Poor customer service from Skil

The first cordless drill I ever bought was a 9.6 volt Skil. Worked like a charm, but it was recalled and replaced with a 12 volt. It has never held a charge well and is now dead. I did a little research and found that Skil has had trouble with their chargers dying.

I e-mailed Skil about the problem and here was their response: "Thank you for writing Skil Power Tools. All available parts and accessories for Skil Power Tools can be ordered directly through our parts office at 1.800.346.4103 (menu option 1). You will need to call them directly to verify pricing and availability of the item. You may place your order by phone and they will ship it directly to you. Please write back if you have any other questions."

I called them and pointed out that dealers have even quit carrying the chargers as replacements because they are so unreliable. All they would do is tell me the price for a new one.

I'll never buy another Skil product.

Dick "disgruntled" Durbin

Reply to
Olebiker
Loading thread data ...

You sound surprised! Skil is now clearly one of the cheaper power tool brands, marketed towards light-duty homeowner types, not hard-using construction types. (Note - they may once have been considered better quality; don't know the age of your original drill...) If you want durable tools, in almost all cases, you'll probably have to pay more for them. Fortunately, the "real" tool brands are more likely to come with more helpful customer service, but that's far from a given - you'll probably want to find a reputable local tool dealer if you really want solid service. Even though their prices will be higher than Amazon or wherever else online, there ARE still some businesses that believe in customer SERVICE. If you're looking for another cordless drill, may I suggest a Panasonic? They have some nice lightweight 12V models, and everything I've seen (and experienced) suggests they're known for good batteries and chargers. Good luck, Andy

Reply to
Andy

A few years ago, the only reason S-B (Bosch) bought Skil was to get the 77 Skil Saw.

Everything else was basically trash.

Today, Bosch has their own version of the 77.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

Good. If you liked the products they sold a couple of years ago, you'll hate the cheaply made downmarket junk they're peddling now. It's a name you really should avoid.

I recently bought one of the last 666 1/2 sheet sanders to be had. Now _that's_ a nice piece of kit.

Reply to
Andy Dingley

Yep, even I know that Skil is crap. They still have their worm drive saw that is the best but after that? Total junk.

Reply to
lwhaley

This might be a good time to let you know that Craftsman, B&D and Ryobi in general should be ruled out as a considered improvement in quality.

Reply to
Leon

The original drill was a pretty good tool and I bought it because it was all I needed at the time. I also own a Porter Cable drill now that is a substantial tool.

The thing that concerns me so much is that the same company that owns Skil also owns Bosch. I own a couple of Bosch tools and consider them the best tools I own. I would hesitate to buy another Bosch tool if the parent company is willing to make a defective product (my Skil drill) and then not stand behind it.

I want a second drill and will probably buy a Dewalt, PC, Panasonic, or other quality drill.

Reply to
Olebiker

If it make you feel any better, I have had to call Bosch a few times about my routers and they have been very helpful.

Reply to
Toller

SFWIW, the Bosch service here in SoCal has bent over backwards to help me when ever I needed them.

BTW, it's the other way around, S-B (Bosch) owns Skill.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

That's-a-for-sure. Yet, I have a Skil 918Cn 1/2 VS Drill that just will NOT quit. Has to be 25 years old and still drives screws with no complaints. Original brushes too.

I also have a B&D 1/4" router. All cast body, rack&pinion height adjustment, just won't quit.

Those days are over for those 'brand' companies. It is weird, because those two tools I mentioned above are as good as any 'good' brand today.

Craftsman is clambering to get some cred back amongst the toolies... that Bosch router, a Nikle nailer...

Reply to
Robatoy

The same company that owns Mercedes Benz owns Dodge. That should be of no concern, the Skil, Bosch union took place several years ago with no ill effects.

I own a couple of Bosch tools and consider them

You are confusing how affiliated companies may run. While the company may own both the two seperate businesses mostly operate independently.

While you are happy with the PC drill, PC quality and reliability has not done so well in recent years. You might want to leave PC out of your list of considerations. You might also consider Makita and Milwaukee. While I defend Bosch, I have personally broken every Bosch drill that I have used, one was handed to me by a Bosch rep so that I could drive a couple of screws. I told him about my luck with Bosch drills and boy did he have a funny look on his face after the drill started making a grinding noise.

Reply to
Leon

Oddly, and about 25 years ago, Skil made a small 3 volt palm sized driver that looked like a small drill. I had 2 and loved them. I use those before the cordless drills for wood working really hit the woodworking scene.

Yup, I still have that one, and bought it in 1974 when I was 20.

Yeah, they usta be in the "tools to look" at list.

Yeah, they have had the Bosch for 5 or 6 years now IIRC, DeWalt butilt their PlateJoiner and used to build their better drills.

BTY, How are you liking that Craftsman pinner? I almost bought one but it is strictly a cataloge item and I cannot look at one up close. I can get the same model Nikle for $139. I have been doing some research and am also considering the Grex. Apparently on some pinners you have to adjust the magazine to the length of the pins and some pinners have a soft tip to help prevent maring the surface. I am also thinking that the longer pins might be handy for the odd trim jobs where I some times, "next Tuesday", ;~) need to attach a piece of 1/2" quarter round molding that is 8 or 9 inches long to the top of a column cap. Apparently the Grex will shoot 1 3/16" and longer than depending on the model.

Reply to
Leon

Have you looked at the reliability ratings for M-B lately? :-O

Reply to
ALF SCHUMWAY

I used the pinner during the assembly of a bunch of 5 piece cabinet doors and a few 2 x 3 pane doors with small mullions. One little pin from the back through the tenon of the cope, and it holds amazingly well... till you get the clamps on. That was really handy. I milled my stock just a bit under 13/16 and the 3/4" pins didn't poke through. Now... having said all that, I now would probably buy a pinner with longer nail capacity, as I can really see the use of that tool. The pins have amazing holding power... but they won't 'suck' the pieces together much. I already have somebody in mind to buy my Craftsman/Nikle and I will likely go to a Grex at that point. I see that there are all kinds of 23 ga guns crawling out of the woodwork at much better prices than when I bought mine. ( I also have a $ 2000.00 macintosh with 128'K' of ram and an external $ 700.00(US)

5 MB hard drive.. it is in my museum. But I don't feel as bad as a client of mine with a 42" plasma TV...he paid $ 10,000.00 for the frickin' thing...oh well. I can wait.)

Grex or Ohmer for me ... maybe after The Domino....*nudge*, *nudge*

The Craftsman is serving me well for now.

PS.. the Porter Cable pinner is apparently working well for a few people I know after they all ground 1/64"+ off the wood-contact tips so the pins actually sink in now.

Oh.. and they ALL jam if you put the pins in upside-down..easily done, btw.

r
Reply to
Robatoy

"Leon" wrote in

... and at least one Bosch ROS too! ;)

Just kidding ... that turned out to be a switch issue on a tool that had seen some years of hard use.

I was a Makita fan for many years when it came to cordless drills, but I've got to say that my DeWalt 18v XRP, going on it's sixth years of hard use, has taken lessons from the Energizer Bunny.

My Bosch tools are some of the toughest I own, but was surprised to find that my British SIL considered Bosch on the cheap tool side where he comes from.

Go figure...

As for PC, I agree with you 100% ... the company is simply not producing the quality of tool they did even five years ago, IME.

Reply to
Swingman

Actually German cars in general have a bad rep these days. I went back to Japanese after owning 2 German cars.

Reply to
Leon

You know how some people cannot wear electronic wrist watches? ;~) The switch on one of my Bosch router failed the second day I had it. It has been doing fine in the last 9 years. There is something about the German built electrical switches. German cars typically have electrical problems more often than others.

;~)

I had 2 DeWalts before my Makita's other than my 1983 Makita 7 volt right angle drill. The battery finallly quit taking a charge last year. Yes, that battery is now about 24 years old. ;~)

I am not suprised, while Bosch is a pretty darn good brand I think Fein, Festool, and AEG are probably better built.

I only like their sanders, the "old style" sanders.

Did you get my e-mail?

Reply to
Leon

Yeah, only good for attaching but not pulling a bow out. ;~) I used Swingman's Omer. Darn him. ;~) Sweeeeeet.

likely go to a Grex at that point.

Yeah I can actually get the entry Grex for $129 shipped IIRC. I was thinking it was $10 more.

But I don't feel as bad as a

Not to mention all the GLARE that the Plazma screens have. We bit the bullet in August and got a 40" LCD for a lot less. ;~)

What's a Domino???? ;~)

Yeah you only do that once. That is what caught my eye with the Grex, they point out the jam clearing feature.

My Senco finish nail gun is quickly cleared of jams with out tools. Too bad it hardly ever jams, last I recall was some time in 1999. ;~)

Reply to
Leon

SFWIW, after 115,000 miles on my Tonka Toy, took it in for the start of my 3rd set of tires and a front end alignment.

Left front was barely out of spec, right was still in spec.

Shop indicated they seldom see Japanese vehicles for routine maintenance.

Certainly could not say that about the VW's I've had.

Lew

Reply to
Lew Hodgett

How old is that Audi? My late model VW's had lots of parts with the Audi logo under the hood. I know you hate to hear this but its kinda like a Chevy Monte Carlo compared to a Buick Regal. A seperate class but deep down the same car. Flame suit on. Our 2000 Passat never missed a maintence trip to the dealer and it needed both outer tie rod ends at 32,000 miles, a heater core at 49,000 miles, a starter relay that left my wife stranded at 28,000 miles, a battery at

27,000 miles. Having been in the automotive profession and having been the service sales manager for a large Olds dealership I know that does not fly. As the old saying goes, GM vehicles run longer badly that other cars run at all. LOL I prefer Japanese.

Yup.

But then it was built by the country that built cars from Honda plans and still screwed it up. Remember the Sterling/Honda?

Reply to
Leon

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.