Argos do a range of hardware - tools etc. under the brand 'Challenge'.
Some of the stuff looks a bit lightweight and others Ok. They also do what is meant to be a more robust, tougher range - Challenge Xtreme.
I was thinking of the 18v or 21v cordless drills - anyone have any experience of these drills and the brand? Anyone know who Challenge are and what about repairs or replacement batteries? Is it false economy?
GIve their help line a call and ask. Like most of these OEM offerings they are simply a generic product to a price coming from China.
In most cases any kind of spares and support are not available and are replaced by a "manufacturer" warranty. Argos certainly won't want to do more than a logistical swap of a faulty product under warranty, so you should consider the product written off after that time.
At £40 for an 18v drill it is going to be a false economy.
I disagree. I've been more than happy with the recent crop of "cheap" power tools, just get one with a spare battery, or buy two.
When it breaks, throw it away (I can't believe I said that) ... when it breaks, put it in a corner of the shed with a view to mend it, then throw it away next time you move house. ;-)
I suspect the prices of these tools will go up quite a bit once Europe forces manufacturers to pay recycling costs on products which are finished with, like they are doing with computers.
I'm not one for being overly environmental, but this is one situation where I think the "disposable power tool" is quite environmentally irresponsible. I try and buy tools which are repairable and will last, even though they might cost a bit more.
Only my 2 cents though - people can do what they like...
Al
"cheap"
I have recently bought an 18v Challenge cordless drill/driver and I think it is quite well made and works well enough. The price was very good and for a reasonable extra premium you can replace it with a new one if it goes wrong any time in the first 3 years. I am sure that they probably get a lot of returns 2.9 years after purchase!!
"cheap"
I have recently bought an 18v Challenge cordless drill/driver and I think it is quite well made and works well enough. The price was very good and for a reasonable extra premium you can replace it with a new one if it goes wrong any time in the first 3 years. I am sure that they probably get a lot of returns 2.9 years after purchase!!
Most people have lost the receipt after 2.9 years!
I bought a challenge SDS drill for £30 and it is excellent, given the price. On a bang per buck basis it's far better than more expensive brands like bosch.
spon
It really depends on the performance, quality, comfort, servicability and accuracy that you are looking for. If it's just something for occasional use and you don't care about these factors then this may be an appropriate tool. If you compare (especially a drill, jigsaw or similar tool) with a leading manufacturer's product, the difference in behaviour of the product is like chalk and cheese.
You can do that if you ignore the cost of going to get a replacement. If you cost your time at the same rate as a professional - let's say £50 per hour, then you may well have been able to buy a 14.4v Makita or Metabo which would be far superior. for the same outlay.
In reality, my experience is that the cost of buying something decent in the first place gives a lower total cost of ownership.
.. and you will only get another 0.1 years of warranty, not another 3
- assuming you still have the receipt or equivalent proof of purchase.
The suppliers are playing the numbers game on returns.
Has anyone returned one yet? I know many people who returned DeWalts and Makitas. DeWalt have to give away yellow boot to get people to buy them.
I said that the suppliers do the numbers game on returns and have agreements with the manufacturers. You don't imagine that there are people sitting in the back room in Argos stores fixing drills do you?
Mmmmm.......
Really? I thought their footwear was black......
>"sPONiX" wrote | >I am sure that they probably get a lot of returns 2.9 years | >after purchase!! | Most people have lost the receipt after 2.9 years!
My pager bought in April 1998 is dying at the end of the year, unfortunately I only found out recently and so have missed the 6 years deadline by a few months. I still have the receipt; in fact I have receipts going back 20 years for some equipment.
Back in those days receipts were hand-written in pen which didn't fade within 6 months; nowadays many retailers use thermal paper which self-destructs.
Owain
unfortunately
Tape the bills on the back of appliances, like TVs, fridges, computers etc, then you know where they are.
"IMM" wrote | "Owain" wrote | > I still have the receipt; in fact I have receipts going back | > 20 years for some equipment. | Tape the bills on the back of appliances, like TVs, fridges, | computers etc, then you know where they are.
I know where they are. They're in the manilla envelope labelled 'receipts and guarantees', paperclipped neatly in bundles.
If that fails the credit card statements are also treasury tagged in date order going back 10 years. As I write what the purchase was on the statement when I get it, that's also evidence of purchase.
Finally, the last six months' vouchers are in date order in a bulldog clip.
Three filing systems, I call it RAIE (Redundant array of inexpensive envelopes). A win, win, win situation.
Owain
Don't spoil his fetish...
replying to Brownie, Hec wrote: Drills are great but spares are crap can't get anything for them
the question was asked in 2004. And no, challenge extreme aren't great, they're just cheapie tools.
replying to Hec, Bob wrote: I'm not surprised, 14 years after Brownie's post.
I have challenge electrical tools and found them great. Done every job I've wanted to do. Dont know about repairs, not broke down yet after 7yrs.
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