Lowes Blows!

[LarryFahn]

I have a 16' Kobalt tape that I bought from them probably about 2 years ago. I liked the magnetic tip since I thread pipes. The tip will hold steady while I measure 5-10' pipes and rods.

Well, the tip broke off and the tape is wound inside. I take it back and I'm told to go grab a new one. But there's none there. I ask the guy if they have any and he tells me that he hasn't seen any kobalt tapes "in months".

On my way back to CS, I look online for "16' Kobalt tape". Boom! There's the same one I have! Lowes.com has them for $11+.

I get to the desk and tell the same person that there's none in stock, but their avaliable online. They tell me I can order one, but I'll have to pay. I tell them to see if they can order it for me and then warrant it. They tell me they can't do that. I asked why and they tell me "it's a different model number....

F' you. It's the same model. I looked it up this morning and it's the same number and everything.

Look closely at my tape and you'll see #412113. The same is on the other attachment.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a good tape with a magnetic tip. Preferably a 16'.
Thanks, Fahn

Ps. The screen shot thumbnail isn't clear at all. Here's a link to lowes. Notice the item number on the bottom of the picture. https://m.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-16-ft-Tape-Measure/4640509

 

[IndyGarage]

You used a tape measure for 2 years, it broke, and you have time to: go to the store and ask for a warranty; look it up online; write a complaint on a message board?

It's an 11 dollar item. Throw it in the trash and move on. Because an $11 item breaks after 2 years and the store doesn't bend over backwards to replace it for free, you want to trash the whole store?

 

[Sco Deac]

Escalate the complaint to the manager and they should make it right. Explain how stupid it would be for you to order it on-line for in-store pick-up; pick up the item; immediately return the item; and then warrant your broken one for the now in-stock replacement.

 

[jakemac]

You used a tape measure for 2 years, it broke, and you have time to: go to the store and ask for a warranty; look it up online; write a complaint on a message board?

It's an 11 dollar item. Throw it in the trash and move on. Because an $11 item breaks after 2 years and the store doesn't bend over backwards to replace it for free, you want to trash the whole store?

Ditto.
Tape measures are disposable. I used to burn through 2 or more Stanleys a year.

 

[shelteredV]

x three here. Jeez man, you got your moneys worth, didn't you?

 

[AndyA]

Even your links shows a 90-day warranty! Quit bitchin and pony up the 12 bucks.

 

[rlitman]

Escalate the complaint to the manager and they should make it right. Explain how stupid it would be for you to order it on-line for in-store pick-up; pick up the item; immediately return the item; and then warrant your broken one for the now in-stock replacement.

+1 Though I doubt the manager will do an order online for you.
I would expect that they would either hand you the next closest tape (in the upgrade direction), or call another local store and see if they've got one and send you there.

Even your links shows a 90-day warranty! Quit bitchin and pony up the 12 bucks.

I'm not sure what's up with that, but every Kobalt tape measure I've owned (I've got probably half a dozen) has come with a lifetime warranty. If you don't want to stand by it, then I see no issues with calling you out on that online.

The **** Craftsman pulled by replacing people's lifetime warranty tapes with ones with 90 day warranties is total BS too.

 

[captain14]

The Kobalt tapes went the same way as the Craftsman and HD. Discontinued and they will honor the warranty with a different brand once.

 

[HanShotFirst]

When I buy at Lowes, Sears, or Home Depot; I just don't count on them honoring their warranty. They make product changes so often, God only knows what you'll get. So I only buy disposable items there, or major brands that warranty their own stuff (like Channellock).

 

[ishiboo]

Even your links shows a 90-day warranty! Quit bitchin and pony up the 12 bucks.

This ^

I have a few of the Milwaukee magnetic tapes and I like them.

 

[LarryFahn]

Even your links shows a 90-day warranty! Quit bitchin and pony up the 12 bucks.

Why pay $12 when it had a lifetime warranty? Would you buy another Snap-on torque wrench if it broke and they didn't give you a new one? $12-$1200, what's the difference? Stand by your product or piss off another customer?

Ive gone there for 20 years, but when they piss you off and won't stand by their warranty, they lose me altogether.

 

[catron44]

I've got a 25 foot fat max that has a magnetic tip and it works great on steel studs. My buddy had a husky one and think that was 25 feet also. The fat max one is removable so if you really want, you can buy the 16 non magnetic and 25 magnetic and move the magnet.

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[LarryFahn]

Escalate the complaint to the manager and they should make it right. Explain how stupid it would be for you to order it on-line for in-store pick-up; pick up the item; immediately return the item; and then warrant your broken one for the now in-stock replacement.

I had already thought about doing this, just because.

 

[ChaseDE]

Would you buy another Snap-on torque wrench if it broke and they didn't give you a new one? $12-$1200, what's the difference?

About $1188 and very good reason to warranty an item. I agree with most, buy a new tape.

 

[vavet]

A warranty is a warranty - the price of the item is immaterial.
I see OP's point.
I've also learned you can't swear off a company or brand because the world is made up of a few megacorporations. You'll end up eating your words.
BTDT, got the tee shirt.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Find a store that has them in stock and problem solved.

 

[bushmechanic]

Tape measures aren't meant to be disposable. The tape itself is meant to be replaced if something goes wrong, and if it's made properly it lasts an exceptionally long time.

I'm shortly going to buy a Milwaukee tape measure, as it's built particularly well. Should last a very long time.

As for the warranty, it depends upon the product. Not all are warranted for life when shopping at Sears, Lowes, or any similar store with house-brand products.

Most of the time, those warranties apply to items with no moving parts, or only cover those parts and major assemblies that do not move.

I actually worked at a Sears Hardware store before the decline; when people still joined the club and still grabbed those catalogs faster than they could be laid out.

Even then, the Sears warranty on Craftsman products did not extend throughout the line. If you wanted it to, you were meant to pay a little more for additional coverage.

It was worth it; rather like the Geek Squad service agreement in Best Buy. If you've got the scratch, it's cost-effective and bulletproof.

Lowes... They've never been known for stellar warranty performance. Now, I've never had an issue with them, but it's not their "big thing". Lowes is happy just to have a store on every corner.

More importantly though...

That tape measure is covered only by their 90-Day Satisfaction Guarantee.

That program is open to interpretation within those 90 days. It's subjective at best, but entirely irrelevant as the tape measure is no longer covered. It is covered under no further Lowes warranty.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Lifetime warranty is usually specifies as limited. Meaning it just covers specified parts, certain types of defects, or other conditions.
Many people don't like it and some retailers will be pretty generous on replacements.
I'm a little surprised that they offered to cover it at all. Did they offer to replace it with a similar tape measure that they did have in stock?
It doesn't surprise me that they won't order one for you.

 

[rlitman]

Why pay $12 when it had a lifetime warranty? Would you buy another Snap-on torque wrench if it broke and they didn't give you a new one? $12-$1200, what's the difference? Stand by your product or piss off another customer?

Ive gone there for 20 years, but when they piss you off and won't stand by their warranty, they lose me altogether.

Just to be clear, Snap On torque wrenches (I have several) do NOT come with lifetime warranties. The only torque wrenches I am aware of that do, are made in Asia (Husky and Pittsburgh).

 

[IndyGarage]

Why pay $12 when it had a lifetime warranty? Would you buy another Snap-on torque wrench if it broke and they didn't give you a new one? $12-$1200, what's the difference? Stand by your product or piss off another customer?

Ive gone there for 20 years, but when they piss you off and won't stand by their warranty, they lose me altogether.

Sorry to say, but if you are a customer that is willing to go to all that trouble over something they might make $2 profit on, then you aren't a customer that they will make money on over time anyway - so they are better off without you. That's my opinion, not theirs.

Life is too short to hold a grudge over an $11 item that you got 2 years worth of use out of. You'd be better off spending the time and energy making more money, so you can cover a few small losses once in awhile.

I don't have any affiliation with Lowes, but generally I'm happy they exist and I can get what I want there conveniently.

 

[Git]

Who said you tape measure had a lifetime warranty or where did you see that?

Here is the link to Lowe's Warranty on Kobalt tools:

https://www.kobalttools.com/guarantee

Tape measures have a "Satisfaction Guarantee" which is 90 days:

SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, simply return the product to the place of purchase within 90 days. We, at our option, will repair it, replace it, or, based on your method of payment with a valid receipt, refund your money.

 

[leg17]

The phrase "Get a life" comes to mind.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I'm cursed with the ability to see all sides of any situation.

SO, I agree with everyone here. Lowes should honor its warranty. It is silly to waste your life worrying over $12. Integrity matters and it doesn't have a minimum dollar value.

SO...all that being said, when it was me (and it was me at Lowes about 6 months ago when they originally refused to honor the extended warranty on my pressure washer) I got everyone's name involved, told the clerk I would be calling back to discuss this with the manager, and then followed through and talked to the manager, gave her time to research the situation and took her gracious offer to pay for repairs to my 1 year old pressure washer with a 3 year (extra cost) extended warranty.

Course that was a $600 deal. Took like 3 hours of my life to work it out that I'll never get back.

Phil

 

[rlitman]

Who said you tape measure had a lifetime warranty or where did you see that?

Here is the link to Lowe's Warranty on Kobalt tools:

https://www.kobalttools.com/guarantee

Tape measures have a "Satisfaction Guarantee" which is 90 days...

Ok, so they changed their policy. That does not absolve them from their obligation to honor their contracts with purchases from an earlier day.

 

[IndyGarage]

Ok, so they changed their policy. That does not absolve them from their obligation to honor their contracts with purchases from an earlier day.

I doubt they had any kind of contract with the purchaser that their tape measure would last the rest of his lifetime, no questions asked.

It probably said something like - "limited lifetime warranty" and in the fine print said "for manufacturing defects found by the original owner".

A tape measure that wears out in 2 years is not covered by that kind of warranty, and no reasonable person would say it was.

Anybody that works with tape measures on a daily basis knows they wear out - and typically that means the spring breaks or the blade breaks somehow. You throw it away and buy a new one. Or if it's a high dollar one you can just buy a new spring or blade and install it - but it's still often easier to buy a new one.

You can sometimes coerce companies into giving you free stuff over warranty, but that's a gift from them, not a right.

 

[SMKS]

When I buy at Lowes, Sears, or Home Depot; I just don't count on them honoring their warranty.

I know people here love to complain about Sears, but they sure seem better about honoring their tool lifetime warranties than HD or Lowes.

At least up until now. The future offers some uncertainty.

 

[Boneebone]

Buy the new one Online, when it comes in, use the receipt and take the old one back.

There's your Warranty.

When the OP bought the item it had a Lifetime Warranty, whether it costs $12 or $1200, it's about principal and for the people who say quit your crying.

If $12 doesn't mean that much to you, than buy the OP a new one and ship it to him.

It should be just a drop in the bucket for you.......right?

He should have a few packages of tape measures waiting for him next week.

 

[Unruh]

I think the point is he bought a tape measure that had a lifetime warranty. If he wanted a tape measure that lasted two years he would have maybe saved a couple bucks and bought a cheaper one. He didn't warranty the tape measure, Lowes did. They should stand behind their word.

 

[Schurkey]

Why pay $12 when it had a lifetime warranty? Would you buy another Snap-on torque wrench if it broke and they didn't give you a new one? $12-$1200, what's the difference? Stand by your product or piss off another customer?

Ive gone there for 20 years, but when they piss you off and won't stand by their warranty, they lose me altogether.

Getting screwed doesn't depend on the dollar value involved. Hell, yes! I'd ***** too.




'Cept I wouldn't have left the store without jacking-up some Managers. Loudly, if required. Either you stand up for yourself, or you wear a doormat on your back. Your choice.

The more people who choose to let Big Business off-the-hook, the more Big Business will try to screw us.

 

[purplezr2]

Ok, so they changed their policy. That does not absolve them from their obligation to honor their contracts with purchases from an earlier day.

Actually if you read the terms of most warranties it implies that they can change the terms at their discretion

 

[LarryFahn]

The phrase "Get a life" comes to mind.

How long is the warranty for?

 

[Teenager with old tools]

Does the tape measure itself say lifetime warranty on it? Otherwise you can't prove it had lifetime compared to their 90 day unless you have original package.

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[Boneebone]

Does the tape measure itself say lifetime warranty on it? Otherwise you can't prove it had lifetime compared to their 90 day unless you have original package.

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They still sell the same one, buy new one, return old one.

It's as simple as that.

Everybody wants to try to analyze if it has this printed on it, how many days he's past his old warranty, is the OP really crying over $12, does it have a picture of a unicorn on it.

The bottom line is Lowe's and many other companies couldn't care less, so you take care of it your own way.

It doesn't take 33 posts to solve a simple problem.

 

[Notgrownup]

90 days is what it looks like to me...Sorry but, It's on you.
I have been pissed off by a few Lowe's employees but turned around ans spoke to the store manager or an assistant manager and they mostly have done me right in the end.
One time they replaced something that I thought was out still warrantied and I later found my receipt and went back in and offered to pay for the new item, they just said, Don't worry about it... I go there a lot and they know me now...I just left there an hour ago with another $150.00 worth in my trailer...

 

[Git]

How long is the warranty for?

Well - after looking at their warranty that is posted online, I would say 90 days.... Can anyone show something different, like where a tape measure is covered under a lifetime warranty?

Let's face it - were talking about a tape measure, how long do you really expect one to last?

 

[Notgrownup]

Well - after looking at their warranty that is posted online, I would say 90 days.... Can anyone show something different, like where a tape measure is covered under a lifetime warranty?

Maybe a different brand has a different warranty but this is for KOBALT warranty ..

 

[Boneebone]

I think it had a 89 day warranty, but only when it rains, but there has to be a rainbow afterwards........and you need to find the pot of gold with the leprechaun too.

 

[6PTsocket]

The Kobalt tapes went the same way as the Craftsman and HD. Discontinued and they will honor the warranty with a different brand once.

I recently started a similar thread about my Lifetime Husky headlamp. Lifetime =FOREVER. The first HD said since it was discontinued and they owed me nothing. That was after I told them that Husky was a HD house brand. That was news to them. There is another HD that is ridiculously close to that one. This time I went to the headlamps, found the only Husky they still carry, brought it up to CS, pointed to "Forever" on the new one. We danced around a bit but she finally scanned the new one and wished me a nice day. They use the warranty as a selling point, knowing full well that most people won't bother. They can damn well afford to make good on it occassionally. I would not criticize anyone for asking for what they are entitled to. It has nothing to do with whether they used it a lot or a little. Forever is forever and if it is discontinued it should be replaced with the closeset item they have. If it had no warranty or a very limited one, it would not create the hard feelings that giving you a hard time over a lifetime warratnty creates. I don't know how much is ignorance and how much is intentionally making it difficult so you will just give up and go away. They know that HD probably p....s off as many people as Lowes so it is a wash. That is it for big box stores around here. You have to go some place.

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[Fender1325]

Haha this thread is funny. I will say in OP's defense Lowe's does ****. I've had several instances that say they have stuff in stock only for it not to be in stock. Kobalt tools **** anyways. Go to home Depot and buy a real brand (yeah they're all Chinese I know but still, anything is better than kobalt IMO)

 

[Beags86]

I would have never guessed a tape measure had a warranty of any sort. Since they are basically throw away items. But, then again I never would have wasted 12 bucks on one that said "kobalt" on it.
You get what you pay for.

Kind of buying tools at harbor freight, great, a lifetime warranty.
Which just means I'll spend a lifetime of Saturdays exchanging tools.