Ryobi Tools

Ok, I know Ryobi tools aren't meant for jobbers, but rather home users who don't need to depend on them working consistently; fair enough. But the warranty is just awful. Tried to get warranty service for a ONE+ 18 volt charger & battery I bought from Home Depot, but HD told me I should just throw it away, that they wouldn't handle it. So I called Ryobi, and they said no, that wasn't true, that I should go back to HD and get the receipt, that they would honor the warranty. Went back to HD and did get the receipt, but they still refused to honor the warranty, said it was Ryobi's problem. Called Ryobi again and was told this wasn't true (maybe I was lying just to be difficult?), but I could instead go to one of their service centers who would replace it for me. I thought I was finally getting somewhere...except that the closest service center was 2 cities away. Still, since I was allegedly going to get a replacement unit, I made the drive.

When I got to the service center, though, I learned that they didn't stock replacements--never do--and would need to ship it back to Ryobi, who would then ship the replacement to my front door; I would receive it in about a week. They would email me to let me know when it was shipped. Ok, fair enough.

A week went by...nothing. So I contacted them, and they told me they hadn't yet received the replacement. I thought it was to be sent directly to me, so I asked about that, and was told no, it would be sent to them, and they would ship it directly to me. Well, ok.

Another week went by and I received an email from the service center, which stated, "Ryobi has changed their policy about shipping items to the customer, and also the claim approval process. I have the items in, but I need to wait for the system to show approved before I can release them. This should happen either tomorrow or Monday. Once the items are ready to be released
you can come to pick them up." So now I need to drive 2 cities away again, to pick up parts that were supposed to be sent to me directly?

So I called Ryobi yet again, and was told this was all wrong--there had been no policy change, they never ship parts to the customer. When I asked why my warranty claim was being held up, I was put on hold while the girl called the service center. Ten minutes later she came back and told me I could drive up there and pick up my parts.

I'm not sure I believe this; I fully expect to drive up there and be told there has been yet another change, that I'll need to walk to South Carolina to get my parts. Obviously, none of the parties involved agree on anything, and everyone seems quite intent on passing the buck. It appears the goal is to get me so frustrated, I just go out and buy a new unit and forget about the warranty replacement. And I'm willing to do that--but not another Ryobi. This time it will be a Porter Cable or some other brand. I strongly suggest to anyone reading this: do the same. Don't bother w/ Ryobi tools. Spend a little more and buy something that works, and that has a decent warranty. Save yourself the grief.

I purchased a gas trimmer from Fred’s department store in Augusta Ga. about a year ago. This has been the worst purchase i ever made so far. The trimmer never stays running the strips always pop out of the trimmer. I spend more time rethreading and starting this thing more than i do trimming. I wish that i could give this back and get my refund but i know this want happen, so all i can do is let my friends know not buy one. I even tried a universal threader it would not fit your trimmer. In my belief this product should be taken off the market and customers given some kind of rebate to purchase a better trimmer of ther choice.

I bought a Ryobi electric lawnmower from Makro in Vanderbijlpark on 19 November 2011 after the salesman convinced me that it was an excellent buy due to the fact that it has a 2 year guarantee. After only using it for the second time, smoke started pouring out of the motor. I took the machine into Makro on 8 December 2011 demanding that I was not happy with the product and insisting that I did not want it. They claimed that there is only a 14 day return or refund policy in store and that they would need to send the machine into Ryobi for repairs. I was not happy about this at all, as the machine is of an extremely inferior quality. I contacted Ryobi via email stating all of this upon which I received an email reply that their workshop manager, Johan would contact me the next morning, which he never did.
I have phoned on several occasions, leaving my contact number after being informed that Johan is "not available".
I am getting the "run-around" from the company and getting very frustrated. I am now sitting without a lawnmower, my garden is starting to look like a forest and nothing is forthcoming. Shocking after-sales service. So much for the so called 2 year guarantee when a product does not even last 2 weeks!
What I am concerned about too is that if the product initially only performed twice in a period of two weeks, after it is "repaired" is it going only work for 2 weeks again and will then be sent in for "repairs" again?
I would prefer to be refunded and to purchase another brand.

Purchased a very expensive ($199) ryobi 4 cycle grass/weed trimmer in mid 2009 — over periodic use, the unit spews hot oil when operated in traditional trimmer positions — ryobi quickly replaced it, but the replacement trimmer does the same thing — furthermore, the trimmer does not start and run properly anymore — I have asked ryobi for a full refund because this is a dangerous, non-performing product that should be recalled — they have denied my request, even though they have a 2 or 3 year warranty on this shoddy product.