Genius Tools

[_brian_]

I don't play the "authorized retailer" game for hand tools. Warranty it or don't, I don't play games. IDGAF if it's from Koken USA, or Koken Japan. It says "Koken" on the side, you're the authorized rep in this market, handle it. That's like saying if you go to the dealer for a warranty on a previous repair, it doesn't apply because the tech that did the work doesn't work there anymore. I don't care how they run the books, split markets, the tool in question is $40 retail, ******* fix it.

I have a 28x70 socket drawer, plus my cart with like 200 sockets, and another 2 drawers. I don't have time for receipt scanning. Stuff breaks, if the warranty is defects only it aught to make it a couple months. After that it's on me to replace.

If a truck driver refused to warranty stuff I bought from them, despite it being in their franchise agreement, LOL at me buying anything. Yes, I know they need to float the warranty cost, and are out the time to do so. Doing a rotted out exhaust manifold and every single manifold stud snaps coming out? ***** to be me. It's in the game.

Wow, not sure how to interpret your post here. I agree that there should not be a game of authorized retailer and need of receipt. But are you stating that you would demand they warranty it, or that you would just forego the warranty?

It is my opinion that if you have a warranty on your product, you warranty it, period. Sort of like the old Craftsman warranty for those who know. I do not agree with warranties that requires the user to do this and that, that really is not a warranty to me, but a warranty with conditions that make it easy to not actually honor it, making the warranty statement misleading. Some brands have recently changed this behaviour, which is nice to see. I am also personally trying to change mine, the way I see warranty and its role in the purchase decision.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Wow, not sure how to interpret your post here. I agree that there should not be a game of authorized retailer and need of receipt. But are you stating that you would demand they warranty it, or that you would just forego the warranty?

It is my opinion that if you have a warranty on your product, you warranty it, period. Sort of like the old Craftsman warranty for those who know. I do not agree with warranties that requires the user to do this and that, that really is not a warranty to me, but a warranty with conditions that make it easy to not actually honor it, making the warranty statement misleading. Some brands have recently changed this behaviour, which is nice to see. I am also personally trying to change mine, the way I see warranty and its role in the purchase decision.

I can't force anyone to warranty anything.

With Koken, for the cost, I just consider them consumables. That's really what their warranty is. Unless it breaks instantly or arrives broken, they're not replacing it. With "authorized retailer" games that's just "no warranty". My stuff is broken, it's not fixed, no warranty. Worn out things are the grey area. I'm okay with no warranty. But when I have a cracked socket don't tell me I bought it from the wrong place otherwise it'd be warranty/goodwill. That's what Koken told me on a broken socket. I figured a cracked socket was a no-brainer, especially when the other sockets treated the same way were fine. I think that's ********, but I'll still buy koken. I wouldn't buy it for something one is expecting to work hard and break/wear out. Their nutgrip and zeal stuff is awesome, so I buy that. I broke numerous 1/4 drive wobble-fix extensions. I use SK and snap on mostly now, retired the koken.


For snap on and the similar, for their cost, of like $40 per socket? I'm a nice guy, but I'd probably tell the dealer to ******* blow me and never do business with them again. They sell service, and that's what I paid for. I'm not going to spend -literally- a couple grand a year to get hassled over a cracked socket. If it's back order, discontinued, not in stock - no problem, I understand that. But I'm not buying a tool box from the guy who won't warranty my socket that's cracked. Because when that box needs slides, and it will, what's he gonna do then? Some specific items are consumables, like files for instance. But when the air-hammer bit says LIFETIME WARRANTY on the page in the catalog or on their site, I expect my air hammer bit. Otherwise I'd buy it myself in bulk and self warranty for less money. So yes, with something like Snap-on, I would be done with the driver/franchise if I didn't get my socket fixed.

I swore off cornwell tools and their driver over a $1.90 spring for an oil filter claw. Just the little spring which helps the tool close, it was just a Lisle rebrand. Broke the FIRST use on a filter, the dealer hadn't even left the lot. Went out, got hassled, fine I'll buy the spring. Which failed later that week. Never bought another thing again.



I'm with you, I don't jump through hoops. Do a tekton level warranty, snap a pic and drop ship, or say no warranty. The latter I'm 100% fine with BTW. What I don't like is being told it has a warranty..... if you bought it from place X, not place Y...... oh but cracking isn't covered.....oh well cracking is covered, but this 60 HRC getting wallowed out from hand tool use is miss-use by the user....... oh you just need to mail it to us, and in 6-8 weeks we'll have either lost it or sent you a new one. I waited a calendar year for a gearwrench swivel socket once. I don't bother anymore. Warranty is a tricky subject. For me it's become a sliding scale based on expectations, price, and "image" or presentation of the warranty.

 

[bb29510]

on craftsman warranty, its not worth it to spend seven dollar in gas to argue with a pimple face kid that a thirty year socket is under warranty, now it has to be the same stock number and receipt. Hell thirty years ago this store was a wooden lot. so now when I break a craftsman, its whether i can ring the trash can from where Im sitting. Beside all the replacements are china made

 

[2ndGearRubber]

on craftsman warranty, its not worth it to spend seven dollar in gas to argue with a pimple face kid that a thirty year socket is under warranty, now it has to be the same stock number and receipt. Hell thirty years ago this store was a wooden lot. so now when I break a craftsman, its whether i can ring the trash can from where Im sitting. Beside all the replacements are china made

Cost vs hassle vs downtime.

 

[_brian_]

I can't force anyone to warranty anything.

With Koken, for the cost, I just consider them consumables. That's really what their warranty is. Unless it breaks instantly or arrives broken, they're not replacing it. With "authorized retailer" games that's just "no warranty". My stuff is broken, it's not fixed, no warranty. Worn out things are the grey area. I'm okay with no warranty. But when I have a cracked socket don't tell me I bought it from the wrong place otherwise it'd be warranty/goodwill. That's what Koken told me on a broken socket. I figured a cracked socket was a no-brainer, especially when the other sockets treated the same way were fine. I think that's ********, but I'll still buy koken. I wouldn't buy it for something one is expecting to work hard and break/wear out. Their nutgrip and zeal stuff is awesome, so I buy that. I broke numerous 1/4 drive wobble-fix extensions. I use SK and snap on mostly now, retired the koken.


For snap on and the similar, for their cost, of like $40 per socket? I'm a nice guy, but I'd probably tell the dealer to ******* blow me and never do business with them again. They sell service, and that's what I paid for. I'm not going to spend -literally- a couple grand a year to get hassled over a cracked socket. If it's back order, discontinued, not in stock - no problem, I understand that. But I'm not buying a tool box from the guy who won't warranty my socket that's cracked. Because when that box needs slides, and it will, what's he gonna do then? Some specific items are consumables, like files for instance. But when the air-hammer bit says LIFETIME WARRANTY on the page in the catalog or on their site, I expect my air hammer bit. Otherwise I'd buy it myself in bulk and self warranty for less money. So yes, with something like Snap-on, I would be done with the driver/franchise if I didn't get my socket fixed.

I swore off cornwell tools and their driver over a $1.90 spring for an oil filter claw. Just the little spring which helps the tool close, it was just a Lisle rebrand. Broke the FIRST use on a filter, the dealer hadn't even left the lot. Went out, got hassled, fine I'll buy the spring. Which failed later that week. Never bought another thing again.



I'm with you, I don't jump through hoops. Do a tekton level warranty, snap a pic and drop ship, or say no warranty. The latter I'm 100% fine with BTW. What I don't like is being told it has a warranty..... if you bought it from place X, not place Y...... oh but cracking isn't covered.....oh well cracking is covered, but this 60 HRC getting wallowed out from hand tool use is miss-use by the user....... oh you just need to mail it to us, and in 6-8 weeks we'll have either lost it or sent you a new one. I waited a calendar year for a gearwrench swivel socket once. I don't bother anymore. Warranty is a tricky subject. For me it's become a sliding scale based on expectations, price, and "image" or presentation of the warranty.

Ok, I see your points now. 100% agree and well said.

 

[_brian_]

on craftsman warranty, its not worth it to spend seven dollar in gas to argue with a pimple face kid that a thirty year socket is under warranty, now it has to be the same stock number and receipt. Hell thirty years ago this store was a wooden lot. so now when I break a craftsman, its whether i can ring the trash can from where Im sitting. Beside all the replacements are china made

I have not experienced those problems with Craftsman tools, so I cannot really comment. I had the few I have broken replaced without any sort of issue or argument. As always though, every person has a different experience, as we deal with people who all act and respond in different ways.

I have some of the Sears China Craftsman tools and have no issues with them. I have a 21mm wrench, 42938, that is sitting on my kitchen counter currently. Bullet proof wrench, but is China made. Stands up to all just the same as my USA Craftsman wrenches. I have 3 sets of 10-20 and a more complete set of 6 to 32.

EDIT: I will say that I would not trade even the Sears China Craftsman wrenches for much, they are solid. I have not experienced any of the SB&D Craftsman wrenches, so I cannot speak to those. I get that many dislike the feel of the RP wrench, however the feel does not bother me at all. I am happy with the beating I can place on them with double wrenches, hammers, wrench extenders, etc and they just never break or round off a fastener. For me, they are the perfect wrench. I have similar experience with their sockets. However, it stops clear when it comes to the ratchets and extensions, and anything with a moving part. Those Sears China tools are subpar. Yes, even the detent ball is a moving part and it fails.

 

[bb29510]

my problem with the craftman sockets, i finally got some large print laser etch. and I still cant find the 14mm

 

[neo_]

Stay away from Genius Tools If you care about warranty. We recently loaded out a toolbox with Genius Tools sockets at the shop. We use sockets very frequently and scrap the worn out ones from normal wear & tear. We had a larger Genius Tools socket crack upon first initial use, clear defect. It was only 90 days since purchase but no biggie I thought, it has a lifetime warranty.

I sent Genius Tools an email with a photo and a week later they answered. I was given an RMA number and an address to ship to. No prepaid label. It would cost me more in shipping fees than the cost of the socket. I threw the socket in the scrap metal bin and ordered from Sunex a replacement. Learned a lesson to only to stick to Tekton & Sunex for high quality Taiwanese sockets. Live and learn, now we don't even consider purchasing Genius Tools. Just about every tool brand advertises "Lifetime Warranty" in bold on their packaging, however only a few actually abide by it. Other guys at the shop had positive experiences with Astro & GearWrench as well in regards to to Taiwanese sockets.

P.S. I inspected the cracked Genius socket and it had irregular wall thickness. Broaching quality was also poor.

 

[KnurledNut]

Stay away from Genius Tools If you care about warranty. We recently loaded out a toolbox with Genius Tools sockets at the shop. We use sockets very frequently and scrap the worn out ones from normal wear & tear. We had a larger Genius Tools socket crack upon first initial use, clear defect. It was only 90 days since purchase but no biggie I thought, it has a lifetime warranty.

I sent Genius Tools an email with a photo and a week later they answered. I was given an RMA number and an address to ship to. No prepaid label. It would cost me more in shipping fees than the cost of the socket. I threw the socket in the scrap metal bin and ordered from Sunex a replacement. Learned a lesson to only to stick to Tekton & Sunex for high quality Taiwanese sockets. Live and learn, now we don't even consider purchasing Genius Tools. Just about every tool brand advertises "Lifetime Warranty" in bold on their packaging, however only a few actually abide by it. Other guys at the shop had positive experiences with Astro & GearWrench as well in regards to to Taiwanese sockets.

P.S. I inspected the cracked Genius socket and it had irregular wall thickness. Broaching quality was also poor.

Their warranty policy is clearly stated on their website.
Unless I'm missing something, they followed it.
Its not a great warranty, but is still better than some out there, and they did reply.
I do feel they could have offered a better resolution in your case of a clear manufacturing defect.
I can appreciate your sentiments.
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I contacted their US office via phone last year about a product question and quickly talked to a rep and he sent info via email. Professional and prompt.
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Here is their RMA Request form if any future readers need it:
https://www.geniustoolsusa.com/submitrma

 

[Garcky]

I'm 77 years old. I've worked as a pro in shops and on my own at home. I can count all of the tools I've broken or that have failed on the fingers of one hand. I've never returned a broken tool for a warranty replacement. Two reasons: If it broke because I used it inappropriately, that's on me. If it broke because it was not a good tool, I don't want another one like it anyhow.

My tools don't break, generally. So, warranties have rarely been any sort of issue at all. And I've owned all sorts of tool brands, domestic and imported. I just don't break tools very often.

 

[dnschmidt]

Here is how I view hand tool warrantees. THERE AREN'T ANY. If something breaks that shouldn't, meaning I didn't do anything cave man to it. I simply don't buy that brand of tool again. Why get an ulcer over cheap ****. Isn't worth it.

 

[Etchase]

I had an 15 or so year old 84 tooth imported Craftsman ratchet, and the switch broke off internally somehow. Seemed like a defect in the very inexpensive part that probably has a 1 in 100,000 failure rate. This was bought at Sears, and produced by Apex I assume. Went to Lowe’s and replaced it with a Stanley supplied ratchet in 10 minutes. I did it just to try, and was my first warrantied tool. I’m afraid to return some 40 year old Snap-On stuff for flaking chrome.