changing tool brand preference

[toolstools]

So, the sears close to me went out of business. Got some good tool sales at 25% or more off. They was 25 miles away and the next closes one is 35 miles away. Not exactly to much of a difference. But point still serves, not convenient to warranty broken stuff. However, i did do to store number two with o, 75 sockets that i wanted replaced because they was rusted. They warrant them zero problems. But if i ever need a new tool, im heading to autozone for duralast. I think they have a much better quality then craftsman anyways, plus they have the rewards member points. Bout the only thing i can see me getting from sears is a gearwrench ratchet wrench set. 20pc for 53.99 online. I desperately need some ratchet wrenches. Lol, but need to wait for the right cash flow. Sorry sears, don't know why u left zanesville, but you pretty much lost my business

 

[crewchief888]

cuz it's zanesville.......

 

[aaron h]

replacing rusted sockets is probably gonna put store #2 under. be more responsible with your tools
not sure on duralast return policy. doubt its as loose as sears.

you think driving 35 miles is inconvenient what about when you switch to a real name brand sk or proto or anybody else where you have to send the tools back in and wait by the mailbox

 

[expatriated]

FWIW, I think the duralast stuff beats the new craftsman stuff as well. I was on the road and had to buy a socket at the next store I could find. Turned out to be an Autozone. I bought a Duralast socket thinking as long as it works once, I'll just throw it away. The fit and finish was great, 6 pt, well made and I've ended up trying to abuse it the last 2 years. It is still brand new looking. 22mm. The chrome is light years ahead of what craftsman is putting out these days.

I prefer USA, (well, actually I prefer German) but if money is an object, Duralast gets the job done and will outlast new Cman, in my opinion.

Warranties don't really mean much to me these days. I'd rather have something that doesn't break rather than have something that I can warranty every other month if it breaks. I think companies are realizing that it's cheaper to replace their crappy stuff than to offer something high quality to start with. So, the warranty doesn't really mean what it used to, to me.

 

[kams1973]

You know the routine.........were's the pic of the 75 new sockets?

 

[sberry]

For general warranty why bother, replace a socket if needed 3$ We just rounded up some, a dozen maybe a few more out of maybe 500 or more over 10 years, half of them operator error, finally going to make an effort all at once for replacement. We busted a 4$ Duro 3/4 impact socket we got at auto parts, the guy delivers a replacement free with next parts run. Hard to beat, only real rason we broket it was continious use on building construction/heavy tractor work, thousands of cycles. Like a tire shop.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Join the club...local sears here shut down 1st of the year, but they stopped warranty at Thanksgiving when they announced the shut down.
Wouldnt be TOOO bad, got a couple 30-50 miles away, luckily i do field service (tech, not mechanical) so I figured it would be a non-issue...of course wouldnt you know it, I snap a 1/2" drive, 17mm, 12pt socket...nothing exotic. Week after breaking the socket in november I drive by store A...no 17mm 1/2" drive sockets at all...2 weeks ago I'm by store B...no shallow 1/2" 17mm at all...they exchange me for a Deep well. Better then nuthing, but good thing I quickly replaced the original broken one with a Kobalt. IMO going foward I will be doing either Kobalt or MAC/SnapOn...edge goes to MAC. If I could get a fraction of a dollar for all my Crapsman stuff, I'd ditch it all...now my game plan is to replace them as they break...keep all the new ones with tags in a box, and when I get enough I'll be able to sell new sockets.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I never preferred Craftsman in the first place and have pretty much always lived 10mi. or less from a store.

It's a great opportunity to buy tools by virtue of the tool itself instead of the looming warranty. Double up on a few things you genuinely may wear out / can't live without.

 

[mopar01]

Why wouldn't you just drive to the glenbrook mall in fortwayne? Don't think that sears will ever close. Lol 75 sockets is a lot to exchange at one time, just sayin.

 

[KinzeMech]

Why does everyone put so much concern on tool warranty? I wrench professionally, and abuse tools sometimes when it cannot be avoided. Anything is a prybar *(screwdriver) or driving punch (right size socket) when you need it to be, wrenches get box ends wrapped on open ends for double leverage, and ratchets see the occasional cheater pipe.

Still, through all that, I think I broke maybe 5 tools last year. 1 Harbor freight impact, 1 craftsman allen wrench, two hex-bit sockets (craftsman, same size as broken allen wrench), and a snap on air hammer bit.

What are you guys doing to break enough tools that warranty is the biggest concern for a tool purchase? Besides putting 75 sockets underwater. By the way, thanks to all the folks out there abusing warranties to the point of driving companies out of business, such that those of us who break a few tools legitimately, have lost our replacement options, or have to drive further to fulfill them.

 

[toolstools]

If a company is able to say "Lifetime warranty no questions asked" you better believe im goin to use it. Regardless of how or why it needs to. Whatthey should do is "warranty under terms and conditions" but as the craftsman ceo once said " i want to make tools that people will use. If any time you feel a tool isnt up to par, take it to any sears or kmart for warranty. If there's a problem, get the store number and email us with the problem, and well remedy the situation" now the bad part about al the sockets i exchanged, i had more but they ran out of the sizes i needed. 400 dollars plus. What's even sader, for a few more bucks, they could have gave me a 393 pc set. so far ive failed to break duralast. Stanley and craftsman, cant remember how many..

 

[shockwave]

See if u have any Kmart near u the one near me warrantys craftsmen sockets

 

[toolstools]

That's a whole mother problem with in itself. Kmart warranties their stuff if they have that exact package. I.e- no single socket,wrench or screw driver. Basically, they're good for a ratchet, then only being evolve. I personally like evolve for the soft handle grip. But a lot of people think evolve is inferior to the real line. Basically, my kmart blows on craftsman warranty

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Why does everyone put so much concern on tool warranty?

Personally, I bought a warranty that came attached to a bunch of chrome ...take away the forever warranty and theres nothing I like about CMan. Raised Panel ratches never bothered my hands because I never feel the handle, theres always a pipe on my RP ratches if I take em out.
I dont break em every day either...the socket I mentioned was the first one in I cant remember how long. BUT, I like knowing its there and its why I bought CMan. Another factor of the warranty was there used to be a store on every streetcorner....so warranty was not only great, it was everywhere.

 

[Polski-Chevy]

I've got a few Duralast tools that have held up over the years.

Make sure to make a copy or scan your receipt because it is usually needed to warranty a Duralast tool.

I actually bought the sealed head ratchets after reading a GJ thread http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75220

 

[shockwave]

Gearwrench is becoming wildly available I know most advance auto sell them and can order anything from there line and I have been happy with gearwrench but not as broad as craftsman

 

[aaron h]

fixed

If a company is able to say "Lifetime warranty no questions asked" you better believe im goin to ABUSEit.

 

[toolstools]

My autozone doesnt require the receipt. Bring in the broken tool and walk away with a new. I dont need the warranty to be as loose as the cm one because i feel the chrome is solo much better then cm

 

[86k10]

Why does everyone put so much concern on tool warranty? I wrench professionally, and abuse tools sometimes when it cannot be avoided. Anything is a prybar *(screwdriver) or driving punch (right size socket) when you need it to be, wrenches get box ends wrapped on open ends for double leverage, and ratchets see the occasional cheater pipe.

Still, through all that, I think I broke maybe 5 tools last year. 1 Harbor freight impact, 1 craftsman allen wrench, two hex-bit sockets (craftsman, same size as broken allen wrench), and a snap on air hammer bit.

What are you guys doing to break enough tools that warranty is the biggest concern for a tool purchase? Besides putting 75 sockets underwater. By the way, thanks to all the folks out there abusing warranties to the point of driving companies out of business, such that those of us who break a few tools legitimately, have lost our replacement options, or have to drive further to fulfill them.

I have warranted 3 Snap On tools in the last 2 months. 2 3/8 drive impact sockets (the IR2115 is putting them to the test) and a cotter pin remover tool. I have warrantied many other tools so I do worry about warranty and think it's a legit issue.

 

[KinzeMech]

I have warranted 3 Snap On tools in the last 2 months. 2 3/8 drive impact sockets (the IR2115 is putting them to the test) and a cotter pin remover tool. I have warrantied many other tools so I do worry about warranty and think it's a legit issue.

I'm not saying it isn't a valid concern, but so many people make it like it's the only concern they have, like all their tools are going to break. I don't know where people are getting these glass sockets.
I even got caught up in it for a while. I was beginning toward NAPA when purchasing tools I'll be using in my service truck, because they have the best store coverage throughout my entire service area (only one city I can think of that doesn't have one).

How many tools do you have in your toolbox. Let's count warrantable pieces. Each socket, wrench, screwdriver, pliers, hammer, etc. Piece count, like they have on the box you buy it in. I have a small collection, and it's over 2000 pieces. 5 of which broke last year, 4 of which were warrantable. 3 of which required a trip to a sears, nearest one is a half hour away. 5 of 2000 is a 0.25% annual failure rate.

Warranty is important, but it's not all important. If it's something that breaks more than once a year, you should have two if it in your box anyway. Snap on comes on monday morning, and when tools break, it's always monday afternoon (If I took mondays off, I'd save money and never break any tools

 

[86k10]

I'm not saying it isn't a valid concern, but so many people make it like it's the only concern they have, like all their tools are going to break. I don't know where people are getting these glass sockets.
I even got caught up in it for a while. I was beginning toward NAPA when purchasing tools I'll be using in my service truck, because they have the best store coverage throughout my entire service area (only one city I can think of that doesn't have one).

How many tools do you have in your toolbox. Let's count warrantable pieces. Each socket, wrench, screwdriver, pliers, hammer, etc. Piece count, like they have on the box you buy it in. I have a small collection, and it's over 2000 pieces. 5 of which broke last year, 4 of which were warrantable. 3 of which required a trip to a sears, nearest one is a half hour away. 5 of 2000 is a 0.25% annual failure rate.

Warranty is important, but it's not all important. If it's something that breaks more than once a year, you should have two if it in your box anyway. Snap on comes on monday morning, and when tools break, it's always monday afternoon (If I took mondays off, I'd save money and never break any tools

I definitely agree with you about being overly concern with tools,especially with wrenches. To me the most likely warranty items it Torx, Hex, picks, reducer adapters. Also depends if you a DIY guy or pro. I really wouldn't worry too much for a DIY'er. I don't think I ever broke any decent tools at home use.

 

[Hanen42]

Why wouldn't you just drive to the glenbrook mall in fortwayne? Don't think that sears will ever close. Lol 75 sockets is a lot to exchange at one time, just sayin.

If that Sears ever closes...so will that entire mall I bet. Sears has been there FOREVER!

 

[Pumpman1968]

Ya know...I started buying Craftsman tools when I was 17 in 1985....and have only once or twice broken a socket that wasn't abused. Sure....I have broken others...but by beating a socket onto a rounded bolt with a hammer doesnt count...just like KinzeMech said....sometimes you cant avoid it and do it on purpose. EVERY manufacturer lets a lemon slip out from time to time....but I would bet money that 90% of the time, quality tools are broken due to abuse......and they SHOULDN'T be expected to be warrantied. If I sold Cadillacs and had to give out a new one every time someone smashed into a tree, I would eventually find a way to give you a KIA.

 

[dirtydogintex]

Any one have hard facts showing the tool folks are truly being hurt by warranties both real and otherwise?

Seems like more and more folk are crying wolf now a day....

 

[Fedwrench]

Since when is rust a manufacturing defect?

Yes, I know it's Sears fault for offering satisfaction garrenteed and other lifetime warranties.

However, I think some of you (who squeak when they walk) are a fair weather Sears customer. You buy tools for pennies on the piece when they're on sale or found used, expect sears to warranty anything and everything, and then ***** about Sears moving production overseas or closing stores or better yet, head to Autozone or Harbo Freight for a much better made product.

No wonder why hardly anything is made here any more.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Since when is rust a manufacturing defect?

Yes, I know it's Sears fault for offering satisfaction garrenteed and other lifetime warranties.

However, I think some of you (who squeak when they walk) are a fair weather Sears customer. You buy tools for pennies on the piece when they're on sale or found used, expect sears to warranty anything and everything, and then ***** about Sears moving production overseas or closing stores or better yet, head to Autozone or Harbo Freight for a much better made product.

No wonder why hardly anything is made here any more.

A+ Well said....