edit: 10/22/11, Extech has contacted me and resolved the situation beyond my satisfaction. My response and further details can be found starting at post #39.
edit2: 10/24/11, I recieved further contact from Extech, see post #56
So,
I just aquired an Extech EX505. The meter came with a couple of the screws for the back partially stripped. They don't look like they were stripped by repeated assembly/dissassembly, more like by an idiot with a power screwdriver in the production facility.
This morning I called Extech to get a couple of replacement screws for the meter. I asked the lady if I could be sent replacement screws, and she said no, they don't carry any parts besides leads. Then I was transferred to a VERY rude guy in tech, that said even if they did have the screws, I'd have to buy them; there's no way they'd just send me 10 cents of screws like ANY normal company would.
He actually suggested that I drive down to Home Depot and buy new screws! Are you freaking kidding me!?!?! For those of you that aren't familiar with this meter, it uses a very specialized type of extended shank self tapping plastic screw, with a sealing ring and thick washer. You can't even buy plastic screws at home depot, let alone anything like this.
I asked him what the options were for an Extech owner if the screws were lost, and he said he could transfer me over to repair. Then I spoke with another lady that said she could replace the screws, but I would have to send the meter in and pay a $50 flat rate fee!!!!!
Please keep in mind, where I got the meter or whether it was still under warranty never came up here. Since the screws were stripped, no matter by who, it wasn't covered by warranty, so the flat rate repair still applied. These screws are very tight and difficult to remove without stripping, even with the proper sized driver. The heads are very soft, and stripped even more the one time I removed them. Please keep in mind, I've been in manufacturing for my entire career, I'm not the type that strips screws.
I am absolutely dumbfounded that a company owned by Flir, who has a large office in the USA, and sells electronics products that are designed and INTENDED to be taken apart occasionally when fuses need to be replaced, does not stock replacement screws for the back cover. I'm sorry, but that is the MOST amatuerish thing I've ever heard of in my entire life.
This isn't some no-name meter, it's a supposedly reputable USA based re-badger, and even if the meters all come from China, they have a responsibility to their customers to source the parts that their customers may need over the course of time.
If you are planning on buying an Extech, you should also plan on having a big ugly orange and green paperweight, after your second or third fuse change.