Recapping:
On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60 or so
miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring whatever
was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the second and
third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to see if they'd even
looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back to
me that afternoon.
Three days later he finally called and told me the internal fuse (which
you need a special #10 security torx driver to get to - which they
couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one) needed to be replaced
before he could check out the rest of the charger. I told him to order
THREE, two for the chargers they had, and one for the one I'd kept.
The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
in three or four days.
Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE ( as in
ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order - but the
tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the tech would
call me in a day or two.
Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped in
today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I got ONE
working charger back and though they still had my other charger
and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in full - $38
and change.
Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service Centers
for a reason.
I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
$70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
or Pay In Time.
Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
this Authorized Repair Center.
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "charlieb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Recapping:
> Snip
>
>>
>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>
> Seems like it would be a lucrative business for the battery rebuild
> business to also be into the battery charger repair business. Hum?
>
Maybe somebody could make a generic reharging unit. There would be some
demand for them. And the battery rebiuld places could sell them.
J. Clarke wrote:
> charlieb wrote:
>> Recapping:
>>
>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60 or so
>> miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring whatever
>> was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the second and
>> third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to see if they'd
>> even
>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back to
>> me that afternoon.
>>
>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal fuse
>> (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get to - which
>> they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one) needed to be
>> replaced before he could check out the rest of the charger. I told
>> him to order THREE, two for the chargers they had, and one for the
>> one I'd kept.
>>
>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
>> in three or four days.
>>
>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE ( as in
>> ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order - but the
>> tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the tech would
>> call me in a day or two.
>>
>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped in
>> today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I got ONE
>> working charger back and though they still had my other charger
>> and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in full - $38
>> and change.
>>
>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service Centers
>> for a reason.
>>
>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>> or Pay In Time.
>>
>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
>> with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
>> use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
>>
>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>
> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the drivers at
> Sears.
>
> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the drivers are
> hard to find and big bucks.
>
> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners that
> cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf at Sears")
> tools unless the special tool is included.
>
If such a law were to be passed, and I doubt it ever would, manufacturers
would simply start welding (or melting the plastic) and declare such items
as disposable/non-repairable.
--
Froz...
On Jan 23, 4:02=A0am, charlieb <[email protected]> wrote:
> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
> with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
> use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
Yes you do. They don't want you working on them for a multitude of
reasons, and more importantly, they would love to sell you a new
charger. Think about your snail paced repair center; if they hadn't
been honest, they could have told you some part inside had fried,
charged you the bench fee, AND sold you the new charger.
This is why I am drifting more and more towards tools like Ridgid. I
don't like them as well as some of my other tools (not really too sure
why) and they don't have the right feel in my hand.
BUT... they do have that lifetime warranty. Often times they are less
$$ than a competitive model from someone else, and with everything
covered, you are in good shape when you turn them in for repair. I
talked with the Ridgid/Milwaukee etc., rep a couple of months ago, and
he told me they are now down to about two weeks on warranty repairs.
You send them to a central repair center, and they repair and ship
back.
Truthfully, I only have one Ridgid tool now but since it works so well
and seems so solid, I think when the current crop of "professional
tools" I have dies, I may be headed to the orange side for some of my
purchases. I am lucky that since I do this for a living I have
multiples of every tool, but just on principles I couldn't wait two
months for f**cking fuse repair.
I took my last DeWalt cordless in to have a clutch installed....
crap! It was over half what I paid for the drill. The drill was 3
1/2 years old, and it had been used hard all the time I had it. It
was a really reliable piece of equipment. But at $289, I thought it
should have done better.
At the end of 3 1/2 years, it needed two new batteries, and a clutch.
Did I get my money's worth? I dunno.
I have a Sears "professional" 14.4v drill that I have been using since
the demise of the DeWalt for over 5 years now. (Ask any repair/
remodeling contractor how much they use a cordless drill!!). It is
beat up pretty badly and is one ugle mutt, but it still works great.
I paid $53 for that drill.
Somewhere in the middle between those two had to be a reasonable tool
with reasonable support.
> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. =A0Not too impressed with
> this Authorized Repair Center.
Since the tools we buy these days are so expensive and for the most
part are made so poorly, I consider the two aspects to be one in the
same. The tool is only as good as its support.
The boys at Woodcraft have some unholy stories of customer service
from Fein. Oddly, we have one of the vaunted authorized repair
centers, but
still, the cost to repair the tools is numbing. Thankfully for Fein
owners, tool failure doesn't seem to be an issue.
Check out this map:
<http://www.feinus.com/p/new-warranty/warranty.htm>
How would you like to live in one of the state states that doesn't
have ANY support for their tools? Talk about being at the mercy of
the tool brand.
I think now with the changes we are seeing in the economy, many middle
of the road users will start looking for more performance and value
from their tools.
That means support as well.
Robert
I say just take that drill and find a bit that is the same size as the
screw head. Drill out the screw head and open up the charger case. Or
drill the screws a little smaller than the head and use an eazy-out.
The fuse is often just a buss fuse and can be found at an auto parts
store. replace the fuse and then duct tape the case together.
On Jan 28, 3:29=A0pm, "MikeWhy" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>
> > Larrybud wrote:
> >>> Security Torx is easy. =A0Sears has them. =A0Security Torx Plus is a
> >>> different animal.
>
> >> Found this:
>
> >>http://amermedia.amazonwebstore.com/Silverhill-5-Point-Star-Torx-
> >> Plus/M/B001HY25V0.htm?
> >> traffic_src=3Dfroogle&utm_medium=3Dorganic&utm_source=3Dfroogle
>
> >> google "five star torx"
>
> > Grab 'em while they last. =A0Security Torx Plus is patented and one
> > suspects that the owner of the patent is going to step on that real
> > fast. =A0One of the rules for licensing is that the licensee can sell
> > only to the trades and one must provide documentation to prove it.
>
> I say, "Screw that!" <nyucknyuck> In context of the OP, bring it into the
> service center and insist that they take the moment to undo the screws fo=
r
> you, or to inform you in writing that doing so is explicitly against the
> manufacturer's policy. My bet is a reasonable person would take the 10
> seconds to do so, or at least turn his back after placing the required to=
ol
> within your reach.
wyzarddoc <[email protected]> writes:
> I say just take that drill and find a bit that is the same size as the
> screw head.
Is that bit in the Harbor Fright "security toolbit" package?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91310
It's only $4.99. Might be easier. Anyone know if they have a hollow
Torx plus in the set? There's a second set as well.
p.s. Don't you love it when they advertise "9 hollow tip torque" bits.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Larrybud wrote:
>>> Security Torx is easy. Sears has them. Security Torx Plus is a
>>> different animal.
>>
>> Found this:
>>
>> http://amermedia.amazonwebstore.com/Silverhill-5-Point-Star-Torx-
>> Plus/M/B001HY25V0.htm?
>> traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
>>
>> google "five star torx"
>
> Grab 'em while they last. Security Torx Plus is patented and one
> suspects that the owner of the patent is going to step on that real
> fast. One of the rules for licensing is that the licensee can sell
> only to the trades and one must provide documentation to prove it.
I say, "Screw that!" <nyucknyuck> In context of the OP, bring it into the
service center and insist that they take the moment to undo the screws for
you, or to inform you in writing that doing so is explicitly against the
manufacturer's policy. My bet is a reasonable person would take the 10
seconds to do so, or at least turn his back after placing the required tool
within your reach.
"charlieb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Recapping:
Snip
>
> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
> this Authorized Repair Center.
Seems like it would be a lucrative business for the battery rebuild business
to also be into the battery charger repair business. Hum?
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> charlieb wrote:
>> Recapping:
>>
>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60
>> or so miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring
>> whatever was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the
>> second and third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to
>> see if they'd even
>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back
>> to me that afternoon.
>>
>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal
>> fuse (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get
>> to - which they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one)
>> needed to be replaced before he could check out the rest of the
>> charger. I told him to order THREE, two for the chargers they
>> had, and one for the one I'd kept.
>>
>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
>> in three or four days.
>>
>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE (
>> as in ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order -
>> but the tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the
>> tech would call me in a day or two.
>>
>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped
>> in today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I
>> got ONE working charger back and though they still had my other
>> charger and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in
>> full - $38 and change.
>>
>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service
>> Centers for a reason.
>>
>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>> or Pay In Time.
>>
>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little
>> breaker with an external reset button on their charger, or at
>> least use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case
>> together.
>>
>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>
> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the
> drivers at Sears.
>
> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the
> drivers are hard to find and big bucks.
>
> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners
> that cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf
> at Sears") tools unless the special tool is included.
>
Not hard to find, and not big bux: I googled "Security Torx" and
found this in 2 seconds:
http://cvfsupplyco-store.stores.yahoo.net/9pctorwrense.html
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Larrybud wrote:
>> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> news:[email protected]:
>>
>>> charlieb wrote:
>>>> Recapping:
>>>>
>>>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery
Chargers
>>>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60
>>>> or so miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring
>>>> whatever was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the
>>>> second and third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to
>>>> see if they'd even
>>>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get
back
>>>> to me that afternoon.
>>>>
>>>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal
>>>> fuse (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to
get
>>>> to - which they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get
one)
>>>> needed to be replaced before he could check out the rest of
the
>>>> charger. I told him to order THREE, two for the chargers
they
>>>> had, and one for the one I'd kept.
>>>>
>>>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to
me
>>>> in three or four days.
>>>>
>>>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE (
>>>> as in ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order -
>>>> but the tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told
the
>>>> tech would call me in a day or two.
>>>>
>>>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped
>>>> in today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I
>>>> got ONE working charger back and though they still had my
other
>>>> charger and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid
in
>>>> full - $38 and change.
>>>>
>>>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I
guess
>>>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service
>>>> Centers for a reason.
>>>>
>>>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>>>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>>>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>>>> or Pay In Time.
>>>>
>>>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little
>>>> breaker with an external reset button on their charger, or at
>>>> least use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case
>>>> together.
>>>>
>>>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>>>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>>>
>>> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the
>>> drivers at Sears.
>>>
>>> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the
>>> drivers are hard to find and big bucks.
>>>
>>> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with
fasteners
>>> that cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf
>>> at Sears") tools unless the special tool is included.
>>>
>>
>> Not hard to find, and not big bux: I googled "Security Torx"
and
>> found this in 2 seconds:
>> http://cvfsupplyco-store.stores.yahoo.net/9pctorwrense.html
>
> Security Torx is easy. Sears has them. Security Torx Plus is a
> different animal.
Found this:
http://amermedia.amazonwebstore.com/Silverhill-5-Point-Star-Torx-
Plus/M/B001HY25V0.htm?
traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
google "five star torx"
>>> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the
>>> drivers are hard to find and big bucks.
>>>
>>> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners
>>> that cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf
>>> at Sears") tools unless the special tool is included.
>>>
>>
>> Not hard to find, and not big bux: I googled "Security Torx" and
>> found this in 2 seconds:
>> http://cvfsupplyco-store.stores.yahoo.net/9pctorwrense.html
>
> Security Torx is easy. Sears has them. Security Torx Plus is a
> different animal.
Sorry, completely missed the difference.
J. Clarke wrote:
> charlieb wrote:
> > Recapping:
> >
> > On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
> > in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60 or so
> > miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring whatever
> > was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the second and
> > third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to see if they'd
> > even
> > looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back to
> > me that afternoon.
> >
> > Three days later he finally called and told me the internal fuse
> > (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get to - which
> > they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one) needed to be
> > replaced before he could check out the rest of the charger. I told
> > him to order THREE, two for the chargers they had, and one for the
> > one I'd kept.
> >
> > The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
> > in three or four days.
> >
> > Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE ( as in
> > ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order - but the
> > tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the tech would
> > call me in a day or two.
> >
> > Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped in
> > today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I got ONE
> > working charger back and though they still had my other charger
> > and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in full - $38
> > and change.
> >
> > Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
> > they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service Centers
> > for a reason.
> >
> > I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
> > $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
> > while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
> > or Pay In Time.
> >
> > Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
> > with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
> > use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
> >
> > I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
> > this Authorized Repair Center.
>
> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the drivers at
> Sears.
>
> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the drivers
> are hard to find and big bucks.
>
> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners that
> cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf at Sears")
> tools unless the special tool is included.
If it had the center pin in it to keep the bit from going in I drilled
it out and used a standard Torx bit. If it's something weird that's
what they make drill bits and easyouts for. Jim
--
On Jan 23, 1:25=A0pm, "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > If such a law were to be passed, and I doubt it ever would,
> > manufacturers would simply start welding (or melting the plastic)
> > and
> > declare such items as disposable/non-repairable.
> Which means that we just go ahead and saw them open instead of wasting
> a lot of time looking for special overpriced hard to get tools.
I have no doubt you are right. This is exactly what happened when I
got my first laptop around '89. The batteries were NASTY expensive,
and as rapidly as the models changed, so did the battery layouts and
dimensions.
Back then, I had a friend that worked at one of the big computer
wholesalers here in town. He literally started his own little company
in six months, one of the first to rebuild laptop batteries. He
simply cut open the battery cases with a Dremel one day, only to find
a hand full of "C" sized rechargeables. He built his company into one
that not only did laptop batteries, but anything with rechargeable
batteries inside.
I could see the same situation working out for a lot of industries as
people start feeling the pinch a bit more. I think a lot of folks
will be rethinking their current buying habits and strategies.
Robert
charlieb wrote:
> Recapping:
>
> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60 or so
> miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring whatever
> was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the second and
> third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to see if they'd
> even
> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back to
> me that afternoon.
>
> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal fuse
> (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get to - which
> they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one) needed to be
> replaced before he could check out the rest of the charger. I told
> him to order THREE, two for the chargers they had, and one for the
> one I'd kept.
>
> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
> in three or four days.
>
> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE ( as in
> ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order - but the
> tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the tech would
> call me in a day or two.
>
> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped in
> today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I got ONE
> working charger back and though they still had my other charger
> and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in full - $38
> and change.
>
> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service Centers
> for a reason.
>
> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
> or Pay In Time.
>
> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
> with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
> use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
>
> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
> this Authorized Repair Center.
If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the drivers at
Sears.
If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the drivers are
hard to find and big bucks.
It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners that
cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf at Sears")
tools unless the special tool is included.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
FrozenNorth wrote:
> J. Clarke wrote:
>
>> charlieb wrote:
>>> Recapping:
>>>
>>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
>>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60 or
>>> so
>>> miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring whatever
>>> was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the second and
>>> third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to see if they'd
>>> even
>>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back to
>>> me that afternoon.
>>>
>>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal fuse
>>> (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get to -
>>> which
>>> they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one) needed to be
>>> replaced before he could check out the rest of the charger. I
>>> told
>>> him to order THREE, two for the chargers they had, and one for the
>>> one I'd kept.
>>>
>>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
>>> in three or four days.
>>>
>>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE ( as
>>> in
>>> ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order - but the
>>> tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the tech would
>>> call me in a day or two.
>>>
>>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped in
>>> today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I got ONE
>>> working charger back and though they still had my other charger
>>> and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in full - $38
>>> and change.
>>>
>>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
>>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service Centers
>>> for a reason.
>>>
>>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>>> or Pay In Time.
>>>
>>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little breaker
>>> with an external reset button on their charger, or at least
>>> use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case together.
>>>
>>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>>
>> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the drivers
>> at
>> Sears.
>>
>> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the drivers
>> are hard to find and big bucks.
>>
>> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners
>> that
>> cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf at
>> Sears")
>> tools unless the special tool is included.
>>
> If such a law were to be passed, and I doubt it ever would,
> manufacturers would simply start welding (or melting the plastic)
> and
> declare such items as disposable/non-repairable.
Which means that we just go ahead and saw them open instead of wasting
a lot of time looking for special overpriced hard to get tools.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Larrybud wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> charlieb wrote:
>>> Recapping:
>>>
>>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
>>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60
>>> or so miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring
>>> whatever was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the
>>> second and third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to
>>> see if they'd even
>>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back
>>> to me that afternoon.
>>>
>>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal
>>> fuse (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get
>>> to - which they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one)
>>> needed to be replaced before he could check out the rest of the
>>> charger. I told him to order THREE, two for the chargers they
>>> had, and one for the one I'd kept.
>>>
>>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
>>> in three or four days.
>>>
>>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE (
>>> as in ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order -
>>> but the tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the
>>> tech would call me in a day or two.
>>>
>>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped
>>> in today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I
>>> got ONE working charger back and though they still had my other
>>> charger and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in
>>> full - $38 and change.
>>>
>>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
>>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service
>>> Centers for a reason.
>>>
>>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>>> or Pay In Time.
>>>
>>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little
>>> breaker with an external reset button on their charger, or at
>>> least use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case
>>> together.
>>>
>>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>>
>> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the
>> drivers at Sears.
>>
>> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the
>> drivers are hard to find and big bucks.
>>
>> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners
>> that cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf
>> at Sears") tools unless the special tool is included.
>>
>
> Not hard to find, and not big bux: I googled "Security Torx" and
> found this in 2 seconds:
> http://cvfsupplyco-store.stores.yahoo.net/9pctorwrense.html
Security Torx is easy. Sears has them. Security Torx Plus is a
different animal.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Larrybud wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> Larrybud wrote:
>>> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> news:[email protected]:
>>>
>>>> charlieb wrote:
>>>>> Recapping:
>>>>>
>>>>> On Nov. 26th 2008I took one of three Panasonic Battery Chargers
>>>>> in to the only "authorized" Panasonic Repair Center within 60
>>>>> or so miles. A week later I took in another charger figuring
>>>>> whatever was wrong with the first one might be wrong with the
>>>>> second and third charger. A couple of weeks later I called to
>>>>> see if they'd even
>>>>> looked at the charger. Was told the repair tech would get back
>>>>> to me that afternoon.
>>>>>
>>>>> Three days later he finally called and told me the internal
>>>>> fuse (which you need a special #10 security torx driver to get
>>>>> to - which they couldn't sell me, or tell me where to get one)
>>>>> needed to be replaced before he could check out the rest of the
>>>>> charger. I told him to order THREE, two for the chargers they
>>>>> had, and one for the one I'd kept.
>>>>>
>>>>> The tech said he'd order the fuses that day and get back to me
>>>>> in three or four days.
>>>>>
>>>>> Ten days later I stopped in to see what the delay was. THE (
>>>>> as in ONE) fuse had come in - the others were on back order -
>>>>> but the tech hadn't gotten to my chargers yet. I was told the
>>>>> tech would call me in a day or two.
>>>>>
>>>>> Not hearing from him more than "a day or two" later I stopped
>>>>> in today (Jan 22'nd 2009) and after ONLY a half hour wait - I
>>>>> got ONE working charger back and though they still had my other
>>>>> charger and the other two fuses hadn't come in yet - I paid in
>>>>> full - $38 and change.
>>>>>
>>>>> Seven and a half weeks - to replace a buck fifty fuse. I guess
>>>>> they call them Authorized Repair Centers and not Service
>>>>> Centers for a reason.
>>>>>
>>>>> I guess I could have bought used chargers off e-Bay for about
>>>>> $70 each and had at least one so I could use one of my drills
>>>>> while making Christmas presents. I guess it's Pay In Cash
>>>>> or Pay In Time.
>>>>>
>>>>> Still don't understand why Panasonic didn't put a little
>>>>> breaker with an external reset button on their charger, or at
>>>>> least use phillips or square drive screws to hold the case
>>>>> together.
>>>>>
>>>>> I like my Panasonic cordless drills. Not too impressed with
>>>>> this Authorized Repair Center.
>>>>
>>>> If that was a standard security torx screw you can get the
>>>> drivers at Sears.
>>>>
>>>> If it was a Security Torx Plus (5 point, not six) then the
>>>> drivers are hard to find and big bucks.
>>>>
>>>> It ought to be unlawful to sell consumer products with fasteners
>>>> that cannot be removed with standard (defined as "on the shelf
>>>> at Sears") tools unless the special tool is included.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Not hard to find, and not big bux: I googled "Security Torx" and
>>> found this in 2 seconds:
>>> http://cvfsupplyco-store.stores.yahoo.net/9pctorwrense.html
>>
>> Security Torx is easy. Sears has them. Security Torx Plus is a
>> different animal.
>
> Found this:
>
> http://amermedia.amazonwebstore.com/Silverhill-5-Point-Star-Torx-
> Plus/M/B001HY25V0.htm?
> traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
>
> google "five star torx"
Grab 'em while they last. Security Torx Plus is patented and one
suspects that the owner of the patent is going to step on that real
fast. One of the rules for licensing is that the licensee can sell
only to the trades and one must provide documentation to prove it.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)