Has anyone tried to get a replacement Craftsman tool once it

wsmm

Member
Was wondering if anyone had tried to get a replacement for a lifetime warranted Craftsman tool that was no longer in production. If so what did Sears say or do?
 
Yes , I was offered a different model. Another time I was given money back for replacement value because the [universal socket] was not in stock. It all depends on the tool manager.
 
Twice. Both times I received a significantly inferior tool replacement. Both times the salesman tried hard to get me to pay more to get something better, possibly as good as the tool that failed.

No more Craftsman tools here, though I should mention that Snap-on did the exact same thing.
 
IN THE PAST! Craftsman has replaced discontinued items with a newer item. Now that they are made in China... Anything You replace stamped USA will come back without USA on it. I do assume they still stand behind their replacement policy; but it can change any day of any year! Since Made in China I have began switching to S K Tools. Still 100% Made in USA.
 
I have a lot of craftsmant tools, but I will not be buying at Sears or Kmart. I can!t trust a tool made in China. No more Craftsman for me.
 
I don't use anything Craftsman anymore, since the replacement employs the Chinese. If you bring them a US ratchet, they want to give you junk with plastic parts.

Here are a few US brands I will buy.

S-K, Wright, Martin, Wilde, and Lang who makes specialty tools, are probably the safest for 100% US.

Lisle seems to be mostly US as well, but OTC imports more and more.

Williams, Proto, Armstrong are pretty safe, but owned by Snap-on, Stanley, and Apex, who all make tools in China, so ask and don't assume.

If you deal with the tool truck brands, Snap On, Mac, Matco, and Cornwell, many things are not US. Cornwell is still an independent family run business, so is Wright. S-K is employee owned. The Blue Point brand is almost all China now, so it is no better than Craftsman.
 
Got to say I am pretty disappointed in craftsman tools now days to. The batteries in there cordless tools suck to, The usually only last about a year
 
Craftsman is just department store junk now although some employees will go a little farther to fix you backup. Think I had all the same style ratchets from about 1970 except the 3/4 drive, got tired over the years of getting back different design oddballs to replace broken ones and replaced all but a long 1/2" drive with Snap On. Striped the gear in the 1/2" a few years ago, cleaned it out so it would turn and still used it until I had time to stop at sears, the two girls at local sears said it turned good enough and couldn't warranty it. Took it to the big sears in Rockford a couple months ago and no parts available, take your choice of breaker bar, oddball new style junk or long swivel head 1/2 " drive made in China. I took the swivel head and it ain't a bad looking wrench, looks real similar to the newer Matco stuff.
 
Just a few thoughts that I can add here.......
First, let me say that I am SICK TO DEATH of seeing "made in China" on every potential purchase that I consider - from a toothbrush to a tool to a light bulb, or whatever.

Having said that, when the chips are down, many of the Chinese made tools are of decent quality and perform adequately in daily usage. I have several Harbor Freight tools that are as good as their older USA made counterparts. That does NOT mean that I like the whole situation. Sometimes you just have to deal with what is available to you at the time of need.

At the same time, while I hear the hue and cry go up about "Chinese junk," I see the same individual getting out of a Toyota, Subaru, or Hyundai. I don't want to hear the bullsh!t about the Asian cars being better. Just level the playing field.

Soon enough, the manufacturing that moved to China, India, or Sri Lanka will be returning. They will soon enough be infected with consumerism and environmentalism. JMHO.
 
I Have a craftsman click type torque wrench that quit working.
I send it back for repair or replace.
Got a phone call from sears a month later,.Wrench needs new insert at a cost of $125.( i paid $75 new)
I told them forget about it and send it back.
When i got it back i took it apart to have a look see what the hangup was.
I found a little square key inside that had slipped out of alignment( prob by turning the handle back to far)
I put it back together and it has been working fine ever since.

I think sears tried to pull a fast one
 
LOL...that is exactly what I told a friend of mine. That cheap Japanese stuff, if you can find it, is the good imported stuff now days. Hard to believe.
 
I think the answer to your original question depends on the clerk or his boss.

About 2 years ago, I took back the torque wrench that I bought in the "80s when I started working as a mechanic.
The warranty card plainly said it had a 1 year warranty.
When I asked if it could be sent off for repair, the clerk just swapped it for a similar new one.

Yes, it was Chinese, but it was all there and it works.

I felt this was above and beyond what Sears had obligated itself to do.
 
I took a craftsman 30" tape in a while back. Apparently Craftsman doesnt sell tape measures any more. Clerk told me to take my pick off the rack of something comparable. Took a Stanley fat max. No more freebies though.
 
Are all you guys all from the "it's all about me/entitlement generation", for gosh sakes?

I'm darned near 60 years old (and not exactly a little fellow) and have "wrenched" a little in my life and can probably count on the fingers of one hand (and have several fingers left over) wrenches/sockets/etc that have broken under reasonable use.

And lots more stuff I have abused and broken.

Sometimes breaking/wearing out/using up a tool is just a part of the cost of overhead/doing business.

Suck it up, and buy a new tool, Princess, for Pete's sakes!

(SORRY for telling it like it is. I shall now step into my asbestos suit and slink away, trying to avoid the "flames"!)
 
Bob, I dunno if you knew my dad, but he was 5'8", 140 lb. When he died, I inherited his toolboxes. I found three busted wrenches, all 3/4 inch box end. I have no idea how he did it I don't recall him ever using a cheater. Dem old Norskis were tough!
 
I think to Bob's point a lifetime warranty is supposed to cover the rare instances where something fails under normal usage.

Wrenches/sockets etc don't usually break from normal usage.

I know a lot of guys who'll completely abuse a socket wrench - hammering on it - hammering WITH it - putting 6' pipe extensions on it, etc., then get upset after 10 years of such continual abuse when it finally gives out, calling it a cheap piece of )#(*$.

If you feel the urge to polish some of the marks out of a tool before returning it - you should probably be BUYING a new one.

If you're working on a cover story to return a tool - you should probably be BUYING a new one.
 
Yeah, I agree. If you used a six foot cheater on a 1/2 inch ratchet, you should just go buy a new one.
I've had many broken Craftsman ratchets replaced that I used nothing on, but my hands.
The OP never really said what caused his tools to break.
 
I had bought a used seal hammer, the one with rubber ends on each end. I went to Sears to purchase the ends as one was missing. The gal told me if you want a new one we can give you one. I told her it was bought used, she said there is a lifetime warranty on them. Maybe that is why they are in trouble, but who isn't anymore....
 
They simply won't honor their "life time" gaurantee. I've been skunked twice. I haven't bought there for years and never will again.
 
I have had abused tools replaced and never been questioned, hassled, or felt one bit guilty. Although Craftsman tools were never Snap-On expensive, you still paid a premium compared to most other brands for the privilage. They even used to run TV ads showing Craftsman tools being abused and mis-used....break "em, no sweat, no questions. Bring it back for a new one. The shops I used to work in were full of Craftsman tools (nobody could afford Snap-On). Sears ruined the Craftsman line when they quit making tools for professionals and started making gimmicky gadgets for wannabees.
 
"Lifetime Guarantee" does NOT mean YOUR LIFETIME, but the lifetime of the tool or product until it breaks or goes defective. It's all in the wording of the warranty, - gotta read that micro-print. LOL!

:>)
 
When I worked in the Mines I would buy a half-dozen of the Craftsman ratchet repair kits (all the "guts" except the handle) for my 1/2 & 3/8 inch ratchets, and always keep a spare set or two in each of my tool boxes so when one broke I could replace the "guts" right then & there. Of course I sometimes used a "cheater" (poor-mans torque multiplier) on the ratchets. LOL!

Doc
 
got offered a different model designed for the same job.
Another time I was offered credit, but the new tool was inferior so I just chalked it up and bought a good one elsewhere.
I pick and choose tools. Sears and NAPA, I get box end -open end wrenches etc, that are easily replaced if broken or 'sprung'.
Ratchets and such, I use SK. Impacts the best old I can find, Vulcan,etc.
The internet is our friend. Needing some rebuild kits for my SK ratchets, I bought a few on ebay and when searching found
many old used fully functioning SK rachet handles, bought a few of those too and threw them in the drawer.

China, it is what it is.....
just like Japan, which used to mean total junk, now means top of the line quality....
China will figure it out.
(then the price will go up, and hopefully we will then start to make stuff here again)
Funny, going over my new Kubota (very good reputation for quality) carefully to make sure it was prepared properly,
I was surprised at the numerous parts with the 'china' name on them. Hydraulic fittings, etc

ps my old tractors don't seem to mind the Kubota sitting in the shed. I think they think it's an Allis :D
 

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