Powerbuilt Tools Warranty

Techniker · Mar 20, 2012

Anyone have any experience with the Powerbuilt tools warranty? I have a few of their specialty tools and they seem to be decent quality. I just want to know what others' experience had been with their lifetime warranty before I invest too heavily in them.

Thanks in advance,
Techniker

nicks78camaro · Mar 20, 2012

We sell Powerbuilt tools at Pep Boys (but are discontinuing them). AFAIK, you bring the broken one back, we give u a new one no questions asked, like Sears.

Mr.Nutcase · Mar 20, 2012

nicks78camaro said:
We sell Powerbuilt tools at Pep Boys (but are discontinuing them). AFAIK, you bring the broken one back, we give u a new one no questions asked, like Sears.

What brand is pepboys replacing the powerbuilt tools with?

Techniker · Mar 20, 2012

Hmm, not sure if that bodes well for me buying more of their tools if Pepboys phases them out. I don't have a Pepboys near me, but I imagine that it is a blow to Powerbuilt and compromises them being able to warranty their own tools for life.

Our Advance Auto Parts used to sell them, but I no longer see them for sale on their website. They still have them on the shelves behind the counter, and they are for sale in-store, but chiefly they are given out as loaner tools.

AAP tried to sell me their used loaner tools once at the price of a brand new one! Needless to say, that did not fly.

nicks78camaro · Mar 20, 2012

Mr.Nutcase said:
What brand is pepboys replacing the powerbuilt tools with?

Not sure, I do not work retail anymore there (service advisor) but will check what brand is replacing them

fordbroncodave · Mar 20, 2012

we sell powerbuilt at carquest now as of last summer. as stated, lifetime warranty like craftsman tools at sears. bring it into a carquest near you and exchange it.

they have some really nicely equipped sets as far as specialty tools goes. the plastic cases is what makes it nice because they have instructions and multiple vehicle charts and things like that

Super Sport · Mar 20, 2012

I have a Powerbuilt puller that I originally rented at AAP then went out and bought one. I was very impressed and happy it came with a case unlike others I've seen. Haven't had to warranty it though!

shoturtle · Mar 20, 2012

You can contract Alltrade once pep boys stops carrying powerbuilt. That is who imports them. Think craft tools are their new one, the pep boys sales guy was telling me, but i really do not remember.

Even 11 · Mar 21, 2012

I can vouch for the durability of them. When Checker Auto/Oreilly had them, I purchased and sold quite a few different pieces and kits. I think I have only warranted out a few pieces for customers, and I can't think of a single thing for myself. The screws back out of the ratchet heads pretty regularly....

-Dane

defy · Mar 21, 2012

We have Powerbuilt in new zealand, if its the same stuff you get there its pretty average stuff. When I started in the trade 6 years ago I brought a toolkit which was predominately powerbuilt, replaced most of the stuff now, ratchets were the first to go. To be fair though, I still have all the sockets in 3/8" and 1/4" only.

NinetyTwoFifty · Mar 21, 2012

Hmm, I have a broken Powerbuilt 3/8 drive ratchet. I just assumed I was out of luck, since no one around here sells them anymore.

wreckerman5357 · Mar 21, 2012

I have a few things from Powerbuilt from back in the Schucks days. I have a few pickle forks, a fan clutch wrench, 3-4 pullers, ball joint kit, a ball pein hammer, a Dana 44 hub nut socket, a Dana 60 hub nut socket, a 1/2" micrometer torque wrench, a 1/2" breaker bar, and some miscellaneous sockets and wrenches bought to replace lost Cmans. All of this stuff works great. I bought most of this stuff when i was in high school 10-12 years ago. All of it except sockets and wrenches are in my work box and get used proffesionally today.

I wish Oreilly had kept the Powerbuilt stuff, the stuff they have now is ****. The Powerbuilt stuff was pretty good, some of the best Aisian stuff out there. In fact, I would venture to say it was better than Cman.

capnrob97 · Mar 21, 2012

The Powerbuilt stuff is all on clearance at Pep Boys here.

I bought several screwdrivers, and a flex head rachet all for less than $20 for everything.

Sick Puppy · Mar 21, 2012

defy said:
We have Powerbuilt in new zealand, if its the same stuff you get there its pretty average stuff. When I started in the trade 6 years ago I brought a toolkit which was predominately powerbuilt, replaced most of the stuff now, ratchets were the first to go. To be fair though, I still have all the sockets in 3/8" and 1/4" only.

Not surprising to be fair about the ratchets, the selectors are really loose on them - try them up against Koken or King Tony ones, they feel like they are made of cheese by comparison! Ratchet wrenches are no better...

Most of their gear is okay, I'm considering buying a PB slide hammer - no idea what I'll use it for, I'm sure it will come in handy some day... lol

yasha32 · Mar 21, 2012

Sick Puppy said:
Most of their gear is okay, I'm considering buying a PB slide hammer - no idea what I'll use it for, I'm sure it will come in handy some day... lol

i've used them for so many transmissions, they're great at pulling pumps/front covers off of 4r70w's

Techniker · Mar 21, 2012

Yep, that is what I am looking at. One of the guys in my shop has the Powerbuilt slide hammer. He likes it. It even comes with the rear wheel bearing pullers which work really well.

I am strongly considering getting the Napa slide hammer though, just for the ease of warranty.

fordbroncodave · Mar 21, 2012

CpectorBon said:
we sell powerbuilt at carquest now as of last summer

you work at carquest too?

nicks78camaro · Mar 22, 2012

Just checked at work, Powerbuilt is replaced by "Gearhead" brand. Just another cheap China/Taiwan brand

Techniker · Mar 22, 2012

nicks78camaro said:
Just checked at work, Powerbuilt is replaced by "Gearhead" brand. Just another cheap China/Taiwan brand

Thanks for following up on that.

capnrob97 · Mar 22, 2012

Techniker said:
Thanks for following up on that.

I just got back from Pep Boys, they have all the Gearhead stuff out on the sales floor now, and the Powerbuilt stuff is gone.

shoturtle · Mar 22, 2012

capnrob97 said:
I just got back from Pep Boys, they have all the Gearhead stuff out on the sales floor now, and the Powerbuilt stuff is gone.

they are getting low on their power built tools, there are couple of pep boys around me that still have a decent selection. Not as many dyi were I am.

nicks78camaro · Mar 22, 2012

Techniker said:
Thanks for following up on that.

No problem, I was curious too. Today is the first day that all the new tools are stocked up at my store.

4x4gearhead · Mar 22, 2012

My local hardware store carries Powerbuilt, I once bent a 15/16 wrench doubling it up and brought it back, they gave me a new one. I think it was my only powerbuilt tool I have.

RangerDaleXp · Mar 22, 2012

I was at pep boys today and looked over the Gear Head stuff. Sockets and ratchets and extensions were Taiwan. Pliers were China made. They did not have wrenches or screw drivers up on the shelves yet so I could not verify COO on them. From what I seen so far, it looks to be about the same quality as the Power Built stuff....

RangerDaleXp · Mar 22, 2012

fordbroncodave said:
we sell powerbuilt at carquest now as of last summer. as stated, lifetime warranty like craftsman tools at sears. bring it into a carquest near you and exchange it.

they have some really nicely equipped sets as far as specialty tools goes. the plastic cases is what makes it nice because they have instructions and multiple vehicle charts and things like that

Those Powerbuilt ratchets look a lot alike the Duralast ratchets but in 72 Tooth. What are the cost on them?

zjrog · Mar 22, 2012

And to think I was close to tossing a bunch of Powerbuilt wrenches and sockets... So they aren't the junk I thought they were?

shoturtle · Mar 22, 2012

Nope, they are good tools.

Sick Puppy · Mar 23, 2012

shoturtle said:
Nope, they are good tools.

What are the selector levers like on the ones you have please? They are firm, no slop?

fordbroncodave · Mar 23, 2012

RangerDaleXp said:
Those Powerbuilt ratchets look a lot alike the Duralast ratchets but in 72 Tooth. What are the cost on them?

i think the 1/4" is $15 and the 3/8" is $18? i took those pictures as soon as we got them in the store. they feel pretty good in the palm of your hand

Techniker · Mar 23, 2012

fordbroncodave said:
i think the 1/4" is $15 and the 3/8" is $18? i took those pictures as soon as we got them in the store. they feel pretty good in the palm of your hand

Quick question for you. If I want to order a tool from Carquest's professional tool catalog- can they order for me to the store or do I have to place the order through the catalog?

fordbroncodave · Mar 23, 2012

are you talking about the quarterly tool catalog that looks like a newspaper?

you can call your store with the part number and ask for availability. 90% of the time you can get the tool same day but other times if it is not in the warehouse you can get it next day or even 2 days later.

if you have an account or sign up for an account if you are an avid customer you can get special pricing.

pick up in the store or if you have a shop and an account set up it can be delivered for free

shoturtle · Mar 23, 2012

Sick Puppy said:
What are the selector levers like on the ones you have please? They are firm, no slop?

The lever is smooth on the one I have, not sloppy.

RangerDaleXp · Mar 23, 2012

Techniker said:
Quick question for you. If I want to order a tool from Carquest's professional tool catalog- can they order for me to the store or do I have to place the order through the catalog?

Just looked at them at my local Carquest store. They were a little more money at $16.99 for the 1/4 drive and $21.99 for the 3/8 drive. Looking at it closely, they do look like the same manufacture that makes the Duralast ratchet but with 72 teeth unlike the Duralast 36 teeth. I do not have the money this week but may buy one next week and take it apart to see if they are the same internaly....

cascivic · Jun 7, 2012

bringing this back from the dead OMG the new gearhead tools are the crappiest things i have ever seen in my life..there literally like one step up from the 2.99 bin

most of them were tawian..the roto head ratchets half of them wouldnt spin on the axis i guess the pin was too tight. and the regular ratchets some selectors were getting stuck and theres holes into them where you can see the pawl?? seriously made hf look like a snap on truck!

screwdrivers had a wera style knockoff handle

kinda like a knipex rip off but with a shock absorber thingy in between handles

billymade · Jun 7, 2012

Looks like Alltrade is the parent company for the Powerbuilt brand; you can contact them for warranty service, if you do not have a retailer that sells them anymore...

http://www.alltradetools.com/product-support/parts-and-service/

Link to their hand tools:

http://www.alltradetools.com/catalog/275-powerbuilt-brand-mechanic-s-tools

shoturtle · Jun 7, 2012

That is sad, they went form some good tools at good prices to lower costing junky stuff.

cascivic said:
bringing this back from the dead OMG the new gearhead tools are the crappiest things i have ever seen in my life..there literally like one step up from the 2.99 bin

most of them were tawian..the roto head ratchets half of them wouldnt spin on the axis i guess the pin was too tight. and the regular ratchets some selectors were getting stuck and theres holes into them where you can see the pawl?? seriously made hf look like a snap on truck!

screwdrivers had a wera style knockoff handle

kinda like a knipex rip off but with a shock absorber thingy in between handles

RangerDaleXp · Jun 7, 2012

Pep Boys have been really going down hill over the years. There new tools are not as good as the powerbuilt stuff and just lately they have cut back on there inventory of Purolator oil filters and stocking up on that Fram garbage that I will never use anymore.

As for the powerbuilt tools. Carquest now stocks them and has a very good inventory of them. I purchased the 72 tooth 3/8 ratchet as well as a 1/4 drive. They look well made and are very similar internally to the duralast except in the way the forward and reverse switch is installed into the paw. The 3/8 ratchet responded very well to the modification you use on the duralast but on the 1/4 drive not as well. The 1/4 drive still feels a bit rough in my opinion after the modification.

ajchien · Jun 7, 2012

cascivic said:
bringing this back from the dead OMG the new gearhead tools are the crappiest things i have ever seen in my life..there literally like one step up from the 2.99 bin

most of them were tawian..the roto head ratchets half of them wouldnt spin on the axis i guess the pin was too tight. and the regular ratchets some selectors were getting stuck and theres holes into them where you can see the pawl?? seriously made hf look like a snap on truck!

That ratchet looks a lot like the Crescent ratchet by Apex/cooper tools.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FOQH2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

fordbroncodave · Jun 7, 2012

who sells gearhead brand at what store? never heard of it or seen it before.

cascivic · Jun 7, 2012

ajchien said:
That ratchet looks a lot like the Crescent ratchet by Apex/cooper tools.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FOQH2K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

yup same thing as far as i can tell...a real pig of a ratchet :headscrat

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