gdocktor3
Well-known member
I don't know if its spring fever & everyone is doing spring cleaning and digging out their old, broken tools, but tool warranty and Sears/Craftsman in particular has been a big topic this past week. So with that said, I remembered I had a 1/2" Chinese Craftsman ratchet I broke a few months ago and decided to take it in for replacement. Here's how it went.
When I entered the store, a young girl was working at the register. I asked if I could replace the ratchet, but wanted to know if there were any rebuilt USA's around. She checked the cabinet behind the desk, but could not find one. She apologized and called the gentleman with the keys over to aisle 4 to meet me. When he arrived, I asked him the same question. I explained how I had originally exchanged a USA ratchet for this Chinese one, and it hadn't lasted a year. (Granted the tool broke with a little persuasion, but when you're on the road with nothing else, it happens.) This time, he went to the back of the store and looked, but returned with nothing. He told me he hadn't gotten around to rebuilding the 1/2" ratchets yet. That's when the wheels started turning in my head. I asked him if instead of exchanging it for another Chinese ratchet, I could have one of the broken USA ones with a rebuild kit. To my surprise he agreed, went to the back again and returned with the "nicest one he had" and a USA rebuild kit. Even the girl at the counter was surprised and commented how lucky I was to get a USA ratchet. I actually shook the gentleman's hand and thanked him when I left. I don't know where you people are from, but this is the second time in a few weeks I have had a good experience at Sear's.
One thing - the direction selectors now included in the kits are made of a plastic material. I was a bit upset about it, but it is what it is.
After many struggles in the past, I took a pair of old tweezers I had in my box and split them apart. Then I bent it into the shape of the tool used to install the detent ball on the ratchets. Made it much easier than using a small screwdriver!
So now the next time you go to Sear's to replace a ratchet and they try giving you a Chinese one, remember this story.
And FYI that's not nail polish. I smashed it.
When I entered the store, a young girl was working at the register. I asked if I could replace the ratchet, but wanted to know if there were any rebuilt USA's around. She checked the cabinet behind the desk, but could not find one. She apologized and called the gentleman with the keys over to aisle 4 to meet me. When he arrived, I asked him the same question. I explained how I had originally exchanged a USA ratchet for this Chinese one, and it hadn't lasted a year. (Granted the tool broke with a little persuasion, but when you're on the road with nothing else, it happens.) This time, he went to the back of the store and looked, but returned with nothing. He told me he hadn't gotten around to rebuilding the 1/2" ratchets yet. That's when the wheels started turning in my head. I asked him if instead of exchanging it for another Chinese ratchet, I could have one of the broken USA ones with a rebuild kit. To my surprise he agreed, went to the back again and returned with the "nicest one he had" and a USA rebuild kit. Even the girl at the counter was surprised and commented how lucky I was to get a USA ratchet. I actually shook the gentleman's hand and thanked him when I left. I don't know where you people are from, but this is the second time in a few weeks I have had a good experience at Sear's.
One thing - the direction selectors now included in the kits are made of a plastic material. I was a bit upset about it, but it is what it is.
After many struggles in the past, I took a pair of old tweezers I had in my box and split them apart. Then I bent it into the shape of the tool used to install the detent ball on the ratchets. Made it much easier than using a small screwdriver!
So now the next time you go to Sear's to replace a ratchet and they try giving you a Chinese one, remember this story.
And FYI that's not nail polish. I smashed it.
Attachments
Last edited: