Testo fails to honor warranty on 523

[Swampfox]

My first set lasted 2 weeks

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=170393

about 3 months into my second set, the low side knob stripped out,it would still turn in and out but the valve stayed closed, I never abused it or tightened it with anything other than my thumb and index finger.

I called and described the failure and was told it would be covered under warranty, so I shipped it out to them.

now, after they repaired it, they call and say it will not be covered, and I have to pay $58, so I dont even have the option of having the failed unit shipped back to me so I can run over it with my van and take pictures. :eek:

just a word to the wise, avoid this company and their products

[BobbyBJr]

Several of my techs, and myself too, have Testo stuff and we'd had no problems with them at all the couple times we've needed to send something back. They've replaced it without any questions, but I still don't like to hear stories like yours. Makes me wonder if there's been a changing of the guard or something.

[Swampfox]

I had no problems getting the first set replaced

they must think I abused it and thats why it broke, not the case

Ive never broke the valve on a standard manifold, since they arent made of plastic :rolleyes: the electronics on the 523 are rock solid, the hose holder and manifold are junk, both failures I have had involved the manifold.

all 3 hose holders broke out of the plastic also, had to JB weld them back in.

[BobbyBJr]

I've only seen pics of the 523. Never actually held one in my hand, but I have heard others complaining about the hose holders.

[hvacman07]

We have replaced a set of ours 3 times since we bought them once for knob being stripped right after we got them second time liquid side started leaking cracked manifold 3rd time display went blank they need to do some research on these problems all under warranty thats the only thing good about testo ill stick to the old fashion way:mad:

[AccurateHT]

just a word to the wise, avoid this company and their products

I appreciate the report and sympathize with your frustration, hopefully this is not their warranty protocol. I own a few Testo products and would have a real hard time giving up on them over $60.
IMO Testo is the first instrument manufacturer to realize "Hey HVACR is cool, the tools should be cool" With great features and known accuracy to boot!
They really should have taken care of you though.

[Swampfox]

I was a little ticked off when I posted that last remark

I have a 510 and (2) 605-H2's, they are both great, just disappointed in the 523 and their handling of this, you really learn a lot about a company when its time for them to honor a warranty.

[Reeferman]

I had problems with the 523 that I tried out. Buy a DigiCool.

[Swampfox]

Now.......They want more than double what I paid for shipping it to them, to ship it back :mad:

[DPSwitch]

I offered to buy that POS when you broke it the first time.... so suffer........

:D

[ISOTHERMAL]

I have been thinking about buying a set of digital gauges. I don't mind paying for good, high quality tools, but they need to have a good warranty. Guess threads like this will help me decide which ones NOT to consider.

[DesMech]

I have been thinking about buying a set of digital gauges. I don't mind paying for good, high quality tools, but they need to have a good warranty. Guess threads like this will help me decide which ones NOT to consider.

Oh, I don't know, I bet the other brands have a few less than satisfied customers, this one just happens to be on the internet.

[fcs]

Have you sent an message to Jim B. and ask him if he could help?

[grayghost]

I had a great expieriance with Testo customer service. It was on a combustion analyzer and only had a problem one time.

[WhoIsThat?]

Write to the State's Attorney for your particular swamp. His addr. is on the Internet. You'd be surprised how much backpedalling a company does when he/she calls them.

[Swampfox]

Im just going to pay the $78 and get them back, then sell them on here or ebay

like I said I was pissed off about this yesterday and maybe the comment in my original post was a bit harsh, but I still dont feel like I abused it in any way and this should have been covered

[Carnak]

Just going by the complaints I see on that particular product swamp, I say they got a lemon there

[Kevin O'Neill]

I have a testo 556 digital gauge. For every day use it is a great gauge. If I hook up both clamp-on temperature probes to the same pipe, they read the same within 1 degree F. If I hook both the high side and low side gauge, the read the same. Period.

But the plastic case is not the greatest, the manual sucks, and the software only runs on one of my three computers. The software manual could use some work too.

I would buy some other probes, but the manual does not really describe what they will do or how.

They have wireless amp clamp, humidity probe, and other stuff. I have the data logging software, but it is hard to use.

Testo makes some great stuff, but their gauge sets still need some work. And they are pricy too. The strap-on temperature probe was $120.00 when I bought my first one, 4 months later my second one cost $180.00. I don't know what they cost now. :eek:

I probably won't buy another one.

[lbf]

Just going by the complaints I see on that particular product swamp, I say they got a lemon there

Glad to hear from someone who has tried these guages, I 've been wanting to buy a digital set and was looking at the Testo and the "DigitCools".
At the AHR show last week I saw some new manifolds coming out that are milled from a solid block of aluminum. I think I'll wait for those to come out before I buy anything.

[Carnak]

seems to be lots of complaints online on those guages, I never bought them myself. I own a testo tach, only problem I had was UPS sent it around the world on me.

[Reeferman]

Oh, I don't know, I bet the other brands have a few less than satisfied customers, this one just happens to be on the internet.


Other than the strap on temp probes you don't hear bad things about the Digi Cools.

[hvacrmedic]

Other than the strap on temp probes you don't hear bad things about the Digi Cools.

Awesome gauges. The best hands down.

[jim bergmann]

Swampfox,
Shoot me a PM and I will check into this. I am sure that there is an explanation. (Like maybe someone screwed up.) I would be glad to check into it for you.

[ISOTHERMAL]

Hey Swampfox,

What ever happened?? Did they take care of you or what?

[Swampfox]

I have no idea, faxed them the autho form to do the repairs Friday and havent heard anything

[itsiceman]

I have no idea, faxed them the autho form to do the repairs Friday and havent heard anythingYou had to authorize warranty work :confused:

[Kevin O'Neill]

I just had the spring loaded pipe clamp temperature probe go bad on mine (#556) today. That's the second one in less than a year. Fortunately it will be covered by warranty. Especially since a new one will cost me $215.00!:eek: I hope the next one lasts longer than a year. THAT'S AWFULLY EXPENSIVE FOR A TEMPERATURE SENSOR! It read 139 degrees strapped to the same pipe as my other sensor which read 74 degrees, 1/2 inch away.

I received the #556, with the first temperature probe on February 19, 2008. I ordered the second temperature probe about a month later. The first probe cost me about $140.00, now it is $215.00! That's inflation!

Fortunately I have a back up temperature probe.

[jim bergmann]

SwampFox,
Just got your PM and I have contacted the appropriate persons to get this resolved. Give me another day.

Thanks :D

Jim

[jim bergmann]

Swampfox
Your meter is on the way back. Although you talked to customer support and were assured that the meter would be covered under warranty, service had no way of knowing what happened and assumed it was mishandling. They followed standard protocol. It was a breakdown in communication.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jim Bergmann
Testo HVAC/R technical specialist.

[Swampfox]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate it.

[Swampfox]

Swampfox
Your meter is on the way back. Although you talked to customer support and were assured that the meter would be covered under warranty, service had no way of knowing what happened and assumed it was mishandling. They followed standard protocol. It was a breakdown in communication.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jim Bergmann
Testo HVAC/R technical specialist.

Jim, if you are still following this thread, did you mean that this was going to be covered under the warranty? I received a bill in the mail today for $78

[jim bergmann]

Its still that communication thing.

Give me the invoice number and I will take care of it.

Thanks

Jim

[viessmann]

anyone have a watts tk99d backflow preventer tester that has gone bad. mine has a cracked transducer and nobody will fix it they are very expensive to buy new and i just can not get myself to throw it out.

[Swampfox]

Thanks Jim, PM sent

[AirTechMech]

Awesome gauges. The best hands down.

I have to say the same myself I am quite pleased with my digi-cools. Since I got my digi drsa1200 2 years ago I haven't used analog gauges since. Just a few days ago I got my 1250 conversion kit and I installed it. It wasn't until I opened it up and did the conversion that I realized how robust the digi-cool really is. The case is built like a brick **** house an the pc board is nearly 1/4 inch thick the two pressure transducers are impressively rugged.

It is clear to see the Digi-cool is a labor of love.