Rust on New Lathe

They did apologise, but the closest I got to an explanation was 'It definitely didn't leave here like that, it must have been dripped on en-route', however it was very well packaged, I can't see how it could have been dripped on. My best guess is condensation.

I think we are safe to assume Warco do not inspect every machine before they ship it to the the customer, from someone who has a 3 year old lathe from them.

Tony

Fixed that for you.

No way that sort of rust magically appeared overnight between Warco's shop and your home.

Edited By Hopper on 15/11/2022 04:05:44

I've never bought anything from Warco. With an attitude like that I never will.

Andrew

I think Warco (and I suspect the other suppliers) don’t open the crate to inspect lathes and rely on the inspection being carried out in China. I bought a 290 lathe and it was delivered in a wooden crate which had obviously not been opened. I had a problem with it and Warco sent their contractor to check and try to fix it. He spent most of the day here but couldn’t resolve the problem. Warco agreed to replace it and the new one was also obviously crated up at the manufacturers. Possibly John’s lathe missed having the stage of having rust protection applied before leaving the factory in China.

They did offer a refund so I don’t understand why they didn’t offer a replacement.

Stuart

Edited By Stuart Smith 5 on 15/11/2022 13:50:59

It would be more work for Warco sending another lathe out as well as collecting the rejected one.

Offering a refund and refusing a replacement also sends a message that the seller, not the buyer, is in charge of the resolution process.

Maybe some sellers also want to suggest that, after the refund, they would prefer not to have any further dealings with you.

Just reading some of the latest posts on this subject. I have never bought from Warco, so I cannot comment either way, but I am reminded of a comment made by an old friend many years ago.

He was employed in car sales, and very good at it too, with a great record.

He said, "Any fool can sell to a customer once, but can he sell to them twice ?"

This guy sold to his customers, and their families, over and over again.

One sale is nothing, repeat sales are everything, cars/machines, all the same.

Would not be too impressed with that response, might have expected something better.

I've refrained from commenting so far, but that is just not on. The lathe is clearly 'not of merchantable quality'. If you paid with a credit card you can probably get the card company involved to get the money back. I'm really surprised at Warco, they seemed to have a good reputation. Hard to gain, easy to lose

To be clear did Warco offer a refund of the total price of the lathe or was it just a refund of £200 for the damage/inconvenience?

Doug

As they can sell all than they can get, are out of stock and have pre orders for what is due to come it would be hard for warco to offer a replacement unless the OP was willing to wait 6 months or more.

As a happy Warco 280 owner I'd buy from them again over other suppliers offering a similar lathe. Though probably go up to the 290.

Well, as a long time Warco 1330 lathe owner I never have, and never would buy from them again, even if they would want to sell to me again.

When I purchased a new full price 1330 lathe from them in 2004 I was sent an ex demo/display machine in a terrible state, even though I warned them not to send me a demo/display machine, only a new machine, while I was face to face with the boss in their showroom. I was promised that I would of course receive a new unused machine, but that is not what Warco did.

I did get them to replace it, because of the very bad state it was in, and it also shook badly at certain speeds and left a deep ridged pattern in the work. Although the replacement had its own set of problems. 

Now I still have respect for Warco, and hope they continue to be there for a long time to come. They have treated many customers very well. But for me the trust has gone a long time ago, unfortunately.

Edited By Lathejack on 15/11/2022 17:53:15

Edited By Lathejack on 15/11/2022 17:54:23

Edited By Lathejack on 15/11/2022 17:59:36

I would also add that Warco's offer to give John either a full refund, or the £200 that he has accepted, seems a fair offer to me, regardless of the reason why they declined to exchange the lathe for another.

Although their claim that "It definitely didn't leave here like that" seems a little absurd. 

Edited By Lathejack on 15/11/2022 19:32:08

When I had a problem with a machine sold to me by Warco, it was replaced (The replacement was worse quality, in another way, than the original ) but exchanged with suitable compensation, for another product.

Before that, I had a machine which shredded a V belt within 6 month, from new. I realigned the motor, and the replacement belt has been operating for over 20 years..

As with far eastern products, it has not been totally trouble free, but has functioned acceptably for several years..

Face the fact, if you buy nylons, you cannot reasonably expect silk stockings!

You can't expect top level industrial quality in a hobby level machine. You get what you pay for.

From what i saw, it was bad that the machine was rusty.. But the imperfection was unsightly, not so bad as to render the machine unuseable.

Trying to view things from both sides, Warco lost money, and reputation, on the deal, and the buyer got an imperfect machine which is still quite capable of doing the job for which it was intended..

Howard

Inadvertent double post

Edited By Howard Lewis on 15/11/2022 22:30:37

But it is not just a Far Eastern hobby machine quality, or you get what you pay for, sort of issue is it.

If you pay for a new unused machine, in as new condition, then that is what you should get, regardless of its country of origin or build quality, or price.

But, now, having received a satisfactory (To him ) refund the OP did not pay full price for the machine.

Again, it has to be said that you don't get Rolls Royce quality for a Lada price!

The air on the moral high ground contains less oxygen than at basic sea level.

Howard

.

… and so the Warco myth lives on

MichaelG.

.. and what is that?

.

That they are a dependable supplier of high quality but reasonably priced machinery.

In the years that I have been watching posts about Warco, it has become quite clear that they “buy” that reputation by exchanging rejects, or providing spares or refunds.

Personally; I would prefer to see evidence of actual Quality Control.

[ just a little affectation of mine, don’t let it worry you ]

MichaelG.