Gotta give credit to Mag

[Alero]

I gotta give credit where credit is due here.

I have about a dozen mini-mag 2xAA lights that I've collected over the years. 2 of them had a broken contact (probably due to my carelessness) in the switch assembly.
I finally got tired of looking at them and rigging a half-assed fix, so I called Mag and said it would be stupid to ship them back and forth.
They agreed and just sent me the parts free of charge.

A lifetime warranty is one thing, but it's a lot better when it's a hassle-free, no questions asked warranty.

So good job on this one Mag!

 

[Black Rose]

On a related note about the warranty.

Over the weekend I bought a Mag 3-pack on sale (2xAA minimag, 1 Solitarire, 2xAAA minimag) and the packaging says lifetime warranty but the pamphlet inside says 10 year warranty.

Anyone see this before?

 

[Zoofa88]

Over the weekend I bought a Mag 3-pack on sale (2xAA minimag, 1 Solitarire, 2xAAA minimag) and the packaging says lifetime warranty but the pamphlet inside says 10 year warranty.

Mag warranty is "Limited Lifetime Warranty in the Western Hemisphere and Japan; Ten-Year Limited Warranty Elsewhere" - perhaps they accidentally put the "elsewhere" pamphlet in your package?

 

[Black Rose]

It's possible.

The store I bought it from listed it as a Special Buy, so perhaps they picked up some "elsewhere" overstock.

 

[Alero]

Yeah it's lifetime in the USA. In fact, it's a lot like Craftsman tools because they don't even ask for a serial number, personal info, or if the damaged was a defect or if you just killed it on purpose. They just send the parts or replace the light.

Another thing that most people don't know, is that they have an agreement with Duracell and with Energizer. If a battery from either of those brands ever leaks and damages your mag, send it in and Mag will replace the light. If it's another brand of battery, they might not replace the light. I think battery leakage is about the only thing not covered under warranty. However, I suppose it just depends on the mood of the person who gets it because they replaced one for me that had some off-brand batteried leak in it. They just included a note saying that they aren't supposed to replace it and to start using better batteries (which I did!).


I just wish they would replace scratched lenses with glass ones!

 

[MorePower]

Another thing that most people don't know, is that they have an agreement with Duracell and with Energizer. If a battery from either of those brands ever leaks and damages your mag, send it in and Mag will replace the light.

Duracell, Energizer, and Rayovac have guarantees to repair or replace any device damaged by their cells; you can send lights with leaking cells to them and they will usually just send you a check for MSRP of the light. I got a check for $27 for a leaked-in 2D light from Duracell just last year.

 

[Brownstone]

Another thing that most people don't know, is that they have an agreement with Duracell and with Energizer. If a battery from either of those brands ever leaks and damages your mag, send it in and Mag will replace the light. If it's another brand of battery, they might not replace the light.

Here is an excerpt from the leakage policy from Mag Instrument, Inc:

Mag does not warrant against battery leakage, however, we do have agreements with Duracell, Eveready and Ray-O-Vac. If one of these brands of batteries has leaked in your flashlight, send the flashlight to us and we will repair or replace it at no charge to you.
​

In general, however, this isn't something unique to Mag. The major battery companies all warrant against damage caused by their products:

Duracell: ...should any device be damaged by these batteries due to such defect, Duracell will repair or replace it...
Energizer: ...we will repair or replace, at our option, any device damaged by these Energizer batteries...
Rayovac: ...we will replace or repair at our option, any device damaged by this battery...
​

I've personally used the Energizer warranty to receive a check for my full original purchase price on a five-year-old Princeton Tec headlamp.

It sounds like Mag has worked out a deal to be the "warranty middleman" with the battery companies. This is a win-win for Mag and the battery companies.

The retail price on a 2D Mag is around $32. If a consumer went through the traditional warranty process for leakage in a 2D Mag, the battery company would be out $32, the consumer would be ahead $32, and Mag may or may not make money depending on what the consumer did with the check.

Mag and the battery companies have certainly worked out a wholesale warranty replacement cost (I would guess in the $8-$12 range). Now if the consumer sends their 2D light to Mag, then the battery company is out fewer dollars, Mag makes a few dollars, and the consumer gets a new light.

 

[Crenshaw]

The battery company's warrenty thing would be useless for out of production lights that are worth more then thier retail price,have alot of personal value, and cant be replaced. I would be really pissed if a battery exploded inside my LS .Just a thought, although i realise there really is nothing anyone can do about that. lol

Crenshaw

 

[Wattnot]

I've used the Enegizer warranty twice (many years ago) and they actually sent a new item, not a check. One was my Simpson multimeter and I can't remember what the other one was.

I've never had to use Duracell's warranty because to this day I have not found a Duracell that leaked.

I always tried to avoid RayOvacs becuase I never liked their run time. I do like their CR123's though.

Duracell's are my favorites but because Sam's only has Enegizers, I'm mostly stuck buying those. Duracells in other stores seem to be twice the price. They're worth paying more for but not double! I'm tempted to start buying them online . . . . some of the dealers we buy our stuff from sell alkalines too.

Glad to hear Mag stands behind their products to that degree.

 

[Duodec]

The warranty info is interesting to know; wish I'd known it yesterday. I have a 4D that had a set of Energizers leak in it, but not too badly. Batteries are gone and I was able to clean out the interior so its back in operation.

I think in this case it was winter usage; this is my dogwalking light and it got pretty cold every night. Too many temperature cycles over the last two months, I think, because there was actual rust on two of the batteries.

 

[Crenshaw]

I've used the Enegizer warranty twice (many years ago) and they actually sent a new item, not a check. One was my Simpson multimeter and I can't remember what the other one was.

I've never had to use Duracell's warranty because to this day I have not found a Duracell that leaked.

I always tried to avoid RayOvacs becuase I never liked their run time. I do like their CR123's though.

Duracell's are my favorites but because Sam's only has Enegizers, I'm mostly stuck buying those. Duracells in other stores seem to be twice the price. They're worth paying more for but not double! I'm tempted to start buying them online . . . . some of the dealers we buy our stuff from sell alkalines too.

Glad to hear Mag stands behind their products to that degree.

wonder if you know about this

http://www.pentagonlight.com/item_detail.cfm__id.527

Crenshaw

 

[Stereodude]

Duracell's are my favorites but because Sam's only has Enegizers, I'm mostly stuck buying those. Duracells in other stores seem to be twice the price. They're worth paying more for but not double! I'm tempted to start buying them online . . . . some of the dealers we buy our stuff from sell alkalines too.

FWIW, Costco is currently selling Duracell's.

 

[willrx]

Nice story, thanks for sharing.

 

[swampgator]

I've never had to use Duracell's warranty because to this day I have not found a Duracell that leaked.

I always tried to avoid RayOvacs becuase I never liked their run time. I do like their CR123's though.

All alkalines can leak, Duracells included. I've been using Rayovacs exclusively for over a year and half and have found their runtime is comprable.

Duracell's are my favorites but because Sam's only has Enegizers, I'm mostly stuck buying those.

When I was in the Army in the early 90s the PX only sold Energizers and the Commissary only sold Duracells. They were right beside each other so it wasn't a big deal.

 

[Stereodude]

Duracell: ...should any device be damaged by these batteries due to such defect, Duracell will repair or replace it...
Energizer: ...we will repair or replace, at our option, any device damaged by these Energizer batteries...
Rayovac: ...we will replace or repair at our option, any device damaged by this battery...

:thinking: I need to start putting "leaky" alkaline batteries in my devices that are broken so I get get them replaced.

 

[DaveG]

Talk about timing, I just got through cleaning up a 3-d Mag,that leaked when it was in my car.It had Duracells in it,have to get it touch with Maglight.

 

[Black Rose]

On a related note about the warranty.

Over the weekend I bought a Mag 3-pack on sale (2xAA minimag, 1 Solitarire, 2xAAA minimag) and the packaging says lifetime warranty but the pamphlet inside says 10 year warranty.

Anyone see this before?

I'll respond to my own post

I just received a response from Mag regarding my warranty coverage question.

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for your interest in Maglite products. We appreciate you
bringing this to our attention! You are absolutely correct...Canada is
covered under our limited lifetime warranty, so no to worry. Should you
require warranty service, we don't ask for proof of purchase, registration
or the like.

Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,
XXXX XXXXX
Customer Service