Draper lifetime guarantee is useless

ancientbuilding

In the nineties I bought a Draper Expert breakbar for a very high price because it was guaranteed for life - so when it broke a year or two ago I asked for a replacement - and they told me they would not replace it because it was too old!

When asked what was meant by lifetime (the lifetime of the tool, my lifetime, or something else?) they were unable to answer, but told me that whatever it was I had owned it for too long.

We should all be told what exactly what a lifetime guarantee means. But more importan is that a lifetime guarantee should be honoured.

Perhaps Draper will answer.

GAZ237

Draper are cheap tools anyway. You done well it lasting 20 odd years.

rev_henry

I have a complaint in progress with the ASA about a certain car dealership advertising lifetime guarantees on all cars sold on TV. Small print 100k/10 years. Most cars last beyond that if looked after properly, unless they're used as taxis or something, in which case they're usually excluded anyway.

Granted the guarantee is likely barely worth the paper its written on but still, its the principle. Also why not just say a 10 year guarantee? I'd still be impressed by that!

Rolandtheroadie

Did it have any moving parts? And was it a moving part that failed?

Possibly why the age came into it.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Far as i'm concerned Lifetime is Lifetime.

If its like a politicians promise, only valid till they've got your vote and sold you another cast iron guarantee worth the square root of bu@@er all, then they shouldn't state Lifetime.

Retrogamer

I believe the lifetime guarantee they offer means that the product will be free of any manufacturing defects for it's lifetime, but not from abuse or wear and tear.

Due to the time passed since it was bought and before it broke it seems reasonable to assume it wasn't due to a manufacturing defect. If you could prove it failed due to a manufacturing defect, then you may have some grounds to take it further.

Probably cheaper and less hassle though to buy a replacement. Halfords Professional tools are good value for money just now and offer a "lifetime" warranty.

OddballJamie

rev_henry wrote: »

I have a complaint in progress with the ASA about a certain car dealership advertising lifetime guarantees on all cars sold on TV. Small print 100k/10 years. Most cars last beyond that if looked after properly, unless they're used as taxis or something, in which case they're usually excluded anyway.

Granted the guarantee is likely barely worth the paper its written on but still, its the principle. Also why not just say a 10 year guarantee? I'd still be impressed by that!

There's no mention of 10 years in the advert, terms or small print.

The advert has already been changed following complaints back in late 2010, it now claims the warranty that could last a lifetime.

SteveJW

ancientbuilding wrote: »

In the nineties I bought a Draper Expert breakbar for a very high price because it was guaranteed for life - so when it broke a year or two ago I asked for a replacement - and they told me they would not replace it because it was too old!

When I was on my tools I had Snap On tools replaced that were over 20 years old, some were replaced because the chrome had come off / pitted, I did work on gritters though.
Ratchets they would not replace the mechanism as they claimed it was a wearing part, breaker bars they would replace the swivel end.
Don't know how good the warranty is these days?
Justifying buying Snap On tools, if your using something for forty years their worth it, you do take better care of them and they do fit comfortably in your hand

mgdavid

I have an Elora breaker bar which AFAIK is at least 30 years old, I can still get a new swivel fitted free under lifetime guarantee when it breaks (happened twice now)

Retrogamer

Snap on have the best after sale service of products but some of their stuff is overpriced and there are better tools for the same money. When i was an apprentice i could hang off my 3/8 drive Armstrong ratchet and never got any burst knuckles or flaking chrome. They did say if the chrome flaked though they would replace it, but not if the mechanism failed under wear and tear.

arcon5

Avoid draper at all costs. My last purchase of their tools didn't even last one job before the extension bars snapped!!