Kirbot
Well-known member
I've got an older Popular Mechanics 3/8" ratchet with a broken direction selector.
Anybody know if there is any warranty on it?
Anybody know if there is any warranty on it?
"Popular Mechanics" tools warranty?
- Thread starter Kirbot
- Start date
I can fix anything
Well-known member
Wal-Mart sold them.
I had a PM hook and pick set from Walmart. One of the hooks broke and they did replace with with a Stanley one. (I may have the brands switched).
I took the packaging (just the cardboard piece) to customer service and they had me get the replacement. She opened the package to replace it.
This was several years ago. I didn't take the receipt.
I took the packaging (just the cardboard piece) to customer service and they had me get the replacement. She opened the package to replace it.
This was several years ago. I didn't take the receipt.
I can fix anything
Well-known member
What ratchet is it? Some of the popular mechanics stuff is decent. Some of it is USA made, but most are not.
Thanks
I guess I'll take it in next time I'm there.
It looks just about like the Stanley one on there website.
It was made in Taiwan.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Stanley-3-8-Pear-Ratchet/14146065
MAD
Well-known member
This 800 number is molded into the case of a PM set I had in my trunk for many years. 1-800-245-7676
The label on it also says "Full Lifetime Warranty" I called the number a couple of years ago and it was still active. They said they would replace my ratchet if I sent it in, but in my case a cleaning did the trick. Whether or not it would be worth the postage is another story, although the one that came in my set was not a bad ratchet for an older far Eastern import.
The label on it also says "Full Lifetime Warranty" I called the number a couple of years ago and it was still active. They said they would replace my ratchet if I sent it in, but in my case a cleaning did the trick. Whether or not it would be worth the postage is another story, although the one that came in my set was not a bad ratchet for an older far Eastern import.
SCscoutguy
Well-known member
I got one of those in a tool box full of tools a few months ago and had no idea who originally carried them. I figured they must have been mail order from the magazine or something. It is good to know it can possibly be warrantied if it ever breaks. It has 40 teeth and made in Taiwan and is surprisingly pretty well made.
Attachments
Displaced Hokie
Well-known member
75% of my sockets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2, SAE and Metric are PM. They have been awesome. Some I've had for almost 20 years. I've still got the 1/4" ratchet and it's good too. The screwdrivers eventually died, and I have the pick set too (made in USA!).
Making $5.00 after school, it was cool to be able to walk into the Wal-Mart and buy a set of sockets for $10.00 and have them actually be good.
Hey, for us poor country boys these were good offerings way back when! I've never broken anything other than wearing out the screwdrivers.
Making $5.00 after school, it was cool to be able to walk into the Wal-Mart and buy a set of sockets for $10.00 and have them actually be good.
Hey, for us poor country boys these were good offerings way back when! I've never broken anything other than wearing out the screwdrivers.
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
Here is what my paperwork says:
"FULL LIFETIME REPLACEMENT WARRANTY:
If this product is defective in material or workmanship,
WAL-MART will replace it free of charge, with same item or a like item of equal value."
When I first started buying tools in the 90's, all I bought was PM because I could not afford Craftsman. For the most part they have held up quite well, but Wal-Mart gave me hell the last time I tried to get a ratchet replaced. They told me that the warranty was from Popular Mechanics, not Wal-Mart. Which of course is untrue. On my paperwork it clearly states: "Popular Mechanics is a trademark of the Hearst Corporation, Licensed and Marketed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc."
The manager was very rude and rolled her eyes and walked off when I insisted that it is Wal-Mart's responsibility to back the warranty. So, I emailed corporate. Twice. No response either time. That was several years ago, after that I started buying SK, Craftsman, and Snap On when I could afford it.
Good luck with your return.
"FULL LIFETIME REPLACEMENT WARRANTY:
If this product is defective in material or workmanship,
WAL-MART will replace it free of charge, with same item or a like item of equal value."
When I first started buying tools in the 90's, all I bought was PM because I could not afford Craftsman. For the most part they have held up quite well, but Wal-Mart gave me hell the last time I tried to get a ratchet replaced. They told me that the warranty was from Popular Mechanics, not Wal-Mart. Which of course is untrue. On my paperwork it clearly states: "Popular Mechanics is a trademark of the Hearst Corporation, Licensed and Marketed by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc."
The manager was very rude and rolled her eyes and walked off when I insisted that it is Wal-Mart's responsibility to back the warranty. So, I emailed corporate. Twice. No response either time. That was several years ago, after that I started buying SK, Craftsman, and Snap On when I could afford it.
Good luck with your return.
MAD
Well-known member
Here is a 1992 article about the PM brand that might be helpful to print out if you are going to try to exchange a PM tool at Walmart.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n10_v31/ai_12313265/?tag=content;col1
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_n10_v31/ai_12313265/?tag=content;col1
I have several of the Popular Mechanics tools, including the 3/8" drive ratchet. It works very well. And, the best part, the selector lever on it is metal! Personally I think the PM tools were slightly better quality than the current Stanley offerings at Walmart. After reading the article, I remembered the Promark brand. I think my dad has a set of Promark torx drivers.
mrholeshot
MEMBER EMERITUS
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2010
- Messages
- 8,043
I have a set of PM wrenches in my roadbox. No issues. The ratchet looks well made. Being as it was a Wal-mart brand and carried a lifetime warranty Wal-Mart should either replace it or refund your money
I agree with this too.
Be prepared to restrain yourself from punching someone in the face.
Regardless of the company it all comes down to the live person you have to deal with.
Displaced Hokie
Well-known member
I think all us PM owner's agree with this part of that article (thanks for posting the link MAD):
In order to protect its image, Popular Mechanics is requiring Wal-Mart to submit for testing in its independent lab all products that will bear the Popular Mechanics name. Popular Mechanics already has tested hundreds of products, editor-in-chief Joe Oldham said.
It tested the handtools against Craftsmen and found them equal to or better, he said.
In order to protect its image, Popular Mechanics is requiring Wal-Mart to submit for testing in its independent lab all products that will bear the Popular Mechanics name. Popular Mechanics already has tested hundreds of products, editor-in-chief Joe Oldham said.
It tested the handtools against Craftsmen and found them equal to or better, he said.
SCscoutguy
Well-known member
I have never actually used the ratchet above but just from comparing the two I would take it hands down over a newly made Craftsman raised panel ratchet. It it along the same quality lines as the new Duralast ratchets. I have some PM 6 point combination wrenches around here somewhere I will try to find and take a picture of. They are about equal to raised panel combo's as well.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I bet they will give you a stanley one Ive traded in all sorts of **** at wal mart for other more expensive brands even and they dont seem to put up much fuss.
I'm used to that...
I've run into the same **** at Sears and Autozone as well.
I sent an email to Wal-mart asking about the ratchet.
I'm not counting on actually getting a reply.
But If by any chance I do, and they say they'll replace it, I'll print it out and take it in with me.
Any way, thanks for the information.
I don't know if I would say the ratchet is quite as good as a Duralast, but it doesn't seem to bad.
Too bad the selector broke.
I can fix anything
Well-known member
I would rather have the broke PM than a new stanley. Put it in your box and wait till you see a beat up PM ratchet at the swap meet. Buy it for a quarter and use it for parts and BAM good as new.
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
Hey Kirbot, any update on the PM ratchet?
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
always worth a shot lol
honcho
Well-known member
I bought a bunch of PM tools from Wal-Mart in 1999 and have found them, for the most part, to be pretty good. They were all Taiwanese manufactured. The locking extensions fell apart and Wal-Mart was worthless in getting any "lifetime warranty" assistance. I wrote corporate and no response. Went to several stores and managers stonewalled. They won when I finally threw the pieces in the scrap bin. I still like the PM stubby metric combo wrenches that I use regularly.
hitekrednek
Active member
Not accurate. I have some Popular Mechanic screwdrivers and picks that were "Made in The USA"
NinetyTwoFifty
Banned
That's true, I have a bunch of PM screwdrivers that are USA made. They've held up very well over the years.
And PM hand saws were also USA made.
I can fix anything
Well-known member
The USA screwdrivers are made by "Vermont America", I think thats the name.
honcho
Well-known member
When I said "They were all Taiwanese....." I was referring strictly to the tools I purchased. I don't dispute that other PM tools may have been made in USA and other places, but the tools I purchased, sockets, extensions and wrenches, were indeed made in Taiwan.
LawnDart79
Well-known member
Yep, me too! I bought them back in the late 90s along with a couple pair of locking pliers and a torx bit set. I needed the stuff and didn't have much cash, so I bought em'.
For the stubbies, at different times, I added a 16mm Craftsman and 19mm Cornewll because the PM set was missing those two sizes and I needed them. The PM set was a 10-18mm minus 16mm.
The only thing I've ever broken is the t20 torx bit.
In my opinion, the PM tools were decent quality tools for the money.
I still got the PM stubbies in the wrench drawer right next to all the Snap-On.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
I have 3 or 4 of there torx screw drivers about 15 years old and they seem decent.
Thanks,
Tony
Thanks,
Tony
Very interesting. The article cited above says that ProMark was the brand Wal-Mart attempted to market. I have one ProMark 3/8 ratchet. I found it on the side of a highway along with a bunch of other tools, mostly Craftsman. There were three ratchets, a 3/8 and 1/4 Craftsman, and the Promark. All had been run over multiple times. Only the ProMark survived!
On the other hand, Sears cheerfully replaced the Craftsmen, even missing their guts and obviously woefully abused.
I worked for Walmart Stores, Inc. for many years. I actually was over the Hardware Department in multiple stores at various levels. When Walmart tried to get somewhat serious about name branding their tool line they first chose the name Pro Mark. The Walmart buyers were already in negotiations with Hearst Publishing at the time to license and use the Popular Mechanics name.
The tools were from the same manufacturers. Test Rite Corporation was the supplier for most of the tools, importing them from Taiwan. Vermont America did manufacture most of the screwdriver line. There were some cross COO in the lines at times also. The Pro Mark name only lasted about 18 months before being phased out for the Popular Mechanics name. This was a simple repackaging for the manufacturers as the Pro Mark PM symbol on many of the tools would now be a Popular Mechanics PM symbol. As the Popular Mechanics line was carried forward the full name was being put on the tools. Most of the import tools were from Taiwan, but with the later years, China became the COO. When Walmart switched to the Stanley brand it was the same situation. Stanley was allowing the use of their name and trademarks on the tools after their own inspectors approved the quality.The import tools were still coming from Test Rite Corporation while things like screwdrivers were coming from Stanley here in the US. I believe Stanley now owns the import company outright, but I am not 100% sure on this. Sorry for the long dissertation.
Now as to the warranty. The mechanics line of tools all carry a Full Lifetime Warranty. On the carpenters line of tools, such as hammers, the warranties varied. While Walmart was using the Popular Mechanics name, Bentonville sent a letter to all stores stating their Full Lifetime Warranty policy. The letter stated that if any customer returned a broken PM branded tool (Pro Mark, Popular Mechanics) it should be exchanged with the same or similar tool with no questions asked. The tools today would have to be exchanged for a Stanley product. The problem I see today is there is not enough Walmart associates left in the stores that remember these tool lines or the stated exchange policy to do a hassle free exchange. Most if not all stores will have to see the warranty info printed on some packaging in order to do the exchange without hassle and most of us do not keep packages.
The tools were from the same manufacturers. Test Rite Corporation was the supplier for most of the tools, importing them from Taiwan. Vermont America did manufacture most of the screwdriver line. There were some cross COO in the lines at times also. The Pro Mark name only lasted about 18 months before being phased out for the Popular Mechanics name. This was a simple repackaging for the manufacturers as the Pro Mark PM symbol on many of the tools would now be a Popular Mechanics PM symbol. As the Popular Mechanics line was carried forward the full name was being put on the tools. Most of the import tools were from Taiwan, but with the later years, China became the COO. When Walmart switched to the Stanley brand it was the same situation. Stanley was allowing the use of their name and trademarks on the tools after their own inspectors approved the quality.The import tools were still coming from Test Rite Corporation while things like screwdrivers were coming from Stanley here in the US. I believe Stanley now owns the import company outright, but I am not 100% sure on this. Sorry for the long dissertation.
Now as to the warranty. The mechanics line of tools all carry a Full Lifetime Warranty. On the carpenters line of tools, such as hammers, the warranties varied. While Walmart was using the Popular Mechanics name, Bentonville sent a letter to all stores stating their Full Lifetime Warranty policy. The letter stated that if any customer returned a broken PM branded tool (Pro Mark, Popular Mechanics) it should be exchanged with the same or similar tool with no questions asked. The tools today would have to be exchanged for a Stanley product. The problem I see today is there is not enough Walmart associates left in the stores that remember these tool lines or the stated exchange policy to do a hassle free exchange. Most if not all stores will have to see the warranty info printed on some packaging in order to do the exchange without hassle and most of us do not keep packages.
pauls_workshop
Well-known member
So who made the Popular Mechanics sockets? I have a few of these. Chrome looks good quality. thx- Paul
AceofSpad3s
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2014
- Messages
- 1,808
Probably stanley but I got no clue.
The sockets were imported by Test Rite Corporation. Most were imported from Taiwan. Test Rite may have had multiple factories making these sockets, but all manufacturers had to meet QC standards set by inspectors from Popular Mechanics Magazine to use the name. In our supplier listing at the time the manufacturer was simply listed as Test Rite Tools or Test Rite Corp. There were a few ratchet and socket sets made in the USA under the Popular Mechanics name. I have a 1/4" drive set and a 3/8" drive set that are US made. These are all marked Made in US on the tools themselves. These were also from Test Rite Corporation, but I do not know who the actual manufacturer was. These were short lived in the stores. I have quite a few of the Taiwan made tools and they have all held up very well.