Question for you guys. For those of you that have craftsman tools do they swap it out for you when you bring it in broken? I brought a ratchet in today and they told me the warranty has changed and they now ship you either the broken or new one in two weeks? I didnt know if anyone else ran into this or it was the local store being a douche? I know craftsman has gone down alot in quality but this is a new one for me. Thanks
craftsman tool warranty
- Thread starter dizheafta
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TJx
Well-known member
Last Saturday I took in a 1/2" ratchet with a broken selector that I had just bought at a flea market for $7, they pulled a box of ratchets from under counter and replaced it with a refurbished one.
Maybe they didn't have a refurb on-hand to replace yours with?
Maybe they didn't have a refurb on-hand to replace yours with?
ToocoolZ28
Well-known member
I took 2 bad ratchets back to them recently, they rebuilt them right there and then.
What's with this trend of getting used tools as warranties? I haven't experienced it myself yet but it seems to be a common trend lately. I'd be pissed if a company tried to give me someones used ratchet as a replacement. Either rebuild it or give the customer a new one...that's it.
markduncan93
Well-known member
I always request rebuild kits. Sometimes a couple more than I need so I'm not running to Sears every time. My local store has no problem with it as long as they have the kits.
What's the difference? A rebuilt ratchet is a rebuilt ratchet. Whether they rebuild the used one I bring in, or exchange the broken one with a rebuilt one, the end result is the same. I walk out of the store with a used, rebuilt tool.
TwoInch
Well-known member
this has been standard practice with sears/craftsman for many many years.
people dont realize though, that you can refuse the used ratchet, and get a new off the shelf model. its a satisfaction guarantee... you can warranty for any reason you can dream up. but the reality of the situation with craftsman ratchets is that you are much more likely to get a decent quality ratchet if you accept the rebuilt "used" ratchet. i sure as hell would not want a new one.
you can request a rebuild kit, or ask them to rebuild your ratchet while you wait, if their PM guy is working at that moment.
damn lucky that is a true "satisfaction" warranty, and you can refuse what they offer until you are satisfied. they hand you a ratchet you dont like, hand it back to them and tell them you want something else. most people just accept what is offered because they do not understand or realize that they do not have to accept the used ratchet.
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jakemac
Well-known member
The difference is that you may not get the same model that you are used to, or worse .... they hand you a chinese made ratchet while taking your USA made ratchet away.
If they don't have any rebuilt ratchets under the counter, they will offer you a shiny new ratchet made in China for your old beat up greasy keepsake from your father/grandfather. Ahhhhh ...... the memories that glossy new paperweight will bring you. (sigh)
I would rather have them hand me a rebuild kit and fix it myself, but they don't make them for my ratchets anymore. It's a good thing I know how to perform transplants.
I wouldn't accept an exchange unless it was like for like. I would have no problem exchanging a RHFT for a RHFT, but there's no way I would accept a common teardrop RP for it.
Most ratchets are just tools. If that's all it is, an exchange is sufficient.
Once you start attaching sentimental value, or treating it as a collectible item, it becomes more than that. That changes things.
Most ratchets are just tools. If that's all it is, an exchange is sufficient.
Once you start attaching sentimental value, or treating it as a collectible item, it becomes more than that. That changes things.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
junk 25 years ago too
jakemac
Well-known member
This ^
2 weeks ago i went to sears for a replacement. Sales guy always took new tool off the shelf, but this time the rep. opened a drawer and pulled out a refurbished ratchet. I was thinking...oh hell no! But after checking it out, it looked and functioned as new. So i had no complaints.
senor fozz
Well-known member
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one day...one day I'll figure out what tools you actually like
What every tool lovers want, a tool better than all that is cheaper than all.
ken w.
Well-known member
I took a round head 1/4" ratchet back to Sears and they didn't make or have a replacement.So the salesman took me over the the ratchets and told me to pick one out. I picked out a flex head button release.I expected him to say no way , but I got it.$40.00 + ratchet in exchange for a $15.00 one.
wafrederick
Well-known member
The rebuilt/refurbished ratchets are junk,don't last a day.I won't take one for a replacement for this reason.
Really, won't last a whole day?
volvo92906
Well-known member
They have always worked for me.
If I turn in a ratchet with a quick release, I get one with a quick release.
If I turn in a ratchet with the crappy selector circle on the back, I get the same one back.
I dont give a damn what the COO is.. If it makes me money, I NEED it for work.
I dont use Craftsman at work any more, so I guess I can be like you guys and wait a few weeks for a U.S.A made one to come in........ Thats how it works, right?
devoncoolman
Well-known member
Honestly all my rp craftsmans sit in my carry box and collect dust. Personally they ****. The round heads arnt bad i have a slew of 30+ old ratchets they work good. Personally i only use snapon or sk. Sk really makes some nice ratchets and not overly rediculasly expensive.
Never had an issue getting warrenty. Sockets just hand me new and my local stores rarily have rebuilds on hand so usually get handed a new one.
Never had an issue getting warrenty. Sockets just hand me new and my local stores rarily have rebuilds on hand so usually get handed a new one.
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rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
Make a friend (or three) there. The ratchet in your avatar... went to rebuild one for my buddies dad, my buddy lost the bearing. Got permission to dig through the barrel of rat's that were going to be recycled to find an oil hole rat that I could take apart and take the bearing out of.
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
I used to be a manager for sears, I would take a rebuilt one (us or china, don't matter) over a new one. New ones have next to no lube in them, would save me from just taking apart the new one immediately anyway.
jakemac
Well-known member
Both Sears stores near me turn over staff too often to make friends. I can't even remember the last time I saw someone in the tool dept old enough to grow a beard, let alone find someone who knows what an oil hole is, or what it's used for. It's like taking to a brick wall that blinks.
Maui
Well-known member
I've had a very different experience dealing the Sears store in Rochester, NY. I recently contacted them to replace a ratchet that has gone bad. They said that they would not replace any Craftsman tool unless I provided them with the sales receipt as well. I told them that I had no idea where the receipt was (I've had this ratchet for over 20 years) and I've never heard of that policy before. They claimed that this was their new policy. Guess who will no longer be purchasing Craftsman products?
Maui
Maui
The only thing that requires a receipt is their evolve line. Step on toes and go higher up the food chain in corporate. They will correct that store.
Did you you try calling the department manager and the store manager? Your prerogative to not shop a Sears again but if I stopped shopping at every store that was wrong on their return policy and did not push back, I would have no place to buy new retail from.
see pictures
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I went to sears to replace a 1/2" teardrop ratchet yesterday. The cashier said "i only have a flex one rebuilt." She asked another employee to go get One from the shelf. I jokingly said I would take the flex if thats all they had. She handed it to me saying here you go. I was in the store for under 2 minutes. I've never had a problem with craftsman tools warranty
FULL UNLIMITED WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN HAND TOOLS.
If any Craftesman hand tool EVER fails to give complete satisfaction, RETURN IT TO THE NEAREST SEARS STORE OR CRAFTSMAN OUTLET IN THE USA, and it will be replaced free of charge. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
I keep a copy of this Craftsman hand tool warranty in my wallet. I have only had to pull it from my wallet one time at Sears when returning a ratchet. The Sears rep tried to give me a POS used ratchet as a replacement. I left Sears with a Brand new ratchet.
finn
Well-known member
Reading comprehension may not be your strong point.
It doesn't say "will be replaced free of charge WITH A NEW RATCHET" does it?
A repaired used tool seems to fit the printed policy, no different than when a warranty claim to replace the engine or transmission on your car will likely be a remanufactured unit.
mmack66
Well-known member
The warranty was junk 25 years ago?
trout
Well-known member
Ratchets are the one thing I have never had a warranty problem on.
wafrederick
Well-known member
I know someone that was given a refurbished ratchet and a trip back to Sears for another replacement.A friend of my father's got a refurbished ratchet for a replacement and it broke right away.Another trip to Sears and he did get a new ratchet.The refurbished ratchets have plastic gears.My father had a problem with Sears years ago,a ratchet he had my mother take back to Sears to get replaced.They wanted to hand my mother the rebuild kit for it.Ended up calling my father and he said that he had no time to put in the kit,wanted a new ratchet.Did get a new ratchet.
No Craftsman ratchet has "plastic gears". Plastic selectors and release buttons maybe, but not plastic gears.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
Exactly what i was going to say
NC-Fordguy
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Wow, another lottery winner