Rupes LHR15ES stopped working

[bmwgeek]

Bought the Rupes LHR15ES couple years ago and used only for 2 personal car details. I haven't turned it on for over a year and today I plug it in and doesn't turn on - nothing happens when pressing the switch. Anything to look for or can it be repaired?

[The Guz]

Could be the brushes. You can always contact Rupes to figure out what is wrong with it.

Have a problem with a RUPES polisher or product? (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/rupes-bigfoot-oribital-polishers/102074-have-problem-rupes-polisher-product-post1390848.html#post1390848)

[WaxMaster1]

For $85 which includes round trip shipping, I believe Rupes will take care of that for you if it's not the middle of the tool that's the problem.

Service Requests - RUPES USA (https://rupesusa.com/repairs/)

[bmwgeek]

Anyone else experienced with fixing tools know what could be wrong? Nothing happens when i pull the switch. Rupes won't fix it I talked to them already.

[dlc95]

Have you tested the power cord?

[RZJZA80]

Anyone else experienced with fixing tools know what could be wrong? Nothing happens when i pull the switch. Rupes won't fix it I talked to them already.

Wow, where's the Rupes customer service? Did they say why they won't even attempt to fix it? I doubt it's the brushes after two uses, but that is unacceptable on Rupes part.

[rlmccarty2000]

That’s the first time I’ve ever heard a negative about Rupes customer service. What was their reason for not repairing the tool, especially without an examination? There must be more to this story. Please elaborate.

[Route246]

Could be the brushes. You can always contact Rupes to figure out what is wrong with it.

Have a problem with a RUPES polisher or product? (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/rupes-bigfoot-oribital-polishers/102074-have-problem-rupes-polisher-product-post1390848.html#post1390848)

I read that thread and come away confused.

Customer service is not simple. It takes commitment from the top. If there are no incentives or rewards for delighting customers then employees will be motivated to prioritize other things. It has to come from the top as a priority. That takes money and effort. You can't do customer service in your spare time. That is better known as customer disservice. If it is not a priority then it needs to be clarified as such and if it is a priority the results will speak for themselves.

When you are spread thin you need to get the word out how to contact customer service. Personal E-Mail boxes coupled to people is probably not optimal. Quick response requires someone watching for interrupts and servicing those interrupts in a timely manner.

When I looked at DAs I was not cost-conscious but I was customer-service-conscious. That's why I chose the GG3, G15 and G21. They may not be optimal but I use them 3-4 times/year and that's it. I expect them to live a long and serviceable life. I cannot deal with a 1-year warranty. At 1 year my DAs are barely broken in.

[rlmccarty2000]

I’ve always wondered which tool professional detailers prefer, Rupes, Griots, or other. Most of the videos I watch seem to feature Rupes polishers. Of course just because they are doing videos that doesn’t make them professionals. The brushes on all polishers wear out. Electric motors have been around for over a hundred years so maintenance/repair of a polisher should not be rocket surgery.

[Calendyr]

Wow, where's the Rupes customer service? Did they say why they won't even attempt to fix it? I doubt it's the brushes after two uses, but that is unacceptable on Rupes part.

Apple like service hum? That really sucks. Good to know when comes time to buy a new polisher.

Have you searched locally for a tool repair shop? When the cord broke on my Meguiar's polisher, I replaced it myself but could not get the unit back together no matter what I tried. It's a wierd design and it's kinda pressure closed. So I looked around and found a shop that repaired compressors and electric tools. They charged me 40 CAN$ to fix it (that would be about 25 US$) and they also replaced the cheap plastic power cord that the tool came with by a rubber power cord that would be much less likelly to break in the future. To me that is one heck of a bargain.

[Calendyr]

I read that thread and come away confused.

Customer service is not simple. It takes commitment from the top. If there are no incentives or rewards for delighting customers then employees will be motivated to prioritize other things. It has to come from the top as a priority. That takes money and effort. You can't do customer service in your spare time. That is better known as customer disservice. If it is not a priority then it needs to be clarified as such and if it is a priority the results will speak for themselves.

When you are spread thin you need to get the word out how to contact customer service. Personal E-Mail boxes coupled to people is probably not optimal. Quick response requires someone watching for interrupts and servicing those interrupts in a timely manner.

When I looked at DAs I was not cost-conscious but I was customer-service-conscious. That's why I chose the GG3, G15 and G21. They may not be optimal but I use them 3-4 times/year and that's it. I expect them to live a long and serviceable life. I cannot deal with a 1-year warranty. At 1 year my DAs are barely broken in.

Regardless, Rupes are very likelly the most expensive polishers on the market. I paid almost 600 CAN$ for my Bigfoot Mark 1. If I was to contact them with an issue and they refused to help, you can be sure I would never purchase anything from them again.

As for Griot's, I think you made an excellent choice. Their polishers may not be the best of the best but they are very good and they have the best support in the industry.

[Calendyr]

I’ve always wondered which tool professional detailers prefer, Rupes, Griots, or other. Most of the videos I watch seem to feature Rupes polishers. Of course just because they are doing videos that doesn’t make them professionals. The brushes on all polishers wear out. Electric motors have been around for over a hundred years so maintenance/repair of a polisher should not be rocket surgery.

Hard to say for sure, Mike would probably have numbers based on what is selling but from years of reading the forums here, I would say that most detailers either go with Rupes or Flex. When it comes to enthousiasts, I think Griot's is where it's at because of the great value and support.

Been reading a lot of facebook detailing groups latelly and Zentool seems to be very popular as well. Yvan Lacroix at Optimum swears by them saying they are smoother and quieter than Rupes polishers. I have never used one so I can't comment, but I think the Bigfoot 21 is very smooth and very quiet, so if the Zentool is even better, that is pretty sick ;)

The other camp is composed of Rotary users, so for those guys I think that the 2 main brands are Makita and DeWalt. Here some people like the Flex rotaries, but I think in general they are not the norm.

[PaulMys]

Hard to say for sure, Mike would probably have numbers based on what is selling but from years of reading the forums here, I would say that most detailers either go with Rupes or Flex. When it comes to enthousiasts, I think Griot's is where it's at because of the great value and support.

Been reading a lot of facebook detailing groups latelly and Zentool seems to be very popular as well. Yvan Lacroix at Optimum swears by them saying they are smoother and quieter than Rupes polishers. I have never used one so I can't comment, but I think the Bigfoot 21 is very smooth and very quiet, so if the Zentool is even better, that is pretty sick ;)

The other camp is composed of Rotary users, so for those guys I think that the 2 main brands are Makita and DeWalt. Here some people like the Flex rotaries, but I think in general they are not the norm.

I guess any tool that wasn't working would be really smooth & quiet.

But, seriously..... I find it shocking that Rupes would basically tell someone "Though $hit, we got your 5-6 hundred bucks so now you're on your own". That is horrible.

[PaulMys]

Bought the Rupes LHR15ES couple years ago and used only for 2 personal car details. I haven't turned it on for over a year and today I plug it in and doesn't turn on - nothing happens when pressing the switch. Anything to look for or can it be repaired?

Do you have a multi meter?

If so, I'd test for voltage on each side of those 2 red butt connections for starters.

[Route246]

Regardless, Rupes are very likelly the most expensive polishers on the market. I paid almost 600 CAN$ for my Bigfoot Mark 1. If I was to contact them with an issue and they refused to help, you can be sure I would never purchase anything from them again.

As for Griot's, I think you made an excellent choice. Their polishers may not be the best of the best but they are very good and they have the best support in the industry.

At this point in my life, I usually buy brands that professionals use, even if the price is expensive. I have a professional-grade Honda lawnmower and never regretted it. I have a ton of Snap-on wrenches, ratchets and sockets even though the price is truthfully outrageous. Almost all of my hand tools are USA-sourced if possible, mostly Klein, Channellock and Proto.

I like to have trouble-free tools. I was tempted to buy Rupes and Flex because pros like them but the warranty and service scared me away. I did buy the Makita to get forced-rotation, too. The G15 and G21 are beasts for what I do and I never have to worry about what to do if I plug them in and they don't work right. To be perfectly honest, my guess is that Griots "enjoys" a certain number of warranty claims, especially if it gets publicized publicly here and in other forums. It reinforces their excellent customer service.