Does anyone know what kind of warranty Porter-Cable reconditioned air compressors have? (the little "pancake" compressor) I'm looking at them at Amazon.com, and it doesn't say anything at all about the warranty. I bought a PC reconditioned nail gun a few years ago and have been really happy with it, but I don't remember the details.
This is for a gift for my dad, and I'll be having it shipped direct to him, so I won't have any opportunity to inspect it.
Thanks, Bob
on 11/30/2008 8:19 PM zxcvbob said the following:
Factory reconditioned tools usually have the same warranty as new tools. Sometimes, the reconditioned tools are better than new tools, since weak spots, or recall items, have been corrected.
PC used to be US made and tops, repairs are done here and im sure are right. I have 14 or so PC tools, I would buy a factory fixed unit. 25 years ago my new PC drill went bad they fixed it and its fine today.
Who's the vendor? It's hard to tell at Amazon any more which is a prime reason I've about given them up.
Anyway, figure that out and e-mail/call if it isn't stated and ask.
The factory reconditioned things I've bought have had same conditions as originals but have always been careful to make sure were from OEM, not a liquidation outfit.
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For warranty contact PC for info. I would think if PC fixed it and you just buy it it will have some sort of warranty.
ransley wrote: ...
That's the key...one has to be sure it's actually OEM-factory reconditioned or at least OEM-sanctioned distributor.
As noted upthread, it's become so difficult to tell who the actual vendor on Amazon is any more one has to be particularly careful. :( I, consequently, have changed from first to "last resort" for Amazon.com
I buy local, I like to compare in person and have that 30 day no question, walk in return policy, since most everything is chinas crap quality control. I often have need to exchange or return a junk I bought. I wonder what broke on the PC compressor, and was the defective part fixed with the same cheap chinese part. Things are not like they used to be. Now if there is an issue with the compressor is there a PC shop nearby, do they offer and honor any warranty?
ransley wrote: ...
There may have been nothing really wrong with it -- a lot of reconditioned tools are the old or obsolete models, some are stock from failed distributorships, etc., there are the returns from the "buy, do the weekend project, return didn't satisfy/work" crowd and then there are the actual defective or early-death returns. It's not necessarily possible to know which any given unit is other than sometimes one can figure out the discontinued.
As for the repair/refurbishment, it certainly will have the same pieces parts as the original unless there has been a general engineering change for the model. You'd certainly not expect a warranty repair on your Toyota to have a Honda part, would you? For manufacturers, "parts is parts" -- whoever/wherever the suppliers are, they're interchangeable and vendors may and often do change while the specifications are the constant. What the quality level is is dependent mostly on the target price range of the end product.
The location of local service is dependent wholly on where one is and size of town/city and doesn't really make any difference other than the point raised previously -- if they're OEM-sponsored remanufactured, they generally have the same warranty/service conditions as the originals--if not, they'll say. It's the non-OEM-sponsored liquidation outlets that are questionable as to whether there will be any support/warranty that I'd caution against.
Oddly enough, Amazon itself is the vendor. (Was gonna buy from vendor "CPO", but they raised their price and Amazon lowered theirs since I started watching this.) I get free shipping that way.
I'll call PC's main office in Tennessee (if I can find the number) and ask them about the warranty. But Amazon has lowered the price on the same model compressor (C2002), new bundled with a hose and a few cheap tools -- blowgun, tire chuck, etc -- to where it might make more sense now to go for the new one.
Prices change fast this time of year! *
Or it is brand new from the factory, never been opened. To keep the regular full price distributors happy, some tool and appliance makers sell brand new items marked "reconditioned" at a discount and sometimes a little shorter warranty. Just take a look around at the stock of "reconditioned" tools in some outlet stores, times the number of outlet stores in the US. Do you think they really get that many units sent back?
I called PC today. The refurbished compressors have a 1-year warranty (same duration as the new ones) but a little more restrictive. I think she said they "repair" the refurbished ones, and "repair or replace" the new ones.
I just ordered the new one; the price has gone up a little on the refurbished compressors since this morning, and the new one was only $139, including a 25' hose and some fittings, with free shipping. (Without the hose and tire chuck and stuff, the same thing would have been $163.) The only down-side is that gift wrapping was not available on the combo package and it was on the refurb unit. But I might can get my brother to intercept the package and stick a bow on it. ;-)
If the price dips to $95 or less again on the refurbs, I may order one for myself, even though I have a big compressor already.
Bob
I have no way to compute how many get into the chain via what route. I think as noted before that a great many get there via liquidation route--I suppose that could include something such as you suggest. As I noted before, it's impossible to determine other than occasionally old models are identifiable that way. I do know a couple of refurb'ed nailers (Bostitch) had cosmetic scratches that the new paint didn't take out but had all new bumper kits, handle cushions, etc. They had clearly been returned/refurb'ed.
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I'd be skeptical about buying any new air compressor. I had to loan my 30-year-old compressor to two different contractors who were working on my house. Both had new compressors that failed.
I don't think I would buy one that is "Oilless" or has any plastic parts on it other than maybe a cover for the pressure switch and such. My old Sears compressor is direct drive, needs oil in the compressor head, and it made of aluminum. It must have a steel or iron sleeve to have lasted this long (nearly daily use). The plastic fittings (air connector, pressure relief valve etc) broke many years ago and I replaced them with steel pipe fittings. I've only changed the oil in it three times and I drain the tank about once a year.
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