How good is a craftsman warranty?

Geo-TH,In · Oct 29, 2015

In February I ground the valves on the Terramite, then used it to load some brush on dump trailer. I knew I had last used the ratchet while working on the tractor. IlLooked all over, no luck. Yesterday I burned off the brush while it was raining. Today I found the 1/2 inch craftsman ratchet, extension and deep socket in the ashes from the brush pile. If I were sears I wouldn't stand behind a ratchet that went through a fire. Would you even take to sears and ask?

GlenIdaho · Oct 29, 2015

I wouldn't take it back. Ethically, why should they pay for you losing a tool? No offense, just bite the bullet and get a new one!

RayP(MI) · Oct 29, 2015

Worst they can say is "no."

Thay said, don't think their warranty was designed for this event. Don't think I would have the moxie to ask for replacement for my fault danage.

Dave H (MI) · Oct 29, 2015

That kind of "stuff" just makes it harder for people with legitimate claims to get warranties honored. I don't as a rule ask people to pay for my mistakes.

rrlund · Oct 29, 2015

The kind of luck I've had with Sears the last 20 years,I don't think they'd replace it if you took it back,still in the box with a receipt from yesterday claiming that it was broke when you opened it up.

Janicholson · Oct 29, 2015

Use it for a hammer, no basis for a claim. The normal wear, or abuse issues void a Snap-On warranty. Jim

Dick2 · Oct 29, 2015

Most of the store personnel today wouldn't know what caused the tool to look like that, so they might just give you a new one.

Jim in Ma. · Oct 29, 2015

Years ago I turned id a ratchet like that, no problem.
Sometimes a clerk will refuse me. If that happens I just find someone else to ask. If need be I will talk to the manager.

wilson ind · Oct 29, 2015

I know George well enough to realize he did not say he was taking it back. He was tongue in cheek saying should he ask. George is not as frugal as myself, even I would not expect others to pay for my screw-ups.

Bob Harvey · Oct 29, 2015

In the mid 60's I worked for an outfit that ran Beaver float planes. The normal screws where Phillips. The local Sears store was more than fair about replacing their screwdrivers - BUT- the tool guy got wise after a while (2nd or 3rd replacement) and was smart enough to ask, "you work on airframes?" BUSTED ! He said 1 is fair, more I can do, but holy cow, buy a new one every now and then!

Russ from MN · Oct 29, 2015

I think it would be unethical to take it in! Sears used to have some really good stuff, it's sad what they have become, wonder how long they can last.

keh · Oct 29, 2015

That ratchet is a very late model. If it has Made in USA on it it's worth rebuilding. If not, it's made in China and to me it has no value.

When that type of ratchet is rebuilt, all the insides are replaced with new gears, plastic selector switch, (you did notice the selector switch was plastic, didn't you?) snap ring, steel ball and spring and lubricant. The rest of the ratchet just carries the parts. Therefore, I would clean and oil the ratchet and go to Sears and ask to buy a repair kit, which is probably in the !0- Fifteen dollar range. Quite possibly they will rebuild the ratchet for you which will be better since there is a minor trick to it using a special tool to hold the ball and spring in place. You can do it with a stiff piece of plastic, but you should di it while holding ratchet in a plastic bag to prevent loss of parts. Note: The US ratchets and the Chinese ratchets require different rebuild kits.

I said at the first that that one is a late model. You can tell by the surface under the selector. It is as received from the forging process. Earlier ones had that surface poorly machined. Still earlier ones had that surface nicely machined, and the very early ones(MID 1980S) had nice machining plus had a bronze(I think) selector lever and a much smoother action.

KEH

K Effective · Oct 29, 2015

I remember being told to buy higher priced tools (Snap-on, Matco etc) and only use Craftsman for the stuff you actually wore out (tape measure, i.e.) thanks to their generous replacement policy.
One guy I worked for used to be manager at the local Sears, he said they used to have guys diving into the dumpster to retreive old, replaced tools which they then took back again, and resold the new ones. I guess Sears then came up with a better method for disposing of the returned items. All the Craftsman stuff I have has performed very well, but then I have broken very few of the cheap China-made Buffalo tools either.

Sean Feeney · Oct 29, 2015

agreed

billfromwisconsin · Oct 29, 2015

best 3/8 drive ratchet ever built was the craftsman fine tooth. I have had snap-on, mac, matco, wright, proto, none were ever as good as that one

JLG · Oct 29, 2015

My 1/4" drive ratchet busted last year. I picked a new one off the shelf and was sad to see CHINA cast in the handle. Took the China one and my old broken one up to the counter. Guy said he had to check the drawer and see if they had a rebuilt one for me first, before they'd exchange for a new one. It was the first time they had told me that, but I was more than happy since the rebuilt one he found said MADE IN USA. He said they'd rebuild mine and give it to the next guy.

donjr · Oct 29, 2015

Will Craftsman swap a drill that has a bad switch???

Ted in NE-OH · Oct 29, 2015

I think it would be UNETHICAL to try to get a new one under warranty as it was NOT a tool failure.

GeneMO · Oct 29, 2015

Our shop burned with a pickup truck load of firewood inside. The metal held the heat in. It got HOT!

Some things were trash, but for some reason, other tools just seemed to have the plating burned off or tarnished.

I still have a little quarter inch ratchet that works. I think it was an old S-K.

I also have a few socket extensions that are strong as all get out, but the little ball that holds the socket has the temper taken out of it, so they are a pain as the sockets fall off.

I finally threw them away.

We wrote Vice Grip tools and they sent us a whole bunch of the springs for the trip handle for free. Still using some of those.

I think some of it depended on where the tool was in the shop and if it was protected to some degree.

It ruined a perfectly good ole anvil. Chips would break off the edge.

And so it goes.

Gene

ScoutB · Oct 29, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:48:47 10/29/15) The kind of luck I've had with Sears the last 20 years,I don't think they'd replace it if you took it back,still in the box with a receipt from yesterday claiming that it was broke when you opened it up.

I have a Kenmore stove that's 10 years old and the control panel fried. No longer available according to the parts site. So I called Sears service hoping there was a control panel on a service truck somewhere. The service clerk assured me the stove could be repaired because it wasn't very old. Service guy shows up, says the panel is fried, no longer available, I need your $95 before I can leave. I told him that if he swiped my card it would be the last $95 I would ever spend with Sears. As a man of my word the Sears account was closed and I've found parts sources for Kenmore and Craftsman that cut Sears out.
Sears is owned by bean counters now and they've lost their soul. The brand is failing because it deserves to.

Owen Aaland · Oct 29, 2015

Back when Owatonna Tool Company made a fairly complete set of hand tools for mechanics their warranty included fire damage from a shop burning down. Just send them back to OTC and they would recondition them.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 30, 2015

Bill no way will I take to Sears, my mistake. Some on Yt can't read. I said if I were Sears I wouldn't stand behind it. Then I get jumped on. I'm glad I found it. For a while I though some walked in my shop and took it. I went on eBay and for $20 got a new one. To my surprise the socket and extension were still attached.

hd6gtom · Oct 30, 2015

must be the sears store you are going to-- the tools I bought from them in 1974 are still being used daily, and once in a blue moon they replace 1. No questions ask. last time was last year.

dhermesc · Oct 30, 2015

Depends on the warranty. To be honest I have never read the warranty for Craftsman tools. I do know that Hi Point has a no questions asked warranty on their guns. A guy I know "bought" one that had been through a house fire - and it was every obvious - the stock had melted into a puddle around the gun. Sent it to the factory and got a brand new gun back - no questions asked.

dr sportster · Oct 30, 2015

It is covered as the warranty states " for any reason". You can tell them I don't like the feel of the handle. You don't have to tell them anything. If the hooks on the shelf have Chinese ratchets ask to see the refurbished ratchets. Then you can pick a nice made in USA.

1948CaseVAI · Oct 30, 2015

It would be dishonest to even try.

dr sportster · Oct 30, 2015

How is that ? It is a warranteed Craftsman tool and he is the owner. Read the warranty.

dr sportster · Oct 30, 2015

Here it is :" If this Craftsman Tool fails to provide complete satisfaction it will be repaired or replaced free of charge." If it is illegal to return junky tools to Sears I would be doing life without parole.Pretty straitforward warranty .

Geo-TH,In · Oct 30, 2015

dr sportster you are right.
I stopped by Sears today on the way home. Asked to buy the part to fix the ratchet because it was made in the USA and I felt it was worth fixing. Parts are no longer available. Girl at Sears wanted to give me another ratchet, but they were out of them. I told it was really my fault. She said they will replace it, it's a craftsman no questions. Then I told her there was something wrong with the ratchet, it had mental issues and commented suicide. It jumped off my tractor and hid under the brush pile. She said to come back in a few days and they will give me a new one. After all the character assassins on YT, I probably won't go back, would you like all the name calling?

How good is a craftsman warranty?

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