I purchased a Rainbow Vacuum cleaner in 1996 with the promise of a free Lifetime Warranty. This is not true, there is no free lifetime warranty. You must pay for it. If your dealer goes out of business so does your Lifetime Warranty even if you have been paying for it. I went to an authorized Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner Dealer in SF and was given a $480 estimate to replace the burned out motor. Now what?

See message from Rainbow Vacuum Customer Service:

Subject: RE: Rainbow SE - motor burned out
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:31:01 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: Me

Dear Me:

As I explained before that extended warranty was offered to you through your selling distributor and if that individual is out of business, your extended coverage has gone with him/her. If you would like to find service for your Rainbow locally, you may start by contacting the main office over the San Franciso are listed below:


Charles W. Finch
Valley Industries
1695 Abram Court, #214
San Leandro State... CA Zip Code..: 94577
US United States
Contact...:
Phone 510-357-4601 Fax 510-357-4192


Sincerely,
Michele
Customer Relations


From: Me
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 8:21 PM
To: Customer Service
Subject: RE: Rainbow SE - motor burned out

I live in San Francisco now - what next?


Subject: RE: Rainbow SE - motor burned out
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:21:24 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: Me

Dear Me:

We are the manufacturer of the Rainbow products and the warranty that we offered on the SE model covered you for the first three years of ownership to address problems and defect. If that warranty was extended to you by your selling distributor for any amount to time beyond the three years, that contract was between you and that selling distributor's business. Since it appears that the selling distributor is out of business, the extended warranty is null and void unless, that main office in your area is able to extend coverage to you on behalf of the now absent distributor.
I'm sorry for the confusion on how the warranty coverage works-I might still suggest that you contact the two main offices in authority in the Houston area for possible assistance-

Sincerely,
Michele
Customer Relations


From: Me
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 8:59 PM
To: Customer Service
Subject: RE: Rainbow SE - motor burned out

Sorry but the product was sold with a lifetime warranty. I have moved to California and can not locate my original paperwork. Everyone I talk to has been told the same thing. Which is the Rainbow is so expensive because it has a lifetime warranty. If the lifetime warranty is not true please let me know so that I can make sure everyone knows.

Regards,
Me


Subject: RE: Rainbow SE - motor burned out
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:22:42 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: Me

Dear Me;

I'm sorry but the manufacturer's warranty on the SE Rainbow covered your first three years of ownership only-
The two distributors listed below are in authority over the Houston area and they may be able to assist you if your manufacturer's warranty had been extended by your selling distributor. If you have any paperwork from your original sale-you might want to have that in front of you whenyou contact Julio and Curt-
I hope this is helpful-

Julio R. & Ana Morales
Rowest Products LLC
6903 Granger Ridge Lane

Richmond State.: TX

77469 -

281-762-7152
[email protected]

Curtis L. Meador & Paul Sahmel
PS & CM LLC
1702 Strawberry Rd.
Suite 400
Pasadena State.: TX

77502 -

713-477-9051
[email protected]


Sincerely,
Michele
Customer Relations


From: Me
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 9:02 PM
To: Customer Service
Subject: Rainbow SE - motor burned out

Hello,
I am the original owner of a Rainbow SE vacuum cleaner. I purchased the unit in Houston, TX around 1995 or 1996. I took the vacuum cleaner to a repair store and they gave me an estimate of approx. $500 to replace the motor. I remember that the sales person told me Rainbow has a lifetime warrantly that is one of the reasons that I purchased the unit. Please contact me to let me know how I can get this repair/replacement motor under warranty and by who.

Regards,
Me