New Misco emaple Refractometer Disapointment

[sapsucker78]

So I have been using Misco emaple refractometers for 16 years now. My 1st unit worked well but went through batteries faster each year until it would need new batteries 2 times a day and I finally got sick of it and ordered my second one. The second one worked well and batteries would last a full season it it was a great unit until this year when I broke the hinge on the "flapper" or "lid" that closes over the test well. It still works but is now a 2 piece tester which isn't the most convenient. Anyway I decided to order another new one online in hopes of having a good reliable tester again ($500 with shipping) which would now be my 3rd unit. Well it showed up 8 days later, I calibrated it used it 5-6 times and then it started showing "error" on the screen. I let it sit over the rest of the day and used the old one. The next day I tried again and it worked 2 times and then showed the "error" again. I then called Misco customer service and talked to a "Mike Barber". He told me to ship it back and he would get it fixed right way or ship a new one out under warranty. Well after a week of hearing nothing I decide to call him and check in on the status. First they tell me that they can't find it, then they call me back and say they found it, but that they can not fix it or warranty because it had liquid inside of it and wouldn't even power up anymore? The only thing they will do is give me a $50 off of a new one. I have no idea if they got my unit mixed up or if it had bad seals from the factory but I did not get it wet anymore than dripping sap on the test well and cleaning it back off. I am pretty reluctant to purchase another one after loosing $500 to what I think is not my mistake. Has anyone else had issues with Misco customer service? Any other good brands out there with better customer service? Sorry for the rant, I'm feeling a little grumpy about it.

[maple flats]

Wow, that sure sounds like you got shafted. I'm not sure what I would do. my only suggestion is if you do get another guard it as well as you possibly can.
It might be a good time to try a Murphy cup and a good hydrometer, while you do need a larger sample, they seem to be fool proof and the cost for both is far less than $500.
I would think Misco would stand behind it, word like this getting out will sway lots of producers who were on the edge, between a Misco refractometer and the Murphy cup/hydrometer combo. This will hurt their future sales in my book.

[sapsucker78]

Wow, that sure sounds like you got shafted. I'm not sure what I would do. my only suggestion is if you do get another guard it as well as you possibly can.
It might be a good time to try a Murphy cup and a good hydrometer, while you do need a larger sample, they seem to be fool proof and the cost for both is far less than $500.
I would think Misco would stand behind it, word like this getting out will sway lots of producers who were on the edge, between a Misco refractometer and the Murphy cup/hydrometer combo. This will hurt their future sales in my book.

For hot syrup I just use a hydrometer and find it to be an easier and better option. I mainly have just used the Misco's for sap and occasionally for cold syrup. What I really liked it for is sap, RO concentrate, and permeate. I buy a lot of raw sap from a number of producers so having a good way of testing sugar is important.

[Bucket Head]

Very sorry to hear this story. Sadly, customer service as a whole is on a downward spiral, and you are seeing it firsthand. Sounds like they don't want to own up to a faulty unit.
I bought one years ago and wasn't happy with it. Like Sapsucker, mine worked great for cold/room temperature sap and syrup. But it was a tremendous waste of time for anything hot. It was very frustrating.
I don't know what other units might be available, but my hydrometer and I have become good friends. More often than not, the original and 'old fashioned' way of doing something is far better than the newly reinvented wheel.

Steve

[christopherh]

I sent my Misco in for repair after it wouldn’t power up. After they evaluated it, I was told it was too old to repair and they offered me a $50 discount on a new one. I received the new one and had constant error messages on it as well. I sent it back in and was told there was nothing wrong with it and they couldn’t duplicate the problem. After many calls back and forth they agreed to send me a brand new one. This one works well. It was a headache dealing with them. Fortunately I live near the main office and was able to meet the representative which I think helped my situation.

[johnallin]

Sorry to hear you had trouble.. I've had mine for 10 years now and so far, it still works just fine. It's only used when I bottle syrup so has had a fairly sheltered life.
In regards to hot syrup, it does take several minutes to get an accurate reading on syrup that's 100 plus degrees.

Like Chris, I am close to the main office/factory and have dropped it off once or twice to be to have it checked and calibrated.

[DrTimPerkins]

We've tried and compared several types of refractometers over the years and have settled on using the Misco units. We've had at least a dozen of them. They get a lot of use in our research - sometimes hundreds of measurements daily...mostly for sap, but occasionally for syrup. Most are them have proved to be very reliable and have lasted for years. We had one unit that failed within a single season (bad seal we think) and another that failed within a couple of years (probably also a bad seal). Given the amount and conditions of they are used in, they do get dropped occasionally, so we've not sent them in for evaluation and repair. It's a tough life for an electronic device...very cold or very hot temperatures, liquids, high humidity (sugarhouse), in the lab, in the woods, in the sugarhouse.

This situation sounds unusual and I hope you're able to get it resolved.