rigid power tools warranty

[fordbroncodave]

i noticed a few years ago that rigid is lifetime warranty from defects and malfunctions. so i bought one of those ridiculously low priced 30 gallon shop vacs. works great.

i might buy more rigid brand stuff if the warranty is as they say it is. anyone on here had to get their tools replaced at home depot or serviced? is the warranty really what they say? even on the life time battery replacement?

 

[myers212]

I have a lot of Ridgid power and air tools. No problems with them at at so far. Ridgid tools can be returned to Home Depot under the 90 day guarantee if they are broken for replacement or if you are not satisfied. Depending on the tool, the warranty is for 3 years. You have to register the tool to receive lifetime warranty. I believe the shop vacs are lifetime warrantied out of the box though. Home Depot does not handle the repairs (common misunderstanding). You need to find a Ridgid Service Center for that.

This is the area where there are a lot of complaints. Some people have found great service centers that stock replacement batteries and give excellent customer service to you. Then there are the other service centers. These are the ones you here all the complaints regarding servicing of the tools.

Overall, I'm completely satisfied with all the Ridgid tools I've purchased.

 

[plinker]

The only Ridgid tool we have had to warranty so far is the Emerson made shop vac (stainless tub, forget model#) due to the bypass problem they had with a couple of models. Otherwise no major problems with the other tools.

Keep in mind the "lifetime warranty" is only good for the "lifetime" of the tool.
For the shop vac it happens to be if I remember right 600 hours. That being said they are still a good value, but YMMV

 

[Scotto]

When I bought my drill 5 years ago it had the lifetime warranty, including batteries. I just got both replaced free of charge - just took a week or 2 to come in. I don't think they're still doing the lifetime on the batteries though and I know not all service dealers are the same.

 

[l_bilyk]

From what I gather it depends on whether you are near a repair facility. I had a horrible experience trying to get a simple lever for a miter saw stand that snapped because they used cheap metal. I basically got the run around until I got pissed off and yelled at their customer support people - only then did they ship the part to me.

As for the tools themselves... they are so-so. The table saw is good, as is the drill press and the band saw. The corded stuff is okay, but I have a hard time thinking of one type of tool that ridgid makes better than anyone else (aside from all the plumbing stuff, but that's not produced by TTI AFAIK). The cordless stuff is almost bordering on consumer grade with some of the stupid features. What professional contractor would want an electric drill with an automatic transmission at the expense of added weight?

 

[Major Ramifications]

We sell Ridgid tools and are currently a Ridgid service center. We are the last Ridgid service center in the New Orleans metropolitan area and I know why. Ridgid does not pay the service centers worth a ****. We no longer accept any Ridgid tools unless they were purchased from us. People buy a drill from HD (our competitor), and when the batteries are done Ridgid expects us to test them, order replacements, and file a warranty claim and all we get is the money we paid for the batteries, so we end up in the negative. They give us NOTHING on the parts, no markup whatsoever. When we do an actual repair, their labor rate is ridiculously low, like $27.50 per hour, and they decide how long the repairs should take.
Also, to get the lifetime warranty, you have to register for it when you buy the tool, and they send you a card. If you don't do that, the best you can expect is a 3 year warranty if you can find a service center.
I've had stupid people come into the store, and get all irate when I tell them that I have to order a replacement battery for them instead of just handing one over. I ask them, "Who has your money? It's not me, it's Home Depot. Go ***** at them."
That is why nobody is interested in taking care of Ridgid's customers. The tools are good, but the warranty ain't worth a ****. Until enough people demand that Home Depot stand behind their products, this is not going to get better.

Also, sometimes parts are not available, and they have to be unavailable for 3 MONTHS before they will consider replacing the product. I have been waiting on a few product replacements for a couple of months now, and I have been trying to get the correct part for another customer's drill for weeks. Like everyone else around here, we aren't going to do this anymore.

 

[fordbroncodave]

that *****. wow they are lying through their teeth on warranty then. if they charge as much as dewalt or makita they better be as good or better but with a lousy warranty like that they might as well not display their warranty at all.

 

[chadster1]

We sell Ridgid tools and are currently a Ridgid service center. We are the last Ridgid service center in the New Orleans metropolitan area and I know why. Ridgid does not pay the service centers worth a ****. We no longer accept any Ridgid tools unless they were purchased from us. People buy a drill from HD (our competitor), and when the batteries are done Ridgid expects us to test them, order replacements, and file a warranty claim and all we get is the money we paid for the batteries, so we end up in the negative. They give us NOTHING on the parts, no markup whatsoever. When we do an actual repair, their labor rate is ridiculously low, like $27.50 per hour, and they decide how long the repairs should take.
Also, to get the lifetime warranty, you have to register for it when you buy the tool, and they send you a card. If you don't do that, the best you can expect is a 3 year warranty if you can find a service center.
I've had stupid people come into the store, and get all irate when I tell them that I have to order a replacement battery for them instead of just handing one over. I ask them, "Who has your money? It's not me, it's Home Depot. Go ***** at them."
That is why nobody is interested in taking care of Ridgid's customers. The tools are good, but the warranty ain't worth a ****. Until enough people demand that Home Depot stand behind their products, this is not going to get better.

Also, sometimes parts are not available, and they have to be unavailable for 3 MONTHS before they will consider replacing the product. I have been waiting on a few product replacements for a couple of months now, and I have been trying to get the correct part for another customer's drill for weeks. Like everyone else around here, we aren't going to do this anymore.

Good post.

 

[l_bilyk]

We sell Ridgid tools and are currently a Ridgid service center. We are the last Ridgid service center in the New Orleans metropolitan area and I know why. Ridgid does not pay the service centers worth a ****. We no longer accept any Ridgid tools unless they were purchased from us. People buy a drill from HD (our competitor), and when the batteries are done Ridgid expects us to test them, order replacements, and file a warranty claim and all we get is the money we paid for the batteries, so we end up in the negative. They give us NOTHING on the parts, no markup whatsoever. When we do an actual repair, their labor rate is ridiculously low, like $27.50 per hour, and they decide how long the repairs should take.

I got the exact same story from the local guy who does mostly bosch now. Ridgid doesn't pay much to fix the tools and they are difficult to deal with. From what I heard a few years ago, TTI was going to open their own service centres for ridgid, milwaukee, ryobi, and homelite much like black & decker did for dewalt, delta, and porter cable - but that has not happened yet. So right now the warranty is worthless. I have a few ridgid tools, but they were all heavily discounted. If I am paying full pop I would look at bosch, makita or dewalt because the service is truly excellent and the products are top notch.

 

[Kev442]

When my 1300 planer broke a gear, the repair center guy shook his head, said mine would be planer number 3 in line and that Ridgid might send him the parts someday. I was surprised to get it back in 3 weeks.

 

[fordbroncodave]

what warranty does makita offer? my 18v drill i bought in 7th grade (middle school) finally is developing a problem with one of the batteries. the chuck also likes to get messed up time to time too.

 

[Scotto]

We sell Ridgid tools and are currently a Ridgid service center. We are the last Ridgid service center in the New Orleans metropolitan area and I know why. Ridgid does not pay the service centers worth a ****. We no longer accept any Ridgid tools unless they were purchased from us. People buy a drill from HD (our competitor), and when the batteries are done Ridgid expects us to test them, order replacements, and file a warranty claim and all we get is the money we paid for the batteries, so we end up in the negative. They give us NOTHING on the parts, no markup whatsoever. When we do an actual repair, their labor rate is ridiculously low, like $27.50 per hour, and they decide how long the repairs should take.
Also, to get the lifetime warranty, you have to register for it when you buy the tool, and they send you a card. If you don't do that, the best you can expect is a 3 year warranty if you can find a service center.
I've had stupid people come into the store, and get all irate when I tell them that I have to order a replacement battery for them instead of just handing one over. I ask them, "Who has your money? It's not me, it's Home Depot. Go ***** at them."
That is why nobody is interested in taking care of Ridgid's customers. The tools are good, but the warranty ain't worth a ****. Until enough people demand that Home Depot stand behind their products, this is not going to get better.

Also, sometimes parts are not available, and they have to be unavailable for 3 MONTHS before they will consider replacing the product. I have been waiting on a few product replacements for a couple of months now, and I have been trying to get the correct part for another customer's drill for weeks. Like everyone else around here, we aren't going to do this anymore.

Thanks - good to know. I must have gotten lucky when I found a svc center to order and replace my batteries.

 

[l_bilyk]

what warranty does makita offer? my 18v drill i bought in 7th grade (middle school) finally is developing a problem with one of the batteries. the chuck also likes to get messed up time to time too.

1 year, 3 years on the LTX stuff. Standard warranty.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Thanks - good to know. I must have gotten lucky when I found a svc center to order and replace my batteries.

Yes, I would say you did. I was cheerfully replacing batteries, because when I would enter the claim, it would show that I was making a profit on the parts (batteries). However, after talking to the girl in accounts recievable, I realized that they were not giving me any more than I paid for the batteries, and sometimes I would even lose a buck or two on shipping.

Several other Ridgid/Ryobi service centers in town have wised up and quit fooling with it. It just took me a little longer.

 

[colfaxstation]

i noticed a few years ago that rigid is lifetime warranty from defects and malfunctions. so i bought one of those ridiculously low priced 30 gallon shop vacs. works great.

i might buy more rigid brand stuff if the warranty is as they say it is. anyone on here had to get their tools replaced at home depot or serviced? is the warranty really what they say? even on the life time battery replacement?

I just had a planer with problems. They lost the registration, even though the table saw I sent in the same envelop is registered. T^hey would reconsider, otherwise it's outside the 3 year warranty. They also said the parts were wear and tear. When I asked what is covered, "manufacturers defects" so unless it falls apart coming out of the box, the warranty is worthless.

 

[Jme128]

I had a warranty problem on my reciprocating saw. The service center took care of the problem same day but had to drive across town to the center. I also had a Rigid air compressor that the on/off switch went bad. Drove across town and had them replace the switch due to the awesome service I received on the reciprocating saw. Didn’t mind rewarding them for not bitching about how poor Rigid pays them.

 

[pipsters]

I just had a planer with problems. They lost the registration, even though the table saw I sent in the same envelop is registered. T^hey would reconsider, otherwise it's outside the 3 year warranty. They also said the parts were wear and tear. When I asked what is covered, "manufacturers defects" so unless it falls apart coming out of the box, the warranty is worthless.

I'm not quite sure that is correct

"What is Covered? (applies to the 3-Year Limited Warranty, the Lifetime Service Agreement, and the Recon Limited Warranty)

The 3 Year Limited Warranty, The Recon Limited Warranty and the Lifetime Service Agreement covers all worn parts in properly maintained tools. This includes normal wear items such as brushes, chucks, motors, switches, gears and even cordless batteries in your qualifying RIDGID® Brand hand held and stationary power tools. These programs also cover replacement rings, driver blades and bumpers on RIDGID® Brand pneumatic tools. This service coverage does not apply to other ineligible RIDGID® Brand products. "

http://www.ridgid.com/tools/power-tool-warranty

Basically if you drop or run over the drill, that isn't covered. Problem is, it is up to them, you can't tell me a drill used professionally won't have a ton of dings on it.