Scammed by Customer Returns? - Part 2

[@denverboyd9953]

Hey I really love your videos. I watch a lot of them, and have thought about doing this as a side gig. Can you give any idea if without youtube this has been financially viable?

[@jasonrichardson1999]

It would be barely viable, unless you always get easy jobs to do

[@Tronicsfix]

I’m not saying there’s not a better way to do it and this was the first time I’ve done this but no, I wouldn’t say it’s financially viable the way I did it. I know there are people who do this and make it work so hopefully they’ll chime in here and give us a realistic picture of whether it’s viable or not.

[@denverboyd9953]

@@Tronicsfix specifically for me i actually meant the video game console repairs you normally do

[@mymadeupdreams]

​@@denverboyd9953 You need to think about how much you get broken consoles for, what tools and parts you need to invest, how much time it takes, how/where you sell it, and how much profit you actually make (after taxes and listing fees). For video game consoles, are you going to know exactly what's wrong with it? With newer electronics there's so many components, you have a lot to learn. So realistically... this is not the best way to make money unless you have some really good connections (you work at a pallet store that sells video game console returns/ parts store where you get discounts). I fix certain vintage cameras that are found untested/broken for $50-$75 and I resell for around $200-$250. This is just something I do once every few months as a side hobby, and I would never do this full time. So if you want to fix game consoles, don't quit your day job.

[@michaelkaster5058]

@@Tronicsfix there is a depth adjustment knob on the stapler before taking it apart again

[@DarmokAtTanagra]

I like how transparent and honest you are about how feasible this is as a money-making operation - $110 profit for hours and hours of work. But if you have a monetized Yt channel where you can get more $$ for the video of doing it all...Well, probably still not much! In it for the satisfaction more than anything...I feel that!

[@EiKk4__]

Also if your own power tool breaks and you can fix it yourself following these videos. Sharing is caring and sharing valuable fixing information is golden.

[@Ryan_DeWitt]

I think buying a pallet of broken game consoles would be much easier and much more likely to turn a better profit.

[@Biker9233]

@@Ryan_DeWitt its not about the profit, but how much joy and how much fun is it to repair and how exciting is it for the audience, I dont watch any of PS5 and Xbox videos, theres nothing new to see all the same things over and over again I rather see fix him cameras laptops power tools anything, even if its not fixable you learn so much more by doing it and watching it as a viewer)

[@andre-zp7td]

I think he makes quite a lot with his channel. Especially since he also got some extra sponsors.

[@reptileescape3619]

Nice spoiler

[@chokiko3204]

nice to see u looking good!!

[@phoenixsemorata9476]

Before our store shut down this is why we made sure everything was in the box first before accepting returns, so many people try those switcheroo shenanigans. 😕

[@devilmikey00]

I blame Harbor Freight/Amazon. Their loosey-goosey return policy where they take everything without question and other stores were forced to follow suit to remain competitive.

[@KC8EWU]

Same as when I worked at Sears, especially TV's, make sure it had the stand, hardware, remote and power cord. Otherwise it could not be returned. If something looked well used, sent over to service, even if in warranty. One reason for that was a push mower we could tell was abused.

[@MyAdventurr]

This direction toward new repair items is SUPER INTERESTING! Love it! I knew it’d be fun watching you problem solve and completely fix items you don’t normally work on.

[@markrowe8824]

I mean you got some nice DeWalt bags 🤔😃

[@Paul-IE-Repairs]

the com bars overheated and melted the brushes and the brush springs, causing your intermittent issue, its pretty common on the brushed milwaukee tools run that dewalt electronics group through an ultra sonic cleaner, i get a few hundred tools through my work center annually that the water department abuses and a majority of the time a good thorough cleaning fixes them.

[@heyjustj]

Sucks that it’s not super profitable to resell but I do LOVE seeing you switch up the types of things you’re repairing. There’s some things worth repairing to keep and use to save money vs trying to make a profit. I feel like tools is a good example of that.

[@MatthewKodatt]

Love these! It's fun to follow along through the full teardown/exploration for the repair. Please keep them coming. Thanks Steve

[@milliondollarbike]

Your color is looking so good and your hair is growing back nicely! I hope your treatments are going well!

[@AthsMehDiaz]

Sad to see how often people do return scams and how it hurts honest people that try to make money fixing broken tools.

[@martinmorton6276]

in order to fix stapler A that needs more pressure in its tank for a full send of the nail/staple you may not need a BIGGER air compressor, you may need a much smaller one :) a Shock Pump for a mountain bike suspension fork/rear shock/damper will probably do the job perfectly - it does not pump MUCH air but what air it does pump in is at high pressure, the cheapy one i have from the local big name bike store goes upto about 300psi & may be just what is needed to fine tune the air in them tanks

[@jaro6985]

Yeah find someone who mountain bikes, theyll let you borrow a shock pump.

[@brandonpoole3604]

Those Milwaukee nailers do have a depth set so you might check that out. Even though I already love your channel I do love the addition of tool repair. Always been an advocate of repair over replace.

[@ElectroAtletico]

The Milwaukee M12 Electric Screwdriver is my baby! Always in my tool bag ready to go.

[@jeremyfre9761]

The staples should be sunk into the wood. That adjuster on the screw gun is a clutch to prevent over torque

[@Just_sandwich]

There was this one time where we bought a wet-saw for doing tiles on our fireplace from Home Depot. “It was being sold as brand new,” but it was clearly used.

[@craighare1711]

The dewalt sawall was used by a flood company cutting wet drywall from flooded houses.

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

Could've been using it to vibrate concrete while it's being poured.

[@rondickson1491]

Another great video! At least the fixed tools won’t end up in a landfill. Nice work. Best wishes from Virginia.

[@diegosorio]

I hate the zero trust society we live in. Bunch of dirt bags buying new tools and returning garbage for a full refund. Unbelievable!

[@oscarmarfori613]

The most flexible repair guy on the web he can repair pure electronics up to power tools that is a difficult feat not all repair techs can do that, thanks for sharing your video 👍

[@Real_PK]

I guess the take away is don't trust anyone who uses DeWalt tools. They appear to be the most shady 😂.

[@RandyFortier]

Just about everyone uses them on work sites. They are so reliable. No lie, though, so many shady returns here.

[@custos3249]

Meanwhile, Milwaukee box with a hunk of metal

[@rodsofgod6863]

@@custos3249 Still see those Dewalt users so honest people..

[@bedinor]

@@custos3249 That just means the original Milwaukee wasn't worth throwing out, unlike the DeWalt.

[@tmxboxburn]

With the Milwaukee impact, you can just buy the motor assembly to replace it. I know as I've had to buy 2 of them as metal filings have gotten into mine and jammed it up.

[@jackd23]

I've seen scammers going as far as taping very small items into a package, to match the original item's weight to the gram.

[@3dfymyworld484]

I honestly don't know why I love watching him taking things apart

[@MrKlarthums]

So are the big box stores simply not checking their returns? Or is the pallet seller making some convenient swaps? I've returned a brand new Makita jigsaw to Home Depot in the past 2 years and customer service opened the sealed box to actually inspect the tool. Maybe she thought I was lying and resealed it because my return reason was that I didn't need it for the job I was doing.

[@eyewitness329]

Not sure about the US, but in EU they are definitely checking what are you returning. Especially when buying over the internet, cause you have 2 weeks return/cancel policy on anything sold remotely (no matter if it's a tool, phone plan or bank loan) - BUT, thing you are returning can't show excessive wear.

[@calrez]

Looking good, nice to see You! 🤝

[@coondogtheman]

Steve one thing you can try for that gunked up drill motor is to simply run it long enough and the brushes will scrape off the gunk.

[@emmettturner9452]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1343">22:23</a> The DCF850 they returned is a much more desirable impact driver than the Atomic that set was supposed to include. Hopefully it works.

[@awilliams1701]

I was going to say do they not actually check returns? But honestly I don't think they do. I bought the wrong kind of drill. It was an impact driver. I didn't know what the hell an impact driver was. I still don't honestly. When I realized it wasn't what I needed I felt horrible because now it's open box. But when I returned it so I could get the right thing, I don't think they checked it. I was surprised.

[@Tronicsfix]

Yep, they're too afraid of making the customer mad.

[@awilliams1701]

@@Tronicsfix do you really want a customer that's not making you any money?

[@devilmikey00]

@@Tronicsfix I think it's less that than it's just a numbers game. Most returns are just that, people returning an item and not someone scamming them. What minimal amount of scamming there is is worked into budgets and insured anyway. Not to mention they can just chuck it all on a pallet and sell it to 3rd party companies who sell return pallets to folks like you and recoup some of the loss. It's also the result of an arms race return policy among stores. Folks like Harbor Freight and Amazon will take back anything with almost no questions asked so everyone else had to follow suit to remain competitive.

[@ryanb509]

My assumption is probably an online return that ends up in a returns warehouse where some 20 yr old kid is making minimum wage and having to process so many returns an hour or his boss yells at him so corners get cut processing them.

[@PeopleThatFallApart]

Why are returns accepted for used tools that are not even the same model or with missing parts? It makes no sense.

[@thurmanlester]

They probably don't even check the boxes because the one had junk of metal

[@HarrowTTV]

i suggest soaking the rusted parts in CLR and see if it actually helps with it loosening up

[@RandyFortier]

It really is a testament to the reliability of Dewalt tools. Considering how much worksite dust and drywall plaster was inside those, yet most of them still work.

[@revengenerd1]

About 6 years ago I remember my dad giving me his old drill and it worked once then not again, as I was a newb at DIY and the tool was old and not an expensive one at first time, somehow me trying to drill into a door frame loosened up the contacts and my dad just got a metal clip and soldered the broken contacts on battery and then it worked.

[@KC8EWU]

Steve, the not for sale one is just a nonfuctional dispay unit. Same as where corded ones dont have a cord. I used to work at Sears, covering pmt (large item returns towards fhe end) checking items for possible resale. A small microwave was put over by RTV (Return To Vendor), i went to pick it up, the thing was as light as a feather! I could not figure out why at first till i spun it around. The customer was accidentaly given a display dummy! Somehow when it came off fhe truck, nobody noticed the box said on it nonfunctional display unit, not for sale! A couple other times after that, I found others in fhe backroom that said fhe same thing.

[@onemrtrouble9155]

anyone else would of tried to get the "not for sale" working by putting a board from one of the other staplers into it and soldiered everything onto it since it looked really good...i know you want to get something working in less time but i think if it has never been used, it would feel better to sell.....i love watching your videos though steve -_- keep up the good work

[@me-jv8ji]

no one else would have done that that you are the only one who would have done it. there is too much much work for little profit. if you wanted the sticker that said not for sale just swap cases the internals are all just the same.

[@Watcher3223]

There is a noticeable difference in the sound of that Milwaukee hex screwdriver drill, with the sound after service being much better. It's likely the motor is running stronger now. Before you serviced the motor: <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="266">4:26</a> After you serviced the motor: <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="622">10:22</a>

[@StarlightStream]

With those Brad nailers/staplers from Milwaukee, if they don't drive staples or nails in all the way you would need to re pressurize the chamber in the top, but you would need to slowly pull the pin that drives the nails/staples in to the back, then you would need to find a screw on fitting for a pressured air hose. If I remember correctly, the pressure needed is 18 bar. Could very much be that this was not the case for any of these staplers, but it's good information to know.

[@johnd0e25]

I didn't believe so many people would openly do these return scams

[@russthebuss5]

Damnnnnn that hair coming back with a vengeance! ❤ Happy to see you looking better man!

[@jasonbenson7699]

Love all of your videos and you have inspired me as well but not sure if I will do as a side job myself though but might consider it. I was really interested in the soldering station by ifixit until i seen the price lol. I also love these longer videos as well on here and how in depth you go into the repairs which makes it easier to learn from you. I am also glad you are cancer free and I pray that it will always stay that way for you. Thanks for all of your hard work and the amazing content that you put out for us.

[@fmbbeachbum8163]

The amount of people in this country that do these return scams is staggering. Tells me all I need to know about those types of people.

[@TboneLoyal]

My guess is the person who used it smoked it. Over heated it on those contacts trying to make it drill something it wasn’t meant to do. I have seen the smoke in mine before 😊. And glad to know you are doing better. My son just finished his leukemia treatments. Praise the Lord. Keep making content.

[@paddlesouth]

Those Dewalt bags are worth money too

[@TheGuya]

Steve, you're looking so young again! Keep your inspiring work up and big fan 💪

[@devilmikey00]

God I hate those flimsy little snap rings. They are all over ebike motors. Always a major pain in the butt. It's so easy to stretch them out yet they require a decent amount of pressure to open enough to slide on. It's this annoying balancing act of enough pressure to get it work but not so much as to deform the ring. Also, I'm guessing these companies are just so big and receive so many returns that as long as the computer flags the return as received, they just send out a replacement and toss the returns straight onto pallets for 3rd party companies to buy and sell back to folks hoping to get lucky.

[@phrtza]

You look healthy, it is really good to see.

[@Alhick4496]

Great video. Looking forward to more videos like this!

[@maxtaker1]

Happy to see you happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MrslevenK]

I exchnaged a power tool kit because of a bad charger. The retailer didn't even look. They just exchanged my product and tossed it in the returns bin.

[@datelovuelta]

Looking good my man!!! my thing is videogames but I have a coursing that loves tools that will love this content, keep it up!! great to see you this good again!

[@ryanlfg5717]

Glad to see you still making videos! Ever thought about trying to repair a PSVR?

[@MrCowering]

That Dewalt SDS (if its like mine) drills until the switch is almost completely pushed, then adds the hammer thing. you need special bits for SDS also

[@revengenerd1]

Kept refreshing page until I knew your video was here, it's the highlight of my Friday lol.

[@sassypuppy2937]

🤔 While as a $$ making proposition maybe not so good, but look how much stuff you kept out of the landfill. 🎉🎉🎉🎉👍👍

[@gadgetmind]

That really needs a new circlip (snap ring?) as they distort often when removed. However, as not deep inside a gear box, it's probably OK.

[@DM4Aaron]

the millwakee motors are rc car motors, i got a couple that had terrible motors and used some amazon ones and they have been great for the last couple years.

[@snkfan]

I would love to see you fix VCRs the insides are insane

[@pyroslev]

My better half is hoping this doesn't inspire me to buy another case of 'broken' tools. Some of these 'returns' are actually trade in deals. The store has a sale where you turn in an old tool for credit on a new tool. I traded in a Black&Decker set of tools that were not working anymore to get new batteries. It helps reduce e-waste sort of trash and they get the sale. So not a scam like that metal bar but they should have labeled it on the auction listing. Call it questionable perhaps?

[@OvervoltedMinds]

Steve, on the DeWalt rotary hammer, on the switch the pins that slide on those tracks might need bending a bit to put more tension on the contact. Also, the switch/motor assembly you bought, the rotor gear is pretty used. Maybe test again the initial switch, then if it’s still not working, maybe compare the motor gears and swap them if the original one is in better shape

[@kitkat8dirty1gaming5]

You look amazing bro bro! Keep doing what you gotta do, and dont work yourself too hard.

[@shocked_shocked7703]

Those return scammers make me so mad

[@dilling442]

Looking good Steve!

[@fourdoorstance]

love the videos! I follow every episode this is good content you should have more of these anyway that milwaukee 2 all you have to do is break-in and clean that motor, like what we do for the tamiya mini 4wd motors to get stable contact and get it to spin smoother

[@MuseumStandard]

I don’t know what it is with power tools but man, I’ve seen some that just a little play somewhere and they stop working; while at the same time I’ve seen others that have been through construction sites for years, kicked around and mangled and somehow still working. We’re talking huge cracks, wobbly handles, but as long as the battery snaps in, they could keep going with some JB weld.

[@Houtka86]

I dig this long form content

[@BrandonWAndrews]

Been waiting!! Awesome

[@GamerDesdeLos90s]

NGL, I really enjoy watching your master skills on tech but seeing you going through powertools kinda feels like wasted talent. Your skills and super helpful tips I enjoy most when you work on other tech like electronics. Some of these stuff looks like going though a box of garbage and I dont like seeing you like that lol! But overall, super glad to see you are looking healthier Steve! 👊

[@alaahda]

don't forget to subscribe to this guy

[@Mobin92]

The Dewalt bags kinda look neat.

[@hrishikeshjoshi8074]

More of these videos please

[@FINNIUSORION]

with dewalt tools the 20 volt max tools are really 18 volt with 20 volt start up peek power. they share many of the same motors with the older 18 volt generation stuff. the biggest difference is the updated looking clam shells and the batteries obviously. and the brushless stuff. but that's why you can get the adapters to use the new 20volt batteries with the old 18v tools. I still keep my old 18volt dewalt tools for backups with the adapters and my 18v angle grinder and recip saw stay in my truck because they work fine but I wont be too upset if they get stolen.

[@Flimzes]

20v and 18v is exactly the same, just measured differently The nominal voltage of most rechargeable lithium ion cells is 3.6v, but 5 in series and you get 18v But, nominal is not max, in fact, they can be charged all the way up to 4.3v (but you really shouldn't), but most toolmaker will have them top out at 4.0-4.1v. So if you take 5 fully charged batteries in series, you get 20v Suddenly your old boring 18v tech is all new and fancy 20v tech! However if you use the batteries all the way down they will be at 3v each, and suddenly you just have pathetic 15v tech (until you charge it again) Marketing for the win!

[@FINNIUSORION]

@@Flimzes very good lol

[@mosindesire]

Good stuff. ❤

[@michaelkaster5058]

there is a depth setting on the stapler, at the front of the staple tray

[@fuzer4047]

Good thing to save money if you have knowledge to fix stuff

[@LordPrecision]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="923">15:23</a> there is a literal hole in the gas spring... no wonder it's not working!

[@AlexVonCrank]

I see Tronix. I hit like then watch.

[@TechneMoira]

You should maybe have put a little of Loctite blue (or similar) on that new fan's threads when you replaced the broken one. Otherwise, great cleaning and repair job :)

[@Tronicsfix]

It threads the opposite way the motor spins so it’ll constantly tighten itself

[@stingray427man]

Dude fixing lithium power tools 👀😎🤙

[@frijoles0007]

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2846">47:26</a> superglue and baking powder can do wonders to fix this kind of plastic and re-attach the piece

[@MisterMakerNL]

You can return amazon warehouse deals, just fine. Like I had a keyboard with a missing dongle, someone obviously stole it. And I just returned it.

[@darylhudson777]

What you do is you Ziploc all the pieces like on that rusty one and save it for parts like the shell and you might be able to fix the motor and I would stick the gearbox in some Evapo-rust to see if any parts are salvageable as everything can be used if you just take the time to put it in a ultrasonic heated cleaner tank Etc.

[@michaelklinge3277]

on the DeWalt impact with the 1 2 3 switch. That is not speed its torque so you don't break or strip screws out. it did sound like you may have had a loose battery at first though

[@zahidshabir4038]

Those DeWalt tools must be ancient I haven't seen a DeWalt stick battery in ages. The only 2 companies that I know that do stick batteries are Ryobi and Milwaukee both owned by TTI (Milwaukee does it on their 12v tools and Ryobi is just obvious though their 40V range uses the sliding locking mechanism)

[@edwardkay]

Is the buzzing on stapler A an air compressor or something to build up pressure to shoot the nail in.

[@Willalvers]

This is the stuff i would love to do...im not much of a talker but i sure can fix stuff ^_^

[@SnackJar]

You are looking healthy!

[@venex3rs318]

Having watched this I feel like having a crack at our big box of faulty tools in our workshop. Doesn't seem as scary now.

[@fabulousfabrications1985]

Gunk on the commutator bars that bring power to the stater coils will definitely be a problem

[@DarmokAtTanagra]

hair! woo! bold move tho with the tools....nothing like working on electronics...i'll work on some appliances like microwaves but things that have lots of specialized parts I always regret taking on...

[@AndrewBarr42]

How and why do the stores not check this? Ridiculous and now we pay more.

[@benspeakman]

$600 dollars for shipping....WHAT? Where did it come from China? At least someone made a profit!

[@nicholasfraley6353]

Do you think it's possible to use an ultrasonic dental tool to deal with that epoxy in the future?

[@biglsells]

Bought and sold customer returns and salvaged electronics for over 10 years as my main source of income. People are horrible, that's pretty much all I can say. The things I have seen and the scams they pull, ended up not being worth it. I did mainly computers / best buy products by the truckload.

[@CrispymexicanDUCK]

Amazing how people can get away with return scams like this. How hard is it to check a box?

[@MentalD-Fox]

Companies really care I see there :)) just take the boxes and resell them as bulk lots.

[@StefanMArndt]

You gotta be careful when cleaning your shaft with a brush. I prefer a using a cloth. Preferably microfiber.

[@WinterXI]

sadly all dewalt tools combine the trigger/speedcontroller and motor all in 1 replacement package, you can sometimes steal the trigger from donors but depends on the tool if you can remove them.

[@_Jamie_]

Great for the environment, Not terribly great for the timespent! Ah well.

[@dlplow]

That’s what happens when you for example use tools on a construction site. Those DeWalt tools were purchased. They were used at construction site hence why they’re so dirty and used looking and then they either broke or they returned them after the job was done like with returns. what do you expect expecting to get brand new items in a box? The returns ie broken i.e. used i.e. damaged they’re going to be used. Period lower your expectations with returns or stick to gaming consoles lol

[@onionhead5780]

Not profitable but at least you saved Mother Earth from all this stuff going to a landfill. Good work!