Big Mac !

[crankshaftdan II]

Broke off my T-40 bit a couple weeks ago working on a project! Since it was a Mac and guaranteed I tried to find the local guy with no results. Decided to call Mac, they refered me to toll free # said I would have to send the broken part back into them. Put in a envelope and sent back to them, fed ex. left pkg. on my stoop today, opened and to my suprise, a new bit-t40 packaged in nice plastic bag w/mac tool insignia and "Made in Taiwan", 1/2 the quality of the one I sent back for replacement. I suppose we all will be looking forward to a lot of replacement tools comming out of taiwan! Better take care of the ones I have that are still made here in USA!!!! Anyone else had this experience???

 

[mooman]

Since the USA one broke, are you really loosing anything by getting one that was made offshore?

 

[alex71]

Yes he is! He paid a premium for a USA made set, with the implication that if he ever broke it, it would be replaced with the same item. It wasn't.

Raw deal.

 

[chrislehr]

I am linking this TO EVERY SINGLE ONE of the people who b*tch that craftsman does this.

 

[mooman]

Broke off my T-40 bit a couple weeks ago working on a project! Since it was a Mac and guaranteed I tried to find the local guy with no results.

Just curious, what do you mean by "no results"

 

[dledinger]

If the new one does not break - will it still be a bad deal?

Is the warranty still valid with the Taiwan replacement?

 

[autoace]

Don't feel too bad, my Taiwan Stanley torx bit sockets finished jobs that my Snap-on ones broke on. Maybe next time just skip truck tool brands, since stuff like Gearwrench is the same thing.

 

[Deafautotech]

Don't feel too bad, my Taiwan Stanley torx bit sockets finished jobs that my Snap-on ones broke on. Maybe next time just skip truck tool brands, since stuff like Gearwrench is the same thing.

which kind of snap on torx? heavy duty removal or common torx bit??

dont get craftsman torx as i use and it always break on me...

 

[Merkava_4]

Is the Taiwanese one all one piece, or is it a chrome socket with a Torx bit in it?

 

[jay50]

Just skip all the usa made drama and buy them at H Freight; same quality and less price

 

[Merkava_4]

or get them at C Freight.

 

[bmwpower]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33481&highlight=mac+taiwan

 

[-B-]

Yes he is! He paid a premium for a USA made set, with the implication that if he ever broke it, it would be replaced with the same item. It wasn't.

Raw deal.

+1 I bet the replacement costs Mac about a 1/4 of the original. ( only reason to go offshore for production)

 

[caper]

At least they didn't loose your returns.I'm still waiting for my ratchets I sent in on april 9.

 

[occupant]

I know a time will come when I need to have tools that will work hard for me. As it is now, I've only broken 3 pieces of the $60 Channellock 169pc Mechanic's Tool Set I picked up at Sam's about 4 years ago. The bit driver stripped and wouldn't hold a bit (replaced with Craftsman), the 3/8 ratchet got jammed and now only loosens things (won't switch over to tighten), and the 1/4 ratchet is now starting to jam the same way.

As far as the ratchets go, I can't afford $80-$100 for a Snap-On ratchet. I don't even want to spend $16-$18 for a Craftsman if I can get THREE ratchets for $10 (one 1/4, one 3/8, one 1/2) at Harbor Freight. We'll see how long the HF ones stand up to my shade tree abuse. Then I'll get the Craftsmans.

I would expect tools to get replaced with the same quality. A Taiwanese T40 bit should last for quite awhile. Will it last as long as the USA made bit? Only way to find out is to use it, use it some more, and use it 'til it don't work no more.

 

[ryan_289]

I would be so pissed Im careful with my Mac branded stuff. We dont have a dealer around so I would have to send it in.

Does Mac make a USA version of what you sent in? I would be on the phone with them raising all kinds of **** untill I found out.

I realize that there are quality tools made in places other than the good ole USA. Call me old fashioned but I want USA tools, thats what I paid for, thats what im gonna get.

 

[billymade]

I seem to have the same problem when I got a Matco OEM Wright tool era allen head socket replaced under warranty; I got what looks to be a Taiwan socket as a exchange (silver eagle?)! The Wright tool sockets look way better! Bummer!

 

[tw33k2514]

I seem to have the same problem when I got a Matco OEM Wright tool era; I got what looks to be a Taiwan socket as a exchange (silver eagle?)! The Wright tool sockets look way better! Bummer!

now that is messed up. The silver Eagle stuff is nowhere near the quality...Id be chewing someone out over that.

 

[swduncan]

So lemme get this straight. You buy an expensive truck brand of tool because you're a pro who needs the very best tools. Tools that will withstand a little abuse in the name of getting the job done. Tools that will 'go to 11', as they say. You chose a truck brand that lives on its product quality (it certainly ain't living on price, right?) to make sure you had something you could count on.

Finally, you break one. You send it back, and they send you a new one. You dislike the country of origin, and to avoid having to take custody of another tool from an offensive source country, you stop depending on your tools. Instead you treat them more gently, to ensure you don't have send them back.

So what's next? Are you going to get a set of asian tools you can beat on to preserve your American-made treasures?

Frankly, I think you'd be better off just buying American-made replacements for the tools that break. It would move more money through the system, create more jobs, and help improve the economy. Of course, you'll effectively be out the warranty you paid dearly for, but you'll achieve the greatest possible benefit from your economic patriotism.

On the other hand, if you find that the foreign made replacement seems to be some sort of kryptonite, and takes unheard-of levels of abuse without breaking...well, maybe that truck brand just found a way to improve its level of quality, live up to the brand it's built over the years, and was just trying to give you a better tool.

Ya never know.

 

[heffneil]

That is an interesting idea! Put all the good stuff up for display and use all the HF garbage to keep the good stuff clean!

I think the most important question here is this: if the replacement from overseas breaks can he send it back to MAC and get a replacement? I would assume so. If that one breaks can he say it was any worse than the one made in the US? I don't think so but we really don't know the history of the one in the US that broke or how quickly the foreign one will/could break. He bought the brand not the origins of the tool. If the manufacturer stands behind it than he got his moneys worth. The only other problem with the foreign one is of course taking jobs away from jobless americans.

 

[ryan_289]

So what's next? Are you going to get a set of asian tools you can beat on to preserve your American-made treasures?

First of all tools arent treasures. They are tools. I dont baby any of my tools. And no I will not get a set of Asian tools to beat on. Craftsman is still made in USA arent they

Im not trying to be a smart A$$ here. I just like to support American companies that build product in America. I think its crappy that you send in a USA built tool and get a Taiwan tool in return.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

The offshore one is not close in quality to the usa made unit!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

very true, you buy usa made and get a cheeep ofshore in exchange! Is this like bait & switch??

 

[crankshaftdan II]

"No results means that you cannot track downm a mac wagon peddler unless you have a satalite tracking unit on his truck" On that note, I saw a mac truck in a local station with a "For Sale" sign on the window-maybe went belly-up!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

If I use this t-40 in the socket w/allen screw hold down it will probably fail real soon, if I would have sent the socket w/bit they probably would have sent me back the new bit (Tiawan) and kept my socket. They probably can send me 6 t-40's cheepos for what 1 t-40 usa made would cost!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

The usa made one sent in for replacement was nice black oxide finish w/groved area forthe allen set screw to tighten up in. 3/8" nice chrome socket to fit in, received light gray type for use in screwdriver handle, will not stand up to much tork!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

I will be on the phone friday am, as you are correct, p---ed is not the word I will use as they seem to do this to us all, we cannot assume anything when we send a tool or part in for replacement, their policy is screw the dumb a--, he won't know the difference anyway! Maybe whats left of the usa made tool companies will be the next gm, ford, chrysler???

 

[crankshaftdan II]

I had a simular problem with an old Husky breaker bar, called the toll free #, spoke with customer service guy, he said keep your old breaker ,we will send out a brand new one free of charge, husky now made by Danaher group/Stanley tools, shipped from connecticut warehouse distribution center(Made in CHINA) not even close in quality to the old one! (I cut off the broken yoke end and used it for a vise Handle) I guess it was not a complete loss!!

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Friday: Called and talked to three (3) customer service techs all Mac Pro's, they finally got the clear message about the part that I did not recieve! They promised that I will get the correct part next week??? Will keep everyone advised when received!!

 

[rhandwor]

With the new carbon tax my local utility stated my electric bill is going up considerably.
Tool making with electric arc furnaces is going to get more expensive. My son had to go to Australia to maintain his job he works in utility design. Coal plants have been canceled all over the US but China is building appx. 52 new plants this year.

 

[vssjim]

I have news for you there is no US made Mac part for that anymore most of Mac stuff that was US made is been changed to overseas or will be in the future, most of the Mac labeled stuff no longer carries a country of origin. The only place it is labeled is on the package which is to be removed before display to cover their *** with the feds, the only mostly US made Stanley stuff I know of is Proto.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Re: Big Mac ! UPDATE!!!

Greetings: Fed Ex. dropped at my door-step this A.M.--one (1) brand spankin new Mac stamped, chrome 3/8" dr. socket holder, marked MAC-USA T-40 2h w/new black oxide T-40 bit installed! The only difference betwen this new one and old one is: T-40 is either pressed or snaps into socket, the old one had a grove in top of T-40 and was changeable with the allen set screw! The three techs from Mac all agreed that this was the only way to get a USA waranteed replacement for the broken T-40 bit. Must only come as a two piece arrangement! Food for thought when getting a waranteed tool from truck brands??? It took some time and phone calls, but finally resolved without settling for Tiawan replacement items and still under warantee!!!

 

[bmwpower]

Re: Big Mac ! UPDATE!!!

Greetings: Fed Ex. dropped at my door-step this A.M.--one (1) brand spankin new Mac stamped, chrome 3/8" dr. socket holder, marked MAC-USA T-40 2h w/new black oxide T-40 bit installed! The only difference betwen this new one and old one is: T-40 is either pressed or snaps into socket, the old one had a grove in top of T-40 and was changeable with the allen set screw! The three techs from Mac all agreed that this was the only way to get a USA waranteed replacement for the broken T-40 bit. Must only come as a two piece arrangement! Food for thought when getting a waranteed tool from truck brands??? It took some time and phone calls, but finally resolved without settling for Tiawan replacement items and still under warantee!!!

So who'd you talk to to get this done? I have a couple of wrenches I need replaced.

 

[-B-]

Good deal glad you pursued the correct tool replacement.