not happy with NAPA

[RenegadeT]

2 years and 1 month ago, I bought a lifetime starter at Napa for my 98 Dodge Ram/Cummins engine. Yesterday I get a no-start, crawl under, find if I wiggle the trigger wire while my buddy holds the key, it fires up, great. Get home and investigate more, the trigger wire terminal falls out of the starter, copper lead broken internally...so I pull the starter. Search thru papers, find the receipt and I notice it says 2 year warranty. I thought that was odd, but figure Napa might do some good faith warranty for the one month, and at this point I'm still confused why its not lifetime.
So I bring it into NAPA, the guy says its out of warranty, he can't do anything. I ask why its not lifetime, he runs the p/n, sees it shows lifetime on the computer. He's stumped, I ask to speak to the mgr, he says he is, he then runs into the back. Comes back a few minutes later with a printout of the warranty. Fawking fine print...

Warranty is two (2) years from date of purchase for light trucks and vans
equipped with diesel engines under 8,000 lbs. G.V.W.

He says the best he can do is $170 (instead of $210) for a replacement, still with 2 yr warranty. I'm pretty pissed at this point, tell him its BS they sold me a lifetime starter, pulled a bait-n-switch on my receipt, here I am 1 month past warranty with a broken starter. I tell him I'll eat the $50 core, buy a new starter, then use my POS one as a return, he says he can't do that. Fawker, I walked out, still need a starter.

 

[frankenyoter]

Fawkers! Go to another NAPA and buy one. Clean your old on up and pop it in the box and return it. Tell you installed it and then realized you had a bad battery terminal.

 

[frankenyoter]

Or take it to a shop and have it fixed for probably less than $50.

 

[tireburner1975]

I tell him I'll eat the $50 core, buy a new starter, then use my POS one as a return, he says he can't do that. Fawker, I walked out, still need a starter.

Don't tell him you dummy, now you're gonna have to go to a different store.

Serious note, what's the gvw per your door jam sticker? I was thinking Cummins are just over 8500, that would put you out of the 2 warranty category and in another ?

 

[shawn]

It totally depends on the store and the counter staff. I've had guys see the napa sticker and go pull a replacement, no questions asked. Just depends on whether or not they think they'll get caught.

 

[Kamel]

It totally depends on the store and the counter staff. I've had guys see the napa sticker and go pull a replacement, no questions asked. Just depends on whether or not they think they'll get caught.

This. No one is there to check. It gets a "defective" sticker, thrown in a tote, and returned with the rest of the junk. I'd find a new store period.

 

[RatLabGuy]

I tell him I'll eat the $50 core, buy a new starter, then use my POS one as a return, he says he can't do that. Fawker, I walked out, still need a starter.

Right.
Wait about a week, go to another store, walk in with the old broken one, and tell them your new starter died. They'll give yo ua replacement.
Now at least you have a 2nd new starter, or FleaBay it (or sell here) and recoup your loss.

 

[Hurley]

remember

Hirko Insano shows no mercy

 

[criket]

This thread reminded me of this lol

 

[braxton357]

For what it's worth, there are separate starter relay parts you can buy online. And just like on big diesels the starter and relay both come apart to service. I replaced the contacts in mine for $20 without even removing the starter...