New Lowe's Kobalt warranty - they will replace even if you lose it!

[Displaced Hokie]

Interesting...if you buy any socket set they will replace a lost one for free...shipping and handling apply. You have to register at https://www.socketsforlife.com/ Saw this in the new flyer that is touting the new stuff.

Per the website (in blue):

After purchasing your Kobalt socket set you must register it to participate in the "Sockets For Life" program.

Step 1 - Registration
The registration process can be done through www.socketsforlife.com or by calling 1.888.3KOBALT.

To register your Kobalt socket set(s), you will need to have the following pieces of information ready in order to create your account:

Name
Mailing Address
Kobalt Socket Set Item #
Reference Number from your sales receipt
Follow the prompts and an account will be created

Step 2 - Redemption
When the time comes that you need to make a claim to replace a lost, missing, or misplaced socket - you simply return to www.socketsforlife.com and login to the account you created during registration.

Once you have accessed your account, you will see a list of the socket sets you have registered with "Sockets For Life". Select the set that needs a replacement socket, you will be given a list of all of the sockets associated with that set. Select which socket needs replacing and submit your order. This same process can also be completed by calling 1.888.3KOBALT and following the "Sockets For Life" prompts.

Step 3 - Order Completion
Shipping and handling charges do apply for each socket ordered through a "Sockets For Life" claim. Shipping and handling charge is per socket. You will be asked to submit credit card payment information before your order can be completed. The shipping & handling charges are as follows:

$4.95 - 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive sockets
$5.95 - Impact sockets
$6.95 - 3/4" drive sockets
$5.00 - Additional charge for each shipment to Canada

Once your credit card transaction is complete an order will be created and your socket will be shipped direct to you.


Obviously for $5 a socket most of us would go to the flea market and find a replacement Snap-On or Craftsman to fill in if I lose one, but the offer is interesting. I'm sure a lot of non-flea market types would like it.

At least this could make for some fun trying to get one replaced 5, 10, 20 years from now!

[pipsters]

I saw that in their flyer today. Gimmicky.

After dealing with the whole HF receipt thing and then going to Sears, I really do like the Sears model and hope they can still hang on to their US made tools for the next 30-40 years.

[route246]

You could go to the local Lowes store and buy the replacements cheaper. This is a total marketing gimmick as far as I can tell.

[t100]

replacing an American made with a Chinese, nah, I'd pass.

[mrb]

thats just a marketing gimmick. The handling charge covers their cost on the socket. They pay around $0.20 for a socket from taiwan or china. Add another $1.50 or so to mail iit and they make money every time someone uses their 'warranty'

[chadster1]

Originally Posted by mrb

thats just a marketing gimmick. The handling charge covers their cost on the socket. They pay around $0.20 for a socket from taiwan or china. Add another $1.50 or so to mail iit and they make money every time someone uses their 'warranty'

......and they get valid marketing information for everyone that registers.

[domain]

Originally Posted by mrb

thats just a marketing gimmick. The handling charge covers their cost on the socket. They pay around $0.20 for a socket from taiwan or china. Add another $1.50 or so to mail iit and they make money every time someone uses their 'warranty'

+1! I only paid $20 bucks for my USA 40 piece set... 38 sockets x 4.95= Ripoff.($150)

[AZ_Catskinner]

For those of us living in the middle of nowhere, this isn't a bad deal. For those who have a Lowe's nearby, it's pretty dumb.

[allinon72]

This just goes to show you how cheap their new sockets are.

[mrb]

Originally Posted by chadster1

......and they get valid marketing information for everyone that registers.

ahh good point. I wonder who all they sell that to....

[DodgeZ]

Originally Posted by t100

replacing an American made with a Chinese, nah, I'd pass.

Originally Posted by allinon72

This just goes to show you how cheap their new sockets are.

I was in lowes yesterday. I had their old SAE deep sockets USA made next to their new SAE deep Socket (taiwan). The chrome was a lot better looking on the Taiwan set. Their new taiwan ratchets are 72 tooth also. The whole socket set was 10 bucks, came with 11 sockets IIRC.

[scottdase]

Sorry for bringing an old post back to life but I got a complete set of Cobalt toold for Christmas. I got a chance to use them this past week and it wasnt even in a heavy duty type job. The screw drivers suck! Broke both flat and phillips types. What a joke.

[blackz26]

Originally Posted by scottdase

Sorry for bringing an old post back to life but I got a complete set of Cobalt toold for Christmas. I got a chance to use them this past week and it wasnt even in a heavy duty type job. The screw drivers suck! Broke both flat and phillips types. What a joke.

There's your problem
You used cobalt. Next time use kobalt.

[Loscaldazar]

Genius marketing move. Probably make more money off this than selling them in store.

However, it could also be nice if you loose a socket that they don't sell individual replacements for (many of their universal sockets). Still not a reason to buy their tools when USA Craftsman is often cheaper. Generally only pick up kobalt tools when I need a socket I didn't have (back when I did all my work with a 150 piece husky tool set).

I will echo the comment that the Taiwanese kobalt looks better than the USA kobalt did.

[CWP1616L]

I betcha the shipping and handling costs more than just going into the store and buying the socket.

[ATC]

1/4 drive deep sockets are only $2.97 in store. I just bought a few to fill up my Hansen trays...

Also, what's to stop someone from writing down the SKU or UPC code and registering it online without even buying the socket set?

[Givl Reggin]

Originally Posted by ATC

Also, what's to stop someone from writing down the SKU or UPC code and registering it online without even buying the socket set?

Doesn't matter - the shipping/handling costs are designed to cover the cost of the socket plus overhead and profit, Lowes makes money either way.

[TwoInch]

Originally Posted by ATC

1/4 drive deep sockets are only $2.97 in store. I just bought a few to fill up my Hansen trays...

Also, what's to stop someone from writing down the SKU or UPC code and registering it online without even buying the socket set?

they would make more off the warranty lost socket than if someone actually bought the socket in store. they win either way. iirc, to use the socket for life warranty, you pay like $4.95 per lost socket... nearly all their sockets cost much less than that individually.