Made my last Craftsman purchase

[blazerboy72]

So I ordered the 299 pc. Easy read socket set. Well after it finally arrived 2 and a half weeks later it is missing 21 sockets, the chrome looks worse than most of the Taiwan sockets I have seen and the deep wells aren't any deeper than the standard sockets just longer. I called sears to ask for replacements for the missing sockets and they tell me that they can't replace them I have to send the complete set back to them as a return, wait for them to approve it and then pay the current price which is almost $100 more than I payed and then wait another 2-3 weeks for them to send another set. I had heard all of the horror stories but assumed it was just Craftsman haters but now know it is common practice for sears.

 

[e3pres]

Welcome to post-Kmart Sears.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Stay tuned to this site and maybe you can latch onto a nice "Older" set of c-man sockets and the old style ratchets for less $$$??

 

[sjt78]

I'm not sure what is going on as the set I purchased last year (302 piece set) didn't have any of those issues. I did however have to return two large deep well sockets that had the ball detents stamped incorrectly making them not stay on the ratchet. The chrome and depth of the sockets was as expected though. Maybe you got their "new and improved" versions? I don't believe you will have to pay more for the set though, I would call customer service and just say it is missing pieces and you want to exchange for another set.

 

[woody 73]

Welcome to post-Kmart Sears.

Hey K-mart killed themselves,now it's time for them to kill sears...

 

[jkeyser14]

So I ordered the 299 pc. Easy read socket set. Well after it finally arrived 2 and a half weeks later it is missing 21 sockets, the chrome looks worse than most of the Taiwan sockets I have seen and the deep wells aren't any deeper than the standard sockets just longer. I called sears to ask for replacements for the missing sockets and they tell me that they can't replace them I have to send the complete set back to them as a return, wait for them to approve it and then pay the current price which is almost $100 more than I payed and then wait another 2-3 weeks for them to send another set. I had heard all of the horror stories but assumed it was just Craftsman haters but now know it is common practice for sears.

I went through the exact the same thing this winter. Ask to speak to the manager when you call customer service. They made a note on my account that I was to receive the new set for the old price. I did have to cancel and return my messed up order, then call back and talk to a new department to place my new order. I also had to inform the person I ordered from what the situation with the pricing was and they were able to go in and verify the note left by customer service. Good luck.

 

[Skin]

i purchased a set for home use not more than a month ago and had no issues. Chrome was fine, save some roughness and uneven coating deep down on the interior. I've gotten similar quality from SK and quite honestly it doesnt bother me.

Exterior chrome was perfect.


Also had nothing but pleasant experiences with their CSRs over the phone. Very nice and understanding. Not sure if you got an a-hole or what but you should of simply got their name and asked for the manager. I sincerely doubt their policy is to recharge you a higher price, that makes ZERO sense.


Any single sockets you find really bad you can take to a sears and get exchanged on the spot.


The nut stop is intentional and quite common. Its only on the smaller size deep sockets. In use i think you will find no problem with the design.

 

[kythri]

So I ordered the 299 pc. Easy read socket set. Well after it finally arrived 2 and a half weeks later it is missing 21 sockets, the chrome looks worse than most of the Taiwan sockets I have seen and the deep wells aren't any deeper than the standard sockets just longer. I called sears to ask for replacements for the missing sockets and they tell me that they can't replace them I have to send the complete set back to them as a return, wait for them to approve it and then pay the current price which is almost $100 more than I payed and then wait another 2-3 weeks for them to send another set. I had heard all of the horror stories but assumed it was just Craftsman haters but now know it is common practice for sears.

This does not sound like Sears at all. I know people have their horror stories, but this is quite honestly, beyond belief.

Call back, ask for a manager, or call corporate. You can also go to your local store, and ask for the general manager.

Failing that, email this guy:

[email protected]
Steve Light
Senior VP
Tools and Hardware

 

[vette-kid]

I have had similar quality issues with craftsman sockets.

Skin, that bad chrome on the inside may not bother you now, but wait until that socket starts to rust from the inside out! It will bother you then! Its not there just to look pretty, but to protect the socket. Here in Florida with high humidity those sockets wont last long.

 

[fflintstone]

I only ordered tools from sears once. My then girlfriend now wife bought me the complete black oxide 3/8” & ½” impact socket set. I don’t how many pieces total, but it was missing one socket, they just sent the missing socket. That was several years ago thought.
Despite having a huge craftsman set, it sickens me to see all the Chinese craftsman stuff now. I have far less qualms about shopping at harbor freight these days.

 

[jeffk14]

The OP's story sounds very familiar. Many folks have problems dealing with Sears when ordering online. I'll still buy Sears stuff, but only what's in the store where I can "lay my mits on it" before I buy.

It's odd really, since Sears was founded as a mail-order company over a hundred years ago when most everything was bought and sold in local stores. They were way ahead of their time.

 

[Skin]

I have had similar quality issues with craftsman sockets.

Skin, that bad chrome on the inside may not bother you now, but wait until that socket starts to rust from the inside out! It will bother you then! Its not there just to look pretty, but to protect the socket. Here in Florida with high humidity those sockets wont last long.

it depends, i have some older craftsman sockets with the chrome wearing off and they're still perfectly usable. I could of got **** about it but for the $1.01 i paid per socket did i really have a right to? If and when it starts to "rust out" i'll simply take it to a sears. I have 1 near work and 1 near home, both a 5 minute drive.

 

[Jim C.]

Too bad about the Sears customer service. Hopefully you just ran into one knucklehead, and the whole system isn't really screwed up. As for the sockets themselves, I stopped buying them at Sears because I don't like the laser etched versions. They don't match my old stamped sockets that I bought in the 1980s and early 1990s. Now, if I need a socket, I find the old Craftsman stuff at flea markets, usually for less money.

 

[strelnik]

So I ordered the 299 pc. Easy read socket set. Well after it finally arrived 2 and a half weeks later it is missing 21 sockets, the chrome looks worse than most of the Taiwan sockets I have seen and the deep wells aren't any deeper than the standard sockets just longer. I called sears to ask for replacements for the missing sockets and they tell me that they can't replace them I have to send the complete set back to them as a return, wait for them to approve it and then pay the current price which is almost $100 more than I payed and then wait another 2-3 weeks for them to send another set. I had heard all of the horror stories but assumed it was just Craftsman haters but now know it is common practice for sears.

If yhave the ability to make a nYouTube videop, get some young kid to help. Call the video " DON"T BUY ANY CRAFTSMAN TOOLS! Just explain what happen and show the tools.

Within a week, Craftsman will be offering you anything you want, to shut off the video.

If you don't believe me, read the story about "United breaks guitars" about a guy who just wanted his money back from United to fix the guitar they broke. They were mean to him, so he made a YouTube video, it got put on national TV news, even the CEO of United called to apologize and offer him a lot of money to pull the video. His answer was the same answer he had gotten from the United Customer service: " Good luck with that one!"

DO IT! HELP AMERICAN TOOL LOVERS!

 

[jhelrey]

I bought a set... They sent me multiples and a few missing. Some were 6pt, some were 12pt. I just brought it to the store for a simple exchange. They told me to call the 1800 and I said, I am here, just do it.

 

[dankicksass]

Sears shipping times and sometimes their order management frustrate me but I've never had QC issues like that. While I'm sure they'll take care of it, the CS experience you've described seems typical to me; the bottom level CS people have zero authority or knowledge and seem to be there solely to waste your time. I've found the best way to get satisfaction is to take the issue to the manager in my local Sears.

 

[mrholeshot]

I like the You Tube Idea. Have the Stones "I can't get no satisfaction" playing sofly in the background as you tell the story.

 

[Skin]

Too bad about the Sears customer service. Hopefully you just ran into one knucklehead, and the whole system isn't really screwed up. As for the sockets themselves, I stopped buying them at Sears because I don't like the laser etched versions. They don't match my old stamped sockets that I bought in the 1980s and early 1990s. Now, if I need a socket, I find the old Craftsman stuff at flea markets, usually for less money.

They're actually stamped and etched now. It would be pretty cool if they brought back their old stamp style like they offer on those anniversary sets. That old craftsman logo is just sharp looking.

If yhave the ability to make a nYouTube videop, get some young kid to help. Call the video " DON"T BUY ANY CRAFTSMAN TOOLS! Just explain what happen and show the tools.

Within a week, Craftsman will be offering you anything you want, to shut off the video.

If you don't believe me, read the story about "United breaks guitars" about a guy who just wanted his money back from United to fix the guitar they broke. They were mean to him, so he made a YouTube video, it got put on national TV news, even the CEO of United called to apologize and offer him a lot of money to pull the video. His answer was the same answer he had gotten from the United Customer service: " Good luck with that one!"

DO IT! HELP AMERICAN TOOL LOVERS!

I dont know how much thats going to do. Sears doesnt make the sockets or control the facilities they simply contract it out to Apex Danaher. If you're going to target anyone for the embarassing quality decline i'd go for the latter but at the same time i dont think they'll give a damn. Apex is in the business of cheapening and destroying once proud american companies.

 

[dualsub2006]

Danaher is delivering what Sears is willing to pay for. The only company cheapening the Craftsman brand is Sears (Kmart).

 

[Davefr]

I dont know how much thats going to do. Sears doesnt make the sockets or control the facilities they simply contract it out to Apex Danaher.

Sears dictates the price points and margin requirements and then Danaher delivers.

I'm sure Danaher would love to have the Sears buyers relax the price points and increase the quality requirements!!

Manufacturers are capable of delivering whatever quality their customers are willing to pay. Danaher can make Armstrong quality or low end Craftsman - it all boils down to price points.

The typical consumer dictates the low quality standards in retail by demanding price over everything else.

Manufacturers and retailers simply deliver what their consumers want.