Neat HF customer service experience.

[King Bojack]

Ok, so I bought the Cen-Tech DMM (model p37772) and accidentally left it in my car and the FL heat trashed the screen. Well, took it back and since it's now on sale they actually refunded me the difference between what I paid for it. So I got a new meter and an extra five bucks. Not too shabby service. They were friendly about the return too.

 

[domain]

Sounds good. They have a pretty easy/no hassle return policy from what I can tell.

 

[spazzer]

I've had pretty good experiences with HF and customer service as well. I was looking for some replacement batteries for a dead battery pack of mine, and there were some clearance battery packs that were really cheap on the shelf. The girl behind the counter actually let me open the battery pack up to see if the batteries were the same size as I needed (a 2/3 or 3/4 sub-c, can't remember now).

 

[JohnFreeman]

They should have plenty of practice with returns....

 

[Gpgtp]

They should have plenty of practice with returns....

Likely the same amount as any truck brand, and less than craftsman

 

[honcho]

Yesterday I actually had a very negative HF customer service experience. I attempted to exchange a broken set of "Lifetime Warranty" socket adapters. Not an expensive item, I think I paid $3 for the set originally. I don't live near a HF store so I generally go when I visit Alabama. Apparently, HF now requires a receipt for returns and if they don't have the EXACT item with the same UPC bar code then they only give the lowest price sold as credit. They offered me 37 cents credit toward a replacement. No thank you. It may be good for their bottom line. Plus, they print receipts on Thermal paper that fades. You have to photocopy your receipts if you want them to last. Anyway, the warranty is now totally worthless and I will have to face the fact that HF tools are the throwaway items that they are.

 

[fatboyf150]

Yesterday I actually had a very negative HF customer service experience. I attempted to exchange a broken set of "Lifetime Warranty" socket adapters. Not an expensive item, I think I paid $3 for the set originally. I don't live near a HF store so I generally go when I visit Alabama. Apparently, HF now requires a receipt for returns and if they don't have the EXACT item with the same UPC bar code then they only give the lowest price sold as credit. They offered me 37 cents credit toward a replacement. No thank you. It may be good for their bottom line. Plus, they print receipts on Thermal paper that fades. You have to photocopy your receipts if you want them to last. Anyway, the warranty is now totally worthless and I will have to face the fact that HF tools are the throwaway items that they are.

The return policy has always been that you must have your receipt. It's just now enforced. The reason behind it is that we are getting so many people reselling HFT tools and their customers are comming back to the store for the replacement. It's not our place to warranty something that we didn't sell to the end user. Keep up with your receipts and you will be taken care of.

 

[KenC]

The return policy has always been that you must have your receipt. It's just now enforced. The reason behind it is that we are getting so many people reselling HFT tools and their customers are comming back to the store for the replacement. It's not our place to warranty something that we didn't sell to the end user. Keep up with your receipts and you will be taken care of.

That depends on the definition of 'lifetime warranty'.

It can be the purchaser's lifetime or the tool's lifetime. Don't think it could be construed as the 'lifetime of the original owner's possession'. If HF wants to do that, then the terms should be CLEARLY spelled out in the printed matter pertaining to the warranty.

 

[diesel research]

Do they even honor a photocopied receipt? Doubt anyone does

 

[domain]

Do they even honor a photocopied receipt? Doubt anyone does

Highly doubt it IMO. Every return policy I have seen states clearly "Must Present ORIGINAL Receipt." Which totally ***** when the original fades away from just being in a envelope.

 

[pipsters]

Take your money to Sears like I do for no hassle warranties. Not that I really ever have to use it much, if I break something its generally my fault.

 

[chevy_cowboy]

requiring a receipt for supposed lifetime tool warranty is ridiculous. Can you imagine the stack of receipts (all blank after a few months) you'd have after a lifetime of buying tools? Most of us probably often buy 1 or 2 tools at a time, not huge sets, so it'd be hundreds if not thousands of receipts to keep track of. Thats a pretty worthless warranty IMO.

 

[WVBrady]

Do they even honor a photocopied receipt? Doubt anyone does

The local Advance Auto store advised me to make a photcopy. I staple it to the original, although it is usually faded out, even if I keep it in a file cabinet.

 

[omr]

a receipt for a life time warranty tool is ridiculous but the fact that they know the receipt fades and they require the receipt kind of seems like fraud to me , class action lawsuit any one ? lol

ok im kidding about the lawsuit but the fading receipt has bitten me in the *** more than once at local auto parts stores , funny how my purchase never seems to be in the computer when i need to warranty some thing ..

 

[Danglerb]

So just keep "a receipt" the more faded the better and use it for all your returns.

Core of the problem is going to be one common to a bunch of stores, inventory changes, and on many items they aren't going to have a replacement tool in stock. When that happens you either get screwed, a fair deal, or a step up, but I expect you will much more than pay for what you get.

 

[knotheads]

Ok, so I bought the Cen-Tech DMM (model p37772) and accidentally left it in my car and the FL heat trashed the screen. Well, took it back and since it's now on sale they actually refunded me the difference between what I paid for it. So I got a new meter and an extra five bucks. Not too shabby service. They were friendly about the return too.

lol they are still 3 dollars ahead!

 

[TheGrooveking]

requiring a receipt for supposed lifetime tool warranty is ridiculous. Can you imagine the stack of receipts (all blank after a few months) you'd have after a lifetime of buying tools? Most of us probably often buy 1 or 2 tools at a time, not huge sets, so it'd be hundreds if not thousands of receipts to keep track of. Thats a pretty worthless warranty IMO.

I agree, I had a local Matco guy not warranty 8 Compothane dead blow hammers I bought from my Matco guy back in 1982/83. These were kept at home and have seen very little use and all are turning white and cracking. His comment was it doesn't say Matco on it, yet these were from before Matco had private labeled deadblow hammers. So guess what I'll replace them with Snap On, all because I didn't save the receipts for 28/29 years which I had piles of them from doing the weekly tool buy/payment for years.

TheGrooveking