The new Ideal - SK will warranty exhisting tools during a 1 time offer.

[Jbullfrog]

I got this from one of my wholesalers:


JOBBER DIRECT CLAIMS:

SK Hand Tool LLC understands that we have been processing warranty claims during this past year even with the unknown outcome of the old SK Hand Tool Corporation. These past procedures fell outside of the published abuse and misuse guidelines. The NEW SK hand tool LLC is not legally liable for warranty claims on product produced and sold by the old SK Hand Tool Corporation of past BUT as the new SK hand Tool LLC, they value your dedication to its brand and want to make good on this issue.

To assist in the transition, from March 1, 2011 up until April 30, 2011, SK Hand Tool LLC will allow a one-time Jobber Direct shipment of warranty returns for replacement, including product returned under old warranty policies and procedures.

This one time return will be processed directly through SK for product replacement and will not be handled through Local Warehouse Distribution. To begin a return, complete the attached agreement and contact SK Customer Service for RGA #. Use additional Paper if needed, write clearly or just submit a computerized form along with their documents.

It is in your best interest to follow the attached guidelines and promptly make your returns for exchange.

Please FOLLOW THEIR PROCEDURES in order to expedite return of your warranty replacement order!

WTD Supply is committed in partnering up with our customers and will continue in backing this brand and as in the past and will continue to service our customers with inventory and highly support this vendor in rebuilding this Icon of a Tool Company. Until that time, please refrain from making any returns of SK Hand Tools to our warehouses.

 

[mrholeshot]

Thats for Jobbers who have boxes and boxes of items to be returned. I wonder how it will affect customer warranty returns in the future for older SK tools. If they don't stand by the old ones I won't buy any new ones. Just that simple. I love SK tools and the lack of warranty won't stop me from buying the older ones at discount prices but there are still many new old stock SK tools selling for big money. I would hope for their sake that they don't start off on the wrong foot. That would leave a bad taste in the mouth of many SK fans because what happens when Ideal ends up selling to Stanley or even worse Apex. I guess we will know soon enough. I heard rumor that SK was going to charge a 5 dollar warranty charge on each tool that came through warranty. Thats going to be tough when someone has 30 broken sockets. I hope it's all just rumor or they will go down faster than a 747 out of fuel.

 

[DRhodes]

Thats for Jobbers who have boxes and boxes of items to be returned. I wonder how it will affect customer warranty returns in the future for older SK tools. If they don't stand by the old ones I won't buy any new ones. Just that simple. I love SK tools and the lack of warranty won't stop me from buying the older ones at discount prices but there are still many new old stock SK tools selling for big money. I would hope for their sake that they don't start off on the wrong foot. That would leave a bad taste in the mouth of many SK fans because what happens when Ideal ends up selling to Stanley or even worse Apex. I guess we will know soon enough. I heard rumor that SK was going to charge a 5 dollar warranty charge on each tool that came through warranty. Thats going to be tough when someone has 30 broken sockets. I hope it's all just rumor or they will go down faster than a 747 out of fuel.

I agree Jim. If they charge me $5 for every broken tool I have I will just toss the sockets and never buy an SK tool again. I have been an SK fan for many years, lets just hope it works out like we all want it to.

 

[SMKS]

I heard rumor that SK was going to charge a 5 dollar warranty charge on each tool that came through warranty.

It's not a rumor. That was listed on the website Ideal put up after they bought SK.

But, it wasn't clear if it was $5 PER ITEM or $5 PER SHIPMENT. I never called to clarify and I didn't see any posts where anyone else did.

Here's a thread I made when Ideal posted the website. When Ideal launched the new website, they didn't include any warranty info.

 

[billymade]

Wow, if this affects personally owned tools... ouch! I think historically, most tool companies would continue to honor their warranty; proto has changed hands a bunch of times.... on the other hand, this is a "new" company. But other companies could have said this; every time they were bought out by someone else as well! I can see the temptation and desire to start out fresh without any previous claims to affect their financial concerns in the future... I guess we will see what happens... regardless, I hope the best for SK.

 

[SMKS]

They have said they will warranty tools from the "old" SK. That should still be the case unless they decided to change the policy in the last few weeks.

I think the letter posted by the OP is for distributors who have leftover warranty tools from before the old SK was sold to Ideal.

Here is what Ideal posted on SK's temp website, before the new website was launched a few weeks ago.

While SK Hand Tool LLC is not liable for warranty claims on product produced and sold by SK Hand Tool Corporation, as the new SK Hand Tool LLC, we value your dedication to the SK brand and want to make good on the situation in accordance with the new SK Hand Tool LLC Warranty Policy and Guidelines.

 

[DRhodes]

Stephen,

I remember reading that topic you started. I thought you were going to give SK a call for us LOL

If you decide too, give us an update.

Derek

 

[JSBriggs]

Wow, if this affects personally owned tools... ouch! I think historically, most tool companies would continue to honor their warranty; proto has changed hands a bunch of times.... on the other hand, this is a "new" company. But other companies could have said this; every time they were bought out by someone else as well! I can see the temptation and desire to start out fresh without any previous claims to affect their financial concerns in the future... I guess we will see what happens... regardless, I hope the best for SK.

I understand the point of it being a new company, but they bought the name and with that comes legacy. They could have bought the designs and tooling and created a fresh new brand, with a new name, essentially reinventing the company.

-Jeff

 

[TheGrooveking]

You guys need to think a little more, the old SK company required a $5 charge for handling a warranty repair/replacement, so why shouldn't the new one? Additionally it is mighty big of them on the good will standpoint to cover old S-K tools anyhow, its good to see how easy some of you are willing to throw them to the curb if they don't comply with your requirements, I guess that goes along with the "Buy American if it is cheap and easy for me" theory.

Additionally they bought the name and some tooling from the bankrupt/closed SK Tools, in referencing Proto, the warranty covered was literally part of the contract in buying them, that wasn't covered in the SK/Ideal arrangement.

TheGrooveking

 

[philw]

"abuse and misuse"......."old warranty policies and procedures"

This to me sounds like they are getting reading to cover themselves from getting a bunch of abused, rusted out junk from coming in for warranty in the future.

They aren't very clear but I'd bet they will still warranty older SK but they will be more strict on what gets replaced under warranty.

 

[dabirdguy]

I have a bunch of stuff to return.....

 

[chewy7]

i got the same message from my local s-k dealer who sold these tools in the past. I guess it will be a waiting process.

 

[mrholeshot]

You guys need to think a little more, the old SK company required a $5 charge for handling a warranty repair/replacement, so why shouldn't the new one? Additionally it is mighty big of them on the good will standpoint to cover old S-K tools anyhow, its good to see how easy some of you are willing to throw them to the curb if they don't comply with your requirements, I guess that goes along with the "Buy American if it is cheap and easy for me" theory.

Additionally they bought the name and some tooling from the bankrupt/closed SK Tools, in referencing Proto, the warranty covered was literally part of the contract in buying them, that wasn't covered in the SK/Ideal arrangement.

TheGrooveking

They are buying tool history when they bought the SK name. If you want the history and prestige of an excellant tool company like SK you have to be willing to back up that name. It will cause mass confusion if only SK/Ideal is covered while places are still selling NOS SK. If they wanted to start fresh they should have used SK tooling and Just marked them Ideal. If they charge a 5 dollar charge for each time I use the warranty service that wouldn't be so bad but if they chage 5 dollars per tool it could get expensive if you are holding on to a good bit of SK that has broken. While SK prices arn't up as high as Snap-On the prices are still quite high. If they expect people to buy the tools they better be ready to stand behind them with a no nonsence warranty. They have invested a lot into bringing back SK and I for one am pretty stoked about it. I hate to see them cut their own throat right out of the gate. We need another quality tool maker in the US and I for one would buy SK in a heartbeat. I would also kick them to the curb just like I did Gearwrench over warranty issues. If I spend my hard earned money on new tools they are going to have every aspect covered.

 

[84bimmer]

i got the same message from my local s-k dealer who sold these tools in the past. I guess it will be a waiting process.

I spoke with an independent tool retailer in KC yesterday, whose main brand was SK. They will be sticking with them. And they plan to be re stocked with Sk by the end of April. They said to bring anything I need warrantied in at that time. We'll see.

 

[DRhodes]

You guys need to think a little more, the old SK company required a $5 charge for handling a warranty repair/replacement, so why shouldn't the new one? Additionally it is mighty big of them on the good will standpoint to cover old S-K tools anyhow, its good to see how easy some of you are willing to throw them to the curb if they don't comply with your requirements, I guess that goes along with the "Buy American if it is cheap and easy for me" theory.

Additionally they bought the name and some tooling from the bankrupt/closed SK Tools, in referencing Proto, the warranty covered was literally part of the contract in buying them, that wasn't covered in the SK/Ideal arrangement.

TheGrooveking

Groove,
I'm one of the most open minded members of this forum so I like your stand on the issue, however I feel that they purchased the SK line of tools because SK had such a loyal group of customers. If they plan on tapping into that loyal fanbase and use the SK name then they need to warranty the tools that those loyal SK customers purchased throughout the years and paid a premium up front for that warranty.

I can understand if they were to purchase the tooling and molds from SK and changing the name to something besides SK, then I would not expect them to warranty my tools. However, they purchased SK because of guys like me, who will continue to buy tools from them as long as they respect my business and honor the BRAND of tools that I paid a premium for.


Edit - Jim (mrholeshot), you beat me to the response lol

 

[chewy7]

Groove,
I'm one of the most open minded members of this forum so I like your stand on the issue, however I feel that they purchased the SK line of tools because SK had such a loyal group of customers. If they plan on tapping into that loyal fanbase and use the SK name then they need to warranty the tools that those loyal SK customers purchased throughout the years and paid a premium up front for that warranty.

I can understand if they were to purchase the tooling and molds from SK and changing the name to something besides SK, then I would not expect them to warranty my tools. However, they purchased SK because of guys like me, who will continue to buy tools from them as long as they respect my business and honor the BRAND of tools that I paid a premium for.

+1^^^^

 

[bonneyman]

I am a longtime S-K fan. And I'm grateful that a way was found to keep S-K stateside. And, I kinda understand what Ideal is trying to do. It's cherry-picking, and that is frustrating. Understandable, but frustrating.
This conversation has come up concerning Craftsman. And we all know how Sears (i.e. Kmart) decided to handle it - outsource overseas to get the costs of replacement down. And we all complain about it.
Frankly, I figured Sears would have changed their lifetime waranty years ago. I'm surprised they've kept it as long as they have. Especially with folks buying broken stuff at the swap meet and bringing it in for brand new. That's gotta cost alot.

I think S-K (and Sears) should adopt a more equitable and rational warranty policy:
Institute a one year "grace" period. The warranty will be maintained "as is" for one year. We value your patronage of the brand, so we will continue to offer the old company's warranty for 12 months. However, we cannot sustain that policy indefinitely. Quite honestly, that policy contributed to the downfall of the company who offered it, and that company was not us. But we will meet our valued customers halfway. If you have a broken or damaged tool, you have 12 months to turn it in.
After 12 months, the comprehensive warranty will only be offered on NEW tools to the original buyer with proof of purchase. That guarantees new customers the excellent warranty. Also, this will allow us to guarantee the tools will remain US made. No more hand-me-downs, no more swap meet returns, no more "abuse it 'cause we can get a new one!".
This would be a bit of a pain keeping receipts, but, keeping the company afloat in the US would be worth it for me. On the company side, it would cause them to lose money big for that first year, handling all the previous warranties. But, that could be budgeted, knowing after 12 months it would end. Each side giving a little to get something. A fair compromise I think.

 

[mrholeshot]

I am a longtime S-K fan. And I'm grateful that a way was found to keep S-K stateside. And, I kinda understand what Ideal is trying to do. It's cherry-picking, and that is frustrating. Understandable, but frustrating.
This conversation has come up concerning Craftsman. And we all know how Sears (i.e. Kmart) decided to handle it - outsource overseas to get the costs of replacement down. And we all complain about it.
Frankly, I figured Sears would have changed their lifetime waranty years ago. I'm surprised they've kept it as long as they have. Especially with folks buying broken stuff at the swap meet and bringing it in for brand new. That's gotta cost alot.

I think S-K (and Sears) should adopt a more equitable and rational warranty policy:
Institute a one year "grace" period. The warranty will be maintained "as is" for one year. We value your patronage of the brand, so we will continue to offer the old company's warranty for 12 months. However, we cannot sustain that policy indefinitely. Quite honestly, that policy contributed to the downfall of the company who offered it, and that company was not us. But we will meet our valued customers halfway. If you have a broken or damaged tool, you have 12 months to turn it in.
After 12 months, the comprehensive warranty will only be offered on NEW tools to the original buyer with proof of purchase. That guarantees new customers the excellent warranty. Also, this will allow us to guarantee the tools will remain US made. No more hand-me-downs, no more swap meet returns, no more "abuse it 'cause we can get a new one!".
This would be a bit of a pain keeping receipts, but, keeping the company afloat in the US would be worth it for me. On the company side, it would cause them to lose money big for that first year, handling all the previous warranties. But, that could be budgeted, knowing after 12 months it would end. Each side giving a little to get something. A fair compromise I think.

Not acceptable, Change the name of the tool or warranty carry on the name without interuption. Lets see how far they go with Ideal ratchets and wrenches. If they didn't want the reputation for quality they should have just started their own tool brand under a differant banner. As bad as I want to see a US tool company make good they won't using the SK banner and not covering older tools. They had to figure this going in. If they don't their customer base won't be very large. Most people won't know if they are buying the warrantied or non-warranty tools. There will still be NOS SK tools being sold years after SK cranks back up. It would be like Snap-On going under and Stanley works buying it and only new Snap-On being warrantied. How do you think that would go over.

 

[diesel research]

I am a big fan of SK tools. While many other long time loyal fans would love to think they would be the only ones to keep said company running, truth of the matter is, there is a large untapped population of professional technicians who have never even used/seen SK.

Cannot tell you how many times someone has asked about my "off brand tools" (SK) and then proudly boast about their raised panel crapsman set. The tool truck guys often do the same. A similar response is heard with Proto. Even many of the owners don't really know much about the company or even where to purchase them, since they are third generation hand me downs, or company provided. Many times I have heard people complain that a company is "cheap" for providing us proto, armstrong, wright, williams, bonney old stock and a few others.

There is a lot of room for success even if they disregarded the old fan base, as long as they could tap into those ignorant others. Not saying that is easy, but does not equal automatic failure either.

Quite honestly I'm not too concerned as the only SK I break is those ratchets everybody loves. I don't buy them anymore, problem solved.

 

[84bimmer]

I am a longtime S-K fan. And I'm grateful that a way was found to keep S-K stateside. And, I kinda understand what Ideal is trying to do. It's cherry-picking, and that is frustrating. Understandable, but frustrating.
This conversation has come up concerning Craftsman. And we all know how Sears (i.e. Kmart) decided to handle it - outsource overseas to get the costs of replacement down. And we all complain about it.
Frankly, I figured Sears would have changed their lifetime waranty years ago. I'm surprised they've kept it as long as they have. Especially with folks buying broken stuff at the swap meet and bringing it in for brand new. That's gotta cost alot.

I think S-K (and Sears) should adopt a more equitable and rational warranty policy:
Institute a one year "grace" period. The warranty will be maintained "as is" for one year. We value your patronage of the brand, so we will continue to offer the old company's warranty for 12 months. However, we cannot sustain that policy indefinitely. Quite honestly, that policy contributed to the downfall of the company who offered it, and that company was not us. But we will meet our valued customers halfway. If you have a broken or damaged tool, you have 12 months to turn it in.
After 12 months, the comprehensive warranty will only be offered on NEW tools to the original buyer with proof of purchase. That guarantees new customers the excellent warranty. Also, this will allow us to guarantee the tools will remain US made. No more hand-me-downs, no more swap meet returns, no more "abuse it 'cause we can get a new one!".
This would be a bit of a pain keeping receipts, but, keeping the company afloat in the US would be worth it for me. On the company side, it would cause them to lose money big for that first year, handling all the previous warranties. But, that could be budgeted, knowing after 12 months it would end. Each side giving a little to get something. A fair compromise I think.

If this were to happen, which I think is possible. I would not buy anything from Ideal. SK has been through too many hands. This **** storm of theirs will happen again. It is quite obvious that US hand tool production is struggling. Again and again SK won't be able to compete.

 

[mrholeshot]

The thing that killed off SK was a lack of marketing. You can't make it putting the tools in just Farm and Hardware stores. Hardware stores are going down the tubes in favor of big box stores. SK will need an aggressive maketing plan and if they can place the tools on many online stores and big box stores along with Ideal they can make it. The will have to pick up the pace and come into the modern age. I love SK ratchets but they need a really great quality high tooth count pearhead. The same tools I bought in the 60's are no differant that was is on the market right now. As good as they are they are dated. If they void the warranty on older tools they will destroy the loyal fanbase they already have. Younger buyers won't want the dated design and confusion about what was made and when will just further add to company selling out or outsorcing. It's going to be a tough road no matter which way they decide to go.

 

[amt]

You are right about marketing. They really need to sign up someone like Home Depot and present themselves as better than the standard offering there.

 

[otis66]

It's not a rumor. That was listed on the website Ideal put up after they bought SK.

But, it wasn't clear if it was $5 PER ITEM or $5 PER SHIPMENT. I never called to clarify and I didn't see any posts where anyone else did.

Here's a thread I made when Ideal posted the website. When Ideal launched the new website, they didn't include any warranty info.

I have never paid $5 to warranty any S-K tool. I just brought it to a Jobber store and it was replaced (15/16" 1/2 drive socket). Then again that is the only S-K tool I ever had to warranty.

 

[Toolhorder]

I really dislike the wording they are using. If you bought the name you should honor the original warranty. I'm glad I never bought SK stuff new. I remember we used to have an independant tool seller that came by in his truck all the time selling tools. He used to try all the time to get me to buy SK tools but I passed in favor of Mac/SO.

For awhile now I've been buying ONLY from SO. Best warranty in the business IMO.

 

[chewy7]

You are right about marketing. They really need to sign up someone like Home Depot and present themselves as better than the standard offering there.

if they were sold at home depot i would buy from there if they were price competitively.

 

[Davefr]

You are right about marketing. They really need to sign up someone like Home Depot and present themselves as better than the standard offering there.

Home Depot would never touch SK IMHO.

HD has too much invested in the Husky brand and the trend has been to thin down the mechanics hand tool offering and shelf space in favor of mostly full sets.

SK and Husky cannot co-exist IMHO since HD already markets Husky as their premium product.

Secondly the average HD consumer wants the lowest cost Chinese products. Sales of SK would too tiny IMHO and wouldn't justify the shelf space.

SK needs to go more upscale then HD. Maybe NAPA or Ace Hardware.

 

[Techniker]

Thats for Jobbers who have boxes and boxes of items to be returned. I wonder how it will affect customer warranty returns in the future for older SK tools. If they don't stand by the old ones I won't buy any new ones. Just that simple. I love SK tools and the lack of warranty won't stop me from buying the older ones at discount prices but there are still many new old stock SK tools selling for big money. I would hope for their sake that they don't start off on the wrong foot. That would leave a bad taste in the mouth of many SK fans because what happens when Ideal ends up selling to Stanley or even worse Apex. I guess we will know soon enough. I heard rumor that SK was going to charge a 5 dollar warranty charge on each tool that came through warranty. Thats going to be tough when someone has 30 broken sockets. I hope it's all just rumor or they will go down faster than a 747 out of fuel.

My same thoughts as well. I only have a few SK tools, but the ones I do have I am absolutely in love with- they're a heavy, good-quality steel. I'm still tooling up and those SK tools, while a quality brand, are still fetching top dollar. I don't see any reason I should have to worry about their warranty (whether or not they even have one), and the audacity of them to charge a fee on warranties, when there are so many other brands on the market, is absolutely unbelievable.

-Techniker

 

[chewy7]

Home Depot would never touch SK IMHO.

HD has too much invested in the Husky brand and the trend has been to thin down the mechanics hand tool offering and shelf space in favor of mostly full sets.

SK and Husky cannot co-exist IMHO since HD already markets Husky as their premium product.

Secondly the average HD consumer wants the lowest cost Chinese products. Sales of SK would too tiny IMHO and wouldn't justify the shelf space.

SK needs to go more upscale then HD. Maybe NAPA or Ace Hardware.

i would buy s-k wherever its available and the cheapest lol

 

[diesel research]

SK needs to go more upscale then HD. Maybe NAPA or Ace Hardware.

I wouldn't call Ace "more upscale". Tool selection is somewhere above HF but BELOW lowes. You would be hard pressed to find much american tools in ace, save for some slow moving old stock that never sold before manufacturers moved offshore (old vice grips).

Lot of people shy away from NAPA for what ever reason.

 

[rebelram]

SK has barely gotten going under Ideal. I'm not about to write them off just yet. I am interested to see what their distribution channels will be and how they handle their daily operations.

Remember, Ideal kept SK stateside and gave Americans jobs and they will be making tools right here in the USA. Which is exactly what a lot of you here on the board complain about.

If the quality remains the same as it has with the old tools, then tool breakage should not occur very often. Do I think they should warranty the old tools? Yes absolutely. But I also think we should support them and let them get going at full speed to see the support is there so that they will know they will be able to warranty the tools and not lose lots of money.

 

[TheGrooveking]

The thing that killed off SK was a lack of marketing. You can't make it putting the tools in just Farm and Hardware stores. Hardware stores are going down the tubes in favor of big box stores. SK will need an aggressive maketing plan and if they can place the tools on many online stores and big box stores along with Ideal they can make it. The will have to pick up the pace and come into the modern age. I love SK ratchets but they need a really great quality high tooth count pearhead. The same tools I bought in the 60's are no differant that was is on the market right now. As good as they are they are dated. If they void the warranty on older tools they will destroy the loyal fanbase they already have. Younger buyers won't want the dated design and confusion about what was made and when will just further add to company selling out or outsorcing. It's going to be a tough road no matter which way they decide to go.

Wrong, they did market, they even sponsered a NASCAR team, they advertised in many industry magazines. What took them down was ownership greed, each owner sucked money from the operation and didn't reinvest. Their facilities were old as was their equipment, it comes a time that you have to spend money to make money. The last management group didn't have a clue, they went with that McCook distribution center and ended up closing that, they should of spent their money handling their environmental issues.

On the warranty the problem is you take people who buy 2nd hand used & abused S-K tools who then send them in and want a new one for free. I need to check my old S-K catalogs warranty info, as I remember something about being warrantied to the original owner. So if that is true, then there will be a bunch of cheap skates cheats who won't get free tools. As to the price of S-K tools, yes their not Craftsman cheap, but that aren't Craftsman poor quality either.

As to your old design comment, I have S-K tools that I bought in the 70's that are still going strong so why is a redesign necessary? Your opinion on them needing a pearhead design misses that there are many who prefer the round head since it is more compact, look at Wright for instance. The Proto ratchets are huge compared to an S-K.

Some people want inexpensive tools, but they also want American made, yet they forget those American workers want American wages which doesn't add up in a business format where making a profit is a necessary thing. Its either buy Chinese or buy American, but there is a price difference, basic economics.

Holeshot as to your Gearwrench experience are you wanting to pay cheap prices yet have Snap On level customer service and exchanges?

TheGrooveking

 

[TheGrooveking]

if they were sold at home depot i would buy from there if they were price competitively.

Competitive to what? Other American made tools? Or tools of that type in general irregardless of country of origin?

TheGrooveking

 

[TheGrooveking]

You are right about marketing. They really need to sign up someone like Home Depot and present themselves as better than the standard offering there.

Home Depot and Lowes have driven vendors/suppliers to the ground on pricing with their Walmart tactics. S-K should market thru industrial and automotive suppliers, leave the home owners to buy the cheap I only need it once or twice mentality tools.

TheGrooveking

 

[chewy7]

Competitive to what? Other American made tools? Or tools of that type in general irregardless of country of origin?

TheGrooveking

too other places selling the same s-k tools like napa,sears, online vendors ,etc.

 

[Wrenches of Death]

SK needs to go more upscale then HD. Maybe NAPA or Ace Hardware.

Bingo! You hit the nail on the head. NAPA would be probably be a natural. Their tool line hasn't impressed me since New Britain went **** up.

WoD

 

[treasureseeker]

I find SK an interesting company in that passions for the brand runs high but that does’t translate in simalar sales. I don’t see them making a comeback without becoming a house brand like Duralast is.

 

[Underdog]

I agree Jim. If they charge me $5 for every broken tool I have I will just toss the sockets and never buy an SK tool again. I have been an SK fan for many years, lets just hope it works out like we all want it to.

That reminds Me of a time long ago. I had a SK 1/2 ratchet that had broke. Only place I knew of to replace was the local NAPA store. They sold SK at the time and said they could get it warranted for Me. Well after 6 months they said the dealer or company rep never stops by. Took back the ratchet and threw it back in the box. Sometime later when moving and consolidating my tools I took that SK ratchet and tossed it in the steel dumpster because it irritated me so much. Then on I was done with buying any new SK tools. Sure I still buy used ones for pennies on the dollar at flea mkt. but never new.
Now I buy SO and just ship back warranty tools, works great.

 

[Davefr]

The $5 warranty charge won't bug me too much however they should make it per "return" vs. per "line item". I have 100's of SK hand tools that I've purchased ever since the Dresser days. (ie over 3 decades). I might have broken 1 but no more then that. The $5 just isn't a big deal.

I just want SK to remain dedicated to the highest quality standards. That is a big deal!!

I'd rather pay the $5 and know the factory will replace a tool promptly then be a victim of the GW warranty model where they send you to B&M who all proceed to give you the "cold shoulder" unless you can prove you bought from them. And once you prove that the likely won't have the individual line item on hand. (only sets)

$5 is cheaper then my time and gas going on a wild goose chase trying to get a local warranty replacement.

I bet the "buy from garage sale", "replace with new tool", "resell on Ebay" is causing a huge amount of frivolous warranty claims. The tool companies have a problem on their hands with their previous generous warranty policies.

 

[bonneyman]

Not acceptable, Change the name of the tool or warranty carry on the name without interuption. Lets see how far they go with Ideal ratchets and wrenches. If they didn't want the reputation for quality they should have just started their own tool brand under a differant banner. As bad as I want to see a US tool company make good they won't using the SK banner and not covering older tools. They had to figure this going in. If they don't their customer base won't be very large. Most people won't know if they are buying the warrantied or non-warranty tools. There will still be NOS SK tools being sold years after SK cranks back up. It would be like Snap-On going under and Stanley works buying it and only new Snap-On being warrantied. How do you think that would go over.

I see your point. Maybe Ideal should just change the name on the tools, and make a go of it. If Granco re-issued Bonney tools with "GRANCO" on them, I'd still buy them. But that's just me.
If Craftsman stopped their warranty, they wouldn't be selling any more Craftsman. They decided to go the Chinese route. Sales are dropping, and I know of alot of folks who turn in their old USA-made tools to get the only option available - Chinese made. They ain't happy about it, and I don't blame them. I figure Sears will either go all Asian soon, or drop out of the tool business alltogether. Heck, maybe the whole corp will go under. Then they'll be NO warranty for anybody.

 

[TheGrooveking]

IHeck, maybe the whole corp will go under. Then they'll be NO warranty for anybody.

That is exactly what happened to S-K, so that is why the whole BS about $5 charge for warranty now makes no sense, seeing that their (Sk tool owners with warranty issues) previous option was to eat dirt and smile about it since there was no warranty.

TheGrooveking