Extended warranty - yay or nay

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2235/thread" timestamp="1406916290" author="@funpilot"]I would just call them and ask. Remember, it has to come from a dealer that paid for this coverage.  I do know it applies to both new and used RVs/trailers, just that it had to come from a participating dealer.  You do not have to go back to them to get the service.  
[/quote]Mine came with it, but I had no intention of sending in the paperwork each year since I do all my own work. If I could somehow qualify as a licensed facility I would do it.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2234/thread" timestamp="1406915987" author="@pinstriper"][p]I run all my 2-strokes on premixed fuel, comes in a 2-quart can at HD. Has the right stabilizer and the correct oil mix ratio. Spendy, but I go through so little of it that I don't care. I've taken cans that have sat in my garage for 2 years and works fine. I've let it sit in the chainsaw over the winter, starts right up.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The only 4 strokes I have other than the cars are a riding lawn mower and a generator. I run the generator dry after use, and I keep 5 gallons of gas station gas on hand for the lawn mower, that I can throw in the generator in an emergency. If I haven't used it in 60-90 days, I top off the lawn mower and cars, then replace. So I always have fresh for that.[/p][/quote][font size="3"]Fresh gas and running dry can certainly help, but I think there is still a basic problem with the ethanol. Ethanol attacks the rubber parts of the fuel system and stabilizer does nothing for that. Maybe the newer engines have compensated for this like cars have. Remember my genny is 20 years old. However, I was always cussing the small gas engines my other toys so now my chainsaw is battery powered and the tiller is electric. The only small gas engines I have are the genny and a brush eater.
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[johnny9k]

I don't buy extended warranties. Needed parts after we purchased the camper during the first year. Called Don at LL service and he shipped what I needed. Told him I would install the parts, saved them the dealer bill and was easy for me to install.

As far as gas goes, ride my motorcycles every 1 to 2 weeks getting them up to normal operating temps and don't have fuel issues. Putting a carburetor back together today after cleaning, installing new gaskets, vacuum lines, and float valves for my wife's bike. Turning her bike into a Cafe racer, thought it would be a good idea to refresh the carb, too.  The Yamaha 2400 iSHC gen set has a fuel valve and the last time I run it before storage, turn the gas off and let it run out of fuel. No issues with the Yamaha gen set, yet.

[fasteddieb]

Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act

The site is acting weird for me, and not letting me post links.

Easy to Google the above.

In general, to my understanding, if a manufacturer mandates factory parts be used to maintain a warranty, they must provide them for free.

Similarly, they cannot mandate dealer service and charge for it.

"Magnuson-Moss prohibits companies from including tie-in sales provisions in its warranties. In other words, the company cannot state that owners of product X must use only product X accessories or have the product serviced at specific locations. However, companies can void a warranty if the consumer has it serviced or repaired inappropriately or incorrectly. Moreover, if the company can prove to the FTC that its products must be serviced or maintained through tie-in services, the FTC may waive this requirement. - See more at: http://consumerprotection.uslegal.com/warranties/magnuson-moss-warranty-act/#sthash.CiQHdYB5.dpuf"

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2239/thread" timestamp="1406925179" author="@fasteddieb"]
Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act

The site is acting weird for me, and not letting me post links.

Easy to Google the above.

In general, to my understanding, if a manufacturer mandates factory parts be used to maintain a warranty, they must provide them for free.

Similarly, they cannot mandate dealer service and charge for it.

"Magnuson-Moss prohibits companies from including tie-in sales provisions in its warranties. In other words, the company cannot state that owners of product X must use only product X accessories or have the product serviced at specific locations. However, companies can void a warranty if the consumer has it serviced or repaired inappropriately or incorrectly. Moreover, if the company can prove to the FTC that its products must be serviced or maintained through tie-in services, the FTC may waive this requirement. - See more at: http://consumerprotection.uslegal.com/warranties/magnuson-moss-warranty-act/#sthash.CiQHdYB5.dpuf"[/quote]This is very interesting, but I think what they're doing is still legal because of that last line:

Moreover, if the company can prove to the FTC that its products must be serviced or maintained through tie-in services, the FTC may waive this requirement.

It sounds like if they've shown that RV's have to be maintained at RV shop then they can still do it...

[fasteddieb]

[quote source="/post/2240/thread" timestamp="1406926875" author="@tinkeringtechie"]It sounds like if they've shown that RV's have to be maintained at RV shop then they can still do it...

[/quote]It could be they jumped through all the legal hoops, but color me skeptical.

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/2237/thread" timestamp="1406916892" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/2234/thread" timestamp="1406915987" author="@pinstriper"][p]I run all my 2-strokes on premixed fuel, comes in a 2-quart can at HD. Has the right stabilizer and the correct oil mix ratio. Spendy, but I go through so little of it that I don't care. I've taken cans that have sat in my garage for 2 years and works fine. I've let it sit in the chainsaw over the winter, starts right up.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The only 4 strokes I have other than the cars are a riding lawn mower and a generator. I run the generator dry after use, and I keep 5 gallons of gas station gas on hand for the lawn mower, that I can throw in the generator in an emergency. If I haven't used it in 60-90 days, I top off the lawn mower and cars, then replace. So I always have fresh for that.[/p][/quote][font size="3"]Fresh gas and running dry can certainly help, but I think there is still a basic problem with the ethanol. Ethanol attacks the rubber parts of the fuel system and stabilizer does nothing for that. Maybe the newer engines have compensated for this like cars have. Remember my genny is 20 years old. However, I was always cussing the small gas engines my other toys so now my chainsaw is battery powered and the tiller is electric. The only small gas engines I have are the genny and a brush eater.
[/font][/quote][p]Funny you should mention battery powered chainsaws.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I have long been in love with the Ryobi One+ tools. I've remodeled three bathrooms and a finished basement with them, and they don't owe me a thing.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I probably have every 18v tool made, except for maybe two.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The 18v chainsaw works, for maybe a dozen cuts. Great if you lose one limb in your driveway, wanna deal with it fast, not worry about wrestling the gas saw into running, and also running it dry when you're done. Or to replace a single fence post. Very handy. But that's it. The battery doesn't last.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I recently popped for one of their new 40v tools (they also have a 24v line, but I say if you're gonna dream, dream in color, I says)[/p][p]
[/p][p]This is an awesome saw ! I took down a moderate sized fruit tree, and disassembled it into firewood. About an hour of solid cutting. Used two batteries to do it. That's a great battery powered chainsaw experience. The trunk was about 15" diameter. Yielded about 1/3 cord.[/p][p]
[/p][p]The only 40v tools are a leaf blower, hedge clipper, string trimmer, and the chainsaw. Oh, I think they make a push lawnmower, too. I have the chainsaw, the string trimmer, and three batteries. So far.[/p][p]
[/p]

[funpilot]

[p]The lawyer in me says that the operative phrase is "or have the product serviced at specific locations."  They are not limiting it to locations rather than setting a standard for the required services.  Also, the tie-in sales language usually means that the company has a financial gain through the tie-in, which is clearly not the case here.  So, IMHO, we lose here. [/p][p]
[/p][p]As to battery powered items, we have a 40 volt hedge trimmer....AWESOME.[/p]

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2241/thread" timestamp="1406941686" author="@fasteddieb"]It could be they jumped through all the legal hoops, but color me skeptical.[/quote][font size="3"]You look good in skeptical. Sort of a blue/green hue.  :-S[/font]

[fasteddieb]

[quote source="/post/2250/thread" timestamp="1406982447" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/2241/thread" timestamp="1406941686" author="@fasteddieb"]It could be they jumped through all the legal hoops, but color me skeptical.[/quote][font size="3"]You look good in skeptical. Sort of a blue/green hue.  :-S[/font]
[/quote]You got it. Dora said it was my aura!

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2242/thread" timestamp="1406946685" author="@pinstriper"][p]Funny you should mention battery powered chainsaws.[/p][p]
[/p][/quote]Yep, I'm a believer in small battery tools. Lithium Ion batteries make it possible. My saw is the Stihl 12" bar with 36 Volt 4.5AH battery. I love it. Can do one handed from a ladder. I gave up my 20" Stihl gas and never looked back. I just upgraded to the 20V DeWalt drill and their 20V impact driver. The driver goes on every camping trip for the stabilizers.

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/2253/thread" timestamp="1406983168" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/2242/thread" timestamp="1406946685" author="@pinstriper"][p]Funny you should mention battery powered chainsaws.[/p][p]
[/p][/quote]Yep, I'm a believer in small battery tools. Lithium Ion batteries make it possible. My saw is the Stihl 12" bar with 36 Volt 4.5AH battery. I love it. Can do one handed from a ladder. I gave up my 20" Stihl gas and never looked back. I just upgraded to the 20V DeWalt drill and their 20V impact driver. The driver goes on every camping trip for the stabilizers.
[/quote]I gave up on my electric chainsaw because it was slow and not very powerful (maybe it was a crappy one). What I replaced it with is magic though: cordless Milwaukee sawzall. I can put a 9" pruning blade in there and cut through wood like butter. The blade kerf is so thin that it doesn't have to remove nearly as much material as a chainsaw. The best part is no sharpening. The blades pop out with the flip of a switch and only cost a couple bucks each. When I'm done pruning I can put a hacksaw blade in there a cut some metal pipe... try that with a chainsaw. 

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/2258/thread" timestamp="1406986068" author="@tinkeringtechie"][quote source="/post/2253/thread" timestamp="1406983168" author="@charliem"]Yep, I'm a believer in small battery tools. Lithium Ion batteries make it possible. My saw is the Stihl 12" bar with 36 Volt 4.5AH battery. I love it. Can do one handed from a ladder. I gave up my 20" Stihl gas and never looked back. I just upgraded to the 20V DeWalt drill and their 20V impact driver. The driver goes on every camping trip for the stabilizers.
[/quote]I gave up on my electric chainsaw because it was slow and not very powerful (maybe it was a crappy one). What I replaced it with is magic though: cordless Milwaukee sawzall. I can put a 9" pruning blade in there and cut through wood like butter. The blade kerf is so thin that it doesn't have to remove nearly as much material as a chainsaw. The best part is no sharpening. The blades pop out with the flip of a switch and only cost a couple bucks each. When I'm done pruning I can put a hacksaw blade in there a cut some metal pipe... try that with a chainsaw. [/quote]I use my One+ sawzall that way, too. Battery lasted way long. But can be quite slow on large stuff. I also have the pruning saw - a sawzall on an extendible pole.

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/2258/thread" timestamp="1406986068" author="@tinkeringtechie"] When I'm done pruning I can put a hacksaw blade in there a cut some metal pipe... try that with a chainsaw. [/quote][font size="3"]Tried that. Doesn't work.  [/font]  

[leslie]

I purchased an extended warranty on my 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee - bumper-to-bumper for as long as I own it, excepting tires, brakes, and oil changes. This is the first extended warranty I have purchased in over 20 years. In the 90's hubby and I bought a new Sears Craftsman riding mower. Sounds like quality, right? That first summer, the mower spent more time with its pieces spread across the lawn as the Sears technicians tried to keep it going, than it did cutting the grass. The second summer, the one year warranty was up, and Sears offered us an extended warranty for one year that cost half of what we paid for the new mower. The warranty only covered parts, and we would have to pay for labor. We turned it down.

It didn't run any better the second year. We asked the store manager to help us, as it was a defective unit. He said it was between us and Sears. I eventually gave it to a neighbor who was an auto mechanic. He couldn't get it running, so he took it to work and hooked it up to a diagnostic computer. It turns out the pistons were the wrong size for the engine. That thing was never going to run.

Since then, I have avoided extended warranties until it came to the new Jeep. As this will be the tow vehicle, and it has a factory-installed tow package, I made an exception.