Question for people who buy power tools

[metload1]

Hi,

I was fortunate enough to get a Porter Cable 7424 for Christmas! I had a question though... When I pulled it out of the box there was some rust colored gooey stuff on the power switch and I noticed that the polishing pad was discolored/yellow in spots. I also noticed that there were two pieces of tape holding the box shut, one looks like it was cut before the other, as one is a clean cut and one is jagged. Do you think I got one that was previously returned by someone else? (It's from Lowes) Or is that extra lubricant on the power switch and tools are just like that when you buy them new?

I hope it's not a return, it does work quite well though and all in all I love it!

I have hardly any experience with buying new power tools, so for people with experience in this area, what do you think? Is this something that happens with tools in general?

Thanks!

[JohnZ3MC]

Originally Posted by metload1

Hi,

I was fortunate enough to get a Porter Cable 7424 for Christmas! I had a question though... When I pulled it out of the box there was some rust colored gooey stuff on the power switch and I noticed that the polishing pad was discolored/yellow in spots. I also noticed that there were two pieces of tape holding the box shut, one looks like it was cut before the other, as one is a clean cut and one is jagged. Do you think I got one that was previously returned by someone else? (It's from Lowes) Or is that extra lubricant on the power switch and tools are just like that when you buy them new?

I hope it's not a return, it does work quite well though and all in all I love it!

I have hardly any experience with buying new power tools, so for people with experience in this area, what do you think? Is this something that happens with tools in general?

Thanks!

It sounds like a store return for sure. Your description suggests it was repackaged and resold and there could be many reasons why it was returned.

The problem here is that you didn't buy it so there are a few possible scenarios:
The store may have offered a discount for the repackaging and combine that with a Christmas gift, it would be normal.
The store may have sold it as new to an uninformed buyer.

You have a couple of options too:
-since it works well, just clean it up and use it and thank the original buyer. The store should honor the warranty from the date of your purchase. (Tell Santa to keep the bill)
-enquire of the original buyer about the details of the purchase.
-return it and get a new one, assuming there was no discount for repackaging.

Even if I buy new, I'll unpackage it in the store, (after I've bought it of course), give it a visual check, and plug it in and test it a bit. If the tool is a quality brand like the Porter Cable, I'll sometimes ask about returns myself, just to save a bit of cash, sometimes I can save enough to buy a new detailing product. Returns happen, it's how the store handles them that matters.
-John C.

[metload1]

hmm,

Well, it does work pretty good, the only worry I have is the fact that it's not a sealed tool. There are air vents on the side and if it was covered in saw dust in a woodshop for example, and saw dust got inside, that could affect performance. The problem is I've never used a PC dual action polisher before so I have nothing to compare it with. Hopefully I'd hear it if something got in the vents, it's actually really quiet, except when you first start it up it makes some noise. Hardly any vibrations either. Maybe I'm worried over nothing.

How would I go about finding the previous owner? Maybe the guy got turned off by the included polishing pad and didn't realize that you can buy nice pads online.

Even if I buy new, I'll unpackage it in the store, (after I've bought it of course), give it a visual check, and plug it in and test it a bit. If the tool is a quality brand like the Porter Cable, I'll sometimes ask about returns myself, just to save a bit of cash, sometimes I can save enough to buy a new detailing product. Returns happen, it's how the store handles them that matters.

That's a good idea, I'll be doing that from now on. Lowes said they only had 2 left, mine being one of them. They were on sale for around $90 I believe. Maybe they're all returns and that's why they're so cheap, in which case I'll put up with it.

Well, I'll have to think about this one...

Thanks for your reply!

[Eliot Ness]

Originally Posted by metload1

........the only worry I have is the fact that it's not a sealed tool. There are air vents on the side and if it was covered in saw dust in a woodshop for example, and saw dust got inside, that could affect performance........

I wouldn't worry about it too much for two reasons:

1. The PC is a well built tool that was designed to be a sander, so it isn't a stranger to a sawdust type of environment.

2. It would have been difficult for the previous owner (if it is a return) to get all traces of sawdust off, especially if there was that "gooey stuff" on there that you mentioned.

If the PC looked like it was in good condition (no scratches, dents, etc.) and it is working fine then I wouldn't worry about it too much....... especially since you still have a warranty.

[kompressornsc]

ohhh...that's a big pet peeve of mine - when something has been returned & they don't mark it as returned or make it look like it hasn't been returned. True story:
In college, I bought my girlfriend one of those isi whipped cream makers for Christmas. Looked brand new. She opened it and everything was fine until she screwed off the cap & whoever had returned it had left cream in there! Want to talk about rank!?! I was so embarrased...
Since then, I always check two packages and make sure they're taped the same & all and the item (whatever it is) is not a return.