Customer service rant

[Schroedc]

SO I bought a Delta 46-460 variable speed lathe last year and have been more than happy with it but today the bearings in the headstock started growling and as the day has gone on it's been getting louder, No play in them yet but between the noise and the heat it's getting bad. Called Delta and their solution is to drive a 100 mile round trip to drop it off at a service center, wait 10 days and then hope it was covered under the warranty and do the 100 mile round trip over again. OR they'll mail me a pair of bearings BUT void the entire remainder of the warranty.

What ever happened to companies standing behind their equipment without a hassle?????

Rant over. I guess I get to drive a ways this afternoon.

 

[JR Custom Calls]

I've heard Delta has really declined in quality and customer service over the years. That's complete crap that they void the warrsnty of you fix it with their parts.

I have to say, Rikon may not have the reputation that delta (had), Powermatic, jet, ETC all have, but they certainly do stand behind their product, and for that reason, I'll likely be a customer for life

 

[Kevin]

That sucks Colin. You should just repair it yourself with their bearings but not let them know. How would they?

and for that reason, I'll likely be a customer for life

Like Delta customers used to be? You'll be a customer until Rikon eventually sells the company after they get it to really be a profit beast. A Chinese company will buy it out like the one that bought Delta and dismantle it to squeeze out what profit is left in it then run it on marginally-thin operating costs like they're doing.

When that happens you'll look for another company like Wood Barter Machinery Ltd. Made in the USA by woodworkers for woodworkers. I need some investors.

 

[Schroedc]

When that happens you'll look for another company like Wood Barter Machinery Ltd. Made in the USA by woodworkers for woodworkers. I need some investors.

And it will be a great company with lifelong customers until you eventually sells the company after you get it to really be a profit beast. A Chinese company will buy it out like the one that bought Delta and dismantle it to squeeze out what profit is left in it then run it on marginally-thin operating costs like they're doing.

 

[JR Custom Calls]

That sucks Colin. You should just repair it yourself with their bearings but not let them know. How would they?



Like Delta customers used to be? You'll be a customer until Rikon eventually sells the company after they get it to really be a profit beast. A Chinese company will buy it out like the one that bought Delta and dismantle it to squeeze out what profit is left in it then run it on marginally-thin operating costs like they're doing.

When that happens you'll look for another company like Wood Barter Machinery Ltd. Made in the USA by woodworkers for woodworkers. I need some investors.

Good point. Although it appears that many of the power tools on the market today are very much similar in design, which leads me to believe that there's a company similar to MTD (lawnmowers) out there that is making the majority of tools, and other companies are putting their own finishing touches, paint, and stickers, and selling it as their own. Just the other day I saw that Jet has a 14" saw that looks identical to my Rikon, with a few different handles, knobs, and paint... Harbor freight has a lathe that is identical in every aspect except the paint, tool rest, and motor, as one Jet sells.... And just about every 14" bandsaw that takes a 93.5" blade today looks just like the original Delta design.

That said, as long as Rikon is what it is today, I'll remain a customer.

 

[Kevin]

And it will be a great company with lifelong customers until you eventually sells the company after you get it to really be a profit beast. A Chinese company will buy it out like the one that bought Delta and dismantle it to squeeze out what profit is left in it then run it on marginally-thin operating costs like they're doing.

You're correct!

Hey I was offered $5500 for this forum last year and turned it down. I told him it was worth at least $5600.

 

[brown down]

I agree with kevin fix it yourself and don't tell them! they won't be able to tell if you replaced it or not!

 

[Schroedc]

I agree with kevin fix it yourself and don't tell them! they won't be able to tell if you replaced it or not!

Right now that's what I plan to do, I ordered a set of bearings and to keep me limping along I used an old machinists/maintenance guy trick my grandfather taught me- For bearings that are primarily side loaded (Like a lathe headstock) you can flip them over and reinstall them and get a little more use out of them while waiting for parts. Of course I'll save the originals when I do replace them and if I do ever take it in for a warranty claim I'll just reinstall them.

 

[Mike1950]

The really sad thing is in our present world-we preach conservation- recycle- reuse- conserve. But we behind the scenes produce low grade crap that will not stand the test of time. None of the equipment being produced will last a lifetime or lifetimes like equipment of the past. How much more would it cost for quality. Planned obsolescence is the name of the game- so those crummy companies can have a better bottom line- too bad- in the long run it is a no win game.

 

[brown down]

Colin I remember my father doing that with the bearings on his lathe which was my grandfathers. he paid $18 for it 60 plus years ago. I agree with mike we are a throw away society now a days. we mass produce crap instead of making something that lasts and they don't stand behind the crap they do make when it does break! its such a joke! this brings me back to my thinking of how great things were made, when they were made 100% in this country! parts and labor

 

[Mike1950]

Quality is not a nationality thing- It is a state of mind thing. We use to save and buy something that would last- whether it is made here or elsewhere. Now it is about more. More is better even if more is just cheap crap. This has been sold to us by the folks selling the cheap crap and we as a society have bought into it hook line and sinker. Just look at the room you are sitting it- how much in there is 5 yrs old- how about a decade. We can change it but we won't.........

 

[shadetree_1]

I'll stay with the old stuff like my old 50's cast iron craftsman table saw, 60 years later it still works great, more folks should buy the old American Iron. Just my 2 cents worth take it as you will.

 

[Sprung]

Planned obsolescence is the name of the game

When I was growing up, my dad wanted to start his own commercial appliance repair business. He was already a licensed refrigeration technician and had years of experience repairing equipment and appliances. Business was starting to do good and it was starting to become a profitable sideline for him. It was as he was starting to really ramp things up so that he could quit his job and work full time for himself that the bottom dropped out. It suddenly became "cheaper" to replace with something new (and much lower quality) than it was to repair - nevermind that the cheaper item was going to break after a couple years and need to be replaced. It became about what's cheapest now instead of what's cheapest in the long run.

I'd rather buy quality and make it last. I'd rather try and fix something when it breaks. And then, when your cheapo appliance breaks, it's more expensive to buy the part(s) than it is to go out and replace your broken cheapo appliance with another cheapo appliance...

 

[Schroedc]

When I was growing up, my dad wanted to start his own commercial appliance repair business. He was already a licensed refrigeration technician and had years of experience repairing equipment and appliances. Business was starting to do good and it was starting to become a profitable sideline for him. It was as he was starting to really ramp things up so that he could quit his job and work full time for himself that the bottom dropped out. It suddenly became "cheaper" to replace with something new (and much lower quality) than it was to repair - nevermind that the cheaper item was going to break after a couple years and need to be replaced. It became about what's cheapest now instead of what's cheapest in the long run.

I'd rather buy quality and make it last. I'd rather try and fix something when it breaks. And then, when your cheapo appliance breaks, it's more expensive to buy the part(s) than it is to go out and replace your broken cheapo appliance with another cheapo appliance...

Funny thing is it's not always more expensive but most folks don't have the knowledge or the cost to pay someone to install the part or fix the issue is prohibitive. My microwave died last year (The platter quit going round and round) so of course my wife got a new microwave but before I disposed of the old one I did a little research and fixed it with a 7.00 part and now I have a microwave in the shop to heat up my lunches and make popcorn

 

[Tony]

I'll stay with the old stuff like my old 50's cast iron craftsman table saw, 60 years later it still works great, more folks should buy the old American Iron. Just my 2 cents worth take it as you will.

I totally agree with Joe. I am a Delta fan, but nothing made recently. My plan is to eventually get an old Unisaw and restore it to replace the 20 year old contractor saw I have now. (Delta as well, never have had a problem). My bandsaw is an old Rockwell that I bought used 15 years ago, spent $100 cleaning up and replacing belt and tires, runs like a champ.

There's my 2 cents!