Craftsman thin profile ratchet...

[HaroRider]

I had mine, have only used them on a few jobs, but they are really nice ratchets for the money.

The handles are not hard on the hands at all. They scratch up real easy though.

I got the USA ones for $50. I really think I got a deal on em. I dont think Id pay the full original price though.

 

[carterbeauford]

If one does break, you can elect to have it rebuilt or get a rebuild kit and rebuild it yourself. You do not have to exchange it for an overseas made one

they have these in stores? I just broke the pawl in my USA made 3/8, never even used it hard. the 1/2 I beat the **** out of and its fine. odd. still like the ratchets.

 

[autoace]

Fairly thin heads for a quick release ratchet, crisp 60 tooth action, nice chrome, what's not to like?

They are a little on the heavy side. The 1/2 drive is short and heavy. The 1/2 is really the only dog in the set but, that's just me.. The 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets are good to go.

I have those, and like them, easy clean-up and feel good in your hand. I use the 1/4 inch the most, over the Snappy one sometimes, lol........ There must be something good about them. Smooth chrome, no edges I guess. I have a 3/8 drive ratchet, thin head, next gen in the blue color also, hahahaha. Many years from now my son will wonder why I didn't use it.

Grab them, last time I knew they were still made in the USA..... I don't think the whole line crossed over, at least not yet.

 

[carterbeauford]

so can I walk into a store with a broken pawl and get a new rebuild kit? I am hesitant to go into Sears with anything less than my SSN, 3 phone numbers, 2 forms of ID, and original receipt lately.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I take my ratchets apart and take them in. my Sears tool is great about it. The lady will grabs the kits from behind the counter and hands them to me. And if I take in a USA ratchet, if they have a USA one already built then she offers to exchange it. I always rebuild mine, I prefer it that way.

there are some ratchets they cant get kits for those I buy from a member on here.

 

[carterbeauford]

went to a store, they said exchange for new Taiwan ratchet. I don't want a Taiwan ratchet, I want to keep my well used USA ratchet and rebuild it myself.

after 6 calls to Sears offshore call center, HELLO SIR I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU PLACE AN ORDER FOR A RAT-****???! I got the 800 # Craftsman, where the guy actually spoke English and said they don't make rebuild kits anymore.

******* unbelievable. sad day when you can't get a rebuild kit at Sears. lately I've noticed I never actually come out of Sears with what I went in there for. starting to bother me.

 

[shoturtle]

The taiwan one is a better ratchet then the USA made one. I was comparing the two. Less slop in the made in taiwan.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

try a different Sears, the closest Sears to me claims to not have any rebuild kits my Sears hardware has most of them.

 

[pfctblu]

went to a store, they said exchange for new Taiwan ratchet. I don't want a Taiwan ratchet, I want to keep my well used USA ratchet and rebuild it myself.

after 6 calls to Sears offshore call center, HELLO SIR I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU PLACE AN ORDER FOR A RAT-****???! I got the 800 # Craftsman, where the guy actually spoke English and said they don't make rebuild kits anymore.

******* unbelievable. sad day when you can't get a rebuild kit at Sears. lately I've noticed I never actually come out of Sears with what I went in there for. starting to bother me.

In this post, 03Protege is talking about swapping in the new gearwrench 120XP internals into the thin profile ratchet. Might wanna check this out as an inexpensive upgrade for your USA thin profiles. If it works, Ill likely be doing the swap as well.

 

[kythri]

went to a store, they said exchange for new Taiwan ratchet. I don't want a Taiwan ratchet, I want to keep my well used USA ratchet and rebuild it myself.

after 6 calls to Sears offshore call center, HELLO SIR I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU PLACE AN ORDER FOR A RAT-****???! I got the 800 # Craftsman, where the guy actually spoke English and said they don't make rebuild kits anymore.

******* unbelievable. sad day when you can't get a rebuild kit at Sears. lately I've noticed I never actually come out of Sears with what I went in there for. starting to bother me.

Ratchet Part Number 44995
Teardrop - Quick Release - Thin Profile - Made in USA
Repair Kit Part Number 43438

Ratchet Part Number 44995
Teardrop - Quick Release - Thin Profile - Made in Asia
Repair Kit Part Number 32771

I'd ask for the PMT first, and if he/she can't help, ask for the general manager. There's no policy that says they have to give you a rebuild kit, but if you were to pop the snap ring and put the internals in a ziplock bag, and take them in (basically, to prove that you're not trying to "scam" a repair kit to resell, which, sadly, is the biggest reason most stores don't just hand them out anymore), they should be able to take care of you.

 

[carterbeauford]

The taiwan one is a better ratchet then the USA made one. I was comparing the two. Less slop in the made in taiwan.

dubious since I have a set of matching USA ratchets.

try a different Sears, the closest Sears to me claims to not have any rebuild kits my Sears hardware has most of them.

I'll just try to exchange it at Ace, I know they have USA ratchets in stock. I drive for a living and try to stop at Sears on the road so I don't have to waste time doing it on my day off at home. whatever Sears I stop at is completely random, though my local one ***** too.

In this post, 03Protege is talking about swapping in the new gearwrench 120XP internals into the thin profile ratchet. Might wanna check this out as an inexpensive upgrade for your USA thin profiles. If it works, Ill likely be doing the swap as well.

thanks for the tip, though I'd rather sell the Craftsmans and buy GWs due to better customer service if one breaks. not having to waste time running around to different stores is more important to me than a USA stamp.

There's no policy that says they have to give you a rebuild kit, but if you were to pop the snap ring and put the internals in a ziplock bag, and take them in (basically, to prove that you're not trying to "scam" a repair kit to resell, which, sadly, is the biggest reason most stores don't just hand them out anymore), they should be able to take care of you.

I took the broken pawl in with me, said they needed the whole ratchet and it was exchange only.

 

[pipsters]

I hate to admit it but with no USA made thin profiles any more I'm not using my thin profiles as much as I used to. I'm afraid if I break them I'll end up with a Chinese one. Stupid I know. For this reason alone I am not buying the Craftsman Premium ratchets. I would if I could get my hands on a couple rebuild kits though.

 

[carterbeauford]

I hate to admit it but with no USA made thin profiles any more I'm not using my thin profiles as much as I used to. I'm afraid if I break them I'll end up with a Chinese one. Stupid I know. For this reason alone I am not buying the Craftsman Premium ratchets. I would if I could get my hands on a couple rebuild kits though.

exactly. I'd hate to think what would happen if I depended on this ratchet at work.

I don't waste time. something's broke, I can fix it in 10 seconds, just give me the part! ideally I'd have a rebuild kit for each sitting on the shelf. continuing to use Craftsman tools is only making life more complicated. I break a GW, I call and have a new part in 5 business days, no questions asked.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

went to a store, they said exchange for new Taiwan ratchet. I don't want a Taiwan ratchet, I want to keep my well used USA ratchet and rebuild it myself.

after 6 calls to Sears offshore call center, HELLO SIR I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU PLACE AN ORDER FOR A RAT-****???! I got the 800 # Craftsman, where the guy actually spoke English and said they don't make rebuild kits anymore.

******* unbelievable. sad day when you can't get a rebuild kit at Sears. lately I've noticed I never actually come out of Sears with what I went in there for. starting to bother me.

Not sure what to tell you??

I've never experienced the issues you are posting. Must be a yankeeland thing perhaps??

 

[lithdoc]

I'd say spend a few extra bucks and get the 84T. They're USA made, can be had ~120 if you combine a good sale with a good $15-20 coupon.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have a back up rebuild kit in my box for every craftsman ratchet I own except the rhft ratchets my dad gave me.
I have several of them for my premium ratchets because I also have the 84 tooth kits in my Armstrong locking flex ratchets.

I made it a point to pick up rebuild kits when everything started moving over seas.

 

[Hootbro]

Not sure what to tell you??

I've never experienced the issues you are posting. Must be a yankeeland thing perhaps??

It is not a "yankeeland" thing or even a dixie thing, it is a selective Sears thing.

Not everybody has the charmed Sears experience like you do with your wife working at one as you have previously mentioned.

The simple fact is many Sears stores with no rhyme or reason of pattern are either pure lazy, lie or inept in how they run a particular store. I have 3 large footprint Sears stores I deal with locally and all will give you a different story of what they can do for you when it comes to warranty on ratchets and each will "claim" what they are saying is Sears corporate gospel.

The simple fact is many if not most of these Sears stores need a knot jerked in their respective asses and get on the same page of how they deal with warranties and not lie to a customer they cannot do something and the Sears down the road seems to be able to do it.

 

[03protege]

I may have to try and ebay another 1/4" ratchet to have as a backup, for the worst case scenario. I guess it is the size of the gear but it just feels sooo smooth compared to his elder siblings.

Will the Taiwan innards not fit? Or is it just a matter of them being Taiwan?

 

[pipsters]

I may have to try and ebay another 1/4" ratchet to have as a backup, for the worst case scenario. I guess it is the size of the gear but it just feels sooo smooth compared to his elder siblings.

Will the Taiwan innards not fit? Or is it just a matter of them being Taiwan?

The Taiwan innards won't fit with the design of the old ratchet. It's slightly different. However apparently Sears is still making rebuild kits for the USA models as there was a flyer someone posted from corporate showing the correct rebuild kit to use. But who knows how long they will run them. I'd rather just have a couple and forgo my "unlimited warranty".

 

[SMKS]

The guts are different between the Asian and USA models. Your store should be able to repair it. I think the person with the issue just talked to someone who didn't know what he was talking about.

Here are the documents pipsters was referring to.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I assume Sears had to change the guts of their ratchets when moving production to Asia. Changing them just cost them money.

 

[camarotoolman]

You can get them on fleebay alot cheaper than the store price. most c-man doesn't bring much on ebay.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I will sell my thin profile ratchets, they are in mint condition and come with a spare rebuild kit for each size. They are USA. 80 shipped.

 

[carterbeauford]

Ace gave me a new USA ratchet no questions asked and said when they get a new one in stock to replace the last one on the shelf it would be a USA ratchet too.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

It is not a "yankeeland" thing or even a dixie thing, it is a selective Sears thing.

Not everybody has the charmed Sears experience like you do with your wife working at one as you have previously mentioned.

The simple fact is many Sears stores with no rhyme or reason of pattern are either pure lazy, lie or inept in how they run a particular store. I have 3 large footprint Sears stores I deal with locally and all will give you a different story of what they can do for you when it comes to warranty on ratchets and each will "claim" what they are saying is Sears corporate gospel.

The simple fact is many if not most of these Sears stores need a knot jerked in their respective asses and get on the same page of how they deal with warranties and not lie to a customer they cannot do something and the Sears down the road seems to be able to do it.

I work as an on site IT guy so I travel quite a bit answering tech calls. There are about a dozen or so Sears in my service area. I once again have never experienced issues at any of them. I quite often will take whatever broken stuff with me on those calls and exchange them at the particular nearby Sears where I am answering calls. The folks at these out of town Sears have no idea who I am married to.

Most recently I visited family out of town for the thanksgiving holiday and went to a nearby Sears for the thanksgiving night specials and bought the 309 piece tools set.

Upon examining everything I found the 18mm ratchet wrench was broached off center. I went back a couple days later to exchange it. Unfortunately they were out of loose stock. I asked the associate if he could break open a set they had to give me a replacement. I believe he was a seasonal hire, didn't know what to do so I asked him to call in a manager.

The manager who happened to be the softlines manager called to verify this could be done. She opened up the set, exchanged the item, gave me a receipt and away I went.

I did not experience the 3 forms of ID or was asked for my phone number. The folks in the store didn't know my wife is a manager for Sears ( I never make a point to make this known). All they Knew I was Joe Customer and I needed to do an exchange.

So I do ask, how does my charmed Sears experience as you call it, factor into any of this?

 

[Hootbro]

..................
So I do ask, how does my charmed Sears experience as you call it, factor into any of this?

You are right, all Sears are great all the time. Silly me to think all these people are lying and what I have experience is not what it appears to be.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

You are right, all Sears are great all the time. Silly me to think all these people are lying and what I have experience is not what it appears to be.

I'm not assuming that is the case. I'm sure there are issues that come up and employees don't get it right all of the time. This is even more so the case nowadays with modern co-operate micro-managed retail. Every retailer suffers from this.

Sometimes one has to go up the ladder to get issues resolved

 

[Chadwilliam1]

Ace gave me a new USA ratchet no questions asked and said when they get a new one in stock to replace the last one on the shelf it would be a USA ratchet too.

Good!

 

[carterbeauford]

Sometimes one has to go up the ladder to get issues resolved

these issues never used to exist though, I don't have time to go up the ladder, nor should I have to. I thought perhaps calling the 800 # would get things resolved, but instead I got to talk to someone who didn't even speak English as a second language and didn't know what a ratchet is. Sears fatal flaw is that anymore, associates are barely literate, barely functional, and unable to solve even the most basic problems without asking someone else. from a management standpoint I just cannot take this sort of idiocy seriously. Sears seriously needs to hire a consultant that walks into one of their stores and reports back about their experience.

when I was in the store, the sales rep went in the back to talk to "them" and told me "they" said I don't get a rebuild kit. who, the wizard of oz? all Sears can do in 2012 is occasionally successfully sell you a tool of debatable quality. like I said earlier, I rarely leave Sears with what I went into Sears for, and am slowly learning to just quit going into Sears.

 

[Matt018]

I use a 3/8 daily, It works good, Mine is USA made. I do want to buy an Armstrong though.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

these issues never used to exist though, I don't have time to go up the ladder, nor should I have to. I thought perhaps calling the 800 # would get things resolved, but instead I got to talk to someone who didn't even speak English as a second language and didn't know what a ratchet is. Sears fatal flaw is that anymore, associates are barely literate, barely functional, and unable to solve even the most basic problems without asking someone else. from a management standpoint I just cannot take this sort of idiocy seriously. Sears seriously needs to hire a consultant that walks into one of their stores and reports back about their experience.

when I was in the store, the sales rep went in the back to talk to "them" and told me "they" said I don't get a rebuild kit. who, the wizard of oz? all Sears can do in 2012 is occasionally successfully sell you a tool of debatable quality. like I said earlier, I rarely leave Sears with what I went into Sears for, and am slowly learning to just quit going into Sears.

Actually Sears does have as you say "consultants". These folks visit a store as if they were a customer and present the employees/management with different situations. The staff gets graded based on these "consultants" reports. These consultants do not announce who they are actually are. The act just as if any customer would. Obviously different stores fair better than others.

Not sure if you are aware or not, but every big box retailer isn't what it was 30 years ago. There is always an issue somewhere with something. Also as I've gotten older I have noticed people are also more whiny and fussy than they were 30 years ago. Maybe to much Oprah?

A by-product of the internet is a whole new venue is now created where people can fuss and whine about anything or anybody. This forum is proof positive of that.

If I felt as you are claiming, I surely wouldn't go back. I've dealt with businesses that has motivated me never to spend money with them again. Personally I just leave it at that and have no desire to vent about it to the world. I'd find somewhere else to buy stuff. Perhaps another retailer in your area is better suited to satisfy your needs.

A wise man once said you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

 

[carterbeauford]

Perhaps another retailer in your area is better suited to satisfy your needs.

I wish, I try to avoid big box hardware stores, there is nowhere that sells USA made tools locally other than Ace with their limited Craftsman selection. I usually just order from Snapon or Tooltopia. the point I have been trying to make all along is that for years, I could go into Sears for 1) tools and 2) customer service relating to tools. in my last dozen or so trips to Sears, I was lucky to leave with a set of plastic socket clips. I'll compare my experiences in 1) buying new tools needed to complete a project and 2) exchanging tools

Sears/Craftsman: need a flex socket, might or might not be in stock. drive to a few different stores when convenient. can't find socket anywhere. un-navigable website is of little help. finally find socket on website, get it a week later, and it's the wrong socket. try to return it to a store. takes 3 people and 15 minutes to process the return. still don't have the correct socket.

Tooltopia/Gearwrench: need a tap and die set. order online, arrives in a week. tap breaks. call Apex, get a new tap in the mail in another week. I can plan for things like this and consider it an efficient way to deal with tools and warranty issues given my time constraints.

Snap-On/Snapon.com: need a cylinder hone. order online, arrives in less than a week. cylinder hone breaks. call Snap-On, they either send me a new tool or credit me for the broken tool and don't require I mail it back. I can plan for things like this and consider it an efficient way to deal with tools and warranty issues given my time constraints.

A wise man once said you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

has nothing to do with pleasing me, at this point they have lost all credibility as a retailer.

I searched Sears.com for a 9-24524 14MM hex bit

this is what came up:

http://www.sears.com/trademark-eric...p-05224524000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I can't be the only one that shares these repeated experiences/sentiments. I have maybe 12 hours free on a good weekend to work on projects and Sears does nothing but waste my time to the point of madness. I cannot count on them to reliably supply my project needs with a ******* thing.

 

[Hootbro]

..............
I searched Sears.com for a 9-24524 14MM hex bit

this is what came up:

http://www.sears.com/trademark-eric...p-05224524000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I can't be the only one that shares these repeated experiences/sentiments. I have maybe 12 hours free on a good weekend to work on projects and Sears does nothing but waste my time to the point of madness. I cannot count on them to reliably supply my project needs with a ******* thing.

That is no longer a active part number.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-14-mm-hex-bit-socket-1-2-in/p-00942669000P

Took me about 30 seconds or less to find the current one.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

I wish, I try to avoid big box hardware stores, there is nowhere that sells USA made tools locally other than Ace with their limited Craftsman selection. I usually just order from Snapon or Tooltopia. the point I have been trying to make all along is that for years, I could go into Sears for 1) tools and 2) customer service relating to tools. in my last dozen or so trips to Sears, I was lucky to leave with a set of plastic socket clips. I'll compare my experiences in 1) buying new tools needed to complete a project and 2) exchanging tools

Sears/Craftsman: need a flex socket, might or might not be in stock. drive to a few different stores when convenient. can't find socket anywhere. un-navigable website is of little help. finally find socket on website, get it a week later, and it's the wrong socket. try to return it to a store. takes 3 people and 15 minutes to process the return. still don't have the correct socket.

Tooltopia/Gearwrench: need a tap and die set. order online, arrives in a week. tap breaks. call Apex, get a new tap in the mail in another week. I can plan for things like this and consider it an efficient way to deal with tools and warranty issues given my time constraints.

Snap-On/Snapon.com: need a cylinder hone. order online, arrives in less than a week. cylinder hone breaks. call Snap-On, they either send me a new tool or credit me for the broken tool and don't require I mail it back. I can plan for things like this and consider it an efficient way to deal with tools and warranty issues given my time constraints.



has nothing to do with pleasing me, at this point they have lost all credibility as a retailer.

I searched Sears.com for a 9-24524 14MM hex bit

this is what came up:

http://www.sears.com/trademark-eric...p-05224524000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

I can't be the only one that shares these repeated experiences/sentiments. I have maybe 12 hours free on a good weekend to work on projects and Sears does nothing but waste my time to the point of madness. I cannot count on them to reliably supply my project needs with a ******* thing.

Loose flex sockets in stock in Greenville NC unit 2175. Didn't notice if there were any hex bit sockets loose or not. There were sets of hex bit sockets hanging on the racks.

Sounds like you need to quit going to Sears seeing how you have found other avenues to get what you what that you find more pleasurable to deal with.

Yea sometimes I run across something I want at Sears that they don't have on hand. Happens with my snappy guy sometime to. Local Napa as well. Not everyone has everything all of the time. Such is life and I just deal with it.

 

[Chadwilliam1]

its time to change the thread title.

 

[carterbeauford]

Loose flex sockets in stock in Greenville NC unit 2175. Didn't notice if there were any hex bit sockets loose or not. There were sets of hex bit sockets hanging on the racks.

grab me 1/4 drive 3/8 7/16 1/2 and 9/16 and I'll gladly send you a paypal payment because I can't find them anywhere.

That is no longer a active part number.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-14-mm-hex-bit-socket-1-2-in/p-00942669000P

Took me about 30 seconds or less to find the current one.

was looking for the Craftsman Industrial version

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CRAFTSMAN-INDUSTRIAL-Socket-20J758

 

[NC-Fordguy]

grab me 1/4 drive 3/8 7/16 1/2 and 9/16 and I'll gladly send you a paypal payment because I can't find them anywhere.



was looking for the Craftsman Industrial version

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/CRAFTSMAN-INDUSTRIAL-Socket-20J758

PM Sent

 

[carterbeauford]

and said when they get a new one in stock to replace the last one on the shelf it would be a USA ratchet too.

this was a lie, I was in there today and the new one was marked L-AA.

 

[Zorba]

My local sears is all out of USA, went in to use a $10 off coupon. There were none on the floor although they showed 5 instock, it took them forever to find one. All of them were stamped L-AB. "2012"

 

[03protege]

I don't know if it was mentioed in this particular thread, but Ace Hardware is a great place to find USA Craftsman. My particular store is all USA on the items I checked and they have the thin profiles in stock.