Don't buy Erbauer tools from Screwfix!!

[Sailfree]

Beside if your tool is less than 24 months old, the vendor (Screwfix) is responsible for an under warranty repair or refund. That is the law.

Is 24months your interpretation of reasonable period under sale of goods act or where from please?

 

[johnphilip]

I tried Screwfix but they said they were not a dating agency.(sorry for repeating an old line)

 

[Thistle]

Buy a cheap pair of gloves.

 

[cliff]

I've also changed my mind and won't be buying Erbauer again. Bought a new router and dropped the collet into the water when working on the boat. Called Screwfix and though still under warranty it was my fault so no help and no spares even disposables like collets. Brand new router now going into the skip!

No - send it my way - I'll soon get a replacement collet - Collets do come in a multitude of types / sizes but these are limited so not too difficult to find a replacement.

 

[fisherman]

There seems to be no rhyme or reason, some cheap tools go on for ever, like my two Trago £9.50 grinders, since 2001. Most expensive De Walt cordless, first to give up, B&Q stuff, usually to be avoided, cordless drill, pretty good, cordless circ saw excellent, cordless jigsaw, useless. B&Q 240v grinder failed at one year and a day, no help from them, never had enough power to stir tea. Anything Makita, goes without saying, top hole. De Walt 110v SDS, still going after 14 years. I'm embarrassed about the Erbauer router which I sent back because it ran off centre, next one the same, money back. Months later I found that the cutter I used was off centre...oh dear.
Batteries are the first thing to go usually, but you can dismantle a battery and replace the stack of batteries with any quality you choose if you have the time and inclination.

 

[single]

Screwfix seem to have stopped selling them now, but i used to buy two at a time of their cheap power tools , like SDS drill £29. I knew it would blow up within a year so used the second one while they sent out a replacement. Maybe thats why they stopped doing ultra cheap.On the other hand most of my gear now is Makita and the tools are fine but batteries cost a fortune!

 

[Supercal]

What has the store ( Screwfix) got to do with it? You say that you purchased this "to use at work2? This is a DIY product, bought one yesterday ( from Screwfix for £74.99). It's got a 2 year guarantee. EVERYTHING is made in China so what's that got to do with it either.

Warning to anyone who is thinking of buying the Erbauer brand of tools, usually sold by Screwfix.
There are NO spare parts available for them if you break whatever you buy!!
You may be lucky to get a replacement battery via Screwfix if the tool you have is less than 2 years old - anything older, forget it.
We have a 18V Combi drill at work, bought about 16 mths ago and one of the side casings is cracked. The drill itself works fine, but the crack is right where the soft part of your hand is (between the thumb and forefinger) and regularly gets caught in the crack!! A bit painful and leads to skin pinch marks if you use the drill a lot.
So I rang the number given in the manual and was advised that there were no parts available. The "helpful" (NOT!) customer service advisor said that nothing is available to carry out repairs, even they cannot get parts?? When quizzed about the manufacturer, I was told that they are made in China by a company called Positec Power Tool Corps, but not to bother contacting the manufacturer as they wouldn't respond due to the lanquage difference!!
I then spoke to Screwfix Customer Services and got pretty much the same answer, but was told to contact a company caled GR8 spares who may have some bits, needless to say they do not carry anything other than a few old type batteries.

So the moral is, you get what you pay for. I have a fully working drill which is pretty much no good now (can't glue the crack as it's too flexible at the point where it is) and the plastic seems very different to other plastics used on the better quality drills.
Pay the extra for better quality tools (Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, etc) and you stand a chance of getting spare parts and service if you need it!

 

[Terry1947]

You cant beat dewalt

 

[philwebb]

+1 for Dewalt. I have had a few of the Erbauer drill breakers, mainly used with core drills. I now have an 800watt Dewalt. It's not really specced for large sized core drills but much, much better than the Erbauer 1300watt drills. Hitachi drills are also very robust and can be repaired. I also think that it is more environmentally friendly to use things that last and don't get thrown away every few weeks.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've often heard the mantra "buy cheap and buy twice". Biggest claptrap ever. For amateurs ,it doesn't make sense to lash out on professional quality tools - the main reason for DIY is to save money (not the only one I'll grant) so what's the point in spending unnecessary dosh on fancy tools that will be used rarely? I've got Bosch, Black and Decker, Stanley planes and increasingly RYOBI power tools which are remarkably good value and perform well.

 

[wombat88]

And yet the greatest tool shop of them all has yet to be mentioned, tools branded Powerfix or something. Also one of my favourite chandlers...Lidl!

 

[macd]

You cant beat dewalt

Good of you to resurrect a four year-old thread to let us know that.
That'll teach people who claim things don't last these days.

 

[GrahamM376]

I am surprised that you discover this just now. Everyone knows that whatever you buy that is made in China is a non repairable black box. As you said you would be even lucky to find spare consumables like batteries after only a few months.

If you need a tool for just one or two jobs it makes sense, otherwise buy European.

Beside if your tool is less than 24 months old, the vendor (Screwfix) is responsible for an under warranty repair or refund. That is the law.

Some Chinese stuff is excellent and spares readily available, depends on the price range and spec purchased.

Buying European makes doesn't make any difference, my Bosch (professional) mitre saw was made in Taiwan.

I've also binned Erbauer tools for lack of spares but the Consumer Rights Act, like the previous Sale of Goods Act only covers faulty goods, not spares when the user has broken or lost a part.

 

[Hydrozoan]

… increasingly RYOBI power tools which are remarkably good value and perform well.

+1 for the Ryobi One+ series which includes a reasonably-priced ‘bare’ right-angle drill, which I have found invaluable on the boat. Yes, right angle and flexible adapters are alternatives, but I’ve read conflicting reports on the reliability of the cheaper ones.

 

[mickywillis]

Obviously this post wasn't made in China as it's still working!!

 

[GrahamM376]

Obviously this post wasn't made in China as it's still working!!

Chances are that the computer you are reading it on or its components were. Always reliable Windows is of course is aUS product.

 

[tigr]

My van was broken into and tools stolen, police chased them down the M25 and the thieves were throwing drills at the police car when they were both doing 130MPH, the Erbauer tools survived but tools like DeWalt and Makita just shattered when they hit the ground, so I would say they were tough. This was the second break in and I decided not to buy replacement expensive tools, I did start of with Lidls but they were not great, Erbauer do a great job, I now have a few. But don't keep any tools in the back of the van any more

 

[The Q]

I'm an amateur who does DIY,

Mind you I've built a sailing boat and a 60ft shed both from scratch no kits..

I've a couple of Makita, they have lasted 25 years ( with new brushes and cable)
DeWalt? Not so good, burnt out the control switch on a mains drill , batteries didn't last well on the battery one, when I opened one up it said Black and Decker which is of course the same company.
Parkside / lidl, drills have lasted well for their price, but the mini battery drill used on the model Railway, the bearings failed on the motor after not a huge amount of use.
The only erbauer I have is a wood planer, it eats blades...

 

[DownWest]

I know this thread is old, but I lost confidence in DeWalt after a hand drill died after a year and there was no back up. Found a new stator winding for it, but looked at the general quality inside and binned it.
Titan from B&Q is quite good, had an 18v battery drill for few years, gets some stick, but fine. Recently bought a Titan 18v breaker/ drill. So far pleased.
Funnily enough, I have an older B&D drill, identical in design to the De Walt, but far better built....

 

[Jim@sea]

We use Erauber and they are very good.

We bought bosche and yes, we could get parts, but hell they were expensive

Any battery drill will only last so long and buying new batteries isnt practical when you can buy a new unit.

So buy cheap buy twice is nonsence for this product

I bought a Makita Electric Drill with a 2 year guarantee and if you register it you get a third year guarantee free.
After 2 years and 11 months it packed up and when I contacted Makita they sent a courier for it and three days later it was returned, fixed at no charge.
When I buy batteries I buy copies off eBay, and they seem to work ok.
Erauber. in 2015 I bought a cordless Erauber Reciprocating Saw and its still boing strong, if (when) the battery fails I will just buy a cheap equivalent as I have since retired and only use tools occasionally