i have now submitted a request to their customer service (via their contact form on website) to ask how I can converse with their legal department.
Not that I'm trying to sue them; that's not my goal. But I want to understand who wrote these documents and if they are valid or not?
http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/104405764pdf?$PDF$
https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/1661827pdf?$PDF$
Clearly these are nearly identical (brand wording differences). Ashland is the parent company of Valvoline and they do the private labeling for Napa, as we all know.
Anyone find the actual link to these docs on the official websites? I cannot seem to find the origin of them.
I seriously doubt I'll get an answer as to contacting the lawyers, but it's at least fair to give them a chance to explain. Wouldn't surprise me if they get caught off guard and are not aware the CS people are telling us there's no warranty at all. The corporate world is full of folks whom just wing it and state things because they either don't know, or have been told something and embellish. Even where I work I've had to repeatedly correct the same person in a sister organization of ours; he continually misquotes me and makes stuff up (marketing person; big surprise, right?).
The total irony here is that the CS folks are saying "Hey - there's no warranty; implied or written, but we'll fix your car if our lubes are bad, but we won't warrant it." That, folks, borders on the dumbest of dumb. You cannot tell someone something and then say it's not true, but it is, but it's not, but it is ... you get the point. Again, I was not only told this, but have it in writing with their CS email address attached. Yet the written limited warranty for both brands not only states they will warrant the product, but they will also fix the equipment (engine, trans, whatever) back to "normal performance" should the fluid be proven at fault. That is actually a very good warranty statement and would restore my faith. But it completely contradicts what I was told by CS.
Admittedly my pitiful little $20 purchase means nothing to them. But a large fleet operator whom relies on bulk Vavoline or Napa stuff might really take interest in this! Why use a product that won't give you a straight answer and be willing to back it up, especially when other companies are VERY clear about the written warranty they provide.
You can, perhaps, now understand my "word of caution"?
I'm not saying the product (Maxlife ATF) is bad; I believe it to be good. I've used it many times before and had no issues whatsoever.
I just expect folks to not talk out of both sides of their posterior when giving me warranty info about the product.
At this point, it's a quest just to see how deep the stupidity is rooted.