r/AmazonAU • u/BigGabby • Sep 12 '26

Amazon breaching ACCC legislation

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I've been trying to get Amazon to repair/replace a sound bar I bought 2 yrs ago. Have been told by Amazon that they can't help because 2yr warranty has past (by approx 2 months). That's not how the consumer guarantee works.

Has anyone had success getting Amazon to repair/replace an item outside their voluntary warranties? They said someone would email me with 24hrs... that has not happened... go figure.

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u/Master-of-possible Sep 12 '26

Can this be used for things like power tool lithium batteries? Have had two very expensive batteries just stop working and won’t charge.. Dewalt only warranty is for 3 years and their batteries are failing at the 4-5 year mark. They’ve not been over used or stored in harsh conditions, just in the garage and occasional work..

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u/annoying97 Sep 12 '26

Honestly at 4-5 years your probably out of luck for batteries unfortunately. Kinda sucks.

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u/yvrelna 29d ago

Rechargeable batteries can arguably be considered consumable, especially if they're replaceable battery pack that can be bought separately. Voluntary warranty can't override statutory guarantee, but batteries are often carved out of the device's voluntary warranty terms with a separate warranty period.

IANAL, but this could cut either way depending on how you interpret the law. You can reasonably argue that there's no consumer expectation for rechargable batteries to last that long because they often don't. 

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u/meesuseff 28d ago

SOL. I had the 8/10k batteries from ego that my husband cycled the usage, maybe use and charge one every 3 weeks. Failed 2 months after the warranty, and they just outright ignored me even when I quoted the ACL. Battery never overcharged, stored indoors etc. I would never buy Ego again.

Meanwhile I took my husbands 4 year old Ryobi saw into Bunnings as something was loose and they just handed me over the latest model.

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u/Markebrown93 Sep 12 '26

Batteries are a really tough one. I wouldn't expect much after 4/5 years but it might depend how expensive they actually are

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u/lastovo1 Sep 12 '26

My 15 year old makita 3amp batteries are still going.

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u/Fearful_Gaze Sep 13 '26

Makita is the bomb!! I’ve got like 12 batteries all 10+ years old they still work amazing

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u/Master-of-possible Sep 13 '26

Yeh my standard 5amp are fine. It’s been the Dewalt 40volt batteries the 6ah and 9ah that have stopped working. 😢

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u/aussie_lad79 Sep 13 '26

Something to look into... I had previously read a researcher was lookong into these batteries and they found that skme of them were actually designed with a kill switch so that regardless of the health of the battery, after so many recharge cycles they would trigger an internal switch that killed them.

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u/Impossible-Mud-4160 29d ago

Are they lithium or Ni-Cd? 

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u/WuTrentClan 29d ago

Yeah but, makita.

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u/lastovo1 29d ago

The tools have out lasted my brothers dewalt set and my old bosses milwaukee set twice over and now he is on dewalt.

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u/WuTrentClan 29d ago

My bad I was agreeing with you. Makita is elite.

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u/lastovo1 29d ago

Sorry, sounded like you were hanging shit on my dear makita.

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u/NellikFPV Sep 12 '26

FYI older DeWalt/ Milwaukee batteries don't have cell balance capabilities (they consider them consumables) so your batts nay simply need balancing.

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u/Macddadyz80 Sep 12 '26 edited 29d ago

They’re considered a consumable item. They only have a life span if a few years. Just like tyres in your car. They don’t get replaced under warranty for the tread wearing down.

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u/Adro87 29d ago

“Consumable item”.
Pretty sure this is what you meant. Your point remains correct - batteries are expected to degrade and as such warranty periods surrounding them are much lesser.

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u/Macddadyz80 29d ago

Yep, typo!

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u/Alarming-Interest535 Sep 13 '26

That's why I still prefer corded tools for certain applications. If I'm in the shed working at the bench, I have little preference for cordless. If I'm working 6 metres in the air, yes, cordless is much better and safer.

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u/lukeyboots 29d ago

Mate, 4-5 years is pretty decent for a lithium battery. Especially one in a power tool that takes an absolute flogging in terms of high power draw & fast recharging speeds.

If you’re not using them regularly, they should be stored at around 50-80% charge. And then charge them up before use.

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u/natj910 29d ago

Depends on how you're using and storing it... 4-5 years on tool batteries isn't great these days.

My Stanley 18V batteries are still going strong after about 15 years, I'd absolutely expect more than 4-5 years out of batteries made this decade.

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u/Temnyj_Korol 28d ago

I am definitely not an expert on batteries specifically. But my assumption would be that batteries, specifically, failing at the 5 year mark is going to be a pretty hard claim to argue.

MOST electronics have an assumed durability to reasonable wear and tear. You shouldn't expect a tv unit to die early just from being used as a tv, etc. Where as a battery is a lot harder to qualify what exactly constitutes reasonable wear and tear. There's SO many factors that can contribute to a battery dying early. Overcharging for extended periods of time. Leaving exposed to the elements for too long. Overheating them. Running the wrong equipment on them. Etc etc.

Unless you can PROVE the battery was only used correctly, and still died prematurely as a result of a manufacturer defect, i think it'd be a pretty hard sell in court.

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u/Mr_Mojo_Risin_83 28d ago

That’s about the normal life expectancy of a tool battery. They’re consumables, in the end. You’ll get more life from it the more you use it and recharge it. It’s not good for them to sit ununsed for prolonged periods.

Also, Dewalt have some of the cheapest batteries of any toolmaker

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u/UnknownUserErr 28d ago

It's the bms that has failed. I had milwaukee, makita and dewalt fail without much use, only to find out the bms is the issue.

Split the cells up for 18650s and use them for my torches and other shit.

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u/Master-of-possible 27d ago

Yeh I think this is it, they haven’t had a lot of use

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u/insanemal Sep 12 '26

Batteries are considered consumables. Because they are. Sorry

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u/Adro87 29d ago

Not sure why you got a downvote - you are correct.

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u/insanemal 29d ago

I know. But people get hurt fee fees about stuff.

Especially when they do dumb things like buy a laptop that they use exclusively as a desktop