I have a few craftsman sockets that the chrome is peeling on or busted, ive had them for years, when i return them im more than likely going to get china made. i had a set of 1/4" china made and didn't care for them, they looked cheap to me, so i returned them and bought USA from eBay. But i never used them. Ive been buying a lot of gearwrench tools here lately and like them. my question is should i exchange the sockets(will do obviously b/c there free), are they decent quality? or should i buy another brand? i liked buying usa made tools, and anything for that matter, but i cant justify paying truck prices for tools to use at home, so its really between craftsman(china) or gearwrench(china or tawain, not sure, heard they switched on some things).
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Craftsman Socket warranty or switch brands
- Thread starter mike14_07
- Start date
tweedlestan
Well-known member
Chinese Craftsman tools are decent quality. I say swap out the defective ones and see how they hold up. I bet you'll be surprised.
articsilber323
Well-known member
the individual sockets at my local sears store are still USA made.
kythri
Well-known member
There's really no point in NOT exchanging them.
If you don't like them after the exchange, you can always buy something else, but you payed for the warranty and they've failed. Exercise the warranty, get your replacement.
Decide what to do with that replacement afterwards.
Past that, as people have said, there's still a lot of USA-made open stock out there. If your local Sears doesn't have it, and you want to go to the effort of finding it, start looking for local Ace stores, since they have some Craftsman stuff as well.
That well will eventually dry up, but it's an option in the meantime.
If you don't like them after the exchange, you can always buy something else, but you payed for the warranty and they've failed. Exercise the warranty, get your replacement.
Decide what to do with that replacement afterwards.
Past that, as people have said, there's still a lot of USA-made open stock out there. If your local Sears doesn't have it, and you want to go to the effort of finding it, start looking for local Ace stores, since they have some Craftsman stuff as well.
That well will eventually dry up, but it's an option in the meantime.
Doug B
Well-known member
the individual sockets at my local sears store are still USA made.
Same here.
tjmonsen5
Well-known member
China tools are better than broken tools. Exchange them and use them, if you dont like them after using them for a while, then try a new brand.
Flivver250
Well-known member
It is always fun to buy new tools and better quality. Have them warranteed, but feel free to upgrade. Try Wright tool.
Welcome to GJ. If you haven't searched GJ much, this topic of Craftsman migrating from Made in USA to China has been covered for years.
If you've got sockets with FUNCTIONAL problems (ie they do NOT work any more), then by all means warranty them at Sears to get replacements. However, cosmetic chrome peeling might not affect performance.
PICTURES are great way to evidence and SHOW what you are talking about. Post up pics of these Craftsman sockets you are talking about.
Also, now would be good time to Update GJ Profile with LOCATION of City / State / Country so that fellow GJers can assist you in finding Sears store that can exchange those sockets !
If you've got sockets with FUNCTIONAL problems (ie they do NOT work any more), then by all means warranty them at Sears to get replacements. However, cosmetic chrome peeling might not affect performance.
PICTURES are great way to evidence and SHOW what you are talking about. Post up pics of these Craftsman sockets you are talking about.
Also, now would be good time to Update GJ Profile with LOCATION of City / State / Country so that fellow GJers can assist you in finding Sears store that can exchange those sockets !
Pumpman1968
Well-known member
I've been using Craftsman sockets since the 80's and have only broken a few.....and most of those were my own fault. If you don't like the Chinese replacements, just toss the broken ones. There are LOTS of NOS USA and used Craftsman sockets on Ebay and they are still the best bang for the buck out there. $20 for a set of deep sockets shipped to your door.......how the hell do ya beat that? You will pay MUCH more for just about ANY other USA brand.....for a DIYer, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Don't fret it brother, life is too short. Chalk it up to the cost of doing business.
I do, however, understand the frustration of buying a USA tool with a lifetime warranty, and, when you exercise that warranty, you get a Chinese replacement.
Don't fret it brother, life is too short. Chalk it up to the cost of doing business.
I do, however, understand the frustration of buying a USA tool with a lifetime warranty, and, when you exercise that warranty, you get a Chinese replacement.
Thanks for the replies, so the china craftsman are pretty good? I do use them more than a diyer, id say. I do hvacr and commercial cooking, and use them as needed and i also do quite a bit of resto work for myself and freinds. I only have one busted, the rest have chrome peeling and itll cut u if ur not careful. Ill take em back and decide if there gonna be roadbox or toolbox material.
Most of the open stock pieces that Sears would replace your broken tools with are Made in the USA. Trade them now. The sooner the better. As time goes on, the percentage mix of the open stock pieces will shift from USA to China. The longer you wait, the higher percentage change you will get China.
I have two Sears near me. What I do is go to the closest one and swap out with Made in the USA for all the pieces I can. Then take the remaining broken with me, drive to the second store, and swap there. Between the two stores, I usually score 100% USA.
If you have two or three stores within driving distance, I can almost guarantee you that you will be able to swap for USA open stock pieces. But do it now, time is ticking, as the open stock pieces are depleted, they are replaced with China.
Also, I personally have never had a problem swapping out Craftsman with pealing chrome, rusted, etc. Some people have had issues. But my stores will replace Craftsman for any reason, no questions asked.
I have two Sears near me. What I do is go to the closest one and swap out with Made in the USA for all the pieces I can. Then take the remaining broken with me, drive to the second store, and swap there. Between the two stores, I usually score 100% USA.
If you have two or three stores within driving distance, I can almost guarantee you that you will be able to swap for USA open stock pieces. But do it now, time is ticking, as the open stock pieces are depleted, they are replaced with China.
Also, I personally have never had a problem swapping out Craftsman with pealing chrome, rusted, etc. Some people have had issues. But my stores will replace Craftsman for any reason, no questions asked.
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