Complaint Review: Ridgid Power Tools Emerson Electric Co.

I bought a Ridgid 13" surface planer in June of 03 from Home Depot. Only used it 3 or 4 times and is like new. I went to use it again and the gear box (an interial part of the unit) broke.  Got ahold of Ridgid, she asked me if I was registered, I gave her the date of the sales reciept and she told me registration was not required at that time.  She gave me the service center name to bring it to.

Service guy said they"ve been having trouble with warrantys from Ridgid.  He checked the planner out and found it was the gear box inside the unit. He got ahold of the Company and they said they no longer have those gearboxes and will not honor the warranty on them because it is 10 years old.

I called Ridgid back and a different girl told me I did't have to register and said they would fix it, and even if they didn't have a gear box, I would get a new planner.  I told her they told the service guy they would not honor the warranty.  She said, let me call the tech dept.  They told her the same thing they told the service man.  I told her the gearbox is internal and part of the unit.  She appoligised and said there was nothing she could do.

I bought this planner because it has a FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY.   It states this: "Ridgid tools are warranted to be free of defects in workmanship and material".  But they also say what is not covered: "Failures due to misuse, abuse or normal wear and tear are not covered by this warranty.  Ridgid Tool shall not be responsible for any incidental or consequential damages".

If the coverage does not cover normal wear and tear, what does the FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY cover?  It certainly doesn't cover misuse or abuse.  So what does it cover?  If you use the tool at all and something brakes they do not cover it because it's normal wear and tear.  If you don't use it and somehow something broke (if thats possible) it would be misuse or abuse.  So you see, your FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY doesn't mean jack s**t, notta, ziltch.  It can only mean there is nothing wrong with it when purchased.  Some lifetime!

It should be against the law to write a contradictary warranty that is impossible to use.  Beware of Ridgid and their misleading warranty that is in a nutshell, worthless!  Don't be fooled and think you have something that you don't. Similar warrantys might be written this way, I don't know.  It seems you'll have to buy the item to find out. I do know I'll take my chances with someone else and I'll never ever buy another Ridgid tool again.  Not that it matters to them, but the money they will not recieve from future sales just from me, would have far outweighed the cost to honor the warranty.  For I am informing you all by way of internet and am telling everyone at the 1000 plus employees where I work, and I'm stoping there.  When companyes mislead & treat their customers in this manner I have no respect for them for they have none for you.  Just informing, take it as you wish.

I do want to note Home Depot tried to help me out and called Ridgid to see what they could do, but to know availe.