warranty may not be as good as advertised

[dean 12345]

I planed approximately 8 boards with my 13" planer when I first bought this. I went to use it again after about a year or so, and the motor burned right out. I happened to have the camera handy to photograph the project I was going to work on.

Check out pictures of the motor smoking after it burned out:

http://spaces.msn.com/members/deanhaas/
(click the "burned out" slidehow on the upper right of the page)

Home depot says I may have to pay a "diagnostic fee", plus other charges for parts. I thought this was a "lifetime warranty". If I wind up having to pay, I'll never buy ridgid again.

[BadgerDave]

Why is Home Depot involved in this? :confused: After a years time any problems should be handled by an authorized Ridgid Service Center.

[imported_wbrooks]

Nice pics Dean, definetly supports the theory that all things that plug in run on a certain quantity of smoke -- once you let the smoke out they cease to work tongue.gif
Seriously, any Ridgid repair center will fix it free of charge, I find that if I get the wrong answer from a HD employee I keep asking different people until I get the correct answer.
Check here for service centers
Ridgid Service Centers (http://www.ridgid.com/MenuDriver.asp?ParentID=Power-Tools-Service-Centers&Code=PT)

[dean 12345]

Thanks for the service center link. When you buy these Ridgid tools, the Home Depot stresses the lifetime warranty & (at the very least) implies that the HD backs them. That has always been my impression.

But, sometimes you wind up talking to an orange apron that doesn't know a hammer from a nail. Perhaps I was misled or confused.

[Proud Rebel]

Dean, you are right. I found out also that HD does not back the Ridgid warranty but they seem to imply it when you buy there. I have a local service center in my neighborhood that does honor the the warranty though. They have one of my drills right now. Good luck.

[BadgerDave]

Anyone unfamiliar with the Ridgid warranties can find them here. (http://www.ridgid.com/tools/warranty/index.htm) Just click on the catagory of Ridgid product you have a question on.