Cornwell

[chad99]

I dont understand your complaint. The ratchet is un-usable but you wont be bothered to print out a piece of paper with your return address and the problem, put that and the ratchet into a box and ship it to Cornwell? Many members have done this, its accepted and normal, they cover return shipping and you'd have a new ratchet. You're complaining for the sake of complaining.

Nope..it's called "principle".Because they can't be bothered,I would sooner jump into a lake of lava then send them anything.That pos rat will sit in that drawer until hell freezes over.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have never once had to show a reciept to get a Snap on tool warrantied. My snap on guy has been coming to my shop for less than a year and I have had tools warrantied clearly older than the year he has been coming. No questions asked.

 

[ChiffChiff]

I am in the same boat a the OP. I too have a lot of snapon (was the only dealer we had at most of the places I worked) That being said, even though snapon trucks are everywhere, they have a lot of things that are overpriced for the quality you get. We recently had a new cornwell dealer start showing up and a lot of my money has been going to him due to the value I have seen.

I will say one of the biggest things I like is the monthly flyer with all the discounts. I dont think i I've ever gotten one a not bought something out of it. Yea sure snapon has one too, but with not nearly the amount of deals cornwell has.

 

[Davefr]

Nope..it's called "principle".Because they can't be bothered,I would sooner jump into a lake of lava then send them anything.That pos rat will sit in that drawer until hell freezes over.

I don't understand all the whining.

You have a broken ratchet and no dealer but you won't send it in. You'd rather whine about it??

This makes absolutely no sense.

 

[Skin]

I have never once had to show a reciept to get a Snap on tool warrantied. My snap on guy has been coming to my shop for less than a year and I have had tools warrantied clearly older than the year he has been coming. No questions asked.

The proof of purchase rule is only getting enforced when mailing tools in. Dealers can do as they please still.

I don't understand all the whining.

You have a broken ratchet and no dealer but you won't send it in. You'd rather whine about it??

This makes absolutely no sense.

He needs to climb off the cross is all. Apparently he thinks Cornwell is some massive faceless technologically advanced company with loads of personel just cackling as they ignore email inquiries.

Cornwell Tools
Attn: Warranty Return Department
635 Seville Road
Wadsworth, OH 44281


theres the address Chad, do with it what you want. $10 and 10minutes of your time and you'd have a new ratchet in 7 days. Or you could just complain some more because its easier.

 

[chad99]

It only lasted 2yrs...been dead since 97.Haven't really missed it,been using a good flex head for the last 15 years.Just thought I'd try to do something with it,have since changed my mind.Now if the cornwell fanboys can't handle a dissenting opinion I can't help that,but I don't care for their tools or their service.The only reason I posted here was to share my opinion/experience,not to look for help.But thanks anyway.

 

[concealer404]

Nope..it's called "principle".Because they can't be bothered,I would sooner jump into a lake of lava then send them anything.That pos rat will sit in that drawer until hell freezes over.

So... your principle means that you have negative consequences, and nobody else does.

I can't say i understand the logic, but carry on.

 

[concealer404]

It only lasted 2yrs...been dead since 97.Haven't really missed it,been using a good flex head for the last 15 years.Just thought I'd try to do something with it,have since changed my mind.Now if the cornwell fanboys can't handle a dissenting opinion I can't help that,but I don't care for their tools or their service.The only reason I posted here was to share my opinion/experience,not to look for help.But thanks anyway.

Ok, so... 15 years ago you had a ratchet fail, and you've spent 15 years ignoring the service they provide in warrantying broken tools.

Please explain exactly how you're even qualified to comment on their service at this point, now that you haven't taken advantage of it for a decade and a half?

And before you label me a fanboy, i don't own a single piece of Cornwell equipment. I'm just calling it as i see it. Childish.

 

[Skin]

It only lasted 2yrs...been dead since 97.

No idea what style yours is, at one time they were just a free swinging flex joint, they've since gone to a rather stiff detent. By the way im not a "cornwell fanboy" i hardly own any of their stuff, just a few ratchets. I was trying to give you a dose of common sense. If you have so much spite you should want them to replace it on their dime then you can sell it and profit off their failure. Their ratchets sell for pretty good scratch here.

Anyway threads been derailed enough.

 

[vssjim]

I have been buying Cornwell tools since 1980 with no trouble at all, just a good family company. When I want to find out something from a company I pick up the phone and call them.

 

[chad99]

Ok, so... 15 years ago you had a ratchet fail, and you've spent 15 years ignoring the service they provide in warrantying broken tools.

Please explain exactly how you're even qualified to comment on their service at this point, now that you haven't taken advantage of it for a decade and a half?

And before you label me a fanboy, i don't own a single piece of Cornwell equipment. I'm just calling it as i see it. Childish.

Well initially I intended to but needed a replacement and the driver quit so I bought another brand and just basically forgot about it until a few months ago.

 

[redwrench60]

Well initially I intended to but needed a replacement and the driver quit so I bought another brand and just basically forgot about it until a few months ago.

Not throwin' any darts at you but maybe you could call them and get it made up then sell it, make you some bucks. Or.....you might like the replacement one better as they have redesigned it with a spring loaded detent ball mechinism to prevent floppy head syndrome. Just sayin'

 

[JDS968]

Besides Mechanic named John, are there very many mechanics who use cheapie imported HF or other such tools for their daily work? I have to imagine the savings would be significant, I just wonder if they would hold up. Hell even if you have to buy a couple new sockets a year because you wear them out it would almost seem to make sense to buy the import stuff (from a $$ standpoint). In my personal use at home I lose more than I break, come to think of it I've actually never broken a Sears or Dollar Store socket.

Sure, I use HF tools 5 days a week, or nearly so. I have a whole pile of them (which seems to multiply by cellular division, probably due to those incessant sales). But they're carefully chosen, for particular things. I've mentioned before how much I love their 18 piece brake kit, and tools like the 2 pound brass hammer work just as well at hitting things as any brass hammer from Craftsman, Snap-On, or DARPA. The 1/4" and 3/8" air ratchets and vacuum bleeder work great. Chrome sockets, definitely not. Craftsman (which I'm very happy with), getting some S-K, etc. Impact sockets, I'm not getting Craftsman (and I have a Gearwrench set that I'm not very happy with), I'm sticking with Snap-On, etc. Combination spanners, as I've said before I'm not satisfied with my Craftsman raised panels for work use, but I love NAPA and Gearwrench, in addition to my Snap-On Flank Drive Plus (which are like magic when I need an open end, in that case I skip straight over the NAPA/Gearwrench).

Point is, cheap tools work great, for some applications. Other applications, mid-priced tools are worth it, and work great. And others, the high-end tools really are a good investment, and show their value. You just have to figure out what you need. Making blanket assessments across all applications like, "I'm not buying off a tool truck...for anything!" or "I won't buy any tool made outside the United States!" or "Harbor Freight can supply every tool in my shop, I don't need any other sources!" probably isn't the most effective use of your money or toolbox space. Even MechanicNamedJohn said he has a few things from other sources.

 

[back2class]

It only lasted 2yrs...been dead since 97.Haven't really missed it,been using a good flex head for the last 15 years.Just thought I'd try to do something with it,have since changed my mind.Now if the cornwell fanboys can't handle a dissenting opinion I can't help that,but I don't care for their tools or their service.The only reason I posted here was to share my opinion/experience,not to look for help.But thanks anyway.

Hey, if you refuse to warranty, send it to me. Ill even give you $20 to cover shipping and buy you a nice dinner.

But have to say, making them send you a free new ratchet seems like better payback than letting it sit in a drawer.

 

[Big Johnson]

Besides Mechanic named John, are there very many mechanics who use cheapie imported HF or other such tools for their daily work? I have to imagine the savings would be significant, I just wonder if they would hold up. Hell even if you have to buy a couple new sockets a year because you wear them out it would almost seem to make sense to buy the import stuff (from a $$ standpoint). In my personal use at home I lose more than I break, come to think of it I've actually never broken a Sears or Dollar Store socket.

I bought allen sockets (pittsburgh) at HF yesterday for $7.00 it was marked down from $17.00 with coupons. The same set from SO cost literally 42 TIMES, let me say that again 42 TIMES the cost of the cheapie brand. I own snap on but sometimes have buyer regret because I feel like I could have bought so much more. The Pittsburgh stuff from taiwan and the profession series is on par with bluepoint, probably same people making it.

 

[Rickster]

and here we go!.............

 

[JDS968]

I bought allen sockets (pittsburgh) at HF yesterday for $7.00 it was marked down from $17.00 with coupons. The same set from SO cost literally 42 TIMES, let me say that again 42 TIMES the cost of the cheapie brand.

I have that Snap-On set

Never regretted that purchase, I use them all the time and they always work great.

I guess I can't say for sure that the HF set wouldn't work as well.

I really, REALLY hate allen head fasteners, and the durability and precision of these sockets seems to make working on them as easy and painless as is possible.

 

[snmfffrogel]

Me likey CORNWELL!

 

[V70R]

Before the Harbor Hood groupies ruin this conversation, Cornwell has been great to deal with from the telephone to my local dealer. Probably one of the last American owned companies who really cares about the customer and your business. They definitely have earned mine!

 

[Hyster Gareth]

cornwell does warranty by mail no questions asked. If you mailed that in you'd have a brand new ratchet in about a week....


Too bad their customer service/warrenty dept. can't be bothered to answer my emails.Like I'm just going to send them tools with no RMA or anything....can't get them to even return an email,why should I expect them to return tools???

I agree Chad I emailed there customer service after I bought of semi deep sockets a few years ago. Never got round to using them.

I went to use one recently and found that I had been given two 8mm and two 11mm no 9mm and 10mm. As I have moved away from the where the dealer was located I contacted Cornwell and asked if I could post them from UK at my own expense for replacements.

They replied and said no posting back would be cost prohibitive. I then rang them and spoke with customer service who stated they would send a set out and I was to keep the sockets. Then again said it was cost prohibitive. I then asked if they could send them to a relation in NYC which they agreed to. No sockets were ever forthcoming. I emailed again and my email was never replied to.

For a company which prides itself on customer service. It's some of the worst customer service I have experienced. If they dont wish to assist there customers in the UK why bother coming to the UK and sell???

I am in the process of writing to the owner and managing director. I don't have an issue with there tools at all I like them but I feel very let down by the non existant customer service.

 

[Vyse]

I'm pretty happy with my Cornwell guy and I can totally see the value of Cornwell. Instead of taking, say, something from OTC and rebranding it and charging double, the just sell it as OTC and don't raise the price too much. I like my Snap-On and I have truck account and add to it, but for a lot of things, you are paying for the name. Also, there are 3 Cornwell guys in my area, but no Matco, no Mac(both went under) and 2 Snap-On guys. I guess it just depends on where you live.

 

[OEXL16B]

So my question is has any of you guys use Cornwell ratchets and screwdrivers etc and have had good results?

I love their ratchets, but not too crazy about their screwdrivers. Their screwdrivers have too sharp of corners on the handle for my liking. I especially like their extra long combo wrenches; they're sweet.

 

[OEXL16B]

Nope..it's called "principle".Because they can't be bothered,I would sooner jump into a lake of lava then send them anything.That pos rat will sit in that drawer until hell freezes over.

You're missing out on a great ratchet. The new JRF36 has spring loaded detents on the flex joint now; very similar to MAC ratchets.

 

[knocker]

Have been dealing w/ Cornwell for the past 8 months, my dealer is the best. Love their ratchets and i think their wrenches are really good looking and feel great in the hand. I bought their 3/8 bluepower impact, that things a beast and very light weight, and u got to love Cornwell jerky.

 

[jvitez]

I found out about Cornwell during a Google search some years ago. Never heard of them before. Thanks to GJ, I now have a Cornwell metric combo wrench set, plus ratchets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 drive including one long handle. They're grrrrreat! (to quote Tony the tiger).

I wish they'd be available in Canada. Or have an internet sales option........

 

[jjpp]

Just my 2 cents Cornwell is just as good as the rest. Snap-On has the edge on resale but that is not what mechanics should be basing their purchases on. I do feel that Snap-On makes the most high quality tools but you pay for it. Matco and Cornwell I would rate just below Snap-On and a lot of their tools compare in quality. Now Mac on the other hand has fallen way back in quality and I would rather just buy Craftsman and save a few $$$. Each brand has things that are better than the others.
I have been an auto tech for 20 years and have used them all and Snap-On's quality has always been there, the same can't be said for the others and this is after being pimped by Snap-On for 10 years without a dealer.
Now service on the other hand can be based on an individual basis.

 

[Kevin54]

Just my 2 cents Cornwell is just as good as the rest. Snap-On has the edge on resale but that is not what mechanics should be basing their purchases on. I do feel that Snap-On makes the most high quality tools but you pay for it. Matco and Cornwell I would rate just below Snap-On and a lot of their tools compare in quality. Now Mac on the other hand has fallen way back in quality and I would rather just buy Craftsman and save a few $$$. Each brand has things that are better than the others.
I have been an auto tech for 20 years and have used them all and Snap-On's quality has always been there, the same can't be said for the others and this is after being pimped by Snap-On for 10 years without a dealer.
Now service on the other hand can be based on an individual basis.

Cornwell has two brands of tools. U.S.of A. made and the others are made overseas. As far as the toolboxes, Made in Mexico.