Never again Sears

[Sanny81]

I don't know what Sears some of you go to that have such a hard time but the ones around me are really good with exchanges. Ive brought in busted hand tools a few times and got them swapped out no questions asked...and one time the part numbers didn't even match (snap ring pliers) and I still got them swapped. Hell a coworker just brought a pile of old, worn out Craftsman punches in to a local Sears and they gave him a brand new punch and chisel set.

 

[gdocktor3]

Made by Ryobi

Ryobi, Craftsman, Milwaukee, Ridgid are made by Techtronic Industries in Hong Kong. Some Ridgid and Craftsman are also made by Emerson. My mistake I was thinking of Dewalt, not Craftsman, which is made by Stanley Black & Decker.

http://www.ttigroup.com/en/our_brands/

 

[Wamsutta]

These tool warranty complaint threads always seem to have one common denominator: a lost receipt.

 

[Fender1325]

Called to check on the status of the warranty claim. I give them the claim number I was told. "I dont have anything linked to that claim number sir" We go through address. Then I was told the drill is being shipped back to the store. ????? What? I was told I would get a gift card to reimburse. "Sorry sir I dont have any more information, I could connect you to the repair department" Okay, as long as they know exactly whats going on. I wait, get connected "Oh you need customer service department, one moment while I transfer you"..............."Call cannot be transferred, please hang up and try again" ........"All of our representatives are busy"

Classic

 

[Fender1325]

Next "representative".......Yes we received your drill and you should be emailed a gift card in 3 days. Okay. Why would the guy tell me the drill is being shipped to the store? Idiots. Never again Sears.

 

[gdocktor3]

YAHHH! YAHHH! GIDDY UP!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Would You be crazy to not use Your "Shop Your Way" award points?

Maybe not

I know a few places that have earned My "No F...en Way" award points.

I will not trade My sanity or money for a cheap anything warranty.

 

[3TV]

I've been using less and less Craftsman tools as time goes by. 30 years ago I used to have a Craftsman toolbox and almost all Craftsman tools. But now I've only got two Craftsman tools in my toolbox, a flex head 3/8" ratchet that I have had for 22 years, and it is still my favorite ratchet, and a single 18mm combination wrench that I bought a few years back when I needed two 18mm open end wrenches at the same time to complete a job.

... until Saturday, when I bought another $80 worth of Craftsman "tools". I bought their socket holders, which do a good job of keeping my Matco sockets in line. Here's a picture, with black socket holders for metric sockets, and grey socket holders for standard sockets. You can even see the Craftsman flex head ratchet, right up front center.

 

[gdocktor3]

What happened to the 30 years worth of Craftsman sockets and extensions 3TV? I did the opposite as you. Upgraded the ratchets and kept most of the Cman sockets and extensions.

 

[3TV]

I had my entire tool collection stolen when I was in college and had to keep it in a storage unit. I went for the better part of 12 years with the bare minimum of a tools collection, with mostly Harbor Freight and a few remaining Craftsman tools. It wasn't until about 20 years ago that I started rebuilding my tools again, and with another major push to finish it off just in the last year. I've also had two sons grow up in that time period, and they each inherited tool sets, that were replaced with new tools. Right now, most tools are Matco, but with a fair number of Milwaukee, Crescent, Channel Lock, Rigid, and Dewalt tools thrown in. All electric tools (drills, saws, etc,) are Dewalt. There are still a few Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh) tools in the toolbox (mostly the big wrenches, like 32 mm and 1 1/4", etc.).

 

[ez-duzit]

...I'm emailed a prepaid shipping label. Of course my printer doesnt work...

And this is somehow Sears' fault?

 

[drink]

I don't know what Sears some of you go to that have such a hard time but the ones around me are really good with exchanges. Ive brought in busted hand tools a few times and got them swapped out no questions asked...and one time the part numbers didn't even match (snap ring pliers) and I still got them swapped. Hell a coworker just brought a pile of old, worn out Craftsman punches in to a local Sears and they gave him a brand new punch and chisel set.

I've been shopping at Sears as needed all my life. As a matter of fact I bought some stuff at Sears earlier today.

 

[gdocktor3]

I had my entire tool collection stolen when I was in college and had to keep it in a storage unit. I went for the better part of 12 years with the bare minimum of a tools collection, with mostly Harbor Freight and a few remaining Craftsman tools. It wasn't until about 20 years ago that I started rebuilding my tools again, and with another major push to finish it off just in the last year. I've also had two sons grow up in that time period, and they each inherited tool sets, that were replaced with new tools. Right now, most tools are Matco, but with a fair number of Milwaukee, Crescent, Channel Lock, Rigid, and Dewalt tools thrown in. All electric tools (drills, saws, etc,) are Dewalt. There are still a few Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh) tools in the toolbox (mostly the big wrenches, like 32 mm and 1 1/4", etc.).

Harbor Freight was around 20 years ago? I had no idea. I thought it was a new thing within the last 10 years.

 

[Fender1325]

And this is somehow Sears' fault?

Of course not you shmuck. It just added fuel to the fire

 

[LB-1911]

Harbor Freight was around 20 years ago? I had no idea. I thought it was a new thing within the last 10 years.

In 1977, at age 17, Eric and his father started Harbor Freight in a small building in North Hollywood, California. Originally known as Harbor Freight Salvage, the company began as a mail-order tool business.

http://www.harborfreight.com/about-us/eric-smidt-bio.html

 

[Greg85mcss]

This really depends if it's a repair or replacement plan. When I was working there I was always very clear about the way those plans work. Repair is what it is. Replacement process is much easier if the manager calls to initiate & they usually don't ask for the item to be returned. Under the right circumstances (usually a polite customer) I would override the system & they would be walking out with a replacement. The receipt is required for them to do anything. As annoying as the syw card is it makes these things much easier. I had no inclination to help people without receipts though. They waste a ridiculous amount of time dealing with dishonest people trying to get something for nothing. I'm not saying that management isn't running the company into the ground but the typical customers are digging the hole that company will be buried in. In the op's defense they sell a drill bit specifically for starting their trimmers so abuse isn't an issue here.


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[SignalZero]

I had a great experience with a floor jack that was leaking. There was a 1 year warranty on the jack, but I couldn't find the receipt. I took it back to the Sears Essentials where I had purchased it in the evening. The employees there couldn't find the receipt in their records, but said they had another employee who handled a lot of their warranty/service stuff and was very knowledgeable about their C-man line. He worked 8-5 and was going to be in the next day, so I left the jack with my information. They called me back the next day; the guy they were waiting on ran the date codes and said the jack was about a year old and it was possible it sat on the shelf for a little while and I purchased it less than a year prior, so I could come down and pick-up a new replacement.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I worked at Sear while going through college. It is down right spooky to walk into what used to be one of the top 10 Sears stores in the US and see more sales people than customers !

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Harbor Freight was around 20 years ago? I had no idea. I thought it was a new thing within the last 10 years.

About 25 years you could get Pittsburgh tools through the JC Whitney/Warshawsky catalog.

 

[15til3]

I've never had an issue with sears and their backing of craftsman products. Growing up my Dad used to take me to garage sales/flea markets where we would buy beat up craftsman tools and return them for new ones. I still occasionally do this and have little to no issues.

 

[Brownsfan]

I worked at Sear while going through college. It is down right spooky to walk into what used to be one of the top 10 Sears stores in the US and see more sales people than customers !

What store is that? I used to frequent SE MI for work and stopped at many a sears while there.

 

[Fender1325]

Now I find a dewalt combo I want at sears online. Sears wants almost 30 dollars more for the same exact item compared to other stores online. I ask if they'll price match, and I'm told no because the online store (jbtoolsales.com) doesnt have a physical store.

I said thats fine. I would like my reimbursement in cash rather than gift card so I can shop elsewhere, as I'm not going to spend $30 more on the exact same thing. I'm told they cant do that.

What a crock of ****.

 

[Super Sport]

Again, bitching about things that you have no good reason to ***** about. The gift card refund was part of the agreement when you bought the warranty. It is what it is. As for price matching an online retailer, nobody does that, and it's clearly spelled out in Sears price match policy.

What you can do is use a coupon on that Dewalt set, or wait until Sears has it on sale. Many times I have purchased items from Sears with a coupon or sale that beat out the price of everyone else, online included.

 

[jallyn]

Like some others have stated, I never buy extended warranties. They are extremely profitable to the company selling them. So when I buy something I own it and depend on no one and no process to take care of my belongings. If a product comes with a good warranty, that is a bonus, but I never pay for additional coverage. I take care of my tools and my tools take care of me. Don't have to worry about small print, delay in repair or replacement. Works for me and I take better care of my things this way.

 

[Fender1325]

No good reason. Right.

Ordering from sears, shipping, tax and all puts the dewalt at $300.

Ordering from jbtools, shipping tax and all puts the dewalt at $239.99.

I'll ***** all I want about Sears. How about the 64 calls to india it took just to get the ****** warranty to actually happen? I'm not waiting for a ******* coupon to magically float in. I need a drill.

Moderators end this thread. I dont need any more input from couch dwellers.

 

[franzdom]

I can't wait for Sears to die and take threads like this with it.

 

[finn]

Life's tough...and then you die.

 

[Corndoggeh]

In 1977, at age 17, Eric and his father started Harbor Freight in a small building in North Hollywood, California. Originally known as Harbor Freight Salvage, the company began as a mail-order tool business.

http://www.harborfreight.com/about-us/eric-smidt-bio.html

Plus, I found a set of HF extensions from I think late 1980's by how the box was packaged and the nice 80's style pictures on the front and they looked like something the Chinese worker sh*t out and chromed it by tossing a bucket of solution on it and putting two leads on the puddle with the tools in the center.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I can't wait for Sears to die and take threads like this with it.

Sears nostalgia will set in after a few months.

 

[Fender1325]

Just went to the store and bought the dewalt impact and drill kit. One of the lower end ones but I just wanted to be done with it.

I had to laugh at my last trip to sears. The salesmen were standing around the computer.

"I guess I'll just stop caring ya know?"

"Ya might as well Frank, nobody else does."

They went on to talk about how the store was robbed lastnight.

Meanwhile, while checking out "We do offer an extended warranty on this for $30"

"NO! Thankyou"

 

[franzdom]

What? No extended warranty? You should ALWAYS buy the extended warranty

 

[drink]

I still shop at Sears and I find some really good sales also.

 

[CJM8515]

See the thing about HF that no ones mentions is they learned. They improved and while they arent the best tools in some cases, they carry a wide selection at decent prices. Sears did the total opposite, they removed anything worthwhile from the store and basically had some tools, lawn and garden and in some places an auto center staffed by mostly awful techs. Walmart is what sears should be and what it once was. When i was a kid sears sold everything imaginable (Im only 31!). For the last 20 years they havent sold really anything. Then Kmart did the same thing and again walmart killed them. The home centers killed them by having all sorts of lawn and garden equipment with 10x the selection sears ever had. Hell sears used to sell guns for crying out loud! Not anymore!

Depending on the location they have more or less stuff as well. But what struck me as awfully odd about sears-in every case in a low income area the store had all kinds of stuff the other stores in more affluent areas didnt. Ill never understand that.

Where I live sears had 2 complete floors and honestly was never really busy unless it was black friday or another such holiday. They stopped renting the upper floor and only have the lower floor now with less than they had even before. Think about it, wtf do you really buy at sears? I never shopped for clothes or shoes there, maybe tools and maybe lawn and garden stuff. I never bought electronics, bedding, whatever.

 

[garthg]

I never rely on warranties, especially for something as cheap as a drill. If I can't fix it, it goes in the trash. Besides, I still have my Black and Decker from 1974. The thing is all metal, except for the back half of the handle, and still works perfectly. My Makita cordless from the early 1990's is also still going strong (with newer batteries).

 

[jblnut]

It may not be an option where you live but almost all my hand tools and most of my power tools have been purchased second hand at farm auctions. I know they've been beaten but the previous owners usually took care of them, if that makes sense. Gotten dirty but put away clean and dry sort of deal. PLUS most of the tools you find at auctions have been around a LONG time so they're still made of real metal. I purchased an old blue label SkillSaw Model 77 worm drive saw last weekend for $10. There is more actual metal in this one saw then there is in a dozen brand new ones. It is solid and cuts like a champ.

Extended warranties are a waste of money plain and simple.

 

[themiller]

Got a great 1/2 plunge router kit today from Sears. $80, two bases, two collets, variable speed, case, the whole nine yards. They've been dying for over 15 years, but I've sure picked up a lot of great tools during that time.

I've got quite a few old power tools (all metal) but hardly use them. The new tools are lighter and have more features. I have yet to have a new tool fail, but have fixed plenty of old tool switches and cords. Old power tools sure are neat to look at though.

 

[tarbellb]

Got a great 1/2 plunge router kit today from Sears. $80, two bases, two collets, variable speed, case, the whole nine yards. They've been dying for over 15 years, but I've sure picked up a lot of great tools during that time.

I've got quite a few old power tools (all metal) but hardly use them. The new tools are lighter and have more features. I have yet to have a new tool fail, but have fixed plenty of old tool switches and cords. Old power tools sure are neat to look at though.

Is it Craftsman brand? If so, oh boy be ready for a real POS. A fellow coworker brought his personal Craftsman router and router table into the shop for us to use about a month ago.

Pure ****, from top to bottom. Everything is plastic or pot metal basically. The fence is going to either brake from plastic handles press fit into 1/4" bolts or the bolt ripping through the fiber board base. The depth adjustment on the router is grinding the gears right out of the box.

Its truly a piece of ****, so bad its dangerous to use.

Hope thats not the model you got....

 

[Rileysan]

To the OP, I wholeheartedly agree - no more Craftsman brand power tools (at least the modern, made-in-China versions).

Hmm, sounds exactly like the warranty process for every other power tool on the market.

I didn't look to see if anyone else responded to this, so I'll add my 2 cents without checking.

Depending on your city, you may have a service center (or approved service & repair business) that you can take your power tools directly to. In Portland, I am aware of Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Sears service centers that will inspect, repair, or replace tools on the spot. It's worth asking where the closest Sears service center is located.

Brian

 

[10% OFF]

I AGREE W/Finky198 except (that in my opinion) I'll never buy anything again from Sears. That pretty much goes for Sears product re-sellers (such as: K-Mart, & Ace Hardware Stores amongst others).
Sears (and it's parent company K-Mart) management have taken a once proud American retailing behemoth from the absolute pinnacle of success to pretty much the bottom of the retail barrel so-to-speak.
I understand the fact that over time we have exchanged quality & cost. Sears used to portray both satisfactorily, but alas has gone awry. Why would anyone buy tools from Sears when Harbor Freight stores sell the same quality China made **** at about 1/3 the cost. On top of this, they don't balk on the warranty... present the busted item in store (regardless of whether it was an in-store or on-line purchase), with receipt in any form & you are on your way in moments.
As far as I'm concerned, Sears (& Craftsman as their flagship brand) can fold their tent.

 

[gdocktor3]

I need a drill.

Moderators end this thread. I dont need any more input from couch dwellers.

You broke your drill using it to start your weedwacker.