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Proto Customer Service

Rinspeed

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2020
Messages
1,822
Location
NY
Huge shout out to Proto/BD, I had an older 3/8" ratchet missing the ball, a newer 1/4" ratchet that had a horrible action and a broken 6mm hex bit socket. Three or four weeks ago I sent them an email asking about rebuild kits for the ratchets. I got a reply the next day saying we don't "sell" rebuild kits but if you want to send them back we will look at them. Today I received both new ratchets and not a new 6mm hex bit socket but they sent me the whole set 4 - 10mm. Pretty damn good customer service, did seam a little odd they didn't just rebuild both ratchets but I'm not complaining. Unlike SK maybe the newer parts just don't quite fit the older tools.
 
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dstblj52

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 4, 2021
Messages
326
sbd consolidated manufacturing between proto and mac some time ago they may not have much in the way of support for stuff older then that but are very willing to replace it
 

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,275
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I hate SBD but I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Proto. I think it goes back about 60 years ago when Genuine Auto Parts on Baum Boulevard in the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh had Proto tool boards filling up the back wall of the place. That's where my addiction to tools began. That's where I bought my first ratchet. Like they say you never forget your first one.
 

Doylee4693

Well-known member
Joined
May 17, 2021
Messages
111
Location
At home
I hate SBD but I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Proto. I think it goes back about 60 years ago when Genuine Auto Parts on Baum Boulevard in the Bloomfield section of Pittsburgh had Proto tool boards filling up the back wall of the place. That's where my addiction to tools began. That's where I bought my first ratchet. Like they say you never forget your first one.
First tools I ever bought, stanley 3/8” ratchet and socket set… got me thru for awhile but those ratchets are shyt. Then went crazy with harbor freight tools…. Then onto taiwan tools “mostly sunex” , and now a mix of american used tools and new taiwan tools..
 
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Downwindtracker 2

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 13, 2019
Messages
1,715
Location
BC
Another vote for great customer service from the Canadian division in marked contrast to Snap-On Canada. Two fleamarket finds, one was send it in and we will see, I got a new one back in a little over a week, and the other was a sorry, original purchaser only.

Just like car mechanics used Snap-On, millwrights used Proto and J.H. Williams. Not the Snap-On Williams, the original.
 

FMB4

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2017
Messages
2,926
I used Craftsman, Proto (non Stanley), SO, and some SK tools as a professional tech, er mechanic, for over 20 years. And, as I recall, Proto was probably the best per cost, or at least a very close 2nd to SO (I had more Proto than SO tools). But, for the price, Proto was and still is my #1 choice. The history of Plumb/Plomb/Proto tools is pretty interesting imo.
 

CHI_Tool&Die

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2021
Messages
1,386
Location
Chicago, IL
*BUMP*

I also wanted to say that I'm really happy with Proto. I had to warranty a few sockets and the entire process was super smooth. I did not have to send anything in, I just chatted with a rep on the phone and had new ones mailed to me in about a week.
 

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,816
Location
Alberta
I love Proto tools, especially the ratchets. My contact with their customer service wasn't great though.

It's slow by phone and email. I sent an email first and when I didn't hear back for a week I assumed it was stuck in the tubes somewhere. Called instead and had to wait a long time. Then a couple weeks after my call I finally got an email back.

My problem was that I ordered a new 10mm reversible ratchet wrench. I got a sealed package with the right part number on the outside, wrong wrench inside. I just wanted to know if I could get it swapped or if I needed to do a return through the retailer. Not a big deal, but I assume that was Proto's mishap since it came in their packaging. Proto couldn't help though, I had to do a return.
 
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