Ryobi garage door openers were once a popular option for homeowners looking for an affordable and reliable way to automatically open and close their garage doors. However, in recent years, Ryobi has discontinued manufacturing garage door openers and focused their business on power tools and outdoor equipment.
Page Contents
- 1 When did Ryobi stop making garage door openers?
- 2 Why did Ryobi discontinue garage door openers?
- 3 What options do I have if I own a Ryobi garage door opener?
- 4 What features will I be missing out on with a Ryobi garage door opener?
- 5 Are Ryobi garage door openers still available anywhere?
- 6 Where can I get Ryobi garage door opener parts and accessories?
- 7 What’s the reputation of Ryobi garage door openers?
- 8 How do Ryobi garage door openers compare to models from other brands?
- 9 Conclusion
When did Ryobi stop making garage door openers?
Ryobi stopped manufacturing garage door openers around 2015. This decision coincided with Ryobi’s acquisition by the Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd (TTI).
TTI chose to focus Ryobi’s product lineup on core categories like power tools, lawn equipment, and accessories. As a result, Ryobi garage door openers were phased out of production over the next couple of years as inventory was sold off.
Why did Ryobi discontinue garage door openers?
There are a few key reasons why Ryobi likely exited the garage door opener market:
- Declining market share – Ryobi lagged behind major brands like Chamberlain and LiftMaster in market share. Focusing on more successful product categories allowed Ryobi to better compete.
- Increasing technology – Garage door openers were becoming more advanced with features like ultra quiet motors, backup batteries, WiFi connectivity, etc. Keeping pace would have required major R&D investments.
- Focus on core products – TTI wanted Ryobi to focus on products where it already had strong brand recognition and distribution like power tools.
- Low profit margins – Garage door openers are inexpensive and require extensive customer support. Ryobi likely wanted to avoid low margin commodity products.
Discontinuing garage door openers allowed Ryobi to focus resources on more profitable growth opportunities in their core product lines.
What options do I have if I own a Ryobi garage door opener?
If you currently own a Ryobi garage door opener, you have a few options:
Continue using it
Ryobi openers are well-built and with proper maintenance can provide years of continued service. You can likely get replacement parts as needed. However, features and connectivity will be limited compared to new models.
Purchase a universal replacement remote
Some manufacturers like Genie sell replacement remotes that are designed to work with multiple brands, including Ryobi. This can restore remote functionality if yours is lost or broken.
Upgrade to a new opener
Replacing with a brand new opener from Chamberlain, LiftMaster or another brand gives you modern features and long-term support. However, it requires installing a whole new motor, rail and hardware.
Hire a professional
A local garage door pro can assess your Ryobi opener, make any needed repairs, install new parts or replace it entirely as cost-effective solution. This also transfers labor warranty to an ongoing service provider.
What features will I be missing out on with a Ryobi garage door opener?
Here are some key features that Ryobi openers lack compared to newer models from other leading brands:
Smartphone control
Most new openers can connect to your smartphone via WiFi to allow remote monitoring, control and alerts. This convenient feature is not available with Ryobi models.
Battery backup
Having a backup battery allows the opener to still function during power outages. Ryobi openers do not have backup power.
Ultra-quiet operation
Ryobi motors tend to be louder than the whisper-quiet ones offered by Chamberlain and LiftMaster.
Security upgrades
New security features like motion detection alerts and encryption between opener and remote are missing on outdated Ryobi models.
Warranty
Major brands like LiftMaster offer lifetime motor and belt warranties. Once Ryobi halted production, it became harder to claim warranty coverage.
Are Ryobi garage door openers still available anywhere?
Unfortunately Ryobi garage door openers are no longer being manufactured or sold through authorized retailers. Remaining new old stock was cleared out years ago after the company halted production.
However, you may still find Ryobi garage door openers available through some limited channels:
- Used openers may be sold on online classifieds like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc. These come with no warranty but can be inexpensive.
- Old dealer inventory sitting in warehouses for years may still get listed occasionally by sellers who are slow to update. But most legitimate major retailers no longer sell Ryobi openers.
- Refurbished units may be available via third parties that specialize in refurbishing. Supply is low and quality can vary.
In most cases, purchasing through these unofficial channels comes with a risk of no warranty coverage and potential missing or incompatible parts down the line.
Where can I get Ryobi garage door opener parts and accessories?
Here are a few options for finding parts and accessories for Ryobi garage door openers:
- Check with local garage door companies – they sometimes keep spare parts for older openers around and can service Ryobi models.
- Look on eBay and Amazon – you can often find individual Ryobi opener parts like remotes, control boards, sprockets, etc. available from third-party sellers.
- Search Google – some websites specialize in supplying parts for older discontinued openers, sometimes you can contact them to request Ryobi parts.
- Contact a refurbishing company – companies that refurbish old openers will sometimes have a stock of salvaged Ryobi parts to maintain equipment.
- Consider universal replacements – Genie Intellicode remotes can replace Ryobi remotes for basic functions.
The challenge is that supplies are limited for these discontinued openers. Over time, finding certain Ryobi-specific parts may become difficult or impossible.
What’s the reputation of Ryobi garage door openers?
Here is a quick overview of the reputation held by Ryobi garage door openers while they were still being manufactured and sold:
- Good value – Ryobi openers were seen as an affordable option that provided decent reliability and performance for the price.
- Middle of the road quality – They offered basic functionality but didn’t have premium features or the technological innovation of top brands.
- DIY-friendly – Openers were designed to be easy for homeowners to self-install thanks to simple designs.
- Mixed reliability – While some units held up well over time, others experienced issues with premature wear, glitches or failures.
- Basic features – Lacked cutting-edge smart connectivity and convenience offered by upscale models.
- Barebones accessories – Had minimal accessory options and expandability beyond the basics.
- Minimal noise insulation – Ryobi models tended to be louder than those focused on ultra-quiet operation.
In summary, Ryobi represented an average-performing budget-tier brand that provided an introductory garage door automation option with limited add-ons or advanced functionality. Experiences varied due to uneven reliability from one unit to the next.
How do Ryobi garage door openers compare to models from other brands?
Ryobi garage door openers sat at the entry-level end of the market during their production run. Here is how they compared to competing brands:
Vs. Chamberlain
- Ryobi – More DIY-friendly, cheaper.
- Chamberlain – Quieter, smarter, more feature-packed.
Chamberlain commanded premium pricing but offered best-in-class performance, technology, ultra-quiet motors and long warranties.
Vs. LiftMaster
- Ryobi – More affordable, easier installation.
- LiftMaster – Stronger motors, integrated battery backups available.
LiftMaster operated a tier above Ryobi as a leading professional-grade brand with excellent power, reliability and support.
Vs. Genie
- Ryobi – Lower cost on average.
- Genie – Broader smart feature options like Aladdin Connect.
Genie covered a wide spectrum from value openers to WiFi-enabled models. Overall quality was similar to Ryobi.
Vs. Craftsman
- Ryobi – Comparable performance and price points.
- Craftsman – Backed by Sears reputation and support.
Craftsman and Ryobi battled for DIY homeowners seeking basic functionality at lower price points.
In summary, Ryobi garage door openers were not market leaders in terms of features, technology or durability. But they offered an inexpensive starting point for adding automated convenience to your home.
Conclusion
Ryobi’s exit from the garage door opener market removed a long-time affordable DIY option for homeowners. While Ryobi openers lacked some of the sophisticated features and reliability of premium brands, they appealed to those seeking to automate their garage door on a budget.
Owners of Ryobi openers can keep using them as long as they maintain reliability or look at replacement options when issues arise. Since the openers are discontinued, finding compatible Ryobi parts and accessories requires some effort going forward. Overall, Ryobi offered a solid mid-range product line in its day despite trailing the innovations of market leaders.