Does Craftsman's warranty cover chrome?

[Eric Commarato]

I have some almost new metric box wrenches from Craftsman. The chrome plating is beginning to flake of the 15MM box wrench. Is this covered under their warranty, or is the functionality of the tool only covered?

 

[tonydanzah]

Depends who is at the counter

 

[arkangel06]

They do..............

 

[atlinwi202]

Should be covered. I hear that sometimes you get a jerk at the counter that says no, but i have never had that problem. New, old, used hard or not the warranty states total satisfaction. Go get yerself some new ones.

 

[Stephenw]

The warranty states, "If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state."

 

[lwram]

just exchanged an old 15/16 wrench that the chrome was starting to flake off with no problem.

 

[beelsr]

yes, no.

"if any craftsman tools fails to give you complete satisfaction, return it...."

if you take it back and the employee gives you any problem, grab a catalog and ask them to read the warranty statement.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Ask for a manager and don't take no for an answer. Some Sears apparently have trouble with employees who don't understand Craftsman's policy. If the manager doesn't solve it, tell him you will go above him if necessary.

Anyways, yes the warranty covers chrome flaking.

 

[SMKS]

The salesman gets a commission with that tool exchanges just like a regular sale.

I used to work in the Sears hardware department and I don't think this is true. Also, when I worked in the hardware department (2003), they were switching all the new employees to hourly wages, they didn't make commission.

Perhaps it has changed, but I would be surprised to learn that hardware employees make commission.

 

[expatriated]

I don't see why they won't exchange it; they'll just put it back on the rack for the next guy to come in and buy. It's not like it's actually going to cost them anything.

 

[ugapug]

Employees in tools still make commissions.

 

[rayzor32]

yes, i never had a problem with sears taking back a tool

 

[woody 73]

In all my years and I am only 19 Look me up if you need some swamp land,sears has never and I repeat never given me a hard time in returning any tools.

After reading all your stories I am amazed at the rate of failure to return the tools. I started buying craftsman tools in the mid seventies and I have never had any problems.

Not sure if you are talking to a new employee just starting out,or an old geezer with 20 plus years; but I show them the broken tool or in this case the missing chrome and they give me a new tool.

Not sure if this helps but I always look for the older employee (someone older then me) and I always smile and pass out a nice compliment (my your dentures look nice,gee your nice wig looks so wavy,wow I like your polyester pants...)Humor helps.

 

[Indy_500]

If they say no, remind them of the craftsman hand tool warranty. which states: If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Then say that you are not completly satisfied with this tool. I've never had any problems except for trying to exchange something with a young kid (probably as young as me) who didn't know a ratchet from a wrench. I said the selector spring inside is bent and he had no clue what i was talking about and said he thought it worked fine. I pointed to the hand tool warranty, told him i'm not satisfied. Problem solved. It really wasn't as much of a hassle as i made it sound but normally i give em the tool, they get new one and i leave. They normally don't even make a comment.

 

[beelsr]

Umm....

In all my years and I am only 19

I started buying craftsman tools in the mid seventies and I have never had any problems.

 

[beelsr]

I don't even let them pick my tool - they pick out the wrong tool half the time (see next para). I get the replacement myself, bring it to the counter, put it down and smile. Thy take it from there....

I have a bigger problem returning an incorrectly warrantied tool than with a "real" warranty exchange. I returned a 15x17 flare wrench and picked up a 16x18 by mistake (mea culpa . When I took the still with a tag on and obviously never used 16x18 to get the 15x17 I wanted, the guy insisted on doing a return (no receipt so drivers license, etc...) and ended up giving me change back. Weird company sometimes...

... normally i give em the tool, they get new one and i leave. They normally don't even make a comment.

 

[Indy_500]

Umm....

i was kinda thinking the same thing....

 

[Cummins_Powered]

If they say no, remind them of the craftsman hand tool warranty. which states: If for any reason your Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it to any Sears store or other Craftsman outlet in the United States for free repair or replacement. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Then say that you are not completly satisfied with this tool. I've never had any problems except for trying to exchange something with a young kid (probably as young as me) who didn't know a ratchet from a wrench. I said the selector spring inside is bent and he had no clue what i was talking about and said he thought it worked fine. I pointed to the hand tool warranty, told him i'm not satisfied. Problem solved. It really wasn't as much of a hassle as i made it sound but normally i give em the tool, they get new one and i leave. They normally don't even make a comment.

Not trying to pick on you Indy, but do you read the responses ahead of your own? someone said the exact thing you did(stephenw).

 

[Indy_500]

Not trying to pick on you Indy, but do you read the responses ahead of your own? someone said the exact thing you did(stephenw).

He just stated the warranty though didn't he? i was saying after i point out the warranty, i say i'm not satisfied... gets em every time

 

[billymade]

Warranty tools are not put back on the shelf; they are taken to the warehouse... put in a 50 gallon drum sealed and sent off to be recycled.... the metal is then used to make more tools!

If you have warranty problems; call the Sears Customer Relations Hotline! The Sears store manager will be contacted; most times, they will call you at your contact number and your issue with be handled... we have many stories on here of members getting things handled this way! These calls can directly impact the stores customer service numbers and in turn impact the store managers bonuses! When I worked at Sears; we were continually, reminded of these numbers and they do impact management where they live... in their paychecks! Good luck!

Customer Relations Hotline:
1-800-549-4505

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12608_NB_Customer+Relations?adCell=A4

 

[Wanna Ride]

I have been buying Craftsman tools since about 1985, and have NEVER been refused a warranty replacement. Several times I have bought boxes of misc. sockets or wrenches at a yard sale, auction or pawn shop and took the box directly to Sears and started replacing the rusted tools. Sometimes they have got a little frustrated sorting through all of it, but never refused a replacement.

That being said, I've had buddies who got grief for legitimate replacements and they just left without pushing it. I can't imagine that, but anyways... I don't know, maybe they were too bashful to really ask in the first place. Until recently, my father-in-law had no idea that they replaced broken, or damaged handtools... or that they even offered a lifetime warranty. Amazing how many people are unaware of that.

There has been a couple times they wanted to rebuild a ratchet, or give me a rebuild kit, and I refused. Having been a machinist for several years, I'm very aware of tooling variances, and stated that as my reason for refusing a rebuild kit. There for a while, they also wanted to repair their tape measures too. Of course I refused that as well.

I have no problems with buying new or used Craftsman tools, and no reservations about requesting a replacement either.

 

[Boiler]

I went in there for chrome on three craftsman wrenches the other day and this a-hole kid told me that they don't replace tools due to rust as it is abuse/neglect. I showed him the catalog warranty statement and he still insisted that they had a paper floating around that had the rules...one of which he said was that they couldn't accept tools with paint on them because of recycling issues.

IMO this kid didn't know his **** from a hole in the ground. I was in a hurry and left, but I'll be back.

Do you guys often bring in multiple items to be warrantied at once? I have about 5-6 things that have peeled, rusted, or broken.

 

[nate379]

Chrome peeling is a safety hazzard!

I sliced my finger wide open on a C Man socket that the chrome peeled off. Had it on an air ratchet and left hand was near the socket. Chrome peeled off and cut my finger to the point where I probably should have gotten stitches.

C Man store fought it a bit and when I asked the manager if they would rather I sue them for nearly cutting my finger off they gave me a new socket.

 

[DHCrocks]

you shouldn't be using a chrome socket on an air ratchet in the first place. they are meant for use on hand tools only.

 

[treasureseeker]

According the salesmen at my local Sears they get a commission on a return as they bill out the new item. Some of the salesmen had told me I don’t need to get the same item a wrench is a wrench to them. I have never had anyone ask why I was returning an item. I think if you tell the salesmen why you are exchanging an item you may get some that don’t know craftsman warranty.

“These are not the droids you are looking for”

 

[Bolster]

My favorite Sears cashiers for tools are the women. Yes, I know it's a stereotype, but stereotypes are stereotypes because there's a core of truth to them. The women I've had for exchanges just DON'T CARE about tools or returns: "Whatever, pick what you want off the shelf, I don't care, talk to the hand, let's get this over with."

The worst is a short man. Chances are he will try to "educate" you. Flame suit on because I just made generalizations about humans (ooooOOOoooo!). Won't apply every time, but I know how to play the odds and I don't have problems with warranty at Sears.

OH, one other mind trick: Start asking the cashier questions about various tools during the exchange. They won't be able to concentrate on the exchange and go into "automatic mode." I've had some ask me to stop asking questions so they could complete the transaction, LOL!!

 

[rsieracki]

hey now im 5'6 on a good day with high shoes on...

anyways yeah the women or the occasional "flamer" if you can tolerate them.... dont know **** from shinola but i sure do bet theyd love the pnk stuff the snappy man sells.... if sears only knew and sold pink tools then they'd even get more advertisement from the cast of extreem home makeover

on a side note those who are tired of the crappy RW&B screwdrvers that wear out... .warantee a whole bag at once and once they ring in the "credit" insist on putting it toward the pro series screwdrivers... sure you get less but im far happier with 5 that will last 3times as long then 9 that **** and sears comes out ahead in the long run.

 

[Bolster]

hey now im 5'6 on a good day with high shoes on...

Yeah, but you're not the Sears return dude, so you're cool...

 

[rsieracki]

Yeah, but you're not the Sears return dude, so you're cool...

thanks bud, my ole lady whos 5'9 thinks the same... atleast i hope

 

[Bolster]

thanks bud, my ole lady whos 5'9 thinks the same... atleast i hope

LOL, on-and-off throughout my school days I dated a gal a good 3" taller than myself!

There was a time I had a Hobie cat with a leaking hull, hard as heck to flip over, and during that phase I only dated heavy women...they were the only ones who could help me right the Hobie...

Ya gotta be practical about your dating choices...the worst are those useless petite ones that all the other guys break their necks looking at...Hemingway said it best, something about how all they're good for is looking at.

WOW I'm off topic. Sorry. I'm outta here.

 

[rsieracki]

LOL, on-and-off throughout my school days I dated a gal a good 3" taller than myself!

There was a time I had a Hobie cat with a leaking hull, hard as heck to flip over, and during that phase I only dated heavy women...they were the only ones who could help me right the Hobie...

Ya gotta be practical about your dating choices...the worst are those useless petite ones that all the other guys break their necks looking at...Hemingway said it best, something about how all they're good for is looking at.

well im 29 and have gone from one end of the spectrum to the other reguarding the women ive dated. shes deff a keeper... and 20 seems "interested" in my tool obsession. told her mom i was "handy" and i was told the only way i get her blessing is if i fix a bunch of stuff around the house... i mentioned how "dowerys" are still custumary in parts of the world. got a good laugh out of her mom with that one

OH ya, sorry for side tracking

 

[beelsr]

i had a guy tell me that once. i said that if the chrome hadn't peeled, it wouldn't have rusted. he thought about it for a second and caved.

http://consumerist.com/2009/03/sears-clarifies-craftsman-tools-warranty.html is a good page to read if you want to know the "answer" on warrantying tools at sears.

 

[Skin]

I went in there for chrome on three craftsman wrenches the other day and this a-hole kid told me that they don't replace tools due to rust as it is abuse/neglect. I showed him the catalog warranty statement and he still insisted that they had a paper floating around that had the rules...one of which he said was that they couldn't accept tools with paint on them because of recycling issues.

IMO this kid didn't know his **** from a hole in the ground. I was in a hurry and left, but I'll be back.

Do you guys often bring in multiple items to be warrantied at once? I have about 5-6 things that have peeled, rusted, or broken.

For basic hand tools [sockets/wrenches] they've actually upped the anti. Now its "Guarenteed forever". Chrome flaking is a failure of the tool as it will eventually rust and it changes the tolerances of the socket. Its not just there to look good. Chromium is intentionally put on tools because its far harder than the steel it coats otherwise they'd wear out far faster. Anyway here is the policy, and i quote

"Hand tools so tough, they're guaranteed forever.
Did you know that the first Craftsman hand tool we sold back in 1927 is still under warranty today? So are all the hand tools we've sold since. That's what is known as having confidence in our quality. As the Craftsman Unlimited Hand Tool Warranty clearly states... If any Craftsman guaranteed forever hand tool fails to provide complete satisfaction, return it for free repair or replacement. Period."

So unless you cut your wrenches and take hammers to your sockets, i'd have no problem arguing with some kid about peeling chrome as they clearly are ignorant to their warranty policies.

 

[nate379]

If you have nothing productive to add I suggest you go **** a blender full of razor blades. Have a nice day...

you shouldn't be using a chrome socket on an air ratchet in the first place. they are meant for use on hand tools only.