Echo weed trimmer
Purchased this two years ago. It's easy to use, light weight and starts very easily every time. However last week I noticed some gas leaking. Found that the fuel line to the PCV valve was splitting. The user manual indicates that warranty is for five years including the fuel lines. The manual also indicates that fuel with 10% ethanol is fine. Took it to an authorized service center and they claimed that fuel system not covered by warranty because use with ethanol fuel. My choice was to argue about it or buy the part myself and install. Service center also said 3 week wait for service. Clearly they did not want to handle this, and I couldn't wait 3-weeks, so I bought the
3-hose fuel line assembly for $18 and installed it myself in 10 minutes. This is a great trimmer but you can't depend on the quality or warranty.Here's a letter I wrote Echo: Dear ECHO,
I am writing about a product warranty issue. Two year ago I purchased and registered an ECHO GT-225 Grass Trimmer and have been very pleased with it. However last week it developed a fuel leak in one of the fuel lines which I noticed was split where it it attached to the little white (PCV valve??) thing. I brought the trimmer to a local authorized service center and showed them the split line. They surprised me by saying that it wasn?t covered by warranty because I had used ethanol gasoline (despite up to 10% ethanol being usable according to page-12 of the Operator?s Manual) and also it would take three weeks to get to it because that were supposedly backlogged with work.
Since it?s the middle of Spring here I could not do without the trimmer for three weeks; so rather than argue the points with them I decided to purchase the replacement part Kit #900103 (Attachment-2) and fix it myself (which took 10 minutes). I am relating all of this to you, because prior to last week I would have given the GT-225 my enthusiastic endorsement: it always starts quickly and easily, it?s light weight and the Rapid Loader Trimmer Head is great. Unfortunately my warranty experience has changed that. Right now I am of the opinion that the warranty is effectively worthless and counter productive to sales in an age of ubiquitous customer feedback via the Internet. Sincerely,
----------- After they received the letter they called me to tell me that fuel lines were considered "maintenence" items rather than "warranty" items and that they allow 30 for warranty work to be completed. The also offered me a free tune-up kit to compensate me for my trouble. I told them to keep the tune-up kit.