Thread: GMC Warranty Replacements

Originally Posted by rod1949

What's your experience with them?

I've just had my second experience with them, a 24v drill all of a sudden just refused to work, so I phone the 1800 number, then had to fax a copy of the receipt to them, from there it took 3 weeks to get a replacement which I think is rediculous amount of time. The courier dosen't take the bugger item, which one would think they would, evidently that's another event.

With my first experience, a similar item 24v two speed, it bugger up on a Sunday so I took it back to the place of purchase to where there were other people trying to return bugger items. The bloke behind the counter was telling them to phone the 1800 number. When it came to my turn to be served I said to the bloke "I hope you're not going to tell me the same as I need the drill now (was tek screwing the steelframe of my house together) and I'm not leaving here until I get a replacement." With that he phoned the 1800 number, yep no problems I walked out with the new replacement.

GMC used to be return to vendor for replacement, no hassles. Not any more. I had a similar experience to yours when the batteries on my 18V cordless drill gave up. I went back to Bunnings with my receipt - sorry, can't help you, need to call 1800. Called them, promised replacements, and waited a week. Called again, same promise, waited another week. Called a 3rd time, finally got someone who at least pretended to care, sent me ... 1 replacement battery. Called again, explained that 1 battery to replace 2 dud ones didn't add up, a couple of days later got the 2nd battery. So I make that about a month, at least 4 phone calls, and one person who will think twice about buying GMC again.

I don't know if the downgrade is because Bunnings are tired of processing all the crud, or if GMC is tired of paying them to process all the crud, but this is not what I'd call good service. Of course, the alternative at the low end is to buy something like Ryobi, and be told to send the crud to a service centre for assessment, then maybe in 6-8 weeks get a replacement...

I had a wet-wheel grinder give out on me after less than a week. Went back to place of purchase, given the 1800 run-around.
Talked to GMC, was going to get a replacement, but then decided, I just wanted my money back. Faxed in the reciept.
They made an appointment for pickup one week away. Day comes, I wait ALL day- calling them twice in the afternoon to make sure the pick up is happening- they assure me it is- it didn't.
Next day I call them, and all they can offer me is the same- WITH NO GUARANTEE. What can I do? so we book it in another week away- same story after being very serious on the phone telling them I do not wish to wait around another entire day for nothing... I had to wait around another entire day for nothing- making calls to them in the afternoon again with their assurances again...
So the next day I call them again (sorry if this is getting repetative) and in spite of all my efforts, annoyances, explanations of the worth of my two days off, etc, all they can offer me is the same again... this time, changing from TOLL (who they badmouthed constantly- passing the buck) to Startrack who they said were better. So providing them my bank account details for a instantish-bank transfer for the refund- I agree.

A week later, I wait ALL DAY again, finally the courier turns up and the thing is gone.

Then I wait, and wait, checking my bank, etc... A week and a half later, I call them asking where is my refund?
They ask me, where is the grinder? The courier didn't get it. I say yes they did and here is the reciept number (which luckily was still sitting on the table outside).
They say they will look into it. Oh and also, we don't have your reciept, you need to fax it in.... I say I ALREADY HAVE... they say, well we don't have it... so I have to do it again (KEEP YOUR RECIEPT UNTILL THE MONEY IS IN YOUR HAND)
I say NOW! I want my money!
they say, as soon as we find the item the check is in the mail.
I say, you mean you will transfer the funds into my account...
They say, what account, we don't have your account details...
So I give it to them again...

Finally, last week, the check arrived in the mail

So it has really put me off GMC. The amount of time spent waiting around could probably have paid for a damn Tormek. Also, not being exactly flush with money, I was going to use the refund to put towards a Triton- so waiting for it has meant 2 months without a wet grinder. Now as it turns out, the money has needed to go into a new radiator for my car... so, no wet grinder for a while yet anyway.

If I do end up buying from them again, then I will simply do the spit the dummy thing in Bunnings if it craps out- not leaving till I get a replacement- you know, make a pain of myself....
But I don't enjoy doing that sort of thing- so unfortunately will be very very hesitant to ever give them my money but moreso my TIME ever again.
Its a shame.

I had a GMC jigsaw which I did not use all that often. While making an arch for a doorway out of 18mm mdf it decided to go bung on me...the motor still worked but the housing where the tensioning screw for the blade is held in place completely threaded itself...I was about a 10th of the way through the job when it happened.

What a pain...as I was hoping to get the job out of the way on the day. So I dig around my files to find the warranty and the receipt...I check the receipt and the warranty to see that my warranty ran out a fortnight previously.

I called GMC to see if they would honour the warranty due to the fact that I had not used the tool much and to me this was a fairly major malfunction of the equipment not the operator.

Well, all I can say is that I won't be purchasing GMC ever, EVER, again.

My original reasoning for purchasing such cheap equipment was that I didn't do a lot of woodwork or construction type jobs to warrant a huge outlay...well considering that I only used the jigsaw three times in the short time that I had it has told me that GMC is built to be thrown away after you complete the job at hand (a bit like those cordless drills they give you with shed construction kits).

Needless to say, GMC said it was tough luck about the warranty.

Does Bunnings do the warranty on Ozito - ie can you take it back and get your replacement at the place of purchase? I guess Triton is the same as GMC seeing they are the same company now.

Pusser

GMC changed the old return policy. Too many blokes would buy the machine for a job, do it, and return to Bunnies for a refund.

I think it is fair to say, however, that one gets what one pays for and unless it buggers up right out of the box, just toss it and get another. (Or decide to buy something with a little more staying power.)

Originally Posted by Honorary Bloke

GMC changed the old return policy. Too many blokes would buy the machine for a job, do it, and return to Bunnies for a refund.

One of my best mates was shocking at that
We'd be doing a job, and I would say idly something like "you know if we had a leafblower, we could just blast all the dust out of the house instead of all this bloody sweeping..." or something like that... turn around and he's gone, back in 10 minutes (Bunnies just around the corner) with a leaf blower...
at knock off time, pass through Bunnines on the way home, 'I'm just not satisfied with it'
I'd look at him all
but it is no good trying to convince some people.

Should've seen his face when I told him GMC are phasing our their satisfaction guarantee

If itn is buggered straight out of the box the reatilaer is responsible under the trade practices act to give a refund.

I had a GMC nail gun fall apart on me a few months ago
I took it back to bunnings and they said within the 1st 7 days they would replace it there and then. After 7 days I would need to ring the 1800 number.
I exchanged it for a different brand without any problems

Ozito I have never had a problem returning to bunnings - weeks or even months after I have purchased for replacement

Tim

I know a bloke a bit like Hansp77 mate, it didn't matter how something got busted, just take it back spread some B***dust, and walk out with a newie.

He thought I was absolutely stupid for not returning a mulcher after I bounced it on its head and broke the casing. Wasn't the machines fault, I stuffed it.

I think we can thank blokes like these two, not Bunnies, for the new policy.

If I was running GMC I would be getting sick of it too.

Cheers,
Papillon.

Through recent experience with returning a GMC saw, I was told that you have up to 14 days from the date of purchase to return the tool to the store and after that you need to ring the 1800 number.

Bunnies will replace/warrant Ozito tools in store because Ozito is owned by Bunnies

Originally Posted by Dean

Bunnies will replace/warrant Ozito tools in store because Ozito is owned by Bunnies

Thanks Dean. If I need to but a cheap tool will opt for ozito rather than GMC.

Pusser