robotic warranty experience and thoughts

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D

dogman

Well-known member
May 8, 2014
56
missouri
Hello all, I have been researching the robotic cleaners. My Kreepy Krauler is about shot (going on 8 yrs). Hopefully the booster pump will kick on this Tuesday on opening day. Over the winter I replaced the pump with an intelli flo.

couple of questions regarding warranties on the robotic cleaners. Our PS sells the S200 S300 etc... However, the S200 is 999 which seem really high. They also do the warranty work in-house but said they will not do the warranty work for same items purchased online. Another local place sells the Dolphin 20 for 899 and the s300 for 1199 etc. However, they do not provide the warranty work if it breaks. Obviously there are online options as well.

My question, how concerned should one be about warranty work if there is no local warranty place? seems like a PITA to send the unit back for repairs etc... Anybody experience warranty work? I am leaning towards the doheny discover but not sure again where to send it for repairs.

I do plan on calling maytronics tomorrow but thought I would ask those with experience.

thanks
 
I have recently purchased the Doheny Discovery robot. Maytronics covers the warranty. Since your local pool store sells the Maytronics brand but not the Doheny, I wonder if they wouldn't service it? Its the same robot actually as the S200
Doheny's Discovery Powered by Dolphin | Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast

Also when you shop online, make sure you use a credit card like AMEX that provides extra time for warranties. The Doheny Discovery comes with 2 years but my AMEX extends it to 3 years coverage.

Yippee :flower:
 
Its a pain to send it in for service. Heck dropping it off can be a pain depending on the hours of the place, but sending it in you need to find a box assuming you didn't keep the original and then there is the cost. I shipped one once before finding a place that could service mine locally and it cost almost 50 dollars to ship it.
 
YippeeSkippy said:
I have recently purchased the Doheny Discovery robot. Maytronics covers the warranty. Since your local pool store sells the Maytronics brand but not the Doheny, I wonder if they wouldn't service it? Its the same robot actually as the S200
Doheny's Discovery Powered by Dolphin | Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast

Also when you shop online, make sure you use a credit card like AMEX that provides extra time for warranties. The Doheny Discovery comes with 2 years but my AMEX extends it to 3 years coverage.

Yippee :flower:
Click to expand...

Credit cards extend the warranty protection whether purchased online or at a local store. Always use plastic.
 
My Doheny's Discovery broke and I called the first 3 places that showed up on the service locator on the website. The first one was closed for the week of thanksgiving, the second said they only service what they sell and the third said they would be happy to repair it. They fixed it at no charge in a few a days.
 
thanks everyone. I talked to Maytronics and they provided the names of 2 other local stores. Interestingly because neither appeared on their distributor. Maytronics said owners should be able to go into any authorized repair facility for warranty work regardless of which "label" you purchased. that said, it clearly sounded that it would be easier if purchased from the same store. I contacted one of the other locations and they had no issues repairing under the warranty. In addition, they were willing to work on the price. Looks like an s300 may be making its way back to a new home for just at or under 900 + tax. I wanted the s200 plus caddy (they do not carry it). pricing is fairly close to the Doheny version.

thanks everyone.
 
dogman said:
thanks everyone. I talked to Maytronics and they provided the names of 2 other local stores. Interestingly because neither appeared on their distributor. Maytronics said owners should be able to go into any authorized repair facility for warranty work regardless of which "label" you purchased. that said, it clearly sounded that it would be easier if purchased from the same store. I contacted one of the other locations and they had no issues repairing under the warranty. In addition, they were willing to work on the price. Looks like an s300 may be making its way back to a new home for just at or under 900 + tax. I wanted the s200 plus caddy (they do not carry it). pricing is fairly close to the Doheny version.

thanks everyone.
Click to expand...

That's a great price!! I paid $1250 + tax for my S300i (with caddy). You're going to love the S200 for sure.

As for warranty, I'm glad I went local. Not only am I supporting a local business (always a good thing to do) but it's peace-of-mind to know I can just drive the unit 3 miles away from my house to a shop that can service them and will do so without question.
 

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picked up the s300. quick question for folks. how does the weekly timer work. do you have to leave the cleaner in the pool and if not, how do you know when it will run if it is sitting on the stand? Note, i have yet to play with it but the directions were fairly silent. thanks.
 
My last purchase was a Dolphin Premier. The design clearly was evolving to a more modular model......one that could be DIYed for repair in many cases.

That would be an important aspect of a robot choice......one where I might be able to keep it running without the enormous shipping difficulties of sending the robot in for repair.
 
dogman said:
picked up the s300. quick question for folks. how does the weekly timer work. do you have to leave the cleaner in the pool and if not, how do you know when it will run if it is sitting on the stand? Note, i have yet to play with it but the directions were fairly silent. thanks.
Click to expand...

You leave it in the pool if you want to use the weekly timer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You know in today's autopilot world, are we far from a robot the will exit the pool when finished and dock himself at the caddy?
 
Right, like roomba!

I took my S200/Doheny's Discovery apart somewhat to troubleshoot it before taking it in for repair and it is very modular and easy to take apart. It will be easy to swap parts to make repairs once the warranty ends.
 
The really interesting part was the guy at the shop I bought it from had a hand held diagnostic wand from Maytronics, about the size of a standard eyeglass case, that determines where the problem is. Most of these robots have only three major components - the power supply/controller, the power cable and the motor/pump. All he had to do with "the wand" was touch each part and a red/green light tells him if it's good or not. The parts are all replaced as monolithic blocks so if the tester says the cable is bad, he just puts on a new cable on.

I like the S series because all they have is one single pump to drive the entire unit and it uses water jets from three ports to create turns while water pressure is used to run the brushes and tracks. So there's no direct drive to the tracks or multiple motors trying to execute a tight turn, just a high head water pump to create all the necessary forces to drive the unit. It's pretty slick!


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That wand thing is way cool, something out of Star Wars! How is the water directed to each port? Your saying theres no motor driving the treads?

+1 on using a credit card. Amex adds a year, and Capital One two years. But someone said on another thread Amex is easier to work with.
 
Am in the market for a Polaris F9650iq 4WD mode, however they don’t provide any warranty if shipped from any pool store. Wondered how reliable they are?

My Dolphin, while it runs and has no mechanic issues, has a 3 yr warranty (1 yr left), but spends more time on drains than cleaning, defeating the purpose. It was my first robot so I didn’t have enough experience to know what I wanted or needed.

I just need something without treads and center brush, and would prefer WiFi connectivity for remote scheduling during travel.
 
miles267 said:
Am in the market for a Polaris F9650iq 4WD mode, however they don’t provide any warranty if shipped from any pool store. Wondered how reliable they are?

My Dolphin, while it runs and has no mechanic issues, has a 3 yr warranty (1 yr left), but spends more time on drains than cleaning, defeating the purpose. It was my first robot so I didn’t have enough experience to know what I wanted or needed.

I just need something without treads and center brush, and would prefer WiFi connectivity for remote scheduling during travel.
Click to expand...

Are you near a Leslies? The P965IQ is the same identical model, just in different color, White & Silver. If you buy from them direct, you will get the warranty.

I wouldn't buy one without a warranty and wouldn't buy any pool cleaner without one, too much $ to risk.
 

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