Craftsman Warranty Going Away?

[RAYJAY]

Yes replace it free of charge....... but.... you dont get a new one - you get a reconditioned one, i.e. ratchet I brought back a snapped 3/8 breaker bar that was polished originally, I received a lousey looking bar that was not polished, had terrible detail and no hole at the end of the handle like the original did.

never had a problem always brand new tools as replacments. how ever i don't buy the low end crafstman stuff.
the Craftsman Professional tool line never had a problem with any of them on returns ,and i use my tools every day (newspaper mech.)

Jeff

 

[jrii]

OK first post..
Howdy and thanks for havin me this site is absolutely THE BEST! Thanks much Ryan for doin what many have either failed to do or not have the kahonies to pull off as well as you have! (JJ & HAMB ain't too bad either)

Now I don't claim to be an English major so bare with me.

I returned a torque wrench that has been in my toolbox for years. Not used very often and always taken care of. (This is a tool that states "Lifetime Guaranty" on it. The old all steel version) The ratcheting mechanism is what was bad on it. Under the lifetime guaranty that should be covered. Well that's fine and dandy if they had the same torque wrench but THEY DON'T MKE IT ANYMORE! All they have are 90-day and 1-year warranty torque wrenches. They don't have a kit (they don't make it) for my unit either so what do I do? What can I really do? Too many people have abused the policies and then those of us that are honest get burned by them eventually.
So..?
I take the 1-year warranty unit they have and chalk it up to experience. I also have to give them my tool that states it is a "Lifetime Warrany/Guaranty" item. Therefore leaving me without any record or recourse of the the item I purchased originally. All I have now is a 1 year warranty on a POS mostly plastic torque wrench that I have but no choice to take.

We don't live in the days of old reliable items any more. You don' get what you pay for any more especially if you paid for it in the past. Cuz they will figure out a way to render it archaic, obsolete or outdated and do away with it. Only to replace it with a POS you don't even want to own.

(Theoretically) I think there will be no such thing as "CRAFTSMAN" in the very near future. They are slowly phasing out the name and using other tool manufacturers on their shelves (as somone else stated earlier.) If you'll notice there's a heckuva lot more "SEARS" and "COMPANION" branded tools than ever before. The name Craftsman will fade into the past. That's how they legally avoid your warranties and guaranties. If they don't make it they can't replace it now can they? They'll jsut replace it with the next best/worst thing they have.

Reality ***** and I am one of the biggest haters of it. It's all about the all mighty $$$$ anymore. People and companies are out to gain on people that do not care about quality and customer service. Some people create the problem by just tossing the charges on their credit card no matter the cost and justify it by saying "I have to have it so the $$$'s don't matter".

This is not the only area I have noticed where our world is changing drastically for the worse. Look around. Other things are getting just as bad. And one of the biggest ones>>>>Petroleum Products? Record profits? Huh? How does that pencil out?

Whatever you buy from here on out you need to read the warranty/guaranty "VERY CAREFULLY". Read the fine print. In general they only cover about 5% of the actual item you are buying. And generally that consists of the actual material it’s made of not the quality of craftsmanship that went into it. Also note the verbage "ON THE TOOL". The "Sears" and "Companion" branded items are not lifetime items!

This verbage will change one day and you won't have even noticed it:
"If a Craftsman hand tool ever fails to give complete satisfaction, return it to the nearest sears store in the United States, and Sears will replace it free of charge."


Now, I've said it. Got it off my chest. Beat me to a pulp. Call me negative. Call me a pessamist. I just see it as actual reality.

 

[Willy Victor]

Jr. you are 100% right.

Willy

 

[scottybaccus]

I was just shopping Sears Online to see what I might find. All of the CRAFTSMAN tools I looked at show "Guaranteed forever" on the spec sheet. I've had trouble on and off when trying to get a ratchet replaced, but usually carried away a new one when I bitched about the repair kits they push. I've been getting that for 15 years. I suggest another approach. Keep buying the CRAFTSMAN brand and stay away from the lower lines. As long as there is money in it, they will keep making quality tools. Yea, I know, they aren't as good as they once were, but neither am I...

 

[justinmc]

I just warrantied a 1/4" ratchet sunday. Guy took my old one... walked to the wall of ratchets/sockets. Grabbed the one off and tossed my other one in their bin marked "ratchets only" behind the counter and off I went. Easy Peasy..

 

[wilbilt]

All rumors aside, I fully epect the Craftsman "guaranteed forever" warranty to be gone in a year or two.

They recently rebid their hand tool contract. It was with Stanley, but is now with Danaher Tool Co. (The lowest bidder) Danaher has lots of lucrative contracts with Asian suppliers, and it is only a matter of time before the "Craftsman Made in USA Lifetime Guarantee" is history.

Their power tools have been junk for over 20 years. The hand tools will follow shortly, IMHO.

 

[Coach James]

Actually Danaher has been making Craftsman mechanic tools for years now. In the mid 1990's, Danaher was already making Craftsman mechanics tools. And those Danaher tools are still made in the United States. Stanley, on the other hand, shipped almost all their production to Taiwan and China in the early 1990's.

Husky used to be USA made until Stanley bought the Husky name. They shipped Husky production to Taiwan as well, but continued to label Husky and several other brands as "Made in USA" claiming that a final polish followed by packaging was enough for the "Made in USA" label. The FTC saw it differently, sued Stanley, and from then on, Stanley manufactured Husky tools have been labeled as "Made in Taiwan".

http://www.ftc.gov/os/1999/06/stanleyworkscmp.htm

Coach

 

[wilbilt]

Thanks, Coach...

But I wonder how long until Danaher follows Stanley to the "Dark Side". The pressure has got to be tremendous...offshore labor for 25¢/hour.

I have three Craftsman ratchets in a drawer awaiting replacement. I guess I shouldn't wait too much longer. Sears is 40 miles away, though. One of them exploded while I was up on a 24' ladder, and all the guts fell into the ivy. I hope they don't want me to go looking for them...

 

[stock z/28]

Hello,

Im new here but I have been the mechanical business 30+ years. My main business machine work related to racing engines and fabrication.

What caught my attention here was the question of warranty change at Sears. I have had a few discussions with them over years as to how they do away with a lifetime warranty, I don't think they can. So far I have resolved the discussions in my favor- so far.

One thing I have that is very beneficial, is that I have kept the Craftsman tool catalogs clear back into the late 60s. They generally have the warranty on about every page, generally stating to "my satisfaction". Having this doesnt really leave them a lot of ground.

Good Luck

Jeff

 

[1320stang]

I bought a ratchet set in a blow molded case about 20 years. The case hinge has failed, but the halves are in two different drawers of my tool box. The ratchets were the round headed type with the 3 bar twister on the back and the knurled edge that you could tighten the nut with one hand while holding the handle with the other. The 3/8's failed and I took it to Sears for a replacement. At first they tried to replace it with a used one with a puchbutton on the back and the little lever. I told them I didn't want a used one, I wanted a new one, but I wanted one just like I had. They didn't carry them anymore. I would have rather them kit my old ratchet, but they didn't have those either, so I took a new pushbutton type. I hate it, the damn thing will be tightening one minute then click itself over to loosen on it's own. My next tools will come from Lowe's in the form of the Kobalt line. I can't bring myself to buy the Husky tools from Home Depot. One, I can't stand Tony Stewart, two, I had to wear Husky jeans from Sears growing up instead of Levis, and three, I resemble that name now, LOL!!

 

[Willy Victor]

If Sears does away with their guarantee they may as well shut their tool department down.

Willy

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I bought a ratchet set in a blow molded case about 20 years. The case hinge has failed, but the halves are in two different drawers of my tool box. The ratchets were the round headed type with the 3 bar twister on the back and the knurled edge that you could tighten the nut with one hand while holding the handle with the other. The 3/8's failed and I took it to Sears for a replacement. At first they tried to replace it with a used one with a puchbutton on the back and the little lever. I told them I didn't want a used one, I wanted a new one, but I wanted one just like I had. They didn't carry them anymore. I would have rather them kit my old ratchet, but they didn't have those either, so I took a new pushbutton type. I hate it, the damn thing will be tightening one minute then click itself over to loosen on it's own. My next tools will come from Lowe's in the form of the Kobalt line. I can't bring myself to buy the Husky tools from Home Depot. One, I can't stand Tony Stewart, two, I had to wear Husky jeans from Sears growing up instead of Levis, and three, I resemble that name now, LOL!!

Hopefully you will see this. Those old Sears ratchets are still sold like that, in Canada (very minor difference, I think the lever is straight, not Y). Those are Stanley, imported Craftsman ratchets (HENCE NO USA on them). Stanley still imports them so you can get the same quality. If I were you the ones I would be getting from Sears are the style like #43781. They are catalog only (*****), but they carry the rebuild kits, and still have a knurler (though on the other side, built in to help keep junk out of them).

 

[caprice]

The stores in my area don't have anything worth buying anyway. Everytime one goes there the tool area is shrinking more and more. The attitude also is complete indifference as if they don't want to sell anything. Pretty sad really

 

[Hawk231]

Try this on for sad. My mom got me a 1/4 ratchet/socket sets in a blow molded case for Christmas. First thing I did when I got home was pull out the ratchet and give it a spin. It slips about 180 deg one out of ~four spins. This is new out of the box with finger pressure on the driver! The guts are so loose that you can wiggle the driver +/- 10 deg, or more. I hope they still have a warranty after the first of the year.

 

[Big_John]

An interesting thing happened to me at the local Sears Hardware. They had their pry bar set on sale and I wanted a couple to give as gifts to my sons. The guy working there said no less then three times how their tools were "guaranteed for life".

I took it as someone that is getting tired of getting asked questions about the guarantee.

 

[Coach James]

Sears is not doing away with their lifetime warrenty on mechanics tools. They have changed it on some consumable type tools or tools that require constant maintenance. Tape measures and torque wrenches no longer have lifetime warrenties.

A friend of mine manages a Sears store and he told me that they were having too many tape measures brought back after being run over, yanked out of the case etc. He also said that they had a high number of torque wrenches brought back after people dropped them on concrete etc. then wanted Sears to replace them.

He also said there was no plan to eliminate the life time warrenty on other items as the higher ups know that is the main thing keeping people from going to Wal Mart and buying Stanley "Made in taiwan" tools.

"..can't stand tony Stewart.." lol. I had to put aside my dislike for Jimmy johnson on the rare occassion I bought a Kobalt tool. Then again, I won't buy Husky as I don't like Stanley Tool Works.

And for the price of a Kobalt ratchet, you could buy an SK. Since kobalt and Craftsman both come from Danaher, I often wondered if the ratchet insides were the same. I just never wondered enough to put out the cash for a Kobalt ratchet.

 

[wilbilt]

He also said there was no plan to eliminate the life time warrenty on other items as the higher ups know that is the main thing keeping people from going to Wal Mart and buying Stanley "Made in taiwan" tools.

Why would they, when they can buy Chinese tools at Sears?
The interesting thing about Craftsman tools made in Taiwan or China is that the statement of origin is on the packaging, but not on the tool itself.

Do you think they are trying to hide something? Or are they just ashamed of themselves?

 

[Coach James]

The only Craftsman lifetime warrenty tools I've seen made in China are the Pro mini pliers(I still don't understand that one either). What other ones are there?

 

[wilbilt]

The only Craftsman lifetime warrenty tools I've seen made in China are the Pro mini pliers(I still don't understand that one either). What other ones are there?

The Craftsman-branded GearWrenches are largely of Asian origin, although the final polish and packaging may be done domestically.

I received a Craftsman folding utility knife as a gift last week. It has the lifetime warranty stated on the package, as well as "Made in China". Granted, it is just a knife, but it is labeled "Craftsman".

It is virtually identical to another one I have, a Husky from HD. The Husky has the "Made in China" emblazoned on the belt clip, while the "Craftsman" does not. Putting them side-by-side, they are obviously the same tool, except the one from Sears is red and says "Craftsman" on it.

There are undoubtedly more examples. I think the practice of allowing the country of origin to be placed on the packaging instead of on the product is deceptive by design.

 

[eschoendorff]

Most of teh Craftsman ratcheting screwdrivers are imported. Also... more and more of the drill bits and screwdriver bits. It's sad, really.

 

[Coach James]

Drill bits etc. have been from Asia for a good while now I think. I was refering to lifetime warrenty items. Drill bits are not lifetime and I don't think knives are either, but I'm not positive. It is sad that less and less of this stuff is made here. I have a cousin that runs a drill bit factory near Pittsburgh Pa. he said they manufacture for Vermont American , Irwin and a few other companies but less than 15 people work there.

There is a company down the road from me that sells bits etc. but they are just a distributor for a German company.

http://www.artu.com/index.html

Coach

 

[rworkman98]

Almost all of my hand tools are Craftsman because of their lifetime warranty. If it goes away, so does 1/2 their business. I hope they realize this and continue the lifetime warranty on hand tools.

 

[wilbilt]

I was refering to lifetime warrenty items. Drill bits are not lifetime and I don't think knives are either, but I'm not positive.
Coach

The knife I have is lifetime warranty. At least, it says so on the package.

 

[Coach James]

If it says lifetime warrenty then that's what I would hold them to. I'm not sure why I thought knives were not lifetime, but I'm glad to hear I was wrong.

Coach

 

[wilbilt]

It's this one (I borrowed the photo from eBay).

Is says "guaranteed forever" on the package, as well as "Made in China".

 

[Junkman]

Try finding a metal Craftsman chalk line in Sears today. They sold millions of them through the years, but today, they don't even have a plastic unit. The rewind mechanism on my metal Craftsman broke and when I took it in for replacement, they said that it was discontinued, so the lifetime warranty had expired.

 

[Coach James]

wilbilt, I've seen that same knife in HD labeled Husky and have heard a lot of good things about them. I was thinking of pocket knives though. I could see Sears warrenting(sp) the knife case as lifetime.

 

[wilbilt]

wilbilt, I've seen that same knife in HD labeled Husky and have heard a lot of good things about them. I was thinking of pocket knives though. I could see Sears warrenting(sp) the knife case as lifetime.

Yes, since it has replaceable blades, I assume the warranty applies to everything except the blade.

I have a Husky version as well, and they are identical save for the texture pattern on the handle, and the fact that the Husky says "Made in China" on the belt clip.

I can say they are very handy to have around. I misplaced my Husky for a week or two, and felt lost without it. I received the Craftsman on Christmas Eve, and have already gone through two blades using it at work (hacking through sheetrock to install IP security cameras). They both came with a package of replacement blades, which is a nice touch.

My main points are that the Craftsman version:

a) Has a lifetime warranty.
b) Is made in China.
c) Does not state "Made in China" on the tool itself.
d) Someone buying it and discarding the packaging would not know where it was made.
e) Sears is probably counting on that.

I think it is obvious their focus and policies are shifting, and I think their marketing practices are purposefully deceptive.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I have the Husky version of that knife. I received it as a gift. Everyone of these type I have seen has been made overseas, the best designed one I have seen here is the Great Neck Sheffield 12119 , it has blade storage in the handle, and is cheaper then the one I saw in a woodworking catalog.

As for my Craftsman knives, I have two. The first I purchased off of ebay because it was a duplicate of one I swapped under warranty. It's all Stainless and made in Japan (early 80's). The one I took back (blade chipped) I replaced with the 75th anniversary zytel handled one (USA made). In the early 80's, several Craftsman items became imports (most notabley some Stanley imported ratchets). The knives went from Craftsman (lifetime warrantied) to Sears (non lifetime no warranty), to back to Craftsman, and now out of the stores, with this one exception. Supposably the zytel handle ones went back, as warranty replacements for future swaps, as this other style, you really only have a tip.

 

[stock z/28]

Hello,

Well i just got off the phone with a lady (Heather ID NO. 69440) from Sears who informed me that Craftsman hand tools that have a moving part are not covered under the life time warranty. This includes ratchets and gear wrenches for example.

Also any Craftsman hand tools used in a commercial or professional situation has a 90 day warranty. (This apparenty includes farming and racing)

Bottom line in her opinion profits and complaints are up but profits are more important.


Its very disturbing to me and Im not just going to forget it. I must say after forty years Im done with Sears.


Just a heads up, guys.

Jeff

 

[bmwpower]

Hello,

Well i just got off the phone with a lady (Heather ID NO. 69440) from Sears who informed me that Craftsman hand tools that have a moving part are not covered under the life time warranty. This includes ratchets and gear wrenches for example.

Also any Craftsman hand tools used in a commercial or professional situation has a 90 day warranty. (This apparenty includes farming and racing)

Bottom line in her opinion profits and complaints are up but profits are more important.


Its very disturbing to me and Im not just going to forget it. I must say after forty years Im done with Sears.


Just a heads up, guys.

Jeff

What?!? I can't believe what I'm hearing. This is effective as of what date?

 

[stock z/28]

I guess now. She said shes getting a lot of complaints. I guess all the stores are not up to speed on it yet, but thats their policy.


Jeff

 

[bmwpower]

I think it's about time we've obtained, in writing, something from Corporate that states this is true.

I guess it's Sears that is basically saying that their tools with moving parts just don't last long anymore.

 

[stock z/28]

I agree. I actually asked for it in writing, but she said I would have to call Craftsman for it.

I tried calling them but they are closed on Saturday.

Jeff

 

[Roospike]

Hello,

Well i just got off the phone with a lady (Heather ID NO. 69440) from Sears who informed me that Craftsman hand tools that have a moving part are not covered under the life time warranty. This includes ratchets and gear wrenches for example.

Also any Craftsman hand tools used in a commercial or professional situation has a 90 day warranty. (This apparenty includes farming and racing)

Bottom line in her opinion profits and complaints are up but profits are more important.


Its very disturbing to me and Im not just going to forget it. I must say after forty years Im done with Sears.


Just a heads up, guys.

Jeff

More BS !

Looking at the Craftsman 8 pc. Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set, SAE it says right on the package "guaranteed forever" as well as USA.

Now how can they not guaranteed a tool when it says this right on the package ?

Again , BS and more rumors.

Sears item #00942404000 Mfr. model #42404

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...tical=TOOL&subcat=Wrenches&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

 

[MAD]

The Craftsman hand tool warranty is the best in the industry and is absolutely unambiguous- Satisfaction Guaranteed Forever (for most hand tools).

If the quality of the Sears employees matched their warranty there would no need for this particular discussion.

 

[bmwpower]

Yanking the warranty on previously bought tools... is that even legal? I guess it could be since they changed ownership.

 

[tweety652]

Yanking the warranty on previously bought tools... is that even legal? I guess it could be since they changed ownership.

its been a while since the whole kmart thing happened and even now the tools still show lifetime guarantee on the packages so i doubt its legal.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I just dig some digging around in the Sears USA website, and all I could find was a page saying 90 day warrantee. USA Sears website

I did find a link to the Canada Sears website that does still say there's a lifetime warrantee, with some exceptions: Canada Sears website

Hmm.....

 

[tweety652]

thats like comparing apples to oranges. the us site is for returns not replacement of broken tools. i didnt even see tools mentioned. the canadian site was strictly about the hand tool warrenty.