Craftsman Mail-In Warranty?

bargainzplus+ · Feb 26, 2011

I have recently cleaned out a tool shed and found countless craftsman ratchets, extensions, sockets and pliers that are so rusted out they will not move. It would be extremely awkward bringing them into the local Sears to have them warrantied. Does anyone know the best way to go about doing this, such as a possible mail-in warranty location? I don't believe they will refuse since they are lifetime tools. Please advise :thumbup:

Thanks

american lockpicker · Feb 26, 2011

Just take them into Sears.

Skin · Feb 26, 2011

electrolysis.

Otherwise you're stuck walking into a store. At the risk of asking a loaded question were the tools purchased by you or at least a family members or you just looking to cash in on some old tools you found while cleaning out something?

If they're yours i wouldnt hesitate. If its just some junk find.....eh. Electrolysis.

Toolhorder · Feb 26, 2011

Space out the returns if it were me.

trout · Feb 26, 2011

I'd put them in a bucket, give them to my girl, and tell her to make up a story like she left them outside and needs to fix it before I find out.

5-0stank · Feb 26, 2011

There's 1 sears and 2 sears hardware stores within about 20 minutes from me. I would just take a few to each every now and then.

johnsdeere850j · Feb 26, 2011

dont cover rust as far as what i was told

shanker · Feb 26, 2011

rust not covered.....trying to warranty a bucket of rusty tools is pretty ************ IMHO

honcho · Feb 26, 2011

Man, that's ballsy wanting to warranty tools unusable because of rust! But then, you're too ashamed to take them into a store and face a real person. What makes you think a heartless clerk would not just deny a mail-in claim?

Lifetime warranties are great, but expecting stuff to be warrantied because of corrosion is wrong. I don't think even the most cooperative Snap-On dealer would cover that.

Wait...take them to Nordstrom's. I think I read something about them refunding stuff they didn't even sell.

mrholeshot · Feb 26, 2011

I'm not going to play moral police so I say clean them up the best you can and return them a few at the time. If the tools are over 20 years old or more they had an UNCONDITIONAL SATISFACTION or your money back warranty. You would still be playing within the rules Craftsman and Sears put down. I won't say what I would or wouldn't do so this is something better left to the person who has them. It's no differant than those who sell stacks of Dual 80 ratchets here. You know they didn't come off the truck so the warranty was being used. It's no differant that asking people to pay you using the gift option on PayPal. Everybody is guilty to some extent of wrong doing, unethical or questionable behavior.

Normally the same people who put your morals into question are the same ones who could use a lesson in morality. Let your conscious be your guide

demographic · Feb 26, 2011

I have some tools that I cut in half with a grinder, they have a lifetime warranty.

Should I take them back and complain that they aren't grinder resistant? :wtf:

Stephenw · Feb 26, 2011

I'll say it...

It's not right to expect warranty for tools that were ruined through no fault of Sears.

betulauber · Feb 26, 2011

I don't see a moral dilemma in turning in tools for warranty. The warranty is transferable, they even had some ads of passing on the tools on to your children.

I wouldn’t warranty a tool just because of surface rust or a cosmetic problem. Only if it was inoperable. Maybe soak them in vinegar for a few hours to remove the rust.

I think a mail-in-warranty center would be a good idea as the Sears by me is a couple of hours away.

old salvage · Feb 26, 2011

Put them up for sale here. Sell them cheap to folks who have the time to clean them up.

Kirbot · Feb 26, 2011

I don't feel like getting in to any more arguments with the moral police, but I will say this...

Rust IS covered under warranty, whether you like it or not.
Fact is, it's up to sears, and whatever the moral police wan't to run around saying, really doesn't make a damn bit of difference.
Sears have a "Satisfaction Guaranty", if for ANY reason you are not happy with the tools, get them replaced.

Sears doesn't require you to be the original purchaser either.
If you think differently, please provide something to back it up.

trout · Feb 26, 2011

Kirbot said:
I don't feel like getting in to any more arguments with the moral police, but I will say this...

Rust IS covered under warranty, whether you like it or not.
Fact is, it's up to sears, and whatever the moral police wan't to run around saying, really doesn't make a damn bit of difference.
Sears have a "Satisfaction Guaranty", if for ANY reason you are not happy with the tools, get them replaced.

Sears doesn't require you to be the original purchaser either.
If you think differently, please provide something to back it up.

and that's what the people who run the company think. The only thing you have to work around are the hourly employees. :lol_hitti

Kirbot · Feb 26, 2011

trout said:
and that's what the people who run the company think. The only thing you have to work around are the hourly employees.

I can't disagree with you there...
Every company with have a few employees who won't do there job.
Just ask to speak to the manager, if that doesn't do it, send an email to corperate headquarters.

They seamed to appreciate it when I sen't them an email a while back letting them know about an unpleasant warranty experience.

Elroy · Feb 26, 2011

Stephenw said:
I'll say it...

It's not right to expect warranty for tools that were ruined through no fault of Sears.

Elroy follows this train of thought as well.

Ask youself: is it Sears fault the tools were improperly stored?

If you say yes, turn them in.

Papawswrench · Feb 26, 2011

Take the high road! Clean them up and use them. If then some don't work, take those in and ask for a "Satisfaction" warranty. It is the customer's responsibility to maintain the tools in good condition, however, so don't be teed off if you are denied.

trout · Feb 26, 2011

Kirbot said:
I can't disagree with you there...
Every company with have a few employees who won't do there job.
Just ask to speak to the manager, if that doesn't do it, send an email to corperate headquarters.

They seamed to appreciate it when I sen't them an email a while back letting them know about an unpleasant warranty experience.

I think you missed what I said then.

I know every company does, Sears just seems to have more.

bargainzplus+ · Feb 26, 2011

I guess I will just take some from time to time and to different stores. I am not the original owner but did clean up and plan on using all that are operable. All the tools that have a friction ball need replaced, ie. ratchets and extensions. All the sockets are heavily rusted, almost like someone tossed them into a fire and doused them afterwards. I knew bringing this up would inccur a moral/stingent issue, but hey that will happen with any discussion.

pipsters · Feb 26, 2011

If they are older they'll probably fetch a good price cleaned up on ebay, more than a new version would ne. Is try electrolosys then see what they look like and if they operate. More like a project.

scott37300 · Feb 26, 2011

pipsters said:
If they are older they'll probably fetch a good price cleaned up on ebay, more than a new version would ne. Is try electrolosys then see what they look like and if they operate. More like a project.

For some reason I get the impression the OP is more interested in getting brand new tools for a quick flip to make money. Not looking for a project, just quick easy cash. A quick search of his recent posts shows they are all about warranty and then his seller posts in the classifieds.

johnsdeere850j · Feb 26, 2011

scott37300 said:
For some reason I get the impression the OP is more interested in getting brand new tools for a quick flip to make money. Not looking for a project, just quick easy cash. A quick search of his recent posts shows they are all about warranty and then his seller posts in the classifieds.

Hmmm... I noticed that.... OH well some people ill tell yah......

jjarrell4 · Feb 26, 2011

So basically you bought a bucket of rusted craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar, expecting to exchange them for brand new tools and sell these new tools for 3 times what you paid? And you haven't even used them....

Sincerely
moral police

please be wary of buying from him too, I tried to buy things from him and he sold them on eBay after committing to my sale.

Butters · Feb 26, 2011

If I felt the rust was premature due to inadequate plating, etc. I would certainly try to get them warrantied.

If I left tools out in the elements, that would amount to abuse IMHO and wouldn't feel right about trying to get replacements.

Sometimes, it may be a little of both I suppose. But the fact that you don't want to do it in person should be telling you something. It also makes me realize why it can sometimes be difficult to warranty Craftsman tools even when they are clearly defective.

scott37300 · Feb 26, 2011

jjarrell4 said:
So basically you bought a bucket of rusted craftsman tools for pennies on the dollar, expecting to exchange them for brand new tools and sell these new tools for 3 times what you paid? And you haven't even used them....

Sincerely
moral police

please be wary of buying from him too, I tried to buy things from him and he sold them on eBay after committing to my sale.

He has a seller feedback thread that he started if you want to leave your experience on there, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87186

jjarrell4 · Feb 26, 2011

scott37300 said:
He has a seller feedback thread that he started if you want to leave your experience on there, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87186

Thank you sir!

1983Camperspecial · Mar 22, 2011

I'll posty it again, Sears got their money, just like SO or any other tool company, price includes warrenty, Don't want people turning your junk in for rust as a warranty claim? Fine change the wording on your warranty clause, till then its fair game.

Lotek · Mar 22, 2011

1983Camperspecial said:
I'll posty it again, Sears got their money, just like SO or any other tool company, price includes warrenty, Don't want people turning your junk in for rust as a warranty claim? Fine change the wording on your warranty clause, till then its fair game.

Fair game, the warranty is what it is, but gotta agree with the "moral police" about this kind of bottom feeding activity, just drives up the cost of doing business so companies have to ship production overseas, and hire cheaper help that give worse customer service to legitimate customers.

There is something wrong in the mindset of someone who mistreats or abuses a product, then demands that the warranty cover it, I see it all day long at work, then you have those who buy something used that has been abused and mistreated, and demands waranty coverage even though they haven't done any business with the mfg and are unlikely to ever do so.

hofferwood · Mar 22, 2011

ALL JUDGE
And NO-ONE, answered the question posed.
Perhaps call Sears and ask about Mail-in.
Chuck

dirtrider · Mar 22, 2011

Lotek said:
Fair game, the warranty is what it is, but gotta agree with the "moral police" about this kind of bottom feeding activity, just drives up the cost of doing business so companies have to ship production overseas, and hire cheaper help that give worse customer service to legitimate customers.

There is something wrong in the mindset of someone who mistreats or abuses a product, then demands that the warranty cover it, I see it all day long at work, then you have those who buy something used that has been abused and mistreated, and demands waranty coverage even though they haven't done any business with the mfg and are unlikely to ever do so.

I agree, if he was warranting the tools that he originally bought and were intended for his personal use I could look the other way to the warranty of those rusted tools, but considering his MO as stated above I think this is intentionally abusing a warranty policy that was put out in good faith and is more than fair. I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding Sears right now but I believe there warranty policy is still one of the best. Many home users and mechanics especially ones just starting out are dependent upon this very same warranty to fix or replace the tools they rely on to make there living, and when people abuse this warranty it's put's all these people at risk of not getting the service they need to some degree. It really comes down to taking personal responsibility, I really don't care what the OP does with his tools that's between him and Sears I just hope eventually it doesn't affect the rest of us in a negative way if enough of this abuse goes on.

scott37300 · Mar 22, 2011

1983Camperspecial said:
I'll posty it again, Sears got their money, just like SO or any other tool company, price includes warrenty, Don't want people turning your junk in for rust as a warranty claim? Fine change the wording on your warranty clause, till then its fair game.

So you dug up a month old thread for what reason? Do you just go searching for issues that stir the pot?

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