Amazon Reconditioned Tools?
MatthewSchenker
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi All,
Has anyone had experience buying reconditioned tools from Amazon? I’m thinking of getting a DeWalt scroll saw, and I noticed that they have the DW788 20″ model for $296. That’s $143 off the price of a new one.
I hear that “reconditioned” often just means repackaged, and it is technically the same as new. But it can also mean the saw was really damaged and had to be repaired. I guess you never know the status of your particular tool, although you still have the option of returning it if there is a problem.
Edited 9/9/2005 7:46 am ET by MatthewSchenker
Replies
Matthew;
I purchased a recon Bosch hammer drill from amazon. The*/<! thing blew up on the third hole, so I ended up renting one at the local rental store.
Bosch repaired it for nothing but it took two weeks. To keep my project moving I elected to go the rental route.
Given this experience I do not believe I would go the recon route again.
Regards,
Jim
If they have a good return policy, you're probably fine. I've heard that reconditioned tools can be even better than new since the repair is made and tested by an actual person instead of an assembly line robot.
I didnt get my tool from amazon, i got my reconditioned dewalt 14.4v drill off of ebay from the toolking, but it is great, have had it for 3 years of rough use and it never fails. i think it would be worth if if the tool is atleast 20-30% off of new price.
Reconditioned can mean a lot of things. Sometimes it's just a display model or return that's tested or it can be a bit more such as cleaned, brushes replaced and unit tested. If the warranty is good and you don't put food on the table with it, why not.
I've purchased many reconditioned items from many different sources over the years an can't recall being disappointed. I tried it the first time under the theory that "At least this piece was looked at and touched by another human at some point. And, has probably been actually tested by someone familiar with the item."
So Far, So Good.
I've picked up a bunch of reconditioned tools from Amazon/Tool Crib. Never been disappointed. The warantees are generally the same as a new tool. The Milauwakee Sawzall had clearly been used and returned, but otherwise, except for the 'reconditioned' stickers on the tools, I couldn't even tell.
My philosophy is that if you're a relative youngster, spring for the new one. If you're an oldster, take a chance on the reconditioned. You probably won't use it for very long anyway.
Segil,
Well that's kind of a pessimistic way to look at it!What do you consider a "relative youngster"?
Edited 9/9/2005 4:43 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
Matthew,
Only you can answer that question!
Segil,
I came up with a formula to determine if one is a relative youngster. You want to have a higher "relative youngster factor." In this formula, you get points for works completed and opportunities to teach others, as well as your actual age.Tell me if it works, or needs revising:Where...
A is 80 (Average American lifespan)
B is your years of woodworking experience
C is the average number of projects completed in one year
D is the number of people you can still teach something to
R is your relative youngster factorR = (CxD) + (A/B)
Edited 9/13/2005 9:01 am ET by MatthewSchenker
A friend bought a recon DeWalt 13" planer to use on a single project, then sold it to me for under 70% new. It has worked flawlessly for the year I've had it. Just one data point. (I don't know if it was Amazon or another source of reconditioned units.)
-robert
<<"I hear that "reconditioned" often just means repackaged, and it is technically the same as new. But it can also mean the saw was really damaged and had to be repaired. I guess you never know the status of your particular tool, although you still have the option of returning it if there is a problem.">>
I had reason to look into the reconditioned tool market a couple of years ago, and here's what I found:
The market was really created by the liberal return policies of the big box stores. That is, if a tool is returned for any reason, it is sent back to the manufacturer, sent through a special facility to check it out, then placed in the reconditioned market.
Most of these returns are driven by simple "buyer's remorse", but some are faulty -- but occasionally, someone will buy a tool, use it hard for a job, and then return it.
Also, a manufacturer can use a tool as a demo (at a weekend wwing show, for example), and these too go into the reconditioned market.
Every manufacturer says they carefully inspect and repair (if necessary) every tool that is then sold as reconditioned. That's probably true, but my guess is that some of the "inspections" are pretty cursory.
No manufacturer will admit to it, but there is some suspicion that the reconditioned market is occasionally used to sell down excess inventory, which is obviously not a bad thing for consumers.
In the end buying a "reconditioned" tool is a little bit of a crap shoot, just as you point out, but generally the odds are in your favor. Your best protection is to make sure the warranty is as good as that provided for their new tools.
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I've bought a number of reconditioned items - both tools and kitchen gadgets and all have been perfect performers. That said, they will sometimes come with a MINOR cosmetic flaw such as a small ding or scratch.
I generally like them because at least with most major brands, new items are spot checked very randomly and infrequently while with the refubs they go over each and every one and make sure it works as good, if not better than new before they sell them. Yes, you can still get a lemon, but they do come with warrantys. An item can be a refurb for many reasons - from it broke and was returned to the customer took it home and opened it and then decided they needed the money for something else, found a nick or scratch and took it back without ever having used it.
Again, with all that said it is up to you. I know that my tools are going to get scratched or a ding or two over time, so if I can save a good chunk of change by buying a refurb I will.
Tool King sells refurb tools at a good price.
Here's my Amazon experiences:
P-C belt sander - mint
Milwaukee router - small chip on the height adjusting knob. Called amazon to get a replacement knob. Can't do it. They provided UPS pickup, and sent me another router which came mint, but took two weeks.Both tools work flawlessly. Depends on the savings, gotta ask yourself if it's worth it or not. To me, the deals are usually good, and I usually try to get a recon first. Lastly, I always feel crumby when a new [anything] pair of shoes, car or tool gets the first ding, dent or scratch. If it comes with one, I don't suffer anxiety over when it will happen. And oh yeah, I buy my canoes as end of season rentals. they come pre-scratched, and I don't worry about 'em.Have fun.Ken Werner
Hamilton, NY
Ken,
You make some very good points! I think reconditioned from Amazon is probably a good bet, since they have protections in case something goes wrong.
Matt,
In my experience, the outfit that sells factory reconditioned tools isn't as important as the reconditioning process itself. I bought a factory reconditioned Delta sanding center recently, but had to return it because, although the factory apparently checked the machine's functions, they failed to take the steps necessary to protect it from rust during subsequent storage and shipment; when I opened the box, the cast iron surfaces were covered in rust and some pitting was evident.
When I buy any tool, new, used, or reconditioned, I assemble it ASAP and use it extensively in an effort to disclose any problems before the return shipping authorization of warranty expire. This is particularly of reconditioned tools, which typically have an abbreviated warranty.
The DeWalt 20" is a nice scroll saw. What's the warranty?
Good luck,
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
jazzdog,
Yes, the DeWalt scroll saw seems to be recognized as a great machine. Amazon just dropped the price another $7.
Reconditioned is $300 after shipping.
New is $410 after shipping.I think getting one of these for $300 is a good deal.I'm going to check with Amazon on the warranty. With other brands, the warranty is "same as new." I don't see that specified with the DeWalt, so I want to confirm it with Amazon.
Edited 9/15/2005 9:45 am ET by MatthewSchenker
jazzdogg,
I'm interested in your observations regarding rust. I live in a relatively damp climate (right next to a lake), sooner or later any bare metal surface displays rust and I simply take my random orbit sander with a piece of 220 paper on it and polish it off.. I then rewax it and try to remember to use it often enough to keep the bare metals surafaces cleaned off. (dust really seems to attract rust). That doesn't happen on a regular bases so off course I'm back with the DA in a month or two and polishing the surface again..
Would you feel that tools taken care of in this fashion are defective? Should I get out of wood working since my tables get rusty? I've never worn out a tool or had anything rust up since I lube things on a regular basis but there is obviously some surface deterioration going on and I'm sure in a few years the surfaces might need to be checked or straight and level..
Hey Frenchy, what happened to your profile info?1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
Hi Frenchy,
Since it's entirely possible that the point I tried to make in my earlier post wasn't stated clearly enough, please allow me to clarify:
I don't find it acceptable to uncrate a new or reconditioned tool and find it covered in rust.
I fully expect to uncrate a new or reconditioned tool and spend some time removing the gunk that protects it from rust before I can assemble or use it.
Once it's in my shop, it's my responsibility to protect it from rust; but, until I open the crate, it's the manufacturer or reconditioner's job to have protected it from rust during storage and shipment.
After re-reading your reply, I'm not sure what part of this you disagree with; but you're probably just yanking my chain.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
jazzdogg,
I don't know which is worse, getting the cosmolene off or sanding off rust. Since I wasn't there to look Maybe the pitting as far worse than I deal with and for that reason you should have rejected it.. However surface rusting to me is no big deal..
I just got a message from DeWalt today. The warranty on their reconditioned tools is one year.Below is the actual text of the message I received from a guy named Jeff from DeWalt Customer Support:"Reconditioned tools are tools that can not be sold as 'new' as described in current law. There are many reasons why a tool will be reconditioned such as returned by a customer, wrong label, wrong box, or missing accessories. Often times the tool being reconditioned has never left the plant as new. Our reconditioned tools carry a one-year warranty regarding manufacturing defects. If you want to save a few dollars reconditioned tools are a good way to go."
Glad to hear you received a response from DeWalt. One year seems like enough time for potential problems to appear - depending on how often it's used.
Good luck, Matt!
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
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