Well, I figure it is about time to put out this info. As many know I have a Plumbing Business and made a decision a few years ago to spend some $$ on Milwaukee cordless tools rather than Dewalt.
We own over 30 18V batteries in all. I started noticing the batteries did not accept a full charge and seemed to lose capacity. I rotate 4 batteries on my truck. Finally the "weak" one just stops working all together. They made it just out of warantee before they dropped out. No warantee coverage. There is a date code on the bottom of the battery. I push these things pretty hard and was told that "Maybe" I am getting the batteries hot and diminishing thier capacity.... O.K. whatever, I pay more attention to that.
Round 2: Buy 4 more batteries. I notice the remaining batteries on other trucks are suffering the same fate. I get a couple warranteed within it's 1 year deal. We still have a few "old" ones that work, but all have failed to the point they will not even turn the red light on in the charger bay.
I am still denied the satisfaction of being right that there is a "Problem" with their batteries.
They put out a "NEW" 3 bay charger that is "supposed" to help extend battery cycle life. We get a couple on promotional deals getting combo kits since we really need more batteries now. We notice no improvement with this new charger other than the ability to charge 3 batteries at a time.
I freak out when the remaining batteries I have start to fail. I set up a meeting with the sales rep at my supplier. I take in 16 remaining dead batteries and put them in front of him. Hey bud, Dewalt batteries don't do this. 3 weeks later they credit 4 of them and I get 4 NEW batteries with new lettering on the cases. HMMMM, I wonder if they did this to clearly identify old from new....... I am still denied the satisfaction I am right..... Sheesh you'd think my sales rep works for them. Each time I have been to the supply house there are batteries on the return/credit bench from others..... Getting the point yet?
Call from my buddy Rich. Hey man, 1 of my batteries won't take a charge. This is a home use drill. I saw the battery and there are no scratches on it. Backs up my whole point that use does not cause failure.
To this point today, I have not had a problem with the new style batteries. I believe they originally outsourced these batteries and were promised something they did not produce. I believe the outsourced company will not take back the old bad product and we the consumer are stuck with the poor quality.
Rember this when you are walking down the isle at Home Depot. I will try out a different brand next time around......
We own over 30 18V batteries in all. I started noticing the batteries did not accept a full charge and seemed to lose capacity. I rotate 4 batteries on my truck. Finally the "weak" one just stops working all together. They made it just out of warantee before they dropped out. No warantee coverage. There is a date code on the bottom of the battery. I push these things pretty hard and was told that "Maybe" I am getting the batteries hot and diminishing thier capacity.... O.K. whatever, I pay more attention to that.
Round 2: Buy 4 more batteries. I notice the remaining batteries on other trucks are suffering the same fate. I get a couple warranteed within it's 1 year deal. We still have a few "old" ones that work, but all have failed to the point they will not even turn the red light on in the charger bay.
I am still denied the satisfaction of being right that there is a "Problem" with their batteries.
They put out a "NEW" 3 bay charger that is "supposed" to help extend battery cycle life. We get a couple on promotional deals getting combo kits since we really need more batteries now. We notice no improvement with this new charger other than the ability to charge 3 batteries at a time.
I freak out when the remaining batteries I have start to fail. I set up a meeting with the sales rep at my supplier. I take in 16 remaining dead batteries and put them in front of him. Hey bud, Dewalt batteries don't do this. 3 weeks later they credit 4 of them and I get 4 NEW batteries with new lettering on the cases. HMMMM, I wonder if they did this to clearly identify old from new....... I am still denied the satisfaction I am right..... Sheesh you'd think my sales rep works for them. Each time I have been to the supply house there are batteries on the return/credit bench from others..... Getting the point yet?
Call from my buddy Rich. Hey man, 1 of my batteries won't take a charge. This is a home use drill. I saw the battery and there are no scratches on it. Backs up my whole point that use does not cause failure.
To this point today, I have not had a problem with the new style batteries. I believe they originally outsourced these batteries and were promised something they did not produce. I believe the outsourced company will not take back the old bad product and we the consumer are stuck with the poor quality.
Rember this when you are walking down the isle at Home Depot. I will try out a different brand next time around......
