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On 12-1-2010 my family of 7 kids purchased 4 mini bikes from Northern Tool due to lowest cost for exact brand in my area. Spent 1 month looking. During purchase store manager said to get the warranty because they will REPLACE the item if something fails because they do not part replace items. So we did purchase the warranty on each 4 bikes since kids would be riding them and accidents happen.

On 8-2012 the safety ON/OFF switch on one bike failed. I called the warrant 1800 number and they took the issue and said go to store for replacement and give them a code for a no questions asked replacement. Knowing these motor bikes are not 24/7 365 stocked item I called the store and was transfered around to the 3 people in the store??? and the last girl that answered said they do not stock them but come in and they would order one for us. When I arrived at the store they said wow that bike looks new. We explained we take care of our stuff. The store manager JAMES came fromt he back and said can I help. I explained I called 2 hours before and they said come in. He said oh ya ummmm we cannot get those anymore because the store is no longer doing powersports items. He said I can get you a full refund store credit. I laughed and said I called and store said order and the warranty people said no questions. Well they did not ask a question they told me no deal. After the end they offered me a derated value that I could have been able to double if we listed the bike on Craigslist but I found another similar bike outside under a tarp that had the same safety switch. I told them to take that switch off and change mine. They did so but get this I started the entire problem by asking if they could do the same thing but was told NO.

This entire thing cost me 5 hours YES we stood in the store for 3.5 hours. I own several companies that purchase construction items so I will send out a memo to BANN NORTHEN TOOL. Store employee kept telling me how the owner of NORTHEN TOOL does not care about people or loyalty he only cares about money. He had a catalog business first then started retail shops but could fire everyone and go back to catalog. Would love to see a company ran like that fail but somehow those seel to survive the economy.

Monetary Loss: $450.

Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

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Guest

not

Guest

Yeah warranty sucks I bought a generator and I paid 99 dlls for the warranty replacement they said the same thing that they need to check the generator and see if they can fixed. And the warranty_register-plan said it need be replacement for a new one

Guest

My sis bought my son a welder for Xms, and it broke after a month, and they won't take it back. Either I have to pay to ship this thing to Wis from FL or they will send me a switch that i have absolutely no idea how to install.

It weights A LOT.. it would probably cost $100 to ship. My sis paid 150.

They don't even know that it IS the switch. Jerks.

Guest

This is very common practice for this company. The employee was right in that the owner, Don Kotula, Could not give a *** about his employees or his customers.

The mark-up in this place averages about 40%. They also don't pay the employees a liveable wage. Management is constantly rewarded for increased sales of the backs of salesmen who are paid around 10 dollars an hour and a piddly 1% of the mark-up as a commission.

Just another greedy company run by greedy uncaring management!! I would not buy a glass of water from these people if I was dying of thirst!!

Guest

SPENT 1100 FROGS ON AN AIR COMPRESSOR.

PAID FOR EXTENDED WARRANTIES.

THEY THRU AWAY MY RECEIPT.

GONE.

SO MY EXT WAR FROM I.R. IS IMPOSSIBLE NOW.

ALSO NEVER MAILED A COPY OF AFOREMENTIONED TOSSED RECEIPT NOR THEIR EXT WAR INFO.

THEIR POWER TOOLS AND LAWN EQUIPMENT ARE POOR CHINESE ***.

THE STORES ARE MINED BY INCORRIGIBLE INSIPID *** :x

Guest

I LOVE Northern Tool - I've never had one bad experience or product from there. I can get what I need a lot cheaper than other retailers!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-554278

you must work for them or have found a very rare store that actually has competent management. LOL

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