No wonder Sears is in trouble!

[gloveman132]

This guy was in front of me at Sears on Sunday. He was in there with an entire bucket of bent, broken and rusted Craftsman tools he probably got from someone's trash, garage sale or flea market.

Today, it is all on CL for 50% off.

No store can stay in business like that.

I am no fan of Sears, but wrong is wrong, some of the stuff was just rusty.

What do you guys think?

http://spacecoast.craigslist.org/tls/2383976259.html

 

[Toolhorder]

I have no problem with it if you're keeping the tools.
Reseller's I have a problem with though.
It's the bottom feeders that buy all the estate sale rusty stuff and turn it in that cause a problem in my opinion. I've easily bought 75% of my Sears tools and they sure as hell get me on interest on my Sears card so I have no problem buying something rusty or broken and turning it in. To make a profit though is a different story.

 

[Beerman]

I'm sure this isn't the 1st time something like this has happened, nor will it be the last. I also can't say I haven't done something like this myself, but I've never walked in with more than 1-2 items at a time. And I sell used tools at the flea market, not on CL.

One of the biggest things that sells C'man tools, is their (supposed) no-hassle warranty. Does it get taken advantage of?? Yes, but I promise it sells FAR more tools for Sears than it costs them, particularly when they figure the cost of warranty replacement into the retail price of the tools.

Add in the fact that when you take your tools back for warranty, you're also there in the store and probably purchase something as well.

A couple of people will always abuse the system, the majority will not. Sears might not be the dominate player they once were, but C'man and its warranty is an asset to them, not a liability.



Beerman

 

[johnsdeere850j]

Guy in the Sears near me was doing the same thing, he and some helpers were bringing in boxes of stuff though....incredible.

 

[pipsters]

Yes it's wrong. Nothing they (Sears) can do about it though. That is the warranty they made. In reality it just drives the prices up for each of us, and why it costs $30 for a crappy 1/2" plastic switch ratchet from Sears which in reality is probably about a $15 (at most) ratchet. Just like insurance fraud, it hurts the honest majority, but nothin' you can do about it.

Hell whenever I warranty something I end up buying more stuff anyway, it's a kinda smart policy.

 

[Toolhorder]

You guys are bringing up a good point about buying stuff while you're in there handling warranty items. I usually go down there with the family to pay the CC bill once a month, return anything worn out/broken and see what they have for sale. I just was down there getting 2 rats rebuild/exchanged, payed my CC bill and I ended up buying a clearance mirror/magnet that was missing a part or something. Not much but I do buy new items there if it's made in the US and the price is right. When they come out with the premium rats in a set I'm buying those, etc..

 

[scott37300]

It happens all the time, weather it's right or wrong.

My personal opinion, not that it matters, is if you buy something and warranty it and keep it to use it's OK. But something about buying junk tools for pennies and trading them in for brand new and selling them just seems wrong to me. I also don't go looking for old rusty junk tools to buy.

There was a member on here that was doing this with craftsman, snap on, and others and then selling them on here and other places. He asked a question about if craftsman had a mail in warranty because he bought a ton of rusty tools and felt embarassed about walking into the store with all the junk tools to warranty them and sell as new. It just seems wrong to me, but who am I.

 

[WhiteTrash]

Those premium ratchets are nice and are available in a set. Part number 29498. It is often out of stock, and often you can get the individual ratchets on sale individually for cheaper.

Another thing I don't like, is how people will go to Sears and get all of the older ratchet rebuild kits. The ones that are no longer made. They get them for free, and then go home and sell them on eBay.

 

[Weps]

the warranty should simply not apply to neglect, abuse, or idiocy. and the managers should have no trouble telling these people to take their junk, get the hell out, and never enter another sears store again.

 

[Stephenw]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25566

 

[bargainzplus+]

I will fess up to this as it is me.. warranty is as it states so I am not in the wrong. Countless people do this and the prices of the tools indicate the warranty. Yes I purchased an entire collection of these tools that were from a fire-driven residency. They had no idea what they were but I was at the estate sale first and noticed some craftsman pliers that were rusted. Needless to say when I actually went through it I was astonished to find all of it was craftsman and "unusable". So, what was I to do with them? Of course I did what anyone else would do in the situation and to add insult to injury, the Sears employee asked me "dude, where did you get all this?" in a jealous manner and I told him the truth and he replied "thats what the warranty is for".

I know I will get ridiculed for this, but sink or swim and I surely did what 99% of people would've done in that situation.
On the re-selling part, I already have a complete set that I use personally use so I am selling at a reasonable price and will settle lower if prompted.

 

[cj610]

Yea, it'll kill Sears. I'll say that they should warranty any tool that failed under normal intended wear/use. Rusty stuff, trashed stuff, etc. sounds like improper care and should fall outside reasonable limits. As for buying cheap trash and trying to warranty it for new stuff and then immediately reselling it..............

I don't like it but it's up to Sears to decide how to run their business.

Ed

 

[Toolhorder]

I will fess up to this as it is me.. warranty is as it states so I am not in the wrong. Countless people do this and the prices of the tools indicate the warranty. Yes I purchased an entire collection of these tools that were from a fire-driven residency. They had no idea what they were but I was at the estate sale first and noticed some craftsman pliers that were rusted. Needless to say when I actually went through it I was astonished to find all of it was craftsman and "unusable". So, what was I to do with them? Of course I did what anyone else would do in the situation and to add insult to injury, the Sears employee asked me "dude, where did you get all this?" in a jealous manner and I told him the truth and he replied "thats what the warranty is for".

I know I will get ridiculed for this, but sink or swim and I surely did what 99% of people would've done in that situation.
On the re-selling part, I already have a complete set that I use personally use so I am selling at a reasonable price and will settle lower if prompted.

I don't know how you sleep at night you tool catfish

 

[bargainzplus+]

I don't know how you sleep at night you tool catfish

Just fine man I'm sure the Sears employees that helped me dreamed of finding a similar deal.

 

[WhiteTrash]

Well I guess I am the 1% of the people that was raised with morals and don't abuse the system.

 

[ibedayank]

i keep my tools i dont sell them...
if i warranty a tool because i plan on using that tool

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

I will fess up to this as it is me.. warranty is as it states so I am not in the wrong. Countless people do this and the prices of the tools indicate the warranty. Yes I purchased an entire collection of these tools that were from a fire-driven residency. They had no idea what they were but I was at the estate sale first and noticed some craftsman pliers that were rusted. Needless to say when I actually went through it I was astonished to find all of it was craftsman and "unusable". So, what was I to do with them? Of course I did what anyone else would do in the situation and to add insult to injury, the Sears employee asked me "dude, where did you get all this?" in a jealous manner and I told him the truth and he replied "thats what the warranty is for".

I know I will get ridiculed for this, but sink or swim and I surely did what 99% of people would've done in that situation.
On the re-selling part, I already have a complete set that I use personally use so I am selling at a reasonable price and will settle lower if prompted.

I don't think you did anything wrong. The Craftsman hand tool warranty clearly states:

"CRAFTSMAN HAND TOOL FULL WARRANTY If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge."

So, tell me again how this is wrong?

 

[Toolhorder]

Just fine man I'm sure the Sears employees that helped me dreamed of finding a similar deal.

That's too bad your moral compass is broken so bad you can't see the error of your ways. Unfortunately Sears doesn't have moral compasses you can warranty....

 

[Stephenw]

Sears hand tool warranty...

"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."

They wrote it in a time when people had more integrity.

It's overdue a revision.

 

[Sancho]

Its how it works, I cant imagine they're losing money on this. I cant think of a business that would operate at a loss to maintain their warrenty, incidentally probably why Sears no longer lifetime warrenties clicker torque wrenchs.

I had a neighbor who's garage burned down, Im reasonably confident he claimed the tools as a insurance loss along with the building. I have no doubt those tools were not a "total" loss either but I digress.

 

[johnsdeere850j]

Well I guess I am the 1% of the people that was raised with morals and don't abuse the system.

I am in that 1% too. I honestly could not do it, it's just wrong.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

yeah , can't have too many tools

 

[Buckgnarly]

Guess I know who I won't buy stuff from on here in the future..... if you're not kidding, thanks for the heads up

 

[ChrisF250]

your making money off an unfortunate event through a loophole in the system...guess I'm in the 1% too

 

[Toolhorder]

Guess I know who I won't buy stuff form on here in the future..... if you're not kidding, thanks for the heads up

Exactly what I was thinking as well.

 

[WhiteTrash]

It is no wonder Sear is having to start making tools in China. They can't afford the abuse of the system and still have the tools made here. If they changed the warranty, they would lose their loyal customers. If they raise the prices to cover the abuse of the system, they will lose customers. So they had to make the tools for less.

 

[jmauld]

If sears still demanded that their products were quality made in the USA stuff, the guy who did this would probably have a job instead of scrounging for broken tools. It's their fault.

 

[Toolhorder]

If sears still demanded that their products were quality made in the USA stuff, the guy who did this would probably have a job instead of scrounging for broken tools. It's their fault.

That's a stretch...

 

[jmauld]

I know.

I actually don't agree with taking advantage of the company like this. Even though I won't step foot into their store again, now that they are destroying the craftsman name.

 

[garfunkle24]

Sears hand tool warranty...

"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."

They wrote it in a time when people had more integrity.

It's overdue a revision.

This^^^^^^

 

[NinetyTwoFifty]

It is no wonder Sear is having to start making tools in China. They can't afford the abuse of the system and still have the tools made here. If they changed the warranty, they would lose their loyal customers. If they raise the prices to cover the abuse of the system, they will lose customers. So they had to make the tools for less.

USA made Craftsman tools have gone downhill over the years. So has Kobalt. If they switch over to HIGH QUALITY Chinese made tools, I would welcome that.

If I want high quality USA made tools, I'll buy Proto, Wright, or Snap On. It won't be a big loss to me.

 

[rsieracki]

It is no wonder Sear is having to start making tools in China. They can't afford the abuse of the system and still have the tools made here. If they changed the warranty, they would lose their loyal customers. If they raise the prices to cover the abuse of the system, they will lose customers. So they had to make the tools for less.

more like theyre making them in china to increase their profits

 

[johnsdeere850j]

I once saw a lady get out of a brand new Cadillac Escalade, put on hobo clothes and a leg brace and then walk down to the street corner with a big cardboard sign. I watched her for a good 30 minutes, about every 10th car or so she would get some paper. Guarantee after she quit for the day she went down and collected her workers comp and social security/disability checks. Some people are just rotten to the core

 

[garfunkle24]

more like theyre making them in china to increase their profits

Offshore and live or fail to compete and die?

Your view is very simplistic.

 

[Trucky]

If I ever saw someone doing that, they'd hear a lot of things I bet they'd rather not.

Not that I could personally do anything about that, but that's just awful.

You can do it. Like switch lanes with no turn signal, just little stuff like that.

But boy you better not expect anything good coming from me, ever.

 

[hammergodthor]

Count me in for another 1%

Something gets burned in somebody else's fire (abuse) which doesn't give you satisfaction so you return them for a warranty because you're not satisfied????

That doesn't even come close to the warranty policy.

Clean 'em up and keep using them. If they break in a year or two, then return them.

No offense against Barganz, but I just don't agree with some of the views here this time.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

1% here.......

 

[rsieracki]

Offshore and live or fail to compete and die?

Your view is very simplistic.

i never said i had a problem with them/sears making tools in china. my comment was in reply to someone suggesting sears had to go to china so they could afford warantee replacement and so they didnt have to raise prices (see post 26). i've never complained about higher prices as long as the quality has stayed at the same level... lowering quality to sell at a similar or higher price is incresing profits no matter how you cut it.. i have no problem paying a profit but none of this is related to the OP's question nor is how this thread has drifted into the rights and wrongs or sears warantee "abuse"

 

[Z06 427]

Part of the 1% here also. Just because you can does not make it right.

 

[canuckian]

just another warranty abuser contributing to the decline in quality and increase in cost of, well, just about everything that's gone the way of US made Craftsman tools....just not something I'd ever consider doing.