Napa stands behind their tools and replaces 30-40 year old New Britiain tools if you manage to break one.
Very true. I've grenaded a few of the New Britain 3/4" drive ratchets and a couple of the pull handles over the years and never had any problem getting any of them warrantied. Years back, when NB was still kicking, some stores kept the repair kits in stock for the ratchets and would just toss you a kit if you toasted one. I've had them bring a repair kit out when delivering parts and then I'd send the busted one back with their driver on his next delivery.
Since the old NB ratchets are no longer supported as far as spare parts are concerned, now they simply give you a new ratchet with Craftsman guts and no quick release button. Not anywhere close to beings as smooth as the old NB ones but you really can't complain. It's a pretty tough ratchet (with an uncomfortable handle) and NAPA is eating the cost of the new tool and honoring the warranty of a tool company that disappeared almost thirty years ago.
Sometimes a younger counter guy won't recognize the "New Britain" name, but as long as there's some old crusty counterman there, you'll get it swapped.
I guess that as the last of the oldtimers retire or die off, the warranty on the New Britain stuff will disappear.
hmmmm, come to think of it, as the last of the old wrench pullers retire or die off, there won't be a need for a warranty since no one will even know that NAPA ever handled New Britain. I guess that it's kind of like the chicken and egg paradox. Pretty deep, huh?
