just broke a #2 Phillips bit on my lightly used Milwaukee Multi bit hand screw driver. The tool is maybe 7 months old. It does have a lifetime warranty

It claims the bits on this tool are power tool ready and I broke this by hand on a stubborn deck screw. Kinda disappointing. I expected better quality.

It is a 3.5" long bit. P/N 50-28-2005. It is not your conventional hex bit. I would like to get a new one under warranty but I tried to look at the process and it involves sending it to a service center with sales slip and waiting.

Can I just go into Home Depot and realistically get some help?

Am I wasting my time? Is Milwaukee not interested in supporting hand tools? I am interested in anyone's experience with success. Otherwise I will move on and call it a loss.

 

[nbpt100]

FYI.

 

[thugline]

Was the failure due to a workmanship or material defect?

 

[Professional Tool User]

You are wasting your time. Unless you have something else to buy at HD, you will likely spend more on gas than buying a new bit.

 

[nbpt100]

You are wasting your time. Unless you have something else to buy at HD, you will likely spend more on gas than buying a new bit.

I am not sure what you are trying to say? Do you mean they plain won't swap out the tool or give me a new bit? If I buy something there they may? Or do you mean, buy it on line as the cost of gas to go to the store is more than the shipping? Or some combination of both?

I would just buy a new bit but I do not see anything identical at a local store or that P/N on line that is in stock.

Was the failure due to a workmanship or material defect?

How do you really know? The material was weaker than it clearly should be. The screw head is fine and the tool broke. You can have a material defect due to a human error. Is that workmanship.?

I miss the days when you could just go into Sears and get a replacement tool with no sales slip and no BS.

 

[boom_bap]

If it were me I'd just bring it to HD next time you're passing by. We're speculating here, so trying is your best bet.

In the meantime, I'd email Milwaukee warranty or customer support and explain the situation and send them that picture. I'm sure they'd be happy to take care of you if they value their customers.

Finally let us know how it turns out, good luck.

 

[d.mcfarland]

In the meantime, I'd email Milwaukee warranty or customer support and explain the situation and send them that picture. I'm sure they'd be happy to take care of you if they value their customers.

They refer you to an authorized Milwaukee Tool repair place. I emailed about a brand new stud tape measure (did not retract) and was told to drive 50 miles for them to "evaluate it". Lesson learned for me.

 

[Professional Tool User]

I am not sure what you are trying to say? Do you mean they plain won't swap out the tool or give me a new bit? If I buy something there they may? Or do you mean, buy it on line as the cost of gas to go to the store is more than the shipping? Or some combination of both?

What I am saying is even if they do give you a new bit in return for a trip to Home Depot or a local warranty centre, the amount time and gas money it takes outweighs the cost of the item.
If you have other stuff to do at or near warranty centre location, it's up to you. If you already meet the minimum for free shipping and can just add an extra item on, that's another option.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Depot will probably tell you to pound sand...

Last week I watched a guy try to return/exchange an obviously very well used & very broken Milwaukee fiberglass hammer. ******* at 3 least employees and the several of us in line behind him were also getting fairly annoyed...

It's a bit. Consumable. Buy a new one. Pick a different hill to die on.

 

[nbpt100]

Depot will probably tell you to pound sand...

Last week I watched a guy try to return/exchange an obviously very well used & very broken Milwaukee fiberglass hammer. ******* at 3 least employees and the several of us in line behind him were also getting fairly annoyed...

It's a bit. Consumable. Buy a new one. Pick a different hill to die on.

You are right Marvin. The voice of reason. I have plenty of bigger hills to clime. I am just frustrated that it broke so easily, and that I can not find the same thing to replace it. It says it is only $2 plus S&H on a few websites that came up but, all are out of stock. If not available the price is irrelevant. I ended up buying Bosch shock wave #2 bits. It is about the closest I could find. I am taking a guess that the Bosch is better quality than the Milwaukee shock wave bits. I am not replacing a shock wave tool but for a hand tool I hope it will not matter. Never used a shock wave bit before. Let alone in a hand tool. The thing is I want it to fit in the handle holder, stay inplace and not be very difficult to remove. You guys who have these screw drivers know what I am speaking of.

The warranty process is self filtering. Unless it is an expensive power tool you are going to pass. As people have layed out, you have to drive to or mail it to a Certified Milwaukee service center and hope they have the replacement bit in stock. If they dont'. This all assumes they will agree you deserve the warranty. Depends on what memo came down from corporate that day. You are also suppose to have a sales slip to prove you are the original owner. I all most want to pursue it for accademic reasons and then share the experience to help other members. However No time right now and over worked as it is.

Wasn't Sears great in the day?

On a different post I think it was Dennis who said if you buy a Milwaukee product from Amazon they will not honor the warranty.

This is what i got and hope it works with the tool holder etc. Hope fully done. Mostly just venting. Thanks.

Bosch 2 Pack of Impact Tough 3.5 Inch Phillips #2 Power Bits # ITPH23501-2PK | eBay

Genuine Bosch Drill Bits # ITPH23501-2PK. Xtended Torsion Zone helps to absorb high-torque of new impact drivers. Precision-engineered tips for a tighter fit and less cam out.

www.ebay.com

 

[tarbellb]

how many hours have you wasted trying to warranty a $.50 consumable?



and NO, Milwaukee does not care about making this "right" nor should they

 

[d.mcfarland]

how many hours have you wasted trying to warranty a $.50 consumable?



and NO, Milwaukee does not care about making this "right" nor should they

Are you implying that their stated warranty should not be complied with because of the price of the part that failed?

 

[mike93lx]

Into the trash can for me. I'd maybe thru the same it again and if it failed again, off to another brand.

 

[nbpt100]

how many hours have you wasted trying to warranty a $.50 consumable?



and NO, Milwaukee does not care about making this "right" nor should they

Your post is not rational in my humble estimation.

If you read my last post you would see I let it go and am moving on after my venting and ranting. I just thought Milwaukee was a high end tool company and maybe was jaded. I am capable of changing my opinions.

They should honor their warranty as it is stated regardless of item value.

You are basically saying it is ok for a company to operate with no integrity?

Are you sure you want to say that? If so, fine. Maybe that is your world view?

I am done! You can can have the last word if wish. Thanks to all who replied.

 

[tarbellb]

Are you implying that their stated warranty should not be complied with because of the price of the part that failed?

Nope. Im sure if a person spent enough time and effort they would correct this, but ultimately they dont care and nor should they. This is a consumable, those who use tools realize this and move on. Its a marketing scheme, some take it to a weird level

Your post is not rational in my humble estimation.

If you read my last post you would see I let it go and am moving on after my venting and ranting. I just though Milwaukee was a high end tool company and maybe was jaded. I am capable of changing my opinions.

They should honor their warranty as it is stated regardless of item value.

You are basically saying it is ok for a company to operate with no integrity.

Are you sure you want to say that? If so, fine. Maybe that is your world view?

I am done. You can can have the last word if wish. Thanks to all who replied.

Its a real question- how much time have you spent trying to right a $.50 part?

I own a lot of Milwaukee (battery tools only, I think their hand tools are over hyped), but do not consider them a "high end" tool company, certainly not the hand tools.

If you want integrity buy top quality tools at top end prices from top tier shops who wont question your returns

Snap-On comes to mind, have you considered a $40 version of that tool?

 

[Ton ton]

OP , I appreciate you taking the time to warn us about the poor quality of Milwaukee screwdrivers.

 

[kngelv]

This is an example of the "lifetime warranty" as a marketing ploy. People get so caught up in the warranty that they don't look at the tool itself. The reason Sears had that warranty was to get you back in the store, where you were likely to purchase something else while exchanging your broken tool. This is why you can generally exchange Husky, Cobalt and HF hand tools in store. They are house brands and the person getting the warranty will usually buy some other **** while there.

James

 

[dnschmidt]

I have at least 50 #2 Phillips screwdrivers and at least 100 #2 Phillips bits in various lengths. Don't you think this is much ado about nothing?

 

[ultgar]

Bits and bit kits are like memory and storage.........they're very cheap these days. I've got way more than I'll ever used and just bought a few Milwaukee and Dewalt kits on sale today at Home Depot to try them out. And they are considered a consumable and not replaceable under warranty.

 

[milkovich]

If you're a technician in the middle of a job or someone who took a day off to do chores around the house, your time is worth a lot more than $2. I would expect better. Phillips should "cam out," not shatter in your hand. This is a poorly manufactured product and if you were on top of a mountain or stuck in a life raft, you should be able to reasonably count on a halfway decent tool brand. I'd contact Milwaukee, I bet they'll send you a new bit. Their customer service is generally pretty good. $2, $200, $2000 doesn't really matter to me. The principle of the thing very much does though.

 

[finn]

If you're a technician in the middle of a job or someone who took a day off to do chores around the house, your time is worth a lot more than $2. I would expect better. Phillips should "cam out," not shatter in your hand. This is a poorly manufactured product and if you were on top of a mountain or stuck in a life raft, you should be able to reasonably count on a halfway decent tool brand. I'd contact Milwaukee, I bet they'll send you a new bit. Their customer service is generally pretty good. $2, $200, $2000 doesn't really matter to me. The principle of the thing very much does though.

If you’re a professional technician, I would expect you to have a handful of commonly used bits on hand to replace the bits that inevitably are lost, wear out, or shatter.

Bits are wear items with limited life. I wouldn’t expect any company to warrant them, with the possible exception of Snapon, who builds the warranty cost into the price.

 

[milkovich]

If you’re a professional technician, I would expect you to have a handful of commonly used bits on hand to replace the bits that inevitably are lost, wear out, or shatter.

Bits are wear items with limited life. I wouldn’t expect any company to warrant them, with the possible exception of Snapon, who builds the warranty cost into the price.

"Shatter" isn't an acceptable failure mode for a phillips screw driver. An aircraft mechanic would have to track down every single piece of that shattered tool. I'm sure there are other professions like windmill tech that are also high liability. I would expect a brand like Milwaukee to respect that work.

 

[Ton ton]

"Shatter" isn't an acceptable failure mode for a phillips screw driver. An aircraft mechanic would have to track down every single piece of that shattered tool. I'm sure there are other professions like windmill tech that are also high liability. I would expect a brand like Milwaukee to respect that work.

Milwaukee is a fly-by-night tool company.

 

[milkovich]

Milwaukee is a fly-by-night tool company.

TTI is leveraging that brand pretty hard, but the M18/M12 lines are just really, really good for wrenching and I know for a fact they can make/source good bits like the shockwave impact driver stuff.

 

[Ton ton]

TTI is leveraging that brand pretty hard, but the M18/M12 lines are just really, really good for wrenching and I know for a fact they can make/source good bits like the shockwave impact driver stuff.

I agree.

 

[BolognaBlake]

As others have mentioned, I'm not going to try and warranty something like that unless it's from a tool truck and he's at my shop.

I will also add that I don't buy Milwaukee driver bits anymore. I probably had 10 shatter at the end like yours did. I started buying Makita bits and I've had very good luck.

 

[finn]

"Shatter" isn't an acceptable failure mode for a phillips screw driver. An aircraft mechanic would have to track down every single piece of that shattered tool. I'm sure there are other professions like windmill tech that are also high liability. I would expect a brand like Milwaukee to respect that work.

In that case, trying to claim warranty on the bit is all the more foolish. Break one and get another under warranty so you can break a second?

Doesn’t sound smart, does it?

Find a higher quality brand, in that case.