Hey everyone, we purchased a batch of Packout drawers back in July 2025 for our students as welcome gifts and replacements for lockers. These are super helpful since we do a lot of fieldwork, but I've noticed that this batch seems to have a recurring problem with the locking tab failing. I wanted to ask two things: 1. Has anyone else experienced similar issues with drawers from around this date? 2. Is there a way to replace just the locking tab? We don't have the budget to replace all the units, and so far, 7 out of 12 are failing without even being used in heavy-duty situations. Any advice would be appreciated!
4 Answers
If they’re failing, I'd suggest returning them to Home Depot. It’s their responsibility, so you shouldn’t have to deal with repairs or shipping costs. Just give them a call, explain what’s going on, and stand firm on your rights, especially since you already spent a good amount of money on these.
You might try a DIY solution! I actually 3D printed a new latch from PETG, and it has held up much better than the original one. You'll need to remove the drawers to get to the screw in the center of the latch, but it's not too tricky. Just slide the latch out and replace it with the new one without having to take everything apart.
Have you tried calling Milwaukee directly? They should help you with warranty issues, especially since Home Depot in the US can handle most Packout-related problems. I've bought several boxes from around that time and haven’t had any issues. Just be aware that the production dates might be older than expected, so check those! There's no official part for replacing that latch, but they might send you new boxes if it’s covered by warranty.
Honestly, if these Packouts can’t handle a student training class, I'm worried about their durability in the field. But I do know some contractors haven't had any issues with theirs, so it might be a batch-specific problem.
Yeah, it seems like it could be a quality control issue with that particular batch. Definitely check how long ago they were made.