SK Goes Boom

[DSLTRK]

Wow I agree with bwinger. Let a metallurgist take a look. Maybe the pic isn’t clear on my phone but looks like casting to me bad metal.

Here's a better photo. It does look like a fracture started earlier by the thin corrosion line shown in the upper left. Def brittle fracture from hairline cracks in machined corners.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[DSLTRK]

USPS Flat rate priority legal size envelope $7.65. (reinforce the edges and wrap it well)

I forgot about the legal size. I thought I had to use the med flat rate to get the thing sent off.

I'll go ahead and send it back for 8 bucks.

 

[DSLTRK]

Like I said, it is just a guess on my part. If you really are curious about their intentions, give them a call and ask them.

Probably from people abusing the warranty. Only other SK ratchet failure I had was defective tooth broaching on a 1/4 flex, they sent the replacement out free of charge and I tossed the old one in the scrap bin.

 

[Davefr]

If they want it back to analyze then they should be paying for the shipping. Stuff like this I don't get.

If I break a Kobalt, Husky, CM tool the store doesn't come to my house to replace it. I have to take it to them.

I've never had MAC, Matco, Wright or Cornwell provide a prepaid label for a broken tool.

For the nominal cost to ship it to SK, I simply wouldn't think twice about it.

I'd actually feel better if SK wanted it back for failure analysis/process improvement then if they told the OP to throw it in the trash and they'd send him a new one.

 

[BarryWells]

I wouldn't. Calll them back and link them to this thread.' I aiiint payyyin shiit. Replace the damn thing like ********. Mac,Snap and many others. F'em.BS

 

[ex-x-fire]

I know I've broken loose cradle bolts with my 1/2 SK round head that my hf breaker bar (It was bending too much) or any of my impacts wouldn't do.

 

[AreYaSerious]

Well I called SK customer service and they will replace it but I have to ship the whole ratchet to them. Can't send picture or just head.

Kinda expensive to ship back since I only paid $75 for it.

Cheaper then a new ratchet.

 

[ganymede]

Snap-on? Yes, they fail at the anvil (by design). I saw a video a while back where other brands failed at the anvil too (can't remember which brands though)

Cornwell was one.
I think the 3/8 drive let go around 250ft lbs.

 

[Skin]

I wouldn't. Calll them back and link them to this thread.' I aiiint payyyin shiit. Replace the damn thing like ********. Mac,Snap and many others. F'em.BS

You have to mail into all those companies. And Wiha, Wera, Knipex, Proto, Facom, Nepros, Koken. Companies that mail replacements on word alone are the exception, not the rule. Snap-on is unique in that their call tag system generates a prepaid label but you still have to send it in.

 

[flushcut]

Impressive break!

 

[tonyciambrone]

Too bad an SK rep couldn't chime in. Remember when we used to have an active SK rep on the forum until the tool polisher/collectors chased him off harassing him about functionally-meaningless issues with chrome and detents that 99.5% of their customers wouldn't care about.

Yeah screw people who expect fit and finish at premium prices

 

[tym]

I wouldn't. Calll them back and link them to this thread.' I aiiint payyyin shiit. Replace the damn thing like ********. Mac,Snap and many others. F'em.BS

Overreact much?

 

[Handyandy23]

If I break a Kobalt, Husky, CM tool the store doesn't come to my house to replace it. I have to take it to them.

I've never had MAC, Matco, Wright or Cornwell provide a prepaid label for a broken tool.

For the nominal cost to ship it to SK, I simply wouldn't think twice about it.

I'd actually feel better if SK wanted it back for failure analysis/process improvement then if they told the OP to throw it in the trash and they'd send him a new one.

I guess it costs you whatever gas money to get to the store, and depends where you live, but taking a broken tool with you on your next trip to HD is pretty much zero cost. I also have lower expectations buying cheap Husky or Kobalt tools than I do buying high end US made tools. SO / Mac / etc have tool trucks that come around and replace tools for you on the spot, which is kind of built into the cost. SK seems to be one of those that falls on no man's land where you're paying a premium price for a better product, but not necessarily getting any better customer service.

I'm sure it's an overreaction and not that big of a deal to ship. But just seems outdated and an extra hassle to add onto a customer that's already inconvenienced by the original failure. If a company like Tekton can sell a ratchet for $20, and warranty it with just a picture being uploaded, surely SK can do the same for a ratchet that costs 4-5x as much.

It might be the exception to have it that easy, but it's harder than most. And as other companies provide better service, they're going to have to change with the times to keep up.

 

[Farmall450]

I guess it costs you whatever gas money to get to the store, and depends where you live, but taking a broken tool with you on your next trip to HD is pretty much zero cost. I also have lower expectations buying cheap Husky or Kobalt tools than I do buying high end US made tools. SO / Mac / etc have tool trucks that come around and replace tools for you on the spot, which is kind of built into the cost. SK seems to be one of those that falls on no man's land where you're paying a premium price for a better product, but not necessarily getting any better customer service.

I'm sure it's an overreaction and not that big of a deal to ship. But just seems outdated and an extra hassle to add onto a customer that's already inconvenienced by the original failure. If a company like Tekton can sell a ratchet for $20, and warranty it with just a picture being uploaded, surely SK can do the same for a ratchet that costs 4-5x as much.

It might be the exception to have it that easy, but it's harder than most. And as other companies provide better service, they're going to have to change with the times to keep up.

You would think, wouldn't you.

 

[shamrock12]

I guess it costs you whatever gas money to get to the store, and depends where you live, but taking a broken tool with you on your next trip to HD is pretty much zero cost. I also have lower expectations buying cheap Husky or Kobalt tools than I do buying high end US made tools. SO / Mac / etc have tool trucks that come around and replace tools for you on the spot, which is kind of built into the cost. SK seems to be one of those that falls on no man's land where you're paying a premium price for a better product, but not necessarily getting any better customer service.

I'm sure it's an overreaction and not that big of a deal to ship. But just seems outdated and an extra hassle to add onto a customer that's already inconvenienced by the original failure. If a company like Tekton can sell a ratchet for $20, and warranty it with just a picture being uploaded, surely SK can do the same for a ratchet that costs 4-5x as much.

It might be the exception to have it that easy, but it's harder than most. And as other companies provide better service, they're going to have to change with the times to keep up.

I’ll second that. You paid for a premium tool and therefore you should also receive premium service. Simple as that. It’s silly for someone to say that you can afford to ship a broken tool out of your pocket if you were able to afford it in the first place. That is just a stereotype. Basically it is implying that if you bought a cheap, economical tool that you are poor and also can not afford to ship the broken tool for warranty

I have found with experience that sometime you just have to ask (politely) for an arrangement to be made. Don’t just demand for it. Just explain nicely that their product unexpected failed beyond your control.

I have had SK warrantied my tools on two separate occasions in the past. One time they provided the label without me asking for it. The other time I had to ask nicely for it. No problem both times as they were able to correct the issues by sending me new replacement tools.

No, SK doesn’t charge as much as Snap-on does, but SK still charge quite a premium price and that usually is without a tool truck making a weekly (or bi-weekly) round to your establishment. Don’t mistake me, I’m really a big fan of SK and recently made a large order of SK during the annual Epstein’s Day (which is due to arrive tomorrow ) but for them to charge premium with limited service (no tool truck for most of us), it is more than reasonable to expect them to provide an alternative method with no cost to you.

 

[Wamsutta]

I wouldn't. Calll them back and link them to this thread.' I aiiint payyyin shiit. Replace the damn thing like ********. Mac,Snap and many others. F'em.BS

Why do you ridicule the Cornwell brand name? That's actually someone's last name; you know that right?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Hats off to Sk. They may want the tool returned so they can determine why it broke. I agree with the advice to inquire about a return label. You will soon be shipped a new tool.

If lacking a Snap-on Dealer; Snap-on, Proto, and SK warranty procedures are very similar.

 

[nmantas]

Yeah screw people who expect fit and finish at premium prices

Give me a break.....some of those issues you needed a magnifying glass to see.

 

[Tdubyac]

Has anyone had any luck getting sk warranted at Grainger? Got a 10mm x frame that’s all screwed up.

 

[Davefr]

It might be the exception to have it that easy, but it's harder than most. And as other companies provide better service, they're going to have to change with the times to keep up.

Harder then most??

I can only think of two examples of companies that provide prepaid or "send an image" warranty return service. (SO and Tekton)

Other then those two exceptions, who does SK need to "keep up with the times" with?

None of the other premium brands do. (ex: Proto, Wright, Williams, Cornwell, MAC, Matco, etc, etc)

In fact SK is among the easiest to get ratchet rebuild kits from. They give them out like candy no questions asked.

 

[CR888]

I think if a tool co offered to pay shipping on warranty items, the amount of claims would more than double over night. And if they did what would happen with ineligible warranty claims...should they just wear the costs associated with those who buy broken used tools off eBay with the intention of swapping it for a free new replacement. I think it sorts out the more genuine claimants from the not so by not paying free shipping. Consumer expectation on tool warranty has gone crazy IMO.

 

[Maui]

OP, please take as detailed and in-focus of a close-up as you can of one of those fracture surfaces with your camera before shipping the broken parts back to the factory. Since we are unable to examine them in person, the better picture you can take the better the experts here would be able to help interpret the morphology of the fracture surface.

Maui

 

[nmantas]

Harder then most??

I can only think of two examples of companies that provide prepaid or "send an image" warranty return service. (SO and Tekton)

In fact SK is among the easiest to get ratchet rebuild kits from. They give them out like candy no questions asked.

I believe Astro is also that way.....at least on the forum. I agree they are fabulous about ratchet repair kits, in fact, I'm sure people abuse that in order to sell the new kits on ebay. People ****.

 

[Skin]

Hats off to Sk. They may want the tool returned so they can determine why it broke.

I think they mostly just want to make sure they're trading like for like. The honor system doesn't work. Snap-on was on the honor system for many decades and then one day some bean counter realized they'd mailed over a hundred ratchets to the same address under the guise of warranty. Some people ****. Simple as that. Its all well and good if you're selling $20 ratchets from Taiwan and you want to try the honor system (Tekton) but in SK's shoes i'd do the same thing.

I believe Astro is also that way.....at least on the forum. I agree they are fabulous about ratchet repair kits, in fact, I'm sure people abuse that in order to sell the new kits on ebay. People ****.

That's nothing new. Same thing is done with Snap-on and Craftsman repair kits.

 

[BarryWells]

Overreact much?

Not at all. How fast do YOU earn $100. UNDER-ract much ?

 

[tym]

Not at all. How fast do YOU earn $100. UNDER-ract much ?

Fast enough to know when a post is wasting my time.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I think they mostly just want to make sure they're trading like for like. The honor system doesn't work. Snap-on was on the honor system for many decades and then one day some bean counter realized they'd mailed over a hundred ratchets to the same address under the guise of warranty. Some people ****. Simple as that. Its all well and good if you're selling $20 ratchets from Taiwan and you want to try the honor system (Tekton) but in SK's shoes i'd do the same thing.




That's nothing new. Same thing is done with Snap-on and Craftsman repair kits.

I erased that same concern from My post before submitting it. I agree; Unless that ratchet is exchanged for a new one; what is stopping the owner, brother-in-law, or yard sale buyer from submitting multiple claims on that same broken tool?. I shortened that post to reduce any confusion; as some members would likely think I was taking a cheap shot at the OP.. That wasn't the case.
Thank You for bringing up this concern that We certainly agree on.