Rutlands Warning!

[johna.clements]

I'm scratching my head here: they're showing Trustpilot ratings for them as a company, reasonably enough since their Trustpilot average is 4.7/5. The Rutlands site also shows reviews for individual items, presumably where they have been reviewed. Looking at a random selection I can't see any problem with those reviews: for example, one item shows a five-star rating. It actually has 12 reviews, 11 of which are 5-star and one of 3 stars (and a rather silly quibble at that). That gives an average of just over 4.8, which works at a five stars in any normal rating using simple star symbols. Since I'm apparently a bear of very little brain, can you explain to me what's wrong with that rating?

Rutlands state they are "Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews". This implies that they are selected 4 and 5 star reviews. It is stated on trust pilot that they do select the reviews. I assume if you posted " 5 stars Brilliant tool but arrived a week late" it would not make our 4 & 5 star reviews.

If you have seen a 3 star review on the Rutlands site it would be interesting to see a link.

When I looked at Trustpilot the reviews were aggregated together. Is there a way of linking them together with the product they are reviewing. If you can not link the reviews with the item they are not much use if you are trying to compare that product with another.

 

[xenokeen]

Why do companies like Rutlands who really need the support of the woodworking communities treat customers like this, they have nothing to gain and everything to lose and it can only benefit other companies if they push people there way.

I had a slight issue with a product I brought from FC tools, contacted Frank to explain my issue and a replacement arrived the next day without any hassle, that is customer service we should all expect and is what generates repeat business.

They are scammers to be frank, they rebrand Wen tools from banggoods and temu, and also alot of cheap tool from Amazon and sells them 1,5x the price with their brand on them.

 

[simonridout]

3-4 years ago, I bought a dewalt plunge/track saw. I came with the blade fitted backwards! I figured it out when it cut slowly with lots of smoke! Since I changed the blade round it has been excellent.

 

[JimTaylor]

Every thing you buy, you get an email to leave a review.
Really bugs me, a couple of companies wouldn’t post a negative review.
Especially if it was down to poor delivery, as far as I’m concerned delivery is part of the service.
I’ve bought from Rutland Tools and have been happy with what I’ve received, but I am a hobbyist, so don’t hammer the tools 7 hours every day.

 

[akirk]

They are scammers to be frank, they rebrand Wen tools from banggoods and temu, and also alot of cheap tool from Amazon and sells them 1,5x the price with their brand on them.

I am not sure that registering on a forum and posting your first post by dragging up an old thread and claiming a company to be scammers is really the thing to do...

They are not scammers - you get exactly what they advertise and pay for - there are a large number of companies out there who rebrand the same chinese goods and sell them under their own brand - doesn't make them a scammer - indeed a lot of rutlands kit can also be bought from other companies such as record power (air extractor) or axminster - they are not always identical (though sometimes it is just a colour change) but usually the same basic item
record power - £169.99 https://www.recordpower.co.uk/product/two-stage-air-filter-with-remote-3-speeds-and-time-delay
rutlands - £200 https://www.rutlands.com/products/air-filter?_pos=1&_sid=f08d139d7&_ss=r
Axminster - £219.98 https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-workshop-aw15afs-air-filter-230v-107694

or belt / disc sander:
rutlands - £190 https://www.rutlands.com/products/belt-disc-sander
same product on Amazon from Excel / or Clarke at £50-£70 cheaper...

but... Rutlands have continuous sales and discounts - so sign up to their daily emails and wait - I bought my belt and disc sander for £90 and it is in daily use and has been for several years - works flawlessly...

Like any company - the punter also has an obligation to do due diligence and check things out first - they are very good at business, and yes that means they make money - they might even push boundaries ethically / legally - though from my research they are pretty squeaky clean even if they don't do what some punters want - but they also offer a superb service where you order and something arrives the next day - the one time I contacted them I received a rapid and helpful reply...

 

[JimTaylor]

Actually can’t think of anything that I got from Rutland Tools that I’m not happy with.
Especially if it’s on one of their sales.
Can’t expect Festool for the price of Titan, nothing wrong with Titan either.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

All companies make money somewhere, if they didn't they'd be bankrupt. For ever real bargain something else will be comparatively overpriced - it's up to you to find out which is which, they're under no obligation to tell you.

 

[John on the Wirral]

I used to buy cheap tools from China and had an enormous "Littlewoods - size" catalogue which sold every thing from knickers to knockers. I recognised many high street products which were unbranded eg. Halfords battery chargers etc. Nothing new about the practice

 

[Owd Jockey]

Did'nt we used to refer to this as "Badge Engineering"?

 

[stuart little]

Bit disappointing to post a negative thread but I didn’t want anyone else to lose out on time / money.
Recently bought a biscuit jointer from Rutlands as just needed something to throw together boards and quick joints, ordered from Rutlands as seemed to have good reviews and £100 so not too bad a price.
Arrived in a plastic bag only, the manual was all scuffed and I thought it seemed a bit rubbish but prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. Long story short the blade in the jointer was completely blunt - made a lovely burnt semi circle in the test piece I was using! - and when I emailed Rutlands they claimed the damage must have come from ParcelForce (the worlds slowest delivery company!!) and made no further comment when I pointed out that a rubbish box, no packaging and a delivery company aren’t likely to be the reason for a blunt blade inside a jointer they haven’t responded further!
You’ve been warned!

Afraid I can't agree with your comment regarding Paecelforce. This week they collected 4 long parcels from me, at their ;48' delivery service, all were delivered next day! But, saying that, they failed to collect yesterday, on checking back, the message I got was:-" No one available at address"! LIES.I was in waiting. I'm in 24/7/365 ( well, almost).

 

[stuart little]

Bought THIS from Screwfix, cost £60.00 -- good enough for me !

Me too, excellent piece of kit, but a bit hard (for me anyhow) to push in. I sold it after it bbecame; 'surplus to requirements'.

 

[stuart little]

Expecting my Rutlands delivery today but the thing that winds me up the most is their offers. I would buy far more from them if they changed. Some offer just reduce the price which is fine. I don't have an issue with that but far too many are BOGOF. These aren't for useful consumable or things that wear out but are specialist tools you use a few times in your lifetime / or lifetime supply of say carpenter pencils. You don't need two lifetimes supply or two identical tools most of the time (some exceptions). RANT mode off

What happened to 'BOGOFFS'? I remember supermarkets offering one on iceberg 'lettice'. WTF would one need two for, unless catering or party prep.?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I get a catalogue of fire extinguishers every month from a company I've bought from - how many do they think I need?

 

[stuart little]

I get a catalogue of fire extinguishers every month from a company I've bought from - how many do they think I need?

Sounds like 'ar son'.

 

[RobinBHM]

They are scammers to be frank, they rebrand Wen tools from banggoods and temu, and also alot of cheap tool from Amazon and sells them 1,5x the price with their brand on them.

I think that’s unfair

I’ve bought some excellent things from them.

I have a Brad point drill bit set 3 to 13 mm in 0.5 increments - it was cheap but they drill really clean holes

 

[stuart little]

I think that’s unfair

I’ve bought some excellent things from them.

I have a Brad point drill bit set 3 to 13 mm in 0.5 increments - it was cheap but they drill really clean holes

Yes, v.good, but it's not easy finding the X.5 replacements. Actually I'd forgotten where from I bought mine, so thanks for the reminder.

 

[Distinterior]

I get a catalogue of fire extinguishers every month from a company I've bought from - how many do they think I need?

Well,...If you have commercial premises, the extinguishers you have, need to be checked & certified every 12 months and they only have a limited lifespan before they have to be replaced completely or refurbished......Failure to do so voids any insurance you have.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

but not every month.

 

[Distinterior]

but not every month.

....True!

 

[Not-Entirely-Useless]

They are scammers to be frank, they rebrand Wen tools from banggoods and temu, and also alot of cheap tool from Amazon and sells them 1,5x the price with their brand on them.

A more accurate description would say that they sell the same things under their brand name that many others (Excel, Lumberjack, Axminster, for example) sell 7nder their brand names at prices which are sometimes higher, sometimes lower, depending on whose got a deal on. Hardly any (maybe none) of the lower priced brands actually make their products: the most they do is specify, and sometimes the spec goes no farther than the nameplate.

I’ve bought from most of the low end brands, and the products have been fine.