Disappointing Wright ratchet warranty experience

[1982fxr]

I don’t own any wright tools, but Armstrong, and other Industrial Tool Manufacturers would routinely just pack individual items in plastic bags, unless the item was a set that came in a case, like a set of sockets.
Even wrench sets that came in boxes, routinely had the individual wrenches packed in bags, so I wouldn’t consider it suspicious.
Most actual industrial brands are not known for caring too much about fancy packaging.

That's why I ask. No bag, just a big sticker that says Wright Tool 3, dual pawl.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

The Proto ratchet might not have been a “Heat treat” issue.
I would not be surprised if Stanley had tried using various newer manufacturing techniques for Detailed internal components, and wound up with either batch issues or engineering issues.
MIM (Metal Injection Molding) and precision casting, Cold Forging, etc. are all techniques that might be tried to lower costs and/or produce a more durable of long lasting part.
MIM molding might not be bad for a ratchet pawl, since wear is likely one of the major durability issues, and MIM molding allows for highly wear resistant “Powder Metal” alloys, that otherwise might be impossible, or way to expensive to otherwise manufacture.
The problem with MIM, is it can suffer from brittleness if the heat treating process that fuses the metal powder together is done wrong.
SIG Firearms were having major issues due to problems with MIM made parts.
Stanley wanting the tool back to see what went wrong would actually make sense, even if a pain in the @ss for customers.

They way that specific part broke, and the intricacies of the design, I assumed it was a powder metal type design. Casting probably wouldnt work without finishing after and straight machining it from a block would cost a bunch.

Powder metal "baking" or whatever the industry term is for it, is a very slick process and can make previously uneconomical designs possible.

 

[rust in the eye]

No one had to purchase the Craftsman name and it could have just died a slow spiraling death as fewer and fewer Sears stores existed. SBD did buy it and then chose to honor the warranty for tools made by someone else for another company decades ago.
IDK how much the Made In USA was important for buyers of Craftsman until it wasn’t MiUSA? At the time of Craftsman tools heyday there were many USA tool companies, many of them making the Craftsman tools. I think the USA fetish is a more recent thing amongst the Craftsman faithful.

Well said.

 

[Agmechanic]

I called Proto and spoke with a few reps. Basically I was told to mail the ratchets in and they will evaluate and replace if necessary. The thing I kept telling the rep was that I didn’t have the broken parts. When the ratchets ate their guts I tossed the heads without thinking. So all I’d mail back is the bodies and I don’t think Proto would warranty ratchets without the internals. Plus I was quoted that it would take anywhere from 5-8 weeks. I asked about just getting repair kits but the rep said that isn’t something they do. My only option is to send it in on my dime and they would send a completely new replacement if they decide to warranty it. I’d buy the kits myself but they are going for $35 and a new ratchet is $60. I’m thinking I might just see if the Snap-on driver will take the few Proto ratchets I have in a trade and I’ll just junk the broken ones. So yeah, I’d definitely say Proto’s warranty has really changed since the last time I used it.

Proto mailed me 3 ratchet repair kits with no questions asked about 9 months ago. I sent them photos of the the decades old 1/2 inch ratchets and one 3/8s ratchet and they asked for my shipping address. They did ask me to send a stripped Allen socket in before they'd replace it, which I thought was fair.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Proto mailed me 3 ratchet repair kits with no questions asked about 9 months ago. I sent them photos of the the decades old 1/2 inch ratchets and one 3/8s ratchet and they asked for my shipping address. They did ask me to send a stripped Allen socket in before they'd replace it, which I thought was fair.

Were those the old 24 tooth ratchets they shipped the kits out for?

 

[Hohn]

I have had good experiences in the past with Wright Tool customer service and still think highly of their tools and dedication to domestic production.
We used to have an industrial supplier that carried Wright and they kept ratchet repair kits in stock. They would repair it right there at no cost and send you on your way. Eazy peazy.
Well they no longer are a Wright distributor, so I emailed Wright directly asking if I could get a repair kit for another one of my ratchets.
After having me send pictures, they replied and told me I would need to find a distributor and purchase a kit from them. No explanation as to why and no other option offered.
I was quite surprised in the less than helpful response and general lack of service.
I'm not here to bash them, but it makes me a little more hesitant to recommend them or consider future purchases now.
YMMV.

Not entirely surprising, given a company that sells primarily to large industrial customers. They focus on manufacturing and leave all the warranty and CS work to distributors.
It's not that they don't want to help in anyway, it's the the way they do it is all through distributors.
Kind of anachronistic in this modern era of buying everything direct, but there's a reason the traditional distribution model lasted so long. For example, it's why I prefer many Stihl outdoor tools-- my local dealer is accessible and knowledgeable. Can't get that from the guy delivering via amazon prime.

 

[KnurledNut]

Not entirely surprising, given a company that sells primarily to large industrial customers. They focus on manufacturing and leave all the warranty and CS work to distributors.
It's not that they don't want to help in anyway, it's the the way they do it is all through distributors.
Kind of anachronistic in this modern era of buying everything direct, but there's a reason the traditional distribution model lasted so long. For example, it's why I prefer many Stihl outdoor tools-- my local dealer is accessible and knowledgeable. Can't get that from the guy delivering via amazon prime.

I do agree to a point.
Distributors can offer varying degrees of customer service/knowledgeability.
I called two of them about purchasing a repair kit.
Neither had the kit in stock and they came off annoyed that they had to go look.
Neither could give me a price and didnt offer to get one.
Neither could tell me how long it would take to get it.

Paperweight it is.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Not entirely surprising, given a company that sells primarily to large industrial customers. They focus on manufacturing and leave all the warranty and CS work to distributors.
It's not that they don't want to help in anyway, it's the the way they do it is all through distributors.
Kind of anachronistic in this modern era of buying everything direct, but there's a reason the traditional distribution model lasted so long. For example, it's why I prefer many Stihl outdoor tools-- my local dealer is accessible and knowledgeable. Can't get that from the guy delivering via amazon prime.

The issue arises when dealers aren't readily available, and tools still exist. Like if a vender closes or changes their agreement.

 

[Ohio Andy]

The issue arises when dealers aren't readily available, and tools still exist. Like if a vender closes or changes their agreement.

Years ago I purchased a line trimmer from Sears and an extended 3-year warranty. I only used it a couple times a year, but every time I went to use it it wouldn't start. So I take it in for warranty service. They would send it away in a month or so later they would say. I'm sorry we couldn't fix it. And then they would give me a brand new one. After my fourth brand new one I went to a local repair shop that also sold stuff and I said sell me something you can fix and they said we only sell stuff we can fix because I said they could not fix this thing I purchased from Sears.

Well the irony is I've never had to take the line trimmer in for service that I bought from them. I did, they would fix it. When my Craftsman lawn mower broke I bought one from them and the few times I've had trouble with it. They've fixed it right away.

Obviously I also purchased my snow blower from them.

They have a ton of expertise and they're probably not the cheapest around, but I will pay for that expertise and the service. Someone I know keeps breaking his stuff. That's what he borrows mine and I suggested he take his stuff there for repair. He said they were too expensive. My wife noted that he thinks they're too expensive but I pay that bill and my stuff always works. Well, almost always, I use my stuff hard sometimes.

 

[Agmechanic]

Were those the old 24 tooth ratchets they shipped the kits out for?

One was a 5449 and a 5450. The 5450 is a 24 tooth.

 

[mreisner]

I won't be spending a dime with Wright anymore which is sad because I like their tools and had a lot of them. I have a half inch 3/8 Drive 12-point deep socket that the Chrome was peeling badly on it is not Rusty it is not pitted under the Chrome it is just peeling into little razor blades and I submitted for warranty and they sent me an email back saying their customer service team says that's normal wear and tear. I'll never spend a dime with them again and I told them so and also told him I'd be posting my experiences online.

 

[liliysdad]

And you will shortly have folks piling on, defending Wright for absolutely sub par warranty service.

Folks are weird.

 

[Steve_P]

Nobody warranties a $100 ratchet that has been in service for even a month in a "real" industrial application. Do the math. A maintenance guy/millright/whatever named Fred that makes $40/ hour, which means he costs the company $80-120/hr, brings a broken ratchet to an admin, who makes $20/hr...... She emails the distributor and finds out, "Oh, we need a picture of the damage. So she then emails Fred in maintenance. Fred, take the ratchet apart and take a digital picture of the damage and email it to me...... " And then $300 worth of labor expense later Fred gets his "free" ratchet.

 

[mreisner]

And you will shortly have folks piling on, defending Wright for absolutely sub par warranty service.

Folks are weird.

A couple of years ago and before that they were fantastic Dad or I rarely would break something or have something peel like that but they always covered it. Apparently they don't give a damn anymore. Now we're not industrial we're just a farm, and some of the stuff has been here a while as we've been here 103 years, but for an American company that advertises they have pride in their product I was disappointed. There is probably a couple of grand worth of their Tools around here and we've had to warranty maybe 75 bucks worth of stuff. I understand honestly breaking something but that's just a crappy plating and it's a danger.

 

[Wrench97]

Nobody warranties a $100 ratchet that has been in service for even a month in a "real" industrial application. Do the math. A maintenance guy/millright/whatever named Fred that makes $40/ hour, which means he costs the company $80-120/hr, brings a broken ratchet to an admin, who makes $20/hr...... She emails the distributor and finds out, "Oh, we need a picture of the damage. So she then emails Fred in maintenance. Fred, take the ratchet apart and take a digital picture of the damage and email it to me...... " And then $300 worth of labor expense later Fred gets his "free" ratchet.

And 2 weeks of Fred sitting waiting for the new ratchet to show up USPS.........................
It's cheaper to have Fred call Grainger and have it delivered in 2 hours.

 

[liliysdad]

The realities of a production setting, which I’m familiar with, (should) have nothing to do with the service of the manufacturer.

Obviously they don’t feel as though they need to do anything with a warranty other than advertise it. Luckily I’ve only dipped my toe in the Wright pool, and it won’t be hard to dry off.

 

[American Locomotive]

I won't be spending a dime with Wright anymore which is sad because I like their tools and had a lot of them. I have a half inch 3/8 Drive 12-point deep socket that the Chrome was peeling badly on it is not Rusty it is not pitted under the Chrome it is just peeling into little razor blades and I submitted for warranty and they sent me an email back saying their customer service team says that's normal wear and tear. I'll never spend a dime with them again and I told them so and also told him I'd be posting my experiences online.

I think the age of the tool really matters here. How old is that socket? If it was a new socket or only a year or two old, I would be with you.

However that socket looks pretty well loved. The edge looks beat up, I see deep scratches/dents that went through the chrome and into the base steel. There's also a pretty suspicious line that looks like something sharp pressed hard into the chrome while it was turning. It basically looks like my 15 year old sockets that are all beat up because I take them out of my box, throw them loosely into a bag, and roll around with them in a muddy junkyard.

I personally don't think it's reasonable to expect Wright to warranty flaking chrome on what appears to be a fairly old and well used socket that's still perfectly functional for its primary intended task: Removing bolts. I have plenty of older sockets (other brands besides Wright) where the chrome chipped, flaked or got a rust spot (because I use my tools in wet, muddy junkyards), and never once did I go "man, I should warranty this".

 

[IndyGarage]

I think the age of the tool really matters here. How old is that socket? If it was a new socket or only a year or two old, I would be with you.

However that socket looks pretty well loved. The edge looks beat up, I see deep scratches/dents that went through the chrome and into the base steel. There's also a pretty suspicious line that looks like something sharp pressed hard into the chrome while it was turning. It basically looks like my 15 year old sockets that are all beat up because I take them out of my box, throw them loosely into a bag, and roll around with them in a muddy junkyard.

I personally don't think it's reasonable to expect Wright to warranty flaking chrome on what appears to be a fairly old and well used socket that's still perfectly functional for its primary intended task: Removing bolts. I have plenty of older sockets (other brands besides Wright) where the chrome chipped, flaked or got a rust spot (because I use my tools in wet, muddy junkyards), and never once did I go "man, I should warranty this".

I agree. If that socket were 3 months old, and the chrome were flaking like that, then I would say fine.

That thing is probably 30-40 years old or it was used with an impact in a recessed bolt hole. Why should any company warranty a tool after 30-40 years and tons of use. Any customer that thinks they should is not a customer worth keeping happy.

Buy another $10 socket and move on with life.

 

[liliysdad]

Took a little longer than I figured, but the warranty white knights showed up.

 

[mreisner]

I agree. If that socket were 3 months old, and the chrome were flaking like that, then I would say fine.

That thing is probably 30-40 years old or it was used with an impact in a recessed bolt hole. Why should any company warranty a tool after 30-40 years and tons of use. Any customer that thinks they should is not a customer worth keeping happy.

Buy another $10 socket and move on with life.

Never used on an impact. I have multiple impact sets. I have had a few sockets over the years did the same and Wright warrantied them no problem. Something starts flaking like that it gets replaced I'm not slicing my hand on it. I have some in my box that my dad bought 60 years ago and they are fine. This one peeling off in sheets and is a safety hazard. I have good tools for a reason and this one is plain and simple a manufacturing defect. In the past Wright stood by their products. Myself and my dad before me sought them out for that reason.

 

[john.k]

Interesting theory .....real world ,I had to submit a request for a $100 Honda fuel filter ,and after months waiting the board (yes ) rejected the request as being in the category 'I wasnt trying hard enough ' to save the company $100 ......so thats a $30/hr employee ,$25/hr office boss lady ,who knows what the board get for meetings, ...not to mention a $6000 pressure washer needed by a crew like yesterday........thats how business works in the real world.

 

[American Locomotive]

Never used on an impact. I have multiple impact sets. I have had a few over the years and Wrighr warrantied them no problem. Something starts flaking like that it gets replaced I'm not slicing my hand on it. I have some in my box that my dad bought 60 years ago and they are fine. This one peeling off in sheets and is a safety hazard. I have good tools for a reason and this one is plain and simple a manufacturing defect. In the past Wright stood by their products. Myself and my dad before me sought them out for that reason.

You didn't answer the question. How old is the socket?

Took a little longer than I figured, but the warranty white knights showed up.

Warranties are for manufacturer defects, not to cover years of abuse. Chrome is a plating on top of the steel, and any plating can be compromised if it gets damaged. Once corrosion starts setting up under a compromised bit of chrome, it's basically game over. Chrome doesn't last forever - it wears. Especially if it's being subject to impacts. It doesn't forever on $2000 hydraulic cylinders for excavators, it doesn't last forever on $800 motorcycle headers, it doesn't last forever on $400 chrome bumpers, and it certainly won't last forever on a $10 socket that people are beating on with hammers and dropping onto hard concrete.

I have some 15+ year old MIUSA Craftsman sockets that are starting to get some rust pits and flakes in the chrome from years of being trashed and thrown around. I don't even have the slightest desire to warranty them, because it's not a warranty problem. They served me for years before any sign of problem started showing up. I also have some 50 year old Snap-On and 60 year old Proto sockets that have damaged and pitted chrome. They've been banging around with about 50 other sockets in a dirty old tool bag for 20 years. Should I be hitting Snap-On and Proto up to warranty those, too? No, because that's ridiculous. They're old tools, they've been abused and have more than earned their cost. I'll either just hit the chrome with a wire wheel on the bench grinder or wrap a piece of electrical tape around it. I've done both of those with old flaking sockets before.

People act like that just because Snap-On Trucks will warranty just about everything, forever, that all companies must do that. Even then, there's more than one anecdote on even Garage Journal of Snap-On franchises denying warrantying an old wrench or socket for flaking chrome, saying that "finishes are warranted".

 

[john.k]

So what exactly does "Lifetime warranty " actually mean ?............local tool place has a "Limited Industrial Use - 12 month warranty" which is more realistic ,but thats for battery tools...........manufacturers of solid metal tools still offer 'Lifetime Warranty ----at the makers discretion.'......a general condition is "If returned to the place of purchase /and /or/with the original purchase reciept"...... if you read the fine print they can refuse any claim.

 

[KnurledNut]

Regardless of anyone's personal opinion, Wright has changed their warranty policy and it is stricter. That is a fact. And it affects all of us.

 

[wrenchr]

what wright ratchet is it? I might have a spare ratchet.

 

[mreisner]

I believe this set to be about 25 years old, it's kept one of my dump trucks and not used a whole lot. One of the other sockets did the same thing a few years ago and they warranted it no problem. There is no rust under the Chrome it's just an adhesion problem. Kept in a small tool box with desiccant in it. I don't have the paperwork from the last warranty but they did mention that that particular age they did have a few of them with plating problems. We sought out Wright tools as they were durable and warrantied. When I bought this set I believe it was an industrial supply house that I got it from and had to drive about 45 minutes to get it. Not like one quick on the internet and you have everything at your fingertips.

 

[john.k]

Chrome peels because the plate is thick ......on modern Asian sockets plate is so thin it cant peel ,and simply disintegrates into dust.

 

[mreisner]

You didn't answer the question. How old is the socket?
Warranties are for manufacturer defects, not to cover years of abuse. Chrome is a plating on top of the steel, and any plating can be compromised if it gets damaged. Once corrosion starts setting up under a compromised bit of chrome, it's basically game over. Chrome doesn't last forever - it wears. Especially if it's being subject to impacts. It doesn't forever on $2000 hydraulic cylinders for excavators, it doesn't last forever on $800 motorcycle headers, it doesn't last forever on $400 chrome bumpers, and it certainly won't last forever on a $10 socket that people are beating on with hammers and dropping onto hard concrete.

I have some 15+ year old MIUSA Craftsman sockets that are starting to get some rust pits and flakes in the chrome from years of being trashed and thrown around. I don't even have the slightest desire to warranty them, because it's not a warranty problem. They served me for years before any sign of problem started showing up. I also have some 50 year old Snap-On and 60 year old Proto sockets that have damaged and pitted chrome. They've been banging around with about 50 other sockets in a dirty old tool bag for 20 years. Should I be hitting Snap-On and Proto up to warranty those, too? No, because that's ridiculous. They're old tools, they've been abused and have more than earned their cost. I'll either just hit the chrome with a wire wheel on the bench grinder or wrap a piece of electrical tape around it. I've done both of those with old flaking sockets before.

People act like that just because Snap-On Trucks will warranty just about everything, forever, that all companies must do that. Even then, there's more than one anecdote on even Garage Journal of Snap-On franchises denying warrantying an old wrench or socket for flaking chrome, saying that "finishes are warranted".

I do not hit my sockets with hammers, I do not use Chrome sockets on impacts. I'm very particular and very careful with my tools, they help me make a living. My dad was a marine engineer and instilled me from a young age that you treat your tools with respect. On the lake freighters he worked on tools and machinery literally could be the difference between life and death. I learned how to respect my tools and to buy the best I could afford because cheap tools can be some of the most expensive things you have.

 

[IndyGarage]

Never used on an impact. I have multiple impact sets. I have had a few sockets over the years did the same and Wright warrantied them no problem. Something starts flaking like that it gets replaced I'm not slicing my hand on it. I have some in my box that my dad bought 60 years ago and they are fine. This one peeling off in sheets and is a safety hazard. I have good tools for a reason and this one is plain and simple a manufacturing defect. In the past Wright stood by their products. Myself and my dad before me sought them out for that reason.

I believe this set to be about 25 years old, it's kept one of my dump trucks and not used a whole lot. One of the other sockets did the same thing a few years ago and they warranted it no problem. There is no rust under the Chrome it's just an adhesion problem. Kept in a small tool box with desiccant in it. I don't have the paperwork from the last warranty but they did mention that that particular age they did have a few of them with plating problems. We sought out Wright tools as they were durable and warrantied. When I bought this set I believe it was an industrial supply house that I got it from and had to drive about 45 minutes to get it. Not like one quick on the internet and you have everything at your fingertips.

I agree that the chrome shouldn't peel like that. I disagree that it is a warranty problem on a 25 year old socket. If you feel your life is in danger throw it away and buy a new one. Me I've used a thousand sockets just like it.

Why do you think the company owes you a new one after 25 years? If the paint peeled on your house after 25 years do you call the painter for a touch-up for free?

If you are willing to give up on a product that you say you like and bash the company on the internet over a $10 item, I'd say it's a bigger problem for you than them.

 

[wrenchr]

I agree that the chrome shouldn't peel like that. I disagree that it is a warranty problem on a 25 year old socket. If you feel your life is in danger throw it away and buy a new one. Me I've used a thousand sockets just like it.

Why do you think the company owes you a new one after 25 years? If the paint peeled on your house after 25 years do you call the painter for a touch-up for free?

If you are willing to give up on a product that you say you like and bash the company on the internet over a $10 item, I'd say it's a bigger problem for you than them.

If that paint job came with a life time warranty then yes. The socket is the same, it had said warranty when bought so it is fair to expect that.

 

[American Locomotive]

I believe this set to be about 25 years old, it's kept one of my dump trucks and not used a whole lot. One of the other sockets did the same thing a few years ago and they warranted it no problem. There is no rust under the Chrome it's just an adhesion problem. Kept in a small tool box with desiccant in it. I don't have the paperwork from the last warranty but they did mention that that particular age they did have a few of them with plating problems. We sought out Wright tools as they were durable and warrantied. When I bought this set I believe it was an industrial supply house that I got it from and had to drive about 45 minutes to get it. Not like one quick on the internet and you have everything at your fingertips.

I understand its frustrating if Wright may have replaced one before out of good will years ago and now they're not being as generous, but we really need some perspective here. We're talking about a socket that's a quarter century old. It's bouncing around in a tool box with other sockets in a dump truck. It's a socket that's old enough to have moved out of the house and started its own family.

It's not going to stay perfect forever, and to swear off a whole tool brand forver, that's served your family for 60 years, because they refused to replace a single 25 year old socket for flakey chrome is beyond petty - it's actually kind of crazy.

If this was a 1 year old socket and doing it, you would be justified. This is a 25 year old tool that has clearly put in a lot of work. It doesn't owe you a dime.

If that paint job came with a life time warranty then yes. The socket is the same, it had said warranty when bought so it is fair to expect that.

The warranty doesn't say that the tool will last forever. It says they will warranty it forever against defects in manufacturing that prevent its use.

The socket can still be used. It lasted 25 YEARS before the chrome started flaking. I don't know how anyone could call something that lasted 25 years defective. Especially something that is subject to wear and tear.

You gouge the socket just the right way and chrome can get damaged. I've seen Snap-On, Proto, SK, and Craftsman sockets all eventually get pitted and flakey. Yes most go for decades and decades without flaking, but its not a guarentee.

 

[wrenchr]

Most companies are going this way now, the industry has changed for sure. To be honest I'm surprised all these tool companies had these warranties all these years.

 

[belvedere]

If this was a 1 year old socket and doing it, you would be justified. This is a 25 year old tool that has clearly put in a lot of work. It doesn't owe you a dime.

Then Wright should guarantee it for a certain amount of time...1 year or whatever. I simply believe a company should do what they say they'll do.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Then Wright should guarantee it for a certain amount of time...1 year or whatever. I simply believe a company should do what they say they'll do.

Easiest thing in the world would be for Wright and all the other US manufacturers that do not want to actually warranty items for a lifetime to simply get rid of the warranty. Just be like the Euro and Japanese brands and have a good price without the warranty. Leave the guys that want to charge a ton of cash with the lifetime, no hassle warranties.

 

[wrenchr]

Peeling chrome is a safety issue, always was a warranty in the past. as long as it was not run on an impact.

 

[American Locomotive]

Then Wright should guarantee it for a certain amount of time...1 year or whatever. I simply believe a company should do what they say they'll do.

They say on their website that their warranty covers defects that "prevent good service of the tool" and very explicitly say they don't cover normal wear and tear. The socket still sockets, and the chrome started flaking after 25 years of wear and tear.

I really don't think I can emphasize the age of the tool in question here any more. This is a not anywhere close to a new tool with little use.

Maybe Wright should clarify that the "socket steel" has a lifetime warranty, but the finish only has a limited time warranty. I don't know. Either way, I don't feel a 25 year old socket with flakey chrome is a warranty issue.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

They say on their website that their warranty covers defects that "prevent good service of the tool" and very explicitly say they don't cover normal wear and tear. The socket still sockets, and the chrome started flaking after 25 years of wear and tear.

I really don't think I can emphasize the age of the tool in question here any more. This is a not anywhere close to a new tool with little use.

Maybe Wright should clarify that the "socket steel" has a lifetime warranty, but the finish only has a limited time warranty. I don't know. Either way, I don't feel a 25 year old socket with flakey chrome is a warranty issue.

I get where you are coming from with age and socket condition, but my only counter to that would be that Wright is notorious for peeling chrome. There are countless threads and videos documenting just how bad Wright’s chroming is. So, unlike the ratchet rebuild kit that started this thread, if a known issue exists then the company should take care of it regardless of the length of time.

Also I’m kinda shocked how many guys have business with Grainger. Those guys, along with MSCdirect, mark-up to hell every thing they have. We dumped Grainger awhile ago because of their bat-**** crazy prices and banker hours.

 

[IndyGarage]

Most companies are going this way now, the industry has changed for sure. To be honest I'm surprised all these tool companies had these warranties all these years.

If that paint job came with a life time warranty then yes. The socket is the same, it had said warranty when bought so it is fair to expect that.

I do not think it is fair to expect a lifetime of repeat fixes to a product or service that was made and sold 25 years ago, and I never expect it.

You have to understand that a company is a dynamic thing. Wright tool has the same name as 25 years ago, but whatever money they made making that tool was spent 24.9 years ago.

Folks want American tool companies to stay in business, yet they also want to nickel and dime them out of business. A warranty is a marketing tool. It has absolutely nothing to do with how well engineered or how well made a product is. It probably has much more to do with the competitive climate than anything. These tool companies are not large businesses - even Snap On is a relatively small company.

The company provided a tool for the price that worked fine for a reasonable period of time. It still works fine. Whether peeling chrome is really a safety issue or not is subject to individual opinion. My opinion is that using tools subjects you to busted knuckles and pinched fingers all the time. Although I've had a chrome cut, that's a relatively rare occurrence and it doesn't look like you are likely to get one from that socket.

If it were dangerous, I'd throw it away and order a new one. I do that quite frequently. It is literally not worth it to track down a warranty on a $10 item, when I can buy one on Amazon in less than a minute.

 

[liliysdad]

I understand what you’re saying, and I don’t disagree with your methods. I believe, however, that if a manufacturer is going to use a warranty to sell a product, they should stand behind that warranty.

Wright seems to know that most of their customers are not going to “waste their time” warrantying broken or defective tools. With that fact in mind, offering a lifetime warranty carries little risk for them. Unfortunately, those of us who have time to waste get the short end of that marketing gimmick.

Wright makes a good tool, and they will be fine. I simply wish they’d would be more transparent with their warranty.

 

[neophyte]

I get where you are coming from with age and socket condition, but my only counter to that would be that Wright is notorious for peeling chrome. There are countless threads and videos documenting just how bad Wright’s chroming is. So, unlike the ratchet rebuild kit that started this thread, if a known issue exists then the company should take care of it regardless of the length of time.

Also I’m kinda shocked how many guys have business with Grainger. Those guys, along with MSCdirect, mark-up to hell every thing they have. We dumped Grainger awhile ago because of their bat-**** crazy prices and banker hours.

Admittedly, I haven’t ordered from every product segment in the Grainger catalog, but most Grainger pricing seems to be “list retail price”, of slightly under, likely with large accounts getting “discounts” applied, either at purchase, based on a contract with Grainger, or with the purchasing company getting a rebate at certain points, based on overall sales amounts using the Grainger account.
Basically, Grainger is set up for commercial accounts, with businesses with their own accounting departments, were it’s easier to account for a rebate or discount on list price, than it is to account for individual discounts on hundreds or thousands of items purchased.
A lot of industrial suppliers work this way.

The main advantage to Grainger, is they have a much eider variety of items than smaller industrial and hardware retailers, and they usually can have the items by the following business day, or they usually have the items proper noted when they can’t guarantee that.

Amazon routinely can’y manage the “two day Prime delivery” for me, and that is despite me living in a major city, with a half dozen close by Amazon warehouses, and an international airport in the city.