Anyone else having problems with SK?

[HoleshotzPerf]

About 2 months ago, I bought about $2000 worth of SK tools from a online SK dealer and in short have had nothing but issues with the tools.

I bought SK complete socket/ratchet/extension sets in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 in both metric and standard as well as 6 and 12 point. 3 of the ratchets did not work correctly right out of the box and had issues with slipping and many of the sockets had imperfections in the chrome finish, some even had chunks missing out of the bottoms and I had to slightly drill some of them out to get them to fit correctly in my hansen trays and to top it all off, after a few days of use, the chrome started peeling on several of the sockets. Some of the sets were even missing a socket here and there.

I called the vendor thinking it must have just been a bad batch and they sent out replacements promptly however I saw just about all of the same issues! Also, the ratcheting wrenches I bought are fairing at the open end.

I am not sure what to do at this point, I am thinking of just sending everything back, getting a refund and buying another brand. I have SK sockets, extensions, etc that are over 50 years old and I have had no issues however I am thoroughly disappointed with the quality of this new stuff.

Has anyone else had issues like this? I really am on the fence about giving them another shot or not, right now I feel like i spent 2 grand on a headache.

 

[ImportTuner]

If you have defective SK products, give SK Corporaste a call; they are pretty responsive except when it comes to finish. They told me that finish will differ from batch to batch ..

 

[-B-]

Are you getting "B" stock from your vendor ?

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Wow,

Is SK back to QC issues and pushing their seconds on the internet sellers again?

Some serious Deja vu.

Holeshotz, Read post #12 on this link.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3247

-BWP

 

[sk farmer]

i sure hope not, i have some great sk stuff and not afraid to admit it . give them a call and hopefully get to the bottom of it. why would you have waited 2 monthes?

 

[HoleshotzPerf]

i sure hope not, i have some great sk stuff and not afraid to admit it . give them a call and hopefully get to the bottom of it. why would you have waited 2 monthes?

Between waiting about a week for the stuff to get here after the order date, getting everything setup for use in my box, actually getting to inspect/use the stuff and then waiting for the vendor to send replacements, it just ended up dragging out to about 1.5 - 2 months.

How exactly can I tell if this is "B" stock. I am thinking it either must be "B" stock or factory rejects because if SK has any sort of quality control, some of this stuff would not slide, a lot of it is VERY noticeable.

Like I said, I have a lot of older SK stuff and it has been just fine so I figured this stuff would be right up to par and although all of my other tools in this box are Mac, Matco and Snap-On but I figured a socket is a socket and I would save some cash on go with SK's. My friend gets Snap-On at a 50% discount because he is in a tech program and even with his discount, similar Snap-On sets would end up costing a good bit more then the SK's.

I am really disappointed and the more I think about this, the more pissed off I get. I mean if I wanted crappy tools, there is a Wal-Mart 10 minutes from my house

 

[philw]

Very odd. I have a bunch of SK stuff and never have had any problems.
What retailer did you get the tools from? Maybe if the vendor is low volume then he has been sitting on a bad SK run.
Which ratchets are they? The palm controls may need cleaned and regreased/oiled. If the grease gets hard they will skip like their Facom relatives.
The ratcheting wrenches are Taiwanese so they wouldn't be coming out of the same factory.

 

[oldtools]

I also didn't think some of SK tools are worth the price especially their ratchets. I am not going to fall for the "professional" claim anymore.

 

[64merc]

Are they "palm control" ratchets or their "professional series" ratchets? If they are palm control, don't they have to be adjusted in order to make them not slip? I don't have any, but that's what others have said.

As for the sockets, my guess is that the retailer is sitting on a bad batch.

 

[mkdive]

Hope you get everything resolved asap. Nothing worse than returning new tools for replacement warranty.

 

[sjotis]

I'm sure being on strike hasn't helped things either:

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090402/BIZ/304029928

 

[Fedwrench]

Here's a recent Pten blog article denying SK's immient demise.

http://www.pten.com/interactive/
The slow economic times affect everything and everyone. During a recent service manager association meeting in my area, all of the attending managers said they were laying off techs because, there are too few hours available to go around. They had to reduce the number of techs competing for the few available flat rate hours there were. Techs can't afford to buy tools if they can't pay their other bills. Many of the tool trucks in my area are hanging on by a thread trying to ride things out.

 

[Elroy]

They look OK to Elroy:

 

[Carcrazyxp]

These wrenches look damn good.

They look OK to Elroy:

 

[HoleshotzPerf]

They look OK to Elroy:

I guess you just got lucky or possibly I am just pretty unlucky although out of the 200+ pieces included in the SK tools I ordered, I'm sure I could pick out 3 good ones as well, the rest on the other hand

I talked to a manager at SK directly and they are willing to do nothing more then have me ship back the bad stuff and wait who knows how long for replacements. Considering I spent close to $2000 and was planning on spending a good bit more, I do not feel that is a adequate way to handle the situation. I called the dealer again today as well and they passed the buck to SK and advised me to call them, like I said, I feel like i paid a bunch of money for not only a headache but now a part time job

 

[billymade]

Seems like if you are not happy with the tools; you may never be happy, is a full refund a option? In the long run; another brand, might be the way to go!

 

[porschedude996TT]

I have a 1/4" x 6" Flex Extension that failed out of the box last summer. I've been too busy to return it. I made the call some time back and they said to send the whole kit in since they don't have the piece separtatly. Sounds like they are going down hill a little. I have a 3/8" socket set that I have used for 35 years without a bit of problems. I hope they pull out of the slump.

 

[bmwpower]

Another person is bitten by SK. *****. I gave up after the 3rd replacement set I believe. Did you pay by credit card?

DON'T get replacements...get your money back if you can. Reread the thread I posted. Even with people AT the distributor supposedly CHECKING the shipment before it left, the sets still showed up wrong. Not to say your distributor is the same, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is.

Do yourself a favor and buy used tools of eBay or here. So much more worth it. And they're already broken in.

 

[sk farmer]

holeshotz, i mean no disrespect to you. having said that i see a common problem. imo most problems people seem to be having are with some sort of internet mail order purchase. those buying in store are having less problems. it is hard to inspect or try tools after they are out the door. i don't know if these are seconds or nos from a previous time or current shoddy production. i have personally seen plenty of new stock in several differant stores and it all appears good. i beleive your problems and understand your disappointment. i would feel the same. doing internet buying of any sort is risky as many on this sight will attest. if these items were purchased from a reputable local dealer many of these problems may be more easily resolved. i think saving a few dollars at purchase hurt you in the long run. our local stores need to survive to. i think these things apply to all tool brands as i have heard similar stories from other brands. best of luck that is a large investment to be unhappy with.

 

[-B-]

Contact S&K marketing department via you choice of interface ( phone, fax, e-mail) get as high up as you can. Inform them of your situation down to the last detail even this thread, also contact the customer relations department go through the very same explanations and inform them of you contact of the marketing department. If you can find a third department to report too do so you will be amazed the response you get.

I got the run around with a few companies as a customer and as business play hard ball make them know this will effect their business.

 

[HandyManny]

S-K is some real good stuff. Are you sure the purchase you made are genuine S-K products and not counterfeits? Just a thought. I can't imagine a real S-K tool performing as poorly as you describe, especially with as many tools that are failing you.

Either that or S-K has just gone to down hill to hell in a real hurry.

 

[sk farmer]

I have a 1/4" x 6" Flex Extension that failed out of the box last summer. I've been too busy to return it. I made the call some time back and they said to send the whole kit in since they don't have the piece separtatly. Sounds like they are going down hill a little. I have a 3/8" socket set that I have used for 35 years without a bit of problems. I hope they pull out of the slump.

i think the peice you are talking about is a relabel and not sk made. what sort of kit did it come in that you would have to send back? was it a socket ext. or a ratcheting screwdriver shaft?

 

[Elroy]

They look OK to Elroy

Especially when they keep economically multiplying

Added that little #87756 today (6 mm / 7 mm). Blends in just fine.