Usually I have a good rant on something tech-related. And by that I mean something electronic, usually computer or tech-device related. This one is different.
2 years ago I saw a $200 Active Products pressure washer (http://bit.ly/a7LeF4) on sale at Canadian Tire for $100. I wanted to get one so I grabbed it. Great deal I thought. Until today.
2 days ago. The vinyl siding outside out my house was getting dirty. No biggie, I got a pressure washer with a bottle attachment. I’ll put some cleaning solution in it and spray her down. I hooked it all up and turn it on….funny, the motor wasn’t coming on…and why the hell is it leaking out the bottom?? Sigh, yet one more piece of technology that has broken down on me.
2 hours ago I decided to take it apart and see what is causing the leak. I was expecting possibly some bad washer at best, or some cracked part at worst. Oh no….it’s some coupling that attached the electronic water-pressure switch to the side of the motor that tell the motor it’s ok to run as there is pressure. Well, annoying and damn hot out, I do what any good tech does….research to find the part from the company.
Their site lists all the ‘external’ parts (i.e. hoses, wands and such) that you can order. So I call them up. “Internal parts are not available. Products are simply exchanged in whole at the store while under warranty.” Guess what….out of warranty.
So, from what looks to be a $3.00 part, this dumb-ass company is expecting me to buy another $200 pressure washer???!! Well, screw that and screw them. I ‘contact customer service’ via email from their site. Basically telling them I’ll never buy another product of theirs again. Oh the response I got was sooo typical.
While we understand the frustration of not having your unit meet expectation. The Active Products Pressure Washers are supported by 1 year in-warranty by an exchange option only. There are no internal parts or repair option available for this product. If the product is found to be faulty within the warranty period it can be returned for exchange in its original packaging and accompanied by a valid proof of purchase.
Well, that didn’t sit well either. I replied to this.
Thanks for the company ’standard response line’ but that really doesn’t help when one is looking at spending $200 every 2 years.
The sad thing is that the part that broke is available because the product is still sold. One stupid little part and I’m supposed fork
out $200 to ‘fix’ it?Your understanding does nothing for customer loyalty.
So back to using a squirt bottle and the regular hose attachment.
